Black coffee is a morning elixir, helping people wake up and provide a jolt of energy. It’s famous for caffeine, of course, but it also comes with some impressive health benefits.
Americans love the dark brew: More than two-thirds, 67%, report drinking coffee in the past day — more than any other beverage including plain water, according to a 2024 report from the National Coffee Association. That’s a 20-year high, it notes.
Take a sip and you will feel the effects right away: The caffeine in coffee is a central nervous system stimulant, “speeding everything up” in the body and brain, according to the American Medical Association.
“It will increase your energy levels. It can also decrease feelings of fatigue,” Lisa Young, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, tells TODAY.com.
Research also points to a positive impact on heart health, brain health, weight loss and mood, she adds.
“There are benefits to coffee. … But if you are a coffee drinker, I still think you should watch how much you drink,” Young advises.
Black coffee nutrition
Black coffee has virtually no calories or fat as long as you don’t add cream or sugar to the beverage.
One cup of brewed coffee prepared with water contains the following, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- 2 calories
- 0 grams fat
- 0.3 grams of protein
- 95 milligrams of caffeine
- 116 milligrams of potassium
- 4 milligrams of sodium
Black coffee has no carbs, cholesterol or fiber. It contains some calcium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus and folate.
Adding milk and sugar “totally, totally changes the equation,” inserting fat and calories, which can counteract any positive health effects, Young warns.
The benefits of black coffee
Coffee beans have more than 100 biologically active compounds, including powerful antioxidants. These compounds can help reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, inhibit the gut’s absorption of fat and block receptors…
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