Get your caffeine fix—for fewer calories

Written by Lauren Graf    I’m a coffee fiend—and I’m willing to bet many of you are, too. I start off every day with a good, steaming cup, and usually have another in the afternoon when I need a little pick-me-up. Of course, in moderation coffee itself is an innocent pleasure since it has almost no calories—it’s the cream, sugar, flavored syrups, and fancy coffee-based combos that will get you in trouble.  But I do like traditionally indulgent drinks like café au laits, lattes, and cappuccinos from time to time. So rather than buy them from Starbucks, I make them at home for a fraction of the calories. Try these tricks to spice up your java routine. Trust me, they’re quick and easy—and great for entertaining, too.

Flavored coffee:

This time of year, I love nutty- and pumpkin-flavored food and drinks—and my coffee is no exception. For a subtle hint of flavor with no added sweetness, sprinkle a little pumpkin pie spice with nutmeg or cinnamon into the coffee grounds in your automatic drip coffee maker before turning on.

Café au lait:

Pour about a ¼ cup of skim milk in a mug, then whisk for 15-20 seconds with a steam-free milk frother (I use an Aerolatte, aerolatte.com). To heat the milk, microwave the mug for 30 seconds (it will start to rise and foam up). Add already-brewed coffee and voilà: a truly skinny cafe au lait! And though this drink tastes creamy, it has only about 30 calories.

Sweet sips:

If you have a sweet tooth, try adding DaVinci’s sugar-free syrups to your coffee (davincigourmet.com). I keep French vanilla, caramel, peppermint, and pumpkin pie on hand in my kitchen. All the syrups are calorie-free and delicious. One of my best friends loves Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes but was horrified when she saw that the Grande nonfat version still has 330 calories and 52 grams of carbs! She loves my 40-calorie version (same as my café au lait but with espresso rather than coffee), so instead of stopping by Starbucks on Sunday mornings, now she stops by my apartment.

Enjoy!