Brief (coffeeyo.com): A comparative test of 30 ready-made coffees from 19 brands in Hangzhou found vast differences in health indicators by category — milk coffees carry the most energy, while fruit coffees hide a “sweet trap” of high sugar. Choosing the right category matters more than the brand.
Recently, the Zhejiang Provincial Consumer Rights Protection Committee commissioned Zhejiang Gongzheng Inspection Center Co., Ltd. to conduct a comparative test on ready-made coffees sold on the market. The results showed that the health indicators of different coffee categories differ vastly, and choosing the right category matters more than choosing the right brand.
Sample Details
This comparative test collected 30 samples from 23 physical stores in Hangzhou, covering the three mainstream categories of black coffee, milk coffee and fruit coffee, involving 19 brands including Starbucks, Luckin, Cotti and Guming. To ensure objectivity, all samples uniformly used the iced specification, and where possible the “no extra sugar” or lowest-sugar option was chosen.
Regarding Caffeine
Black coffee is the strongest pick-me-up; fruit and milk coffees taste milder. The comparative test showed the 30 samples’ caffeine content ranged from 171 mg/kg to 702 mg/kg, equivalent to a volumetric concentration of 17.6 mg/100 mL to 70.6 mg/100 mL, following a descending ladder of black coffee, then milk coffee, then fruit coffee. Black coffee has the highest concentration and is the first choice for staying alert; milk and fruit coffees taste milder because milk, fruit and fruit-flavored syrups are added.
It is worth noting that, since there is no dedicated standard yet for ready-made coffee, this comparative test referred to GB/T 30767—2014 “Coffee Beverages,” which requires coffee and strong coffee beverages to have caffeine content of at least 200 mg/kg; three samples fell below that reference value.
The “Scientific Consensus on Coffee and Health (2024),” jointly issued by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nutrition and Health Institute and four other institutions, recommends that healthy adults keep daily caffeine intake under 400 mg. Against this test’s results, converting to a standard 350 mL cup or a regular 450 mL large cup, the single-cup caffeine content of all 30 samples fell within that limit.
Regarding Sugar Content
“No extra sugar” is not sugar-free — beware the hidden sugar in fruit coffees. The comparative test showed that none of the 10 black-coffee samples had detectable sugar (the sum of fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose and lactose); the 10 milk-coffee samples had sugar content between 1.6 g/100 mL and 4.0 g/100 mL, and except for oat latte, their sugar mainly came from the lactose in milk; among the 10 fruit-coffee samples, except for one Starbucks berry-flavored americano whose sugar was not detected, the other nine had sugar content between 3.2 g/100 mL and 7.7 g/100 mL.
The “Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022)” recommends that adults keep added-sugar intake under 50 g a day, preferably below 25 g. Based on the test, converting to a standard 350 mL cup, the average sugar content of a single fruit-coffee cup was 18 g, with 2 samples exceeding 25 g and the highest reaching 27 g; converting to a regular 450 mL large cup, the average was 23.2 g, with 5 samples above 25 g and the highest reaching 34.7 g.
Regarding Fat and Energy
Black coffee < fruit coffee < milk coffee (ascending). Apart from one fruit-coffee sample based on a latte, the other 19 black- and fruit-coffee samples all had fat content at or below 0.1 g/100 mL, lower than the prepackaged-food threshold for “fat-free or low-fat” (≤0.5 g/100 mL); milk-coffee samples, because of added milk and oat milk, averaged 2.26 g/100 mL of fat.
In terms of energy, the three coffee categories overall showed black coffee < fruit coffee < milk coffee. The 10 black-coffee samples had an energy range of 14 kJ/100 mL to 30 kJ/100 mL, the 10 fruit-coffee samples 24 kJ/100 mL to 206 kJ/100 mL, and the 10 milk-coffee samples 162 kJ/100 mL to 305 kJ/100 mL.
Calculated per cup of 350 mL to 450 mL, a single black-coffee cup averaged about 18 kcal to 23 kcal, a fruit-coffee cup about 126 kcal to 162 kcal, and a milk-coffee cup about 183 kcal to 235 kcal.
Drinking Tips
Control total intake. Healthy adults are advised to keep daily caffeine intake within 400 mg; drinking no more than 2 cups of coffee a day is the safer bet.
Beware the high sugar in fruit coffees. Fruit coffees have relatively high sugar and should not be drunk in excess; choose products with no extra sugar where possible. People who are blood-sugar sensitive or need to control weight are advised to prefer unsweetened black coffee.
Mind the timing. Caffeine has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, and its impact on sleep varies greatly by individual. People more sensitive to caffeine are advised to avoid coffee after lunch.
Caution for special groups. Certain groups, such as children, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women, are advised not to drink coffee.
Source: Zhejiang Consumer Rights Protection Committee / China Coffee Network.
Reprint Note & Disclaimer
- This article is reprinted from Chinese media for information and cultural exchange. The views expressed are those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the position of coffeeyo.com.
- All trademarks, brand names and logos mentioned belong to their respective owners.
- For cooperation, reprint or correction requests, please contact coffeeyo.com.
Reprint Notice & Disclaimer
- This article has been edited and compiled by China Coffee Network. The information and images therein come from public sources and the copyright belongs to the original author. This reprint is intended solely for information sharing within the coffee industry and does not represent the views of this website; all data and opinions are subject to the original article. Our thanks to the original author for creating and sharing it.
- For matters concerning content licensing, attribution, copyright or otherwise, please contact us promptly and we will verify and cooperate in handling them as soon as possible. We also welcome coffee origins, brands and industry media to exchange ideas and contribute articles.
- Contact China Coffee Network: Tel 400-0000-641 (+86-18288016826) | Email 405854472@qq.com | Address: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province / Tieling, Liaoning Province
Related Reading
How ‘Sea-Flavored’ Coffee Blooms Across Dongtou- Health Guide: How to Enjoy Your Coffee the Healthy Way
Study: Regular Coffee and Tea May Lower Dementia Risk, but More Is Not Better
Frontline Story: A ‘Mobile City Coffee Bar’ Arrives by the Grand Canal
Yantai’s Wind Tastes of Coffee
In Zhenyuan, a Cup of Coffee and a Waiting Train
Liaoning ICP Security No. 21122402000217