Can You Use Brown Sugar in Coffee?

We know brown sugar is commonly used in cakes, sauces, and as a topping on oatmeal. Have you considered stirring a teaspoon of brown sugar in coffee?

You may have thought about it when you see small sachets of brown sugar in coffee shops as you reach out for your regular white sugar. You decide to give it a try but reach out for your usual option. We all love our coffee too much, just the way we have had it all these years.

You probably hesitate because of the doubts that revolve around brown sugar. How does coffee with brown sugar taste? Does it have health benefits? How is it better than refined white sugar? Are there different types of brown sugar?

What is brown sugar?

Simply put, brown sugar is sugar that has not been completely refined. The sucrose - or the sugar syrup - extracted from sugar canes or sugar beets is crystallized and covered with molasses. Molasses are planted minerals derived from the sugar canes and give the distinct color and flavor that brown sugar is known for.

Are raw sugar and brown sugar the same?

A widely misconceived notion is that brown sugar is the same as raw sugar. Raw sugar is unrefined or partially refined unlike brown sugar and white sugar. While molasses are added to brown sugar, raw sugar contains residues of molasses after the first refining process.

The sucrose crystals in raw sugar are large, rough, and less moist than regular brown sugar. To make it soft, manufacturers refine raw sugar further leaving a thin coat of molasses that make the brown sugar soft and moist.

Manufacturers also prefer to reintroduce molasses to white refined sugar instead of retaining them during the refining process to control the sugar crystal size and color. Since brown sugar is used for various culinary purposes, people prefer one type of the brown sugar over the other.

How To Make Brown Sugar At Home?

You don’t need machinery if that’s what you are thinking. Brown sugar can be prepared at home in a few simple steps. All you need are molasses and white sugar. Add one tablespoon of molasses to one cup of granulated white sugar. Mix until you get a uniform texture and color.

Moisture in the molasses is the reason brown sugar is soft. Brown sugar - homemade or commercial - must be stored in airtight containers to retain that moisture. If the moisture evaporates, the brown sugar will become hard - something like a rock.

Can you use brown sugar in coffee? 

Now, that’s the main question. 

Yes. You can definitely use brown sugar in coffee. Brown sugar is more compatible with coffee than tea. If you are a coffeeholic, you might want to give it a try.

Brown sugar contains higher mineral content because of the presence of molasses. Molasses have minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, all of which are not present in white sugar.

The calorie difference is not very significant. A teaspoon of brown sugar has about 17 calories while a teaspoon of white sugar has 18 calories. Yet, the minerals present in brown sugar, which refined white sugar lacks, make up a good enough reason to add brown sugar in coffee. One teaspoon of brown sugar has one mg of sodium and 6 mg of potassium and a small amounts of iron.

The numbers may not be drastic but, given the known side-effects of white sugar, brown sugar is a perfect alternative. Blend it in a hot cup of coffee to find out if brown sugar can be you star choice.

Types of Brown Sugar

You might be surprised to know that there are different types of brown sugar. The amount of molasses influence color, taste, and texture. The higher the amount of molasses the more the moisture and acidity, the deeper and darker the color, and the stronger the flavor.

Light Brown Sugar

With approximately 3.5 percent molasses, light brown sugar has a delicate taste and a soft color. Light brown sugar is widely available and most commonly used for baking. In general, the lighter the brown sugar, the lighters it’s flavor.

Dark Brown Sugar

Old-fashioned dark brown sugar contains around 6.5 percent molasses. Dark brown sugar is ideal for recipes that call for intense flavor and color.

Raw Sugar

Natural, unrefined brown sugar are large sucrose crystals with less moisture and high amount of molasses left out of the refining process. Raw sugar has more minerals than light or dark brown sugar.

How does coffee with brown sugar taste?

We usually have coffee to wake up, espresso being the favorite. Coffee lovers prefer coffee in its real form - black and unsweetened. The most famous combination, however, is sweetened coffee with milk or cream.

White sugar is the common sweetener used in coffee. It’s easy to store and has an uncomplicated, universal flavor. When you add white sugar - teaspoons or cubes - you know how your coffee is going to taste.

Read more: Best Coffee Grinder for Cold Brew

But what would the taste be like when you add brown sugar in coffee?

Brown sugar is more than just a sweetener. The molasses present in brown sugar give it a complex flavor which blend very well in coffee. Your coffee will have a slightly heavy taste and a rich, deep color thanks to the brown texture of brown sugar. Flavors change depending on the type of brown sugar you choose - light or dark.

Should You Try Brown Sugar In Your Coffee?

Yes! Trying something new is the only way to find out if what you have is the best or not. Brown sugar has become a favorite among coffee lovers who like an extra flavor to their wake-up beverage. Now that you know the basics of brown sugar, you can decide if you want to give it a try.