We all love our coffee, it wakes us up in the morning, it’s great to catch up with a friend over, and it perks us up when we start to flag in the middle of the day. And even more we love our coffee syrup, all those delicious flavors! But that sugar, that we don’t love.
So what do we do? Give up our coffee with syrup? Never! I hear you cry. So what is the alternative? Well, sugar free coffee syrup of course.
However, we now have a new problem, which coffee free syrup? There are so many syrups and so little time for coffee.
Never fear, we are here to help you to make your way through the sweetest dilemma you may ever face.
What is the best coffee free syrup for you? We take a look at five of the best coffee free syrups on the market for those following a keto diet.
Take a seat, we’re on the case, and have a coffee while you’re waiting.
Monin’s Zero Calorie Natural Flavoring
Monin have been making syrups for over a hundred years, so they definitely know what they’re doing.
They are dedicated to high quality and taste in their products which consistently deliver authentic flavors without compromise.
This syrup has zero calories, zero sugar and no artificial flavors. It blends seamlessly with cold and hot drinks such as iced coffees, lattes and steamers. It also works really well with cocktails, low ABV drinks and teas.
The flavors available include peppermint, pumpkin spice, peach, caramel and raspberry among many others. So, when you fancy a keto mojito, or a keto raspberry iced tea you know you can enjoy it without affecting your keto diet.
Monin uses the natural sweeteners stevia and erythritol instead of sugar in their Zero range which has no artificial flavorings or additives.
These syrups are also non GMO, gluten and dairy free, kosher, vegan and plant based so great for just about everyone!
As well as adding flavor to drinks the syrups can be used in desserts, protein shakes, smoothies and teas.
If you want a natural sweetener with zero calories and high quality ingredients then look no further than Monin’s Zero range of coffee syrups.
Pros
- High quality ingredients
- Sweetened with natural ingredients
- Authentic flavors
- Zero calories
- Suitable for coffee, smoothies and shakes
Cons
- No syrup pump included in your order
Jordan’s Skinny Keto Syrup
Jordan’s Skinny Keto syrups are perfect for those following a keto diet. They have zero sugar, zero calories and zero carbs.
You don’t get much more keto friendly than that! And the syrups can be used in coffee, baking or protein shakes too.
These syrups are sweetened with natural sweeteners such as erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit and the pack comes with Salted Caramel, Mocha and Vanilla Bean flavors.
They contain MCT oil which is a supplement made from a type of fat and which is rapidly absorbed.
If you are in ketosis the MCT oil in the syrup will give you an extra boost of energy making it one of the best coffee syrups for those who are on a keto diet. The MCT oil in the syrup comes from coconut oil and kernel palm oil.
The syrups each arrive with a syrup pump to make sure that you only use the exact amount that you want to use.
Remember it is important to not overuse syrups even with natural sweeteners.
For those who also have intolerances these syrups are gluten and dairy free while also being kosher.
You can use Jordan’s Skinny Keto syrups on food such as oatmeal, yogurt, and for baking.
They are also great in smoothies, protein shakes, teas and of course the most important, coffee!
Pros
- Specifically aimed at those on a keto diet
- Sweetened with natural sweeteners
- Contains MCT oil for a boost of energy if you are in ketosis
- Great flavors
- Can be used in lots of drinks and foods
Cons
- Reviewers reported a bitter aftertaste
Also available at: Skinny Mixes
Torani Sugar Free Syrup Variety
Torani offers this variety of sugar free syrups with flavors such as vanilla, french vanilla, coconut, hazelnut, salted caramel and chocolate. All the bottles are in a 750ml size.
Torani sugar free syrups can be used in a variety of beverages such as cocktails, iced tea, soda and of course coffee.
They are completely sugar free and are sweetened with sucralose which is a sugar substitute and artificial sweetener.
Sucralose is not broken down by the body, so it is non-calorific unlike some artificial sweeteners such as aspartame which is low calorie.
Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sugar, so only small amounts are needed as a substitute.
For those on a keto diet this is an ideal syrup to enjoy in coffee. And not only is it sugar free, but it has no calories either.
So you can enjoy all those delicious flavors completely guilt free.
The syrups provide authentic coffeehouse flavors for your latte, cappuccino or cold brew coffee.
They can also be used on desserts, smoothies, lemonades and frappé. Get creative with mocktails, snow cones and sparkling water.
You will be amazed that these syrups are sugar free as they taste so good, and the whole family can enjoy them.
Pros
- Completely non-calorific syrups
- Four delicious flavors in one pack
- Sweetened with sucralose
- Authentic coffeehouse flavors
- Can be used in drinks, on desserts and smoothies
Cons
- Some reviewers were pleased with the aroma of the syrup but not the taste
Also available at: Torani
DaVinci Gourmet Coffee Syrup Sugar Free
DaVinci sugar free syrups are low carb and sweetened with sucralose. They have the same great taste as DaVinci’s regular coffee syrups but without the calories.
With almost forty flavors to choose from you will be struggling not to choose them all.
They offer some very interesting flavors such as German Chocolate Cake, Toasted Marshmallow and English Toffee as well as more well known flavors such as Coffee Liqueur, French Vanilla and Coconut.
These syrups contain no Ace-K and are maltodextrin-free, perfect for anyone on a keto diet or calorie counting.
So you can enjoy a frappé, a cappuccino or even a mocktail without worrying about being knocked out of ketosis.
DaVinci sugar free coffee syrups hold up really well in hot drinks and are specially formulated not to curdle milk when added.
For ease of use you can get one of DaVinci’s coffee syrup pumps which allows you to accurately measure the amount of syrup that is going into your coffee or dessert.
These are definitely one of the best sugar free coffee syrups on the market for those following a keto diet.
Pros
- Sugar free sweetened with sucralose under the brand name Splenda
- DaVinci offers an incredible array of flavors
- Consistently good flavor
- Holds up well under heat
- Will not curdle milk
Cons
- Some reviewers complained of an aftertaste
Also available at: Walmart
Starbucks Naturally Flavored Coffee Syrup
We couldn’t have a guide to sugar free coffee syrups without Starbucks, and they certainly know their stuff when it comes to flavoring coffee.
Enjoy your favorite Starbucks coffee drink at home without the sugar but with all the flavor you expect from this iconic coffee house.
This syrup is sweetened with sucralose which has no calories and is low in net carbohydrates.
It is an artificial sweetener found in a lot of keto friendly products as a substitute for sugar.
One tablespoon of syrup is recommended for 12 fluid ounces of brewed coffee to give a natural flavor of creamy vanilla.
The syrup can be used in macchiatos, lattes, frozen and iced coffee or treats like milkshakes and hot chocolate and combines well with all of them.
Vanilla is a classic flavor and goes well with almost anything you fancy. It is a thin syrup, so it blends easily with whatever beverage you want to add it to.
However, it doesn’t do well on food such as desserts as it is so thin.
The flavor is what you would expect from Starbucks and doesn’t disappoint.
Pros
- Great flavor from an iconic brand
- Made with natural flavors
- Sweetened with sucralose
Cons
- The syrup is thin so really only suitable for drinks not food
Also available at: Starbucks
Buyer’s Guide
To understand how the sugar free syrups we have chosen help with your keto diet or at the very least don’t inhibit it we need to look closer at some of the facts of these syrups as a whole.
This should help you decide which one is best for you while you are on a keto diet.
Artificial Sweeteners
Sucralose is frequently used as a substitute for sugar in sugar free coffee syrups and is marketed under the name Splenda. But what is sucralose, and why is it used?
Sucralose is a zero calorie sweetener that can provide the taste of sweetness but lowers your intake of sugar.
Sweeteners such as sucralose have no calories while sweeteners like aspartame are low calorie, although both are artificial sweeteners.
People on a keto diet can use sucralose as a sugar substitute, although it is intensely sweet, so only a small amount is needed to mimic the sweetness of sugar. Sucralose does not by itself trigger an insulin response.
However sucralose is often partnered with maltodextrin which can trigger an insulin response and so may not be suitable for those following a keto diet.
Not all products that contain sucralose will have maltodextrin, but a lot do, so it is worth checking the label.
Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners that are commonly found in products such as coffee syrup could be stevia, monk fruit and erythritol.
Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener and is extracted from the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant and has been grown for its sweetness for centuries in South America. Gram for gram it is much sweeter than sugar.
Monk fruit is native to Southeast Asia and its extract is used as a natural sweetener. It has no calories or carbohydrate content and so is ideal for products used during a keto diet.
Monk fruit can sometimes be combined with other sweeteners or sugars so again check the label carefully.
Erythritol is a low calorie sugar alcohol found in certain fruits, although powdered erythritol is more likely to have come from an industrial process.
It tastes very similar to sugar but does tend to have a bitter aftertaste.
This may explain some reviewers complaints about some of the coffee syrups we have reviewed.
Unfortunately nothing will exactly match the taste and consistency of sugar without actually being sugar, so there is always a need for compromise.
However erythritol will not spike your blood sugar or insulin levels and is absorbed by your body but excreted in urine unchanged.
Keto Friendly Ingredients
As noted above while some sweeteners are keto friendly they are often mixed with other ingredients which are not. An example of this is maltodextrin.
Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate that is produced from vegetable starch. It is easily digestible and absorbed as quickly as glucose, it can be either sweet or flavorless.
Unfortunately it also has a very high glycemic index and causes large spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels when consumed. This will kick you out of ketosis.
When buying products such as sugar free coffee syrup it is worth examining the label carefully to see what all the ingredients are and not just the ones highlighted by advertising.
This will help you find any products that could hinder the effectiveness of your keto diet.
Zero Calorie And Zero Carb
Sugar free coffee syrups that are labeled zero calorie or zero carb would appear to be just that, a syrup that has no calories or no carbohydrates. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
According to the FDA rules and regulations, a food or beverage can be called zero calorie if it has less than four calories per serving. Similarly zero carb does not necessarily mean no carbs.
As per the same FDA rules and regulations, a product with less than one gram of carbohydrate per serving can be considered zero carb.
Of course the key phrase here is ‘serving’, a generic term with no absolute definition of size.
This means companies can create a serving so small that it contains less than a gram of carbohydrate and less than four calories so that it can be labeled as having zero of each.
Checking the label for the size of the serving will give an indication of whether these zero labels are accurate.
Flavors
Of course, the importance of maintaining ketosis will be high on your list of priorities when buying sugar free products such as coffee syrup.
But that shouldn’t mean that you have to sacrifice taste and flavor.
A sugar free coffee syrup will not have the same flavor as a regular coffee syrup because it is almost impossible to reproduce the taste and consistency of sugar products without actually adding any. Sugar substitutes are just that, substitutes.
But good flavors are possible, and it is worth finding the right sugar free coffee syrup both in terms of taste and maintaining your keto diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sugar Free Coffee Syrup Better?
If you are following a keto diet, sugar free coffee syrups are better than regular coffee syrups purely because they contain no sugar, calories or carbohydrates.
For those not on such a diet sugar free can still help with weight loss and blood pressure.
Do Sugar Free Syrups Need To Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Sugar free coffee syrups do not need to be refrigerated after opening but should be stored in temperatures between 35 °F and 85 °F.
What Sugar Free Syrups Do Coffee Shops Use?
This would depend on the individual coffee shop. Obviously Starbucks uses their own brand of sugar free syrups made by Fontana. Other high quality coffee shops may use brands such as Monin and DaVinci.
Are Skinny Syrups Ok For Diabetics?
Syrups with artificial sweeteners do not raise blood sugar and so are safe for diabetics to use.
Is Stevia Better Than Sucralose?
Stevia is a natural sweetener which is derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant while sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is processed from sugar. Nutritionally there is little or no difference between them.
Final Thoughts
Finding a sugar free coffee syrup when you are on a keto diet is not that difficult and as we have seen there are a lot to choose from.
Whether you prefer artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners may influence your choice, or maybe you lean toward one brand or another.
We hope that you have found this guide to sugar free coffee syrups helpful and that it has given you some inspiration for your next purchase.
Being on a diet can be tough but having a treat every now and then in your coffee can definitely help to make it feel better.
