<p>The best <em>natural</em> options for sweetening are, in my humble opinion, <strong><em>actual sugar</em></strong> or sugar syrups. Options include, in general order from less to more distinct taste...</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>table sugar</strong> (sucrose), including common refined white sugar or less-refined options like evaporated cane juice or turbinado;</li>
<li><strong>honey</strong>;</li>
<li><strong>agave syrup</strong>;</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>jaggery</strong></a> or similar minimally-refined sugar;</li>
<li><strong>malt syrup</strong>, from e.g., rice or barley;</li>
<li><strong>maple syrup</strong> or maple sugar;</li>
<li><strong>molasses</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<p>Though I personally prefer my coffee black and unsweetened, I've used all of these in coffee. Any sweetener will change the taste slightly. The problem with stevia, for me anyway, is that the bitter notes of stevia are overpowering; I can't consume the stuff.</p>

<p>If you're looking for a non-nutritive or lower-calorie alternative, you can look at various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_alcohol" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sugar alcohols</a>, which are (or at least <em>can be</em>) naturally-produced, lower-calorie variants of sugars. They are produced by various methods, including fermentation.</p>

<p>A good possibility is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol" rel="nofollow noreferrer">xylitol</a>, which is somewhat lower in effective calories and nearly as sweet as table sugar with less off-tastes than other sugar alternatives. Another option is erythritol, but may be less-commonly available. World-wide, other options including mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and isomalt may be more common.</p>

<p>Note well: different sugar alcohols may have effects on your digestive system, including bloating and loose stool, especially when consumed in large quantities. Start slowly :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-10T15:02:45.363Z
If this answered your question, consider upvoting and marking as the answer.
Shiri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-08T17:26:10.957Z
2016-11-08T17:26:10.957Z
hoc_age
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Xylitol</a> works really well as an alternative to sugar. I've made two coffee's, one with sugar and one with Xylitol, to taste test, and could only just tell the difference. No funny after tastes like many other alternative sweeteners.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T19:19:24.957Z
where do you get xylitol?
Ada Lovelace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T20:35:10.787Z
@AdaLovelace Depends what part of the planet you live on, I imagine. In the Antipodes you can get it as health food stores, where it comes under various brand names (e.g., Perfect Sweet). Also, a search on Amazon brings up a bunch of options.
Evan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T20:53:51.357Z
I live in US. I checked Amazon, and there are a ton of options.
Ada Lovelace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-28T17:29:10.090Z
Just a note, xylitol is deadly for dogs, so keep it away from them.
meskarune
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-08T21:06:59.933Z
2016-11-08T21:06:59.933Z
Evan
<p>Here is one Monkfruit! I find this sugar replacement to be very tasty without the negatives of stevia. It's expensive, but one of the best options if you are looking to be healthy. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.lakanto.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-14T23:13:04.077Z
2016-11-29T16:31:49.767Z
2016-11-29T16:31:49.767Z
Aaron Wallach
<p>Honey works the best. It smoothes taste and adds mild sweetness to your cup.</p>

<p>For the best experience and authentic taste please do not use generic pre-heated honey and go for organic already crystallised honey.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-08T23:49:04.573Z
2016-11-08T23:49:04.573Z
Petro Semeniuk
<p>I am curious about different natural sweetener options that might mix well with coffee. I know about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia" rel="noreferrer">stevia</a> but it gives the coffee a different flavor. Is there anything besides stevia that I'm not aware of? My apologies, I meant natural non-sugar alternatives, I should have specified that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-08T17:28:51.797Z
Do you not want to use actual *sugar*? This is perhaps the most "natural" and common natural sweetener that there is. What are your criteria for selecting a sweetener -- naturally-produced, non-nutritive, minimal off-taste, ...?
hoc_age
<flavor><sugar><tasting>
Are there any natural sweeteners that work well with coffee?
Flap Stack
# Are there any natural sweeteners that work well with coffee?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-08)

I am curious about different natural sweetener options that might mix well with coffee. I know about [stevia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia) but it gives the coffee a different flavor. Is there anything besides stevia that I'm not aware of? My apologies, I meant natural non-sugar alternatives, I should have specified that.

**Tags:** flavor, sugar, tasting

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you not want to use actual *sugar*? This is perhaps the most "natural" and common natural sweetener that there is. What are your criteria for selecting a sweetener -- naturally-produced, non-nutritive, minimal off-taste, ...?  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-11-08. Score: 4

The best *natural* options for sweetening are, in my humble opinion, ***actual sugar*** or sugar syrups. Options include, in general order from less to more distinct taste...

* **table sugar** (sucrose), including common refined white sugar or less-refined options like evaporated cane juice or turbinado;
* **honey**;
* **agave syrup**;
* [**jaggery**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery) or similar minimally-refined sugar;
* **malt syrup**, from e.g., rice or barley;
* **maple syrup** or maple sugar;
* **molasses**.

Though I personally prefer my coffee black and unsweetened, I've used all of these in coffee. Any sweetener will change the taste slightly. The problem with stevia, for me anyway, is that the bitter notes of stevia are overpowering; I can't consume the stuff.

If you're looking for a non-nutritive or lower-calorie alternative, you can look at various [sugar alcohols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_alcohol), which are (or at least *can be*) naturally-produced, lower-calorie variants of sugars. They are produced by various methods, including fermentation.

A good possibility is [xylitol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol), which is somewhat lower in effective calories and nearly as sweet as table sugar with less off-tastes than other sugar alternatives. Another option is erythritol, but may be less-commonly available. World-wide, other options including mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and isomalt may be more common.

Note well: different sugar alcohols may have effects on your digestive system, including bloating and loose stool, especially when consumed in large quantities. Start slowly :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: If this answered your question, consider upvoting and marking as the answer.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-11-08. Score: 1

[Xylitol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol) works really well as an alternative to sugar. I've made two coffee's, one with sugar and one with Xylitol, to taste test, and could only just tell the difference. No funny after tastes like many other alternative sweeteners.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: where do you get xylitol?  
> **username_3**: @AdaLovelace Depends what part of the planet you live on, I imagine. In the Antipodes you can get it as health food stores, where it comes under various brand names (e.g., Perfect Sweet). Also, a search on Amazon brings up a bunch of options.  
> **username_4**: I live in US. I checked Amazon, and there are a ton of options.  
> **username_5**: Just a note, xylitol is deadly for dogs, so keep it away from them.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-11-14. Score: 1

Here is one Monkfruit! I find this sugar replacement to be very tasty without the negatives of stevia. It's expensive, but one of the best options if you are looking to be healthy.

[Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener](http://www.lakanto.com/)


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-11-08. Score: 0

Honey works the best. It smoothes taste and adds mild sweetness to your cup.

For the best experience and authentic taste please do not use generic pre-heated honey and go for organic already crystallised honey.


---

