Heavy Whipping Cream in Coffee – Is It Worth Trying?

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Chris Clark

Chris Clark is the co-founder and chief content editor of BrewCoffeeHome.com. With a passion for all things java, Chris has been a coffee blogger for the past 3 years and shares his expertise in coffee brewing with the readers. He's a hands-on expert, loves testing coffee equipment, and has written most of the in-depth reviews featured on the site. When he's not whipping up delicious drinks or experimenting with the latest coffee gadgets, Chris is exploring the local cafe. You can reach him at [email protected].


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If you are a coffee drinker, you probably have your set routine for your coffee. The right amount of sugar and cream is essential to your daily fix. However, what if you are out of your regular coffee creamer, and all you have is some heavy whipping cream? Can you use heavy cream in coffee? 

The short answer is yes – a heavy whipping cream is a great option for thick, creamy coffee. However, it comes with some health risks and probably should be saved for special treatment. Here is a guide on heavy whipping cream and how to use it in your coffee. 

Can You Use Heavy Whipping Cream in Coffee?

Heavy whipping cream is perfectly acceptable for coffee drinks, especially flavored and mixed ones. You can use it as a regular creamer or as part of a frappuccino or other mixed coffee drink. Although you shouldn’t use too much heavy whipping cream, it’s a great addition to a cup of coffee.

coffee-topped-with-whipped-cream

Heavy whipping cream, not to be confused with light whipping cream or whipped cream, is a dairy product with a lot of natural milkfat and thickness. Heavy cream is usually used to make whipped cream but can also be used in recipes, sauces, and desserts. 

Heavy cream is part of half-and-half, usually half-heavy cream and half milk. If you usually use half and half instead of creamer in your coffee, you will likely enjoy using just heavy cream. It is much thicker than regular milk or creamer and has a sweet flavor. 

Does Coffee With Heavy Whipping Cream Taste Good?

Heavy whipping cream is thick, creamy, and slightly sweet. If you like black coffee, you will likely be overwhelmed by the taste and creamy texture of your coffee. However, you will love heavy whipping cream if you like a deep, rich flavor and a sweet, milky taste. 

Although coffee’s taste is largely individual and subjective, heavy whipping cream is a favorite addition to coffee amongst many baristas. Coffee with heavy whipping cream is indulgent treat coffee lovers enjoy all over the world. In addition, it’s an excellent choice if you’re trying to avoid sweeteners (but don’t mind a bit of extra dairy fat). 

delicious-coffee-with-heavy-whipping-cream

What Coffee Pairs Well With Heavy Cream?

While any coffee works with heavy cream, it does have a thicker, richer flavor. Medium and dark-roasted coffee beans are the best options for a heavy-cream coffee drink since they have a stronger coffee flavor. Even if the drink is chilled (as coffee with heavy cream often is), a medium or dark roast is the ideal type to mix with heavy whipping cream. It also pairs well with both hot coffee and iced coffee, and cold brew coffee.

If you use lighter roasted beans with a heavy whipping cream, don’t use as much cream and mix it with lighter syrups or flavors.

can-you-add-heavy-whipping-cream-to-coffee

Benefits of Adding Heavy Whipping Cream to Coffee

While there are many taste benefits to adding heavy cream to coffee, there aren’t many health benefits. The coffee will taste rich and creamy and won’t need as much sugar, but heavy whipping cream adds a decent amount of dairy fat to your cup of coffee. Like butter coffee (Bulletproof coffee), it’s a great option for those who are on a Keto diet.

Sugar Replacement

If you usually drink coffee with sugar, try heavy whipping cream. Its natural coffee sweetness makes it easy to forego another sweetener in your coffee. While heavy whipping cream has some protein and Vitamin A, its main health benefit is the calcium and bone strength you get from whole milk [1]. 

Richer Flavor

The benefits of heavy whipping cream are multiple when it comes to taste. Compared to adding regular or skim milk, almond milk, this cream makes a cup of coffee richer, sweeter, and creamier and doesn’t water down the flavor of the coffee at all. Heavy whipping cream is one of the best options if you’re looking for the most flavorful natural creamer available. 

Potential Health Risks of Combining Heavy Cream With Coffee

Of course, heavy cream’s high amount of fat can become a potential health risk. While coffee has some natural health benefits and heavy cream has a few vitamins [2], the fat levels in heavy whipping cream are the biggest issue. 

As is the case in most situations, moderation is key when using heavy cream in your coffee. If used as an occasional treat and in small amounts, heavy cream will not affect your overall health. However, if you use heavy cream every day and combine it with a generally unhealthy lifestyle, it could lead to several health issues. 

A diet heavy in fat has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and multiple other health issues [3]. Your mental health can also be affected, especially if combined with too much caffeine and not enough water. It’s important to drink plenty of water and watch your caffeine intake every day so as not to upset your general health equilibrium. 

How to Use Heavy Whipping Cream in Your Coffee

If you love coffee cream, don’t be scared by these potential health risks. Use it in moderation, and you can enjoy the creamer without worrying about your health. Here is a guide on how to use heavy whipping cream in coffee for the best effect. 

How Much Heavy Cream To Use

When pouring a cup of coffee, it’s crucial to use the right amount of creamer. With too much creamer, your coffee will be milky and not as flavorful. With too little, you won’t get the benefits of cream in your coffee. 

Heavy cream is thicker and sweeter than regular creamer, so you can use less of it with a black cup of coffee. While the exact amount will vary depending on your taste, start with a teaspoon of heavy cream. 

Heavy Cream or Heavy Whipping Cream: What’s the Difference?

You might be wondering what the difference between heavy cream and heavy whipping cream is. In reality, there’s very little difference between the two. However, heavy whipping cream can be whipped or whisked into whipped cream (which regular cream cannot because it doesn’t have enough fat). 

You can also use whipped cream in coffee. If you use whipped cream or whip some heavy cream into whipped cream, you will add this on top of your coffee. However, heavy whipping cream is poured into the coffee with the rest of the liquids. 

Syrups and Flavors

Although it has a sweet, milky flavor, the profile of heavy whipping cream is relatively neutral. You can mix it with your favorite coffee flavors and additives without worrying about the taste being compromised. Heavy whipping cream works especially well with warm flavors like caramel, vanilla, or chocolate syrup. 

How to Make Heavy-Whipped Cream for Coffee

If you don’t have whipped cream, you can use whipping cream to make your own without going to the store. 

making-heavy-whipping-cream-at-home

Ingredients:

  • whipping cream
  • Flavoring (e.g., vanilla extract, powdered sugar, etc.)

Equipment:

  • Bowl
  • Mixer with a whisk attachment

Step By Step Instructions:

  • Pour a small amount of whipping cream into a bowl. 
  • Using a mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream until it forms small peaks. Usually, this takes two to three minutes. As the air enters the cream, it becomes lighter and fluffier. 
  • Add preferred flavoring and fold it into the mix (optional).

This whipped cream will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks as long as it’s in an airtight container. 

Whether at Starbucks or a local coffee shop, the baristas will surely have some heavy whipping cream for classic coffee staples. Here are some examples of drinks that regularly use heavy whipping cream. 

Vienna Coffee

The most famous coffee that uses whipped cream is Viennese coffee. Supposedly created in Austra, Vienna coffee is a shot of espresso topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder. It’s usually served in a tall glass and enjoyed in an Austrian coffee shop. 

Espresso con Panna

Espresso con Panna translates to “espresso with cream.” All it is a shot of espresso topped with heavy whipping cream or, more commonly, whipped cream. It’s a delicious and quick way to get some whipped cream and espresso. Check our Espresso Con Panna recipe here.

espresso-con-panna-in-a-glass

Pumpkin Spice Latte

A fall favorite, the famous pumpkin spice latte isn’t only delicious because of the pumpkin spice flavoring. It also has a good amount of heavy cream in it, which helps make the drink sweet and rich. 

Most Frappuccinos at Starbucks

At Starbucks, the richest, sweetest, and creamiest drink is the frappuccino. Made with coffee, sweetener, and heavy cream, this is the best way to get heavy whipping cream when you’re on the go. Many famous Starbucks drinks are topped with heavy whipping cream.

whipped-cream-on-top-of-frappuccino

Final Thoughts

With this guide to heavy cream in your coffee, you should be able to enjoy a new, less expensive form of creamer than the type you might have been buying at the grocery store. With heavy whipping cream, you will enjoy rich, creamy coffee and be able to use it in other recipes. 

References:

  • [1] Are There Health Benefits of Heavy Whipping Cream? – https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-of-heavy-whipping-cream
  • [2] 9 Unique Benefits of Coffee – https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee
  • [3] Oils and spreads – https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/oils-and-spreads
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Chris Clark

Chris Clark is the co-founder and chief content editor of BrewCoffeeHome.com. With a passion for all things java, Chris has been a coffee blogger for the past 3 years and shares his expertise in coffee brewing with the readers. He's a hands-on expert, loves testing coffee equipment, and has written most of the in-depth reviews featured on the site. When he's not whipping up delicious drinks or experimenting with the latest coffee gadgets, Chris is exploring the local cafe.