This is because French vanilla is one of those strange coffee orders that every coffee shop has a different take on, and for good reason: It can be made a variety of ways depending upon preference.
When I think of a French vanilla, the first drink that pops into my head is a hot and creamy French vanilla latte. However, I’ve learned the hard way that a French vanilla is not always a latte-style drink. Sometimes it’s just a regular black coffee with a hint of vanilla flavoring.
This leaves us with a few questions, doesn’t it? First, is French vanilla sweet? And, second, is French vanilla more healthy for you than a regular cup of coffee? If these are questions that continue to haunt your mind, then you’re in the right place.
Is French Vanilla Sweet?
This is a bit of a difficult question to answer because—technically—French vanilla can be as sweet as you like depending upon what you add to it.
If you prefer minimal sweetness, then you can literally just brew a cup of French vanilla coffee—French vanilla coffee is typically a medium-roast coffee with vanilla flavoring or extract—leave it black, and call it a day.
On the flip side, if you prefer a sweeter French vanilla, then there are all types of modifications you can make to your drink to increase the sweetness: Add syrup, flavoring, milk, or creamer. You can even take a note out of my book and turn that plain French vanilla into a French vanilla latte.
Is French Vanilla Healthy?
French vanilla is not necessarily healthy or unhealthy when compared to a regular cup of coffee.
Caffeine-wise, a French vanilla has about the same amount of caffeine per cup as a regular cup of coffee: A regular 8-ounce cup of coffee usually contains 95-200mg of caffeine while the same-sized French vanilla coffee contains around 150mg of caffeine.
Again, though—as with any coffee—a French vanilla can easily become healthy or unhealthy depending upon what you add to it.
For instance, adding sugary creamers and syrups to your French vanilla is going to boost the sugar content. So, if you’re trying to cut back your sugar intake, perhaps just brewing a cup of plain black French vanilla coffee at home—rather than going out and ordering a French vanilla latte from Starbucks—is the best option.
If you really want to enhance that vanilla flavor but want to avoid the extra sugar and calories that come with regular creamers and syrups, you could also make your French vanilla with sugar-free syrups and fat-free creamers. This way, you still get that extra kick of flavor without the added sugar.
