How Bad Is It Really to Drink Artificially Flavored Coffee Every Day?

Vanilla, hazelnut, caramel. There's no shortage of artificially flavored coffees available out there. And it makes sense: 63 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, per the National Coffee Association. Naturally, there needs to be a flavor for every kind of coffee drinker.

But if you're a fiend for French vanilla, you may be wondering: Just how healthy ‌are‌ those faux flavors in my morning cup?

Below, we break down the basics of the common additives and ask health experts for their take on the question: Is drinking artificially flavored coffee every day "bad" for you?

There's a good chance you've scanned a food label and seen the words "artificial flavors" listed among the ingredients. The vague term is essentially a catchall that refers to any flavoring agents that ‌aren't‌ derived from natural sources like spices, fruits, vegetables, herbs or animal products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The catch? Artificial and natural flavors (which can actually be chemically identical) serve the same purpose: to provide flavor — not nutrients — to food substances, says Mary Matone, RD, a registered dietitian at the virtual private practice Culina Health.

What's more, artificial flavors may undergo even ‌more‌ rigorous laboratory testing compared to natural flavors, per Harvard University. So there's that.

Not really, no. The effects of drinking artificially flavored coffee every day haven't been widely studied among casual coffee drinkers.

In general, artificial flavors are thought to be "safe for consumption at intended levels," per Michigan State University Center Research on Ingredient Safety. But what about exposure at much greater levels?

Research suggests that a very high exposure to various food flavorings (think: among manufacturing plant workers) may raise one's risk of lung disease, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Of course, it's important to note that mixing food chemicals day in and day out is nowhere near the same as sipping a cuppa' French vanilla on your way to work.

Flavor agents that contain any of the nine most common food allergens must disclose their presence, but less common allergens are not required to be listed, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

"Anyone with allergies, especially rare food allergies, should be extra careful when consuming foods [or drinks] with added flavors, as we often don't know what chemicals are contained in these flavorings and some could cause an allergic reaction," Matone says.

"While it isn't necessary for everyone to completely eliminate products that contain artificial flavors, we should consider the amounts of these foods and drinks that we consume, especially if we're aiming to follow an anti-inflammatory diet," Matone says.

That is, artificial flavors are typically found in processed foods and drinks that also contain other pro-inflammatory ingredients, like certain plant oils and refined sugars.

When it comes to artificially flavored coffees, the beans themselves aren't usually sweetened. The creamer and three pumps of caramel syrup you added to your flavored coffee though? Well, that's another story…

The most nutritious way to flavor your coffee is to DIY. Buy unflavored beans (bonus points if they're organic) and then add your own mix-ins, like antioxidant-rich spices.

"Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg or cocoa powder are a few fun ideas to get started with," Matone says. "In addition to tasting good, many of these spices have anti-inflammatory properties, which can give your morning coffee an extra nutritional boost."

Cow's milk or unsweetened plant-based milks are low-sugar ways to lighten up your cup. If you're committed to creamer, be a label detective and check out what's in your go-to product.

"Coffee creamers often contain thickening and stabilizing agents like carrageenan as well as partially hydrogenated oils," Matone says. "These ingredients are important to consider, as some have been linked with negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease."

Many creamers are also sweetened and their added sugars can add up quickly, particularly for people who are trying to manage their blood sugar levels.

"There are no major health risks associated with consuming artificially flavored drinks regularly," says Megan Meyer, PhD, senior director of science communications at the International Food Information Council (IFIC).

Still, if you're trying to minimize the amount of processed foods and drinks in your diet, consider opting for unflavored coffee beans and adding your own nourishing ingredients, like blood sugar-stabilizing cinnamon, for some natural flavor.

"When it comes to good nutrition, what matters most is our eating [and drinking] patterns over the long haul," Meyer notes. "And of course it's important to keep caffeine consumption in check." Aim to stay below 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which comes out to about four 8-ounce cups of coffee.