The Nutritional Information of a Butter Toffee K-cup


 by Jill Arens

Except for its caffeine content, one butter-toffee K-Cup from Gloria Jean’s Coffees is about as neutral as a beverage can get. If you’re looking for a drink with more zing than plain water but the same number of calories, this flavored coffee for Keurig machines may have its place in your diet.

Except for its caffeine content, one butter-toffee K-Cup from Gloria Jean's Coffees is about as neutral as a beverage can get. If you're looking for a drink with more zing than plain water but the same number of calories, this flavored coffee for Keurig machines may have its place in your diet. The ground coffee beans and toffee extract in butter-toffee K-Cups offer few nutrients, but at least you can enjoy the flavor without gaining weight.

Fat and Calories

As long as you don't add cream or sugar, butter-toffee K-Cups contain less than one calorie per serving and zero fat, according to a statement from Gloria Jean's Coffees. If you mix creamers or sweeteners into your brew, check the nutrition data on their packaging to get a more realistic picture of how many calories you're imbibing.

Cholesterol

Like all K-Cups from Gloria Jean's Coffees, the butter-toffee variety has no cholesterol. However, one tablespoon of dairy cream has 10 mg of cholesterol, so consider using a substitute if you're watching your cholesterol intake or if you drink several cups each day. One tablespoon of 2 percent milk contains just 1.2 mg of cholesterol.

Caffeine

The amount of caffeine in individual coffee beans can vary, so the actual range for a regular K-Cup is 60 mg to 180 mg of caffeine per cup. "There is some fluctuation in the caffeine content of our coffees, but there are roughly 100 mg of caffeine in a typical 8 oz. cup of coffee," reports Gloria Jean's Coffees.

Benefits of Coffee

Coffee may potentially reduce your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and some lines of cancer, according to the April 2011 issue of "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition." Although coffee doesn't contain much in the way of obvious nutrients, the beans do contain antioxidants, caffeine, chlorogenic acid and other phytochemicals.

Downsides of Coffee

From insomnia to irritability, the potential drawbacks of java serve as a reminder to enjoy the beverage in moderation. By drinking no more than three cups per day, you'll reap the benefits of coffee's micronutrients without consuming too much caffeine. To reduce your risk of heart disease, limit the amount of unfiltered coffee you drink, as it may elevate serum cholesterol. Coffee brewed in a French press or percolator is unfiltered, while K-Cups have paper-filter linings that help block cholesterol-raising compounds.

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