6 Worst Coffee Drinks Ranked by Men's Health

If you’ve ever wondered why your favorite coffee drink might be doing more harm than good, a definitive list from Men’s Health reveals the six worst coffee beverages in the U.S. — and they’re packed with sugar, fat, and empty calories. These aren’t just bad choices for weight loss; they barely resemble actual coffee.

According to Men’s Health, the six most unhealthy coffee drinks include two from Starbucks and one from McDonald’s, with calorie counts ranging from 330 to over 1,700. The worst offender delivers nearly a full day’s worth of fat and the sugar equivalent of ten popsicles.

The Problem with Sweetened Coffee Drinks

Men’s Health emphasizes that pure, black coffee can be part of a healthy diet — but once you mix in chocolate, cream, flavored syrups, and whipped toppings, you’re no longer drinking coffee. You’re consuming a dessert in disguise. Researchers tracked New York coffee drinkers and found that around two-thirds of Starbucks customers opt for blended or sweetened drinks, which average 239 calories — compared to just 63 calories in a regular black coffee or tea.

The Six Worst Coffee Drinks on the List

1. Most Unhealthy Chocolate Coffee Drink

Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino (whole milk & whipped cream): 520 calories. This drink contains the equivalent of 75% of your daily recommended fat intake and as much sugar as ten ice cream pops. It’s more dessert than drink.

2. Worst Caramel Coffee Option

McDonald’s Caramel Latte (whole milk, large): 330 calories. Loaded with unnecessary sugar and calories, this latte offers little beyond a caffeine kick and a sugar crash.

3. Most Over-the-Top Hot Chocolate-Style Coffee

Starbucks White Hot Chocolate (whole milk & whipped cream): 640 calories. Expecting a coffee? This drink is essentially a liquid dessert with coffee barely in the mix.

4. Worst Seasonal Coffee Drink

Dunkin’ Donuts Gingerbread Latte (frozen): 450 calories. A holiday favorite that’s heavy on sugar and calories, this seasonal offering is best enjoyed sparingly — if at all.

5. Most Caloric Coffee Drink in the U.S.

Cold Stone Creamery Caramel Latte Lotta: 1,790 calories. Yes, you read that right — nearly a full day’s calories in one coffee-flavored milkshake.

6. Worst “Arctic”-Themed Coffee

Cosi DoubleOh! Arctic Mocha: 434 calories. A frozen mocha that combines excessive calories with a cool name but little nutritional value.

What This Means for Coffee Drinkers

The common thread among these drinks? They’re loaded with additives — chocolate syrup, whipped cream, flavored sauces, and sugary toppings — that transform coffee into a high-calorie treat. Men’s Health’s findings highlight how easily coffee can go from a low-calorie beverage to a major source of added sugar and fat. For those watching their intake or seeking the benefits of black coffee, these drinks are best avoided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Starbucks drink has the most calories on the Men's Health list?

The Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino made with whole milk and whipped cream has 520 calories — the highest among Starbucks drinks listed, and one of the worst overall due to its fat and sugar content.

What makes McDonald’s Caramel Latte so unhealthy?

The McDonald’s Caramel Latte (large, whole milk) contains 330 calories, which come mostly from added sugars and whole milk, offering little nutritional benefit beyond caffeine.

Why is the White Hot Chocolate from Starbucks so high in calories?

The Starbucks White Hot Chocolate with whole milk and whipped cream totals 640 calories — it’s less a coffee drink and more a sweet, dessert-like beverage with high sugar and fat content.

What is the most caloric coffee drink overall?

The Cold Stone Creamery Caramel Latte Lotta holds the record at 1,790 calories, making it more like a milkshake than a coffee drink and far beyond typical calorie counts for beverages.

Are any of these drinks considered ‘coffee’ by specialty standards?

No. Specialty coffee typically refers to beverages where coffee flavor is the focus, often black or lightly modified. These drinks are dessert beverages with minimal coffee character.

Does black coffee have fewer calories?

Yes. According to the article, a regular black coffee or tea contains only about 63 calories, compared to 239 calories on average for sweetened Starbucks blends — and far less than the worst offenders on the list.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Black Coffee

For coffee lovers avoiding high-calorie drinks, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend for a balanced medium roast with notes of caramel and dark cherry, or their Yirgacheffe for bright citrus and floral tones. Both shine as black coffees and keep your intake clean and simple. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.