Worst Coffee Drinks Ranked by Men’s Health

If you’ve ever wondered whether your favorite coffee drink is doing more harm than good, a definitive list from Men’s Health might change your mind. The U.S. men’s lifestyle magazine recently ranked the six worst coffee beverages commonly sold in America—highlighting just how much sugar, fat, and empty calories can hide in popular coffee shop orders.

The short answer? Skip the Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino with whole milk and whipped cream (520 calories), McDonald’s Caramel Latte (330 calories), and especially the Cosi DoubleOh Arctic Mocha (434 calories). These drinks pack far more sugar and calories than a typical cup of black coffee (just 63 calories).

What Makes a Coffee Drink ‘Bad’?

According to Men’s Health, the issue isn’t coffee itself—it’s what gets added to it. Pure, black coffee is low in calories and has been linked to various health benefits. But when you mix in chocolate, cream, flavored syrups, egg-based ingredients, and whipped toppings, you’re no longer drinking coffee. You’re consuming a dessert in a cup—with a calorie count to match.

The magazine’s researchers tracked New York coffee drinkers and found that around two-thirds of Starbucks customers opt for blended or flavored drinks. On average, those drinks contain 239 calories, compared to just 63 calories in a regular brewed coffee or tea.

The Worst Offenders, Ranked by Calories

Here are the six coffee drinks that made Men’s Health’s blacklist, along with their shocking calorie counts:

• Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino (whole milk and whipped cream): 520 calories—equivalent to 75% of your daily recommended fat intake and the sugar equivalent of 10 popsicles.
• McDonald’s Caramel Latte (whole milk, large): 330 calories—packed with unnecessary sugars and calories.
• Starbucks White Hot Chocolate (whole milk and whipped cream): 640 calories—more like a dessert than a coffee.
• Dunkin’ Donuts Gingerbread Latte (iced): 450 calories—a seasonal coffee with high sugar and fat content.
• Cold Stone Creamery Caramel Latte Lotta (with ice cream): 1,790 calories—the most calorie-laden coffee drink on the list.
• Cosi DoubleOh Arctic Mocha: 434 calories—an indulgent “Arctic”-themed mocha with excessive calories.

Why These Drinks Are Problematic

Beyond the sheer calorie count, these drinks often contain high levels of added sugars, saturated fats, and artificial ingredients. Regular consumption of such high-calorie coffee beverages can contribute to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and other health issues—especially when consumed frequently or in place of plain coffee or water.

Men’s Health emphasized that many consumers don’t realize just how unhealthy these popular drinks are. The magazine’s investigation revealed that most people ordering these drinks aren’t making informed choices about the sugar and calorie content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most unhealthy coffee drink according to Men’s Health?

The most unhealthy coffee drink on the list is the Cold Stone Creamery Caramel Latte Lotta, with a staggering 1,790 calories. That’s more than many fast-food meals and roughly equivalent to consuming multiple desserts in one cup.

Which Starbucks drinks made the worst coffee list?

Two Starbucks drinks were listed: the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino with whole milk and whipped cream (520 calories), and the White Hot Chocolate with whole milk and whipped cream (640 calories). Both are high in sugar and fat.

Did McDonald’s have a drink on the worst coffee list?

Yes, McDonald’s Caramel Latte (large, whole milk) was included with 330 calories. It’s criticized for its high calorie and sugar content without offering much nutritional value.

Are black coffees healthier than these drinks?

Yes. A standard black coffee contains only about 63 calories and no added sugar or fat, making it a much healthier choice compared to the high-calorie, sweetened coffee drinks on this list.

Why does Men’s Health call these drinks ‘not really coffee’?

Men’s Health argues that true coffee is just brewed coffee beans. Once you add chocolate, syrups, cream, or whipped toppings, the drink becomes a dessert-like beverage that happens to contain coffee, rather than being coffee itself.

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