Healthy Eating 101 The Dietitian-Approved Hack That Makes My Coffee Taste So Much Better Give your morning joe a flavor boost—no milk or sugar required. By Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Instagram Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, has been with EatingWell for three years and works as the associate nutrition editor for the brand. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 31, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Images / Hinterhaus Productions Coffee is one of the things I look forward to the most when I get out of bed in the morning, and I'm sure many people can relate. Coffee's flavor and caffeine content makes it one of the most popular drinks on the planet and is a must-have for many of us to start our days. Black coffee has just five calories per cup and is packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients. It can even provide health benefits to your heart and brain and help lower your diabetes risk. But cream and sugar can quickly up the added sugar and fat content of your cup (in fact, sugar-sweetened beverages are the number one source of added sugar in most Americans' diets). Luckily, there's an easy hack that can help moderate coffee's bitterness without adding any sugar or cream. Simply add a few shakes of cinnamon to your coffee grounds before brewing. After the first time I tried this, I was hooked. It will make your house smell like a bakery and give your coffee a subtle but pleasant bit of spice. The spice adds flavor and richness, making your coffee more satisfying without having to add anything else to it. Aside from its amazing aroma, cinnamon has a slew of health benefits of its own. It has potent anti-inflammatory effects that can play a therapeutic role in lowering cholesterols, reducing cancer risk and helping manage neurodegenerative diseases. It can also help alleviate muscle soreness from exercise. Not to mention, research has shown that it might be the best spice to eat for steadier blood sugar, which can be especially helpful if you have prediabetes or diabetes. Coffee is a standby for many people across the globe, and it is packed plenty of health benefits. If you typically add cream or sugar to cut the bitterness, try adding a shake of cinnamon to the grounds before you brew your next pot. This will help add flavor without added sugar and will help you reap the benefits of cinnamon, too. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit