It’s common knowledge that there’s no shortage of people who drink coffee. In fact, there’s currently a coffee shop on every corner.

What’s not as common is the practice of mixing your coffee with other ingredients, like powdered sugar.

Can you use powdered sugar in coffee?

Yes, you can put powdered sugar in coffee. Powdered sugar is just granulated sugar that has been ground into a fine powder. It dissolves easily in liquids and gives coffee a sweet flavor.

Some people also like to add cinnamon or other spices to their coffee with powdered sugar, but more on this later in the article.

Powdered sugar in coffee: Does it taste good?

Powdered sugar in coffee tastes great. The sweetness of the powdered sugar complements the bitterness of the coffee. Additionally, the powder helps to dissolve and mix evenly with the coffee, resulting in a smooth and creamy beverage.

Powdered sugar in coffee.

Powdered sugar is a type of sugar that has been ground into a fine powder. It is also called confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar.

It also doesn’t have a strong taste, so it doesn’t overpower the coffee’s flavor. In fact, many people prefer to use powdered sugar in their coffee because it is not too sweet or too strong.

Below, you’ll find some more information about the different uses of sugar in your coffee, both hot and iced, and I’ll show you different ways of incorporating powdered sugar into your coffee.

Granulated sugar vs. powdered sugar: How do they differ?

The two main differences between granulated sugar and powdered sugar are the size of the sugar crystals and the amount of air that is trapped in the sugar.

Granulated sugar has larger crystals than powdered sugar, and these larger crystals prevent the sugar from dissolving quickly in liquids.

On the other hand, powdered sugar has been ground into a finer powder so that its crystals are much smaller than those of granulated sugar.

This smaller size allows the powdered sugar to dissolve more quickly in liquids.

Granulated sugar and powdered sugar comparison.
Granulated sugar on the left. Powdered sugar on the right

Powdered sugar also contains more air than granulated sugar. This extra air makes it feel lighter when you pick it up, and it also causes the powdered sugar to clump together more easily than granulated sugar.

Another difference between the two sugars has to do with their sweetness levels. Granulated sugar is slightly less sweet than powdered sugar—that’s why recipes usually call for more of it.

Now that you know about the differences between these two sugar variants, you might be wondering if it’ll still taste as good in your cup of joe:

Does powdered sugar taste the same as regular sugar in coffee?

Yes, powdered sugar tastes the same as granulated sugar in coffee. They are both just different types of sugar. Powdered sugar is granulated sugar that has been ground into a powder.

Both sugars will dissolve just as easily in hot liquids like coffee, and they will add the same sweetness and flavor to your coffee drink.

If you’re using brown sugar at home, the flavor will be very different from powdered sugar. It has a molasses flavor that is very distinct and will flavor your coffee in a different way.

Brown sugar in a small cup.

You can read more about adding brown sugar to coffee here if you’re interested in trying it out at home.

Can you put powdered sugar in iced coffee?

Some people like to put a scoop of powdered sugar into their iced coffee. This will sweeten it up and make it a bit more creamy.

You can also use flavored syrups, such as vanilla or hazelnut to give your coffee some extra flavor.

Most often, iced coffees tend to be sweeter than their hot counterpart. This is because it’s most likely sweetened.

If you’d like to incorporate powdered sugar in your iced coffee, you can either add it to your coffee straight or stir it in.

You can also add a serving of whipped cream that has been sweetened with powdered sugar to your coffee.

Homemade vanilla whipped cream, ready to use.
Homemade whipped cream

Both options will give your iced coffee a sweet taste, but the whipped cream will also make your coffee creamier and rounder in flavor.

How do you use powdered sugar in coffee?

You can use powdered sugar to make a simple syrup or add it directly to coffee.

If making a simple syrup, dissolve 1 cup of powdered sugar in 1 cup of hot water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then let cool before using.

You can check out one of my homemade coffee syrups for a step-by-step guide if you’re interested in learning how to make it at home.

To add powdered sugar directly to coffee, start by adding one tablespoon of powdered sugar per 8 ounces of coffee.

Stir the coffee until the sugar has dissolved, then taste and adjust as necessary. Adding too much powdered sugar can make coffee overly sweet and syrupy.

I like to add just one tablespoon of powdered sugar to my coffee – enough to enhance the flavor without making it too sweet.

Adding a tablespoon of powdered sugar to a cup of coffee.

I recommend starting with a small amount and then adding more as needed if you’re new to this.

Are you a fan of hot coffee with whipped cream? Then you can also use whipped cream sweetened with powdered sugar for your hot coffee, just like I mentioned above for the iced coffee.

You can also try adding different add-ins to your coffee along with powdered sugar. A great combination is adding cocoa powder for a chocolatey flavor or cinnamon for a slightly spicy kick.

More coffee add-ins to try

Ready to upgrade your daily coffee?

Here are some coffee add-ins to try today:

And for even more options, check out the coffee add-ins hub here!

Conclusion

Powdered sugar in coffee is a great way to add sweetness and flavor. It’s also a good way to add creaminess to your coffee.

It’s a great way to start your day or to perk yourself up during the afternoon slump.

I’ve shown you how to make it with both hot and iced coffee. So, what are you waiting for? Start adding powdered sugar to your coffee today!

Have you tried adding powdered sugar to coffee before?

Let me know by leaving a comment down below. If you have any other questions regarding coffee, you can also contact me directly by pressing the “Contact Me” button at the top!

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Jeffrey, founder of Your Dream Coffee, is a coffee expert with a background in culinary arts. With hands-on experience in specialty coffee, he shares expert brewing guides, recipes, and reviews to help you craft better coffee at home.

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