Coffee glycemic index

Coffee has no measurable glycemic index: a 250 ml serving (1 cup) has only 0 g of available carbohydrate, so its glycemic load is about 0 and it barely raises blood sugar on its own.

Also known as: black coffee, espresso

Glycemic indexNone
—
too little carbohydrate
Glycemic loadLow
<1
per 250 ml
  • Serving250 ml
  • Available carbs0 g
  • Fiber0 g
  • Sugars0 g
  • Protein0.3 g
  • Calories3 kcal

Serving: 1 cup.

What to know

Black coffee has no carbohydrate and no GI. Sugar, syrups and milk in coffee drinks are what add a glycemic load.

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Frequently asked questions

Does coffee have a glycemic index?

Not a measurable one. GI can only be tested in foods with enough carbohydrate: the test needs a 25 or 50 g carbohydrate portion. Coffee has 0 g per 100 g, so its direct effect on blood sugar is minimal and its glycemic load is about 0.

Does coffee raise blood sugar?

Barely, on its own. What matters more is what you eat it with: bread, rice, potatoes, sauces or sugary drinks. Pairing carbohydrate foods with protein, fat or fiber tends to soften the rise.

How many carbs are in coffee?

A 250 ml serving has about 0 g of total carbohydrate, including 0 g of fiber, leaving 0 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 0 g of carbohydrate.

Nutrition facts

per 100 gServing (250 ml)
Calories1 kcal3 kcal
Carbohydrates0 g0 g
Available carbs0 g0 g
Fiber0 g0 g
Sugars0 g0 g
Protein0.1 g0.3 g
Fat0 g0.1 g

Source: USDA FoodData Central, Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water (SR Legacy, FDC 171890). Available carbohydrate = total carbohydrate minus fiber.

Sources: Atkinson FS, Brand-Miller JC, Foster-Powell K, Buyken AE, Goletzke J. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(5):1625–1632. USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate each value: Methodology & sources.

Data last reviewed 2026-09-29.