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Coffee lovers have found their latest summer obsession: the coffee slushie.
The icy drink has been making the rounds on social media, with home baristas freezing brewed coffee before blending it into a frosty, caffeine-packed treat.
While the frozen beverage looks indulgent, experts say the drink itself isn’t necessarily any less healthy than your usual cup of joe. Rather, it all depends on what you add to it.
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“Honestly, the frozen format itself doesn’t make coffee any more or less healthy than drinking it hot,” South Carolina-based dietitian nutritionist Lauren Manaker told Fox News Digital. “It’s still just coffee, just colder and more fun for summer.”
In fact, a homemade coffee slushie can be a smarter choice than other frozen beverages, Manaker said.
“A homemade coffee slushie can actually be a healthier option, since traditional slushies are typically loaded with added sugars and offer little nutritional value,” she said.
To make the drink more satisfying, she recommends using dairy milk.
“Opting for dairy milk brings a unique combination of 13 essential nutrients and quality protein together that can help you feel more satiated, all with no added sugars,” Manaker said. “If you’re lactose intolerant, lactose-free dairy milk is a great option that keeps those same nutritional benefits intact, just without the lactose.”
The biggest nutritional pitfall isn’t the coffee but the extras, Manaker cautioned.
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“Flavored syrups, sweetened creamers and sugary toppings are what can quietly turn your everyday iced coffee into more of a dessert,” she said.
Chandra Holt, the Texas-based founder of Incredibrew, said coffee naturally lends itself to the frozen format.
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“A cup of coffee is 95% water, so if you freeze it, you don’t need to add ice, so it makes a great slushie,” she said, adding that the recipe works with either cold brew or hot coffee that’s been cooled before freezing.
For the best flavor, Holt recommends brewing a stronger batch.
“The key is using strong coffee so you get a lot of coffee flavor after you add the milk,” she noted.
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