Today, it seems like there is a coffee house on every block. With the American lifestyle constantly on the move, the boost of caffeine that coffee provides is the way that most people are making it through the day. In fact over 64% of the American population drinks at least one cup of joe per day. So, is coffee good or bad for health? Well, that’s a loaded question.
According to Time magazine, coffee has been shown to have positive health effects such as reducing the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis, and lowering the risk of liver cancer.  But don’t go running to your nearest Starbucks to grab a large, or shall I say Venti, mocha latte with a double shot of espresso and extra whipped cream (is that even a drink?).

There is more to the story than just a good ol’ cup of joe. Black coffee is 5 calories per cup, but sweet additions send caloric intake through the roof, with some coffee beverages reaching 900+ calories. That is almost half of the recommended daily caloric intake to kick off your day. Here are a few tricks that you can do to lower your caloric intake and turn that calorie hazard into a healthy option: