Clove in Coffee Benefits: Uses, Recipe, Weight Loss & What Science Says

Adding clove in coffee has become increasingly popular among people looking for a spiced morning drink with potential digestive, antioxidant, and weight-management benefits.

Cloves contain aromatic compounds, including eugenol, while coffee provides caffeine and naturally occurring plant compounds. Together, they create a warm, spicy drink that can be enjoyed with very few calories when prepared without sugar or heavy cream.

But does clove coffee really help with weight loss? And are the health claims surrounding this combination supported by science?

Here’s what you should know about clove in coffee benefits, how to prepare it, how much clove to use, and possible side effects.

What Happens When You Put Clove in Coffee?

Adding a small amount of ground clove or whole cloves to coffee changes both the flavor and the nutritional profile of the drink.

Cloves have a strong, warm, slightly sweet flavor. They contain eugenol, an aromatic plant compound that has been studied for antioxidant and other biological properties.

Coffee, meanwhile, naturally contains caffeine unless you use decaf.

When combined, the result is essentially a spiced coffee. There is currently no strong clinical evidence showing that combining the two creates a special therapeutic effect beyond what each ingredient may provide individually.

If you enjoy experimenting with coffee combinations, you may also like this guide to coffee, ginger, lemon, and honey benefits.

Potential Clove in Coffee Benefits

1. Adds Antioxidant Plant Compounds

Cloves are particularly rich in eugenol and other plant compounds with antioxidant activity.

Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative damage.

However, most studies examining concentrated eugenol or clove extracts use doses and preparations that are very different from the tiny amount of clove normally added to coffee.

So drinking clove coffee should not be viewed as a medical treatment.

2. Makes Coffee Flavorful Without Much Sugar

One practical benefit of cloves is flavor.

A pinch of clove can give coffee a naturally warm, sweet-spice aroma without requiring flavored syrups or several teaspoons of sugar.

This can be helpful if you’re trying to reduce calories in your drinks.

For more ideas on lowering overall calorie intake, see this low-calorie food list.

3. May Fit Into a Weight-Loss Diet

Plain coffee and cloves contain very few calories.

That means clove coffee can fit into a calorie-conscious diet if you avoid adding large amounts of:

• Sugar
• Honey
• Sweetened creamers
• Flavored syrups
• Heavy cream

The main weight-management advantage comes from keeping the drink low in calories.

Coffee and caffeine have been studied for possible effects on energy expenditure and body weight, but the results are mixed and the effects are generally modest. PubMed

If you’re interested in similar coffee combinations, you can also read about lemon ginger coffee for weight loss.

Does Clove in Coffee Help With Weight Loss?

There is no strong clinical evidence showing that adding cloves to coffee causes significant weight loss.

This is important.

Clove coffee does not:

• Melt belly fat
• Detox body fat
• Cause rapid weight loss
• Replace a calorie deficit
• Work like a weight-loss medication

Coffee contains caffeine, and some research suggests caffeine may modestly influence energy expenditure or body weight. However, research on appetite is inconsistent, and coffee should not be considered a weight-loss treatment. PubMed

Cloves themselves have not been well studied in humans as a weight-loss ingredient.

So the best way to view clove coffee is as a flavorful, low-calorie beverage that may replace sweeter drinks.

Can Clove Coffee Burn Belly Fat?

No evidence shows that clove coffee selectively burns belly fat.

Fat loss cannot be targeted to a specific part of the body simply by drinking a particular beverage.

Reducing abdominal fat generally requires overall fat loss through a sustainable calorie deficit, physical activity, adequate sleep, and long-term dietary habits.

If you’re comparing popular weight-loss drinks, this miracle weight loss drink recipe explains another viral approach.

Clove Coffee and Digestion

Cloves have traditionally been used in food and herbal preparations for digestive comfort.

However, evidence specifically showing that clove coffee improves digestion in humans is limited.

Coffee itself can stimulate bowel activity in some people, while others find that it triggers:

• Acid reflux
• Stomach discomfort
• Bloating
• Loose stools

Adding cloves will not necessarily prevent those effects.

If coffee irritates your stomach, adding more spices may actually make the drink less comfortable for some people.

Clove Coffee and Blood Sugar

Eugenol has been studied in laboratory and animal research for potential metabolic effects.

However, much of this research is preclinical rather than based on people drinking clove coffee.

For example, research on eugenol in hyperglycemic animal models has shown interesting metabolic effects, but these findings cannot automatically be applied to ordinary clove consumption in humans. PubMed

So clove coffee should not be used as a treatment for high blood sugar or diabetes.

How to Make Clove Coffee

You only need a small amount of clove because the flavor is strong.

Clove in Coffee Benefits: Uses, Recipe, Weight Loss & What Science Says

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• Author: Janet
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 serving 1x

Print Recipe

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Description

A simple warm coffee flavored with a small amount of clove and optional cinnamon. This easy homemade spiced coffee takes just 5 minutes to prepare.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
• 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, optional
• Sweetener to taste, optional

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Instructions

1. Brew 1 cup of coffee using your preferred method.
2. Pour the hot coffee into a mug.
3. Add the ground cloves and stir well.
4. Add the cinnamon, if using.
5. Add milk or sweetener if desired.
6. Stir again and serve warm.

Notes

Start with only 1/16 teaspoon of ground cloves because the flavor is strong. For a milder version, add 1 whole clove while brewing and remove it before serving. If you are sensitive to caffeine, use decaf coffee. Do not use clove oil in this recipe because it is much more concentrated than culinary cloves.

• Prep Time: 2 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 minutes
• Category: Drinks
• Method: Brewed
• Cuisine: American

How Much Clove Should You Put in Coffee?

For one cup of coffee, start with approximately:

1/16 teaspoon ground cloves

You can increase it slightly to:

1/8 teaspoon

if you enjoy a stronger flavor.

Using much more usually overwhelms the coffee.

You can also add 1 whole clove to coffee while brewing and remove it before drinking.

There is no scientifically established dose of clove in coffee for weight loss.

Whole Cloves vs Ground Cloves in Coffee

Both work, but they give different results.

Ground Cloves

Ground cloves blend quickly into coffee and produce a stronger flavor.

Use them sparingly.

Whole Cloves

Whole cloves produce a milder infusion and are easier to remove.

You can add one clove during brewing or steep it briefly in hot coffee.

For everyday use, whole cloves may be easier if you want a subtle flavor.

Clove and Cinnamon Coffee

Clove and cinnamon pair especially well together.

Try:

• 1 cup coffee
• 1/16 teaspoon ground clove
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Cinnamon gives the coffee a sweeter aroma without necessarily adding sugar.

This combination works especially well during fall and winter.

Clove, Ginger, and Coffee

Ginger is another spice commonly combined with coffee.

A small pinch of ginger plus clove creates a stronger, warming flavor.

YumaRecipes already has a full guide to ginger lemon coffee if you want another variation.

Best Time to Drink Clove Coffee

There is no scientifically proven “best time” to drink clove coffee for weight loss.

Morning is the most practical time for many people because coffee contains caffeine.

Drinking caffeinated coffee too late in the day may interfere with sleep, especially in caffeine-sensitive individuals.

Poor sleep can make weight management more difficult, so timing coffee earlier in the day may be more useful than searching for a special fat-burning time.

Should You Drink Clove Coffee on an Empty Stomach?

You can, but it is not necessary.

Some people tolerate black coffee on an empty stomach without problems.

Others experience:

• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Stomach irritation
• Acid reflux

Cloves are also strongly aromatic, so the combination may feel intense on an empty stomach.

If it bothers you, drink it with or after breakfast instead.

Clove Coffee Side Effects

Culinary amounts of cloves are generally very different from concentrated clove oil or supplements.

Still, excessive clove intake may cause problems.

Potential issues include:

• Stomach irritation
• Mouth irritation
• Nausea
• Strong burning sensation
• Increased bleeding risk at high supplemental doses

Eugenol can influence blood clotting, so people taking anticoagulant medication should be especially cautious with concentrated clove products.

Using a small culinary amount in coffee is not the same as taking clove oil or high-dose supplements.

Is It Safe to Drink Clove Coffee Every Day?

For most healthy adults, using a small culinary amount of clove in coffee is likely very different from taking medicinal doses.

But more is not better.

A small pinch is enough.

Avoid drinking large amounts of concentrated clove preparations every day without medical guidance.

Also remember that the coffee itself contributes caffeine.

Your total caffeine intake matters more than whether your coffee contains cloves.

Clove Coffee vs Regular Coffee

Regular coffee and clove coffee are nutritionally quite similar when both are served black.

The main difference is the added spice.

Clove coffee may provide:

• Stronger flavor
• Additional plant compounds
• Less need for sugary flavorings

But there is no evidence that adding cloves turns regular coffee into a special weight-loss beverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Clove in coffee benefits mainly come from turning ordinary coffee into a flavorful, low-calorie spiced drink.

Cloves contain eugenol and other plant compounds, while coffee provides caffeine and naturally occurring antioxidants.

However, there is no convincing evidence that adding cloves to coffee burns fat or causes substantial weight loss.

If you enjoy the flavor, use a small amount and keep the drink simple.

The biggest advantage for weight management is likely not a mysterious fat-burning effect, but the ability to enjoy flavorful coffee without adding lots of sugar or high-calorie syrups.