# Black coffee and dark chocolate **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [November 22, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053 "2025-11-22T20:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/21 "2025-11-23T07:41:20Z")
Then a link should be easy to find. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/22 "2025-11-23T11:21:46Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Word is that black coffee and dark chocolate are good for your health I can’t speak for white chocolate, but coffee contains (obviously) caffeine; and chocolate, theobromine, both of which are mildly addictive. Caffeine is physically addictive, theobromine is only mentally addictive. There has been some speculation - though I have not seen an actual study - that theobromine mimics chemicals released in womens brains during orgasm. On the other hand… theobromine also is apparently good for women in general This is a somewhat dense scientific article, but the abstract suggests both caffeine and theobromine are a net positive. > **[Psychopharmacology of theobromine in healthy volunteers](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3672386/)** > > Theobromine, a methylxanthine related to caffeine and present in high levels in cocoa, may contribute to the appeal of chocolate. However, currently evidence for this is limited. We conducted a within-subjects placebo-controlled study of a wide ... Later edit: I cannot recommend enough the book “From Chocolate to Morphine” (Andrew Weil) which goes into details of how common household foods/substances actually contain drugs) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/23 "2025-11-23T14:01:14Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Caffeine is physically addictive, theobromine is only mentally addictive. I am seeing a lot of sources online saying this, but I can say that I do go through what seems to be physical withdrawal symptoms when I go without chocolate. They’re more mild than the withdrawal symptoms I hear of from caffeine addicts, but that might just mean that I’m not very addicted to theobromine. Not that I’m particularly worried. Theobromine addiction, or even caffeine addiction, is fairly mild in its sociological impact. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/24 "2025-11-23T14:47:50Z")
Chocolate also contains caffeine. You might get withdrawal from the caffeine component. Both coffee and chocolate are high in healthful antioxidants. Tea, as well. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/25 "2025-11-23T14:58:06Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > What exactly is the negative effect of dairy upon the black and the dark? It’s thought that the casein protein in milk binds with the beneficial phytochemicals in coffee and tea, reducing their effectiveness. The same thing may be happening with milk chocolate. > **[Coffee Benefits Blocked by Adding Milk? | NutritionFacts.org](https://nutritionfacts.org/blog/coffee-benefits-blocked-by-adding-milk/)** > > I open my video Does Adding Milk Block the Benefits of Coffee? with a graph from a study of mortality versus coffee consumption that suggests coffee ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/26 "2025-11-23T17:00:37Z")
That’s an interesting article, but it kinda suggests that you only get benefits if you take your black coffee, tea, or chocolate on an empty stomach. And almost no one does that, people typically consume coffee and tea with breakfast. (And often with milk.) And yet, observational studies show benefits. So it’s really unlikely that adding milk negates all the value. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/27 "2025-11-23T17:42:21Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It’s thought that the casein protein in milk binds with the beneficial phytochemicals in coffee and tea, reducing their effectiveness. The same thing may be happening with milk chocolate. Thank you! This is what I was asking about. ---
**Author:** ![fischersd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fischersd/32/20113_2.png) [@fischersd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fischersd)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/28 "2025-11-23T17:54:23Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > cream They’re likely both stated to be healthy, in part, for their lack of sugar. Carbs are evil due to them requiring insulin in your system for processing (and insulin is inflammatory). High carb diets are the cause of cardiovascular disease….despite the efforts of the sugar lobbyists. Natural, whole foods, such as carrots or apples, you have that fibre to slow down the carb (glucose) absorption, so you don’t get the spike in insulin production….being easier on your system. Me, I use high fat (33%) whipping cream in my coffee - virtually carb free. Fat’s actually GOOD for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/29 "2025-11-23T18:47:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Chocolate also contains caffeine. You might get withdrawal from the caffeine component. I get a lot more caffeine from my daily cup of tea than I do from my daily chocolate. When I switch to decaf tea, I don’t notice a difference. When I keep drinking caffeinated tea but cut the chocolate, I do. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/30 "2025-11-25T14:30:17Z")
I tried to quickly find a published study of that milk blocking the antioxidant impacts of coffee and couldn’t. What I did find was this opposite conclusion - > **[Milk protein modulates antioxidant activity and metabolome stability in...](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225007295)** > > Milk is frequently added to coffee to enhance its flavor; however, its effect on antioxidant compounds and related metabolite profiles remains poorly … > Results indicated that milk addition facilitated the formation of polyphenol-protein complexes, increasing the antioxidant properties. The “word is” is indeed based primarily based on the fact that dark chocolate typically has significantly more of the various antioxidants per unit weight than milk chocolate does, and much less of the added sugar and added fats. The latter tends to lead to eating more than the prudent one ounce indulgence. But yeah conclusions from correlations are to made with cautions concerning causations be it coffee or cacao. A [big recent study](https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/8/749/7928425) to add to the mix that found morning coffee consumption was of much higher benefit than drinking all day, they speculate for two potential reasons: > Two potential mechanisms could explain our findings. First, consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt circadian rhythms. A previous clinical trial showed that heavy coffee consumption in the afternoon or evening was associated with a 30% decrease in peak melatonin production in night-time compared to controls.33Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone with a key role in the circadian rhythm, and some evidence suggests that low levels of melatonin are associated with higher oxidative stress levels, blood pressure levels, and CVD risk.34–36 Notably, this explanation only applies to caffeinated coffee drinkers. Second, a large portion of coffee’s health benefits are achieved through the anti-inflammatory effects of the bioactive substances it contains.37 Some pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers in the blood also have internal circadian patterns, where they are typically highest in the morning and then gradually decline until reaching their lowest level around 5 p.m.38,39 Therefore, when the amounts of coffee intake are similar, the anti-inflammatory effect of a pattern of coffee consumption concentrated in the morning may be more beneficial than that of a pattern of coffee consumption spread across morning, afternoon, and evening. But also could be other aspects of _who_ drinks all day vs a few cups in a row right off. Me? I like black coffee and an occasional square of dark chocolate. I drink a few cups right off and probably one or two more over the day. My own bottom line is that attention to individual components of our diets is overplayed; the big pattern matters more. Does milk in your coffee or chocolate treat raise or lower the antioxidant efficacy? If it is part of an overall nutritious dietary pattern I can’t see that any change would be significant. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/31 "2025-11-25T14:38:46Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I tried to quickly find a published study of that milk blocking the antioxidant impacts of coffee and couldn’t. What I did find was this opposite conclusion I did hedge my statement, understanding that the interaction between milk and antioxidants in coffee and tea is not fully understood: > [@solost](#): > > It’s thought that the casein protein in milk binds with the beneficial phytochemicals in coffee and tea, reducing their effectiveness Personally, I hope the study you found is correct, since I usually put a little bit of cream in my morning coffee. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/32 "2025-11-25T14:56:23Z")
There’s this, also observational, but of relevance. > **[Hold the Cream and Sugar: Black Coffee Linked to Lower Risk of Death](https://now.tufts.edu/2025/06/16/hold-cream-and-sugar-black-coffee-linked-lower-risk-death)** > > In a new study, researchers found the link between coffee consumption and mortality risk changes with the amount of sweeteners and saturated fat added. > Black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat were associated with a 14% lower risk of all-cause mortality as compared to no coffee consumption. The same link was not observed for coffee with high amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. …snip… Low added sugar (from granulated sugar, honey, and syrup) was defined as under 5% of the Daily Value, which is 2.5 grams per 8-ounce cup or approximately half a teaspoon of sugar. Low saturated fat (from milk, cream, and half-and-half) was defined as 5% of the Daily Value, or 1 gram per 8-ounce cup or the equivalent of 5 tablespoons of 2% milk, 1 tablespoon of light cream, or 1 tablespoon of half-and-half. So by that bit as long as you are keeping your bit of cream to a tablespoon or less you’re good! ☕ ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/33 "2025-11-25T15:01:14Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > So by that bit as long as you are keeping your bit of cream to a tablespoon or less you’re good! I do; nice! ☕ 😁 👍 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/34 "2025-11-25T16:39:42Z")
The full study is paywalled. But from the publicly available summary > **[Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective...](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002231662500286X)** > > Although coffee consumption has been associated with a variety of health benefits, it remains unclear whether the addition of sugar and saturated fat … It looks like they didn’t even investigate the influence of skim milk. (Or any additions other than sugar and saturated fat.) But it was a large prospective study. I suspect what they wanted to investigate was whether those extremely sweet coffee drinks that are super popular at Starbucks, etc., are actually good for you or not. And in general, they found “not”. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/35 "2025-11-25T16:54:41Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It looks like they didn’t even investigate the influence of skim milk No but “low” for 2% milk was up to 5 tablespoons. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/36 "2025-11-25T18:05:12Z")
Issue to me is the problem in here in these sorts of observational studies. I drink coffee black and prefer chocolate dark. Theme there - not huge on sweet and like bitter. Maybe those taste preferences influence my diet and life even in other ways too? Conversely someone who prefers lots and lots of cream and sugar in their cuppa has a very different taste profile that follows other diet choices too. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/37 "2025-11-25T18:26:35Z")
That’s a lot of milk. Did they look at milk (low-fat) vs. no milk? Did they say how many people in the low-fat, low-sugar group added milk? It’s possible that few enough people as lots of non-far milk to their coffee that the “low fat” group was dominated by black-coffee-drinkers. That being said, given the various observational studies that found benefits to drinking coffee among people who almost certainly routinely consumed proteins in the same meal, (in milk, in eggs, in grains) i simply don’t believe that casein eliminates the benefit. And I’d want to see an in vivo study to demonstrate it reduces the benefit. > [@DSeid](#): > > Maybe those taste preferences influence my diet and life even in other ways too? Yeah, that’s always on issue with observational studies. What else correlates? You may also eat more vegetables and less candy, because you like bitter foods more than average and sweet foods less than average. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/38 "2025-11-25T22:20:29Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I suspect what they wanted to investigate was whether those extremely sweet coffee drinks that are super popular at Starbucks, etc., are actually good for you or not. And in general, they found “not”. You know, from _that_ perspective, the whole subject suddenly makes a lot more sense. I hadn’t looked at it from that angle, because I never consider buying those confections. That being the point, I can relax about having pancakes made with milk alongside my black coffee. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/39 "2025-11-25T22:40:40Z")
FWIW, I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 30 years, but some months ago also decided to cut back on dairy products. I’ve never been much of a milk drinker, but I put it in my morning coffee (3-4 cups with a dash of milk), and used milk for cooking. So I replaced cow milk with oat “milk”, and cream with oat or soy cream, and really didn’t experience any downsides, neither in taste nor in any nutritional sense, just the opposite, I think it’s better for my general health. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053/40 "2025-11-25T22:59:20Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I can relax about having pancakes made with milk alongside my black coffee. …or _can_ I? Pancakes: got your fat, got your sugar, butter and syrup, get outa here [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-coffee-and-dark-chocolate/1025053.md?page=3)