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Is Iced Coffee Good for Weight Loss? The Buzz on Chilled Brews

Updated: Mar 28


Is iced coffee good for weight loss

The following is for informational purposes only. Please discuss any health/medical issues with your medical team.


Iced coffee: it's the trendy beverage that's taken over coffee shops and social media feeds. But is iced coffee good for weight loss, or is it just another cool caffeine fad? Let’s spill the beans and explore the invigorating truth!


🧳 The Science of Chill: Iced Coffee, Thermogenesis, and Brown Fat

You might have heard whispers about iced coffee being good for weight loss and its potential to turn your body into a fat-burning furnace. This idea centers around thermogenesis, where your body burns calories to generate heat. According to this study and this study 

Here’s the theory:

  • Cold beverages like iced coffee may slightly lower core body temperature.

  • In response, your body activates brown adipose tissue (BAT)—a fat-burning type of tissue.

  • BAT helps you burn calories to produce heat, leading some to wonder: is cold coffee good for weight loss?


According to NPR (2014) and News Medical (2019), cold exposure, even in mild forms like iced drinks or cool environments, can activate BAT and may play a small role in metabolism.


🧠 Brain Receptors and Rapid Weight Loss

This study and News Medical also reports on research suggesting brain receptors that regulate temperature may influence rapid weight loss.

But while these concepts are fascinating, the impact of iced coffee on BAT activation and calorie burn is likely modest—not a miracle fix.


⚡ Caffeine: The Metabolism Booster in Your Iced Coffee

Let’s not forget caffeine—the MVP of your cold brew when it comes to metabolism and appetite control.

According to Healthline (n.d.-c) and Scientific American (n.d.), caffeine may aid weight management by:

  • Boosting metabolism (increasing calories burned at rest)

  • Enhancing fat breakdown (lipolysis)

  • Suppressing appetite (helping you eat less)

Healthline (n.d.-b) adds that choosing unsweetened iced coffee is especially helpful for weight loss, with studies linking it to better outcomes. So when people ask, "is iced coffee good for weight loss?" the answer may be yes—if you skip the sugar.


🔄 But keep in mind:

  • Effects vary from person to person.

  • Tolerance can build up over time, reducing caffeine's effectiveness.

Research in this study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition supports caffeine's potential for reducing weight gain, especially in habitual coffee drinkers.


📃 What Recent Studies Say About Coffee and Weight Loss

So, is iced coffee good for weight loss according to the latest science?

This 2023 study conducted an interventional study on adolescents and found that coffee intake, combined with dietary changes, led to a greater drop in BMI compared to green tea or placebo.

This 2021 study also found that both tea and coffee have health-promoting effects and may reduce fat storage, inflammation, and support gut health—adding more weight to the idea that cold coffee is good for weight loss.


❌ The Truth About the “Coffee Method” and “Coffee Loophole”

Trendy weight-loss hacks like the “coffee method” or “7-second coffee loophole” have flooded TikTok and YouTube, but should you believe the hype?

Sources like NYU Langone Health (2025), Women’s Health (n.d.), and NY Post (n.d.) caution that:

  • These trends often rely on caffeine plus calorie restriction.

  • They may lack robust scientific evidence.

  • Promises of quick fixes rarely lead to sustainable results.

Even if these diets claim iced coffee is good for weight loss, long-term strategies matter more.


✅ The Verdict: Can Iced Coffee Help You Lose Weight?

So, is iced coffee good for weight loss? The short answer: potentially, yes—but it’s not magic.

Benefits of iced coffee (when done right):

  • Can slightly support metabolism

  • May help curb appetite

  • Works best unsweetened and without high-calorie add-ins

🚀 Use iced coffee to support your healthy lifestyle, not replace it.

As Obesity Action (n.d.) notes, caffeine can have value in weight management, but it should be part of a bigger picture including nutrition and movement.


💬 Ready to Take the Next Step?

As an online dietitian and specializing in weight management, I help people build sustainable habits and reach their goals—whether that includes iced coffee or not!

Let’s create a plan that works for you.👉 Click here to book your free discovery call!


Bibliography 

Greenberg, J. A., Boozer, C. N., & Geliebter, A. (2006). Coffee, diabetes, and weight control. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 84(4), 682–693.  

Moran-Lev, H., Cohen, S., Zelber-Sagi, S., Mazkeret Mayer, E., Anafy, A., & Lubetzky, R. (2023). Effect of Coffee and Tea Consumption on Adolescent Weight Control: An Interventional Pilot Study. Childhood Obesity, 19(2), 121–129. 

Sirotkin, A. V., & Kolesárová, A. (2021). The Anti-Obesity and Health-Promoting Effects of Tea and Coffee. Physiological Research, 70(2), 161–168.


Other Sources:

News Medical. (2019). Brain receptor that regulates body temperature may also be the key to rapid weight loss. Retrieved from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20191202/Brain-receptor-that-regulates-body-temperature-may-also-be-the-key-to-rapid-weight-loss.aspx

NPR. (2014). How A Little Chill In The Air Could Help You Lose Weight. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/01/22/264901060/how-a-little-chill-in-the-air-could-help-you-lose-weight

NYU Langone Health. (2025). What is the coffee method for weight loss? 3 benefits you should know. Retrieved from https://wp.nyu.edu/ditesa/2025/02/06/what-is-the-coffee-method-for-weight-loss-3-benefits-you-should-know/

NY Post. (n.d.). Do the coffee diet and 7-second coffee loophole aid weight loss? Retrieved from https://nypost.com/health/do-the-coffee-diet-and-7-second-coffee-loophole-aid-weight-loss/?utm_source=

Obesity Action. (n.d.). Upper Limits: The Value of Caffeine in Weight Loss. Retrieved from https://www.obesityaction.org/resources/upper-limits-the-value-of-caffeine-in-weight-loss/?utm_source=

Scientific American. (n.d.). Can Coffee Cause Weight Loss by Affecting Appetite and Digestion? Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-coffee-cause-weight-loss-by-affecting-appetite-and-digestion/

Verywell Health. (2023). Ice Hack for Weight Loss: Does It Work? Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/ice-hack-for-weight-loss-8778408?utm_source=

Women's Health. (n.d.). Coffee Loophole Diet: What Is It, and Is It Safe? Retrieved from https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a62558721/coffee-loophole-diet/


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