As an increasing number of Tim Hortons locations pop up across the nation, it is useful for those on a ketogenic diet to learn how to order drinks from the Tim Hortons menu without worrying about negatively impacting their diet.
Fortunately, this famous Canadian coffee and donut chain has quite a few low-carb and sugar-free options, especially if you know what to ask for. Whether you are on the way to work or out on a road trip, the convenience of being able to order keto-friendly drinks from a Tim Hortons drive-thru can help you stick to your keto diet!
We have highlighted the six best keto-friendly drinks you can order at Tim Hortons below. Let’s get started!
Tim Hortons Best Ketogenic Drink Options
1. Sugar-Free Brewed Coffee – Dark Roast
Brewed black coffee is what the Tim Hortons company built its name on. As millions of Canadians know, nothing starts a morning like breakfast and a hot cup of Tim’s coffee. Not only is a dark roast coffee from Tim Hortons keto-friendly, but it is also really delicious and sure to give you that caffeine kick you need to start the day.
As is the case with any keto beverage, make sure that you do not ask for sugar. When you order from Tim Hortons, they will ask if you want anything in your black coffee. Ask for it black to be certain that it is keto-friendly. If you want to add a bit of flavor and texture to your cup of joe, ask for one or two helpings of cream.
If you are ordering from a drive-thru, you can also ask for a pack of stevia or another calorie-free sweetener. Most Tim Hortons will have packets of calorie-free sweeteners inside the restaurant located by the straws. So, if you enjoy a bit more flavor in your coffee, you can add a pack or two of this calorie-free sweetener.
Nutritional Information for a Tim Hortons Sugar-Free Dark Roast Coffee (With Added Cream)
- Total Calories – Small (286mL) 45, Medium (425mL) 74, Large (563mL) 91
- Total Fat (Medium) – 6 g
- Carbohydrates (Medium) – 2 g
- Fiber (Medium) – 0 g
- Sugar (Medium) – 2 g
- Protein (Medium) – 1.5 g
If you order without cream, it will only contain 4 calories, 0 g of fat, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and only 0.5 g of protein.
2. Keto Tim Hortons Bagged Tea – Orange Pekoe
Just like a cup of Tim Hortons Signature Dark Roast Coffee, their bagged orange pekoe hot tea can be a keto-friendly hot beverage. It is a great option for those who do not like the taste of coffee or who just want a hot beverage that is a little bit less caffeinated.
Served on its own, a 10 oz cup of Tim Hortons Orange Pekoe Tea contains zero calories, and zero grams of fat, carbs, sugar, protein, or fiber, so it is a truly guilt-free beverage. With that said, some people prefer to add some sweetness and creaminess to their tea.
If you want to keep things keto, avoid granulated sugar and opt for a sugar-free sweetener, like stevia. While you can add a few splashes of milk, the 2% milk used by Tim Hortons contains a fairly high volume of lactose, so it can result in an insulin spike if you add too much. To keep things keto, we recommend asking for one of their unsweetened milk alternatives instead, such as soy milk.
Some people will ask for cream in their tea, as it can increase the fat content of the drink without overly raising the carb or sugar content. However, heavy cream can be a bit much for a cup of tea, and it can mask the subtle flavors of the tea itself.
Nutritional Information for a Tim Hortons Bagged Tea (With Added Soy Milk)
- Total Calories – Standard Tea (10oz) 9
- Total Fat – 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates – 1 g
- Fiber – 0.2 g
- Sugar – 0.5 g
- Protein – 1 g
3. Unsweetened Tim Hortons Iced Coffee
If you are looking for a keto-friendly summer beverage that can give you that much-needed caffeine kick, nothing beats a refreshing Tim Hortons Iced Coffee. Just like with their hot coffee, it is possible to order a keto-friendly iced coffee from Tim Hortons.
Just make sure that you asked for an unsweetened iced coffee, as Tim Hortons will add a sugary beverage base to their iced coffees if you do not state otherwise. If you are still looking for some sweetness in your ice-filled coffee, you can stir in a pack or two of stevia after they hand it to you.
To ensure that your iced coffee is high in fat but low in net carbs and sugar, ask for it to be unsweetened and made with your choice of one or two splashes of cream. If you are looking for something a bit lighter, there is nothing wrong with asking for unsweetened black iced coffee.
Nutritional Information for an Unsweetened Tim Hortons Iced Coffee (With Added Cream)
- Total Calories – Small (286mL) 42, Medium (425mL) 73, Large (563mL) 87
- Total Fat (Medium) – 4 g
- Carbohydrates (Medium) – 1 g
- Fiber (Medium) – 0 g
- Sugar (Medium) – 0 g
- Protein (Medium) – 1 g
4. Keto Tim Hortons Espresso Shot
If you are in a rush but still need a bit of a pick-me-up, you cannot beat the convenience of quickly downing a Tim Hortons Espresso Shot.
Fortunately, these concentrated caffeine blasts are also keto-friendly. With that said, you need to make sure that you clarify that you do not want sugar in your espresso. While they ask if you want it black or with sugar and milk, you must be clear; otherwise, your espresso shot can go from keto-friendly to a keto-risk.
If you find espresso shots to be a little too bitter on their own, you can add some stevia or another keto-friendly sweetener. You can also ask the barista to add a bit of heavy cream, as this will also reduce the bitterness without impacting the keto status of the espresso shot.
Nutritional Information for a Keto-Friendly Tim Hortons Espresso Shot (Nothing Added)
- Total Calories – (125mL) 0
- Total Fat – 0 g
- Carbohydrates– 0 g
- Fiber – 0 g
- Sugar – 0 g
- Protein – 0 g
5. Keto Tim Hortons Americano
While you will not see an Americano on a standard Tim Hortons menu, they are such an easy drink to make that most employees will make one for you if you know what to ask for. Like an espresso shot, which is the main ingredient in an Americano, this drink is full of flavor and caffeine, but it is also completely keto-friendly when served without added sugar.
To order an Americano at any Tim Hortons location, simply ask for an espresso shot served in a medium-sized paper cup. Then, ask the person taking your order to fill the cup with about 3 ounces of hot water. That is all you need to ask for!
Since you are only asking for a bit of hot water, they should only charge for an espresso shot, so it is one of the cheapest hot beverages you can get at Tim Hortons!
As with the hot beverages described above, you can then choose to add stevia or even some heavy cream; however, Americanos are delicious on their own. Thanks to the added water, which helps to dilute the drink and reduce the bitterness of the espresso shot, they are very drinkable. If you are looking for a little bit more caffeine, you can ask for two shots of espresso and about 6 ounces of hot water.
Nutritional Information for a Custom Keto-Friendly Tim Hortons Americano (Nothing Added)
- Total Calories – (215mL) 0
- Total Fat – 0 g
- Carbohydrates– 0 g
- Fiber – 0 g
- Sugar – 0 g
- Protein – 0 g
6. Keto-Friendly Tim Hortons Loose Leaf Steeped Tea
Tea lovers will enjoy the unique steeping process that Tim Hortons uses to brew its popular loose leaf steeped tea.
Unlike a standard bagged tea, Tim Hortons Loose Leaf Steeped Tea is ready-brewed, so there is always a pot ready for you whenever the mood strikes. The unique steeping process helps coax out all of the delicious flavors within their ethically-sourced, whole leaf tea.
Not only is it packed with flavor and the perfect cold-weather treat, but a cup of Tim Hortons Loose Leaf Steeped Tea is also keto-friendly. When made without milk or sugar, the black tea is calorie-free and contains zero grams of fat, net carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein. It is certainly not going to disrupt your diet.
Just like the Tim Hortons Bagged Tea, you can still keep their Loose Leaf Steeped Tea keto-friendly if you add stevia or another carb-free sweetener rather than granulated sugar. We also recommend asking for a splash of oat milk, which most Tim Hortons locations will carry. However, if they don’t have it, unsweetened soy milk is another keto-friendly milk alternative that goes well with a hot cup of tea.
Nutritional Information for a Keto-Friendly Tim Hortons Loose Leaf Steeped Tea (With Added Soy Milk)
- Total Calories – Standard Tea (10oz) 9
- Total Fat (Medium) – 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates (Medium) – 1 g
- Fiber (Medium) – 0.2 g
- Sugar (Medium) – 0.5 g
- Protein (Medium) – 1 g
Conclusion
While sticking to your keto diet can be somewhat difficult, especially if you are hoping to grab something quick from a drive-thru window, there are plenty of fast-food restaurants out there that have keto-friendly options.
Luckily, there are plenty of hot and cold drinks on the Tim Hortons menu low in carbohydrates and sugars, so they work well with a keto diet. While some of these beverages require a little bit of customization, others will be completely keto-friendly right off of the menu.
Just make sure that you clarify that you do not want any sugar in your drink. If you still want your drink to have some sweetness, most Tim Hortons locations carry sugar-free sweeteners, like stevia, that are keto-friendly.
We also recommend requesting an unsweetened, dairy-free milk alternative or a splash of heavy cream rather than 1% or 2% milk in your drinks. This helps keep the drink keto-friendly by reducing the lactose content.
While all of the drinks listed above are keto-friendly, you can also get creative with your order. Most people working behind the counter at a Tim Hortons will be happy to work with your dietary restrictions to create a drink that meets your unique preferences.
People Also Ask
Can I Order a Keto-Friendly Tim Hortons Iced Cappuccino?
Unfortunately, the iconic Tim Hortons Iced Capp is not a keto-friendly beverage. This blended and frozen drink uses a sugary syrup that can knock you right out of ketosis.
Even if you order a medium-sized Tim Hortons Iced Cappuccino, you will be ingesting 47 g of sugar, which is almost twice as much as you would get in a typical chocolate bar.
The good news is some Tim Hortons locations in Canada offer a sugar-free version of the Iced Capp, so, hopefully, they make their way across the border. It would take Tim Hortons to a new level for those on the keto diet if they were able to enjoy a keto-friendly version of this refreshing and creamy summer favorite.
If you want to create your own low-carb version of the Tim Hortons Iced Cap, check out the following video: SwitchGrocery Canada Low Carb Iced Capp Recipe. Not only is it keto-friendly, but it is also surprisingly easy to make!
Is Tim Hortons a Good Option for Keto Beverages?
While the drinks listed above are all keto-friendly, Tim Hortons is fairly limited on keto options. If you are looking for more low-carb, keto-friendly options, we recommend trying out Starbucks.
While Starbucks can be more expensive, they are far ahead of Tim Hortons when offering their customers keto-friendly beverages. They have several sugar-free flavor syrups that you can add to drinks without increasing the sugar and carbohydrate content.
Most Starbucks locations will also offer far more milk alternatives, like almond milk or soy milk, than a Tim Hortons or a Dunkin’ Donuts, so there are even more possibilities for those looking to enjoy a keto-friendly beverage.
Does Tim Hortons Offer Any Keto-Friendly Donuts or Cookies?
Unfortunately, if you want a donut or cookie with your breakfast coffee, you should avoid the Tim Hortons menu if you want to adhere to a strict ketogenic diet. They use carb-rich white flour and contain high volumes of added sugar, so they can spike your blood sugar and throw you right out of ketosis.
With any luck, the growing popularity of the keto lifestyle will encourage more restaurant chains to start carrying keto-friendly versions of their best-selling food items. For now, you should avoid the donuts, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods you see on the Tim Hortons menu.
