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Drinks · 5 varieties featured

Drinks

Tea, coffee, milk, buttermilk and coconut water: everyday drinks whose calories come mostly from the milk and sugar added. Compare each variety's weight-management rating, calories per serving and where to find it

The short answer

Across the 5 varieties of drinks we compare, a serving has about 31 to 150 kcal: Coconut water is the lightest (about 31 kcal for 1 glass, about 205 g) and Cow's milk, whole the heaviest (about 150 kcal for 1 cup milk, about 206 g). For weight management, Buttermilk (chaas) rates best (3.5/5, good fit), judged on calories per gram, protein and fibre for the calories, and the size of a regular serving.

Reviewed by Deepu Oommen on 6 Nov 2026 · How we review

Drinks

Average weight-management rating

3.0 / 5Rated 3 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management

Average of the 5 varieties, rounded to the nearest half star. Varieties range from 2.5 to 3.5.

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Calories per serving
31 to 150 kcal
Best for weight management
Buttermilk (chaas) · 3.5/5
Lightest
Coconut water · 31 kcal
Varieties compared
5

How many calories are in drinks?

Calories per serving, lowest first
VarietyCaloriesFor weight management
Coconut water1 glass (about 205 g)31 kcal3.0/5Moderate fit
Buttermilk (chaas)1 glass (about 330 g)62 kcal3.5/5Good fit
Tea with milk and sugar1 cup (about 260 g)108 kcal3.0/5Moderate fit
Filter coffee1 tumbler (about 240 g)112 kcal3.0/5Moderate fit
Cow's milk, whole1 cup milk (about 206 g)150 kcal2.5/5Moderate fit

Which drink is best for weight management?

  • Buttermilk (chaas)

    Buttermilk (chaas)

    Across India

    Also in:Dairy

    3.5 / 5Rated 3.5 out of 5. Good fit for weight management
    How this is worked out
    Calories per gram (35%)
    0.19 kcal · 100/100
    Protein per 100 kcal (25%)
    5.8 g · 59/100
    Fibre per 100 kcal (20%)
    0.5 g · 18/100
    Portion (20%)
    62 of 150 kcal (drink) · 100/100
    Per 100 g
    18.8 kcal · P 1.1 g · C 1.5 g · F 1 g

    Score 73.2 of 100 = 3.5 stars. Calculated from a standard recipe using IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and USDA FoodData Central values. Source: Recipe: Swasthi's Recipes, Chaas Recipe (Spiced Indian Buttermilk), blender version, 2017.

    62 kcal

    1 glass (about 330 g)

    About 10 min of brisk walking uses similar energy

    Find near you
  • Coconut water

    Coconut water

    South India

    3.0 / 5Rated 3 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management
    How this is worked out
    Calories per gram (35%)
    0.15 kcal · 100/100
    Protein per 100 kcal (25%)
    1.7 g · 17/100
    Fibre per 100 kcal (20%)
    0.0 g · 0/100
    Portion (20%)
    31 of 150 kcal (drink) · 100/100
    Per 100 g
    15.3 kcal · P 0.26 g · C 3.16 g · F 0.16 g

    Score 59.2 of 100 = 3.0 stars. IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN), K002 Coconut Water. Source: IFCT 2017, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), 2017.

    31 kcal

    1 glass (about 205 g)

    About 5 min of brisk walking uses similar energy

    Find near you
  • Filter coffee

    Filter coffee

    South India

    3.0 / 5Rated 3 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management
    How this is worked out
    Calories per gram (35%)
    0.47 kcal · 100/100
    Protein per 100 kcal (25%)
    3.6 g · 36/100
    Fibre per 100 kcal (20%)
    0.0 g · 0/100
    Portion (20%)
    112 of 150 kcal (drink) · 75/100
    Per 100 g
    46.6 kcal · P 1.7 g · C 4.8 g · F 2.3 g

    Score 59.2 of 100 = 3.0 stars. Calculated from a standard recipe using IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and USDA FoodData Central values. Source: Recipe: Hebbar's Kitchen, Filter Coffee Recipe (Filter Kaapi), 2017.

    112 kcal

    1 tumbler (about 240 g)

    About 20 min of brisk walking uses similar energy

    Find near you
  • Tea with milk and sugar

    Tea with milk and sugar

    Across India

    3.0 / 5Rated 3 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management
    How this is worked out
    Calories per gram (35%)
    0.41 kcal · 100/100
    Protein per 100 kcal (25%)
    3.6 g · 36/100
    Fibre per 100 kcal (20%)
    0.0 g · 0/100
    Portion (20%)
    108 of 150 kcal (drink) · 78/100
    Per 100 g
    41.5 kcal · P 1.5 g · C 4.2 g · F 2.1 g

    Score 59.6 of 100 = 3.0 stars. Calculated from a standard recipe using IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN) and USDA FoodData Central values. Source: Recipe: Swasthi's Recipes, Masala Chai Recipe (Masala Tea), method 1: instant masala chai, 2017.

    108 kcal

    1 cup (about 260 g)

    About 20 min of brisk walking uses similar energy

    Find near you
  • Cow's milk, whole

    Cow's milk, whole

    Across India

    Also in:Dairy

    2.5 / 5Rated 2.5 out of 5. Moderate fit for weight management
    How this is worked out
    Calories per gram (35%)
    0.73 kcal · 96/100
    Protein per 100 kcal (25%)
    4.5 g · 45/100
    Fibre per 100 kcal (20%)
    0.0 g · 0/100
    Portion (20%)
    150 of 150 kcal (drink) · 50/100
    Per 100 g
    72.9 kcal · P 3.26 g · C 4.94 g · F 4.48 g

    Score 54.8 of 100 = 2.5 stars. IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN), L002 Milk, whole, Cow. Source: IFCT 2017, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), 2017.

    150 kcal

    1 cup milk (about 206 g)

    About 30 min of brisk walking uses similar energy

    Find near you

Walking times are for a 70 kg adult at a brisk pace (about 5.6 km/h). Enter your weight in How much should I eat? to make them yours.

Walking energy: Compendium of Physical Activities, 2011. Calories are estimates; restaurant portions vary. Ratings scored on 2026-11-03.

Are drinks good for weight management?

On average, the 5 varieties of drinks we compare rate 3.0/5 (moderate fit) for weight management, but they differ a lot. Buttermilk (chaas) is the better everyday choice; Cow's milk, whole (2.5/5, moderate fit) is better kept to a smaller portion or an occasional meal. Adding vegetables, dal or curd on the side and keeping to one serving matters as much as which variety you pick.

Common questions about drinks

How many calories are in drinks?

About 31 to 150 kcal per serving, depending on the variety. Coconut water is the lightest and Cow's milk, whole the heaviest.

Which drink has the fewest calories?

Coconut water, with about 31 kcal for 1 glass, about 205 g.

Which drink is best for weight management?

Buttermilk (chaas) rates best at 3.5/5, good fit. Ratings combine calories per gram, protein and fibre per 100 kcal, and the size of a regular serving, each scored against fixed limits.

How much walking uses the energy in a serving of drink?

For a 70 kg adult walking briskly, about 5 min for Coconut water and 30 min for Cow's milk, whole.

Do tea and coffee count towards my calories?

Yes, through the milk and sugar. Two or three cups of sweet milky tea a day can add as much as a small snack.

Is buttermilk a good drink for weight management?

Plain chaas is low in calories and refreshing; it is a better choice than juice or soft drinks.

About these ratings

Each rating combines four things, each scored from 0 to 100 against fixed limits: calories per gram (35%), protein per 100 kcal (25%), fibre per 100 kcal (20%), and the size of a regular serving compared with what that kind of dish should provide in a meal (20%). More than 15 g of added sugar in a serving caps the rating at 2 stars. A higher rating does not mean a dish causes weight loss. See the methodology for the formula.