There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning. Maybe you flavor yours with half-and-half and sugar. Or maybe vanilla coffee creamer. But if you like both, are half-and-half and coffee creamer the same?

While half-and-half and coffee creamer can be used interchangeably, their ingredients and flavors make them two distinct products.

Half-and-half consists of heavy whipping cream and whole milk. It has a light, creamy texture and usually contains around 10% fat. You can also find lighter versions to make it an excellent substitute for milk products in baking.

Meanwhile, coffee creamer is usually a dairy alternative but can contain a milk protein called casein, an ingredient that gives milk its white color. In this case, those allergic to dairy still can’t have coffee creamer but those who are lactose intolerant can. Coffee creamers are also usually sweetened with corn syrup or other flavorings, such as hazelnut or French vanilla. These sweeteners give creamer a richer taste that stands out against half-and-half’s original flavor.

Both half-and-half and creamer are delicious additions to your morning coffee. While half-and-half is an excellent milk alternative, creamer’s sweet flavor is better for oatmeal or other hot drinks, like tea and hot chocolate.

In addition to the various coffee creamer options, have you ever wondered about the differences between coffee and espresso?