Quick answer: Coffee can cause bloating in some people, but what you add is often the bigger culprit. Milk and cream trigger bloating and gas if you are lactose intolerant, and sweeteners such as sorbitol and high-fructose syrups cause gas in many people, according to the NIDDK. Coffee itself stimulates the gut and stomach acid, which can upset sensitive stomachs.
Bloating is a feeling of fullness or swelling in your belly. If it shows up after your morning coffee, the cause is usually either coffee’s effect on your gut or something in the cup besides coffee. Here is how to tell which, and what to change.
In this guide 4 sections
Why does coffee make me bloated?
Coffee stimulates your gut
Coffee gets the digestive system moving. In a 1998 study, caffeinated coffee stimulated the colon about as much as a meal. MedlinePlus also notes that caffeine increases the release of stomach acid, which sometimes leads to an upset stomach or heartburn. For most people this just means a trip to the bathroom (see why coffee makes you poop), but people with sensitive digestion may feel it as discomfort or bloating.
Milk, cream and lactose
If you are lactose intolerant, bacteria in your colon break down the lactose you can’t digest and produce gas and fluid. The NIDDK lists bloating, gas, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach pain as symptoms, usually within a few hours. The more lactose, the worse it tends to be, so a large milky latte is more likely to cause trouble than a splash of milk.
Sweeteners and syrups
The NIDDK names drinks with high-fructose corn syrup and products with sweeteners ending in “-ol” (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol) as common causes of gas. Some sugar-free syrups and creamers contain these. High-fat foods can also increase bloating in some people, which includes rich creamers.
Swallowed air
Eating or drinking fast, chewing gum or drinking fizzy drinks all make you swallow more air, which the NIDDK says can lead to more gas symptoms.
How do you stop coffee bloating?
- Try it black for a few days. If the bloating goes away, milk, cream or a sweetener is the likely cause rather than the coffee.
- Switch to lactose-free milk or a smaller amount of milk if dairy seems to be the trigger.
- Check the label on syrups, sugar-free sweeteners and creamers for sugar alcohols and high-fructose corn syrup.
- Slow down. Sip rather than gulp, especially on the go.
- Have it with food if coffee on an empty stomach bothers you, and cut back if you drink a lot. A low-acid coffee may also be gentler if you get heartburn.
- Keep a diary. The NIDDK suggests noting what you eat and drink alongside your symptoms to help a doctor or dietitian find the trigger.
When should you see a doctor about bloating?
The NIDDK advises talking with your doctor if gas symptoms bother you or change suddenly, or if they come with other symptoms such as pain, constipation, diarrhoea or weight loss. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome can also cause bloating.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the coffee or the milk that makes me bloated?
Test it: drink your coffee black for a few days, then add milk back. If bloating only appears with milk, lactose intolerance is a likely cause, and lactose-free milk may solve it.
Can decaf cause bloating?
It can. Decaf still stimulates the gut, though less than regular coffee in the 1998 study, and the milk and sweeteners you add have the same effect either way.
Does coffee dehydrate you and cause bloating?
Moderate coffee doesn’t dehydrate you: a 2014 study found it hydrated regular coffee drinkers about as well as water.
For more on coffee and health, see is coffee good for you? and the healthiest way to drink coffee.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice.
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