Why Does Coffee Make Me Nauseous? 6 Factors
Coffee is a worldwide favorite — it gets us out of bed, powers us through Monday mornings, and even carries us through that dreaded afternoon slump. But if your morning cup leaves you feeling queasy instead of energized, you’re not alone.
A surprising number of people experience nausea from coffee, and the reasons why might surprise you. The good news is that you don’t have to quit your beloved brew—just make a few tweaks. Let’s dive into six common reasons coffee might be making you nauseous (and how to fix them).
6 Factors That Can Contribute to Coffee Nausea
If you tend to feel nauseous after your morning cup of coffee, you’re not crazy — coffee nausea is a real thing, and it’s more common than you’d think. Read on for some of the most common factors that cause coffee nausea.
1. Drinking Coffee on an Empty Stomach
If your morning routine is just “coffee first, food never,” you might be setting yourself up for nausea. Coffee can support stomach acid production, and if there’s no food to absorb it, your stomach lining takes the hit.
Try eating something before you drink coffee — a banana, some toast, or even a spoonful of peanut butter can help. If mornings are hectic and breakfast isn’t happening, try opting for something even more simple like a protein or breakfast shake.
2. High Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is the reason we love coffee — it wakes us up and makes us feel invincible. But too much caffeine can also trigger nausea by influencing your digestive system, affecting the esophageal sphincter (the muscle that keeps stomach acid where it belongs), and making your gut feel like it’s on a rollercoaster.
Plus, a normal cup of coffee can contain over 100 mg of caffeine — and that’s on the lower end of the caffeine spectrum. And, while some people can drink a few cups of coffee and be fine, others have a lower caffeine tolerance that leaves them jittery and nauseous after just one cup (or less).
3. Additives and Sweeteners
Your coffee itself might not be the problem — it could be what you’re putting in it. Flavored syrups, artificial sweeteners, and heavy creamers can wreak havoc on digestion, leading to nausea, bloating, and general stomach unrest. Sugar-free sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose can be especially harsh, causing gut irritation and even gas.
4. Low Quality Coffee Beans
Not all coffee is created equal. Some cheaper coffee beans are tainted with mold toxins (yep, actual mold), pesticides, and poor roasting techniques that can upset your stomach. Low-grade coffee can also be overly bitter and acidic, making it harder to digest.
If coffee leaves you queasy, it might be worth upgrading to organic, single-origin, or mycotoxin-tested beans. Lighter roasts tend to be gentler on digestion, and cold brewing can help reduce bitterness. If your coffee is making you sick, don’t just blame the caffeine — blame the quality.
5. Medication Interactions
If you take medication, your coffee might be interfering with it. Certain prescriptions — like antibiotics, antidepressants, and some painkillers — can interact poorly with caffeine, increasing nausea, jitters, or stomach irritation. Coffee can also speed up digestion, reducing how well your body absorbs medication.
If your coffee habit makes you feel sick and you’re on medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as drinking your coffee a little later in the morning instead of chugging it alongside your pills.
6. Dehydration
Coffee is a diuretic, meaning it makes you pee more, which can lead to dehydration — especially if you’re not balancing it with enough water. Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, and yes, nausea.
If coffee makes you feel off, it could be a sign that your body needs more hydration, not less caffeine. Try drinking a glass of water before your coffee and keeping water nearby throughout the day. Adding a pinch of sea salt or an electrolyte mix to your water can also help maintain balance.
7. Acidity
Ever had coffee hit your stomach like a ton of bricks? That’s probably the acidity talking.
Coffee naturally has a low pH, meaning it’s acidic enough to irritate your stomach lining — especially if you’re prone to acid reflux, heartburn, or general stomach drama. If your stomach fights back every time you sip coffee, try switching to a low-acid blend, opting for cold brew (which is up to 70% less acidic), or adding a splash of milk to neutralize the acid.
How Can You Prevent Coffee-Induced Nausea?
It’s helpful to know what causes coffee nausea, but what can you actually do about it? As with most things, prevention is the best course of action. Read on for some tips on how to keep coffee nausea from showing up in the first place.
Opt for Low-Acid Coffee
If regular coffee makes you feel like you’ve swallowed battery acid, low-acid coffee might be a game-changer. Some coffee beans are naturally lower in acid, and certain brewing methods can also help.
Some functional coffees are also designed to provide the coffee flavor you crave but with way less stomach irritation. If you love coffee but hate what it does to your gut, it might be time to make the switch.
Go Low-Caf
Going from "just woke up" to "running on rocket fuel" in five minutes might sound appealing, but your stomach might not agree. If high caffeine levels are making you nauseous, gradually reducing your intake could help.
That doesn’t mean quitting coffee (because let’s be real, that’s not happening) — it just means making smarter choices. Try alternating between regular and decaf, drinking smaller servings, or choosing a lower-caffeine option.
Our Mushroom Coffee+, for example, has just 45 mg of caffeine per serving, plus L-theanine to keep things smooth and jitter-free. Of course, it also contains some other helpful ingredients like lion’s mane to support focus, chaga mushroom to encourage the immune system, and collagen protein to support gut and skin health.
Drink Mindfully
Want to enjoy your coffee without the side of nausea? Start by simplifying your cup. Swap artificial sweeteners and sugary creamers for natural alternatives or go black to truly taste the coffee.
Lastly, listen to your body! If coffee consistently makes you feel bad, experiment with different types, brewing methods, and add-ins until you find your perfect, nausea-free cup. Try natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, opt for oat or almond milk instead of heavy creamers, and stick to simple, high-quality coffee.
The Bottom Line
If coffee makes you nauseous, don’t panic — you’re not doomed to a life without caffeine. Simple changes like switching to low-acid coffee, cutting back on caffeine, drinking coffee with food, and choosing high-quality beans can make all the difference.
At Everyday Dose, we believe that coffee should be a joy, not a stomachache. If you’re tired of having a toxic relationship with coffee, try our mushroom blends today!
Sources:
Caffeine induces gastric acid secretion via bitter taste signaling in gastric parietal cells | PMC
Effect of caffeine on lower esophageal sphincter pressure in Thai healthy volunteers | PubMed
Chronic Use of Artificial Sweeteners: Pros and Cons | PMC
Determination of potentially mycotoxigenic fungi in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) from Nayarit | PMC
