<p>The various acids found in coffee do contribute to the overall taste of your brew. However, acidity in coffee, especially when drinking on an empty stomach can lead you to feel a bit queasy. These acids may irritate your stomach lining, and cause feelings of nausea.</p>

<p>For a nice discussion see:
<a href="https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/news/can-coffee-make-me-sick" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/news/can-coffee-make-me-sick</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-25T10:54:39.593Z
This is incorrect. Acidity in coffee doesn't hurt a bit, unless you have some prior condition (like Ulcers, Reflux, Crohn syndromes etc.). There's no scientific evidence to back this up. Black coffee has a ph level of about 5, while your stomachs ph level can easily drop to ph 1-2. What happens though is that the caffein in the coffee stimulates hydrochloric acid release, so you might get a "sour" stomach in the morning if you first drink a coffee. This can be problematic for people with digestive conditions or impact your ability to digest high protein meals during the day.
avocado1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-25T10:59:04.553Z
Still it is far from being clear that coffee consumption causes any of these conditions. Likely it just has an impact, if you already have it. And note as well, that it is certainly not the acidic compounds in coffee itself, that irritate your stomach lining, but if anything your own bodily hydrochloric acid. That said, it's still possible there's some kind of intolerance to one of the compounds in coffee, but certainly not the acidity that causes anything without there being a preexisting condition. And that is something to see a doctor about.
avocado1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-25T11:25:48.627Z
There's a couple of sources, plenty more though out there: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/003655299750025525
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197510302931803
avocado1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-24T16:42:03.483Z
2018-02-05T17:20:56.223Z
2018-02-05T17:20:56.223Z
lbf
<p>I only know of two connections between coffee and nausea. The first is caffein withdrawal, which in your case obviously doesn't apply. Secondly there is some evidence, although it far from being clear, that coffee might be bad for people suffering from reflux disease. See for example <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/coffee-tea#modal-close" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>According to that source, gastroesophageal reflux might be triggered by coffee (among others). However it is far from clear, that it really does with studies showing that dropping coffee consumption doesn't significantly change the symptoms to the better.</p>

<p>I suggest you talk about this with a doctor or dietary specialist. This is pure speculation, but maybe you are allergic/intolerant to one of the compounds found in coffee or it is some kind of psychosomatic response. The expectation of becoming nauseous after drinking coffee that leads to actual nausea. Maybe there was some unrelated nausea that you connected to your coffee consumption. Or maybe your nausea is entirely unrelated to the coffee and just happens to coincide with it.</p>

<p>If the problem persists and a doctor couldn't help you, maybe try green/black tea. They contain caffein and can have a similar, somewhat more mellow but also more persistent energizing effect.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-24T16:48:15.417Z
2018-01-25T10:44:31.480Z
2018-01-25T10:44:31.480Z
avocado1
<p>I found over the course of a few weeks, I was feeling nauseous in the mornings.  It took me a while, but I found if I didn't drink my cup of coffee in the morning, I would be fine!  </p>

<p>I experimented a bit, and found not all coffee made me feel sick.  Currently, I'm drinking Starbucks house blend which doesn't affect me - however other Starbucks beans do.</p>

<p>This is absolutely real - as I have experienced nausea after my wife switched out coffee without letting me know.  </p>

<p>Try a few different types of coffee and see if you can find one you can tolerate without feeling ill.  Best of luck!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-16T13:07:44.633Z
2019-02-16T13:07:44.633Z
Stwhiteisme
<p>I really love coffee but for last 6 months I've felt nauseous almost every time I drink it. If I drink an espresso in the morning I will most likely vomit. If I drink it after lunch or a few hours after I wake up (4-5 hours) then I will feel nausea but I probably won't throw up. I don't feel any of those effects from any amount of Red Bull or similar energy drinks therefore I don't think it's about the caffeine. For the record I hate energy drinks and don't won't to drink them in the morning or ever, but I had to sometimes, and I drank like a lot and never felt any nausea. </p>

<p>The problem actually started 3 years ago and it lasted for about a year and a half. Then it stopped and for a year I could drink coffee anytime without any negative side effects, but the problem re-emerged 6 months ago.
I'm desperate because I really love coffee and I'm really used to that extra energy boost coffee gives me in the morning.</p>

<p>I'm male and I'm 23 years old.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-17T23:13:44.900Z
I have seen people share that they regularly were nauseated or straight up threw up every morning when they were chronically stressed, and the symptoms completely abated when they, for example, got a better job. Clearly the coffee is a necessary component of your symptoms, just putting it out there that stress might explain the on and off nature of how coffee affects you.
Lyrl
<espresso><health>
Why do I feel nauseous from coffee?
Kreso
# Why do I feel nauseous from coffee?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-24)

I really love coffee but for last 6 months I've felt nauseous almost every time I drink it. If I drink an espresso in the morning I will most likely vomit. If I drink it after lunch or a few hours after I wake up (4-5 hours) then I will feel nausea but I probably won't throw up. I don't feel any of those effects from any amount of Red Bull or similar energy drinks therefore I don't think it's about the caffeine. For the record I hate energy drinks and don't won't to drink them in the morning or ever, but I had to sometimes, and I drank like a lot and never felt any nausea.

The problem actually started 3 years ago and it lasted for about a year and a half. Then it stopped and for a year I could drink coffee anytime without any negative side effects, but the problem re-emerged 6 months ago.
I'm desperate because I really love coffee and I'm really used to that extra energy boost coffee gives me in the morning.

I'm male and I'm 23 years old.

**Tags:** espresso, health

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I have seen people share that they regularly were nauseated or straight up threw up every morning when they were chronically stressed, and the symptoms completely abated when they, for example, got a better job. Clearly the coffee is a necessary component of your symptoms, just putting it out there that stress might explain the on and off nature of how coffee affects you.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-24. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

The various acids found in coffee do contribute to the overall taste of your brew. However, acidity in coffee, especially when drinking on an empty stomach can lead you to feel a bit queasy. These acids may irritate your stomach lining, and cause feelings of nausea.

For a nice discussion see:
<https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/news/can-coffee-make-me-sick>

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This is incorrect. Acidity in coffee doesn't hurt a bit, unless you have some prior condition (like Ulcers, Reflux, Crohn syndromes etc.). There's no scientific evidence to back this up. Black coffee has a ph level of about 5, while your stomachs ph level can easily drop to ph 1-2. What happens though is that the caffein in the coffee stimulates hydrochloric acid release, so you might get a "sour" stomach in the morning if you first drink a coffee. This can be problematic for people with digestive conditions or impact your ability to digest high protein meals during the day.  
> **username_3**: Still it is far from being clear that coffee consumption causes any of these conditions. Likely it just has an impact, if you already have it. And note as well, that it is certainly not the acidic compounds in coffee itself, that irritate your stomach lining, but if anything your own bodily hydrochloric acid. That said, it's still possible there's some kind of intolerance to one of the compounds in coffee, but certainly not the acidity that causes anything without there being a preexisting condition. And that is something to see a doctor about.  
> **username_3**: There's a couple of sources, plenty more though out there: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/003655299750025525 http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197510302931803  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-01-24. Score: 1

I only know of two connections between coffee and nausea. The first is caffein withdrawal, which in your case obviously doesn't apply. Secondly there is some evidence, although it far from being clear, that coffee might be bad for people suffering from reflux disease. See for example [here](https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/coffee-tea#modal-close).

According to that source, gastroesophageal reflux might be triggered by coffee (among others). However it is far from clear, that it really does with studies showing that dropping coffee consumption doesn't significantly change the symptoms to the better.

I suggest you talk about this with a doctor or dietary specialist. This is pure speculation, but maybe you are allergic/intolerant to one of the compounds found in coffee or it is some kind of psychosomatic response. The expectation of becoming nauseous after drinking coffee that leads to actual nausea. Maybe there was some unrelated nausea that you connected to your coffee consumption. Or maybe your nausea is entirely unrelated to the coffee and just happens to coincide with it.

If the problem persists and a doctor couldn't help you, maybe try green/black tea. They contain caffein and can have a similar, somewhat more mellow but also more persistent energizing effect.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-02-16. Score: 0

I found over the course of a few weeks, I was feeling nauseous in the mornings. It took me a while, but I found if I didn't drink my cup of coffee in the morning, I would be fine!

I experimented a bit, and found not all coffee made me feel sick. Currently, I'm drinking Starbucks house blend which doesn't affect me - however other Starbucks beans do.

This is absolutely real - as I have experienced nausea after my wife switched out coffee without letting me know.

Try a few different types of coffee and see if you can find one you can tolerate without feeling ill. Best of luck!


---

