11/12/2025
Is Coffee Dehydrating?
Short answer: for most people, no. Your morning coffee is not secretly drying you out the way a lot of memes suggest.
The confusion comes from caffeine. Caffeine can have a mild diuretic effect (meaning you might p*e a little more), so people assumed that coffee “doesn’t count” toward hydration. But for regular coffee drinkers, your body adapts to caffeine, and the fluid in your mug still contributes to your daily water intake.
Think of it this way:
- A cup of coffee is mostly water.
- The small bump in urine output does not outweigh the amount of fluid you’re drinking.
- In normal amounts, coffee is considered hydrating overall, not dehydrating.
So, when does coffee become a problem?
- If you’re drinking large amounts (multiple strong cups back-to-back).
- If you notice a racing heart, jitters, anxiety, trouble sleeping, or digestive issues.
- If coffee is replacing water completely instead of sitting alongside it.
A good, simple approach for most healthy adults:
Enjoy your coffee. Aim for water alongside it, especially in the morning.
Try one full glass of water for each cup of coffee.
Notice how you feel: energy, anxiety, sleep, and bathroom habits.
Coffee is not the enemy of hydration. It’s a tool. The key is how much, when, and whether you’re also giving your body plenty of plain fluids.
👉 Action step for tomorrow: Before or with your first coffee, drink one full glass of water and see how your energy and focus feel compared to a “coffee-only” morning.
