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Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?

Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?
Everyday Health
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Updated on September 24, 2025
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If you’ve ever had to hit the bathroom after your morning cup of joe, you’re not alone. Coffee, especially the caffeinated kind, gets the gut moving.

“Coffee can stimulate multiple digestive processes,” says Supriya Rao, MD, a gastroenterologist at Integrated Gastroenterology Associates in Lowell, Massachusetts. “Some people may feel this in the form of regularity. Others may feel discomfort, cramping, or urgency,” she adds.

Read on to find out why coffee makes you poop — and when to be worried about the effects on your bathroom habits.

5 Ways Coffee Affects Digestion

There are several possible contributing factors to explain why coffee can stimulate a bowel movement. Sometimes, coffee’s impact on your digestion is perfectly normal and healthy. In other situations, changes to your bowel movements are unhealthy. Here’s what the research and experts say.

1. Caffeine Increases Motility

An older, small study shows that drinking coffee with caffeine (a stimulant) may increase motility, or the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract, by 60 percent compared with drinking water.

 “Caffeine enhances this process by increasing smooth muscle contractions in the colon, which is why many folks feel the need to go after coffee,” Dr. Rao says.
Researchers note that coffee may be beneficial for those with constipation, but may cause problems for those with diarrhea or fecal incontinence (the inability to control the bowels).

2. Coffee Releases Gastrin

The caffeine and polyphenols (antioxidant compounds found in plants) in coffee increase gastrin.

 Gastrin is a hormone that signals the body to produce acids that help digest food and activate muscle contractions within the gastrointestinal (GI) system, eventually leading to a bowel movement.

While higher levels of gastrin and acid can aid healthy digestion, it may also irritate the stomach lining or worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, a chronic condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus) in some people, Rao notes.

3. Coffee Stimulates the Gastrocolic Reflex

Within minutes of consuming coffee — or any other food or drink — the gastrocolic reflex kicks in. This automatic reflex tells your bowels to move existing food out to make room for incoming food, and is responsible for that urge you may feel to poop after eating.

The gastrocolic reflex is most active in the morning and after meals, which may be why some people have regular bowel movements after their morning cup of coffee.

4. Dairy May Promote Bowel Movements for Some

A splash of milk or cream in your coffee may exacerbate the need to poop for some people, for instance those with lactose intolerance. This is a condition in which the body can’t break down lactose (a sugar found in milk and dairy products), leading to digestive symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas or gas pain. Otherwise, dairy shouldn’t be problematic for most other coffee drinkers.

If you experience these symptoms after drinking coffee with dairy, you may have lactose intolerance. “As an alternative, you can choose a lactose-free milk, so you’re still able to get the flavor you want without any of the lactose,” suggests Amanda Sauceda, RD, the founder of the Mindful Gut in Long Beach, California. Or, use milk alternatives such as almond or oat milk in your coffee instead.

5. Real and Artificial Sweeteners Can Impact the Digestive System

If you use sweeteners in your coffee, you could be adding extra trips to the bathroom. Sugar draws water into the colon, and thus can loosen stools and lead to diarrhea if consumed in excess.

Each person has a different sugar tolerance, so if you experience GI upset after drinking sugar-sweetened coffee, gradually reduce the amount of added sugar until your symptoms resolve.

Some artificial sweeteners may also cause GI symptoms like gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Look out for sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol, and even stevia, which may cause stomach upset. These sweeteners make their way through the GI tract largely undigested, which draws in excess water, leading to loose, watery stools.

Rao notes that other common artificial sweeteners may also be troublesome for some coffee drinkers. “Artificial sweeteners, especially those with sucralose and aspartame, can cause bloating and gas and may worsen your body’s ability to break down glucose over time,” Rao says.

Rao encourages using natural sweeteners like monk fruit. Honey and maple syrup are other natural sugars worth trying.

Does Decaf Coffee Also Stimulate the Colon?

Decafffeinated coffee has some of the same bowel movement–inducing effects as the caffeinated kind.

“Decaf coffee contains bioactive compounds that stimulate gastrin and the gastrocolic reflex,” Rao says. In particular, some of coffee’s antioxidants, like chlorogenic acid and melanoidins, may play a role.

But decaf coffee contains only trace amounts of caffeine, so it tends to be less powerful.

Who Is More Sensitive to Coffee?

Some people may be more sensitive to the GI effects of coffee, such as those with anxiety. Anxious feelings cause the body to release hormones and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that carry signals from nerve cells to other areas of the body) that increase gut motility. When combined with the stimulating effects of caffeine, this can disrupt normal bowel function, resulting in diarrhea.

Meanwhile, people with digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, a chronic condition that causes digestive symptoms such as constipation, gas, and diarrhea), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, a group of chronic conditions causing inflammation in the digestive tract), and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) may find that coffee triggers symptoms.

People with IBS have impaired gut-brain interactions, which can cause the gut to be more sensitive.

 For some, the GI-stimulating effects of caffeine can trigger symptoms in an already sensitive gut.

People with ulcerative colitis (UC, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and painful sores in the colon) may also be sensitive to the stimulating effects of caffeine, as they already have frequent bowel movements and diarrhea. Similarly, people with Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract) who are prone to diarrhea and cramping may find that their symptoms worsen after they drink coffee.

For individuals with gastritis, the caffeine in coffee may increase stomach acid secretion, worsening symptoms.

When to Worry About Pooping After Coffee

Everybody poops, and each person has their own “normal.” Factors like hydration, medications, health conditions, fiber intake, and physical activity can affect the frequency and consistency of your stool. Consult your primary care provider if you notice any changes to your normal bowel movements after drinking coffee to rule out any serious health issues.

The following post-coffee symptoms in particular may signal that it’s time to consult a healthcare provider, per Rao:

  • Cramping
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Loose stools or diarrhea
  • Mucus or blood in stool

Urgency is another symptom to watch for. “If you find yourself dropping everything to run to the bathroom with hopes you can make it, that can be a sign to discuss things with your doctor,” Sauceda says.

Tips for Enjoying Your Coffee With Less GI Distress

There are several ways to forestall the potential GI-related side effects of coffee.

  • Reduce coffee intake. Try drinking less coffee than usual to see if that improves your digestive symptoms. “A reduction in portion size may be all you need,” Sauceda says.
  • Decrease caffeine. If you suspect that caffeine triggers your symptoms, consider swapping half or all your caffeinated coffee with decaf, Sauceda suggests.
  • Pair with food. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can irritate the digestive tract, Rao says. So, be sure to have a snack with your java.
  • Use milk alternatives. If you think you may be sensitive to lactose, swap your dairy creamer for a lactose- or dairy-free option, Sauceda recommends.
  • Skip the coffee shop. Coffee shop beverages tend to be higher in sugars, syrups, and creamers that can irritate your digestive system. Rao suggests avoiding the coffee shop and making your drink at home whenever possible.

The Takeaway

  • Coffee may make you poop by increasing motility, releasing digestive hormones, and triggering the gastrocolic reflex. Dairy and sweeteners may also contribute to the need to poop for some people.
  • People with anxiety or digestive conditions such as IBS, IBD, and gastritis may be more sensitive to coffee's effects on the GI system.
  • Consult your primary care provider if you experience any changes in your bowel movements after drinking coffee.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Rao SS et al. Is Coffee a Colonic Stimulant? European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. February 1998.
  2. Iriondo-DeHond A et al. Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain–Gut Axis. Nutrients. December 29, 2020.
  3. Nehlig A. Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update. Nutrients. January 17, 2022.
  4. Gastrin. Cleveland Clinic. January 2024.
  5. Malone JC et al. Physiology, Gastrocolic Reflex. StatPearls. May 1, 2023.
  6. Definition & Facts for Lactose Intolerance. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. February 2018.
  7. Is Something in Your Diet Causing Diarrhea? Harvard Health Publishing. August 8, 2023.
  8. Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes. Mayo Clinic. January 2023.
  9. Nehlig A. Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update. Nutrients. January 2022.
  10. Irionda-DeHond A et al. Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain–Gut Axis. Nutrients. December 2020.
  11. Yes, Anxiety Poops Are Totally a Thing — Here’s How to Find Relief. Cleveland Clinic. February 23, 2023.
  12. Neamti L et al. Impact of Coffee Consumption on Subjective Perception and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Biomedicines. August 2, 2024.
  13. Definition & Facts for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. November 2017.
  14. Koochakpoor G et al. Association of Coffee and Caffeine Intake With Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Adults. Frontiers in Nutrition. June 14, 2021.
  15. Santoso P. Coffee Consumption With the Incidence of Gastritis: Literature Review. Journal of Applied Nursing and Health. December 2023.
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