“Why does my pee smell like coffee” is a very common question many people ask themselves. Truth is that the urine smell can say a lot about your lifestyle, whether you’re having too many soft drinks, extra sugar in your food, or you’re a heavy coffee drinker. Smelly urine can also be a sign of different medical conditions such as urinary tract infection or yeast infections.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
But today we are talking about why your urine smells like coffee. So keep reading to find out!
What is human urine composed of?
Human urine is made out of water and several chemicals, such as urea, creatinine, minerals, salts, enzymes, amino acids, and uric acid. The color and smell of your pee will be affected by the amount of those chemicals in your body.
If you have noticed a bad smell or generally a strong odor along with other symptoms such as a burning sensation when urinating, you should consult your doctor to make sure there are not any underlying medical conditions.
Why does my pee smell like coffee?
Coffee is a drink we all love. It has many health benefits, it’s a social drink, and it’s simply very tasty. But sometimes, especially when you drink too much coffee, the scent of your urine can be affected by the amount of caffeine that you consume. Caffeine is a natural stimulant found not just in coffee but also in a variety of drinks such as black teas and energy drinks.
Caffeine, a weak diuretic, is known for stimulating the brain and central nervous system and helping us stay alert and preventing the onset of tiredness. Some of the other benefits found in caffeine are:
- extra energy at any time of the day
- fat burning by activating our metabolism
- improving brain functions like memory and reaction times
Normally, a cup of black coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine, depending on certain factors, because we know there isn’t just one type of coffee. Caffeine content found in coffee beans is affected by several factors such as the type of coffee beans, the brewing method, and the roasting level.
However, too much caffeine may also make you feel restless, shaky, or give you headaches, insomnia, dizziness, dehydration, and other side effects. In fact, we have an article where we talk about how much caffeine is in coffee. If your pee smells like coffee, the most common culprit is coffee. It’s probably a sign that you need to consume less caffeine or increase the amount of water you drink.
But there’s no need to worry or to give much thought – if your urine smells like coffee, it is harmless. Most likely than not, it’s just your body’s way of telling you you are drinking too much coffee. No potentially severe health conditions, except dehydration, are associated with urine that smells like coffee.
What is a healthy caffeine intake?
In general, an adult person can consume about 400 mg of caffeine per day and still be on the safe side (source). 400mg of caffeine is about four to five cups of coffee. Some people may even consume more caffeine and still be fine, but for some, it might be too much. Don’t forget that pregnant women, children, and adolescents should be aware of caffeine intake as they have a lesser tolerance for caffeine and the effects of caffeine might be stronger.
Besides, coffee is a diuretic. That means that it may cause a larger urine volume after a large coffee intake. If you drink a high amount of coffee, then you may suffer from the following symptoms:
- excessive urination
- strong urine odor
- dry mouth, lips, and eyes
- tiredness and feelings of lightheadedness
- muscle cramps
However, if the symptoms persist even after you drank a lot of water and it’s been some time since you had coffee, then it’s important to get medical attention to make sure your urinary system is fine.
What should my urine smell and look like?
Urine is mostly water. Healthy urine, although it has a distinctive smell, should be pale and almost odorless. The smell and color of your urine will be affected by:
- digested food and drinks
- toxins or allergens that a person has breathed in
- hormones and other bodily chemicals
- medications
- liters of water you drink in a day
A healthy person’s pee should look somewhere between colorless and the color of light straw and honey. When you don’t drink enough water, your urine turns a darker yellow or amber color. It is completely normal for the color to vary a little day by day, but it should stay within a certain range of yellow.
Several foods and drinks can cause the urine to have an unusual smell or appearance, such as asparagus, garlic, leafy greens, salmon, teas, alcohol, spicy foods, and brussels sprouts.
Smelly urine can be caused by many different things, like a urinary tract infection (UTI), which happens when harmful bacteria proliferate in the urethra, bladder, or kidneys, although that is usually accompanied by other symptoms like intense need to urinate, difficulty fully emptying the bladder, cloudy urine, etc. Diabetes medications may also change the smell of urine as well as the disease, especially if blood sugar levels go uncontrolled. Some people notice a sweet smell, which happens when there is too much sugar in the urine.
If the symptoms persist, make sure to consult your doctor.
How to prevent my urine from smelling like coffee?
An easy way to prevent your pee from smelling like coffee is by simply drinking less coffee. We know that’s not always easy since caffeine has addictive properties. You can switch to green or black tea since they contain less caffeine than brewed coffee. Also, when you drink coffee, make sure to drink plenty of water too.
If you often drink coffee as soon as you wake up, we recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after you wake up before you drink your first caffeinated drink, as your body naturally releases a hormone (cortisol) during this time, which is thought to help wake you up. You’ll find that you need less caffeine when you let this natural process happen first.
If you need to eliminate your caffeine consumption entirely, be aware that decaf coffee isn’t entirely caffeine-free. You’ll also want to avoid other caffeinated beverages like tea, soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks.
It happens to almost everyone
So, in conclusion, it is normal for urine to smell like coffee if a person has drunk too much coffee or had some while not being hydrated enough. Although having urine that smells like coffee can be alarming at first, it usually just means you’ve had too much coffee. Cut back on your daily cup of joe and drink more water, and you’ll soon notice an improvement in the smell of your urine. If it continues to have an unusual smell, talk to your doctor.
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321494
https://www.healthline.com/health/urine-smells-like-coffee
https://www.menshealth.com/health/a36291232/why-does-pee-smell-like-coffee/