# Caffeine = smoky-smelling urine?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 30, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303 "2008-10-30T19:37:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/1 "2008-10-30T19:37:52Z")

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I’ve noticed that when I drink coffee, my urine tends to smell “smoky”. Has anyone else noticed this, or do I have some dread disease? What causes this phenomenon?

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/2 "2008-10-30T19:43:36Z")

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Yes, I have noticed this as well. I do not know the root cause of the odor other than, obviously, something in the coffee.

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**Author:** ![The\_Unkempt\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Unkempt\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unkempt_One)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/3 "2008-10-30T19:51:29Z")

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I notice the same thing, and I just assumed that it was the coffee that I was smelling. I never notice the smell after drinking other caffeine containing products such as Red Bull or Vault soda.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/4 "2008-10-31T00:07:19Z")

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When I drink strong coffee, my urine smells like popcorn. I think the coffee combines with one or more of my prescription meds.

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**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/5 "2008-10-31T01:00:41Z")

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> [@The\_Unkempt\_One](#):
>
> I notice the same thing, and I just assumed that it was the coffee that I was smelling. I never notice the smell after drinking other caffeine containing products such as Red Bull or Vault soda.

I agree, it’s something specific to coffee. I drink strong tea every day, but notice that smoky odor only after coffee, which I usually drink only on weekends.

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**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/6 "2008-10-31T02:42:43Z")

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I was actually thinking of asking the very same question.

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**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/7 "2008-10-31T07:04:32Z")

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you people are all messed up 😉

seriously though, I notice no such smell after either coffee (which I drink on mornings when I have trouble facing the world) or tea (which I drink rather constantly).

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**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-smoky-smelling-urine/470303/8 "2008-10-31T07:42:13Z")

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Some possible answers.

[Link](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060822211732AAvAEgk)