# My urine smells like coffee. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421 "2001-09-18T17:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/21 "2001-09-19T08:58:08Z")
oh, bleagh. why oh why do i open these threads. urgh… I don’t drink a lot of coffee, actually, and when i do, it’s usually mcdonald’s coffee (is that stuff REALLY coffee? ugh) and no, my pee doesn’t smell like coffee afterwards. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/22 "2001-09-19T09:19:50Z")
When I drink any quantity (say \> 1pint) of cider (UK-speak; I think alcoholic cider may be called something else in the US), I pee apple-sauce. Well, it’s not, but it sure smells like it. In fact, it smells **better** than apple sauce. With glee normally reserved for small children, this absolutely never ceases to amaze me. I’ve posted this nugget once before on the boards, but, like the act itself, never tire from talking about it, and I figured here was a heaven-scent opportunity. I thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/23 "2001-09-19T11:38:27Z")
Coffee definitely scents it better than anything else. Asparagus is reputed to make it stink. On the positive side, I can attest that if you eat a lot of basmati rice, that distinctive and pleasant aroma comes through too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/24 "2001-09-19T12:16:14Z")
Yeah, my urine also smells like coffee in the morning. I drink a 14 oz. espresso (not capuccino; espresso brewed in a stove-top espresso pot) before work. If I had a little more time I’d have two. I’ll have some regular coffee and sometime before lunch I’ll urinate. I noticed the coffee smell when I renewed drinking espresso regularly. > [@](#): > > I look into the toilet and think, “Where did the brown go?” It comes out the back. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/25 "2001-09-19T12:21:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xerxes \* > \*\*… I figured here was a heaven-scent opportunity. > > I thank you. \*\* No, no, no! It’s “thanks, I’m here all week! ba-dump-tschhhh!” ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/26 "2001-09-19T12:36:09Z")
But does your pee TASTE like coffee?! Okay, ew. I just grossed myself out. ick ick ptooey ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/27 "2001-09-19T14:10:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GrizzRich \* > \*\*But does your pee TASTE like coffee?! > \*\* It’s probably bitter. I worked my way through college at for Tulsa Produce Company. We could eat all the fruit (and veggies) we wanted to while on the clock. My girlfriend said I ‘tasted’ much better when working there. You know what I mean 😉 E3 ---
**Author:** ![vex77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@vex77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vex77)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/28 "2001-09-19T14:21:10Z")
I have also noticed the same thing with cappucino flavored slim-fast, sugar smacks, honey nut cherrios and asparagus. Have always just thought I was wierd. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/29 "2001-09-19T14:24:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enright3 \* > \*\*My girlfriend said I ‘tasted’ much better when working there. You know what I mean 😉 > > E3 \*\* I wonder if coffee would do the same thing. Of course, in this case, it would already be creamed. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/30 "2001-09-19T14:44:33Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tiburon \* > \*\* > Also - a question now. If I drink coffee, I swear, it goes right through me. I bet I could sit on the toilet and drink a cup of coffee and literally, be like a Bunn coffee maker where it instantly starts brewing. Anyone else this quick to pee from drinking? (I know caffeine is a diuretic but this happens to me with water as well.)_\* Are you a diabetic, **Tiburon**? My sister-in-law claims that this happens to her, and she attributes it to her diabetes. I don’t want to freak you out–IANAD (doctor or diabetic), but it could be an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/31 "2001-09-19T14:50:39Z")
Tibs, I am with you on both fronts. The pee will smell like coffee, and your morning equation up there applies to me as well. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/32 "2001-09-19T14:59:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dire Wolf \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Enright3 \* > > \*\*My girlfriend said I ‘tasted’ much better when working there. You know what I mean 😉 > > > > E3 \*\* > > I wonder if coffee would do the same thing. Of course, in this case, it would already be creamed. \*\* Nope, it doesn’t work. Ok, traumatizing info below. Tib, if you’re just noticing this now it can be a sign of persistant bladder infection. Strong smelling urine (smelling like fish, they usually say, but mine never smelled quite like that, often like coffee or pork.) is one of the signs. I’ve had that symptom and no other as well, so even if you’re not irritated… Also, I never had that particular problem until after one particularly persistant infection (lasted a few months). Note: the time you’ll notice this the most would be in the morning, because your bladder had all night to percolate and not many people drink water in their sleep. So that might cause you to associate it with coffee? Hope this isn’t the problem, but thought maybe you should know 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/33 "2001-09-19T15:00:06Z")
Not diabetic here. Just drinking way too strong of coffee. 🙂 GO COFFEE SMELLED URINATORS OF THE WORLD! Tibs. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/34 "2001-09-19T15:01:21Z")
I should have mentioned that IAANAD (I am also not a doctor) just an unlucky sufferer 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/35 "2001-09-19T15:05:41Z")
Bladder infection?? Ew. Well, I pee right upon waking and I don’t notice any smell then. It’s only after I drink those first few cups. Definitely coffee related because it never smells that way when I don’t drink coffee. Maybe I’ll start drinking flavored coffee and see if I noticed a change in smell. 🙂 Tibs. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/36 "2001-09-19T16:12:19Z")
Hmmmm … never like coffee, but occasionally it smells like sligtly burnt buttered popcorn. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/37 "2001-09-19T20:29:11Z")
I’m also a human percolator - and it is definitely only when I drink coffee that I get that dark-roasted, Columbian pee, so I don’t think it has anything to do with a bladder infection. (I rarely drink coffee.) I also also think (non-coffee) pee smells like Cheerios. Thanks goodness for SDMB - between this and the [Having to crap at the bookstore](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=33906) thread, I feel I am not as abnormal as I once thought! ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/38 "2001-09-19T20:49:28Z")
> [@](#): > > From a small child, to an adult, my urine, on occasion, smells like Sugar Smacks Brand breakfast cereal. I know it’s name has since been changed to something like **Extra Healthful Honey Smacks** but it’s still the same old Sugarsmackian urine. Preach on, brother! This and asparagus are the only things I notice. My question is how the heck does that stinky asparagus smell make it down so fast to your bladder!? I mean, heck I’ll eat asparagus and 10 minutes later be tinkling and anyone in the room would be able to tell what I’d eaten 10 minutes before. There. There’s my TMI for the day. :blushing: ---
**Author:** ![IMWOMANHERE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@IMWOMANHERE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMWOMANHERE)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421/39 "2001-09-21T03:20:31Z")
I noticed the smell of coffee when I peed… turned out I was PREGNANT! Also I drank ice water after a too long dry spell and peed cold urine. That was very strange! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-urine-smells-like-coffee/82421.md?page=1)