# Why Does Coffee Make You Poop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635 "2012-07-28T01:59:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/1 "2012-07-28T01:59:31Z")
I’m guessing this topic has come up before but I couldn’t find it with any cursory searches so I am asking it here: why does coffee make you poop? It can’t be simply the caffeine because there are plenty of caffeinated beverages out there, some much more caffeinated that coffee (I’m thinking of you pre-workout energy), that don’t trigger a BM. My guess is that it’s perhaps a combination of triggers; physical and psychological. The caffeine probably _does_ play a role, stimulating the bowels to move in some way, and the heat of the coffee may aid in this function as well. I am also guessing that the psychological role that coffee plays in a person’s life may also serve as a stimulant of sorts. Because I have found that within taking just two or three sips of my first cup I must go to the bathroom; this doesn’t seem like enough time for _anything_ physical to have occurred in my body from drinking that teensy bit of coffee. But I leave it to more knowledgeable sources, what is the straight dope here? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/2 "2012-07-28T03:05:42Z")
Coffee in itself (not just its caffeine) stimulates both peristalsis (intestinal movement) and diuresis (urine production). But that isn’t saying much other than…they make you poop. And pee. ---
**Author:** ![griffon502](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@griffon502](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffon502)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/3 "2012-07-28T03:07:19Z")
The caffein, I think. It stimulates bowel movement and also your metabolic rate. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/4 "2012-07-28T06:22:37Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s due to the acids in coffee. Try the special low-acid coffees and/or cold-brewing (which minimizes acid content) and you should notice much less of that effect. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/5 "2012-07-28T06:45:42Z")
Another recent thread discusses the fact that eating (or even planning to eat) anything will tend to stimulate the bowels to move things along. Since coffee is the first thing that most people consume each day, it gets credit that any food or drink could claim. It may also be worth noting that coffee does have some fiber in it. It’s about 1-2 grams per cup, which is about 5-10% of daily RDA… and for a typical someone who’s only getting half their RDA of fiber, a few cups of coffee could be a majority of their daily intake of fiber. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/6 "2012-07-28T10:16:45Z")
Anecdote: coffee and energy drinks do it. Rockstar is probably the one I have the most experience with. Caffeinated sodas don’t do it. And by “poop” you mean “horrible acid lava flow” then, yeah. Doesn’t fiber take longer? Acidity could be a factor, but I don’t think coffee is much worse in that respect than many other things, ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/7 "2012-07-28T12:07:37Z")
Likewise, in another thread, suddenly adding warm food or drink to the stomach also stimulates a dowel movement or urination. Its a method for your body to dump (heh) excess heat. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/8 "2012-07-28T13:33:11Z")
Hot water works, too. I’ve had kids drink a cup of hot (warm) water to get their little systems moving. Sometimes I’m feeling particularly kind and put in cocoa, but plain is best. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/9 "2012-07-28T13:44:28Z")
Back when I used to smoke, a cigarette would often have the same effect on me. Obviously not every time. Let’s say if I had a load staged and ready for a shipment, a cigarette would frequently expedite delivery. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/10 "2012-07-28T14:02:38Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Likewise, in another thread, suddenly adding warm food or drink to the stomach also stimulates a dowel movement or urination. Its a method for your body to dump (heh) excess heat. Do the cabinetmakers know about this effect? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/11 "2012-07-28T16:14:04Z")
Water has the same effect. I drink a 16 oz glass of water to re-hydrate when I get up in the morning. Within an hour the inevitable happens, especially if I eat something during that period. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/12 "2012-07-28T17:26:46Z")
Coffee makes you poop??? Well, not me apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/13 "2012-07-28T17:44:32Z")
Looking back, I never had to reel off a yard in the mornings before I became a coffee drinker. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/14 "2012-07-28T17:47:59Z")
it’s good to the last plop. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/15 "2012-07-28T17:54:42Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Back when I used to smoke, a cigarette would often have the same effect on me. Obviously not every time. > Let’s say if I had a load staged and ready for a shipment, a cigarette would frequently expedite delivery. Back when I used to smoke, if I was feeling a bit backed up, I’d stand outside my bathroom with a cup o’ joe in one hand and a smoke in the other. Oftentimes just the aroma of the coffee and cigarette smoke would be enough to get the soldiers marching. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/16 "2012-07-28T20:33:01Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Back when I used to smoke, if I was feeling a bit backed up, I’d stand outside my bathroom with a cup o’ joe in one hand and a smoke in the other. Oftentimes just the aroma of the coffee and cigarette smoke would be enough to get the soldiers marching. My aunt used to make a joke about her morning coffee and smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/17 "2012-07-28T22:15:49Z")
It can’t be the caffeine, because Sanka is famous for helping old people poop without keeping them awake. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/18 "2012-07-28T22:28:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Water has the same effect. I drink a 16 oz glass of water to re-hydrate when I get up in the morning. Within an hour the inevitable happens, especially if I eat something during that period. You have a period? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/19 "2012-07-28T22:31:18Z")
Man walks into a diner, tells the hostess “I’ll have a bran muffin, prunes, and a cup of coffee.” “Will that be for here?” “No, it’s to go.” ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635/20 "2012-07-28T22:37:26Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Another recent thread discusses the fact that eating (or even planning to eat) anything will tend to stimulate the bowels to move things along. Since coffee is the first thing that most people consume each day, it gets credit that any food or drink could claim. > > It may also be worth noting that coffee does have some fiber in it. It’s about 1-2 grams per cup, which is about 5-10% of daily RDA… and for a typical someone who’s only getting half their RDA of fiber, a few cups of coffee could be a majority of their daily intake of fiber. nm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/629635.md?page=2)