Coffee and Kidney Disease: Is it Safe?

By Jessianna Saville, Kidney Dietitian

Coffee is a staple for more than 5 out of 10 Americans who drink it daily¹. When people find out they have kidney disease and must make dietary changes, one of the first questions they ask is, “Do I need to give up my coffee?”

The bottom-line answer is “No.” Coffee is not bad for coffee lovers with kidney disease², but here are a few things to think about the next time you pour a cup of joe.

First thing to consider is the nutritional content of coffee. An 8 oz. cup of black coffee has 116 mg of potassium³. This is considered a low potassium food. However, many people drink more than one cup of coffee each day. Three to four cups of coffee a day is considered high in potassium and could raise your potassium levels. Adding creamers or milk can further raise your coffee’s potassium content. Drinking less than three cups of coffee/day is generally considered safe. Phosphorus, sodium, calories, carbohydrates and protein are minimal in black coffee and not of nutritional consideration.

Caffeine causes a short but sudden increase in blood pressure. Those struggling with blood pressure control may need to drink less than three cups per day.

What is added to coffee can often be more of a problem than the coffee itself. For example, an 8 oz. cup of cafe latte, made without flavored syrup, rolls in at 183 mg of phosphorus and a whopping 328 mg of potassium⁴. Creamers can also be a problem. Manufacturers add chemical phosphates to coffee creamers. These chemical phosphates are easily absorbed by the body and should be limited for anyone with kidney disease.

Get a list of food and their phosphorus levels.

Coffee counts as fluid. If you are on a restricted fluid diet, you should include drinking coffee in your daily allowance.

In summary, coffee is an acceptable beverage for kidney disease. If consumed in moderation it poses little risk for those with kidney disease. Additives to coffee such as milk and many creamers increase the potassium and phosphorus content of coffee. Individuals with questions about their coffee intake should talk to a registered dietitian or physician about how much is appropriate for them.

Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, LD, CSR, CLT is a board certified renal nutrition specialist and registered dietitian licensed in the state of Texas. She has worked in outpatient dialysis since 2009. She feels passionately about the role nutrition therapy plays in kidney disease to improve quality-of-life, reduce hospitalization, and slow progression to dialysis. In her spare time she enjoys running, exploring new places with her husband and two children, and trying to make her garden grow.