Home » Health & Wellness » Superfoods Top 7 Side Effects of Drinking Black Coffee You Must Know June 18, 2025 by Pranay David Fact checked We have a team of smart fact checkers. They make sure our content is accurate. They use the best sources like medical journals and government websites. You can find their names and profiles on the articles they check. Important: This article is for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer for more details. Most tend to start their day with a hot steaming cup of coffee, which provides the caffeine jolt that helps kick start the day. Well, we agree coffee is delicious and instantly energizes us but it has its downsides too. You may think you already know everything you need to know about coffee, but read below to find out the side effects of coffee.(1) Article Contains Heart Burns Causes Gastrointestinal Tract Irritation Causes Acidity and Ulcers Induces Stress Damages Kidneys& Decreases Mineral Absorption Acrylamide Causes Cancer Coffee Interacts with Medication Top 7 Harmful Effects of Drinking Black Coffee 1. Heart Burns Heart burn is usually caused due to the way coffee relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. It is very important that this small muscle remains tightly closed once you had food in order to prevent the content from your stomach from coming back into the esophagus and further burning its delicate lining with hydrochloric acid.(2) 2. Causes Gastrointestinal Tract Irritation Coffee stimulates peristalsis i.e. the process in the digestive tract that makes us pass stools. By starting up peristalsis, the coffee appears to promote increased gastric emptying-which means that the content in the stomach is quickly passed into the small intestines even before the food is broken down. This partially digested food makes it difficult for nutrients to be absorbed. It further also increases the chances of irritation in the gastrointestinal tract.(2) 3. Causes Acidity and Ulcers Many compounds found in coffee such as the caffeine and acids present in the coffee beans can irritate your stomach and also the lining of the small intestine, leading to abdominal spasms, cramps and elimination problems-alternating between diarrhea and constipation. This acidic formation could cause acidity and the damaging of lining can cause lesions, leading to ulcers.(3) 4. Induces Stress Drinking a lot of coffee tends to release the stress hormones- cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. These land up causing palpitation, increased heart rate and fluctuates the blood pressure. These hormones are also responsible for anxiety and emotional dependence which can be traumatizing while quitting coffee.(4) [ Read: Surprising Side Effects of Hibiscus Tea ] 5. Damages Kidneys& Decreases Mineral Absorption People who drink coffee heavily may face difficulty getting enough minerals in their diet even after consuming mineral rich foods. This is due to the way coffee affects iron absorption in the stomach and hampers the ability of the kidneys to retain zinc, calcium and other important minerals which are vital for good health. This thus leads to malfunctioning of kidneys causing harm.(5) 6. Acrylamide Causes Cancer Acrylamide is cancer causing substance which forms when the coffee beans are roasted at very high temperatures. The darker the roast, the higher is the levels of acrylamide. Hence consuming black coffee would mean introducing oneself to these cancer causing carcinogens that could be fatal.(6) [ Read: Side Effects Of Green Tea Read to Know About Them in Detail ] 7. Coffee Interacts with Medication canva Coffee may interact with prescription drugs and might cause stringent reactions that could be harmful to the body. Hence if one is on any prescription drugs, they need to make sure to check with the doctor if consuming black coffee is safe or not. Ideally consuming the right amount of coffee every day would exhibit these side effects. According to studies, one must keep their daily coffee consumption under 300 mg to remain healthy. However, if one encounters any of these side effects, seeking medical help is a must.(7) References National Library Of Medicine – The Acute Effects of Caffeinated Black Coffee on Cognition and Mood in Healthy Young and Older Adults jstage – Effect of Coffee on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease National Library Of Medicine – Effect of coffee on gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease and healthy controls U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? National Library Of Medicine – Cortisol responses to mental stress, exercise, and meals following caffeine intake in men and women National Library Of Medicine – Effects of Coffee Intake on Incident Chronic Kidney Disease- A Community-Based Prospective Cohort Study National Library Of Medicine – Dietary acrylamide intake and risk of renal cell carcinoma in two large prospective cohorts National Library Of Medicine – Clinical pharmacokinetics in patients with liver disease You Might Also Like: How Does Garcinia Cambogia and Green Coffee Bean Extract Work? 10 Reasons to Drink Coffee With Coconut Oil Can You Mix Protein Powder with Coffee? Is It Safe to Eat Coffee Beans? Benefits and Dangers Why Does Coffee Make Me Tired? Understanding the Caffeine Paradox Is Coffee Good for Gout? Side Effects Of Black Tea You Should Beware of Unexpected Side Effects Of Peppermint Tea That You Should Definitely Know What Are The Side Effects Of Kombucha Image:- 1