Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCoffee TypesBrewed CoffeeSymptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Coffee Types
Brewed Coffee
Symptoms
Most coffee is considered to begluten-free. Although, some may have very trace amounts due to cross-contamination or the addition of flavorings. The more the beans used were processed, the higher the risk of your home-brewed or store-bought cafe containing gluten.
In some instances, gastrointestinal symptoms may seem like a gluten reaction, but they could be related to the natural effect coffee has on some people’sdigestive systems.
This article explains the risk of gluten exposure with certain types and brands of coffee, common symptoms of gluten exposure compared with coffee-related stomach issues, and how to reduce the risk of getting “glutened” when you are just trying to caffeinate.
Verywell / Getty Images
What Types of At-Home Coffees Are Gluten-Free?
The coffee bean is naturally gluten-free. That means plain, black coffee or espresso will be gluten-free as long as it is not contaminated during the manufacturing process.
According to FDA food labeling regulations, in order for a food to be labeled “gluten-free,” it must contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten.
Despite strict FDA regulations, the risk of gluten cross-contamination above 20 ppm exists throughout every step of food production.
Generally speaking, the more processed a coffee product is, the more likely it is to be contaminated.
K-Cup Pods
Other popular coffee pod companies include the following:
Are All Coffee Pods Gluten-Free?
Instant Coffee
Plain instant coffee is pure coffee and should not contain gluten. With that being said, instant coffee is one of the most processed forms of coffee. And, generally speaking, the more processed a coffee is, the more likely it is to be cross-contaminated with gluten.
Some of the most popular instant coffee brands include the following:
Ground Beans
Unflavored ground coffee beans should not contain gluten. With that being said, ground beans are slightly more processed than whole beans, and must pass through another machine or facility to be ground. There is always a chance that machine or facility could have come in contact with gluten, especially if it is not solely devoted to processing pure coffee.
Some grocery stores allow you to choose from a selection of whole coffee beans, then grind them yourself at the store. It’s best to avoid this, too. Grinders are unlikely to be cleaned between uses, and there’s no way to know what the grinder was used for before you.
Whole Beans
The best way to avoid gluten cross-contamination in your coffee is to buy whole coffee beans then grind them yourself at home. Since whole beans are the least processed of all coffee products, they are also the least likely to come in contact with contaminated equipment.
Which Brands of Coffee Are Gluten-Free?In theory, any pure, unflavored coffee should be gluten-free. In practice, the risk of cross-contamination is always present.If you are not sure whether a brand of coffee is gluten-free, call the company and ask. Be sure to inquire if the coffee is processed in a facility that also processes other gluten products.
Which Brands of Coffee Are Gluten-Free?
In theory, any pure, unflavored coffee should be gluten-free. In practice, the risk of cross-contamination is always present.If you are not sure whether a brand of coffee is gluten-free, call the company and ask. Be sure to inquire if the coffee is processed in a facility that also processes other gluten products.
What to Consider When Buying Brewed Coffee
When buying brewed coffee:
Stores and Websites That Sell Gluten-Free Food
Gluten Exposure Versus Coffee-Related Symptoms
Coffee can be really hard on your digestive system, even when it is entirely gluten-free.
Regular coffee contains caffeine, which can lead fairly quickly to a bad case of the runs. This may be more likely to happen if you’re newly diagnosed withceliac diseaseor non-celiacgluten sensitivityand your system is still irritated. It’s also not uncommon in people who don’t have these conditions.
In fact, some people with irritable bowel syndrome report that plain caffeinated coffee triggers IBS symptoms. There have also been reports from some people with IBS who say even decaf coffee (which still contains a tiny amount of caffeine) causes problems.
If you’re new to the gluten-free diet, you might not yet be able to tell the difference between yoursymptoms when you eat glutenand other digestive maladies (such as a bad reaction to caffeine).
Consider cutting back on your coffee consumption for a while to see if that helps with your symptoms. You can also try drinking something else, or switching up the type of coffee you make. Other options include:
Tips to Brew Coffee That Won’t Irritate Your Stomach
Summary
The caffeine in coffee can upset your stomach, even when it’s gluten-free. As always, pay attention to your body, and be prepared to make some changes to your coffee habit if it doesn’t seem to be agreeing with you.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Damasceno R, Zandonadi R, Mendes M, et al.Risk of gluten cross-contamination due to food handling practices: A mini-review.Nutrients. 2024 Apr;16(8):1198. doi:10.3390/nu16081198U.S. Food and Drug Administration.‘Gluten-free’ means what it says.Keurig.Beverage support.Nespresso.FAQ.Kraft Cafe Barista.Products.Starbucks.FAQs.Dunkin Donuts.K-Cup Pods.Lavazza.FAQ.Peet’s Coffee.Are Peet’s espresso capsules gluten-free?.Starbucks.Instant coffees.Cafe Bustelo.Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets.Nestle.Frequently asked questions.Albertsons.Signature SELECT Coffee Crystals Instant - 12 OZ.Folgers Coffee.Frequently asked questions.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Dumitraşcu DL.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!.World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3771-3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Mendpara V, Garg S, Shah P, et al.Is coffee and tea a threat or ally to cardiovascular health?.Cureus. 2023 Dec;15(12):e49991. doi:10.7759/cureus.49991Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B.An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(1):72-83. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002Alamri E, Rozan M, Bayomy H.A study of chemical composition, antioxidants, and volatile compounds in roasted Arabic coffee.Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 May;29(5):3133–3139. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.025
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Damasceno R, Zandonadi R, Mendes M, et al.Risk of gluten cross-contamination due to food handling practices: A mini-review.Nutrients. 2024 Apr;16(8):1198. doi:10.3390/nu16081198U.S. Food and Drug Administration.‘Gluten-free’ means what it says.Keurig.Beverage support.Nespresso.FAQ.Kraft Cafe Barista.Products.Starbucks.FAQs.Dunkin Donuts.K-Cup Pods.Lavazza.FAQ.Peet’s Coffee.Are Peet’s espresso capsules gluten-free?.Starbucks.Instant coffees.Cafe Bustelo.Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets.Nestle.Frequently asked questions.Albertsons.Signature SELECT Coffee Crystals Instant - 12 OZ.Folgers Coffee.Frequently asked questions.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Dumitraşcu DL.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!.World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3771-3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Mendpara V, Garg S, Shah P, et al.Is coffee and tea a threat or ally to cardiovascular health?.Cureus. 2023 Dec;15(12):e49991. doi:10.7759/cureus.49991Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B.An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(1):72-83. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002Alamri E, Rozan M, Bayomy H.A study of chemical composition, antioxidants, and volatile compounds in roasted Arabic coffee.Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 May;29(5):3133–3139. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.025
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Damasceno R, Zandonadi R, Mendes M, et al.Risk of gluten cross-contamination due to food handling practices: A mini-review.Nutrients. 2024 Apr;16(8):1198. doi:10.3390/nu16081198U.S. Food and Drug Administration.‘Gluten-free’ means what it says.Keurig.Beverage support.Nespresso.FAQ.Kraft Cafe Barista.Products.Starbucks.FAQs.Dunkin Donuts.K-Cup Pods.Lavazza.FAQ.Peet’s Coffee.Are Peet’s espresso capsules gluten-free?.Starbucks.Instant coffees.Cafe Bustelo.Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets.Nestle.Frequently asked questions.Albertsons.Signature SELECT Coffee Crystals Instant - 12 OZ.Folgers Coffee.Frequently asked questions.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Dumitraşcu DL.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!.World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3771-3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Mendpara V, Garg S, Shah P, et al.Is coffee and tea a threat or ally to cardiovascular health?.Cureus. 2023 Dec;15(12):e49991. doi:10.7759/cureus.49991Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B.An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(1):72-83. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002Alamri E, Rozan M, Bayomy H.A study of chemical composition, antioxidants, and volatile compounds in roasted Arabic coffee.Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 May;29(5):3133–3139. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.025
Damasceno R, Zandonadi R, Mendes M, et al.Risk of gluten cross-contamination due to food handling practices: A mini-review.Nutrients. 2024 Apr;16(8):1198. doi:10.3390/nu16081198
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.‘Gluten-free’ means what it says.
Keurig.Beverage support.
Nespresso.FAQ.
Kraft Cafe Barista.Products.
Starbucks.FAQs.
Dunkin Donuts.K-Cup Pods.
Lavazza.FAQ.
Peet’s Coffee.Are Peet’s espresso capsules gluten-free?.
Starbucks.Instant coffees.
Cafe Bustelo.Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets.
Nestle.Frequently asked questions.
Albertsons.Signature SELECT Coffee Crystals Instant - 12 OZ.
Folgers Coffee.Frequently asked questions.
Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Dumitraşcu DL.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!.World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3771-3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771
Mendpara V, Garg S, Shah P, et al.Is coffee and tea a threat or ally to cardiovascular health?.Cureus. 2023 Dec;15(12):e49991. doi:10.7759/cureus.49991
Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B.An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.Food Res Int. 2017 Sep;99(1):72-83. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002
Alamri E, Rozan M, Bayomy H.A study of chemical composition, antioxidants, and volatile compounds in roasted Arabic coffee.Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 May;29(5):3133–3139. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.025
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
