Should You Drink Coffee When You Have a Cold or the Flu?
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Your nose is blocked, your head feels like cotton wool and you are wondering whether your morning coffee will help or make things worse. So, should you drink coffee when you have a cold? For most healthy adults, a normal amount is fine. Research from Cardiff University found that people with colds felt less alert and reacted more slowly than when healthy, and that a modest dose of caffeine brought their alertness and performance back up to healthy levels. Coffee will not cure a cold or the flu, though, and there are times when it is better to switch to something gentler.
Key takeaways
- Colds reduce alertness and slow reaction times; in studies, caffeine helped restore them.
- Moderate coffee does not dehydrate you, but drink plenty of other fluids too, especially with fever.
- Skip or cut back if you have stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea or trouble sleeping.
- Many cold and flu remedies already contain caffeine or decongestants; check the label and ask a pharmacist.
- Coffee does not treat a cold or flu. Rest, fluids and medical advice when needed come first.
In this article
- What the research says
- Should you drink coffee when you have a cold?
- When to skip coffee
- Coffee and cold medicines
- A sick-day drink plan
- FAQ
What the research says about coffee and colds
Most of the research comes from psychologist Andrew Smith and colleagues, who studied how minor illnesses affect mood and performance.
The 1997 Cardiff study
In a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, 100 volunteers were tested while healthy. Forty-six of them came back when they caught a cold, along with healthy volunteers as a comparison group. Those with colds were less alert and slower on psychomotor tasks. One hour after drinking caffeinated coffee (1.5 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight, roughly 100 mg for a 68 kg person), their alertness and performance rose to the level of the healthy group. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee also produced some improvement, suggesting the warm drink itself may help a little.
The 2014 caffeine and ibuprofen study
A later study by Smith and David Nutt, published in Psychopharmacology, gave people with upper respiratory tract infections a single dose of ibuprofen 200 mg with caffeine 100 mg, ibuprofen alone, caffeine alone or a placebo. Before dosing, participants showed lower mood and impaired performance. The two caffeine conditions produced faster reaction times than ibuprofen alone or placebo, and participants rated the ibuprofen plus caffeine combination best. No serious side effects were reported.
| Study | Who | Caffeine dose | Main finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith et al., 1997 | 46 people with colds vs healthy controls | 1.5 mg/kg in coffee | Caffeine restored alertness and performance to healthy levels |
| Smith and Nutt, 2014 | Volunteers with upper respiratory infections | 100 mg, with or without ibuprofen | Caffeine sped reaction times; the combination was rated best |
These studies looked at how people feel and function, not at how quickly they recover. There is no good evidence that coffee shortens a cold or flu.
Should you drink coffee when you have a cold?
If coffee is part of your normal routine and your stomach feels fine, keeping your usual cup or two is reasonable. Stopping suddenly when you are already unwell can add caffeine-withdrawal headaches and fatigue to your cold symptoms.
Hydration
A common worry is that coffee will dehydrate you. In moderate amounts it does not have a meaningful dehydrating effect for regular drinkers, a topic we cover in does coffee dehydrate you. Still, when you are sick, especially with a fever, your fluid needs go up, so pair each coffee with water, broth or herbal tea rather than letting coffee be your only drink.
Sore throat comfort
A warm drink can feel soothing on a sore throat. If coffee feels harsh, add milk or switch to a milder, lower-acid cup, or try warm water with honey and lemon (not for babies under 1 year old).
When to skip coffee or cut back
| Situation | Suggestion | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mild cold, normal appetite | Keep your usual amount | Avoids withdrawal and may ease sluggishness |
| Fever or flu with sweating | Smaller cups, extra water and broth | Fluid needs are higher |
| Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea | Pause coffee; sip water or oral rehydration drinks | Coffee can stimulate the gut and irritate the stomach |
| Trouble sleeping | No caffeine after early afternoon | Rest matters for recovery |
| Taking cold medicine with caffeine or decongestants | Check the label; reduce coffee | Avoid doubling up on stimulants |
| Feeling jittery or palpitations | Cut back or switch to decaf | Illness and medicines can make you more sensitive |
Sleep deserves special attention. Caffeine can linger in your system for hours, and a sick body benefits from all the rest it can get. Our guide to caffeine and sleep explains timing.
Coffee and cold medicines
Many over-the-counter cold and flu products, especially daytime formulas and some pain relievers, contain caffeine. Others contain decongestants that can also make you feel wired or raise your heart rate. Adding several cups of coffee on top can push your total stimulant intake higher than you intend.
- Read the label for caffeine and decongestants, and count them toward your daily total. Most healthy adults are advised to stay within about 400 mg of caffeine a day.
- Ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines, have high blood pressure, heart problems, thyroid problems, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Do not combine multiple cold products without advice; many share ingredients.
See how much caffeine is too much to estimate your daily total.
When to get medical help
Most colds clear up on their own within a week or two. Contact a doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, a high fever that does not come down, symptoms that get worse after starting to improve, or if you are in a higher-risk group for flu complications. Seek urgent care for severe symptoms.
A sick-day drink plan
- Morning: your usual coffee, perhaps a little smaller, with a large glass of water.
- Midday: broth or soup and another glass of water.
- Afternoon: switch to half caf or decaf if you still want the ritual, or a warm caffeine-free herbal tea.
- Evening: caffeine-free herbal tea or warm water with honey and lemon.
Gentle options for slow days
When you want the coffee ritual with less caffeine, our Half Caf is a smooth medium roast with half the caffeine, and Peru Decaf offers caramel and citrus notes without the buzz. For a warm caffeine-free mug, Chamomile Ginger pairs floral chamomile with warming ginger and lemon, and Turmeric Ginger brings ginger, lemongrass and citrus. They are comforting drinks, not remedies.
Coffee when sick FAQ
Is coffee bad when you have the flu?
Not necessarily. A usual amount is fine for many adults, but with fever, sweating or stomach upset, cut back and focus on water, broth and rest.
Does coffee help a cold go away faster?
No evidence shows that. Studies suggest caffeine can ease the sluggish, foggy feeling, but it does not speed recovery.
Can I drink coffee with a sore throat?
Yes, if it feels comfortable. Warm, not scalding, is best; add milk if black coffee feels harsh.
Should I drink decaf when sick?
Decaf is a good option if you want the ritual without the stimulation, especially in the afternoon or if you are taking medicines that contain caffeine.
Sources
- Smith, Thomas, Perry and Whitney, Caffeine and the common cold, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 1997 (Cardiff University repository).
- Smith and Nutt, Effects of upper respiratory tract illnesses, ibuprofen and caffeine on reaction time and alertness, Psychopharmacology, 2014 (Cardiff University repository).
Facts checked in October 2026.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, ask your doctor before changing your caffeine intake.
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