A Beginner’s Guide to Drinking Coffee While Fasting

One of the most common questions people ask when they start intermittent fasting is whether or not they can drink coffee (or other drinks) during a fasting state.

The short answer is yes, but it is a little more complex.

Can You Drink Coffee While Fasting?

Whether coffee can be consumed while fasting is important for those observing various forms of fasting, from intermittent fasting to religious fasting.

The answer largely depends on your reasons for fasting and the specific fast rules you follow.

However, we’ll focus on the general implications of consuming coffee during fasting periods, particularly related to health and wellness.

Last update on 2026-05-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros of Drinking Coffee While Fasting

1. Boosts Metabolism: Coffee can increase your metabolic rate, which helps in burning fat more efficiently. This is beneficial during fasting, as it can potentially enhance the weight loss effects of the fast.
2. Enhances Physical Performance: Coffee’s caffeine stimulates the nervous system, improving physical performance. This can be particularly useful if you incorporate exercise into your fasting regimen.
3. Promotes Mental Clarity: Fasting can sometimes lead to foggy thinking or sluggishness. Thanks to its caffeine content, coffee can help maintain alertness and mental clarity during fasting.
4. Appetite Suppression: Some find that coffee suppresses their appetite, making it easier to continue fasting without feeling overwhelming hunger.
5. Antioxidants and Health Benefits: Coffee is rich in antioxidants and has been linked to various health benefits, such as a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes and liver disease. These benefits can complement the health objectives of fasting.

Cons of Drinking Coffee While Fasting

1. May Break a Fast Depending on Your Goals: If you intend to drink water fast or strictly avoid all caloric intake, even the small number of calories in black coffee might be considered breaking the fast. Additionally, any additives like milk or sugar will break a fast.
2. Can Cause Digestive Discomfort: Coffee on an empty stomach may lead to acid reflux or discomfort for some individuals.
3. May Lead to Increased Anxiety or Jitters: The stimulating effects of caffeine can exacerbate feelings of anxiety or cause jitters, especially when consumed in large amounts on an empty stomach.
4. Possible Disruption of Sleep Patterns: Consuming coffee late in the day can disrupt sleep patterns, which might be more pronounced during fasting due to changes in eating schedules.
5. Risk of Overconsumption: Without food to absorb the coffee, there’s a higher risk of consuming too much caffeine, leading to negative side effects like increased heart rate and blood pressure.

What You Can Drink While Fasting

Let’s discuss what you can drink and eat during a fasted state.

The simple answer is that you can have anything with zero or extremely low calories.

Since you should not consume any calories while fasting, the basics are water, tea, and black coffee.

Of course, there are some different variations on this depending on your preferences and comfort levels, which you will learn about in later sections.

1. Water: Water is always the best choice while fasting. It keeps you hydrated and maintains your energy levels. It also helps suppress hunger and can aid in digestion.
2. Black Coffee: Black coffee is low in calories and can help curb hunger cravings. It also contains caffeine, which can boost your metabolism and increase fat burning-during fasting. However, be mindful of adding sugar or cream to your coffee, as it can be fast.
3. Herbal Tea: Herbal teas like green tea, peppermint tea, or chamomile tea can be a great option while fasting. They are low in calories, can help reduce cravings, and have antioxidant properties.
4. Bone Broth: Bone broth contains essential nutrients like amino acids and can help maintain electrolyte balance while fasting. It is also easy on the digestive system and can keep you feeling full for longer.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar: During fasting, some people drink diluted apple cider vinegar, which can help reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. However, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before consuming it during fasting.
6. Protein Shake: Consuming a protein shake made with water or unsweetened almond milk can help maintain muscle mass and keep you full during fasting. However, be cautious of the calorie content and ingredients in the protein shake.
7. Sparkling Water: Sparkling water can be a good alternative to plain water for those who prefer a fizzy drink. Just make sure to choose a sugar-free option to avoid breaking your fast.

It is important to note that while some drinks are permissible during fasting, others may break your fast depending on the type of fasting regimen you are following.

It is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional or a nutritionist before changing your fasting routine.

Last update on 2026-05-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Drinking Coffee During Your Fast

Many people will rely on drinking coffee during their fast for several reasons.

For one thing, if you are fasting for several hours in the morning, not having food or drinks can be hard on your body.

It isn’t easy to get enough energy for work or exercise in the morning without caffeine.

So, you can have coffee while fasting, but drinking it black is preferred.

You can also drink tea if you want something flavored without caffeine or in very low amounts.

Adding Cream or Sugar to Your Coffee or Tea

This is often where people make some common mistakes with intermittent fasting and drinking coffee.

Coffee itself contains only coffee beans and water, so naturally, this is fine during a fast.

The point is to be at zero calories or as low as possible during fasting.

Therefore, you are advised not to have sugar, creamer, or even natural additions like honey to your coffee.

However, some people believe that adding just a splash of creamer to their coffee doesn’t make much of a difference.

If you think you can stick to intermittent fasting by just having a tablespoon or so of creamer, add it.

This is much different than eating a full meal for breakfast and breaking the fast that way.

Bulletproof Coffee and Intermittent Fasting

This is when things change a little bit.

Suppose you decide to have Bulletproof or keto coffee during your fast. In that case, you are not doing intermittent fasting, but what you are doing is often called Bulletproof Fasting.

This is when you go for a prolonged period without food but still have the fat and calories from your Bulletproof coffee.

Generally, you won’t still be fasting if you add butter and coconut oil to your coffee.

Conclusion

Whether you can or should drink coffee while fasting is a personal decision that depends on your specific fasting goals, health conditions, and how your body reacts to caffeine.

For most types of fasting focused on health and wellness, plain black coffee in moderation is generally considered acceptable and can even offer benefits that complement the fasting process.

However, listening to your body and considering any potential negative effects coffee might have on your fasting experience is important.