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Health, Lifestyle

Is It Normal For Urine To Smell Like Coffee After Drinking Coffee?

Written by Sarah Bonander
Writer, Human Resources Professional

Are you a coffee drinker? And if so, have you ever noticed your urine smelling like coffee? So what is going on here?

If your urine smells like coffee, it means that you are drinking too much coffee, but not drinking enough water. So when you do not drink enough water, your urine is more concentrated with other substances that you drink aside from water. Hence, if you drink too much coffee and not enough water, your urine gets more concentrated with coffee.

In addition, caffeine is not digested by the body, but is secreted[1] out by the kidneys. In general, coffee-smelling urine is nothing[2] to worry about. But if you do notice it, you should start drinking more water than your caffeine intake. Because coffee (and tea) are diuretic substances, drinking them makes you urinate more often, which could lead to dehydration if you do not increase your water intake. And when you get dehydrated, your urine gets more concentrated. Hence, the smell of coffee in your urine.

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