Drink Coffee While Fasting

You’ve probably heard that it’s okay to drink coffee while fasting. The word on the street is that you can drink coffee while fasting. But there are nuances to consider when you drink coffee during your fast.

Experts agree that intermittent fasting is not for everyone. Please read our Terms of Use.

Women Who Fast is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, which means we receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you.

Is there a limit to the amount of caffeine I should have?

Yep, there’s a limit to the amount of caffeine you should have. Nothing in excess of what’s beneficial to you is good.

Some people do NOT tolerate caffeine at all. Others can drink several cups and feel good without experiencing the jitters or adverse effects on their sleep.

Most people know what their limits are when it comes to caffeine. But sometimes, we need to realize the downstream effects of too much caffeine.

Sleep is a huge consideration

How much coffee you drink can affect the quality of your sleep.

We could relate sleep to intermittent fasting because sleep is also a time when you’re not eating, and your body can rest from digesting food.

But sleep gives additional benefits beyond resting your digestive system. Sleep will reduce stress, improve mood, and help us think more clearly. 

To learn more details about sleep, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker is an excellent book. Matthew Walker is also featured in MasterClass if you prefer watching him discuss his findings in his MasterClass, The Science of Better Sleep.

Matthew Walker explains how caffeine is metabolized differently for each person, but a good rule of thumb is to stop consuming caffeine 10 hours before you plan to go to sleep.

An example of going 10 hours caffeine-free before bed is having your last cup of coffee (or preferred caffeine) by noon if you plan to sleep at 10 pm. That’s a simple rule to follow.

If you are fasting but drink coffee all day, into the afternoon or evening, you may be negating some of the effects of fasting with a lack of a good night’s rest.

Can I put sugar in my coffee while intermittent fasting?

It is highly recommended to forego any sugar and sugar substitutes for best results.

There are debates around whether certain sugar substitutes are okay, but in this article, we’ll assume the goal will be to remove anything that tastes sweet in your coffee.

What about adding fat to coffee

Like many others, I love my coffee with some heavy cream. When I read that a small amount of high-fat, no-carb liquid could be added to coffee and might not interfere with the benefits of fasting, I took that to heart and added heavy cream to my coffee every day. 

I discovered that I slowly but surely added more than just a small amount. And when I had a few cups of coffee each day, it started to add up.

I began to put on weight even though I was otherwise following my usual routine.

After about six months of drinking my coffee with heavy cream, I cut that out and see if that made a difference. It did! Slowly, the weight I’d gained during my heavy cream stage began to come back off.

If you love adding cream, butter, or oils to your coffee, experiment with yourself. How much fat can you have with your coffee and still feel good and get the results you’re looking for? Pay attention to the amount you’re adding, too. That helps determine how much or how little works for you.

Some folks have a goal to achieve ketosis (when your body burns ketones for fuel rather than glucose) for some periods of time. In that case, adding some fat in the form of heavy cream, butter, or MCT oils may or may not break your fast, but it can sustain ketosis in your system.

[Related article: When Does Ketosis Start When Fasting.]

Do I really have to give up having what I want in my coffee?

Good question! Some people do not even want to ask this question.

This is a deal breaker for some. I have often heard, “I can’t drink my coffee plain, and I won’t.” That’s okay. There are certain foods I also refuse to give up, so I understand.

There are workarounds for this. 

You can add whatever you like to your morning coffee and have your eating window start early instead of later. For instance, if you stop eating at 4:00 pm and have a loaded cup of joe the following day at 7:00 am, that’s a 15-hour fast. 

Or plan to alternate your days of fasting and not fasting. Have your coffee however you want on a nonfasting day. 

On the days when you want to implement some fasting (if you prefer to skip food in the mornings), reach for a cup of herbal tea instead. Many people like sipping plain tea rather than strong black coffee.

How can I enjoy drinking black coffee while fasting if I don’t like it?

If you don’t enjoy plain black coffee, you can learn to love it. Or at least like it to begin with.

Here are some tips:

Gradually cut back on whatever you’re putting in your coffee. If it’s a tablespoon of sugar and cream, cut that back little by little each day or each week until you’ve acquired a taste for less sugar and/or cream in your coffee.

Take tiny sips of plain coffee here and there. Exposing our taste buds to bitter flavors until we like them takes a little practice sometimes. 

I learned to like black coffee when I was a young adult and didn’t always have milk or cream in my fridge (either I was broke or lazy and didn’t get to the store.) Either way, I would drink the coffee without anything and learned to enjoy it.

The coffee beans and how you grind them matter

The quality of the coffee can make a huge difference, too. When you have a cup of black coffee that has a nice crema on top, it has the texture of something silky being added to it.

After experimenting with various coffee beans for years, we now buy one brand—Cameron’s.

Our criteria: organic selections, tastes fresh and has depths of flavors, has a smooth texture, and doesn’t break the bank.

Cameron’s coffee is our household go-to favorite. We love it. If you still need to get a favorite coffee brand, try Cameron’s. If it doesn’t also become your favorite, that’s okay. We can still be friends. : )

Burr grinders are superior to blade grinders because it utilizes two rotating surfaces to crush the beans. I learned this in Dale Harris’ MasterClass. He was the 2017 World Barista Champion, so he might know what he’s talking about.

Yes, Dale knew better. When I got an electric burr grinder for my coffee beans, I felt like the taste and texture of my coffee went up a few notches in quality.

Make it your thing

If you love your coffee, make it your thing.

Try to make yourself the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had. If it’s a daily routine for you already, fine-tune it.

Coffee is an obsessive hobby for some people. You don’t have to be obsessive, but if you’re putting in the effort to make yourself your beloved cup of coffee, then make it with love and love it.

Summary

If you’re living a fasting lifestyle, there are certain routines you do daily that may or may not optimize your results.

If coffee is one of your daily routines, then find a way to enjoy it to benefit your health and elevate your success with fasting as much as you can. Take pride in doing that for yourself.

Organic black coffee is the best choice when you drink coffee while fasting. There’s virtually no risk in raising insulin when you drink plain coffee. No calories. No sugar. No protein.

When we add additional calories to our coffee, we might not get the results we’re looking for.

Find other ways to make yourself the most enjoyable cup of coffee because you deserve it!