Allergy to coffee

Does it even exist? What are its manifestations and is it possible to deal with it?

A drink that gives one person energy, concentration and a sense of well-being can make another person's life pretty unpleasant. It starts when the person in question suffers from a coffee allergy.

Coffee allergy symptoms

Coffee allergy is not particularly different from other food allergies. Here too, we can observe a range of symptoms from the mildest to the quite dangerous:

• nausea, vomiting;

• abdominal cramps;

• skin manifestations - itchy rash, etc.;

• breathlessness, cough;

• swallowing problems;

• dizziness, feelings of fainting;

• itching or swelling of the lips and tongue;

• disorders of the heart rate.

In extreme cases, anaphylactic shock can occur, so even moderate symptoms usually require the necessary attention or medical intervention.

Allergy vs. overdose

It is a good idea not to confuse allergy symptoms with those that can accompany a caffeine overdose, which include the following:

• insomnia;

• stomach upset;

• headache, increased nervousness;

• rapid heartbeat;

• muscle tremor.

Everyone has probably encountered some of these at some point. People can also differ quite substantially from each other in their sensitivity to the effects of caffeine. It depends on how quickly the body is able to metabolize caffeine. And the degree of tolerance will also play a role, of course.

A person who drinks coffee regularly, i.e. daily, can usually tolerate a higher dose of caffeine without much difficulty. In contrast, a person who consumes coffee sporadically is likely to react more strongly to excessive intake.

Is it really a coffee allergy?

We should mention that coffee allergy is not very common. If you are experiencing any unwanted symptoms after drinking coffee, think also about whether they are necessarily caused by coffee and could be a reaction to an ingredient in the coffee - most often milk, or various flavouring syrups - if it is a sugar-free product sweetened with artificial sweeteners, you may be reacting negatively to one of the ingredients.

The solution is to brew a good quality, additive-free coffee at home (or order from a café) and test how you tolerate the drink.

Coffee allergy = caffeine allergy

In most cases, this rule applies. This means that you also need to be wary of other types of drinks or foods that might contain caffeine (teas, sodas, chocolate, energy drinks, bars, some nutritional supplements, etc.).

People who metabolize caffeine slowly usually have problems. However, it is not always an allergy as such, in many cases the problems are diagnosed as caffeine intolerance. This is not nearly as dangerous as the allergy itself. When an allergy occurs, the body identifies caffeine as clearly harmful and as a result the immune system begins to secrete antibodies, which then triggers the cascade of adverse effects discussed above.

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Is there a cure?

The solution for people with caffeine intolerance is to consume decaffeinated coffee, or to significantly reduce the consumption of regular coffee. Decaffeinated coffee will not cause difficulties for most, as the residual amount of caffeine is very small indeed.

In the case of an allergy, everything must be assessed by a medical professional, but definitely people with coffee/caffeine allergies should avoid risky ingredients in the first place. If they continue to consume them, even in small doses, there is a risk that their symptoms will escalate.

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)
Food Allergy Types and Symptoms

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI / NIH)
Anaphylaxis Induced by Coffee: A Case Report

Healthline Medical Network
Coffee Allergy: Symptoms, Causes, and Substitutes

European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines