Does Drinking Coffee Make You Hungry?

Coffee. Just reading the word makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

But does it make you hungry?

Nope. Caffeine is actually a mild appetite suppressant. (Very mild—this effect is usually pretty subtle in comparison to caffeine’s other effects.)

So if you're wondering why you sometimes feel like eating after drinking coffee, it's probably not the coffee itself. It could be because:

1. You associate coffee with food. If you drink coffee first thing in the morning, you might start feeling hungry because it's breakfast time.

2. You add tons of sugar to your coffee. This can cause a spike in blood sugar, which can ultimately make you feel hungrier.

So if you're feeling a little extra peckish after a strong cup of coffee, don't worry—it's probably not the coffee. It's probably just your body telling you it needs food. 

Go ahead and grab a snack. Your coffee won't mind.

So Then… Is Coffee Good for Losing Weight?

If you’re interested in losing weight, coffee may be your new best friend. It's definitely not going to help you shed pounds on its own or anything, but the caffeine in it is proven to increase energy and metabolism—in addition to the mild appetite suppressing effect that some people notice.

Did I mention it’s only about 5 calories? (Some people even drink coffee while fasting, for crying out loud.)

So naturally, all that can give you a little extra edge when you're trying to exercise and burn/cut back on calories. (And make healthier choices throughout the day, of course...)

Just don't load your coffee up with half-and-half and Cinnabon creamer like I do. That kinda defeats the purpose.

Don't Replace Meals with Coffee

While suppressing appetite may be one of several positive effects of coffee for plenty of people, it's just important to remember to eat food as well. It's easy to forget to do so when you're focused, caffeine-fueled, and appetite-suppressed. But trust me, your brain and your body will thank you later,

So don't let coffee be the only thing keeping you going all day. Make sure to fuel your body with some decent grub, too.

Caffeine's pretty awesome. It may help you power through a long day, and night, and into the next day—but coffee alone isn't going to keep you going forever. At some point, you're going to need to eat something.

Does Coffee Ever Increase Your Appetite?

While caffeine does typically suppress one's appetite, it's worth noting that this isn't the case 100% of the time.

Some people find that coffee can actually increase their appetite—but this is usually due to other factors. I mentioned two of the most likely culprits earlier in this article, but let's go over some of these possibilities in a little more detail:

Reason #1: Sugar Spike and Crash

If you tend to drink your coffee with a lot of sugar, that could be what's really behind your increased appetite. The sugar may cause a spike in your blood sugar levels, which can then lead to feelings of hunger.

Reason #2: Association with Food

Another common reason people may feel like eating food after drinking coffee is that they associate the two. If you drink your coffee first thing in the morning, it's likely that you're just getting hungry because it's around breakfast time. Or if you have a coffee break in the afternoon, you may start to feel hungry because it's getting close to lunchtime.

So your brain may just be conditioned to think it's time to eat when you have coffee. Makes sense, right?

Reason #3: Greater Appetite from Expending More Energy

Also it's worth mentioning that since you're extra energetic after drinking coffee, you may be more likely to move around and burn off more calories—which could also lead to feelings of greater hunger. (But typically, that feeling takes a while to kick in.)

If you're finding that your cup of joe is making you feel ravenous soon after drinking it, it's probably not the coffee itself. It's more likely due to other factors, such as what you're adding to your coffee or how active you are after drinking it.

Either way, there's no need to worry. Just make sure you're listening to your body and giving it the fuel it needs to keep going.

The Bottom Line on Coffee and Appetite

While coffee usually acts as an appetite suppressant, this isn't always the case. If you find that your coffee with sugar or syrup in it is making you feel hungry, you might want to try switching to black coffee and see if that makes a difference.

Remember that caffeine affects everyone differently. Make sure you're listening to your body and giving it the fuel it needs to keep going.

In other words, don't forget to eat! And don't forget to drink things that aren't coffee sometimes, no matter how disappointing they may be in comparison.