Coffee

Research corpus coverage

Chemistry notes

• CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include caffeine; chlorogenic acids; diterpenes; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.

Traditional / historical use

Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.

• TRADITIONAL: Coffee has been used for alertness; beverage; headache adjunct; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

Modern evidence

• EVIDENCE: For the major use set (alertness; beverage; headache adjunct), the evidence assessment is well-supported: Well-supported for alertness; observational evidence links moderate coffee intake with outcomes but does not prove treatment efficacy.

  HIGH · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

Forms used traditionally

A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.

Cats

• High risk

  Ingestion of coffee products can cause caffeine poisoning in cats; cats are described as more sensitive than dogs. Smaller exposures usually cause gastrointestinal upset, while larger exposures may progress to cardiovascular and neurologic effects, including tremors, seizures, weakness, ataxia, respiratory distress, or sudden death.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Unbrewed coffee beans and grounds, brewed coffee, used coffee grounds, and decaffeinated coffee. Unbrewed beans and grounds are described as considerably more potent than brewed coffee and used grounds; decaffeinated coffee contains a marginal amount of caffeine but is not designated non-toxic. · HIGH · poison_control_database · The Dark Side of Chocolate: Chocolate and Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

Dogs

• High risk

  Ingestion of coffee products can cause caffeine poisoning in dogs. Smaller exposures usually cause gastrointestinal upset, while larger exposures may progress to cardiovascular and neurologic effects, including tremors, seizures, weakness, ataxia, respiratory distress, or sudden death; cats are described as more sensitive than dogs.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Unbrewed coffee beans and grounds, brewed coffee, used coffee grounds, and decaffeinated coffee. Unbrewed beans and grounds are described as considerably more potent than brewed coffee and used grounds; decaffeinated coffee contains a marginal amount of caffeine but is not designated non-toxic. · HIGH · poison_control_database · The Dark Side of Chocolate: Chocolate and Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

Cats & dogs

• High risk

  Chocolate-covered coffee beans are described as a double threat because they contain caffeine from coffee and theobromine from chocolate and may be harmful or toxic after ingestion.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · chocolate-covered coffee beans · HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• High risk

  Ingestion of coffee or coffee grounds exposes dogs and cats to caffeine, which can cause cardiac and central nervous system stimulation, gastrointestinal upset, increased urination, and potentially major-organ injury; large ingestions can be fatal.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · coffee or coffee grounds · HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• High risk

  Coffee and caffeine-containing products can cause methylxanthine toxicosis in pets.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · coffee and caffeine-containing products · HIGH · poison_control_database · People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets - ASPCA

• High risk

  Ingestion of coffee beans could cause serious toxicity in dogs or cats.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · coffee beans · HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• High risk

  Ingestion of unused coffee grounds could cause serious toxicity in dogs or cats.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · unused coffee grounds · HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• High risk

  Caffeine-containing coffee is toxic to dogs and cats.

  Intrinsic toxicity · UNKNOWN · Coffee and other caffeine-containing sources · HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Small Animal Toxins | Cornell University College of Veterinary ...

• Caution

  A sip of hot coffee or iced coffee probably will not adversely affect most pets, but toxicity depends on the amount ingested and the animal’s size and health status.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · hot coffee or iced coffee · HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• Caution

  Coffee-flavored ice cream and coffee-flavored liqueurs are identified as caffeine sources that may be harmful or toxic to dogs and cats.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · coffee-flavored ice cream or liqueur · MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• Caution

  Dogs and cats appear to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people.

  Intrinsic toxicity · UNKNOWN · coffee-derived caffeine exposure; preparation not specified · HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Caution

  Large coffee drinks, including drinks with extra coffee or espresso shots, may cause caffeine toxicity depending on the amount ingested.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · large coffee beverage with extra coffee or espresso shots · HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Caution

  One or two licks of coffee are unlikely to cause poisoning in most dogs or cats, but larger ingested amounts may cause toxicity depending on the amount.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · coffee beverage · HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)

Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.

• SAFETY: Major issues include Insomnia, anxiety, reflux, palpitations, dependence. Contraindications/cautions include Arrhythmia/anxiety caution.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

• SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Numerous CYP1A2 and stimulant interactions; smoking and oral contraceptives alter caffeine clearance.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries

  Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.

• SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Caffeine limits are relevant in pregnancy/lactation.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants

  Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.

• A sip of hot coffee or iced coffee probably will not adversely affect most pets, but toxicity depends on the amount ingested and the animal’s size and health status.

  HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

  The page does not provide caffeine concentrations or a quantitative toxic dose.

• Chocolate-covered coffee beans are described as a double threat because they contain caffeine from coffee and theobromine from chocolate and may be harmful or toxic after ingestion.

  HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• Coffee-flavored ice cream and coffee-flavored liqueurs are identified as caffeine sources that may be harmful or toxic to dogs and cats.

  MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

  No product caffeine concentration or preparation-specific clinical signs are provided.

• Ingestion of coffee or coffee grounds exposes dogs and cats to caffeine, which can cause cardiac and central nervous system stimulation, gastrointestinal upset, increased urination, and potentially major-organ injury; large ingestions can be fatal.

  HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

• Coffee and caffeine-containing products can cause methylxanthine toxicosis in pets.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets - ASPCA

  The page does not provide cat-versus-dog-specific information or coffee-specific concentration data.

• Dogs and cats appear to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The sensitivity statement concerns caffeine generally and is not limited to coffee.

• Ingestion of coffee beans could cause serious toxicity in dogs or cats.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Ingestion of unused coffee grounds could cause serious toxicity in dogs or cats.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

• Large coffee drinks, including drinks with extra coffee or espresso shots, may cause caffeine toxicity depending on the amount ingested.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not provide product-specific caffeine concentrations or dose thresholds.

• One or two licks of coffee are unlikely to cause poisoning in most dogs or cats, but larger ingested amounts may cause toxicity depending on the amount.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Caffeine Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline®

  The page does not provide coffee-specific caffeine concentrations or dose thresholds.

• Caffeine-containing coffee is toxic to dogs and cats.

  HIGH · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Small Animal Toxins | Cornell University College of Veterinary ...

  The page classifies caffeine as toxic and lists coffee as a source, but does not provide coffee-specific concentration, route, or clinical-sign information.

• Ingestion of coffee products can cause caffeine poisoning in cats; cats are described as more sensitive than dogs. Smaller exposures usually cause gastrointestinal upset, while larger exposures may progress to cardiovascular and neurologic effects, including tremors, seizures, weakness, ataxia, respiratory distress, or sudden death.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · The Dark Side of Chocolate: Chocolate and Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

  The page addresses coffee products and caffeine exposure rather than ingestion of the intact coffee plant.

• Ingestion of coffee products can cause caffeine poisoning in dogs. Smaller exposures usually cause gastrointestinal upset, while larger exposures may progress to cardiovascular and neurologic effects, including tremors, seizures, weakness, ataxia, respiratory distress, or sudden death; cats are described as more sensitive than dogs.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · The Dark Side of Chocolate: Chocolate and Caffeine Toxicity in Pets

  The page addresses coffee products and caffeine exposure rather than ingestion of the intact coffee plant.

Taxonomic identity note

• Coffee is treated here as Coffea arabica L. in the family Rubiaceae; recorded older names include Coffea vulgaris Moench.