The Surprising Link Between Coffee and Gut Health, According to Science

An experiment conducted in the U.S. and U.K. reveals that regular coffee consumption can aid your digestive system.

BY BHAVI PATEL
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo by Nathan Dumlao

A groundbreaking study involving over 22,000 participants across the United States and the United Kingdom has revealed a remarkable connection between coffee consumption and gut health. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, demonstrates that coffee consumption is strongly associated with the abundance of a specific beneficial gut bacterium called Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus.

What makes this discovery particularly striking is coffee’s unique position among dietary items. “Coffee is, among (over) 150 items, the food showing the highest correlation with microbiome components,” finds the study. When researchers analyzed dietary patterns, coffee emerged as exceptionally influential in shaping our internal bacterial ecosystem, outperforming all other foods tested.

The Science Behind It

Researchers analyzed metagenomic samples from 35,214 participants and found that coffee drinkers had distinctly different gut microbiomes compared to non-coffee drinkers. The key player is L. asaccharolyticus, a beneficial bacterium that thrives in coffee consumers’ digestive systems.

Participants were categorized into three groups: those who drank less than three cups per month, those who drank one-to-three cups per day, and those who consumed more than three cups per day. Results showed that L. asaccharolyticus was present in 4.5 to 8 times higher numbers in coffee drinkers compared to never-consumers.

Researchers conducted controlled experiments, growing L. asaccharolyticus bacteria in cultures supplemented with various coffee preparations, including regular brewed coffee, instant coffee, and decaffeinated versions. 

The study analyzed public microbiome databases from 43 countries, encompassing over 54,000 samples. Countries with higher per-capita coffee consumption showed significantly higher prevalences of L. asaccharolyticus in their populations’ gut microbiomes.

Decaffeinated Coffee Shows Similar Benefits

One of the study’s most important findings concerns decaffeinated coffee. It demonstrates that coffee’s beneficial effects extend beyond caffeine content. According to the study, “The microbiome associations showed substantial independence from caffeine for the observed impact.” This finding is particularly significant for consumers who prefer decaffeinated options, as chlorogenic acids and quinic acid appear to be the primary drivers of these positive gut changes.

Researchers analyzed blood plasma samples, identifying specific metabolites enriched in coffee drinkers with higher L. asaccharolyticus levels. These included quinic acid, trigonelline, and several previously uncharacterized compounds that appear to be derivatives of quinic acid processing by the gut bacteria.

What This Means for the Coffee Industry + Consumers

This research has profound implications for the coffee industry and health-conscious consumers. The findings suggest that regular coffee consumption, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can positively influence gut microbiome diversity and health. For baristas and roasters, this adds a new dimension to coffee’s value proposition beyond taste and energy benefits.

The study’s methodology was rigorous, controlling for factors like age, sex, body mass index, and dietary habits. The consistency of results across multiple large cohorts from different regions strengthens evidence that coffee’s effects on gut bacteria are genuine and substantial.

Future Research + Professional Impact

While this study establishes the connection between coffee and beneficial gut bacteria, more work is needed to understand specific mechanisms by which L. asaccharolyticus contributes to coffee’s known health benefits. Future studies may explore whether this bacterium mediates coffee’s protective effects against cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

For coffee professionals and enthusiasts, this research reinforces that daily coffee consumption offers benefits extending far beyond immediate energizing effects. The beverage’s ability to cultivate beneficial gut bacteria provides scientific backing for coffee’s position as a contributor to overall health and wellness, transforming our understanding from a simple beverage choice to a significant factor in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bhavi Patel is a food writer focusing on coffee and tea, and a brand-building specialist with a background in dairy technology and an interest in culinary history and sensory perception of food.

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