Is coffee good for kidney disease?
Coffee is a lower-potassium choice at a normal portion: 8 fl oz (237 g) has 116 mg of potassium, under the 200 mg per serving the National Kidney Foundation uses for high-potassium foods. The foundation lists it among lower-potassium foods: limit to 8 ounces.
This page is for people with chronic kidney disease who have been told to watch potassium or phosphorus. Your kidney care team sets the limits that apply to you. These numbers help you fit a food into them.
Potassium, phosphorus and sodium by portion
| Portion | Potassium | NKF high-potassium line (200 mg) | Phosphorus | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 fl oz (237 g) | 116 mg | Under 200 mg | 7 mg | 5 mg |
| 6 fl oz (178 g) | 87 mg | Under 200 mg | 5 mg | 4 mg |
| 3.5 oz (100 g) | 49 mg | Under 200 mg | 3 mg | 2 mg |
USDA FoodData Central, Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water. The 200 mg line is per serving, so the same food can be under it in a small portion and over it in a large one.
What the National Kidney Foundation and NIH say
- Level E National Kidney Foundation:
A food that is considered “high-potassium” generally has 200 mg or more potassium per serving.
National Kidney Foundation, Potassium and Your CKD Diet, accessed 2026-10-12 - Level E National Kidney Foundation:
Coffee (limit to 8 ounces)
(from the table: Foods that are LOWER in potassium (Less than 200 mg of potassium per serving)) National Kidney Foundation, Potassium and Your CKD Diet, accessed 2026-10-12 - Level E National Kidney Foundation:
water, coffee, tea, rice milk (unenriched), apple juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, lemonade, ginger ale, lemon lime soda, orange soda, root beer
National Kidney Foundation, Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet, accessed 2026-10-12
Word-for-word quotes. Level E means the position of an expert body. How we grade evidence.
How it compares with similar foods
| Food | Portion | Potassium | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 116 mg | 7 mg |
| Green tea | 1 cup (8.6 oz, 245 g) | 20 mg | 0 mg |
| Tea | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 88 mg | 2 mg |
| Coconut water | 1 cup (8.5 oz, 240 g) | 600 mg | 48 mg |
Same USDA food group, each at its usual US portion. USDA FoodData Central.
The other side
Potassium limits apply to people whose care team has set one.
- Level C The standard advice to cut potassium in kidney disease rests on very low-quality evidence: restricting it moved blood potassium by 0.22 millimoles per liter and did not slow the disease. Morris et al., Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2020
- Level E There is no RDA for potassium because the data were insufficient to derive one, and no upper limit because high intakes do not cause hyperkalemia in adults with normal kidney function. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Health Professional Fact Sheet: Potassium
In practice
Brewed black coffee is a lower-potassium drink at 116 mg in 8 fl oz. The National Kidney Foundation lists it among lower-potassium foods with a limit of 8 ounces.
The limit matters because potassium adds up. Two 8 fl oz cups come to about 232 mg, over the 200 mg line that one cup stays under. A 6 fl oz cup has 87 mg.
What you add changes the picture. These numbers describe black coffee. If you add milk or creamer, the National Kidney Foundation notes that phosphorus from food additives is completely absorbed and suggests looking for “PHOS” on the ingredient list.
Written from the agency positions and data on this page, reviewed by the Bioma editorial system. How we verify.
Keep exploring
Sources
- National Kidney Foundation, Potassium and Your CKD Diet, https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/potassium-your-ckd-diet (accessed 2026-10-12)
- National Kidney Foundation, Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet, https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/phosphorus-and-your-ckd-diet (accessed 2026-10-12)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water, FDC ID 171890
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Beverages, tea, green, brewed, regular, FDC ID 171917
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Beverages, tea, black, brewed, prepared with tap water, FDC ID 173227
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Nuts, coconut water (liquid from coconuts), FDC ID 170174
- Evidence cards: each study above links to its source. Card review dates are listed in our methodology.
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Bioma Learn provides information, not medical advice.