Does coffee make you poop?

Ever wonder what happens to your delicious cup of coffee after you savour the last sip? Let's be honest—many of us (according to the internet, at least!) are curious about coffee's effect on our, ahem, lower digestive system. So, grab a metaphorical cup and get comfy because we're about to embark on a whimsical adventure alongside a bold little sip of your freshly brewed Pablo & Rusty's coffee. Now for full disclosure, I (Chris Tate, P&R Operations Manager) am by no means a gastrointestinal or digestive system expert, so results may vary. It’s always best to consult a medical professional rather than your barista ;)

Our story begins at your kitchen bench. It’s breakfast time. You’ve made the right decision, and brewed an ethically sourced, Fair Trade certified, and organic coffee, P&R’s Pioneer Blend. You're about to take a sip (for the purposes of this story let's call your coffee “Sip”).

Your intrepid Sip is about to take a plunge; its essence is a rich, aromatic liquid. Now, as this invigorating coffee elixir reaches your lips, a fascinating chain reaction begins. The aroma hits your olfactory receptors, sending a delightful "wakey wakey" signal to your brain. But down the hatch Sip goes, ready to face the unknown.

First stop: the stomach. Here, our pioneering Sip encounters a bubbly sea of gastric juices, a powerful cocktail of enzymes and acids designed to break down food. Don't worry, little Sip! Studies have shown that coffee actually stimulates the production of these digestive juices [1]. This means our coffee gets broken down even faster, preparing it for the next leg of its adventure.

Next, the coffee interacts with your small intestine. This is where most of the nutrient absorption happens, but the coffee's (Sip’s) role here is a bit more subtle. Some research suggests coffee might increase the production of bile, a helpful substance released by your liver that breaks down fats [2]. So, the coffee might be playing a supporting role in the digestion of your breakfast toast!

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for, the colon. Here's where things get interesting. Coffee, with its stimulating properties, seems to have a special effect on colonic motility – the fancy term for the muscular contractions that move things along. A scientific review even found that coffee's effect on the colon is comparable to a high-fibre cereal [2]! So, that post-coffee feeling you get? It might be the coffee giving your digestive system a gentle nudge.

Finally, the Sip reaches its destination, and...well, the rest is history (as they say). But its journey has hopefully shed some light on the fascinating ways coffee interacts with your body.

The End (or perhaps, a new brewing?)

So, the next time you enjoy a cup of P&R's freshly roasted "Pioneer Blend" delivered straight to your door by our coffee subscription service, remember the incredible odyssey that coffee takes within you! After all, a great cup of coffee isn't just about the taste; it's about the wonderful journey it takes to get to you and the journey inside you.

Sources:

• [1] Coffee and gastrointestinal function: facts and fiction. A review PubMed

• [2] Scientific review highlights the impact of coffee on digestive organs News-Medical