---
title: "Copenhagen Researchers: Regular Coffee Consumption Changes Microbiome Composition and Colon Activity"
description: "A University of Copenhagen study involving 61 participants showed that regular coffee consumption is associated with a more diverse gut microbiome and lower small intestine acidity. The authors emphasize that the observational design does not prove a causal link."
date: 2026-11-14T12:29:49.362Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/coffee-gut-microbiome-copenhagen-study
tags: [coffee, gut-microbiome, digestion, university-of-copenhagen, health-research, peristalsis]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Copenhagen Researchers: Regular Coffee Consumption Changes Microbiome Composition and Colon Activity

![A woman holding a white cup of aromatic freshly brewed coffee in her hand](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/kofe-mikrobiom-kishechnika-issledovanie-kopengagen/kofe-mikrobiom-kishechnika-issledovanie-kopengagen-1.webp)

## Key Points

- A study of 61 healthy adults in Denmark revealed higher gut microbiota diversity in regular coffee drinkers
- Participants who frequently drink coffee showed lower pH in the small intestine according to the capsule sensor
- An association between caffeine metabolites and colon contractions was recorded, though direct comparison of contraction counts between groups showed no significant differences
- The observational design does not allow for claims of a direct cause-and-effect relationship; the next step is a controlled experiment

A research team from the University of Copenhagen published the results of an observational study in the specialized journal Gut Microbiology, focusing on the connection between habitual coffee consumption and physiological processes in the gastrointestinal tract. In the study, conducted on 61 healthy Danish adults, scientists found that regular coffee drinkers demonstrate a higher level of gut microbiota diversity, lower acidity in the small intestine, and an association between coffee consumption and colon contractions. The results are consistent with previously accumulated data on the impact of coffee on the microbiome composition—the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms inhabiting the digestive system.

### Methodology: Capsule Sensor and Two Participant Groups

To objectively assess changes inside the gastrointestinal tract, researchers used a small electronic capsule sensor that participants swallowed at the beginning of the observational period. As the capsule traveled through the digestive tract, it recorded a range of parameters: content transit time, temperature, acidity levels, and the frequency of bowel contractions. In addition to sensor data, the team analyzed food diaries as well as stool and urine samples from the participants. The study spanned eight days of observation, during which 61 volunteers were divided into two groups: the first included people who drank one to five cups of coffee per day on at least three of the eight days, and the second included those who drank coffee significantly less often.

### Key Results: Microbiome, pH, and Peristalsis

Among the most significant findings was a statistically pronounced difference in gut microorganism diversity between the two groups: regular coffee drinkers had a broader spectrum of bacteria in their stool samples compared to those who drank coffee irregularly. Separately, researchers recorded lower acidity (pH) in the small intestine among participants who consumed coffee more frequently. Regarding peristalsis, the article's foundation reports a link between higher coffee consumption and an increased number of colon contractions—muscle waves that propel contents through the digestive tract and help maintain bowel regularity. Meanwhile, as Yahoo's summary of the study clarifies, it was specifically caffeine metabolites that were associated with greater colon activity, whereas direct comparison of contraction counts between the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences.

### Authors' Position: Correlation, Not Proven Causality

Lead author Francesca Buzzi, a PhD student at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen, emphasized that regular coffee consumption appears to affect gut physiology, but the research team stresses that the observational design does not allow for claims of a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Co-author and research group leader Associate Professor Henrik Munch Roagër noted that previously published data already demonstrates coffee's impact on a range of processes in the digestive system, including stomach acid secretion, making it likely that the recorded differences are indeed related to coffee rather than being coincidental. He also pointed out that many people in everyday practice note the effect of their first morning cup of coffee on bowel function. At the same time, the question of whether lower acidity in the small intestine is a beneficial or potentially negative health factor currently remains open.

### Prospects: Transitioning to Controlled Experiments

The study authors define the next stage as conducting a controlled experiment in which the amount of coffee consumed will be standardized and managed, rather than merely recorded as a participant habit. Such a design will make it possible to definitively establish whether coffee causes the observed changes in peristalsis and content transit, and to uncover the specific mechanisms through which caffeine and its metabolites affect intestinal muscle activity and microbiome composition. Until the results of controlled studies are obtained, current data should be viewed as evidence of a stable association rather than proof of a causal effect.

## Accounts differ

### Connection between coffee consumption and the number of colon contractions

- **Euronews (primary source of the article's foundation):** Researchers recorded a link between higher coffee consumption and an increased number of colon contractions. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/14/regular-coffee-drinking-linked-to-changes-in-gut-motility-and-microbiome))
- **Yahoo News (retelling of the same study):** The number of colon contractions did not differ statistically significantly between regular and irregular coffee drinker groups; the association with greater activity was established via caffeine breakdown products. ([yahoo.com](https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/regular-coffee-drinking-linked-changes-000700405.html))

*Where they agree:* The study revealed an association between caffeine metabolites and colon activity; all sources confirm publication in Gut Microbiology and the observational nature of the work.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Regular coffee drinking linked to changes in gut motility and microbiome](https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/14/regular-coffee-drinking-linked-to-changes-in-gut-motility-and-microbiome) - Original source: methodology (61 participants, capsule, 8 days), findings on microbiome and pH, quotes from Buzzi and Roagër, limitations of the observational design.
- [Regular coffee drinking linked to changes in gut motility and microbiome](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/regular-coffee-drinking-linked-changes-082712037.html) - Уточняет, что число сокращений толстой кишки не различалось значимо между группами; ассоциация установлена по продуктам метаболизма кофеина. Также упоминает анализ образцов стула и мочи.
- [Regular coffee drinking linked to changes in gut functions](https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/regular-coffee-drinking-linked-changes-000700405.html) - Clarifies that the number of colon contractions did not differ significantly between groups; the association was established via caffeine breakdown products. Also mentions the analysis of stool and urine samples.
- [Regular Coffee Intake Linked to Greater Gut Microbiome Diversity and Stronger Colon Muscle Activity](https://health.chosun.com/english/site/data/html_dir/2026/11/11/2026111102660.html) - Confirms main conclusions: impact on the microbiome and physiological functions of the gut.

## FAQ

### How many participants took part in the study?

The University of Copenhagen study involved 61 healthy adult residents of Denmark, divided into two groups based on their coffee consumption frequency.

### What method was used to measure processes in the gut?

Researchers used an ingestible electronic capsule sensor that recorded content transit time, temperature, acidity levels, and bowel contraction frequency. Additionally, food diaries, stool samples, and urine samples were analyzed.

### Does the study prove that coffee causes changes in the gut?

No. The authors emphasize that the observational design does not allow for claims of a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The next step is stated to be a controlled experiment with a standardized amount of coffee.

### What does lower pH in the small intestine mean for coffee drinkers?

Researchers recorded lower acidity in the small intestine among regular coffee drinkers, but note that the health impact of this indicator—whether positive or negative—has not yet been determined.