Can You Drink Coffee When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Coffee is fine during pregnancy in moderation — the NHS says to keep your total caffeine below 200mg a day (about 2 cups of instant coffee).
Why is coffee a concern in pregnancy?
High caffeine intake in pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight and, at very high levels, miscarriage. The NHS therefore advises limiting caffeine to 200mg per day from all sources combined. As a guide, the NHS gives about 100mg in a cup of instant coffee (filter and coffee-shop coffee can contain more, about 140mg in a mug of filter coffee according to Tommy's), about 75mg in a cup of tea and about 40mg in a can of cola. Coffee counts towards this daily total.
You can also check the calorie content of coffee alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Remember caffeine adds up across coffee, tea, green tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate — count everything towards the 200mg limit.
High-street coffee against the 200mg limit
The NHS limit is no more than 200mg of caffeine a day. Most pages explain that with a cup of instant coffee, which is a poor guide to what you actually buy. In August 2026 the consumer group Which? published caffeine figures for drinks from five chains, reported by ITV News and The Irish Times (PA) on 25 August 2026. Neither report describes the testing method, and only the cappuccino size (medium) and Pret's 355ml are stated, so treat these as headline figures rather than guarantees:
| Drink (Which?, Aug 2026) | Caffeine | Share of the 200mg daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Costa medium cappuccino | 325mg | About 160%: over the limit in one cup |
| Costa flat white | 241mg | About 120% |
| Greggs cappuccino | 235mg | About 118% |
| Caffè Nero cappuccino | 221mg | About 110% |
| Pret cappuccino (355ml) | 180mg | 90% |
| Costa espresso shot | 100mg | 50% |
| Starbucks cappuccino | 89mg | About 45% |
| Starbucks flat white | 89mg | About 45% |
| Starbucks espresso shot | 45mg | About 23% |
Which? says Costa's cappuccino and espresso levels are unchanged since its 2023 study, Caffè Nero's cappuccino has about doubled, and Starbucks' espresso, cappuccino and filter coffee levels have risen over three years. Which? says people advised to restrict their caffeine, including in pregnancy, should pay attention to the differences between chains. The percentages are our arithmetic against the NHS limit.
Everyday drinks: the NHS and Tommy's figures
| Drink | Caffeine | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cup of instant coffee | About 100mg. The NHS adds that filter coffee and coffee-shop coffee can contain more | NHS |
| Mug of filter coffee | About 140mg | Tommy's; nidirect |
| Cup of tea | About 75mg | NHS; Tommy's |
| Can of cola | About 40mg | NHS; Tommy's |
| Energy drink (250ml) | About 80mg | NHS; Tommy's |
| 50g bar plain dark chocolate | Under 25mg | NHS |
| 50g bar plain milk chocolate | Under 10mg | NHS |
The NHS now gives the instant coffee figure and says other coffee can contain more; the 140mg filter figure is from Tommy's and nidirect, not the current NHS page. Decaf still contains a very small amount of caffeine (Tommy's).
Build your 200mg day
| Your day | Total | Under 200mg? |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cups of instant coffee | 200mg | At the limit |
| 1 mug of filter coffee + 1 cup of tea | 215mg | Over |
| 1 cup of instant coffee + 1 cup of tea + 1 can of cola | 215mg | Over |
| 1 Starbucks flat white + 1 cup of tea + a 50g bar of plain chocolate | About 190mg at most | Just under |
| 1 Costa medium cappuccino | 325mg | Over by itself |
Totals use the figures in the tables above. Tommy's says risk rises with intake and advises cutting down as much as you can, so aiming well under 200mg is sensible.
Swaps that keep the habit
- Decaf coffee is the swap Tommy's suggests, with fruit juice or water; see decaf coffee.
- Herbal tea: the NHS says no more than 4 cups a day and to avoid teas containing liquorice root.
- Order a single shot or a smaller size in chains where the figures above are high; ask the shop for its caffeine information.
- Tea, cola and energy drinks all count towards the same 200mg. See tea, cola and energy drinks.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — 200mg a day limit; instant coffee 100mg; tea 75mg; cola 40mg; energy drink 80mg; chocolate; herbal tea 4 cups; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- ITV News (25 August 2026): how much caffeine is in your go-to high street coffee (Which? research) — Which? caffeine figures by chain and drink, 25 August 2026
- The Irish Times / PA (25 August 2026): Costa cappuccino has three times more caffeine than Starbucks, study finds — same Which? figures, PA copy, with Which? comment on pregnancy
- Tommy's: Limiting your caffeine intake in pregnancy — filter coffee about 140mg; risk rises with intake; decaf has a very small amount
- nidirect (Northern Ireland government): Foods to avoid in pregnancy (modified 3 April 2025) — 200mg limit; mug of filter coffee about 140mg
Safe swaps
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Check Price →Coffee: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Keep caffeine low |
| Past the date on the label | Yes — best before is about quality |
Common questions
Can I eat coffee in the first trimester?
Yes — the 200mg daily caffeine limit applies from the start of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of coffee OK during pregnancy?
Yes — within the 200mg daily limit, coffee is considered safe during pregnancy.
I accidentally ate coffee while pregnant — what should I do?
Going over 200mg on a single day is not something to panic about — the guidance is about your typical daily intake. Just aim to stay under the limit going forward.
Is cooked coffee safe in pregnancy?
The caffeine content isn't changed by heating, so the same 200mg daily limit applies however coffee is prepared or used in recipes.
How many cups of coffee can I have when pregnant?
The NHS says no more than 200mg of caffeine a day from all sources. That is about 2 cups of instant coffee at 100mg each. Filter and coffee-shop coffee can contain more, so it may be only one drink.
Can I have a Costa or Starbucks coffee when pregnant?
Within the limit, yes, but chains differ a lot. Which? figures reported on 25 August 2026 gave a Costa medium cappuccino 325mg and a Starbucks cappuccino 89mg. A single Costa cappuccino could use up more than the whole day's 200mg.
Does decaf count towards the limit?
Decaf still contains a very small amount of caffeine (Tommy's), far less than regular coffee, so it adds little to the 200mg.
Is a flat white worse than a latte?
We cannot say from the figures we read. Which? reported Costa flat white 241mg and Starbucks flat white 89mg, but did not publish latte figures in the reports we found. Ask the shop or look up the chain's own caffeine information.
What if I go over 200mg on one day?
The limit is a daily guide, and Tommy's says the risk rises with intake. Get back under it the next day; if you are worried, speak to your midwife.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.