Is Coffee Gluten Free?

We’ve previously written an article about “Is Tea Gluten Free” - now, it’s time to determine, once and for all, “Is Coffee gluten free as well?” Please keep reading to discover first what we mean when we talk about gluten and why, exactly, it matters to some people.

We will then discuss the varieties of Coffee available and whether any of them contain the much-maligned substance.

Regardless of the conclusions we make, we suspect that you or someone you love would appreciate Loose Tea or Coffee in their cupboard. Look no further than The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, a family run business that has, since 1982, packed its products fresh to order.

Doing so ensures not only quality but also consistency with every cuppa brewed - what could be better than that?

What is Gluten and Why Does it Matter?

Allow us to start at the beginning by explaining, “What is gluten?” For starters, it is something already avoided by 13% of the UK population. But that doesn’t go far to understanding its chemical makeup.

It turns out that it is an umbrella term that generally refers to gluey proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). This includes bread, beer, cereal, pasta and much, much more.

Gluten is important in foods for maintaining their shape, quite literally acting as the glue that holds them together. However, having too much in your diet can cause damage to your small intestine, leading to gluten intolerance symptoms such as diarrhoea, wind, constipation, stomach pains, cramps, bloating and fatigue.

So, where does Coffee come into the equation, and should you be worried about your cup of coffee?

Is Coffee Gluten Free

Does Coffee have gluten? The short answer is no; it doesn’t. Almost any brew from the Coffea (Coffee) plant, from Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee to Italian Roast to Fair Trade Blend, is 100% void of the substance.

This is quite simply because none contain wheat, barley or rye. But did you notice that we used the word “almost”? Is there gluten in Coffee under any circumstances?

Immensely rare though it might be (we cannot emphasize “immensely” enough), there is always the minute possibility (again, emphasis on “minute”) of cross-contamination with gluten-containing products in a factory.

The changes are limited when you buy from The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company since the vast majority of our products - over 1,000 of them - are gluten-free Loose Leaf Tea.

Are Flavoured Coffees Gluten Free?

Does Coffee contain gluten when it has undergone flavouring? Once again, the chances are the epitome of minimal. The issue is when certain products have been blended naturally with gluten-containing ingredients, most commonly barley-based food items.

This can sometimes be the case with Flavoured Coffee Beans with alcohol derived from grains, including gluten grains.

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity experts tend to agree that distillation removes the gluten protein from alcohol and is, therefore, gluten-free even if it originated from gluten grains.

It is not always the case, though, as there have been instances of people experiencing gluten reactions from distilled grains. If you find yourself in such a situation, cease drinking the Coffee in question and seek out an alternative.

Summary to Is Coffee Gluten Free

The good news is that you won’t be at a loss for choice here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, home to around 70 types of Fresh Coffee.

Most of these, of course, are gluten free Coffee Beans that aim to please with every sip. Those with concerns should contact us - we’re always happy to answer your queries so that, ultimately, you get the best possible experience.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.