Nutrition Guide: Do Lattes Count as Water Intake? The Surprising Answer

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

Contrary to the long-standing myth that coffee dehydrates you, recent studies show that moderate coffee consumption does not significantly impact hydration levels. But, do lattes count as water intake, and what role do milk and caffeine really play in maintaining fluid balance?

Quick Summary

This article examines the hydration properties of lattes, balancing the fluid content of coffee and milk with the mild diuretic effect of caffeine. It clarifies how these popular coffee drinks can contribute to overall fluid intake and compares them to pure water.

Key Points

Lattes are hydrating: Despite caffeine's mild diuretic effect, the high volume of water and milk in a latte ensures a net hydrating effect, especially for regular coffee drinkers.
Milk enhances hydration: Milk contains water, protein, and electrolytes that help the body retain fluids more effectively than plain water, making a latte a potent hydrating beverage in some contexts.
Water is still the gold standard: For daily, low-cost, calorie-free hydration, plain water remains the best choice and should not be fully replaced by lattes.
Moderation is key: To maximize hydration benefits, limit excessive caffeine and avoid high amounts of added sugar, as these can negatively impact fluid balance and overall health.
Combine with water: A practical strategy is to drink a glass of water alongside your latte to ensure you are consistently replenishing your body's fluid supply.

Debunking the Coffee Dehydration Myth

For years, a persistent myth claimed that coffee dehydrates the body due to its caffeine content. The logic was that since caffeine is a diuretic (a substance that increases urine production), coffee would cause you to lose more fluid than you consumed. However, modern research has largely debunked this misconception, especially when it comes to moderate consumption.

The Mild Diuretic Effect of Caffeine

Caffeine does have a mild diuretic effect, but its impact is often minimal and doesn't cancel out the hydrating effects of the water used to brew the coffee. The body also builds a tolerance to caffeine over time, further reducing its diuretic properties in regular coffee drinkers. Studies have shown that consuming a moderate amount of coffee, typically up to four cups per day, does not cause a greater risk of dehydration than drinking water.

The Importance of Fluid Volume

At its core, a cup of coffee is primarily water. After all, a brewed coffee is often over 95% water. For a latte, the milk content significantly increases the overall fluid volume. Therefore, the total volume of liquid consumed is more than enough to offset the mild diuretic effect of the caffeine, allowing it to count toward your daily fluid intake.

The Unique Hydrating Role of Milk

Unlike plain black coffee, a latte includes a substantial amount of milk, which adds another dimension to its hydrating properties. Some research suggests that milk can be even more hydrating than plain water in certain situations, such as post-exercise recovery.

Why Milk is So Effective

Milk's superior hydration in specific contexts comes down to its unique nutritional profile. It contains a beneficial combination of:

Water: Milk is roughly 90% water, directly contributing to your overall fluid balance.
Electrolytes: It provides essential minerals like sodium and potassium, which help the body retain fluid more effectively than water alone.
Macronutrients: The presence of protein and carbohydrates in milk helps to slow the rate of stomach emptying. This leads to a more gradual absorption of fluids into the body, prolonging hydration.

How Lattes Capitalize on Milk's Benefits

By combining espresso with steamed milk, a latte offers the hydrating benefits of both components. The milk's electrolytes and macronutrients help the body retain fluid, while the overall liquid volume contributes substantially to your daily needs. This makes a latte a more efficient hydrating beverage than a simple cup of black coffee or even plain water for sustained fluid balance, particularly for those recovering from exercise.

Lattes vs. Plain Water: A Comparative Look

While lattes offer a powerful hydrating mix, they are not a perfect substitute for water. Understanding the trade-offs is crucial for making the best hydration choices for your specific needs.


Aspect	Plain Water	Latte
Core Function	The gold standard for everyday hydration.	Contributes to fluid intake, but offers more than just hydration.
Electrolyte Content	Contains minimal electrolytes unless fortified.	Rich in natural electrolytes from milk (calcium, potassium, sodium).
Calories & Sugar	Zero calories and zero sugar.	Contains calories and natural sugars from milk, plus potentially added sugars from syrups.
Best for	Regular, daily hydration needs; quick fluid replacement.	Sustained hydration, post-workout recovery, or when seeking nutrients along with fluid.
Cost	Free from the tap.	Significantly more expensive due to ingredients and preparation.

Potential Downsides of Relying on Lattes for Hydration

While lattes can be hydrating, they come with a few considerations that prevent them from being a primary fluid source:

High in Calories and Sugar

Plain lattes contain calories from milk, but flavored lattes with added syrups can be loaded with sugar. Excessive sugar intake is not only detrimental to health but can also draw water from the body during metabolism, potentially hindering hydration. Relying on these for hydration can lead to unnecessary calorie consumption, which is not ideal for weight management.

Impact of Excessive Caffeine

While moderate caffeine is fine, exceeding the recommended daily limit (around 400 mg for most adults) can exacerbate the diuretic effect and lead to other negative health consequences, such as anxiety, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat. It's important to be mindful of your overall caffeine intake from all sources.

How to Enjoy Your Latte While Staying Hydrated

For coffee lovers, you don't have to give up your favorite drink to maintain proper hydration. The key is to see lattes as a supplement to your fluid intake, not a replacement for plain water.

Follow the 1:1 Rule: For every latte or cup of coffee you drink, consume a glass of water. This simple practice helps balance any mild diuretic effects and ensures a consistent intake of pure water.
Choose Healthier Variations: Opt for low-fat milk and avoid adding excessive sugary syrups. This minimizes extra calories and added sugars that can counteract the hydrating benefits.
Include Hydrating Foods: Increase your intake of water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. These can significantly contribute to your daily fluid needs while providing essential vitamins and minerals.
Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to thirst cues, the color of your urine, and signs of dehydration like headaches or fatigue. While lattes count, these are still the best indicators of your overall hydration status.

Conclusion

So, do lattes count as water intake? The answer is a qualified yes. Due to their high water content and the inclusion of hydrating milk and electrolytes, lattes contribute positively to your total daily fluid consumption. However, water remains the single best, calorie-free, and most effective beverage for maintaining optimal hydration. While a latte can be a beneficial addition to your fluid intake, especially for post-exercise recovery, it should not be your primary source of hydration. For the best health outcomes, enjoy your latte in moderation and prioritize regular consumption of plain water throughout the day.

For more on beverage hydration, see the study by Maughan et al. on the Beverage Hydration Index here. This link provides a scientific basis for comparing the hydrating properties of various drinks, including milk and water.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, while a latte contributes to your fluid intake, it is not the same as a glass of water. Water is the best choice for everyday hydration as it is calorie and sugar-free. A latte offers additional nutrients from milk that can help with fluid retention, but also contains calories that water does not.

For regular coffee drinkers, the mild diuretic effect of caffeine is not significant enough to cause dehydration when consumed in moderate amounts. The water and milk in the latte largely offset this effect, so it can still contribute to your daily fluid intake.

Some studies suggest that milk can be more hydrating than water in specific situations, such as after intense exercise. This is because milk contains a blend of electrolytes, protein, and carbohydrates that helps the body retain fluid more effectively than plain water.

Yes, you can count lattes toward your overall daily fluid intake. They are primarily composed of water and milk. However, it is best to still prioritize water as your main source of hydration.

Yes, adding sugary syrups can negatively impact hydration. High sugar concentrations in beverages can cause the body to pull water from its own stores to process the sugar, which is counterproductive to hydration.

The recommended safe caffeine limit is typically up to 400 mg per day for healthy adults, which is about 4 cups of regular brewed coffee. Excessive intake beyond this can increase the diuretic effect and potentially interfere with hydration.

The best way is to maintain a moderate caffeine intake and pair your coffee drinks with plain water. Drinking a glass of water for every cup of coffee is a simple and effective strategy.