Coffee itself is not flagged
GallDiet does not treat coffee or caffeine as a gallstone trigger. Black coffee has almost no fat, so it loses almost no points.
The scores
How GallDiet scores coffee, from highest to lowest.
Each number is the average GallDiet score, out of 100, for that kind of food or meal among people who have gallstones and still have their gallbladder.
Black coffee
high 90sTea
mid 90sCoffee with milk
high 80sLattes and cappuccinos
around 80Coffee with cream or creamer
mid 60sCreamer on its own
mid 50sThe labels describe the score, not your health: 85 and up is a high score, 71 to 84 is Caution, 31 to 70 is Moderate risk and 30 or less is High risk. Decaf, iced coffee and mochas are not listed because fewer than 10 people have scanned each one so far.
Why the scores differ
It is what goes in the cup.
Cream and creamer are
Cream and half and half are high in fat, and most creamers are made with oil. GallDiet counts each as a trigger. Coffee with cream or creamer averages about 30 points lower than black coffee.
What the score leaves out
Coffee can make the gallbladder contract, and some people with gallstones find that even black coffee sets off their symptoms. GallDiet scores what is in the cup. It cannot tell you whether coffee itself bothers you.
Raises the score
Drinking it black A splash of skim or plant milk Low-fat or plant milk in a latte Tea
Lowers the score
Cream or half and half Flavored creamer Whole milk Whipped cream on top
No gallbladder
Coffee after gallbladder removal.
GallDiet scores meals differently for people who have had their gallbladder removed. Fewer people in that group have scanned coffee, so treat these numbers as a rough guide.
Tea
mid 90sCoffee drinks, all kinds
low 70sMore on eating after gallbladder removal.
Your own answer
An average can't tell you how your body will react.
The same food is fine for some people with gallstones and a trigger for others. These scores show the pattern across many people, not what will happen on your plate.
GallDiet scores your own meal from a photo, a barcode or a typed name, checks it against the triggers you have saved, and keeps a record of what you ate before each bad day.
About these numbers
Where the scores come from.
The scores on this page are averages of what GallDiet gave to meals its users scanned or typed in, up to October 13, 2026. A group of meals is shown only when at least 10 different people scanned it, and every number is rounded.
A GallDiet score starts at 100 and loses points for common gallstone triggers in the meal, mostly fat. It does not know your portion size, your medical history or how your body reacts.
GallDiet does not diagnose, treat, prevent or cure gallbladder disease or any medical condition. Use these scores alongside advice from your doctor or dietitian, not in place of it.
Medical context: public guidance from the NIDDK covers eating, diet and nutrition for gallstones. If you have severe pain, fever, vomiting, jaundice or chest pain, seek medical care immediately.
FAQ
Common questions about coffee and gallstones.
Can I drink black coffee with gallstones?
Black coffee is one of the highest-scoring drinks in GallDiet, averaging in the high 90s out of 100 across 20 people with gallstones, because it has almost no fat. The score does not cover caffeine. Coffee can make the gallbladder contract, and some people find it brings on symptoms, so pay attention to how you feel after a cup.
Is coffee with milk or creamer OK with gallstones?
Coffee with a little milk averages in the high 80s out of 100 in GallDiet. Coffee with cream or creamer averages in the mid 60s, about 30 points below black coffee, because cream and most creamers add fat.
Are lattes bad for gallstones?
Lattes and cappuccinos average around 80 out of 100 in GallDiet, across 27 people. They are mostly milk, so GallDiet takes points off when the milk is whole milk and does not when it is skim or a plant milk.
Does coffee cause gallbladder attacks?
Some people with gallstones say coffee sets off their symptoms and others drink it every day without trouble. An average score cannot tell you which group you are in. Keeping a record of what you had before each bad day is the practical way to find out. If you have severe pain, fever, vomiting or yellowing skin or eyes, seek medical care.
Is tea better than coffee for gallstones?
In GallDiet they score about the same. Tea averages in the mid 90s out of 100 across 54 people and black coffee in the high 90s across 20. In both cases, what you add is what lowers the score.
Can I drink coffee after gallbladder removal?
Among GallDiet users who have had their gallbladder removed, coffee drinks of all kinds average in the low 70s out of 100 across 14 people, and tea averages in the mid 90s across 10. Those are small groups, so treat the numbers as a rough guide and follow the advice your surgeon or dietitian gave you.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are averages of the scores GallDiet gave to 95 scans from 74 people who have gallstones and still have their gallbladder. A group is shown only when at least 10 different people scanned it. The scores are estimates based on common gallstone triggers, mainly fat, and they do not change with portion size. They are not medical advice.
Scan your own plate before you eat it.
Start with one meal photo, one barcode or one typed meal name. GallDiet is free to try.
Not a medical device. If you have severe pain, fever, jaundice, vomiting, or symptoms that concern you, seek medical care.