01/10/2026
It’s International Coffee Day, so it seems like the perfect opportunity to answer a question that comes up quite often with small business owners: can you claim your coffee as a business expense?
Sadly, just because coffee feels absolutely essential to getting through your working day doesn’t mean HMRC agrees! Your usual morning coffee, the one you pick up on your way to work or the coffees you drink while sitting at your desk are generally considered a personal expense, so they’re not usually tax deductible.
There are circumstances where food and drink can be an allowable business expense, though. For example, you may be able to claim reasonable food and drink costs when you’re travelling for business and the journey meets HMRC’s rules for allowable business travel. Refreshments provided to employees in the workplace can also be treated differently.
And what about meeting a client for a coffee? Even if you spend the whole time talking about work, client entertaining is generally not tax deductible. So unfortunately, inviting your client for a cappuccino doesn’t automatically mean the business gets to pay for it!
As with lots of business expenses, it’s all about the circumstances rather than simply what you bought. If you’re ever unsure about what you can and can’t claim as a small business owner or self-employed person, please get in touch with Sarah’s Bookkeeping Services. I’m always happy to help you make sense of your expenses and keep your bookkeeping on the right track.
In the meantime, enjoy your coffee this International Coffee Day, even if HMRC isn’t picking up the bill!
Any questions please let me know.