Beracha after Coffee

Question: Should I say borei nefashos after drinking a coffee?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 210:1) writes that one doesn’t say borei nefashos after drinking unless they drink a revi’is in one go (See Mishna Berura 210:1).

The Baer Heitev (204:12) quotes some poskim who hold that one should recite borei nefashos after sipping a hot drink. The Shearim Metzuyanim Behalacha (51:5) compares this to drinking alcohol, which according to the Taz (OC 210:1), one would say borei nefashos after drinking just a shot as that is the normal way of drinking it (See Har Tzvi OC 1:159).

Nonetheless, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 202:7) writes that even though this is the normal way of drinking hot drinks, the Shulchan Aruch doesn’t differentiate between hot and cold drinks, etc. Likewise, the Baer Heitev sides with the other poskim who disagree, saying that the minhag is not to say borei nefashos. To avoid the safek, however, he advises one to leave a revi’is in the cup to cool down to drink normally and then say borei nefashos (See Mishna Berura ibid). Similarly, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 8:86) suggests that where possible, one should have a drink of water with one’s hot drink (See Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:135).

In conclusion, one doesn’t say borei nefashos after a coffee, though one should try to drink it with something else so that one can say the beracha.