Can a consultant write off coffee meetings?

Yes—often, but not always. A consultant may be able to deduct a coffee meeting as a business expense if it is genuinely for business, a business discussion takes place, and you keep good records (date, place, amount, who attended, and the business purpose).

For U.S. taxes, coffee or other refreshments with a client or prospect are often treated as a business meal/refreshment expense and may be only partly deductible under current IRS rules rather than fully deductible. The exact treatment depends on what was purchased and the facts of the meeting.

A few practical guardrails:

• Client/prospect meeting: usually deductible if it has a real business purpose and you are present.
• Solo coffee for yourself while working locally: generally personal and not deductible.
• Entertainment costs: generally not deductible, even if they happen around a meeting.
• Travel away from your tax home overnight: coffee and other incidental travel costs may be deductible under travel rules.

Because tax treatment can change and depends on your country, state, and business structure, it’s worth confirming with a CPA or the official tax guidance for your location.