Coffee and Tea No Longer an Automatic for Passover

New York...

There was a time when you could buy unflavored and caffeinated coffee for Passover without worrying about a special kosher designation for the holiday. But according to Rabbi Shmuel Singer of the Orthodox Union, that is no longer true. “Our position in former years in regard to coffee had been similar to tea,” wrote Rabbi Singer. “We maintained that all regular coffee, that is unflavored and not decaffeinated, is acceptable for Pesach without supervision. This is no longer true. Some coffee companies add maltodextrin, which is either chametz or kitniyos, to instant coffee. As a result this coffee is not kosher for Passover. Only coffee bearing an OU-P symbol or brands listed in the gray area of the Passover Directory should be used. Both Folger's and Taster's Choice instant coffee remain acceptable. Other brands should be checked in the (OU Passover) Directory. Ground coffee remains acceptable from any source as long as it is unflavored and not decaffeinated.” As a result, people who may have regular instant coffee, that is unflavored and not decaffeinated, from last year that is another brand besides Folger's or Taster's Choice, should not use it for Pesach.