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Coffee vs FoodData Central

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APICoffeeNEW—FoodData CentralNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — no API keyFree tier — API key may be required for production
Rate limitUnpublished10 req/window · 9 remaining
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Coffee vs FoodData Central: common questions

Which is more reliable, Coffee or FoodData Central?

On our scheduled checks, FoodData Central leads on measured uptime — Coffee at —% versus FoodData Central at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Coffee and FoodData Central need an API key?

Coffee needs no key, while FoodData Central requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Coffee first.

Can I call Coffee and FoodData Central from the browser?

Only FoodData Central is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Coffee needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Coffee and FoodData Central free for commercial use?

Coffee has unclear commercial terms, and FoodData Central has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.