Several microorganisms isolated from soil were tested for their ability to utilize caffeine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The isolate identified as Pseudomonas sp. GSC 1182 showed 80% degradation of caffeine in 48 h when caffeine was used as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. In the presence of sucrose (5 g/l), 100% degradation of caffeine was achieved within 36-40 h. The degradation rate was also found to increase when fructose, lactose and galactose were used as carbon source. The isolate showed decreased level (< 10%) of caffeine degradation in the presence of glucose. At an initial pH of 6.0, the complete degradation of caffeine was attained in 24 h. The addition of urea and ammonium sulfate as external nitrogen source decreased the caffeine degradation to 35% and 70% respectively. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.