Caffeine is a very mild diuretic. In the levels found in coffee and soft drinks it increases fluid output by about 3% at most when compared to water alone. Regular usage drops that 3% to near zero. The chances of you becoming dehydrated by drinking coffee is virtually impossible. Where it can come into play is with energy drinks and energy shots. Energy drinks can contain considerably more caffeine and caffeine like substances than coffee without the water to offset it. Energy shots can be even worse as the have very little water in them. However, becoming dehydrated solely due to energy drinks and shots is still highly improbable. You would more than likely suffer the symptoms of caffeine overdose long before you became dehydrated.Sorry for the third post in a row, but I didn't read before I started posting. Caffeine DOES cause dehydration, but who cares? Cheesecake and ice cream make you fat but they serve them all over the place. Turkey legs make you fat AND dry you out. Spending hours on messages boards makes you fat and dries out your brain. Let's allow the consumers to make their own decisions instead of coddling them into the "right" way to eat and drink. No... you're right... Let's start banning everything.
There is a laundry list of studies on caffeine's effect as a diuretic in this link.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_caffeine_a_diuretic