Don’t do that: Neuroscience teaches us when the first cup of coffee of the day should be drunk

For many people, there is no better way to start the day than with a cup of coffee - the perfect pick-me-up to give you the energy you need to face the world.

But whether you have had a good night’s sleep or not, beginning the day with a caffeine hit might actually be a bad idea. While you might think it perks you up, a coffee first thing in the morning might not be beneficial for those who have a sedentary lifestyle and all of the health issue that go with it.

The relationship between caffeine and cortisol

Several neuroscience studies suggest that drinking coffee for breakfast can make you feel more stressed. The latest research suggests that drinking coffee on an empty stomach may increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

There is a direct connection between coffee intake and cortisol, which controls your body’s stress response.

When consumed, caffeine, the natural stimulant found in coffee beans, quickly enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain, where it blocks the neurotransmitter adenosine. This blockage leads to increased neuron firing in the brain, triggering the release of other neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Resulting in making us feel less tired, and more alert.

Caffeine consumption also stimulates the production of cortisol, the steroid hormone which is part of our body’s own defense mechanism to deal with stress.

So while you think that early morning cup of coffee is relaxing you, in fact, it’s doing the opposite.

A study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that caffeine consumption led to elevated cortisol levels, with the effect being more pronounced in men than in women. The study also noted that the cortisol response was higher in the morning and decreased throughout the day. The findings may have health implications for those who are particularly reactive to caffeine, such as people who are suffering from or developing hypertension.

What is the best time of day to drink a first cup of coffee?

For that reason you will get all of the same benefits without any of the downsides if you delay your first cup of coffee by a few hours - drinking your first cup after midday rather than at 7 or 8 a.m.

Drinking coffee not long after you have woke up is also not advisable for other reasons. Caffeine is a diuretic - ie. a substance that promotes urine production so that first cup of coffee in the morning will also dehydrate you. Starting the day off with a glass of water to re-hydrate yourself is a healthier option.

Consuming coffee on an empty stomach is also not a good idea for anyone with digestive issues as it may trigger indigestion or exasperate any underlying issues such as irritable bowl syndrome (IBS).

So it’s best to wait a few hours after you wake up and your morning cup of coffee will be even more effective at getting your brain into gear.

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