Morning, noon, or evening - the ideal time to enjoy a cup of coffee is up to you. Many of us start our day with a cup of coffee as soon as our alarm goes off, and some even set the espresso machine to brew coffee before they get out of bed.
“Morning coffee is a global ritual,” says nutritionist Anthony DiMarino. “When that routine is disrupted, you feel like something is wrong.”
But should you push your coffee drinking schedule? According to experts, there's no definitive answer. Some believe that your first (or second) cup of coffee should be drunk in the middle of the morning or afternoon, while others insist that it all depends on your body.
Morning coffee
A cup of coffee of about 240 ml contains an average of 100 milligrams of caffeine, although this amount varies depending on the type of coffee and the method of preparation.
“Because caffeine is a stimulant, drinking coffee in the morning helps you wake up,” says DiMarino. One way caffeine works is by increasing cortisol levels in the body.
Cortisol, caffeine and your morning coffee
Cortisol, often known as the “stress hormone,” is a chemical your body releases in dangerous situations. Although mornings aren’t usually that dramatic (even for those who aren’t morning people), cortisol is naturally produced after you wake up.
“Cortisol helps you become more alert and aware of your surroundings after sleep,” explains DiMarino.
Generally, cortisol levels peak between 7 and 8 a.m. and begin to gradually decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest levels at night. In this way, cortisol helps maintain the natural rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.
But if you drink coffee early in the morning, the extra stimulation provided by caffeine can increase cortisol levels even more, which causes nervousness or anxiety in some people.
Coffee in the evening
Drinking coffee late at night is another controversial topic, unless you work late shifts.
“Caffeine has a half-life that ranges from 2 to 10 hours, depending on your metabolism,” says DiMarino. So it can take your body anywhere from two to 10 hours to eliminate half of the caffeine in a cup of coffee.
Some people have a “coffee gene,” which helps them metabolize caffeine faster. If you can drink an espresso at 10 p.m. and sleep soundly, chances are your body processes caffeine faster than others.
The best time to drink coffee
Here's what experts say about the ideal time to enjoy a coffee:
• Morning coffee increases cortisol levels, making you feel more stressed.
• Nighttime coffee may (or may not, depending on metabolism) affect sleep.
If you're looking for the perfect moment for your coffee, a cup between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. may be most effective. During this time, cortisol levels begin to drop, and the effects of caffeine may be most beneficial.
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