What is the science behind why coffee can affect your productivity?

Whether it’s used for staying awake for a long night of work or waking you up first thing in the morning, coffee is universally hailed one of the world’s oldest and most natural pick-me-ups. We all know coffee makes you more awake and alert, but does it improve your productivity as well? We asked coffee gurus to share their thoughts and they had a lot to say on the subject.

Coffee and Productivity

Coffee consumption can lead to productivity by providing a source of mental stimulation through caffeine. While there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to coffee, most consumers can expect mental clarity, energy, and overall better cognition after a cup or two.

Coffee quality should be a consideration when opting for this beverage with productivity in mind. Not all coffee is created equal and organic coffee contains less harmful additives that could cancel out any potential benefits.

The bioavailability of caffeine can be greater from higher quality coffee manufacturers. This means your body is able to use the caffeine provided through your daily cup of coffee more efficiently, which could lead to better improved mental alertness and productivity. Some studies indicate that consumption of vitamin C may improve caffeine metabolism.

Drink In the Morning or Early in the Day

If you drink coffee later in the afternoon or at night, it can prevent you from sleeping well. When you don’t get a good night’s sleep, it can make you tired, slow you down, impair your ability to think, and hinder your productivity the same as if you had too much alcohol to drink.

A cup or two of coffee is fine to drink in the morning or early in the day, but drinking too much coffee at night is sure to keep you up, which could affect your productivity the next day.

A Natural Stimulant Known to Boost Alertness and Concentration

Coffee contains caffeine, which is a natural stimulant known to boost alertness, concentration, and cognitive performance. As a psychoactive substance, caffeine competes with a molecule in the brain called adenosine. Normally, adenosine is produced as a byproduct of energy use, including muscle and brain activity. When enough adenosine accumulates, this byproduct binds to a receptor that triggers the brain to feel drowsiness so that the body can recover its energy stores.

If someone consumes coffee, the caffeine is absorbed and travels to the brain. There, it binds to the adenosine receptor and prevents the signal for drowsiness from being triggered. The brain continues to believe it has enough energy to keep working and goes on functioning at peak productivity for another two hours until the adenosine molecules accumulate again.