Every few months, I scroll past a new claim that there’s a best time to drink coffee in the morning, but paid no attention—until now. It may seem ironic since I’m a health and wellness enthusiast (I drink daily ginger shots and obsess over my protein intake) but something about messing with my morning coffee just feels like a step too far. I’ve stressed myself out over oat milk being allegedly “unhealthy,” and even broke up with my beloved alternative creamer. So when it comes to coffee, I drink it when I can. And that’s that.
Coffee FAQS, at a glance
Fortunately, I might have actually been onto something. Despite recurring claims that there is a “best” time to drink coffee for health benefits, this might not actually be the case. What is true—and backed by actual research—however, are coffee’s various health benefits.
Health benefits of coffee
“There is research that indicates a moderate amount of coffee, meaning to five cups per day, can result in protection from certain diseases due to the antioxidants that it contains,” Jennifer Beery, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian at Orlando Health, tells Glamour. “Studies have shown that coffee can decrease risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and Parkinson’s disease.”
In lower doses, studies have also found that coffee can help boost your mood, cognitive performance, and decrease depression and anxiety. “Not only does coffee have antioxidants and compounds that act as anti-inflammatories but it has nutrients including potassium, niacin and magnesium,” she says. “Coffee can also boost your exercise performance.” Not bad!
What’s the best time to drink coffee?
Is there really a “best” time to drink coffee to reap all of those benefits? No. “There is no scientific research that indicates there is a ‘best time’ to drink coffee,” Beery clarifies. “Since caffeine is a stimulant, most people like to drink this to help them wake up.”
There are some things to consider, however, such as potential gastrointestinal issues or nighttime caffeine. “Drinking a cup of water or eating food before coffee may be best for those that have digestive issues when drinking coffee on an empty stomach, and I would also be careful not to drink coffee too late in the day so this does not disturb sleep,” she continues.
While it varies from person to person depending on their tolerance, Beery suggests avoiding coffee in the later-afternoon hours so the caffeine does not impact your sleep schedule.
How much coffee is too much?
While there isn’t necessarily a proper time to drink coffee, there is a recommended limit on actual caffeine intake. According to Beery, most adults should be having a maximum of 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is what you’ll find in three to five 8 ounce cups of coffee.
