What is the ideal time for morning coffee?
For many, coffee is the morning elixir of life. Whether early in the morning or after lunch - the caffeinated drink is an integral part of everyday life. In Switzerland, everyone consumes an average of around 95 liters of coffee per year. But when is the best time to have your first coffee of the day?
The role of cortisol levels in the morning
A study from the USA has investigated how coffee consumption affects our bodies immediately after waking up. The hormone cortisol plays a central role in this. Cortisol is a natural stimulant and is increasingly released between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning. During this phase of the day, the body prepares itself for the demands of the day, pulse and blood pressure rise and we become more alert.
Drinking a cup of coffee or an espresso directly during this phase can wake you up, but according to the researchers it leads to an increased stress level. The problem: the cortisol level rises even further, making us more susceptible to health problems such as stress and weight gain.
Recommendations for optimal coffee consumption
The American neuroscientist Steven Miller has also looked into this topic and confirmed that it can be useful to drink your first coffee one to one and a half hours after getting up at the earliest. During this period, the cortisol level begins to fall naturally so that the body can actually benefit from the additional wake-up effect of caffeine. According to the study, the best time slots for coffee consumption are between 9:30 and 11:30 and between 13:30 and 17:00.
In these phases, the body is in a “cortisol low”, in which a caffeinated drink can be particularly helpful in boosting performance. For all those who get up early, this means treating yourself to a quiet morning routine and enjoying your coffee a little later. For example, if you get up at 6:30 a.m., you can enjoy your first sip around 8:00 a.m. - just at the right time when your body really needs it.
Flexibility in the daily rhythm
It is important to emphasize that each person has an individual rhythm. Light, working hours, stress and the general sleep-wake rhythm influence the cortisol level and can cause it to behave differently depending on the time of day. This also means that the recommendation to drink your first coffee 1.5 hours after getting up is a general guideline and not a rigid law.
Some people may find that their cortisol levels remain high for longer, while others can tolerate a caffeine boost after just one hour. Everyone should therefore pay attention to their own body's signals and tailor their coffee ritual to their own needs.
A relaxed start to the day
For many people, coffee is an indispensable part of everyday life and is simply part of the start to the day. However, if you are prepared to be a little patient, you can use the caffeine kick in a more targeted and effective way. Give your body the extra energy boost when it really needs it. Small adjustments to the coffee ritual can not only reduce stress, but also promote lasting coffee enjoyment. By not constantly feeling the need to increase our caffeine intake and drink more and more cups. This allows us to start the day focused and relaxed - and turns every cup of coffee into a small, conscious moment of pleasure.
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