For many people, the first cup of coffee in the morning is not just about waking up. It’s also about feeling better. A new study confirms that caffeine can lift your mood, and the effect is strongest in the morning.
Researchers from Bielefeld University in Germany and the University of Warwick in the UK tracked the daily habits of 236 young adults for up to four weeks. Participants used their smartphones to report their mood and any caffeine consumption seven times a day. The results showed that on mornings when participants had coffee or another caffeinated drink, they felt significantly happier and more enthusiastic than on mornings without it.
The mood lift was less dramatic later in the day, but caffeine still had a small effect on reducing negative emotions such as sadness or feeling upset.
“We were somewhat surprised to find no differences between individuals with varying levels of caffeine consumption or differing degrees of depressive symptoms, anxiety or sleep problems,” said lead author Justin Hachenberger of Bielefeld University.
This suggests the boost happens for most people, regardless of their typical coffee habits.
Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain, which helps you feel more alert and can increase dopamine activity, a neurotransmitter linked to better mood and motivation. Still, the researchers note it is unclear how much of the effect comes from this brain chemistry change compared with simply relieving mild caffeine withdrawal after a night’s sleep.
“Even people with moderate caffeine consumption can experience mild withdrawal symptoms that disappear with the first cup of coffee or tea in the morning,” said co-author Professor Anu Realo of the University of Warwick.
The study also comes with a reminder: caffeine can cause dependence, and too much can lead to side effects such as jitters, increased heart rate or sleep problems if consumed late in the day.
This research was conducted by Bielefeld University and the University of Warwick and published in Scientific Reports. Open access funding was enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.