Caffeine in coffee – many people need just that first thing in the morning to kick-start their day or to shake off the midday slump. But what exactly is caffeine, and why does it wake us up? How quickly and for how long does the caffeine in coffee take effect in the body? Does caffeine have a half-life? And how much caffeine is metabolized per hour? So many questions – but we'll answer them all! Enjoy reading.
First: What is caffeine?
From a scientific perspective, caffeine belongs to the group of purine alkaloids. Plants in nature use these, for example, to defend themselves against predators. Caffeine is also the most widely consumed pharmacologically active substance in the world. In its pure form, caffeine can be found in kola nuts and coffee seeds, among other things. In coffee beans, caffeine is bound to chlorogenic acid and is only released during roasting. Arabica beans contain about half the amount of caffeine found in Robusta beans. This results in variations of 50 to 100 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee, depending on the coffee variety. You can read more about this here !
How quickly does caffeine affect the body?
Many people aren't responsive before their first sip of coffee, but does that even make sense? Hence the question: How quickly does caffeine take effect? Coffee is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and takes about 45 minutes to do so. There, the caffeine acts on the central nervous system, stimulating metabolism. This also increases concentration! Caffeine also occupies adenosine receptors, leading to an increased release of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine – we perceive stimuli more quickly and become more alert! But how quickly does caffeine really affect the body? Everyone has to find that out for themselves! Try different varieties and only drink the amount that works for you! Also interesting to know: Only 3% of the originally consumed caffeine is detectable in urine!
And what is the duration of caffeine's effects?
The duration of caffeine's effects cannot be answered definitively. It depends on how much caffeine you consume. Therefore, it's more useful to consider caffeine's half-life. Researchers have found that caffeine's half-life is approximately 5 hours. This means that if you drink a normal cup of coffee containing about 80 milligrams of caffeine, after 5 hours you'll still have about 40 milligrams of caffeine in your body. According to the caffeine half-life "rule," your body needs more time to process the remaining 40 milligrams. However, the duration of caffeine's effects and its half-life can be influenced by heavy coffee consumption! This builds up a tolerance in the body, and we need more coffee to achieve the same effect. Consequently, many "coffee addicts" are affected by this.
Is it possible to have a caffeine overdose?
Yes, a caffeine overdose is possible! However, this is only achieved with 1 (!) gram of caffeine. This would require consuming approximately 25 espressos within a very short period. The initial side effects of caffeine would then manifest as: increased nervousness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, headaches, digestive problems, and insomnia. Severe symptoms of a caffeine overdose include: hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and breathing difficulties. These require immediate medical attention!
To avoid caffeine overdose and caffeine side effects, the ESFA (European Food Safety Authority) recommends the following amounts for safe coffee consumption:
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Adults: up to 400 milligrams per day
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Pregnant and breastfeeding women: A quantity of up to 200 milligrams is considered safe.
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Children and adolescents: maximum 3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Does this recommendation sound unnecessary? Caffeine is also found in chocolate and tea!
But don't panic, caffeine doesn't only have negative effects! For example, it's used in medicine to treat migraines and cardiovascular problems. The outdated belief that coffee dehydrates the body due to its caffeine content is also obsolete. Coffee can be counted towards the recommended daily water intake of 2 liters! So don't feel guilty; there's nothing wrong with 4 cups of coffee a day. Keep enjoying it and always drink good coffee!
Your SIMON&BERNS Team
Caffeine in coffee
Caffeine in coffee – many people need just that first thing in the morning to kick-start their day or to shake off the midday slump. But what exactly is caffeine, and why does it wake us up? How quickly and for how long does the caffeine in coffee take effect in the body? Does caffeine have a half-life? And how much caffeine is metabolized per hour? So many questions – but we'll answer them all! Enjoy reading.
First: What is caffeine?
From a scientific perspective, caffeine belongs to the group of purine alkaloids. Plants in nature use these, for example, to defend themselves against predators. Caffeine is also the most widely consumed pharmacologically active substance in the world. In its pure form, caffeine can be found in kola nuts and coffee seeds, among other things. In coffee beans, caffeine is bound to chlorogenic acid and is only released during roasting. Arabica beans contain about half the amount of caffeine found in Robusta beans. This results in variations of 50 to 100 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee, depending on the coffee variety. You can read more about this here !
How quickly does caffeine affect the body?
Many people aren't responsive before their first sip of coffee, but does that even make sense? Hence the question: How quickly does caffeine take effect? Coffee is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and takes about 45 minutes to do so. There, the caffeine acts on the central nervous system, stimulating metabolism. This also increases concentration! Caffeine also occupies adenosine receptors, leading to an increased release of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine – we perceive stimuli more quickly and become more alert! But how quickly does caffeine really affect the body? Everyone has to find that out for themselves! Try different varieties and only drink the amount that works for you! Also interesting to know: Only 3% of the originally consumed caffeine is detectable in urine!
And what is the duration of caffeine's effects?
The duration of caffeine's effects cannot be answered definitively. It depends on how much caffeine you consume. Therefore, it's more useful to consider caffeine's half-life. Researchers have found that caffeine's half-life is approximately 5 hours. This means that if you drink a normal cup of coffee containing about 80 milligrams of caffeine, after 5 hours you'll still have about 40 milligrams of caffeine in your body. According to the caffeine half-life "rule," your body needs more time to process the remaining 40 milligrams. However, the duration of caffeine's effects and its half-life can be influenced by heavy coffee consumption! This builds up a tolerance in the body, and we need more coffee to achieve the same effect. Consequently, many "coffee addicts" are affected by this.
Is it possible to have a caffeine overdose?
Yes, a caffeine overdose is possible! However, this is only achieved with 1 (!) gram of caffeine. This would require consuming approximately 25 espressos within a very short period. The initial side effects of caffeine would then manifest as: increased nervousness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, headaches, digestive problems, and insomnia. Severe symptoms of a caffeine overdose include: hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and breathing difficulties. These require immediate medical attention!
To avoid caffeine overdose and caffeine side effects, the ESFA (European Food Safety Authority) recommends the following amounts for safe coffee consumption:
But don't panic, caffeine doesn't only have negative effects! For example, it's used in medicine to treat migraines and cardiovascular problems. The outdated belief that coffee dehydrates the body due to its caffeine content is also obsolete. Coffee can be counted towards the recommended daily water intake of 2 liters! So don't feel guilty; there's nothing wrong with 4 cups of coffee a day. Keep enjoying it and always drink good coffee!
Your SIMON&BERNS Team