Category: Coffee Fact

IS DRINKING COFFEE SAFE? For most people, moderate consumption of coffee (up to four to five cups per day, or 400mg caffeine) is perfectly safe. Atthese levels, it doesn’t have any health risks, and as we can see below, it may have some benefits. It’s also very enjoyable! WHAT IF I’M PREGNANT? If you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t have more than three to four cups of coffee a day – that’s about 300mg of caffeine. IS COFFEE DEHYDRATING, DO I NEED TO DRINK MORE WATER FOR EVERY CUP OF COFFEE? No – in fact, coffee in moderate amounts can contribute to ... Read more

Many scientific studies have shown that caffeine improves concentration, alertness, reasoning, intellectual effort and vigilance (1-5) This effect can help counter `post-lunch dip’ in concentration, and overcoming drowsiness in motorists and nightshift workers thus reducing the risk of accidents (6).  The Department of Transport in its Think! Don’t Drive Tired campaign recommends a couple of cups of coffee as an effective method of alleviating driver fatigue (www.dft.gov.uk) Studies have also shown that drinking strong coffee when there is a demanding physical task ahead helps people to keep going longer and staves off exhaustion (7,8,9). Caffeine increases kidney blood flow and may help ... Read more

Stimulant Effects of Caffeine Caffeine is a mild stimulant which acts on the central nervous system and some other organs of the body, for example the kidneys. It is readily absorbed into the bloodstream and does not accumulate in the body, being rapidly metabolised and excreted. The stimulant effects of a small amount (say one cup of coffee) take effect after 15 – 45 minutes and last normally for about four hours. However, caffeine is absorbed from soft drinks at a slightly slower rate than that from coffee and tea, thought to be because of their acid pH. The effects ... Read more

Other Effects of Caffeine Caffeine has a mild stimulating effect so will make a person less drowsy and therefore delay sleep. But some people sleep well after evening coffee, others do not. Excessive caffeine consumption, in the small percentage of the population who are sensitive to the stimulant effects of caffeine, may result in feelings of restlessness, nervousness and insomnia – however this is not the case for the general population. A minority of people – especially those who consume a high level of caffeine – may get mild symptoms such as headache or feelings of drowsiness if they suddenly ... Read more

Caffeine content in food products How much caffeine there is in a cup of coffee depends on many factors including: how big the cup, how finely the coffee is ground, how dark the roast, the brewing method used, how much coffee is used to make the drink and the type of coffee bean used. The beans of Arabica coffee, grown at higher altitudes contain less caffeine than Robusta beans. With tea, the amount used, how long it is allowed to brew and the type of tea – Indian (more caffeine) or China – also makes a difference. Tea actually contains ... Read more