Exact times you should drink coffee for proper energy boost

As the mornings are darker, it’s tempting to reach for that first cup of coffee even earlier in order to kickstart the day. But, if you find yourself hitting a mid-morning slump, an expert is warning that you could be drinking your coffee too soon.

Reaching for that caffeine fix too early can disrupt your body’s natural wake-up process, reducing the energy-boosting effect of your daily cup of coffee. To help avoid the energy crash and keep your mornings on track, Philips in-house coffee expert Heidi Philip Smith said: “While coffee might be a staple in your morning routine, it’s best to hold off until mid-morning, ideally between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

“Your body naturally produces high levels of cortisol in the morning to help you wake up. Drinking coffee too early can actually undermine both your body’s natural energy boost and the caffeine’s effectiveness. By the time you reach the office or finish your morning tasks, cortisol levels begin to drop after 9:30 am, allowing caffeine to work more effectively and providing a steady energy boost without the dreaded crash.

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“A second coffee around 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. can combat the well-known afternoon slump many experience at their desks. Make this your final coffee of the day, to avoid disrupting your sleep. Delaying your coffee can also benefit your gut health. Since coffee is acidic, drinking it on an empty stomach could cause you some digestive discomfort. It’s best to wait until you’ve had breakfast or a snack to prepare your stomach for the coffee.”