Can’t get out of your bed without having your favourite cup of coffee? Though it gives you a sudden boost of energy, it is not good for you in the long run. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, as it gives an instant pick-me-up to start the day. While India consumes an average of 30 cups of coffee per person annually, coffee culture is far more established in countries like the UK, where approximately 95 million cups are consumed daily, according to the British Coffee Association. But what exactly happens to your body when you drink coffee?

According to The Telegraph, the immediate effect you feel after the first sip of coffee is mostly psychological. Thomas Sanders, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, explains that this is due to a placebo effect. “To feel the effects of coffee, you’ve got to let it absorb into the bloodstream. What you’re feeling at this stage is only likely to be a psychological effect,” he states.

The report shows that caffeine takes about 20 minutes to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Once absorbed, it starts to produce tangible effects on your body, such as an increased heart rate and an adrenaline boost.

Heart Rate and Adrenaline Boost

Approximately 20 minutes after drinking coffee, you may notice a lift in your mood and energy levels. This is when your heart rate starts to rise, providing a sense of alertness and focus. “If you’re in a low state of arousal, it will give you a slight lift, which is why many people rely on their cup of coffee in the morning,” Sanders explains.

Following the heart rate increase, an adrenaline rush occurs, peaking about an hour after consumption. This boost in concentration can vary depending on individual factors such as metabolism and genetic makeup.

At the 20-minute mark, caffeine can also cause a brief sensation of euphoria, which explains why many people feel an immediate sense of happiness after their morning coffee. For avid coffee lovers, this rush often becomes an anticipated part of their daily routine.

Coffee as a Diuretic

About 30 minutes after your first cup of coffee, you may feel the need to urinate. This is because coffee has diuretic properties, which stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine. For those with bladder or prostate issues, this effect may be more pronounced.

Caffeine also impacts the bowels. Research shows that about 60–90 minutes after drinking coffee, caffeine stimulates the colon, increasing its activity by 60 per cent compared to water and 23 per cent compared to decaf coffee. This accelerates the process of waste elimination from the body.

The Caffeine CrashWhile coffee provides an energy boost, it also brings a dreaded side effect: the caffeine crash. According to Sanders, if you have coffee at 8 am, you might start to feel the effects of the slump by 11 am. This slump is caused by the body’s adaptation to caffeine. Regular coffee consumption creates a dependency, as the brain’s receptors adjust to the expectation of another caffeine hit.

By noon, caffeine typically leaves your system, often compelling people to reach for another cup to overcome the slump. This cycle of energy peaks and slumps can leave one reliant on caffeine for sustained energy.

Responses to Coffee

The effects of caffeine vary widely from person to person, influenced by factors such as metabolism, genetics, and gender. Sanders notes that some people metabolize caffeine faster than others, which can impact how long its effects last.

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