Not everyone is a “morning person” and it’s hard to wake up when you’re soft bed calls you back to fall asleep every waking moment. It’s no wonder coffee is such a popular drink amongst billions of people – And for some, it’s a comforting routine to start their day with an extra kick.
Whether it’s holding a warm mug of a fresh brew or sipping on a refreshing iced coffee on a hot summer morning, the experience you get from drinking coffee sets the pace for your day.
Does iced coffee wake you up?
When we work hard and only get a few hours of sleep from the night before, there are a few ways to get us through the day when we have so little sleep.
Especially if you’re one of those people who works two jobs and goes to school, or if you’re a single mom who works a full-time job. Whatever the case may be, coffee is a lifesaver for a lot of people.
Does coffee make you feel awake? Of course! But some people have drank so much coffee that they’ve developed a tolerance to it and barely feel the effects.
There can be times you’re so sleep-deprived that even caffeine won’t do anything because your body simply needs to get some rest.
Studies have shown that the best time to drink coffee isn’t right after you wake up. It’s said that cortisol levels are highest after waking up – A stress hormone that over-stimulates the body when you drink coffee first thing in the morning.
Also, if you drink coffee without breakfast, it can cause certain reactions to caffeine.
You may get a quicker spike in energy at first, but you’re prone to crash later and it may dehydrate you quicker.
Overall, it’s best to have a balanced meal with your cup of coffee, even if you want that first initial burst of energy.
Brewing Methods
- Iced Coffee
- Cold Brew
- Espresso
- Drip Coffee
- Pour-Over
- French Press
Do you know the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
Iced coffee is brewed with hot water first and then chilled. While cold brew is a different method of brewing, steeping coffee grounds in lukewarm water for about 12 hours or overnight.
Letting the water extract the coffee from the beans for a longer period of time.
Some argue that iced coffee tastes better, and some say that cold brew is the way to go. This all comes down to personal preference for those who want a certain flavor profile or a certain degree of caffeine.
Iced coffee tends to be more acidic and vibrant, but with a cold brew, you end up with a mild and robust flavor.
Obviously, this depends on a number of variables when it comes to flavor.
Other popular ways of brewing coffee are using a French press, a drip coffee machine, pour-over coffee, and an espresso machine.
All of these different methods conjure up different amounts of caffeine so you should choose the type of brewing method you want, to get the best results for your pallet and caffeine intake.
Amounts of caffeine in coffee
A typical cup of coffee contains 100 to 120mg of caffeine, and that’s usually more or less enough to feel the benefits you get from coffee.
A shot of espresso contains about 40 to 50 mg of caffeine. While that’s less than a cup of coffee you can always make it a double.
And for those who thought decaf coffee contained zero caffeine, that’s not entirely true. Decaf has at least 10 mg of caffeine in one cup.
Depending on what type of coffee beans you buy and brew, the flavor and caffeine content will vary drastically.
Arabica coffee beans, for example, are very common. About 60% of coffee beans in the world are of this variety and are considered higher quality and have a better flavor profile.
Robusta beans contain twice the amount of caffeine, which is great if that’s what you want. However, Robusta beans are known to be bitter and earthy which affects the flavor appeal compared to Arabica beans.
Brewing time also affects the amount of caffeine in each cup. Just like a cup of tea, the longer you steep the water in the beans, the more caffeine is extracted from them.
What about tea or energy drinks?
Tea and energy drinks are also popular choices when it comes to getting an extra energy boost for the day. Black tea, for example, has about 47 mg of caffeine per cup, and green tea has about 28 mg, which is about one-third of a cup of coffee.
Although the caffeine content isn’t as high as coffee, the health benefits of tea are a reason to drink it daily.
Black and green tea both contain a compound called L-theanine, which has calming properties that coffee or energy drinks don’t contain.
So despite the added caffeine boost, tea tends to mellow your mood and energy.
There are also benefits such as antioxidant properties plus lots of vitamins and minerals.
Energy drinks are a different story. With the reputation for being an adrenaline boost for aggressive sports, some drinks can contain caffeine with over 300mg of caffeine.
While they may be slightly unhealthier compared to coffee or tea, energy drinks have a strong presence in the beverage industry with no signs of retreat.
Conclusion
There have been countless times when coffee has turned my whole day around. After a long night of work and having school the next morning, coffee has been my saving grace. Without it, I probably never would have graduated college.
So depending on the type of energy you’re looking for, you can choose from a stable spike to a mellow kick, to an all-out monster of energy. Either way, you can depend on these beverages to wake you up and help you throughout the day. But keep in mind if you’re overly exhausted, take it easy and rest.
