There are many reasons why we love Coffee. The aroma, the taste, and the flavors. But the real reason why many people have become addicted to the drink is its caffeine content.
The body needs all the energy and motivation it can get, and for many people, coffee is the ultimate day starter. The caffeine boost is a stimulant that helps them kick-start their schedule.
Caffeine, coffee’s main active ingredient, works like a drug that can stimulate the central nervous system. It increases the rate at which your heart works, thereby increasing your blood pressure and energy.
More importantly, coffee consumption keeps the brain more mentally alert, improves cognitive function, and helps it retain information.
In other words, coffee is an excellent morale booster and a productivity enhancer.
It takes some time for coffee’s effects to kick in—the question is, how long? That’s what we’re about to find out.
When Will Coffee Kick In?
Coffee’s taste, aroma, and flavors all kick in immediately. Even before the first sip hits your taste buds and entices you, its aroma will have done its magic.
But there’s one part of coffee that takes some time to kick in—the caffeine.
So, when we ask about when coffee will kick in, we’re not just talking about the taste, which is immediately enjoyed, we’re talking about its caffeine effect.
There may be no straightforward answer, but we can attempt a simplistic one. The caffeine in coffee takes 10 minutes to an hour to kick in, but this also depends on several factors that we will explore later.
The caffeine in coffee is also known to wear off gradually, and after about five hours, it is expected that half of the caffeine effects will have worn off.
At the height of its effect on the body, which is about an hour after consuming the drink, the signs are noticeable in enhanced activity, anxiety, and in some cases, restlessness.
After it begins to wear off, and after about five hours, half of all the content will be out of your system.
But despite it wearing off gradually, it can still retain many of its effects on the body for hours. Overall, some caffeine stays in the body for up to 12 hours.
Caffeine taken as a direct medication does not act that fast, though. If you take the same caffeine content in tablet form, it takes almost 75 minutes to have a peak effect.
However, the amount of time that the compound spends in the bloodstream and the amount of time it takes for half of it to be removed (half-life), are practically the same.
Also, caffeine is not only found in coffee, but is also present in tea, chocolate, and soda. There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t love one of these drinks.
It is essential, however, to note that we all have different sensitivities and tolerance capabilities for caffeine, so a specific caffeine content may have different effects on different people.
Let’s look at this and other factors that influence how coffee kicks in.
Factors That May Influence When Coffee Kicks In
These are some of the factors that may influence when the coffee kicks in.
- Type of coffee variety: Coffee made from Arabica beans has 70% more caffeine than coffee made from Robusta and other varieties of beans.
- Type of roast: Lighter roasts are known to contain more caffeine than darker roasts
- Dosage: The volume of coffee is proportional to the caffeine content. The more coffee, the more caffeine, and the faster it kicks in.
- Genetics: The genetic make-up of individuals may affect the way the body absorbs caffeine. Some people are naturally intolerant to coffee, although too much consumption may also lead to intolerance in others.
- Stress level: When the body is too stressed, it may be difficult for the coffee to kick in.
Does the Amount of Coffee Influence How Fast It Kicks In?
Drinking a small amount of coffee will take the same amount to kick in as a large amount of coffee. The only difference will be the effects.
This is because the amount of coffee you drink determines the amount of caffeine in your system. How fast you drink it also has an impact. The less coffee you drink, the weaker the effect.
Does the Strength of the Coffee Influence How Fast It Kicks In?
As we’ve noted, strong coffee is equal to a strong effect. But it will still take the same amount of time to kick in. The only difference is that weak coffee will have a weak effect.
If you have 200 mg of caffeine, it will take about five hours for your body to reduce it to 100 mg. Guess how long it will take your body to reduce 160 mg of caffeine to 80 mg? The same!
Does an Empty Stomach Influence How Fast it Kicks In?
An empty stomach does not affect the way coffee is absorbed but it can have physiological effects on the stomach due to the acidity of coffee.
If you drink coffee on an empty stomach, you may feel overwhelmed and tired.
How Long Does the Caffeine Effect Last?
Typically, it takes about four to five hours for caffeine in the body to be reduced to half. In certain instances, caffeine can remain in the body for up to twelve hours. That’s why an overdose of caffeine is very bad.
Conclusion
When coffee is consumed, caffeine is ingested into the body. Many factors determine how fast and how long the caffeine will affect the body and be retained in the bloodstream for. It takes some time for caffeine to affect the body.
To prevent a caffeine overdose, always consume only a moderate amount of coffee and ensure that the caffeine content isn’t too high for you.
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Last Updated on October 4, 2022 by Ashok Parmar
