{"id":2138,"date":"2024-05-09T10:15:45","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T10:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2138"},"modified":"2024-05-13T14:31:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T14:31:25","slug":"coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee and Caffeine | Facts for Cyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>As we discussed in the previous blog, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-cycling\/\">&#8216;Coffee &amp; Cycling | A Perfect Pairing&#8217;,<\/a> coffee has long been engrained in cycling culture. Many group rides start, end, or sometimes include stops at coffee shops. Coffee-related companies have sponsored some of the most iconic teams in the sport\u2019s history, including Eddy Merckx\u2019s 1969 Tour winning Faema team, Caf\u00e9 de Colombia in the 80s, Saeco in the 90s, Jittery Joe\u2019s in the 2000\u2019s, and Segafredo more recently. Today we look at what we&#8217;ve learnt over the years about coffee &amp; caffeine and how coffee and caffeine affect performance \u2013 including how its effects change for older athletes. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Coffee_and_Caffeine_for_Cyclists\" >Coffee and Caffeine for Cyclists<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#What_is_Caffeine_and_why_is_there_caffeine_in_coffee\" >What is Caffeine and why is there caffeine in coffee?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Caffeine_and_Athletic_Performance\" >Caffeine and Athletic Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Caffeine_Dosage_for_Athletes\" >Caffeine Dosage for Athletes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Effects_of_Caffeine_on_the_Body\" >Effects of Caffeine on the Body<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Caffeine_metabolism_does_change_with_age\" >Caffeine metabolism does change with age<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Is_Coffee_a_diuretic_for_daily_drinkers\" >Is Coffee a diuretic (for daily drinkers)?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Caffeine_Side_Effects_and_Misconceptions\" >Caffeine Side Effects and Misconceptions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Which_coffee_has_more_caffeine_%E2%80%93_Light_or_Dark_Roast\" >Which coffee has more caffeine \u2013 Light or Dark Roast?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#When_does_the_caffeine_content_change\" >When does the caffeine content change?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/#Finally_%E2%80%93_Be_Warned\" >Finally \u2013 Be Warned!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Coffee_and_Caffeine_for_Cyclists\"><\/span>Coffee and Caffeine for Cyclists<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There have been a lot of claims from people that certain foods and drinks improve athletic performance, but not many do. Caffeine on the other hand we know, delivers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-33d3be60 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\">\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"\" role=\"img\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 150px\"  alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"\" role=\"img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 150px\"  alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n<figcaption class=\"uagb-image-caption\">A welcome sign<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Caffeine_and_why_is_there_caffeine_in_coffee\"><\/span>What is Caffeine and why is there caffeine in coffee?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns: 41% auto;\">\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2142 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-1024x842.png\" alt=\"\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"842\" class=\"wp-image-2142 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-1024x842.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-1024x842.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-300x247.png 300w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-768x632.png 768w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-1536x1263.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine-600x494.png 600w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Caffeine.png 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\r\n<p>Caffeine is produced by plants as a defence mechanism. Researchers have identified two primary roles for caffeine in the coffee plant\u2019s life cycle. Firstly, caffeine is a natural insecticide \u2013 it appears in the coffee cherry and its seeds (the bean) to keep pests at bay and ensure the beans are consumed only by something large enough to spread them. Secondly, caffeine helps the plants spread \u2013 the first seeds to start germinating will release caffeine to poison others nearby, ensuring that the plants don\u2019t crowd each other out of good soil and light.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>As an ergogenic aid, caffeine has been shown again and again to improve cycling performance. The mechanism responsible for improved performance is a bit less certain, but most of the science points to increased mental alertness, increased fat metabolism (a bit), increased calcium availability in muscle cells, and reduced physical feelings of fatigue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caffeine_and_Athletic_Performance\"><\/span>Caffeine and Athletic Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns: 41% auto;\">\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\">\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_2144\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 329px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2144 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sunweb.png\" alt=\"Coffee and Caffeine\" width=\"329\" height=\"284\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2144 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sunweb.png\" alt=\"Coffee and Caffeine\" width=\"329\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sunweb.png 329w, https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sunweb-300x259.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 329px) 100vw, 329px\" \/><\/noscript> Caffeine &amp; Cyclists<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\r\n<p>Caffeine\u2019s effects on athletic performance are well-documented. The World Anti-Doping Agency has banned high levels of caffeine from competition between 1984- 2004. Although it\u2019s no longer banned, caffeine consumption is still monitored by WADA (The World Anti-Doping Agency).<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caffeine_Dosage_for_Athletes\"><\/span>Caffeine Dosage for Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>When it comes to caffeine, more is not necessarily better and too much is not good. Just 2-3 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of bodyweight can be enough to improve performance, particularly for athletes who rarely consume caffeine. Athletes who habitually consume caffeine, experience positive effects with consumption of up to about 6mg\/kg. Between 6-9 mg\/kg is more likely to make you jittery, nervous, or nauseated. To put 3-6mg\/kg into real world context, a 65-kilogram athlete who regularly consumes coffee may perform well after consuming 195mg and may tolerate up to 390mg. Filter and Cafetiere coffee typically has about 7-12mg\/25ml (or 72-120mg for 250ml) and espresso has about 75-85mg.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Exactly how much caffeine improves athletic performance varies. Some studies show no improvement in maximal efforts, but most show at least some measurable impact on endurance, averaging around 3%. However, like caffeine\u2019s effects generally, this is also genetically determined. A study of cyclists riding 10k time trials found that depending on the rider\u2019s gene variation, some athletes improved their time with caffeine by as much as 6.8%, some experienced no effects, and others experienced a 13.7% decrease in performance!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There\u2019s a good chance you consume a performance-enhancing amount of caffeine every morning without even realizing it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Effects_of_Caffeine_on_the_Body\"><\/span>Effects of Caffeine on the Body<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>One of the most interesting ways caffeine improves performance is by blocking adenosine receptors. Normally, as adenosine binds to more of its receptors around the body during the day, neural activity slows and we feel tired. Hard exercise can lead adenosine to accumulate more rapidly, which may play a role in central fatigue. However, with caffeine bound to those receptors, the effect of adenosine is blunted and you stay more alert.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caffeine_metabolism_does_change_with_age\"><\/span>Caffeine metabolism does change with age<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Caffeine\u2019s impact and the pace at which the body metabolizes it are highly dependent on genetics. If having coffee in the afternoon makes it tough to get to sleep at night, your rate of caffeine metabolism may be part of the reason. You may have been able to drink coffee after dinner and get to sleep when you were in your 20s and 30s, but now in your 50s and 60s a coffee after 2pm keeps you up all night. You\u2019re not imagining it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In the long term, quality sleep will do more to improve your performance than caffeine, so go for a walk to cure the 3 o\u2019clock slump instead of grabbing a coffee. The slowing of caffeine metabolism with age also means older athletes should experiment with consuming caffeine earlier before workouts and races, like 90-120 minutes beforehand instead of 60.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Coffee_a_diuretic_for_daily_drinkers\"><\/span>Is Coffee a diuretic (for daily drinkers)?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>One of the most frequent questions I get asked about caffeinated coffee is whether it is a diuretic. The answer is that it depends on how much coffee you consume. If you drink coffee \u2013 or other caffeinated beverages \u2013 daily, then continuing to consume that level of caffeine does not increase water loss. If you don\u2019t regularly consume caffeine and consume it occasionally for the ergogenic effect, then you may experience a minor diuretic effect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caffeine_Side_Effects_and_Misconceptions\"><\/span>Caffeine Side Effects and Misconceptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Like any psychoactive substance, caffeine does some undesirable things too. According to the Mayo Clinic, over 400 mg a day can cause headaches, insomnia, upset stomach, and anxiety. Large doses can be fatal, and while this is unlikely with beverages it\u2019s possible with tablets or powdered caffeine.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Caffeine can hinder uptake of certain nutrients. Most notably for athletes, it can temporarily reduce Iron absorption by up to 90%. It also affects the body\u2019s metabolism of calcium, Vitamin D, B-vitamins, and Manganese, among others. Luckily, impacts are short-term and reduced at lower doses. Use moderation in how much caffeine you consume and take vitamins and supplements at least an hour apart from caffeine to reduce unwanted interactions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_coffee_has_more_caffeine_%E2%80%93_Light_or_Dark_Roast\"><\/span>Which coffee has more caffeine \u2013 Light or Dark Roast?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It depends.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_2145\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 512px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2145 lazyload\" style=\"width: 841px; height: auto;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/clLatT3B.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2145 lazyload\" style=\"width: 841px; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/clLatT3B.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" \/><\/noscript> A medium roast coffee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>I have read often: A dark-roasted coffee bean contains more caffeine than a light-roasted coffee bean due to its stronger flavour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>An opposing view held by many is that the darker the roast level, the lower a bean\u2019s caffeine since much of it is lost or &#8220;burned off&#8221; during roasting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>I would like to dispel both these myths. The caffeine content is virtually the same.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Caffeine changes very little during a roast. Any significant variation would require a roasting temperature above 300\u00b0 C. Since temperatures rarely exceed 240\u00b0 C, a bean\u2019s caffeine content remains relatively static across all roast levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Even though a bean\u2019s caffeine content changes little during roasting, a bean\u2019s caffeine per volume and per weight is altered considerably\u2014not because the caffeine changes but because the size and weight of the beans change. The longer a bean is held in the roaster, the darker in colour, lighter in weight, and larger in size it becomes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_does_the_caffeine_content_change\"><\/span>When does the caffeine content change?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>This happens when roasted coffee is measured for brewing or packaging. Since a bean loses weight (mainly water) during roasting, its caffeine content by weight increases while its caffeine content by volume decreases. Confused yet? Let\u2019s put this principle into practice by measuring some coffee.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>Dark-roast coffees measured by volume with a scoop contain fewer coffee beans due to their larger size, resulting in a weaker brew and less caffeine per cup than a light-roast coffee measured in the same manner. The fact is you are not getting the most from a dark-roast coffee if you measure it by volume.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li>On the other hand, dark-roasted coffees measured by weight require MORE coffee beans for brewing, because each bean weighs less than a coffee bean that has been roasted lighter, resulting in a full-flavored brew and more caffeine per cup than a light roast.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In summary \u2013 if you weigh your coffee each time you brew you&#8217;ll find that the pile of dark roast coffee will be larger since it has lost more water during roasting and expanded, against the light roast. So, it takes a higher bean count (volume) of dark roast to equal the same weight as a light roast when you\u2019re dosing to brew coffee.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finally_%E2%80%93_Be_Warned\"><\/span>Finally \u2013 Be Warned!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>TAMPA, USA \u2013 An international study led by the University of South Florida (USF) found that caffeine impacts what you buy and how much you spend when shopping. The research team ran three experiments in retail stores \u2014 an industry that\u2019s increasingly been adding coffee bars near their entrances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In their study published in the Journal of Marketing, they found that shoppers who drank a cup of complimentary caffeinated coffee prior to roaming the stores spent about 50 percent more money and bought nearly 30 percent more items than shoppers who drank decaf or water.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u00a0\u201cCaffeine, as a powerful stimulant, releases dopamine in the brain, which excites the mind and the body. This leads to a higher energetic state, which in turn enhances impulsivity and decreases self-control,\u201d said lead author Dipayan Biswas, the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at USF. \u201cAs a result, caffeine intake leads to shopping impulsivity in terms of higher number of items purchased and greater spending.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The experiments consisted of setting up an espresso machine at the entrances of a retail chain and home goods store in France and a department store in Spain. Upon entry, more than 300 shoppers were provided a complimentary cup \u2014 with about half offered coffee that contained about 100 mg of caffeine and the others decaf or water.<\/p>\r\n<p>The team found that caffeinated individuals purchased a significantly higher number of items and spent more money compared to those who had decaf or water. Researchers found that caffeine also impacted what types of items they bought. Those who drank caffeinated coffee bought more non-essential items than the other shoppers, such as scented candles and fragrances. However, there was a minimal difference between the two groups when it came to utilitarian purchases, such as kitchen utensils and storage baskets.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we discussed in the previous blog, &#8216;Coffee &amp; Cycling | A Perfect Pairing&#8217;, coffee has long been engrained in cycling culture. Many group rides start, end, or sometimes include stops at coffee shops. Coffee-related companies have sponsored some of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/coffee-and-caffeine-the-facts\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,12,17],"tags":[37,35,22],"class_list":["post-2138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-fitness","category-cycling","category-tips-and-advice","tag-caffeine","tag-coffee","tag-cycling"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Simon","author_link":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/author\/simon\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-300x200.jpg","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true],"widget-thumb":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-80x50.jpg",80,50,true],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jonathan-farber-rdvVit6pAkM-unsplash-100x100.jpg",100,100,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Simon","author_link":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/author\/simon\/"},"uagb_comment_info":96,"uagb_excerpt":"As we discussed in the previous blog, &#8216;Coffee &amp; Cycling | A Perfect Pairing&#8217;, coffee has long been engrained in cycling culture. Many group rides start, end, or sometimes include stops at coffee shops. Coffee-related companies have sponsored some of &hellip; Continued","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/health-and-fitness\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Health &amp; Fitness<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/cycling\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cycling<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/tips-and-advice\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Tips &amp; Advice<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Health &amp; Fitness<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cycling<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Tips &amp; Advice<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/tips-and-advice\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Caffeine<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/tips-and-advice\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Coffee<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/category\/tips-and-advice\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cycling<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Caffeine<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Coffee<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cycling<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on May 9, 2024","modified":"Updated on May 13, 2024"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on May 9, 2024 10:15 am","modified":"Updated on May 13, 2024 2:31 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2138"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2159,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138\/revisions\/2159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portvelo.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}