The alertness associated with coffee is largely an illusion, according to a new study.
Research by UK scientists suggests the sensation is merely the reversal of the fatiguing effects of caffeine withdrawal, the Brisbane Times reported.
The study found regular coffee drinkers who crave caffeine simply return to normal levels of alertness by having a coffee.
Café owners are not convinced and told the Brisbane Times the results will be controversial amongst coffee lovers.
“I’ve got a pretty good imagination, but I don’t think I’m imagining that [coffee] is giving me a kick start,” Coffee Club director John Lazarou told the newspaper.
“The amount of takeaway coffees we do in the mornings surpasses the rest of the day. That’s simply because everyone wants their morning cup of coffee.”
Campos Coffee director John Ronchi told the newspaper he was surprised by the results, labelling the findings an “interesting theory”.
“If you have a late night, whether you drink coffee or not, you still feel pretty rough in the morning.”
Nearly 400 people took part in the study, which banned them from drinking coffee overnight. Instead they were given 100mg of caffeine, followed by a 150mg doze an hour an a half later, or placebos on both occasions.
The effect of the coffee drinking on anxiety, alertness and headache or regular drinkers was evaluated, next to those who rarely or never drank coffee, the newspaper reported.
Regular drinkers who were given caffeine did not experience headaches or lowered alertness, but their levels were the same as non-drinkers who received placebo.
The study's findings were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
3 News