--- title: Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing description: Science says that consistent caffeine comes with some real perks canonical: https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-15T13:00:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:06:13.336Z article:section: Health og:title: Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing og:description: Science says that consistent caffeine comes with some real perks og:url: https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7fb192bc1962fe50/69877a090b72e31faf6dd235/coffee1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Coffee og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing twitter:description: Science says that consistent caffeine comes with some real perks twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7fb192bc1962fe50/69877a090b72e31faf6dd235/coffee1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing ## Video: Starbuck Announces Home And Office Coffee Delivery [Watch (HLS stream): Starbuck Announces Home And Office Coffee Delivery](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/mly7ta9j.m3u8) (1:21)  _Published 2014-10-31. Starbucks announced Thursday it's planning a new online and mobile service that will deliver — yes, deliver — coffee, drinks and snacks of your desire right to your home or office in select locations._ by [Health.com](/author/health-com/) ## Health.com Jan 15, 2015 1:00 PM CUT  Latte LatteGetty Images by [Health.com](/author/health-com/) ## Health.com Jan 15, 2015 1:00 PM CUT Ever had a time when you really _needed_ a cup of [coffee](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20478472,00.html "undefined")? Some days, the urge can be so strong that everything seems off until you have a hot cup of Joe in your hands. Well, you’re not alone. Even pro athletes like Serena Williams find it hard to fight the siren call of [caffeine](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20313656,00.html "undefined"). The tennis star made her love for coffee known during a recent match at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Western Australia. **HEALTH.COM:** [12 Surprising Sources of Caffeine](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20313656,00.html?xid=time-caffeine-011315 "undefined") Despite being the World No. 1 in women’s singles, Williams wasn’t doing too hot in her match representing the U.S. She dropped the first set 0-6 to Italy’s Flavia Pennetta. Williams asked an official if she could [order an espresso](http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/01/05/serena-williams-espresso-order-hopman-cup "undefined") during the break between sets, SI.com reports. The request seemed silly, even to the pro herself, but the quick pick-me-up turned out to be a major game-changer. Williams went on to dominate the next two sets 6-3 and 6-0, winning the match for the U.S. The athlete blamed a combination of jet lag and missing out on a cup of coffee as the [reason for her slow start](http://hopmancup.com/news/2015/01/05/serena-perks-up "undefined"). According to HopmanCup.com, Williams told reporters, “I am a [coffee drinker](http://hopmancup.com/news/2015/01/05/serena-perks-up "undefined"). I didn’t have mine this morning and I was just feeling it, so I just had to get some coffee into me.” **HEALTH.COM:** [The Best Foods to Eat for Breakfast](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20676415,00.html?xid=time-caffeine-011315 "undefined") Props to Williams for pulling off a win, but it does make you wonder just how much people really need their coffee. “Caffeine withdrawal isn’t necessarily about addiction—it’s really more about your body adapting to having caffeine in your system, then reacting when the substance isn’t there,” says _Health_‘s contributing nutrition editor Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD. So if you’ve been a life-long coffee drinker, skipping your regular cup could bring on symptoms like headaches, fatigue, decreased alertness, and mood changes, she says. “It’s more likely to happen if you \[regularly\] consume 500 milligrams of caffeine or more,” Sass says. “But it can happen with less if caffeine has been a daily habit.” Keep in mind 8 ounces of brewed coffee can have [up to 200 milligrams](http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372 "undefined") of caffeine, Sass adds, while 1 ounce of Williams’ drink, the espresso, is on the lighter side with up to 75 milligrams. ### See the 10 Healthiest Cities to Live in America  Honolulu, Hawaii Best Place for Lifelong Health The heavenly climate helps, but the key to well-being here also includes enviable health care and a rich cultural tradition of looking out for one another. Colin Anderson—Blend Images/Corbis  San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Best Place for Eating Right. The "farm to table" movement began here. The region's bounty of produce and year-round growing season make eating healthy—and local—a natural. Getty Images  Burlington, Vt. Best Place for Raising Healthy Kids This New England city offers great schools, excellent pediatric care, loads of culture and limitless options for healthy outdoor fun all year long. Matt Hogan/www.mphoganphoto.com  Silicon Valley, Calif. Best Place for Workplace Wellness With treadmill desks, meetings on bikes, time off for creativity, and gobs of organic food, tech titans are reinventing how to stay healthy on the job. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Best Place for Aging Well Yes, it can be cold. But with a plethora of stimulating activities and a robust web of support, the Twin Cities prove that growing old doesn't mean slowing down. Getty Images  Denver and Boulder, Colo. Best Place for Keeping Fit The urge to get outside and get moving is contagious in these Rocky Mountain cities, where physical challenge is built into the landscape. Celin Serbo—Aurora Photos/Corbis  Plano, Texas Best Place for Staying Safe Once a rural outpost, this booming, diverse city has kept its small-town vibe, thanks in part to a police force and community that knows how to work together. Misty Keasler—Redux for TIME  Portland, Ore. Best Place for a Healthy Environment Small, walkable neighborhoods, 300 miles of bike paths, and urban policies that foster active living and sustainability make for one clean, green city. Getty Images  Boston, Mass. Best Place for Health Care This history-rich city is home to some of the nation's most advanced medical institutions and policies that help ensure that quality care is available to all. K.C. Cohen—Courtesy of Boston Children's Hospital  Provo and Orem, Utah Best Place for Spiritual Well-Being A stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop and a tight-knit population that lives its faith contribute not only to this region's serenity but also to lower rates of disease. Getty Images **HEALTH.COM:** [How to Burn Calories at Breakfast](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20406798,00.html?xid=time-caffeine-011315 "undefined") That said, there are upsides to making coffee part of your routine, especially for athletes like Williams. “Caffeine may help boost athletic performance by increasing muscle strength and physical endurance while decreasing feelings of fatigue,” says Marisa Moore, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Having [caffeine during activity](http://news.health.com/2014/06/19/5-reasons-to-drink-coffee-before-your-workout/ "undefined") may give that second wind.” Before big athletic events, it’s important to stick to what’s worked during your training routine, Moore says. If that means having a cup of coffee, then by all means do it. **HEALTH.COM:** [Best Superfoods for Weight Loss](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20475957,00.html?xid=time-caffeine-011315 "undefined") Just enjoy caffeine in moderation—Sass says the recommendation for [enhancing athletic performance](http://news.health.com/2014/06/19/5-reasons-to-drink-coffee-before-your-workout/ "undefined") is up to 6 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, which is about 400 milligrams per day for a 150-pound woman. And don’t use the beverage as a quick fix for fatigue when other issues like stress or diet are to blame. “The real keys are listening to your body, and being honest with yourself about why you’re reaching for a cup of coffee (or two),” she says. [_This article originally appeared on Health.com._](http://news.health.com/2015/01/08/yes-caffeine-withdrawal-is-a-real-thing/?xid=time-caffeine-011315 "undefined") _Read next:_ [_The Science Behind Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee_](http://time.com/3664493/make-perfect-coffee/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/"},"headline":"Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing","datePublished":"2015-01-15T13:00:12.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:06:13.336Z","description":"Science says that caffeine comes with some real perks","url":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/","keywords":["Diet & Nutrition","Food & Drink","Caffeine","Coffee"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7fb192bc1962fe50/69877a090b72e31faf6dd235/coffee1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Health.com","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/health-com/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7fb192bc1962fe50/69877a090b72e31faf6dd235/coffee1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Coffee","caption":"Coffee","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/dietnutrition/","name":"Diet & Nutrition"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/","name":"Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Starbuck Announces Home And Office Coffee Delivery","description":"Starbucks announced Thursday it's planning a new online and mobile service that will deliver — yes, deliver — coffee, drinks and snacks of your desire right to your home or office in select locations.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/mly7ta9j/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-10-31T15:24:20.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/mly7ta9j.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/","duration":"PT1M21S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```