---
title: Coffee: Drinking in the Morning is not the Best Time
description: Is coffee no longer giving you an energy boost in the morning? Here's why
canonical: https://time.com/3903826/coffee-early-morning-worst-time/
author: TIME
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2015-06-01T18:32:07.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:11.799Z
article:section: Health
og:title: Coffee: Drinking in the Morning is not the Best Time
og:description: Is coffee no longer giving you an energy boost in the morning? Here's why
og:url: https://time.com/3903826/coffee-early-morning-worst-time/
og:site_name: TIME
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og:image:width: 2560
og:image:height: 1440
og:image:alt: Coffee Cup
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Coffee: Drinking in the Morning is not the Best Time
twitter:description: Is coffee no longer giving you an energy boost in the morning? Here's why
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec71d2bb14a145d9/6987ee2acd6848854409dd8b/coffee.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
---
# Early Morning is Actually the Worst Time to Drink Coffee
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> Last updated: September 2026.
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## Video: Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy?
[Watch (HLS stream): Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9wKhafLS.m3u8) (2:10)
_Published 2015-06-01. Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy?_
by
[Kia Kokalitcheva/Fortune](https://time.com/author/fortune/)
## Kia Kokalitcheva/Fortune
Fortune
Jun 1, 2015 6:32 PM UTC
Isolated shot of a cup of coffee on white background
Isolated shot of a cup of coffee on white background Getty Images
by
[Kia Kokalitcheva/Fortune](https://time.com/author/fortune/)
## Kia Kokalitcheva/Fortune
Fortune
Jun 1, 2015 6:32 PM UTC
Every so often, science disproves the thinking behind a deeply embedded habit we have. The latest: drinking coffee in the morning.
It turns out, the morning is actually one of the worst times of the day to drink coffee, according to YouTube science channel [ASAP Science](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mgmayMSESI). The reason? The high levels of cortisol in our bodies early in the morning.
You see, consuming caffeine when cortisol levels are high creates two problems. One is that caffeine interferes with the body’s production of cortisol, a hormone that’s released in response to stress and low blood glucose. The body ends up producing less cortisol, and relying more on caffeine to compensate.
The other effect of drinking coffee in the morning is well-known to habitual morning drinkers: It increases the person’s tolerance to caffeine because it replaces the natural cortisol-induced boost instead of adding to it.
Bear in mind that cortisol levels are high at three times of the day, not just early in the morning, according to a [2009 study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19223520). So the best times to drink coffee — or caffeine in general — is between 10 a.m. and noon, and between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Early morning coffee drinkers should consider adjusting their schedule to better optimize their caffeine intake. As pleasant as a cup o’ joe may be first thing in the morning, turns out it’s quite ineffective.
_Read next:_ [_5 Things You Need to Know About Coffee the Wonder-Beverage_](http://time.com/3860685/research-science-psychology-coffee/?iid=time%5Freadnext)
[_Download TIME’s mobile app for iOS to have your world explained wherever you go_](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-mobile/id328218429)
### QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?
Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet? Getty Images (4)
Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat. Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter? Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Butter Serving size for spray butters (even low-calorie ones) are around a 1/3 second spray. What on earth does that mean? You're better off using a small amount of real butter as opposed to guessing how much you're using of the mystery melange of up to 20 ingredients. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A turkey burger or a sirloin burger? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Sirloin burger Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you (and for the record, they aren't low-fat). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Almonds or pretzels? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Almonds Almonds are high in protein, fiber and fat and will keep you feeling fuller longer. Give high-sodium pretzels about an hour and you'll feel hungry again thanks to the high-carb no-fat or protein content. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Special K or eggs? AP; Getty Images
Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt. Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead. Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein. Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
## Transcript
[00:00] [ MUSIC ] You're watching Everwell. Know more. Live
[00:01] better. [ MUSIC ] Yeah, I really enjoy
[00:20] Coffee and it's kind of, I kind of crave it every day. But
[00:24] I'm just a little bit concerned about those health risks
[00:26] that come along with it. Well I heard on the news that
[00:29] too much coffee is unhealthy. But then another news
[00:32] report said that it might actually have health benefits
[00:35] so I don't really know what to think.
[00:39] There's certainly lots of confusion over coffee. For
[00:42] years there have been warnings that it may lead to a
[00:44] host of health problems ranging from dehydration to
[00:47] cancer. But it turns out those fears, by and large, are
[00:50] groundless. It's true that caffeine in coffee can
[00:54] raise your heart rate and increase blood pressure
[00:57] temporarily. But studies show coffee doesn not
[00:59] increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. In fact, it's
[01:03] been associated with a slightly lower risk. Ditto for type
[01:07] two diabetes and Parkinson's disease. According to
[01:10] studies, coffee drinkers are less likely to develop both
[01:14] compared to non drinkers. The research on cancer is
[01:17] reassuring as well. Coffee does not increase the risk.
[01:20] And is actually linked to lower odds of liver cancer.
[01:25] Overall, research shows java drinkers live just as long
[01:28] as those who have abstained and maybe even longer.
[01:32] One possible reason for coffees apparent benefit, is
[01:35] that it's rich in anti oxidizes. But that does not make it
[01:38] a health drink. Higher amounts of coffee can cause
[01:41] jitters and stomach upset. And more than a cup or two
[01:43] a day has been linked to miscarriages in some
[01:46] research. Bottom
[01:50] line, coffee in moderation, up to a few cups a day, is
[01:53] likely fine for most people. But be careful about those
[01:56] fancy coffees with all the extra ingredients, which can
[01:59] add lots of extra calories. After all, you want that cup
[02:02] of Joe to perk you up. And I weigh you down. Helping
[02:06] you be a healthy skeptic, I'm Robert Davis.
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