What happens to your body when you drink coffee?

After water, coffee is the most-consumed drink in the world. Caffeine increases your alertness and reduces tiredness. But what actually happens to your body when you drink a cup of coffee? An Australian coffee company, Map Coffee, made an infographic about it, and we’ve summed up the findings for you here.

This is what happens to you when you drink coffee

After you’ve switched on the coffee machine in the morning and that lovely coffee smell has drifted through your home, it’s time to enjoy your freshly brewed cup of coffee. After a few sips, things start to change in your physical and mental state. The effects in order:

After 10 minutes - caffeine enters your bloodstream

As soon as the caffeine enters your bloodstream, your heart rate and blood pressure go up slightly. Did you know caffeine can also make the effects of alcohol feel less noticeable between 10 and 90 minutes after drinking a cup of coffee?

After 20 minutes - your alertness rises

You start to feel more alert and your concentration improves. As a result, your problem-solving skills are better. This effect can last for up to 10 hours (!!). The alertness helps you weigh up quick decisions more carefully, and you’re less likely to forget small things. The risk of forgetting or losing your keys, for example, drops.

After 30 minutes - improved physical condition

Your body produces more serotonin, which makes your muscles work more efficiently and improves your physical performance. Your adrenaline level also rises, which means you don’t get tired as quickly and have more energy.

Up to 4 hours after your cup of coffee - more fat burning

Coffee makes you burn more fat, even when you’re doing nothing. This effect lasts for about 4 hours.

Up to 6 hours after your cup of coffee - happier mood

For about 6 hours, feelings of anxiety are reduced and your sense of contentment is increased.

Between 2 and 12 hours after your cup of coffee - effect wears off

The effects above vary from person to person, depending on age, weight, the amount of caffeine in the coffee, and how used you are to caffeine. Somewhere between 2 and 12 hours after your last cup of coffee, the effects have usually worn off or gone completely.

Between 12 and 24 hours after your cup of coffee - withdrawal

If you regularly drink caffeinated coffee, it’s possible to get withdrawal symptoms around 18 hours after your last cup. Depending on how sensitive you are to addiction, the effect can last anywhere from 2 to 9 days, or until you have another cup of coffee. Source: mapcoffee.com.au