For some, coffee is almost as important as a shower in the morning, but new research shows many are going far beyond a daily cuppa.
A new report issued by Simba, a sleep-tech firm, has revealed Londoners are reaching for the drink more than ever before, totalling a jaw-dropping average of 767 cups per person consumed each year.
Before you crawl into a ball and have an existential crisis, don’t.
It may sound like a daunting figure, but the truth is, unless you’re part of the 17% drinking four cups a day or 5% drinking six cups a day, for most of us, it equates to a seemingly reasonable 2.1 cups per day.
However, just because your caffeine habit is within safe limits, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth looking at your intake.
How much is 767 cups of coffee?
- At 240ml each, 767 cups of coffee comes in at 184,080 litres – enough to fill a standard-sized swimming pool and have some leftover.
- Each cup contains an average of 100mg of caffeine, that’s 76,700mg of caffeine per year.
- It takes an average of 21 minutes to drink a cup of coffee, so by the time you’ve had 767, you’ve spent 268.45 hours drinking the beverage each year.
- And finally – because we’re sure you’re dying to know – the average cafe flat white costs £3.20, and just over two of those a day for a year equates to an annual £2,454.40 spent.
According to Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, there’s nothing major to worry about if your consumption is near the average, as ‘around three to four cups a day is considered safe and even potentially beneficial, according to current health guidelines’.
She tells : ‘This amount typically provides approximately 300-400 milligrams of caffeine, which is well within safe limits for most adults. However, individual tolerance to caffeine can vary, so some may find they feel best with less.’
Dr Wylie also advised the best time of day to consume coffee: ‘usually in the morning, shortly after waking’.
This is because it can help boost alertness and reduce the drowsiness you may feel in the early hours of the day. Mid-morning to early afternoon is also a good time to down your first or second, while the late afternoon is a danger zone of sorts.
‘Caffeine has a half-life of around five to six hours, meaning it can stay in your system long enough to disrupt sleep if consumed too late in the day,’ Dr Wylie explains.
Best UK cities for coffee lovers
While Londoners love coffee, the capital hasn’t claimed the title of being the best spot in the UK for a good coffee.
According to Coffeeness, the number one spot has gone to someone else. Based on Yelp reviews, the outlet found that the best UK city for coffee lovers is a three-hour train ride away in Salford, while the worst is Oxford.
Here’s the full list of the best coffee spots in the UK:
- Salford
- London
- Preston
- Bath
- Brighton & Hove
- Liverpool
- Durham
- Peterborough
- Wells
- Leicester
- Chelmsford
- Truro
- Lincoln
- Newry
- St Albans
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Lancaster
- Gloucester
- Oxford
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Unfortunately, coffee lovers may experience some downsides, including ‘jitteriness, anxiety, and an increased heart rate’, especially if they consume a lot. It can also be hard to go cold turkey.
‘Over time, too much caffeine can contribute to chronic sleep issues and may lead to dependency, with withdrawal symptoms like headaches and fatigue when intake is reduced,’ says Dr Wylie.
If you’re sitting there thinking you’ll be bereft without your gallons of coffee, you do have some options, like swapping coffee for green or black tea.
With less caffeine than coffee, tea is better for you as it’s rich in antioxidants. It also offers a gentle buzz and is easier on your stomach.
Matcha is another a popular alternative thanks to its added benefits of ‘L-theanine, which promotes calmness while still supporting alertness, offering a balanced energy lift,’ Dr Wylie says.
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