Start your day in a better mood - Thanks to coffee

Why coffee makes mornings happier

That first cup of coffee in the morning doesn’t just give you energy - it also lifts your mood. This was revealed in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, conducted by researchers from Bielefeld and Warwick Universities.

They found that regular coffee drinkers often feel noticeably better after their morning caffeine boost. Their mood improves, and motivation increases. Without coffee, starting the day feels a lot tougher. The effect is strongest in the morning and tends to weaken as the day goes on.

How the study worked

236 young adults who regularly consumed coffee took part in the study. Over the course of up to four weeks, they answered brief questions on their phones seven times a day - reporting their current mood and whether they had consumed caffeine in the past 90 minutes.

The results showed a clear link between caffeine intake and improved mood - especially in the morning.

What happens in the brain

Caffeine blocks something called adenosine receptors, which normally make us feel tired. When these receptors are blocked, dopamine activity increases - dopamine being the so-called “feel-good” hormone. This makes us feel more awake and often better in mood, too.

Coffee, habits, and side effects

But is it genuine mood improvement - or just relief from caffeine withdrawal? Even moderate coffee consumption can lead the body to get used to caffeine. Regular drinkers may experience mild withdrawal symptoms overnight that disappear with the first cup in the morning. Caffeine can be addictive. That’s why the researchers recommend enjoying it mindfully, even though its effects are mostly positive.

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