Did you know that coffee was once called a devilish drink and was banned in many places? It surely has come a long way since and is now widely consumed. But now we have a different challenge. People think that drinking coffee will make you a genius of sorts. Is it true? Can you become smarter by becoming a coffee drinker? Let’s find out.
Can coffee make you a genius? Drinking coffee will not make you a genius. Being a psychostimulant, coffee can boost your energy levels so that you can focus on tasks at hand better. This caffeine boost is temporary and will fade away over time. You can use coffee to get through hard times or even to improve your cognitive abilities for a short period.
Does Coffee Make You More Intelligent?
This is another common question we hear all the time. Does caffeine affect intelligence? Does coffee make you think better?
Coffee does not make you more intelligent. There is a misconception that caffeine can help you learn better and improves your memory. Though the short-term effects might be true to some extent, you do not get any long-term benefits. Coffee does not make you smarter in any way.
Caffeine consumption will make you more alert, reduce sleepiness, and can help you focus on the thing at hand momentarily. Though this isn’t the genius way, ordering a cup of coffee at your local coffee shop can help you get through a hard day of work.
This is not to say that coffee doesn’t have any benefits. Coffee comes with a ton of health benefits, but it won’t make you a smarter man or woman.
Is Coffee Good For Your Brain?
How does caffeine intake affect your brain? Is it good or bad? Let’s find out.
When you consume the right amount of coffee, your brain will benefit from it. Regular coffee consumption can keep your brain sharp, vigilant, and more attentive. A cup of coffee can lift your mood and make your general mental abilities better. With long-term use, coffee can help even against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
During the day, Adenosine builds up in the brain. This is a neurotransmitter that helps you to fall asleep. When you drink coffee, caffeine replaces adenosine in certain receptors and reduces your chances of falling asleep. It improves your alertness and promotes a quick rush of energy.
Another way your brain gets benefited from coffee is through its memory. Short-term, your memory is improved and you will do well when it comes to memory tasks and even learning. This effect, however, will wear off over time.
When we talk about coffee, the main driver of all these benefits is caffeine. If you choose to have decaf coffee over the regular one, then these benefits will not apply.
You can also improve the taste of your coffee in several ways. Adding a little bit of sugar won’t hurt. You can even try cinnamon or even some ice cream to add some fun. The overall taste will depend on the coffee beans or the coffee grounds you use.
Studies That Link Coffee and Performance
So is coffee and smartness a theory or has anyone done any studies that can vouch for this idea?
In this section, we discuss a few studies that link coffee and improvement in performance.
In this study, we explore whether coffee can improve cognitive performance. It is found that coffee can help in improving short-term memory and learning but that will not be anything substantial.
Here is another study that tries to relate caffeine and the brain. But this time, you don’t get a positive spin. The study concludes that regular drinking of coffee over a few weeks can deter the development of nervous tissue in the hippocampus.
We are sure there are more studies that talk about coffee and its effects on the brain and its functions.
The trick is to keep your coffee drinking in moderation and reap its benefits long term.
Do Mathematicians & Scientists Drink Coffee?
Both mathematicians and scientists drink a lot of coffee. Though we can’t say for sure that all of them drink coffee, a good share of professionals like mathematicians, scientists, lab technicians, physicians, professors, writers, editors, and other professionals drink a good amount of coffee every day.
If you’re still not convinced, here are some genius coffee drinkers who have done very well.
- Johann Sebastian Bach (composer)
- Ludwig Van Beethoven (composer)
- Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father of the United States)
- Teddy Roosevelt (26th US President)
- Elizabeth Taylor (Actress)
- Frank Baum (Writer)
Wait, these are all old folks. Can’t you give us some recent examples?
We got you.
Here’re some people you might know better.
- Ariana Grande (Singer)
- Selena Gomez (Singer)
- Hugh Jackman (Actor)
- Jackie Chan (Actor)
- Jerry Seinfeld (Comedian)
- Elon Musk (No Introduction needed)
- David Letterman (Talkshow Host, a famous one)
- David Lynch (Filmmaker)
- Heidi Klum (Model and TV Host)
These people are, we are sure, just a small fraction of coffee lovers who have made their obsession public.
Negative Effects Of Drinking Coffee
While coffee comes with a lot of benefits, coffee can also be a problem when done wrong.
How can it affect your brain in an adverse way?
Drinking too much coffee can be bad. You can take up to 400mg of caffeine in one day. When you exceed that limit, you could get a serious case of anxiety, jitters, and excess stress.
Coffee is also known to increase your blood pressure. So it is important to keep your coffee consumption in moderation. Drink too much and you may have to pay a price.
Closing Thoughts
Coffee is great. It gives you ample energy to deal with your stuff and just makes your day a lot better.
But to say that coffee makes you smarter is just not true. Using a french press to add some ground coffee so that you can make a cup of delicious coffee will not make you smarter but will put a big smile on your face.
You can also make a cold brew or simply take a shot of espresso with some milk or ice cream to reap the benefits of coffee. But do keep in mind that it will not make you a genius.