The most effective times of the day to drink coffee, as revealed by science

If you ever find yourself still yawning after your morning cup of coffee, chances are you’re doing it wrong.

The clever folks at ASAP Science reckon that right after you’ve shuffled into the kitchen like a morning zombie isn’t actually the best time to load up on caffeine.

Our internal body clocks control the release of cortisol (the stress hormone) throughout the day, and it’s directly related to alertness levels. The amount of cortisol in our system peaks between 8a and 9am, which means your body is trying to wake you up anyway.

Scientists have found that drinking coffee during this hour lessens caffeine's effect and builds up tolerance, so when you are fixing for your next coffee it’s going to take more to keep you feeling awake.

Other hours to avoid are 12noon to 1pm and 5.30pm to 6.30pm - basically, when you are probably eating.

Our body clocks are regulated more by sunlight and darkness than sleeping patterns, but even then, there tends to be a rise in cortisol levels immediately after you wake up - so even if you are getting up at the crack of dawn it’s still best to wait a little while before your first caffeine hit.

Check out the video below for more:

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