Why You Should Wait Before Drinking Your Coffee First Thing in the Morning

The best time to drink coffee might be "mid-to-late morning.

Sleep expert Dr. Deborah Lee says that drinking coffee as soon as you wake up may not be your best bet. She says that when you wake up, your cortisol level is at its peak. That’s your primary stress hormone, which enhances alertness and focus. If you drink coffee at that point, it may do more harm than good…and it’s even possible that you could become immune to caffeine. Dr. Lee says the best time to drink coffee is “mid-to-late morning,” when your cortisol levels have begun declining, and you first feel your energy slump. If you wake up at 7:00 a.m., that might be 10:00 a.m. or noon for you. But, even waiting 45 minutes after you get up is better than having it first thing.