Coffee study: does the stimulant also make you more efficient?

Coffee. Hardly any other drink is more popular and commonplace. With an annual per capita consumption of 1,345 cups, Germany is one of the most coffee-loving countries in the world. Switzerland follows slightly behind with around 1070 cups. That's around three to four coffees a day.

There are correspondingly many studies on the wakeful hot drink. Most recently, its influence on the brain was analysed in an experiment. A team of researchers from the University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK) Basel and the University of Basel analysed 20 regular coffee drinkers.

The male test subjects aged between 18 and 35 were given different tablets three times for a period of ten days: one was a caffeine preparation, the other a placebo. After the ten days, the quality of sleep was analysed in the sleep laboratory. In addition, the substance of the grey matter was checked using brain scans.

Coffee impairs cognitive performance

The result: the coffee-free period had no effect on sleep.
However, after the 10-day caffeine-free period, the area of the brain that is particularly crucial for concentration and memory function increased in volume. Mental performance therefore increased in this area.

According to the co-leader of the study, however, this does not mean that caffeine has a negative influence on the brain structures. After just one and a half weeks, there was a regeneration of the so-called grey matter. "The changes in brain morphology therefore appear to be temporary," says Dr Caroline Reichert. It merely shows that daily coffee impairs cognitive potential in everyday life.

Conclusion: It's not all bad after all - as long as you drink coffee in moderation. And for many people, their morning cup is also a part of their quality of life. Editor Pia Seidel tells you just how enriching a delicious home-made coffee can be.

Editor Simon Balissat gives you tips on how to set up your fully automatic coffee machine correctly for the perfect cup. Cheers to that!