5 ways to make the most out of drinking coffee

I LOVE coffee, but it turns out I haven't been making the most out of my beloved Cup of Jo. Apparently I could feel even MORE awake (yes please) by just giving the following a go... 1. Drink over a longer period of time If you slowly consume caffeine, your body will slowly clear it out of your system, and you won’t crash as hard. 2. Drink water alongside your morning coffee Staying hydrated allows you to stay focused. After going without water most of the night, nothing will quench your thirst like water so try drinking it alongside your coffee to help with the concentration. 3. Take a coffee nap It can take around 20 minutes for caffeine to be absorbed by the body, so if you have a chance to take a power nap (lucky you), try drinking a cup of coffee just before. After 20 minutes of sleep you'll wake up ready to conquer anything. 4. Drink small, regular doses Small, frequent doses of caffeine offer a bigger mental boost than large doses. An average cup of filtered coffee has about 100-150 mg of caffeine, so aim for one 20-200mg cup per hour. 5. Time it well Cortisol levels, which help us feel alert, are at their highest in the morning (usually 8-9am), so drinking coffee at this time is actually a waste. Steven Miller, a neuroscience Ph.D. student, recommends drinking coffee during times when our cortisol levels tend to dip - usually 9:30-11:30am and 1:30-5pm.