Coffee is not addictive when compared to other addictive drugs. Addiction is classified as when an individual seeks out the drug despite it having negative or dangerous effects on their lives and health.
Coffee addiction is more often referred to as a dependence, where withdrawal from the caffeine in coffee makes us feel irritable and triggers headaches.
For the rest of this article, we’ll continue to use the word addiction, but keep in mind that addiction and dependence are two separate things.
Is addiction the same as dependence?
Technically, no. Addiction tends to be defined as a dependence that leads them to engage in damaging or negative behavior to get more of the substance.
Coffee plays a major role in millions of people’s lives, and when they can’t get coffee they may well feel irritable or unwell. But people don’t engage in harmful behavior for the sake of a caffeine hit, so it’s not strictly classed as an addiction.
How much caffeine is in coffee?
The caffeine content of coffee depends on the brand, the type of bean, and how strong the cup of coffee is. The average caffeine content of most high street brand coffee is around 12 – 13mg of caffeine per fluid ounce.
This means an average 8-ounce cup of coffee comes in at 96 – 104mg of caffeine.
Decaf coffee has far less caffeine with an 8-ounce cup containing just 2 – 4mg.
Why is coffee addictive?
Coffee contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant in our brains. Stimulants boost a neurotransmitter called dopamine which makes us feel good.
If we regularly drink coffee, then our brains can begin to grow dependent on the buzz and make us feel ill if we don’t get a caffeine hit. Our brains are constantly fighting to keep balance, so they will grow extra receptors to counteract the effects of caffeine.
This means that we need to keep drinking coffee to keep feeling normal, and stopping can make us feel lousy until our brains re-balance.
How do you know if you’re addicted to coffee?
If you find yourself craving a coffee first thing in the morning, then it’s likely you have a low-level dependence on it. You can test this by giving up coffee for a week and seeing how you feel.
Common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include headaches, low mood, fatigue, irritability, and even anxiety. If this sounds like you – don’t worry, most caffeine dependence isn’t a serious health concern and you’ll be back to normal in a couple of weeks.
Can you get addicted to decaf coffee?
Because decaf coffee does still contain caffeine (although much less than regular coffee) then yes, you can get addicted to it if you drink it enough.
Part of the “addiction” surrounding coffee comes from the social and habitual way we drink it. When we don’t have coffee it feels like something is wrong – a feeling with both psychological and chemical causes.
Can you drink coffee every day?
You can safely drink coffee every day as long as you are staying within the recommended limits.
According to the FDA, over 80% of American adults drink coffee every day. A moderate amount of coffee to drink every day is around 300 milligrams, or 3 cups of regular strength coffee.
Is coffee bad for you?
There’s no doubt that excessive use of caffeine can cause health problems. However, the majority of coffee drinkers fall beneath the threshold of concern which is around 3 cups of coffee per day.
For people with caffeine sensitivity, even a small amount of coffee can cause short term high blood pressure, panic attacks, and insomnia. If you think you are sensitive to caffeine: it’s worth checking with your doctor about a sensible amount of coffee for you to drink.
Is it easy to quit coffee?
It’s estimated that it takes 7 – 9 days to overcome the effects of caffeine withdrawal. This depends on how much coffee you were drinking before, but even people who have just one cup per day may notice side effects of withdrawal.
Longer term challenges with quitting coffee involve finding alternatives to try instead of reaching for your morning cup o’ Joe.
Coffee addiction is an easy thing to kick once you’ve decided to do it. If you aren’t ready to quit just yet – then maybe look at reducing the amount of coffee you drink.
Does coffee have health benefits?
Whether coffee is good or bad for us is a controversial topic. In moderate amounts coffee provides us with energy and mental focus (that’s why we started drinking it in the first place), but is also packed with antioxidants, B vitamins, folate, and minerals including manganese and potassium.
In the USA, people drink more coffee than they eat fruits and vegetables. Because of this, coffee actually provides the majority of the antioxidants in the average American diet.
How many people are addicted to coffee?
Of the 68 million Americans who drink a lot of coffee, it’s estimated that 75% of them show symptoms of caffeine addiction.
Why isn’t this a public health crisis? Well, caffeine addiction is a pretty low-key addiction which doesn’t have overwhelmingly negative health consequences.
A small proportion of these coffee addicts may have a deeper level of caffeine misuse disorder, but this is relatively uncommon.
How much coffee is safe to drink?
According to a data review reported in the journal of Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, a moderate amount of coffee in adults provides between 300 – 400mg of caffeine per day. This translates to around 3 – 4 cups of coffee, which sit comfortably in the average American’s coffee habits.
The authors of this review note that caffeine consumption at this level seems to have no health consequences. However, people who are pregnant, have high blood pressure, and the elderly should limit their coffee drinking.
Which people drink the most coffee?
Globally, Finland takes the crown for the top coffee consumption. The average Finn gets through 26.5 lbs. of coffee every year, which is particularly impressive when compared to the USA’s average of just 9.7 lbs.
In terms of individual people, medical professionals and students get through more coffee than other members of society.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.