Coffee is a stimulant that is used to increase energy levels. So any drink that has the opposite effect, such as promoting relaxation and drowsiness is considered the opposite of coffee.
Lavender, Chamomile, and other herbal teas are used to calm the mind and body and reduce energy.
What is the Opposite to Caffeine?
The opposite of caffeine would be a calmative drink that is decaffeinated.
So either decaf coffee, natural fruit juices, herbal teas (only leafy varieties as some store-bought herbal teas have caffeine), or water are all considered opposites to caffeine.
However, if you wish to go further, caffeine is a stimulant and the medical opposite of a stimulant is a depressive. By this logic, alcohol is also considered the opposite of caffeine.
What is the Scientific Word for Caffeine?
Caffeine has several names within the world of science. As a compound, caffeine is known as C8H10N4O2.
The written scientific name for caffeine is trimethylxanthine, or 1,3,7- trimethylxanthine.
The chemical caffeine is also known as quarantine, methyltheobromnie, mateine, theine, and even coffeine!
Which Chemical Element is The Opposite of Coffee?
Coffee itself is not a chemical, but a plethora of several chemicals and compounds.
However, the most popular and well-known chemical in coffee is caffeine and the opposite to caffeine is a chemical called L-theanine.
L-theanine is a chemical compound found in herbal teas like Green tea. It is known to ease anxiety, alleviate stress, promote relaxation and reduce insomnia.
In some cases, caffeine and L-theanine are combined in drinks to increase focus and awareness. Those who use combined drinks reported great mental endurance as the synergizing effects of both chemical compounds harmonize within the body and brain.
Is Tea The Opposite of Coffee?
In some cultures, white, black, and brown tea is drunk to promote relaxation, so it may feel like it is opposite to coffee but scientifically speaking, tea is related to coffee rather than its opposite.
Tea contains caffeine, albeit in smaller amounts. That is why many consider tea to be the healthier option than coffee, and many coffee addicts switch to tea when they are trying to kick the habit.
Tea is structurally different from coffee but the caffeine compounds remain the same. The feeling you get from having a cup of tea differs from the feeling you get when you have a cup of coffee because of the other active compounds in each drink.
What is the Synonym for Coffee?
Popular synonyms for the word ‘coffee’ found in English-speaking cultures are:
- Joe
- Mud
- Espresso
- Ink
- Decoction
- Demitasse
- Cappuccino
- Brew
Here are some words for coffee in other languages:
- Spanish: Café
- German: Kaffee
- Arabic: قهوة (qahwa)
- Korean: 커피 (Keopi)
- Portuguese: Café
- Italian: Caffè
- Chinese: 咖啡 (Kāfēi)
- Russian: Кофе (Kofe)
- Japanese: コーヒー (Kōhī)
- French: Café
How Can I Counteract the Effects of Coffee?
If you have had too much coffee and are experiencing some negative side effects there are a number of things you can do to curb the effect of the caffeine stimulant.
Drink Water
Water is your first line of defense against the negative effects of coffee. Despite being made with water, coffee can dehydrate the body, making your symptoms worse.
Drink plenty of water to rehydrate, the additional water will help to flush out your system and begin to detox.
Breathe
Excessive coffee intake can increase your heart rate. You can take back control by sitting back and breathing deeply for a few moments.
Deep breathing promotes relaxation. It is a physical queue for your body to calm down and helps to return your heart rate back to normal.
Psychologically, deep and slow breathing can help you to overcome any impending feelings of anxiety caused by the coffee.
Go For A Walk
Going outside and getting some fresh air and exercise is a great way to burn off all that extra energy from the coffee.
Walking has numerous health benefits other than just getting the coffee out of your system. 20 minutes of walking promotes relaxation, eases tension in the muscles, and burns a few calories too!
Eat Fiber
Fibrous foods such as veggies and wheat can help to soak up the extra coffee and absorb the caffeine instead of all of it going through your system.
Do Some People Experience The Opposite Affect of Caffeine?
Yes, some people actually experience drowsiness after they have coffee, and there are a number of reasons why this could be.
Coffee Addiction
If you drink more than the recommended amount of coffee per day and do so regularly. You have had a coffee addiction.
Over time, the body adapts to the caffeine and the drinker no longer feels the high of an energy rush – but you may still feel the coffee crash that makes you feel sluggish and lethargic.
Over Sensitivity To Caffeine
Caffeine blocks adenosine, the chemical in the brain that relaxes the blood vessels and regulates the heartbeat. This is why caffeine gives you an energy rush and can increase your heart rate.
As caffeine leaves the body of most coffee drinkers gradually, some people experience a sudden rush of adenosine once the caffeine is gone. This will leave you feeling tired and sleepy.
What is Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is coffee with the caffeine removed. The caffeine is removed directly from the coffee bean during processing.
Decaf coffee is a popular choice for people who like the taste and smell of coffee but do not want the effects of caffeine.
Decaf caffeine is a great way to introduce children to coffee without the negative effects or to accompany a dessert at a late-night dinner party.
Also, people who are caffeine sensitive, experience insomnia, heart palpitations or anxiety can happily drink decaf coffee without the health risks.
Is Decaf Coffee Opposite to Regular Coffee?
Yes and no. While drinkers of decaf won’t experience an energetic rush after their coffee, decaf is not considered a calmative drink either.
Calmative drinks like chamomile and lemon water are caffeine-free and promote relaxation – the opposite effect of the caffeine found in coffee.
Whereas decaf is just coffee that is void of caffeine and leaves the drinker with no effect at all.
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.