STUDY REVEALS HUGE DISPARITY IN AMOUNT OF CAFFEINE

Do you know how much caffeine you are consuming in your coffee daily? 

Chances are you do not.

A study by the consumer group Which? has revealed the extraordinary disparity in the amount of caffeine delivered by high street coffee chains. It said many of us could be consuming significantly more, or less, caffeine than we thought.

According to surveys, most people don't know how much caffeine is in their coffee and that it can deviate wildly from shop to shop.

A cappuccino from Costa Coffee provided 325 mg of caffeine, whereas the Starbucks capp had just 66 mg. Pret a Manger's offering contained 180mg—for reference, a 250ml can of Red Bull has about 80 mg. The US Food and Drug Administration puts the safe daily amount for healthy adults to consume at 400mg.

At Costa Coffee the caffeine content of its drinks are displayed in-store and on their website, pointing out that "all Costa coffees can be enjoyed with decaf coffee and we offer a wide range of non-caffeinated drinks."

"I think coffee is still functionally about caffeine and I feel like for the world's most popular psychoactive drug, most people have no idea how much they're taking," World Barista Champion and coffee expert James Hoffmann told the Guardian. "I'm not sure that's a good thing for any sort of supplement that you might want to use." Hoffmann himself conducted caffeine experiments and analysis on his Youtube channel. 

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that is commonly found in coffee and is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances in the world. Knowing the caffeine content in coffee can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of the benefits of being aware of the caffeine content in your coffee.

1. Better control over caffeine intake: Knowing the caffeine content in coffee allows you to control your caffeine intake more effectively. This can be especially important for people who are sensitive to caffeine or who have health conditions that limit their ability to consume caffeine.

2. Improved sleep quality: Caffeine can have a significant impact on sleep quality, with higher doses of caffeine making it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. By knowing the caffeine content in your coffee, you can make informed decisions about when to consume coffee and when to avoid it to help ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

3. Better hydration: Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it can cause dehydration if consumed in large quantities. By knowing the caffeine content in your coffee, you can make sure to drink enough water to counteract its dehydrating effects.

4. Better health: Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to a number of health problems, including anxiety, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure. By knowing the caffeine content in your coffee, you can make sure to limit your caffeine intake to a safe and healthy level.

In conclusion, knowing the caffeine content in coffee is important for many reasons, including better control over caffeine intake, improved sleep quality, better hydration, and better health. Whether you are a coffee drinker or simply looking to limit your caffeine intake, being aware of the caffeine content in your coffee is a valuable tool.