When your coffee betrays you: Exploring the sleepiness conundrum

Do you often feel a drop in energy, and does drinking your favourite espresso only worsen it? Check out where the sleepiness after coffee comes from.

We usually drink coffee in the morning and afternoon to get a little boost. It's well-known that, by design, it decreases sleepiness and helps with concentration. So, what could be better than coffee during a tough exam session or another day of overtime? However, sometimes, drinking a cup of coffee can have the opposite effect.

What does it mean when coffee makes you sleepy instead of giving you energy? Is it possible to not tolerate coffee? Did you know that your body's reaction to coffee is related to your body mass? Find out why you might feel bad after coffee.

Many people can't imagine starting their day without a mug of hot coffee. It's normal for them to feel only energized after drinking it. But what if the vital energy doesn't come, and all you dream about is returning to bed? You might be mistaken if you think it's a sign of drinking too weak coffee. It’s something entirely different.

You can't deny coffee's favourable properties. It's a source of B vitamins, so it improves concentration and influences creative thinking. It's even said that coffee improves mood, which decreases the risk of depression.

The caffeine contained in coffee is a psychoactive substance. It stimulates the nervous system and binds with adenosine, which helps control the sleep-wake cycle. It temporarily blocks its receptors inducing sleepiness. However, this doesn’t mean it completely stops the production of adenosine. For this reason, the stimulation after drinking coffee might only last a short while, and fatigue can return with double the force.

When the body's caffeine level decreases, adenosine acts with increased activity, and the brain starts working at a slower pace. That's why you might feel sleepy and tired. Caffeine also increases the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. In this case, the effect is analogous. Interestingly, the higher the body mass, the higher the cortisol concentration in the blood. Therefore, people with extra kilos are more susceptible to sleepiness after coffee.

The reason could also lie in how you tolerate sugar (it is assimilated faster than caffeine). Coffee with milk and sugar triggers a significant release of insulin. Those with metabolic issues will feel stimulated only while drinking coffee, but soon after, they will be exhausted, lethargic, and entirely out of energy. Headaches are also a normal body reaction in this case.

Change your habits if you feel sleepy after coffee but can't give up the aromatic espresso. Do not exceed the recommended serving size per day - 2 cups. Also, say goodbye to additives like sugar, milk, or flavoured syrups.