Many Brits rely on their morning coffee to kickstart their day – but now a psychologist has revealed how there’s more to its power than just caffeine. The British Coffee Association estimates the UK consumes 98 million cups of coffee a day, with the coffee industry creating over 210,000 jobs in Britain.
Most of those coffee-lovers will sip their first of the day as they get up, to drive away their sleep and wake themselves up. But now an expert’s revealed that first coffee’s ‘wide awake’ feeling is not just down to the beans’ caffeine but a unique psychological factor – linked to the ritual we associate with making a morning brew.
Psychologist Dr Eleanor Bryant, of the University of Bradford, tells the Daily Express: “‘Conditioned alertness’ refers to the way we unknowingly link the routine and comforting aroma of making coffee with waking up and starting the day.
“Over time, this morning habit becomes a sacred ritual that helps signal to your brain that it’s time to be alert and ready, providing a psychological boost even before the caffeine kicks in.”
This ritual is so powerful that almost a third of Brits (30 per cent) say they actively avoid making eye contact with anyone until they’ve had their caffeine fix.
Data from coffee experts at Philips, also reveals that almost half (49 per cent) of Brits avoid speaking to colleagues and a further 29 per cent avoid sending emails until they’ve had their morning coffee.
Dr Bryant continues: “Caffeine helps to make you feel awake – it blocks adenosine, the chemical that makes you feel sleepy.
“But for regular coffee drinkers, what feels like a ‘morning boost’ is actually more likely caused by the relief of caffeine withdrawal.
“Once they have their first cup, the caffeine starts working, and this, in addition to the conditioned alertness, allows them to function normally.”
The Gross Value-Added contribution from the UK coffee industry to the economy is estimated to be £9.1 billion, while output contribution, including indirect and induced multiplier impacts, of £17.7 billion in 2017.
Eighty per cent of UK households buy instant coffee for in-home consumption, particularly those aged 65 and older.
Ground coffee and single-serve coffee pods are increasingly popular, particularly among millennials (aged 16 – 34) who account for 16 per cent of all buyers.
On the high street, café culture has also continued to boom, 80 per cent of people who visit coffee shops do so at least once a week, whilst 16 per cent of us visit on a daily basis.
* To avoid disrupting morning routines, Philips coffee experts recommend the 5500 LatteGo, which makes 20 delicious hot and iced coffee drinks, from fresh beans, at the press of a button. Thanks to the sound shielding SilentBrew technology, users can enjoy their morning pick-me-up in peace.
