Coffee doesn't improve your mood

Among the many miraculous legends surrounding coffee, there's one that claims it improves your mood. This isn't true. The websites of major coffee blend manufacturers are full of claims that reference this supposed virtue. A case in point is Caffè Vergnano, a very well-known and widespread brand. If you visit its website, you'll find this phrase on the home page: "Are you feeling down? Have an espresso!"

In reality among the different benefits of coffee It certainly doesn't improve mood, which could, if anything, suffer some indirect damage, especially if we drink coffee at the wrong times. It's no coincidence that doctors recommend avoiding caffeine six to twelve hours before bed, as it can worsen our sleep. And sleep (much less coffee!) is certainly a natural mood booster (when we've slept long and well, we almost always wake up with a positive mental outlook).

But how did the fake news about coffee improving your mood come about, and how it was later exploited for commercial gain? In reality, it's all linked to the effects of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system, triggering the release of dopamine, and thus increasing feelings of vitality, energy, and alertness. In the short term, right after waking up and drinking our coffee, these effects, which we might call energetic, can be associated with an improvement in mood. But this sensation is short-lived: as soon as the brain adjusts to the new dose of caffeine, the energy remains, but the potential feeling of good mood evaporates.