How Does Coffee Consumption Affect Job Performance?

Circle the correct answer:

1. Coffee consumption has no effect on job performance, it’s a myth.

2. Coffee consumption increases anxiety and exacerbates emotionality.

3. Coffee consumption stimulates alertness and helps workers to focus and to think faster.

4. Coffee consumption helps workers to make more adequate decisions.

The correct answer is #3.

It should be noted that in the current state of research, there is no clear consensus on this issue, with response #3 being commonly slightly favored (Ulrich et al., 2014).

Food for thought

Let’s be clear: we are not promoting coffee consumption or abstinence, we are only mentioning a few facts from research, regarding a beverage that was put forward by Louis XIV, and although some have accused it of various evils, to the point of driving people crazy, coffee has become parts of the rituals of social and corporate life.

Caffeine (C8H10N4O2), maybe the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance, is an alkaloid that stimulates brain activity, promotes good mood and optimizes the effect of painkillers, if consumed in a “moderate” way, i.e. less than 300–400 mg/day for an adult (maximum four espressos or cans of energy drink per day).

According to a recent study (Physiology & Behavior, 2017) conducted among adults suffering from…