How much coffee is to much?

[gail2]

it came up at my meeting yrsterday that they think i drink to muh coffee i have 3 cups a day and the p-doc said it was to much Is he right?

 

[Felinia]

Probably 90% of people have more! I found several articles online, and this quote in one of them "the optimum quantity is ... three-five cups a day, either caffeinated or decaf depending on someone’s individual caffeine tolerance". I have a couple first thing, and then sometimes more during the day. But my usual daytime drink is peppermint tea, or just plain water.

 

[Lucyr]

Switch to decaf if it concerns you? Perhaps it interacts with some of your medications?

 

[helli]

As someone who doesn't like the smell of coffee, I feel as if I am missing out on something. It is such an ingrained part of our culture (there are so many memes about needing a coffee to start the day).
This article from The Times came up on my feed today. Apparently, I am also missing out on benefits to the one or two cups I don't have but also missing out on the 3 or 4 cups increasing my risk of a stroke.
It's an interesting read. Not one that can help with my coffee intolerance but maybe a useful insight into how many cups is too many for those without my dietary fussiness.

 

[Leadinglights]

I have 4 cups coffee and 2 cups tea plus 2 glasses sparkling flavoured water.

 

[grovesy]

I have at least twice as many as that.

 

[Alan44]

The NHS recommends no more than 4 cups per day, but I guess other reports will say different ?

 

[SB2015]

I definitely drink more than that. I do remember at one appointment they suggested that the cuppa I was drinking there was likely to be my last. Fortunately that was not necessary, but I am aware that I probably drink more than is helpful for me.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

That doesn’t sound like a lot. But then it depends on how caffeine impacts your life. If it causes you anxiety then it’s not good. If it interferes with your sleep then it’s not good. I gave up caffeine for a while because I wasn’t sleeping well. I can now have a couple of full caffeine coffees and it’s fine. My adhd teenager say coffee makes him feel sleepy so he doesn’t like to drink it. So it all depends on personal tolerance and what the context was of introducing coffee into the conversation.

 

[Inka]

It depends what kind of coffee you have. If you have a cheapo instant powder one, then the caffeine will be significantly less than percolated coffee.

Google is your friend:

How much caffeine should I drink?

Get the facts about caffeine – Registered Nutritionist Jo Lewin explains the side effects, health benefits and guidelines, plus get tips for cutting down your intake

www.bbcgoodfood.com

What are the daily caffeine guidelines?​

The following guidelines suggest the maximum amounts of caffeine that may be safely consumed each day and how much caffeine you might expect to find in different beverages.

• Moderate daily caffeine intake at a dose level up to 400mg/day (for a 65kg person)
• Women who are pregnant should consume no more than 200mg/day (for a 65kg person)
• Children should consume no more than 45mg-100mg/day (depending on their age)

How much caffeine am I consuming*?​

• Brewed coffee 1 mug (200ml) – 100mg caffeine
• Instant coffee 1 mug (200ml) – 60mg caffeine
• Tea 1 mug (200ml) – 45mg caffeine
• Green tea 1 mug (200ml) – 30-40mg caffeine
• Can of cola (330ml) – 35mg caffeine
• Can of energy drink (250ml) – 80mg caffeine
• Small bar of chocolate (50g) – 5-36mg caffeine

*all figures are approximate

 

[Vonny]

6 mugs a day, fairly strong instant (has to be Alta Rica). I factor in the carbs from the milk in my daily count. It's probably too much, but judging by the kind advice provided by @Inka above, I just about fall into the ok zone!

 

[Drummer]

In my 20s I worked for Lyons Tetley - as a taste tester.

I'm either immune, already gone or that definition of 'too much' is a bit low.

 

[Alan44]

6 mugs a day, fairly strong instant (has to be Alta Rica). I factor in the carbs from the milk in my daily count. It's probably too much, but judging by the kind advice provided by @Inka above, I just about fall into the ok zone!

I agree with the Alta Rica, but with Oat milk (no suger)

 

[nonethewiser]

it came up at my meeting yrsterday that they think i drink to muh coffee i have 3 cups a day and the p-doc said it was to much Is he right?

Might be to do with meds you take or even if your bp is high, caffeine can effect both.

More tea drinker but do like coffee, preferring both to be strong as can't stand weak tasting brews, yuk.

 

[Peely66]

I have, in the recent past, been known to drink a large cafetiere of coffee in a morning. Laying off it a bit lately as I was getting palpitations but I cannot abide instant coffee...I have become a coffee snob.

 

[harbottle]

Quite a few. Usually two made from beans at home in the morning.
The loads of cups of filter at work (We have a constant flow of it!)
Sometimes a takeaway from Caffe Nero on the Uni campus.
Anywhere between 4 and 8.
Can't drink instant. Shouldn't be called coffee. 'Coffee tasting milkshake powder'

 

[Leadinglights]

Quite a few. Usually two made from beans at home in the morning.
The loads of cups of filter at work (We have a constant flow of it!)
Sometimes a takeaway from Caffe Nero on the Uni campus.
Anywhere between 4 and 8.
Can't drink instant. Shouldn't be called coffee. 'Coffee tasting milkshake powder'

I think it very much depends on the instant some are truly vile but the better quality ones are OK. Again down to personal taste. Some people like Starbucks others won't touch it and prefer Costa. Coffee in cafes is a lot better than it used to be in the main.

 

[harbottle]

I'm a total coffee snob/fascist. Instant coffee is the 'processed food' of the coffee world and should be banned. Everyone should be sent to training camps until they no longer like the taste of instant coffee! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

That's my new world order! 1984 just with Coffee Camps! (Not Camp Coffee!)

Anyway, being serious(ish)

I can handle most of the chains, but find Costa tastes a bit 'burnt', Starbucks is to watery, but sometimes OK if I don't want something strong tasting. Caffe Nero is the best of the chains. My favourite is Bean and Leaf in Coventry, a small place that does a 'pour over' that's delicious. There's another independent that's OK in the precinct.

Coffee #1 is decent, as is a local chain called Bewiched (One in Leamington).
Esquire is OK.
There's a cuban restaurant in Leamington that does a very nice coffee as well.

What winds me up most about these places is the dirty tables (Costa is terrible for that) and half of them are so full of students on laptops these days there's never anywhere to sit!

I went to a place called 'Baxter's Barista' in the Transport Museum and every table was covered in dirty plates/utensils. It was disgusting. The staff were just stood around chatting.

They need to go to training camps as well! 😉

 

[helli]

@harbottle What happens to people who refuse to drink coffee at your camps?
(Asking for friend.)

 

[harbottle]

@harbottle What happens to people who refuse to drink coffee at your camps?
(Asking for friend.)

That's allowed. Not drinking coffee is preferable to drinking instant! 🙂