Drinking coffee is the primary way most of us get our caffeine fix for the day. It’s delicious and has a lot of benefits. This begs the question: How much coffee is too much? Caffeine IS a drug afterall. Most health experts agree that most adults should not exceed 400mg of caffeine per day. This equates to 4-5 8 ounce cups with 95mg of caffeine each. For children, cut that number down to 100mg or 1 cup.
As someone who drinks multiple cups of coffee daily, this question has definitely run through my mind before. Because of this, I’ve invested a couple hours of research to find out the definitive answer of how much coffee can we safely drink per day.
In this article, I’m going to share the findings on this research, which is based on health experts and websites. You’ll learn the benefits and negatives of drinking coffee, as well as tips on how to cut down.
How Much Coffee Is Too Much?
- For most healthy adults, no more than 400mg of caffeine. This equates to 4-5 cups (8 ounces each) with 95mg of caffeine each.
- For most children, no more than 100mg of caffeine. This equates to 1 cup (8 ounces each) with 95mg of caffeine each.
Caffeine Tolerance Differs and Is Based On:
- Gender – Men are more vulnerable to caffeine side effects compared to women.
- Weight
- Daily caffeine intake.
- Anxiety disorders (if any).
- Medications (if any).
Source: Driftaway Coffee
How Much Caffeine Is In My Drink? Check This Chart Out!
Benefits of Drinking Coffee:
- You could live longer.
- Body may process glucose or sugar better.
- You are less likely to develop heart failure.
- You are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
- Your liver will thank you.
- Your DNA will be stronger.
- Your odds of getting colon cancer will go way down.
- You may decrease your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
- You are not as likely to suffer a stroke.
Source: Hopkins Medicine
Negatives When You Drink Too Much Coffee:
- Increased Heart Rate
- Raised Blood Pressure
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Headaches/Dizziness
- Irritability
- Muscle Tremors
- Constant/Uncontrollable Urination
- Upset Stomach/Vomiting/Diarrhea
Source: Mayo Clinic
How To Cut Back Your Coffee/Caffeine Intake:
- Keep Track! – Start paying attention to all of the caffeine you’re intaking. Check labels of food and beverages, especially on candy and energy drinks. Some foods/beverages don’t label it!
- Decrease Caffeine Gradually – Reduce number or size of cups each day. A rule I keep for myself is to not drink any coffee past 3:00P.M., especially if you want a good night’s sleep.
- Modify Your Brewing Formula – Change coffee to water ratios or change brew times.
- Try Decaf – You’ll continue to enjoy the deliciousness of coffee, but with no caffeine.
As shown, the amount of caffeine you can drink per day is based on various factors. Weight, gender, etc.
As long as you stay within the limit that health experts recommend (400mg for adults and 100mg for children), you’ll continue benefiting from drinking coffee.
Just make sure you’re well aware of how you feel. Once you start feeling the negatives, it’s time to cut back.
To see what coffee-making methods are out there, check out our guide on the different coffee-brewing methods.