Coffee

Overview

Coffee provides caffeine that stimulates dopamine production but has pendulum effects and circadian disruption risks, requiring strategic use. Caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonism and should be stopped 8 hours before bed considering caffeine has a highly variable half-life, ranging from 2 to 10 h, but possibly up to 20 hours.

Food Context

Preparation

• Stop 8+ hours before bed (variable half-life)
• Can stimulate dopamine but may cause fatigue rebound
• Space ≥1 hour from iron-rich meals or add lemon
• Strategic, sparing use may be most effective for ADHD

Recipes

no recipes found

Nutrient Tables (per 100 g)

Core nutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Energy	62 kcal	—
Protein	2.1 g	—
Total fat	1.4 g	—
Saturated fat	0.2 g	—
Carbohydrates	10.3 g	—
Fibre	0 g	—

Key micronutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Iron	0 mg	0%
Zinc	0.4 mg	3.4%
Magnesium	0 mg	0%
Selenium	0 µg	0%
Calcium	123 mg	12.3%
Potassium	132 mg	3.9%
Folate	7 µg	1.8%
Vitamin B12	0.4 µg	15.4%

Reference intakes: US Dietary Reference Intakes for adults (19–50 years; using the higher of male/female values where they differ).

Data provenance (core / micronutrient panel): USDA FoodData Central, SILK Coffee, soymilk, FDC ID 175224, API, per 100 g edible portion, last checked 2026-03-14

Substances

Substances in this food: editorial (Overview / literature) plus analytical (nutrition table).

5 substances in this food

Zinc

Cofactor in neurotransmission and antioxidant enzymes; dopamine modulation

Calcium

Bone health; neurotransmission; interacts with vitamin D and K2

Potassium

Electrolyte for nerve transmission, muscle function, and blood pressure regulation

Vitamin B9 (Folate; 5-MTHF)

One-carbon metabolism; methylation; homocysteine recycling

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Methylation; myelin; mitochondrial odd-chain FA metabolism

References

• Caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonism; stop 8 hours before bed considering caffeine has a highly variable half-life, ranging from 2 to 10 h, but possibly up to 20 hours
• Caffeine can reverse the deficits associated with fatigue it can be implicated in causing the fatigue in the first place
• Caffeine increases striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability
• Polyphenol-rich beverages (tea/coffee) can reduce non-heme iron absorption