Which is Best: Coffee After a Workout or Before? Expert Answers

If you’re like me and you stay active, then you’re always thinking about how to get a better workout. Mixing and matching different regimens and fitness techniques is part of the fun of staying in shape and getting the best out of yourself.

One way many people consider to improve performance is through supplementation before, during and after workouts. Coffee is an option you will see mentioned a lot.

If you’re not an athlete who regularly gets their pre and post workout caffeine from anhydrous caffeine tablets or powder, sports drinks, or carb gels and gums, your most likely source of caffeine is coffee. 

But is the combination of coffee and a workout a good idea? And if so, which is best, coffee after a workout or before it?

As a pharmacist and athlete myself, I was curious. Here’s the quick facts of what my research uncovered. 

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What’s in coffee?

Coffee is a phenomenally popular beverage around the world. Not only does it taste great and smell divine, but it also has health benefits to support its intake. 

We know that coffee has metabolic and cardiovascular benefits that are the result of antioxidant compounds like chlorogenic acid, diterpenes, caffeic acid, cafestol and caffeine.

What does coffee do for your workout?

What’s interesting is there is strong evidence from many studies that show caffeine in coffee is an ergogenic aid or has performance enhancing effects. 

For example, this review showed significant improvements in endurance performance and perceived exertion in endurance athletes who took coffee 45 minutes before their workouts. 

Even better news is that coffee and caffeine produce the same performance enhancing effects as well. In this randomized single blind study, researchers found 5 mg/kg of coffee or caffeine produced similar improved effects vs decaf and placebo. 

So you can get your caffeine from any source that is best for you and still get the same benefits of stronger workouts for longer without feeling fatigued as quickly.

How does coffee and caffeine work on the body?

So the scientific community used to believe that the source of caffeine’s ability to enhance performance was by increased fat breakdown and enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity (the fight or flight response system).

Now we know that in fact caffeine unleashes its performance enhancing effects by blocking adenosine receptors. This results in reduced pain and exertion perception, improved motor recruitment, and muscle contractions. 

It’s not hard to imagine how you can perform better if more of your muscles are recruited, operating efficiently and you don’t feel as much pain or fatigue!

Caffeine effects on blood sugar

During a workout, your body relies on glucose as a primary source of energy. It will also go into its sugar storage, also known as glycogen to get more energy especially if the workout is long and exhaustive. 

Caffeine and other components in coffee have beneficial effects on your blood sugar metabolism. This means more efficient breakdown of glucose, less of it hanging out in your blood and more insulin to move it where it needs to go. Caffeine will also help replenish the glycogen stores post workout.

Is coffee after a workout good?

Drinking coffee after a workout turns out to be beneficial as well. Instead of helping with performance during the workout itself, caffeine helps to improve recovery.

In one study by Loureiro, et al., the researchers found that the use of caffeine + carbohydrates in the form of milk was significantly better at restoring post workout muscle glycogen stores within 4 hours compared to just carbohydrates by themselves. 

This means drinking coffee with some milk after a workout could be helpful in recovering your sugar storage. This is especially helpful if you compete or train more than once a day. 

Plus, the antioxidants in coffee are great for neutralizing the free radicals produced after intense exercise, which helps with overall recovery.

How much caffeine should I take during a workout?

You may need to tease out how much caffeine is right for you to consume. Every person and athlete is different so it may vary. Consider starting slow and working your way from there. 

Many of the studies we looked at mentioned doses of 2-5 mg/kg of caffeine given one hour before workout. This translates to about 1-3 cups of coffee containing an average of 100 mg of caffeine per cup. 

But it’s probably a good idea to consult with a nutritionist or performance based sports medicine physician to get customized recommendations. 

Side effects of coffee before after workout

Caffeine can have hemodynamic changes like increased blood pressure and heart rate. Great for athletes, but may be an issue if you’re on cardiovascular medications like for high blood pressure. So consider talking with your doctor before starting any caffeine-based regimen. 

Since the effects can vary from one individual to another, consider starting small and pay attention to your body. Some may experience the irritability, tremors, and stomach issues of caffeine while you may not. So do what’s right for your body. 

Overall verdict: Should you drink coffee before or after a workout?

The data looks pretty clear and convincing that consuming coffee or caffeine can improve endurance and performance during workouts. After the workout, caffeine will help you recover faster as well.

I personally know other pharmacists and nurses who train for marathons who swear by the efficacy of caffeine in their training. 

The problem with drinking coffee as your source of caffeine is the difficulty of consuming a consistent amount of caffeine. Because of the source of beans, roasting, and brewing methods, the caffeine content can vary from one cup to another. In addition, you have to consume a large amount of fluid, which may or may not be ideal. 

Instead, consider anhydrous caffeine. The advantages are you can measure out a consistent dose, mix it in some fluid and stay in control of how much caffeine you consume. The drawback is it’s nowhere near as enjoyable and pleasant as the sensory experience you get from coffee! 

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