I love coffee. The first thing I do in the darkness of the morning is make a cup and sit quietly to begin the day. Just the smell of coffee brewing makes me happy. That first cup is my moment to transition from rest to begin my day. It’s a time to meditate and pray, to sit quietly and allows me to rise with the morning sun.

When I was in Italy, coffee was part of the experience. Cappuccinos in the morning were so good that I tried to order them in the afternoon. I was quickly shamed by the locals as cappuccinos are a morning drink. The afternoon pick up is espresso! And what I loved about Tuscany was that coffee, even at gas stations, was not served in to-go cups. You had to sit at the coffee bar or restaurant and drink out of a coffee cup! Coffee was part of the culture of food to relax and enjoy.

Now, my family makes fun of me because I like flavored coffees–chocolate cherry from Fresh Market is my absolute favorite. While they sip their Italian blend, I confidently embrace my beans of flavor. Not only do I love the taste, but the varieties of coffee.

Before the pandemic, I was in Chelsea in New York City and visited the Starbucks Reserve. Basically, it’s a massive coffee bar that looks like a full-blown restaurant. You can order coffee flights and spend your day conversing with other coffee lovers who are there for the experience.

But now, there is evidence that coffee does more than provide me pleasure and an experience.

A recent study found that coffee has a brain boosting effect that goes beyond caffeine. Yes, we believe that caffeine does boost alertness and even psychomotor performance, but there is more to this story. Researchers wanted to investigate the neurobiological impact of drinking coffee on the brain. To do so, they used functional MRI to study brain connectivity.

In fact, they found that coffee does just what I experience, helps me transition from a state of rest to engaging in task-related activities.  Specifically, coffee had the effect of boosting connectivity in the higher visual network and the right executive control network of the brain. These functions link to working memory, cognitive control, and goal-directed behavior. In other words, coffee brings a heightened state of preparedness and makes you more responsive and attentive to things around you. No wonder so many people drink coffee in the morning to begin their day.

You might wonder, is the positive effect of coffee influenced by the aroma, the taste, or even the psychological expectation that we are becoming more alert? Probably, but the alertness and improved cognitive function seem to be benefits that go beyond the caffeine in the drink. So, no surprise that coffee is our drink to awaken and start our day. Now you have even more reasons to enjoy!