How much can coffee enhance your team’s productivity?
Some people swear by their morning cup of coffee. It’s what “gets them through the day.” But what is coffee doing to workers’ brains?
Does coffee make a real difference to productivity (the metric you care about)? The answer seems to be that it does but with one important caveat – the anxiety it gives some people.
Overall, it appears to have numerous positive effects on the mind and body (which might explain why so many offices invest in a commercial coffee machine).
In this article we explore some of the benefits your employees (and you) may notice when they drink coffee at work – and find out what the ideal amount is.
Better mood
One of the main perks of coffee is improved mood. Colleagues who drink it are more likely to want to engage during social situations, fostering better teamwork.
The improved mood seems to come from the fact that people feel fresh and lively after a coffee. Instead of battling the cobwebs after a short night’s sleep, they’re able to pick up where they left off the day before.
A better mood may also reduce stress. Employees who feel alert can take on the projects management sends their way.
Improved physical performance
There’s also evidence that coffee (and specifically caffeine) can improve physical performance, which matters for manual jobs. Data suggest that workers who take coffee in the morning experience so-called ergogenic effects, reducing their perception of effort.
This feature might explain why so many pre-workout drinks contain caffeine. The substance reduces the amount of effort people feel they are exerting, allowing them to take on more challenging tasks. Even working all day in a tough environment may be tolerable if coffee (and caffeine) is available.
Enhanced cognition
On top of this is the enhanced cognition some people experience after they drink coffee. The beverage contains various substances that free up brain cells and allow them to work better.
Part of the benefit comes from the improved vigilance and reaction times coffee affords. It’s like putting the brain on fast-forward, letting employees get more done in a shorter space of time (compared to their regular thinking patterns).
The improved cognition coffee permits may also affect decision-making. CEOs exhausted by constant demands on their ability to delineate between two situations may benefit from consuming the drink regularly as it could help them better compete in the marketplace.
More alertness
Greater alertness is another benefit of drinking coffee, thanks to the effect of caffeine on the central nervous system (CNS). It works by blocking the neurotransmitter, adenosine, that makes staff feel tired. Cutting this hormone out in the morning can improve focus throughout the day and prevent periods of drowsiness, particularly after breakfast and lunch (the two most problematic times of day for most colleagues).
Faster metabolism
Lastly, there’s some evidence that coffee can improve metabolism (which is why many weight loss pills contain caffeine). The substance seems to ramp up the activity of mitochondria, leading to more fat oxidation over time.
Fat oxidation might not sound like it’s that important for businesses, but it’s essential. Healthier workers are more likely to perform on the job and show up in the morning ready to get going.
How much coffee do you need to drink?
So how much coffee do your team need to drink to notice these benefits? Luckily it’s not too much. Just a cup of coffee can heighten their mental awareness and keep them alert during morning meetings, or see them through their afternoon.
