Are You Borrowing Energy From Tomorrow?
From morning rituals to caffeine crashes, the science, myths and cultural quirks behind the world’s favourite pick-me-up
Sorry, a little late due to the global outlook outage!
I’ve been drinking coffee since I was about 12 years old, much to the horror of my parents and grandparents, who were convinced it would make me stupid. Fast forward a few decades and I’m a scientist who drinks four to six shots of espresso a day. Make of that what you will! In this episode of Ask Dr Vincent: After Hours, Stephen and I explore our love affair with coffee, from what caffeine actually does to our brain and body to why Italians traditionally avoid cappuccino after breakfast. We also get into the differences between Australian and American coffee, the extraordinary world of expensive coffee beans and why something as simple as making your morning coffee can become such a powerful ritual.
But beyond the taste, the culture and our questionable coffee habits, there’s a bigger question I want us to consider: are we using caffeine to improve our day or simply to compensate for not getting enough rest? As I explain to Stephen, you can’t keep borrowing energy from tomorrow. That extra cup might help you push through today, but if it interferes with tonight’s sleep, you could find yourself reaching for even more coffee tomorrow. We also unpack energy drinks, caffeine tolerance, coffee withdrawals and some rather unusual ways people enjoy their caffeine. It’s a conversation about science, habits and learning to listen to what our bodies actually need. And yes, we have a few disagreements along the way!
After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
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