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Caffeine calculatorThe best time to drink coffee
Time your coffee to your body's cortisol dips and you'll get more energy from less caffeine — with less tolerance and jitter.
Your coffee windows
cortisol dips after waking
early-afternoon dip
Late coffee? See how much is still in you at bedtime with the half-life calculator, or check your daily limit.
Why cortisol timing works
Cortisol is your body's built-in alertness hormone, and it follows a daily rhythm with three peaks: shortly after waking, around midday, and in the early evening. When cortisol is high, you're already alert — so caffeine adds little and you build tolerance faster.
The smart move is to drink coffee in the dips between peaks:
- ~90 min – 2 h after waking — the cortisol awakening response has faded; caffeine now fills a real gap.
- early afternoon (~1–2 pm) — the post-lunch dip, between the midday and evening cortisol surges.
Timing coffee to these windows means you need less caffeine for the same lift — and you keep your afternoon cup early enough to protect your sleep.
Brew your best cup
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to drink coffee?
About 90 minutes to 2 hours after waking, when cortisol dips after its morning peak — and again in early afternoon. The calculator gives your exact windows from your wake time.
Why not right after waking?
Your cortisol awakening response already makes you alert in the first hour. Coffee then is partly wasted and builds tolerance faster.
When should I stop drinking coffee?
About 8 hours before bed. The cutoff card above is calculated from your bedtime.