Everybody has days when they are not feeling productive, and it happens to show up in the morning. Instead of waking up feeling energized and ready, a completely different sensation takes over: stress.
There are several reasons why stress kicks in at the start of the day, as you can see here. Based on science, cortisol, or the “stress hormone,” is at its peak in the first hour after waking up. This helps explain why waking up in the morning feels like not your best time of the day.
That is why not everyone can be a morning person. A stressful start often sets a whole day filled without motivation and causes you to be idle.
However, starting your morning right is critical. The way we spend it has an impact on how well the rest of our day goes. Of course, if you wake up with no enthusiasm, skip breakfast, and then rush off to work, your day will be less than fruitful as well. So, why not start the day off right with the best beverage and energy boost available — coffee.
The Coffee Boost
Coffee, next to water, is considered the most popular drink worldwide. It contains the popular stimulant called caffeine, which makes us love coffee more. It gives a morning kick while producing health benefits, too. For those who enjoy experimenting with taste, the secrets of flavored coffee offer an exciting journey. From classic vanilla and hazelnut to more adventurous blends like pumpkin spice and caramel, flavored coffee adds a new dimension to your daily cup. These flavors are typically created by infusing the beans with natural or synthetic flavorings, resulting in a unique and delightful experience.
With its intoxicating aroma and the resulting jolt of energy, many people drink java as our daily wake-up call. According to studies, while our bodies are already at peak cortisol production an hour after waking up, caffeine consumption instructs the body to produce less cortisol.
Once you consume caffeine, this powerful stimulant can make you feel energized throughout the day. In addition, it has also been shown to improve cognitive performance, memory, and reaction time. It gives you the ability to focus and concentrate, which makes you feel more productive.
Its effectiveness, like that of any other substance, may vary, however. Your caffeine tolerance, the quality of your sleep, and your weight may all play a role. Last but not least, the most important thing is that the product you purchase should be made from high-quality ingredients to experience the best results.
But make sure not to drink a cup of joe right after you wake up as it may heighten your cortisol levels. Instead, wait for an hour before drinking coffee.
Choosing A Daily Booster
Instant coffee is somehow a controversial topic among coffee enthusiasts. Many people consider it a last resort if they don’t have time to brew in the morning.
While it may seem weaker than a regular joe, it is still made from the same whole beans— but it has a convenience factor when compared. However, getting from the best instant coffee brands is crucial to ensure you’re getting the same benefits as the brewed ones. Here we’ve listed down some factors to consider:
- Type Of Bean
Instant coffee comes in lots of variations. Whether you want it black or light and creamy, you can easily find it in the market. But if you’re clueless about it, there are two popular beans that you can easily classify upon purchasing: Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica is the most widely used coffee bean, making for 60 percent of total production worldwide. Many coffee aficionados prefer the sweet flavor of this bean because it has a cleaner mouthfeel and is better taste. Not to mention, it also gives a relaxing aroma. Although the bitterness is still there, which we look forward to in our daily brew, the slightly nutty flavor and the sweet caramel aroma help balance it all out.
Robusta, on the other hand, is known for having bitter flavor notes of smoke and pepper. This bean comes second in popularity, making 40% of the java production. This one is the perfect bean for those who want to taste the bitter edge over a cup of joe. However, this one contains twice the caffeine content, so expect to give you a strong kick. Coffee enthusiasts describe its taste as rubbery, which only a few prefer.
And mostly, robustas can only be seen from the low-end market, making arabica a high-quality option for instant coffees.
- Affordability To Taste
We all know that the instant version is relatively cheaper than ground ones. But to see what product will be of fair trade, the affordability shouldn’t compromise the taste.
Some of the instant coffee in the market often have a reputation for having bad taste. This variant has been in a process where it has to be in a hot chamber to dehydrate the concentrate. This makes instant coffee taste bitter or burnt most of the time.
But buying in a good brand can make a difference.
Most instant coffees are produced from a Robusta, which has a harsh, earthy flavor. And this may be one of the reasons why instant coffee has earned such a bad reputation. Because Robusta beans are less expensive than Arabica beans, instant coffee was frequently made from low-quality Robusta beans.
But now, one of the factors you should see is if it is made from 100% freeze-dried Arabica beans. Although they are made slightly more expensive, they are considered high-quality.
Hence, this could be one of those instances where price does indeed reflect value and quality. When looking for the best instant coffee, you should always check the bean used in the convenient packs to ensure you’re getting a high-quality one.
- Levels Of Caffeine
Always make sure to check the levels of caffeine present in an instant coffee. Although it contains less caffeine than usual, you may choose what’s lower or higher. Since our sensitivity to caffeine may vary, it is best to know when you should cut back your caffeine intake or not.
There’s a term used to describe the caffeine levels in an instant joe: decaf and caffeinated.
Just as the name implies, decaf is a decaffeinated coffee that has gone through the additional process of removing 97% of caffeine present. It’s just the best bet for those who don’t want to consume a lot of caffeine. However, decaf can’t guarantee to give you the same kick from a caffeinated one (learn more: https://www.eatthis.com/side-effects-drinking-decaf-coffee/).
But if you want to preserve the rich, bitter taste of java, then caffeinated can be for you. It typically holds 95 mg of caffeine and is the best option for those on a diet.