How Many Cups of Coffee a Day Should You Drink?

Coffee is controversial. Drinking coffee is a daily routine for many of us. However, many people do not drink coffee correctly. Questions like how many cups of coffee a day or when to drink coffee still trouble coffee drinkers.

In fact, coffee is a complex beverage with hundreds of bioactive compounds. I’ve looked at the pros and cons of coffee, and it seems pretty clear that coffee is a double-edged sword. Drinking coffee properly would be beneficial, while drinking too much coffee or drinking coffee in the wrong time may be somewhat harmful.

Let’s find out…

How Much Caffeine Should You Take a Day?

Caffeine, most often in the form of coffee, is considered the world’s most commonly consumed psychoactive substance. According to some sources, up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine intake a day seems to be safe for most healthy adults. But this is just a general data and it may not apply to everyone based on age, weight and overall health. It’s is important to listen to your body to determine how much coffee to drink per day. If you experience restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, irritability or insomnia after drinking coffee, it seems that you are consuming too much caffeine. Then, stop any caffeine intake.

Related: Why Does Coffee Make Me Sleepy Instead of Awake

What will you suffer if consume too much caffeine:

1. dizziness
2. diarrhea
3. increased thirst
4. insomnia
5. headache
6. fever
7. irritability
And more…

How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of Coffee?

The caffeine in a cup of coffee differs from 50 to 400+ mg per cup. A small homemade cup of coffee contains 50 mg, while a big Starbucks grande may contain almost 300 mg.

Generally speaking, an 8 ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine. As above stated, 400 mg caffeine intake a day is optimal for a healthy adult. That is to say, 4-5 cup of 8 ounce coffee is safe for health.

Below is the detailed amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, according to  the study. 

Bottom Line: 4-5 Cups of Coffee a Day is Perfect, But It Is Not A Golden Rule

After exploring, it seems that 4-5 cups of coffee a day may be the optimal amount to drink. We all have known that drinking coffee in a moderate amount is beneficial. But, this does not mean that people need to drink coffee or people can only drink 4-5 cups of coffee per day.

Based on people’s different physical condition, the amount of coffee consuming may be various. Generally, people who are suffering certain medical conditions should definitely avoid it. People who can tolerate more than 4-5 cups per day without any problems can consume more coffee. There is no hard and fast rule that you cannot drink more than 4-5 cups of coffee.