If you want to get along better with your coworkers, have a cup of joe before clocking in. New research shows that coffee drinkers tend to be more engaged with others at the office.
A lot of people rely on coffee to get them going in the morning and at other times during the workday. Some people are even downright cranky if they haven’t had a sip to kickstart the day.
“Coffee with co-workers: the role of caffeine in evaluations of the self and others in group settings” was published in The Journal of Psychopharmacology. The study showed that participants who consumed a moderate amount of caffeinated coffee before engaging in group activities participated more than those who didn’t.
The report also found that “subjective evaluations of the participation of other group members and oneself are also positively influenced. Finally, the positive impact of consuming a moderate amount of caffeinated coffee on the evaluation of participation of other group members and oneself is moderated by a sense of an increased level of alertness.”
Zach Yentzer, director of Savaya Coffee, based in Tucson, Arizona, told local news station KGUN 9 that most of his customers are working professionals. He agreed that coffee can be mood enhancing.
“It’s a part of daily life, and it’s something that binds people together,” Yentzer said. “Coffee is a product that helps you think clearly and be more creative.”
Drinking coffee has other benefits as well. Drinking three to four cups a day has been linked to a longer lifespan. Coffee drinkers may also have a lower risk of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, uterine cancer, liver cancer cirrhosis and gout. It’s unclear whether it’s the caffeine that provides these benefits.
Still, coffee has also been linked to possible health risks, including esophageal cancer (if consumed at high temperatures) and cardiovascular disease (if consumed in large amounts). Coffee can also make people jumpy, interrupt sleep, and cause heartburn.
Coffee, when consumed in moderation, is not only good for your health, it’s also good for the people who must interact with you at work each day. In 2015, Canada was third on a list of 80 countries on coffee consumption (followed by Finland and the Netherlands).
