The Benefits for Coffee on Performance & Recovery for Endurance Athletes

One of our favorite morning sights!

Did you know that in addition to being delicious, coffee can have a wide range of performance and recovery benefits for athletes? Here are some takeaways from the International Society of Sports Nutrition's official position on coffee, after conducting a metareview of studies:

1. Not all coffee is the same: the drink itself consists of hundreds of compounds, and these vary based on the beans used and how it's brewed
2. The effect that coffee has on each individual differs based on:
   1. How much you drink
   2. When you drink it (relative to an activity)
   3. How habituated your body is to caffeine
   4. Your genetics
   5. Your microbiome
   6. Your gender
   7. Your training status
3. Coffee and its ingredients (including caffeine) have effects that impact exercise performance and recovery, specifically effects in these areas:
   1.  Neuromuscular
   2.  Antioxidant
   3.  Endocrine
   4.  Cognitive
   5. Metabolic
4. Coffee can improve performance in:
   1. Reaction time
   2. Aerobic performance

In summary, caffeine may help assist in performance and recovery. We hope more research will be done to paint a clearer picture of how best to enjoy coffee and reap its rewards. 

As with anything you eat and drink, or changes you make to your training, be sure to use it wisely and responsibly and always consult with your doctor if you have any questions regarding caffeine use and your known medical condition(s), medications, etc.

Here's our favorite coffee to enjoy pre- or post-workout:

Enduro Bites / Hold Fast Ethiopian Specialty Coffee, 12 ounces