Is coffee before a workout good for you? Is it just a case of chugging as much caffeine as possible? How much would you actually need to see gains in your workouts? These are just a few of the questions people are asking every day, as more and more of us look to find new ways to train more effectively and efficiently.
The great thing about coffee is it can be used as a pre-workout drink, without all the unnecessary rubbish. It provides that much-needed caffeine boost as well as tasting great. It’s two birds, with one stone. The supplement industry is estimated to be worth a net $152 billion worldwide, so there are a lot of people out there trying to sell you things you body just doesn’t need and can find through more natural methods. With our coffee, you get the best of both worlds. We’ve picked out a few key FAQs about this and have set out how you can make the most of a good coffee in your workout.
What Coffee should I have?
The first thing to say here is, we’re not talking about instant coffee or having some tongue-twisting extraordinary beverage with a million ingredients. We’re talking about fresh espresso, and filtered coffee made in the moment, just before you workout. Look at our range to see what we’re on about. Ultimately, if you think “pre-workout”, you want to ensure you can absorb the caffeine you need with something that’s easy to make, drink, and that tastes great. A simple espresso or black Americano, made fresh, is what you need. The concentration of caffeine will be higher, and the water will make it easier for your body to absorb, as opposed to milk, cream and other things that are added to it. Simple is best.
How much should I have?
Tricky question. This depends entirely on you. Your individual consumption levels of caffeine are going to be entirely personal to you. Like anything, too much of a good thing can be bad. The good news here is that coffee is a natural source of caffeine, and is a much more efficient way for your body to absorb caffeine, as opposed to using tablets or other artificial substances. So if you’re going to experiment with using caffeine pre-workout, coffee is a good way to do that. If it works, then amazing! If it isn’t for you, you’ve still had a great tasting coffee. It’s a win either way.
When should I have it?
Tying into the point above, you’ll want to use it about 30-40 mins before your workout begins, giving your body time to absorb it and you time to concentrate on other aspects of your pre-workout routine. Caffeine isn’t simply a sip-and-go thing, you will be able to feel the effects of it through the best part of a day, but studies show it’s at it’s most effective about 40 mins after absorption.
What else?
Don’t neglect the other stuff. Stay hydrated. It’s also not a good substitute for eating right. Using coffee as a pre-workout drink is most-definitely “in addition to” rather than “in replacement of”. If you feel like it isn’t isn’t helping you or you actually feel like you’re underperforming, stop using it. Your body may respond differently to high-intakes of caffeine in ways others don’t. We’re not all cut from the same cloth. In which case, simply enjoy coffee for it’s great taste and other health benefits. But for the most part, coffee can be a great addition to your pre-workout routine, and it’s a far more effective and natural method of getting your body that caffeine dose than all the other artificial stuff that’s out there.
Have you tried it yet? Let us know what you think on our insta!