New research from the microbiome center at Ireland’s University College Cork shows that coffee influences the gut microbiome in ways that affect your mood, stress levels, memory, and attention.

The study, published in Nature Communications, involved 62 people and compared regular coffee drinkers with those who did not normally consume coffee. When regular coffee drinkers stop imbibing for two weeks and then resume either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, researchers observe changes in gut bacteria, metabolic activity, and psychological measures.

Both caf and decaf coffee are associated with lower stress but their effects differ: decaffeinated coffee is associated with improved learning, better memory, lower stress levels, less depression, and reduced impulsivity. High test, caffeinated coffee is linked to reduced anxiety, better attention and vigilance, but lower levels of inflammation.

*These findings suggest that coffee’s benefits are not mediated by caffeine alone. Other compounds in your morning joe including polyphenols could influence the gut-brain connection and the brain’s metabolism and performance. However, larger trials are needed to prove without a doubt that coffee itself directly causes these effects on your psyche.

The references for this report are available on my website.

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