That morning cup of joe can be a lifesaver, but have you ever wondered, "How long does coffee stay in your system?" The answer isn't as simple as a quick caffeine buzz followed by a crash. Caffeine, the active ingredient in coffee, has a half-life of roughly 5 hours. This means that after 5 hours, half the caffeine you consumed is still circulating in your body!
So, if you drink a cup of coffee containing 100mg of caffeine, 50mg will still be present after 5 hours. Another 5 hours later (10 hours total), only 25mg remains. It takes approximately 5 half-lives for caffeine to be completely eliminated, meaning it could take anywhere from 15 to 30 hours for coffee to fully leave your system.
Factors like age, genetics, liver function, and medications can influence how quickly your body processes caffeine. Feeling jittery late at night? You might be a slow metabolizer! Listen to your body and adjust your coffee consumption accordingly for a more restful sleep. Now you know the caffeine clock is always ticking!
