By Rory Carter Wellness 13.07.2026

Exactly What Your Coffee Cravings Are Trying to Tell You

Your daily latte might be saying more about your body than you think. Here, we break down the science behind your passion for caffeine.

Ahh, coffee. Some days it feels like it’s the only thing getting you through a busy day. It’s been reported to help us live longer, and research tells us that coffee even provides powerful antioxidants that can boost your immune system.

According to the British Coffee Association, in the UK, we now consume a staggering 98 million cups of coffee every day – 35.7 billion annually – with the average individual drinking about two cups of coffee daily.

Considering so many of us consume at least one cup a day, what does it mean when you start to crave coffee? We’ve got the answers.

You've got a habit

Habits, especially those that we complete in the mornings, can be tricky to break. It makes sense then, that drinking a cup of coffee before work each morning has resulted in a habit. It’s probably second nature by now – you wake up, you get dressed, and you pour yourself a mug without much thought. If you're looking to tame the cravings, slowly reduce your coffee intake to let your body get used to it.

You're tired

If you had a rough sleep last night, it’s only natural that you'll crave caffeine to boost your energy levels back to normal. While sipping on a coffee will help you feel more alert in the short term, it’s no substitute for much-needed deep sleep that will get you back to firing on all cylinders.

You’re dependent

An addiction to coffee is rare, but dependency, on the other hand, is extremely common amongst people who regularly drink coffee. You might find that you get a craving for coffee around the same time you would usually consume one because your body is accustomed to receiving the substance at that time every day.

Your brain needs it

During stressful times in our lives, it’s completely normal to look to things such as food (and coffee) to help us feel better again. A coffee craving makes sense if you’re down in the dumps because it contains amino acids which act as the building blocks for feel-good chemicals in your brain.

You’re genetically predisposed

It turns out you might be able to blame your coffee habit on your family. A meta-analysis of 130,000 participants of European and African-American ancestry established six genetic variances used to determine a person’s responsiveness to coffee (metabolic and neurological) and whether they would likely become a heavy coffee drinker.

This article is intended as general information and not a substitute for individualised health advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, your first port of call should be your GP, who will be able to advise you on a correct treatment plan.