Fun Fact: Coffee Could Reduce Feelings of Depression

Your morning coffee may do more than wake you up; it could lower depression risk. A meta-analysis published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry used a dose-response approach to quantitatively assess how coffee and caffeine intake may influence the likelihood of developing depression.¹

Nearly 600 million cups of coffee are consumed in the US each day. Individuals drink coffee for many reasons, but as a stimulant, a caffeinated cup of coffee provides an energy boost that can help lift a bad mood. Previous research has shown that individuals who drink coffee often experience less severe symptoms of depression. Studies have also linked coffee consumption to additional health benefits, such as a lower risk of cancer, stroke, dementia, and Parkinson disease. Compounds in coffee beans, along with caffeine, may enhance function and help protect against Alzheimer disease.²

Understanding Depression

Individuals with depression experience persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, trouble concentrating, and low energy levels. Depression could require long-term treatment, and it is not something that a patient can simply pull themselves out of.

Symptoms of depression in children and teens include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood, using recreational drugs or alcohol, self-harm, and loss of interest in normal activities. In older adults, symptoms can be less obvious and typically present as memory difficulties or personality changes, physical aches or pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems, often wanting to stay home, and suicidal ideation. A diagnosis of clinical depression is made when these symptoms persist for at least 2 weeks.³

Does Coffee Affect Depression Symptoms?

Because the stimulant effects of coffee can boost mood, researchers have explored whether it could also help ease symptoms of depression. Studies have found a correlation between higher coffee intake and reduced symptom severity, including similar findings in middle-aged adults. However, the relationship between caffeine consumption and depression is debated.^1,2

In the meta-analysis, researchers included case-control and cross-sectional studies published between January 1, 1980, and May 1, 2015, to examine the link between coffee or caffeine intake and depression. A random-effects model was used to calculate combined relative risks with 95% CIs, and dose-response relationships were analyzed using restricted cubic spline functions. Data from 11 observational studies were analyzed, including 330,677 participants for the coffee-depression analysis and 38,223 participants for the caffeine-depression analysis.^1,2

Results from the analysis showed that higher coffee and caffeine intake was linked to a lower risk of depression, with pooled relative risks of 0.76 and 0.72, respectively, compared with the lowest intake levels. A linear relationship was found between coffee consumption and depression, with an 8% decrease in risk for each additional cup per day. Caffeine showed a nonlinear relationship in which the greatest reduction in depression risk occurred with daily intake between 68 mg and 509 mg. Overall, both coffee and caffeine consumption were significantly associated with a reduced risk of depression.¹

Although coffee may offer some benefits for those with depression, experts caution against excessive consumption due to potential drawbacks and emphasize the importance of drinking in moderation. Pharmacists can suggest that individuals wait at least an hour after waking up to have their first cup of coffee to allow cortisol levels to rise naturally and advise them to save coffee for times when energy dips later in the day. Additionally, those who do not drink coffee regularly may benefit more from using coffee strategically during periods of low mood but should avoid it near bedtime to protect sleep. Lastly, cutting out sugary drinks and drinking unsweetened coffee may further reduce feelings of depression.²

Coffee is by no means a reliable treatment for depression, but a cup when you are feeling low may boost energy and temporarily relieve symptoms.

REFERENCES

1. Wang L, Shen X, Wu Y, Zhang D. Coffee and caffeine consumption and depression: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):228-242. doi:10.1177/0004867415603131

2. What to know about coffee and depression. WebMD. April 21, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-about-coffee-and-depression

3. Depression (major depressive disorder). Mayo Clinic. October 14, 2022. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007