Caffeine is a powerful substance that can improve physical and mental performance.

A single dose can significantly improve exercise performance, focus and fat burning (1, 2, 3, 4).

The US Special Forces even use it to enhance performance and awareness.

Caffeine is found in many foods and beverages, and over 90% of the US population consumes it on a regular basis (5).

This article explains the benefits of caffeine for exercise performance.

How Caffeine Works

Caffeine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, and blood levels peak after 90-100 minutes. Caffeine levels remain high for 3–4 hours, and then start to drop (6, 7).

Unlike most substances and supplements, caffeine can affect cells throughout the body, including muscle cells and brain (6).

For this reason, caffeine’s effects on the body are quite varied. These include:

  • The nervous system: Caffeine activates areas of the brain and nervous system to improve focus and energy, while reducing tiredness (6, 8).
  • Hormones: Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the hormone responsible for the “fight or flight” response, which can increase performance (3).
  • Fat burning: Caffeine can increase the body’s ability to burn fat via lipolysis, or the breakdown of fat in fat cells (3).
  • Endorphins: β-endorphins can increase feelings of wellness, and give you the exercise “high” that people often experience after working out (9, 10).
  • Muscles: Caffeine may impact the motor cortex, which is a part of the brain that signals muscle activation (11).
  • Body temperature: Caffeine has been shown to increase thermogenesis, or heat production, which helps you burn more calories (12).
  • Glycogen: Caffeine may also spare muscle carb stores, primarily due to increased fat burning. This can enhance endurance performance (13).

Caffeine eventually gets broken down in the liver (6).

Bottom Line:

Caffeine can easily pass throughout the body. It has varied effects on your hormones, muscles and brain.

Caffeine and Endurance Performance

Caffeine is the go-to supplement for many athletes.

Due to its positive effects on exercise performance, some organizations — such as the NCAA — have even started to ban it in high doses.

One study found that 9.8 mg/lb (4.45 mg/kg, or about 400 mg total) of caffeine increased endurance in athletes.

They were able to cover 1.3–2 miles (2–3.2 km) more than the placebo group (14).

In a study of cyclists, caffeine was shown to be superior to carbs or water. It increased work load by 7.4%, compared to 5.2% in the carb group (15).

One study combined caffeine and carbs, which improved performance by 9% compared to water alone, and 4.6% compared to carbs alone (16).

Other research has tested coffee, due to its naturally high levels of caffeine.

In a 1,500-meter run, regular coffee drinkers were 4.2 seconds faster than those drinking decaf. Another study found that coffee helped reduce the perception of effort, allowing athletes to work harder (17, 18).

Bottom Line:

Caffeine and coffee have been shown to cause major improvements in performance for endurance athletes.

Caffeine and High-Intensity Exercise

The evidence about the effects of caffeine on high-intensity exercise is mixed.

Caffeine has impressive benefits for trained athletes, but seems to have less benefits for beginners or those who are untrained.

Two studies of recreationally active men doing bike sprints found no difference between the effects of caffeine and water (19, 20).

However, for competitive athletes, a similar bike sprint linked caffeine to a significant improvement in power (21).

Another study looked at the effects of caffeine on trained and untrained swimmers. Again, there was a positive improvement in the trained group, but no benefits were seen in the untrained swimmers (22).

In team sports, caffeine supplements improved passing accuracy in rugby, 500-meter rowing performance and soccer sprint times (23, 24, 25).

Bottom Line:

For high-intensity sports like cycling or swimming, caffeine may benefit trained athletes but not untrained individuals.

Caffeine and Strength Exercises

Research is still emerging on the use of caffeine in strength or power-based activities.

Although several studies have found a positive effect, the evidence is not conclusive (26).

One study found caffeine to have a positive effect on bench press, but no effect on lower body strength or cycling sprints (27, 28).

A comparison of 27 studies found that caffeine may improve leg muscle power by up to 7%, but has no effects on smaller muscle groups (26).

Caffeine may also improve muscular endurance, including the amount of repetitions performed at a certain weight (26).

Overall, the current research indicates that caffeine may provide the most benefits for power-based activities that use large muscle groups, repetitions or circuits.

Bottom Line:

For strength or power-based exercises, the research about the effects of caffeine is mostly positive, but still mixed.

Caffeine and Fat Loss

Caffeine is a common ingredient in weight loss supplements.

Early research has shown that taking caffeine before exercise increases the release of stored fat by 30% (1).

Another study found that caffeine supplements significantly increased the release of stored fat before and at the end of a workout (29).

Caffeine can also increase the amount of fat you burn during exercise. It increases heat production and epinephrine, which helps burn additional calories and fat (3, 12).

However, there is currently no evidence that caffeine enhances weight loss in the long-term in exercising individuals.

More details here: Can Coffee Increase Your Metabolism and Help You Burn Fat?

Bottom Line:

Caffeine can help release stored fat from fat cells, especially before and at the end of a workout. It can also help you burn more calories.

How to Supplement with Caffeine

There are several things to keep in mind when supplementing with caffeine.

If you consume coffee, energy drinks, soda or dark chocolate, you may experience less benefits from supplements. This is because your body has developed a tolerance to caffeine (30).

Caffeine anhydrous seems to have the most benefits for exercise performance, but coffee is a good option too. Coffee also provides antioxidants and various health benefits (13).

Dose is often based on body weight, set at around 1.4–2.7 mg per lb of body weight (3–6 mg per kg). This is about 200–400 mg for most people, although some studies use up to 600–900 mg (31).

Start low, at 150–200 mg, to assess your tolerance. Then increase the dose to 400 or even 600 mg, in order to maintain a performance benefit.

If you wish to use caffeine for athletic performance, you should also save it for key events or races, in order to maintain sensitivity to its effects.

For optimal performance, take it about 60 minutes before a race or event. However, make sure to test this protocol first if you’re not used to taking caffeine.

Bottom Line:

Taking 200–400 mg of caffeine anhydrous, 60 minutes before a race or event, can help maximize performance benefits.

Side Effects of Caffeine

At a sensible dose, caffeine can provide many benefits with few side effects. However, it may be unsuitable for some people.

Here are some common side effects of too much caffeine:

  • Increased heart rate.
  • Anxiety.
  • Dizziness.
  • Insomnia or sleep disruption.
  • Irritability.
  • Tremors.
  • Stomach discomfort.


People who are prone to anxiety may also want to avoid high doses (28).

Additionally, caffeine is not recommended for people who take certain medications, as well as those with a heart condition or high blood pressure (6).


Finally, you could become ill, or even die, if you were to overdose on extremely high amounts of caffeine. Do not confuse milligrams with grams.

Bottom Line:

Caffeine is a fairly safe supplement at the recommended doses. It may provide minor side effects for some people, and should not be used if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure.

Caffeine is Very Effective




Caffeine anhydrous supplements seem to be the most beneficial, but regular coffee is also a good option.