I’m partial to a well-made espresso. I don’t drink them often, certainly not daily, because I’m aware of the caffeine’s effects on my body. The infographic below tells you about those effects, which are certainly worth knowing.

• Caffeine occurs naturally in 60 different plants, not just coffee.
• Caffeine works by increasing your dopamine levels, which makes you happy, and blocking adenosine receptors, which stops you from getting drowsy. Sadly, I can’t depend on it to do that to me when I need it. I find that when I need to stay awake, I’ll have a hard time doing so no matter how much coffee I drink, and when I need to sleep, even if I’ve had coffee at two in the afternoon and it’s now midnight, I still can’t fall asleep.
• Caffeine is shown to temporarily increase one’s ability to learn, by increasing comprehension, memory, reflexes and clarity of thought.
• Caffeine also improves endurance in athletes, which is why the Olympic Committee banned it in competitions.
• Caffeine causes physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms begin within 12-24 hours and can last from 2 to 9 days. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, depression and irritability.