Short Answer: To put it simply, any type of coffee with a high amount of caffeine like espresso or Death Wish coffee is the best type of coffee for staying up.
Sometimes you have to put night shifts, and other days you need to get the work done in the morning. Whether daytime or night, the magic potion that keeps you going is none other than coffee!
Coffee contains a stimulant called caffeine, which can be healthy and can help you stay up until its effects leave your body. Caffeine blocks the effects of adrenaline and receptors that make you sleepy.
Now, there are plenty of options available, from regular brewed to espresso, and thousands of brands of coffee and different methods to brew your coffee. Sometimes it is a daunting task to find the best coffee to stay up.
No more worries, in this article, I will share the best coffee or staying up. Keep reading!
Can coffee really help you stay up?
Coffee can help you stay up. The caffeine in the drink is what does the job as it affects our adenosine receptors, which leads to a shift in your body’s internal clock.
Most of us rely on a cup of coffee in the daytime to keep us going with our daily tasks. It’s like human fuel and those who get addicted to it won’t function properly and with complete focus until they have their cup of energy java.
An expert even backed this idea that caffeine does indeed help you stay up even if you are sleep-deprived. However, they also say it doesn’t improve your work performance.
They are not wrong because caffeine can never substitute a good night’s sleep. Quality sleep cleanses the brain and repairs tissues.
This is why you should also be careful with the amount of caffeine you consume daily, as too much can cause insomnia or other side effects.
Watch the video to learn more about how caffeine keeps you awake:
What kind of coffee makes you stay up?
According to experts, espresso is the best kind of coffee that makes you stay up as it has more caffeine than regular coffee.
Coffee Beans
Arabica plants produce higher quality coffee beans and are more popular in terms of flavors. However, robusta coffee is much higher in terms of caffeine content with roughly twice the caffeine in the brewed cup.
Coffee Type
Espressos are quite potent, which can help you stay active and alert, and the same goes for the so-called Turkish coffee. Both methods use very fine grounds that allow for the best possible extraction of taste and caffeine!
However, espresso serves in small size, which means the caffeine content of one shot of espresso (53mg of caffeine) is less than that of one cup of filter coffee(115mg to 175mg) due to the bigger serving size.
3 Best Coffee For Staying Up
This table list contains my choice for the best three coffee for staying up good 8 to 110 hours alert and active.
| Coffee | Feature | Caffeine Content (8 ounces) |
| Death Wish Coffee | World Strongest CoffeeUSDA Certified | 472 mg |
| Shock Coffee | All-natural additives | 231 mg |
| Napalm Extra Dark Roast | Extra Dark.Extra Bold. Extra Strong. | 200- 300mg |
Death Wish Coffee
Take the next level evolutionary experience of a delicious, dark, and bold cup of coffee with Death Wish Coffee. The original flavor has no artificial sweeteners or aromas.
These coffee beans contain double the caffeine of regular coffee and are known as ‘The World Strongest Coffee”.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified this coffee containing 16oz dark roast coffee ground made from Arabica and Robusta coffee beans.
I have another article reviewing a list of coffees similar to Death Wish Coffee that you can read here if you’re interested.
Shock Coffee
Shock Coffee contains the strongest all-natural product meaning no additives. It is much safer than the other coffee on this list.
It has perfect notes of chocolate and the beans are made incredibly shiny and well-balanced.
Shock’s ability to combine three incredibly important things in one:
- Nature
- Strength
- Flavor
This combo sets it second on our list of the best coffee. Unlike most other hyper-caffeinated product producers with only high caffeine amount, this one gives the best flavor.
Napalm Extra Dark Roast
Unlike other strong coffees, Napalm is only made from 100% Arabica beans, and no Robusta beans.
The quality is premium and the beans are handpicked and roasted masterfully to make full-bodied caffeinated goodness.
From the heart of the USA, the company produces coffee in small batches to ensure high quality.
This one is perfect for drip machines, espresso, French Press, Keurig, Aeropress, Chemex, and more!
Note: All these three coffees are so strong that they might cause some inconveniences for someone insensitive to caffeine tolerance. It’s still important to remember that the approved caffeine limit set by the FDA is only 400 mg and some of these coffees have a caffeine content that goes above that.
Should I drink coffee for an all-nighter?
Coffee is not a good idea to drink for an all-nighter. Where coffee does help to increase alertness and focus, it can make you tired and crash the next day.
However, if you have to pull all-nighters due to study or late night shifts, then drink as little as 100 grams of coffee and a lot of water.
Try to take a nap for 30 minutes maximum to recharge the brain as this study shows about 26 minutes of deep sleep help 34% fewer performance lapses and is half as likely to show signs of physiologic sleepiness.
Also, the caffeine effect starts right after 10 to 15 minutes of drinking coffee and lasts for 5 to 8 hours. A little time strategic use of caffeine can help you put a safe all-nighter without going sleep-deprived the next day.
Let say if you take your coffee (100mg of caffeine) at 8 pm then you can be pretty much alert and active for good 5 hours after so you can take a 30 mins nap at around 1 to 2 am to refresh the brain for the rest of the night.
Can I stay awake without coffee?
Yes, you can stay awake without coffee. A good way to stay awake is drinking a lot of water and a cup of herbal or green tea to help you focus and reduce tiredness. You don’t always need a cup of coffee to stay awake.
Hot cacao: Brewed cacao also contains caffeine. Drinking it first in the morning provides your body with rich theobromine, a moderate stimulate for the central nervous system.
Black tea: Black tea has many health benefits, plus it provides a caffeine fix for your morning routine.
Green tea: Has half of the amount of caffeine as coffee and it also help bladder and stomach problem, so your morning starts fresh without any issues.
Chicory coffee: With a slightly nutty flavor, the chicory-based drink is made roasted and has a similar taste to coffee. It is a good option for the coffee lover to replace coffee.
Yerba mate tea: Yerba tea is famous for enhancing mental focus and energy levels. Many athletes, including famous footballers, drink it religiously.
Kombucha: Fermentation medium Kombucha drink provide benefits of L-theanine working along with the caffeine to create a more even energy without jitters.
Golden milk: This Indian drink is made with ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper that help maintain focus during the day.
Nut and seed milk: Nut and seed keep blood sugar levels balanced and boost an extra nutrient to stay alert all day.
Bottom Line
Coffee is the right drink when your days are slow and lousy, and you need a kickstart to get through the day. It’s also quite helpful for when you need to stay up for whatever reason.
Though nothing can beat a good night’s sleep, sometimes you gotta burn the midnight oil and stay awake for the hustle. For that, you’re gonna need something to wake you up, like coffee.
The half-life of caffeine is 5 hours, which means even after 5 hours, there is still caffeine in your body that helps you get the work done with alertness.
Plus, caffeine is also proven to reduce tiredness and fatigue if consumed in a moderate amount. The FDA recommends 400 mg for a healthy individual and if you have stomach issues or insomnia, try to avoid it or take de-caffeinated coffee to avoid any potential side effects.
If you are someone who doesn’t like coffee or doesn’t want to drink it every day, then there are other options that can help you stay up.
Try to drink a lot of healthy fluids as they help your circulatory system and get your blood flowing.
Listed down some bonus tips to stay awake without caffeine
- Eat your breakfast
- Bright up work area with light
- Drink a lot of water
- Avoid excessive use of screen
- Start a conversation
- Take a walk outside
- Munch on a healthy snack
- Take a break between task