Quick Sips on Coffee Naps

• Drink a cup or less of coffee at once prior to napping
• Adenosine is a chemical that makes you feel tired; napping clears the adenosine, so caffeine can block more receptors to prevent feeling tired
• Since caffeine takes approx. 20 minutes to kick in, a quick coffee of coffee at once before a 20 minute nap works perfectly!
• Organic, Fairtrade coffee is a great option in this scenario, good for you and good for others!

The Science of the Coffee Nap: Why Sleeping After Drinking Coffee Actually Works

Pushing my chair back from my computer I looked out the window into my backyard, watching my dogs nap in the sun.  ‘Those pups have the right idea I thought.  I need a nap.  I need coffee.’  I found myself in a conflict; coffee or nap.  Personally, I don’t care to look at life as either or scenarios, rather ‘both.’  That’s why there’s surf & turf, no need to choose seafood or steak.  That’s why there’s park hopper passes, Epcot & Magic Kingdom in the same day.  So how was I to combine coffee and a nap?  I was about to find out…

In today’s post, we’ll find out -

• What a coffee nap is
• How it works in your body
• How to do one properly
• When to use a coffee nap
• Why Organic, Fairtrade coffee matters

So, grab a mug, prop your feet up, but don’t fall asleep (yet)…

What Is a Coffee Nap?

This is a case where the name explains what something is -
👉 You drink a cup of coffee.
👉 Then at once take a short nap.
👉 You wake up feeling dramatically more energized.

Turns out, timing matters when combining these seemingly opposite things to pull off the win. 

And how you may ask?  A little chemical in your brain called adenosine.  Adenosine has a few jobs in the body; such as help regulate energy, blood flow and sleep/rest.  The last one is of course what we’ll focus on.  Our short version is, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, preventing the adenosine from binding and thus making you feel tired.  Drink coffee, consume caffeine, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors which prevents the adenosine from binding and creating the feeling of tired.  Just like you, we’ve woven some eighth-grade chemistry and biology into a post about coffee.  And you thought you were tired before reading that…

In other words, when you’re awake, adenosine builds up in the brain and plugs into receptors that make you feel drowsy. Caffeine works by blocking adenosine—but only if those receptors are empty.

• When you take a short nap, your brain naturally clears out some adenosine.
• That gives caffeine more open receptors to occupy.

Boom.  Coffee. Nap.

Caffeine takes about 20 minutes (give or take) to hit the body and feel the effects. 

Hence, about a 20-minute nap is the perfect length to rest and let the caffeine do its work behind the scenes before you feel its effects. 

What Research Says About Coffee Naps

While research is growing around the benefits of coffee naps, a few studies already support the benefits, such as a pilot study which found that participants who drank caffeine and then napped for 30 minutes noted improved attention.  Another study also found coffee nap also effective at suppressing fatigue and sleepiness in the afternoon.  

 

How to Take a Proper Coffee Nap (Step-by-Step)

We may not be quite enriching uranium here with the coffee-nap step by steps, but there are a few timelines that are noteworthy…

Step 1: Brew your coffee (6-8 oz)

A small to moderate cup is ideal.
Sure, we’re biased, but we think Organic, Fairtrade coffee makes an excellent choice here -
Why?

• It avoids chemical residues found in conventional coffees
• It's sustainably sourced—so your energy boost helps both you and farmers
• You can support ethical supply chains with every cup
• Plus, it tastes great, so you have no problem drinking it for time needed, like our next point.

Step 2: Drink it quickly (but comfortably)

Sip at a steady pace and finish within 2–5 minutes.

The goal is to get caffeine into your system before you begin the nap.  Sipping too long lets the coffee work before the rest.

Step 3: Immediately lie down for a nap (15–20 minutes)

The caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet, so you’ll fall asleep more easily.

⏳ Why not nap longer?

Beyond 20 minutes, you enter deeper sleep cycles.
Waking from deep sleep = groggy, not energized.

Set a timer for 20 minutes max.

Step 4: Wake up right as the caffeine hits

When your alarm goes off, the caffeine is beginning to bind to the freshly cleared adenosine receptors.

You’ll feel:

• sharper
• more awake
• more focused
• much more energized than a regular nap

It’s surprisingly effective.

Results may vary, I started out cynical, as if I was to be surprised that I would feel more rested after a nap or coffee.  Turns out I was pleasantly surprised how I felt following the above protocol.  A reformed skeptic!

The Perfect Coffee Nap Timing Guide

For most people:

• Drink coffee: 2–3 minutes
• Fall asleep: 5–10 minutes
• Nap length: 15–20 minutes
• Caffeine peak: 20–30 minutes

 

When Is the Best Time for a Coffee Nap?

Many of us likely feel some dips in our day in regard to energy, this follows a daily pattern (our Circadian rhythms).  Guidelines below are just that, general guidelines that may vary based on our individual sleep wake cycles -

Ideal times:

• Late morning (10:30–11:30 AM)
• Mid-afternoon (1:30–3:30 PM)

Avoid coffee naps:

• After 4 PM (may disrupt nighttime sleep, remember caffeine can stay in the body for 4-6 hours)
• When you need a long-term energy solution rather than a quick boost.  Coffee doesn’t replace a good night’s sleep.
• If you’re overly sensitive to caffeine

 

Should You Try a Coffee Nap?

If you want:

• a natural energy boost
• improved focus
• smoother mood
• better productivity
• and an excuse to enjoy Organic, Fairtrade coffee

…then yes. A coffee nap is one of the most efficient ways to recharge quickly.

Final Sips on Coffee Naps

Coffee naps take just 20 minutes but can deliver hours of sharper thinking, better mood, and real mental clarity. Plus, you get to sip some more awesome coffee.

And when you brew using Organic, Fairtrade coffee, you're fueling your brain with clean, sustainable, ethically sourced energy—exactly what your day deserves.

So, the next time you feel that slump coming…

☕ Drink your coffee.
😴 Take your nap.
💥 Wake up ready to take on the world.

Its a good day to have a good day!  And perhaps a good nap too!