Why you drink black coffee: It’s in your genes (2024)

Black coffee drinkers also prefer dark chocolate due to genes

December 13, 2021 | By Marla Paul

Why you drink black coffee: It’s in your genes (1)

People who like to drink their coffee black also prefer dark chocolate, a new Northwestern Medicine study found. The reason is in their genes.

Northwestern scientists have found coffee drinkers who have a genetic variant that reflects a faster metabolism of caffeine prefer bitter, black coffee. And the same genetic variant is found in people who prefer the more bitter dark chocolate over the more mellow milk chocolate.

The reason is not because they love the taste, but rather because they associate the bitter flavor with the boost in mental alertness they expect from caffeine.

“That is interesting because these gene variants are related to faster metabolism of caffeine and are not related to taste,” said lead study author Marilyn Cornelis, associate professor of preventive medicine in nutrition. “These individualsmetabolize caffeine faster, so the stimulating effects wear off faster as well. So, they need to drink more.”

“Our interpretation is these people equate caffeine’s natural bitterness with a psycho-stimulation effect,” Cornelis said. “They learn to associate bitterness with caffeine and the boost they feel. We are seeing a learned effect. When they think of caffeine, they think of a bitter taste, so they enjoy dark coffee and, likewise, dark chocolate.”

The dark chocolate connection also may be related to the fact that dark chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine but predominantly theobromine, a caffeine-related compound, also a psychostimulant.

Coffee and dark chocolate consumption have been shown to lower the risk of certain diseases. Moderate coffee consumption lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer. Dark chocolate appears to lower the risk of heart disease.

Currently, when scientists study the health benefits of coffee and dark chocolate, they must rely on epidemiological studies, which only confer an association with health benefits rather than a stronger causal link.

Cornelis’s new research shows these genetic variants can be used more precisely to study the relationship between coffee and health benefits. Previously, scientists were using the genetic markers for coffee drinkers in general. The new findings suggest they are stronger markers for particular types of coffee drinkers — black coffee drinkers. This impacts the interpretation of these genetic studies of coffee and health.

“Drinking black coffee versus coffee with cream and sugar is very different for your health,” Cornelis said. “The person who wants black coffee is different from a person who wants coffee with cream and sugar. Based on our findings, the person who drinks black coffee also prefers other bitter foods like dark chocolate. So, we are drilling down into a more precise way to measure the actual health benefits of this beverage and other food.”

The benefits of black coffee are based on moderate consumption of two to three cups a day, Cornelis said.

About the study

The current study used genetic, dietary and food preference data available from the UK Biobank and two U.S. cohorts, the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up study.

The paper, “Genetic determinants of liking and intake of coffee and other bitter foods and beverages,”was published Dec. 13 in Scientific Reports.

This work was funded by the National Institute on Aging grant K01AG053477 and the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders grant R03 DC013373, both of the National Institutes of Health.

For Journalists: view the news release for media contacts

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Why you drink black coffee: It’s in your genes (2024)

FAQs

Why you drink black coffee: It’s in your genes? ›

Researchers at Northwestern University released a study that shows coffee drinkers who prefer the bitter taste of black coffee have a genetic variant that also reflects faster caffeine metabolism.

What does drinking black coffee say about your personality? ›

personality type: the old-school type

According to the coffee and behavioural experts, black coffee drinkers are considered to have a single-minded personality like the order – a little old-school: liking to keep things simple, efficient, and straightforward.

What is the psychology of people who drink black coffee? ›

While we're the last to judge—the findings were intriguing: individuals who preferred black coffee were more likely to exhibit traits associated with psychopathy compared to those who preferred their coffee with cream or sugar.

What is the purpose of drinking black coffee? ›

It is rich in caffeine that may stimulate the metabolism and increases your energy level, suppressing hunger. Black coffee contains a chlorogenic acid that helps to slow down the production of glucose. Hence, if you drink a black coffee after a meal, it can help to slow down glucose formation.

What does coffee do to DNA? ›

Coffee consumption rapidly reduces background DNA strand breaks in healthy humans: Results of a short-term repeated uptake intervention study. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016 Mar;60(3):682-6.

Is liking black coffee genetic? ›

Researchers at Northwestern University released a study that shows coffee drinkers who prefer the bitter taste of black coffee have a genetic variant that also reflects faster caffeine metabolism. Photo by Kevin Butz on Unsplash. How do you take your coffee?

Is black coffee good for mental health? ›

Coffee is a powerful antioxidant.

Coffee is extremely high in antioxidants and is in fact the most consumed source of antioxidants in the western world today. Experts attribute the high concentration of antioxidants in coffee to its ability to act as an effective mood-enhancer.

Does coffee alter your mind? ›

Decades of research has already shown that caffeine, a psychostimulant, can help people feel more aroused and alert. However, the MRI scans showed that drinking coffee increased activity in parts of the brain involved in short-term memory, attention and focus, whereas ingesting caffeine on its own did not.

What percent of people drink their coffee black? ›

With a majority of people drinking coffee for the taste, it comes as no surprise that only 18% of people prefer to drink their coffee black – a 56% decrease from 2022.

What is the coffee gene? ›

Researchers have found two variations on the CYP1A2 gene — a fast metabolizing version and slow metabolizing one. Those who inherit two copies of the fast metabolizing gene process coffee four times faster than their slow-metabolizing counterparts.

What happens if we drink black coffee daily? ›

Black coffee is rich in caffeine and acid, so excess consumption can lead to acidity in your stomach. You are likely to have cramps and abdominal spasms. Too much coffee in your system makes it difficult for your body to absorb minerals from your daily diet, such as iron, calcium, and zinc.

Does black coffee detox your body? ›

As you may know from experience, black coffee can make you urinate (a lot), this is because it is a diuretic. If you consume your coffee black without sugar, it will cleanse your stomach and flush out any toxins and bacteria.

When not to drink black coffee? ›

Black coffee doesn't appear to have many downsides when consumed in moderation. However, too much caffeine — whether from coffee or other beverages like sodas and energy drinks — can cause uncomfortable side effects like insomnia, anxiety, rapid heart rate, stomach upset, headache, and nausea ( 21 ).

Does coffee improve DNA? ›

Your DNA will be stronger.

Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.

Does coffee protect DNA? ›

Highlights. Consumption of dark coffee protects blood cells from spontaneous DNA damage. Immunofluorescence imaging of PBLs facilitates quantitation of Nrf2 translocation. Activation of Nrf2 by coffee potentially not exclusively involved in DNA-protection.

What does coffee do for sperm? ›

It is established that sperm motility is higher in patients who regularly drink coffee compared to patients who don't, however, the mechanism by which caffeine improves sperm motility is not known.

What does coffee say about your personality? ›

For blended or iced coffee drinkers, personality traits can include boldness and spontaneity, says Durvasula's survey. Those who choose iced coffee might be childlike and imaginative, but also reckless — and they might often make unhealthy decisions.

What are the behavioral characteristics of coffee drinkers? ›

The black coffee drinker can be quiet and moody but prone to brief bursts of extroversion. latte drinkers are pleasers with an overwhelming compulsion to be liked. A latte-drinking boss will be very generous and polite.

What is the personality of people who drink black tea? ›

Black Tea. If you love strong and traditional black tea, you likely have a personality to match; you're strong, determined, and love to set and achieve your goals. Black tea drinkers are often busy people too, with too much on their plate to concern themselves with more playful flavours.

Does coffee give you mental clarity? ›

When consumed in moderation, coffee can be very good for your brain. In the short-term, it may improve mood, vigilance, learning, and reaction time. Long-term use may protect against brain conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

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