How much coffee is too much?

Are there benefits to the right amount?

Mike Kenneally in Unsplash

If you are like me you require caffeine to get yourself going each morning. Usually, the first thing I do as I roll out of bed is turn the coffee maker on or plan out where I am going to get my first cup.

For me, it is not just my morning caffeine intake, but also about the experience of getting coffee. I enjoy drinking something warm as I plan out my day and catch up on the news.

I often wonder if I, like many adults, would be able to function without coffee. The boost of energy I get in the morning helps me tackle the inevitable stressors of my day-to-day. I am not alone as an estimated 3 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide.

However, is it possible to consume too much coffee? How much can you drink before seeing negative side effects?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cited that 400 milligrams, or 4 to 5 cups of coffee, is a safe amount for healthy adults to consume. Like many things though this varies on how sensitive an individual's caffeine tolerance is and what side effects they may notice.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there is about 96 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz. cup of coffee. Meaning that the Venti Pike Place roast I typically order at Starbucks accounts for two and a half…