How Long Does a Shot of Espresso Last in Your System

How Long Does a Shot of Espresso Last in Your System?

ByBaristas Choice

Here’s the answer.

Espresso will last in your system for about 6 hours. The caffeine kick duration varies for each person. It’s affected by your weight, sensitivity to caffeine, age, and potency. Studies show that on average an espresso will last for 5 to 7 hours.

Our team of coffee aficionados made a research on the subject. We were curious to find more details about the effects of espresso on our bodies. So, stick with us, grab your cup of coffee since we have more interesting facts to share.

Table of Contents

How Many Shots of Espresso Are Enough?

There’s a limit to how much caffeine the human body should take daily. FDA suggests that adults could consume caffeine up to 400 mg per day.

Moderate consumption of espresso is healthy. If you drink more than enough, then you put yourself at health risk. Espresso contains more caffeine per ounce but less caffeine per serving.

A shot of espresso is about an ounce of liquid coffee. This volume contains 60mg of caffeine on average. So, a double shot is approximately 120 mg of caffeine.

A cup of regular coffee is about 12 ounces and contains 95 mg of caffeine.

It’s important to drink espresso in moderation. A doppio at Starbucks is the standard serving and it’s 1.5 ounces. Drinking 2-4 doppios per day should be fine for most of us. [1]

What to Consider About the Effects of Espresso

Caffeine is an energy booster but it can be detrimental to your health if it’s an addiction for you.

Each person has a different tolerance to caffeine. Smokers are less sensitive to caffeine and barely notice its effects. Persons taking hormonal birth control may show increased sensitivity to caffeine side effects.

Also, the duration of the caffeine kick has to do with your own characteristics. It’s affected by your weight and height if you’re using other drugs and your health. Regular coffee drinkers are less sensitive to caffeine compared to occasional.

The metabolism rate of caffeine varies among various individuals. Some people are slower in breaking it down and others are faster. People with a slower metabolism rate of caffeine feel the kick of caffeine for longer.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, then drink espresso once in a while. If you don’t drink espresso in moderation then you may have the following side effects:

  • Discomfort
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Heart palpitations
  • Nausea
  • Insomnia

But don’t worry if you’re not a hypersensitive person to caffeine. You won’t have these side effects with moderate consumption of espresso. Sometimes and when you’re tired you may not feel any difference. It’s those days that you feel like coffee isn’t working at all. [2]

How Long Does a Shot of Espresso Last in Your System

Don’t Drink Espresso After Dinner

Many studies have already shown that caffeine keeps you awake and can disturb your sleep. Research by T. Burke, University of Colorado examined the influence of caffeine. 

The research shows how it affects your inner clock. This controls the human sleep-wake behavior via the messenger substance melatonin. 

The hormone is produced in the dark, so the level in the blood at night is about ten times higher than during the day. 

Caffeine keeps you awake and can disrupt sleep. But that’s not all: An espresso before going to bed has an extreme effect on your body. And it can disrupt your internal clock.

  • Caffeine blocks the sleep cascade and keeps you awake.
  • In bright light, espresso has a stronger effect than in dimmed light.

A double espresso 3 hours before bedtime delays your internal clock by around 40 minutes. Researchers came to this conclusion after a small but very complex study. They examined regular caffeine consumption users.

The influence is about half as great as that of three hours of bright light in the evening. Espresso or coffee drunk late at night is one of the reasons for sleep disorders. [3]

How Long Does Caffeine Take To Fade Away?

Let’s start with a brief look at how coffee keeps you awake. Coffee contains a central nervous system stimulant called caffeine. There is a chemical in our brain called adenosine that can make a sleepy substance when we are awake. The longer we are awake, the more adenosine in the body and caffeine is the enemy of adenosine. 

Caffeine prevents the body from receiving substances that make you fall asleep. This is the main reason why it can lift your spirit. 

Caffeine for most people kicks in after 15-45 minutes after drinking espresso. Most people experience the stimulant effect of caffeine 15 to 45 minutes after drinking coffee. You feel that energy rush when your blood level of caffeine reaches its peak. 

 The metabolism of caffeine is very slow. Caffeine has a half-life of 4 to 6 hours. Approximately half is still present in your body 4 to 6 hours after consumption. When you may still feel its stimulating effects. After another 4 to 6 hours, the remaining half of the caffeine is metabolized. Then the side effects will slowly fade away. 

It takes about 10 hours for caffeine to wear off your system completely. Drinking a cup of coffee at 10 am, your body may still contain 25mg of caffeine by the time you go to bed at 10 pm. [4]

espresso shot

Espresso Habits 

Espresso is diuretic and makes your system create urine. This means that you lose water and sodium. Losing too much water and sodium results in dehydration of the body. This has an impact on several functions of your body. So, don’t forget to drink plenty of water within a day. 

The best time to drink espresso is after your breakfast or your lunch. Your stomach won’t be empty and your body can handle any kind of side effect of caffeine. 

When caffeine is consumed with food, the body breaks it down into smaller molecules. Then it’s easier for the digestive system to absorb and process. Also, this allows a more even distribution of caffeine throughout your bloodstream.  

A healthy lifestyle can help your system handle many things. If you feel a lot of energy, you could exercise to release the tension.  A couple of double shots of espresso per day won’t harm you. 

The Bottom Line

How long does a shot of espresso last in your system? Espresso contains caffeine that will remain in your body for about 6 hours. 

For most people, espresso provides a boost of energy while it’s in your system. But not everyone feels the same way. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or if you’ve consumed a lot of coffee, you may have unpleasant side effects. Hangovers are just like any other side effect of taking in more caffeine than your body can handle.

Moderate consumption of coffee can have benefits. Don’t drink espresso after dinner and don’t overdo it with your favorite drink.

What To Do Next

After learning how long you can expect to feel the effects of espresso, you’re ready to have a drink of your own. Check out our buyers’ guides and reviews for help finding the best coffee beans and espresso kits.

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