13/05/2026
☕ Coffee may affect the brain through more than just caffeine.
A new study suggests that regular coffee drinking can influence the gut–brain axis — the communication network linking gut microbes, metabolism, stress, and brain function.
Researchers studied healthy adults who regularly drank coffee and compared them with non-coffee drinkers. The coffee drinkers went through phases of coffee withdrawal and reintroduction, including both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.
They found that coffee changed gut bacteria and metabolites, while also affecting mood, stress, and some cognitive measures. Importantly, some effects were seen with decaf too, suggesting coffee compounds beyond caffeine — such as polyphenols — may play a role.
This does not mean coffee is a treatment for mental health conditions. But it adds to evidence that everyday foods and drinks can shape brain-related biology through the gut.
📃 RESEARCH PAPER
📌 Boscaini et al., “Habitual coffee intake shapes the gut microbiome and affects the microbiota–gut–brain axis”, Nature Communications (2026)
