Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Coffee's Kick Is All In Your Head, Says "Science"
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 3, 2011
Modified Sep 3, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 3, 2011
Modified Sep 3, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Uncle Science has been kind to us this summer, telling us to eat chocolate and assuring us that winos won't get sunburned. Now, we can switch to decaf. A study conducted by the University of London showed that the invigorating, eye-opening gift of coffee may just be a placebo effect. However, the sense of self-satisfaction that one feels when ordering a plain coffee after someone orders a decaf Pumpkin Spice Latte, is very real.
According to MSNBC, 88 students aged 18 to 47 were split into groups that drank regular or decaf. Some knew the identity of their brew, some were lied to. After drinking the coffee for five minutes, the test subjects "then chilled for 55" (actual news quote!) before taking a card-sorting task.
Those who were told they were drinking caffeine when they were actually drinking decaf performed equally as well as those who were told they were drinking decaf but actually had regular. "While students in all…groups reported feeling more depressed over the course of the testing," those who drank or thought they drank caffeine felt slightly better, probably because it's pretty tough to get excited about "card-sorting tasks" unless you're on the sauce.
So the placebo effect…works! Nothing that those middle schoolers you gave O'Douls to back in '03 couldn't tell you.
Tagged
coffee
o'douls
pumpkin lattes
science
starbucks
uncle science
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .