Does your pre-workout coffee actually work?

In a small study of 22 healthy young men, neither Arabica nor chicory coffee improved shuttle-run performance or perceived exertion.

Test your knowledge

Alex is a young man who enjoys shuttle-run workouts. He wants to know if drinking a cup of chicory coffee before his workout will help him run faster or improve his endurance during the session. What would he likely notice?

A) A significant boost in his running speed and endurance
B) No noticeable difference in his running performance
C) A major decrease in his perceived effort during the run
D) A significant increase in his oxygen intake capacity

🔬 The Breakdown

Context: While caffeine is a staple for energy, we need to know if different types of coffee actually change our internal biomarkers after a workout.

Reality Check: Because this was a small study of only 22 young men over a short period, we don't know how these results apply to women or older adults.

Takeaway: Try swapping your usual coffee for chicory coffee before your next workout to see how your body feels.

Published November 10, 2026

The science, explained

Evidence Check: This was a small study of 22 healthy young male adults using a controlled crossover design.

Conventional Wisdom Check: This confirms the common observation that caffeine-like drinks don't always provide an immediate performance boost for every type of exercise.

Everyday Translation: While chicory coffee might affect internal markers like certain proteins, it didn't actually make the participants run any faster or better.

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