Coffee is the perfect beverage for pulling all-nighters, but students should be wary about using copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake.
With "dead week," which is the week leading up to finals normally filled with incessant studying, the desire for an energy-refueling drink becomes a need.
Coffee contains an average of about 100 mg of caffeine per cup, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
So in students' desperate attempts to find some way to keep their eyes open for just a few moments more, a cup or two of coffee will suffice.
In fact, coffee sales on the University of New Mexico's campus increase so much during the week prior to finals and finals week that the Starbucks located in Zimmerman Library tries to plan ahead.
Desiree Orosco, UNM Starbucks manager, said the coffee shop is open until midnight, making it a common meeting place for students during this period of the semester. It offers a wide range of coffee concoctions, too.
For those looking to truly get the most bang for their buck, a Starbucks venti coffee bought in the United States contains 415 mg of caffeine, according to the nutritional data provided by Starbucks.
The amount of caffeine in a beverage depends greatly on how it's prepared. Black coffee is the better choice for surviving "dead week." Popular seasonal drinks like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Peppermint Mocha both contain a meager 150 mg of caffeine. Generally speaking, that's a fair amount of caffeine, but for the purpose of late-night study sessions, black coffee remains a student's best option.
However, it's important to remember that caffeine is still a drug and comes with side effects.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, which explains why it creates the heightened sense of energy, but too much caffeine can cause problems such as difficulty sleeping, shakiness, headaches and dehydration.
For individuals suffering from anxiety or panic attacks, the amount of coffee consumed can cause uneasiness. With a final exam following a night of frequent coffee consumption, caffeine has the possibility of hindering your performance. According to the FDA, excessive coffee consumption may heighten feelings of nervousness.
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However, drinking coffee will increase energy, alertness and attentiveness, which are all advantages when it comes time to study.
To put it into perspective, the recommended amount of caffeine intake per person per day is between 100 and 200 mg. On average, adults consume 200 mg per day, according to the FDA. If a student is planning on consuming a Starbucks venti coffee, the caffeine content is already double the recommended amount. Just like any food or drink, caffeine is beneficial in moderation.
When it comes down to dealing with the long hours of hard work, a cup of coffee per day will most likely do no harm, and there's nothing wrong with students treating themselves to a sweet, warm latte on a chilly night of studying.
After all, coffee will still be a saving grace for many students this finals week.
Ana Jayme is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @aluzjx.
