Can Coffee Help You Study? Best Best Back-to-School Fall Coffees

Back to School Coffee Trends: Best Coffee Tips for Studying & More!

It's that time of year again! The weather is starting to cool down, the days are getting shorter, and students are returning to school all across the United States and Europe. That means that many students in high school and college are starting to get back into the swing of their caffeine routine! But what coffee is best for studying? Are there any high school or college coffee trends emerging this year? How useful is coffee when it comes to studying, anyway? 

That's exactly what we are here to discuss! Let’s talk about how coffee can help you study and the potential benefits of caffeine on memory and focus. We'll also talk about some of the latest back-to-school coffee trends and delicious fall flavors to check out this year! 

Best Back-to-School Coffee Flavors to Check Out

Planning on stocking up on coffee for back to school? Maybe you're thinking of grabbing coffee daily from a kiosk or your nearest barista on the way to school every morning. Or, maybe you'd prefer to be your own barista and save money by whipping up your own custom coffee drinks before school each day! Either way, we've got you covered. Check out these awesome back-to-school coffee flavors. 

• Caramel Ribbon Crunch Coffees, Blended or Iced

One top trending cold coffee drink is the caramel ribbon crunch frappuccino. However, you can get this as an iced coffee as well by ordering iced coffee with added dark caramel, classically made with cold foam and crunch topping on top. 

To make your own caramel ribbon crunch at home, you just need to grind up some hard caramel candies and either add them to your caramel sauce or sprinkle them on top. 

This caramel-flavored coffee pure arabica blend is an amazing option for those who plan to craft iced caramel ribbon crunch beverages at home, caramel macchiatos, or any other caramel-flavored coffees! 

• Oatmilk Lattes, Hot, Iced, or Shaken

Another popular coffee is the oat milk shaken espresso. This coffee can easily be recreated at home with extra-strength single-serve coffee brewed from a pod, ice, oat milk, and brown sugar. 

We highly recommend checking out this pure Arabica brown sugar spice flavored coffee for making at-home oat milk iced lattes! Keep in mind that this flavored coffee is unsweetened, so you will also want to add brown sugar to create a sweet beverage. 

• Classic Pumpkin Spice 

You just can't go wrong with the traditional flavor of pumpkin pie spice. With the clove, cinnamon, and sweet ginger, this aromatic coffee flavor is a classic autumn treat. Not to mention that alluring pumpkin spice aroma! 

Check out this delicious, top-rated pumpkin spice flavored coffee if you want your home, apartment, or dorm to be filled with the warm scent of pumpkin spice in the morning. 

If you are one of those people who can't stand pumpkin spice but still want to get in on that warm and cozy fall aesthetic, check out this list of autumn coffee flavors to love besides pumpkin spice! 

• Warm Vanilla Chai 

Another coffee trend that's coming back around is chai! Technically, chai is a tea, but most people are getting it from their local coffee shop.

 However, you don't have to get chai tea from Starbucks. Now, you can make your own deliciously warm vanilla chai tea lattes at home with this pure chai tea blend sold in bulk online!

Check out this in-depth guide to making chai tea yourself. 

Coffee & Caffeine: Boosting Focus, Memory, and Study Performance

So many of us have sipped on strong coffee while cramming for an exam or working late on a college term paper. But what about coffee and high school? In recent years, coffee has become an integral part of the college and high school experience. It's not far-fetched to imagine a group of high schoolers heading through their gymnasium doors with an iced caramel macchiato in hand, after all. 

Plus, studies do show that drinking coffee can help with studying due to its effects on memory retention and focus. So, what coffee is best for students? Are there particular trends that high schoolers are following when it comes to coffee? 

Sharpening Alertness and Reaction Time

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing the sense of fatigue and enhancing vigilance, attention, and reaction speed. This applies even for those who are already awake.

Improving Memory, Especially in the Morning

Coffee seems to have notable effects on memory retention, particularly in the early hours of the day or within a few hours of waking up. 

• Studies indicate that coffee can lead to morning explicit memory gains: 

College-age participants showed notable improvement in explicit memory when they consumed caffeine in the early morning. This is particularly interesting since morning time is often a low point of cognitive performance, especially when compared to the afternoon.

• Coffee can help with long-term memory consolidation: 

Additionally, a 2014 study revealed that caffeine consumed after learning (not before) enhanced memory retention 24 hours later, suggesting caffeine helps solidify long-term memory.

Mixed Effects Depending on Context

Meta-analyses and reviews show caffeine can improve alertness, reaction time, and attention for cognitive tasks in adults. However, data on its impact on complex tasks, working memory, or problem-solving is less consistent.

Beyond Caffeine: More in Coffee

Studies in aging models suggest coffee’s benefits may also come from polyphenols and antioxidants (not just caffeine), contributing to better motor and memory performance.

Individual Differences, Age, & Genetics

New research indicates genetic differences in how people metabolize caffeine. Fast metabolizers may experience varying effects on complex thinking and emotional recognition depending on dosage.

The Takeaway: Coffee can boost alertness and explicit memory, especially during early morning study sessions. However, its effects vary by dosage, timing, individual tolerance, and whether you’re studying, learning new information, or consolidating memory after a study session or class lesson. 

Trends: Coffee Consumption Among High School Teens

Now, let's talk about some current trends happening among teens and high schoolers who consume coffee regularly. 

Prevalence & Sources

• In the U.S., about 37% of teenagers (13–17) drink coffee daily; many begin around ages 14–15.

• Soda remains the most common caffeine source for teens (~73%), followed by tea (32%), coffee (31%), and energy drinks (22%).

• Coffee is likely a better caffeine choice for teens, especially when compared to soda or energy drinks. 

Motivations Behind High School Coffee Trends 

Teens turn to caffeine mostly to stay awake, enhance alertness or focus, and for social appeal or flavor preference. A notable portion (~21%) specifically uses coffee as a study aid.

Rising Trends

According to recent studies, caffeine use among teens is climbing:

• Only 3.3% of middle and high school students reported frequent high-caffeine drink consumption in 2015.

• That surged to 23.5% by 2023, including 31.5% of high schoolers.

Health Considerations & Guidelines

• The American Academy of Pediatrics and Healthy Eating Research advise that teens avoid caffeine entirely, or at least cap intake at 100-150 mg/day. That’s about one regular cup of coffee.

• Risks include sleep disruption, anxiety, high blood pressure, and dependence. Chronic caffeine intake can impair sleep quality and overall academic performance.

• Since coffee drinks generally contain protein from milk and have equivalent amounts of sugar or less sugar than soda, coffee is likely a better alternative to soda for teens.

Final Thoughts On Coffee And Focus For Young Adults 

Coffee can definitely be a helpful study companion, especially when used deliberately and appropriately. Coffee can help wake up the brain and cement learned material into memory. Bearing this in mind, it's important to use caution with caffeine consumption, particularly if you are at an age where your body is still growing into adulthood. For teenagers specifically, the growing body requires plenty of rest for recovery. 

Teens consuming coffee and caffeine regularly should implement smart strategies surrounding their caffeine intake and never exceed 150 mg of caffeine daily. For instance, to avoid jitters or other issues later down the road, consider only drinking coffee in the morning or early afternoon, and cutting off caffeine intake at least six hours before bedtime to ensure a better night’s sleep.