David Saunders
Coffee may be the closest thing we’ve got to a legal performance enhancer. From bleary-eyed dawn commutes to late-night deadlines, coffee is the socially acceptable fuel people lean on when they absolutely have to get things done.
But if you’re going to mainline motivation in a mug, which coffee order actually gives you the biggest productivity kick?
According to a study by experts at Brew Smartly, not all lattes and long blacks are created equal. Researchers surveyed and grouped 4,250 volunteers, then asked them to complete short tasks before and after drinking one of 15 popular coffee styles. The results read like a league table for your local barista’s menu – and there were some clear winners and a few embarrassing stragglers.
Espresso: The Tiny Shot With the Biggest Punch
If you treat espresso like rocket fuel, the numbers back you up. In first place is the heart and soul of so many coffee variations, the brewtiful espresso – and it’s not just bravado in a demitasse.
Participants completed an average of five out of ten tasks before downing their shot, and nine out of ten afterwards. That’s an 80% jump in productivity, putting espresso at the top of the table.
Espresso originates from Italy and is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under pressure, capturing the concentrated essence of the bean. It turns out that what looks like a thimble of trouble is, statistically, the most efficient way to get your brain to clock in properly.
Black Coffee and Iced Coffee Round Out the Podium
In second place comes the mugnificent black coffee in a regular-sized cup. Volunteers recorded a productivity increase of 75%, going from four tasks before drinking to seven afterwards. No milk, no syrup, no whipped cream – just coffee and grit. It’s the stripped-back option for people who want focus without the frills.
Iced coffee claimed third spot. Participants showed a 67% productivity bump, ticking off three tasks before their drink and five once they’d polished it off. Once a summer novelty, iced coffee has been supercharged by social media – and in this case, it’s doing more than looking good on Instagram. Served by simply pouring coffee over ice cubes, it turns out the chilled version still gets the mental gears turning.
Americano (up 60%) and a trio of decaf, espresso macchiato and latte (all up 50%) also posted solid gains. So yes, even decaf drinkers can stop apologising – the ritual alone might be doing more for your output than you think.
The Sleepy End of the Menu: Frappuccino, Irish Coffee and Cappuccino
Of course, not every coffee-style drink is built for getting things done. Some of them, frankly, are dessert with a PR team.
At the very bottom of the productivity pile sits the frappuccino, with just a 14% increase. Participants scored an average of seven out of ten tasks before and eight out of ten afterwards – a marginal gain at best. Interested in delving further, BrewSmartly.com reported volunteers stated the drink was too heavy to concentrate on tasks and “felt like napping afterwards”.
Hardly the vibe you’re aiming for before a big presentation.
Irish coffee landed in joint second-from-bottom with a 17% boost: six tasks before drinking, seven afterwards. Probably best reserved for after dinner as a sweet treat, this drink combines Irish whisky, whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg – more nightcap than notebook companion.
Also languishing on 17% is the roasty cappuccino. Built from a double espresso shot, hot milk and a foamy topping, it may be your favourite café order, but according to this data it’s not exactly a productivity powerhouse.
Café au lait, made with dark coffee and hot milk, fared slightly better with a 25% increase. But it was still beaten by the flat white, which posted a 33% productivity jump. The flat white is an espresso with hot milk and a silkier texture – apparently with just enough punch left to keep you moving.
Here’s how the different coffee drinks stacked up when it came to tasks completed before and after drinking, and the overall productivity increase:
| Rank | Coffee type | Tasks before (out of 10) | Tasks after (out of 10) | Productivity increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espresso | 5 | 9 | 80% |
| 2 | Black coffee | 4 | 7 | 75% |
| 3 | Iced coffee | 3 | 5 | 67% |
| 4 | Americano | 5 | 8 | 60% |
| =5 | Decaf | 6 | 9 | 50% |
| =5 | Espresso macchiato | 4 | 6 | 50% |
| =5 | Latte | 2 | 3 | 50% |
| 8 | Cortado | 7 | 10 | 43% |
| =9 | Mocha | 6 | 8 | 33% |
| =9 | Flat white | 3 | 4 | 33% |
| 11 | Affogato | 7 | 9 | 29% |
| 12 | Café au lait | 4 | 5 | 25% |
| =13 | Cappuccino | 6 | 7 | 17% |
| =13 | Irish coffee | 6 | 7 | 17% |
| 15 | Frappuccino | 7 | 8 | 14% |
So, What Should You Actually Order?
If your goal is to squeeze more work out of the day, the study suggests keeping your coffee order simple and strong: espresso, black coffee or iced coffee are your best bets.
Once you start piling on cream, sugar, alcohol or enough syrup to qualify as a pudding, the productivity edge fades fast. Drinks like frappuccinos and Irish coffee might taste glorious, but they’re clearly better suited to winding down than smashing through a to-do list.
Still, the message here isn’t to live on espresso shots and anxiety. It’s about knowing that your choice of coffee isn’t just about flavour – it can nudge your focus, your energy and how much you get done.
So next time you’re hovering at the counter, wondering what your order says about you, remember this: the most productive choice might be the smallest, darkest one on the menu.
