Quick answer: teachers often skip coffee because there's simply no time. The bell goes, duty starts, the cup goes cold. The fix is to plan caffeine around the school day: have it before first period and at morning break, keep it small, and stop by early afternoon so it doesn't follow you into the evening's marking or your sleep.
Why teachers run on (cold) coffee
Teachers regularly turn up near the top of informal surveys of which professions drink the most coffee. One UK survey of more than 10,000 workers ranked teachers third, behind journalists and police officers. It makes sense: early starts, back-to-back lessons, playground duty and evenings of marking leave little room for a proper coffee break.
And when you do make one, there's a good chance it ends up forgotten on the desk.
A simple caffeine plan for the school day
- Before first period: your main coffee of the day, while you set up.
- Morning break: a small top-up if you need it, not a second big mug.
- Lunch: eat something proper. Food and water help the afternoon slump as much as caffeine does.
- From early afternoon: stop. A well-known sleep study found that a large dose of caffeine even six hours before bed cut sleep by more than an hour. If you're in bed by 10 pm, aim to finish caffeine by about 2–3 pm.
The European Food Safety Authority considers up to 400 mg of caffeine a day safe for most healthy adults. That's a ceiling, not a target. A single espresso shot has around 80 mg.
Why coffee chews suit the classroom
- No cup to go cold. A tin lives in your desk drawer, bag or lanyard pocket.
- No hot drinks near students. Nothing to spill across a desk of workbooks, and no hot cup in a busy room.
- Seconds, not minutes. Have a chew between classes without queueing for the staffroom kettle.
- Small amounts. Each chew is a sip-sized top-up, so it's easy to stop on time.
Approximate caffeine per tin of about 25 chews: 50 mg for Choco Mocha, Caramel Macchiato and Hazelnut Latte; 70 mg for Flat White and Iced Mint Coffee; 140 mg for Double Espresso. The lighter flavours suit an afternoon top-up before your cut-off.
One important rule: coffee chews contain caffeine and are not for children. Keep your tin closed and out of students' reach, and don't share them with students.
Find your flavour in the Coffee Chews range, or try a few with the Tasting Set. They also make an easy end-of-term thank-you for the staffroom.
Teacher coffee FAQ
When should teachers stop caffeine?
About six hours before bed is a good rule of thumb. For most teachers that means finishing caffeine by early afternoon.
Can I have coffee chews in the classroom?
That depends on your school's rules about food in class. They're quick and discreet, so many people have them between lessons or at break instead.
How many coffee chews should I have?
Start with a chew or two and see how you feel. Count any other coffee, tea or energy drinks you have that day.
Who shouldn't have coffee chews?
Littos Coffee Chews contain caffeine and are not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people sensitive to caffeine. They contain milk and are sweetened with xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. If you have a health condition or take medication, check with a health professional first.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Sources: ABC7: The top 10 professions drinking the most coffee; Drake et al., Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2013); EFSA caffeine safety opinion.