Does coffee help with headaches?
For some headaches, yes—caffeine constricts dilated blood vessels and enhances the effect of painkillers. For withdrawal headaches, a cup helps immediately. But for chronic headaches, caffeine can make things worse.
Why that is
The relationship between caffeine and headaches is double-edged: caffeine can both relieve and cause them.
When coffee helps:
- Tension headaches: Caffeine constricts dilated blood vessels in the brain—a mechanism that brings relief for some types of headaches.
- Painkiller booster: Many over-the-counter painkillers (like Excedrin) contain caffeine because it increases the absorption and efficacy of ibuprofen or paracetamol by 30–40%.
- Caffeine withdrawal headaches: If you drink coffee regularly and skip a day, you often get a headache. A cup of coffee gets rid of it within 30–60 minutes.
When coffee doesn’t help or makes it worse:
- Migraines: Can trigger attacks in some people, but help others—it’s highly individual.
- Medication overuse headache: Taking painkillers with caffeine daily can lead to a vicious cycle of headaches and medication use.
- Too much caffeine: More than 400 mg a day can cause headaches all on its own.
The dose makes the difference: 100–200 mg of caffeine (1–2 cups) can help with acute headaches. More than that can have the opposite effect.
Important: Regular or severe headaches belong in a doctor’s office—coffee is not a substitute for medication.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
At Sophienstraße 27, I sometimes hear: “I really need a coffee for this headache right now.” That actually works if it’s a withdrawal headache. For anything else, my advice is: enjoy your coffee, but if you have recurring headaches, better see a doctor.
Stop by Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.