A cold Americano in the hands of fasting commuters on their way to work may do more than fight fatigue — it could affect their health.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's (KDCA) 2024 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released Monday, the breakfast skipping rate among Koreans aged 1 and older stood at 35.3%, up 9.1 percentage points from 26.2% a decade earlier in 2015. By age group, those in their 20s recorded the highest rate at 62.1%, followed by those in their 30s at 46.8%, meaning more than half of Koreans in their 20s and 30s effectively skip breakfast. A significant portion of them are known to choose coffee instead of a meal.
Coffee consumption continues to rise. As of 2024, annual coffee consumption per capita in South Korea reached 416 cups, making the country the largest per capita coffee consumer in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the KDCA's recently released report on national beverage consumption trends over the past five years, unsweetened coffee such as Americano was the most consumed beverage among Koreans as of 2023, with an average daily intake of 112.1 grams — an increase of 28.2 grams from 2019.
As coffee has become a daily routine, questions are growing about whether it is safe to drink on an empty stomach.
There is evidence linking empty-stomach coffee consumption to blood sugar levels. Caffeine stimulates the secretion of hormones such as cortisol, which can release glucose stored in the liver into the bloodstream and raise blood sugar levels. Mornings are already a time when cortisol secretion is high, and adding caffeine can amplify blood sugar fluctuations.
Caution is also warranted from a stomach health perspective. The caffeine and acidic compounds in coffee can stimulate the gastric mucosa on an empty stomach, increasing stomach acid secretion. People who frequently experience acid reflux or heartburn may find their symptoms more pronounced after drinking coffee on an empty stomach.
It is also easy to overlook that drinking coffee right after a long night without fluid intake can worsen dehydration through its diuretic effect. People sensitive to caffeine may experience palpitations or tension. Drinking strong coffee quickly after a poor night's sleep can cause the autonomic nervous system to react more sensitively.
Simple alternatives to coffee in the morning include bananas, boiled eggs, Greek yogurt and a handful of nuts. These options place less burden on digestion, do not spike blood sugar levels and provide both protein and energy.
