We live in a coffee-obsessed city.

But if you’re one of the seemingly few people who can happily breeze through the day without a single caffeine hit, you could help some local health experts learn more about the effect our countless cuppas have on our health.

Two University College Cork researchers are seeking local volunteers to take part in a study investigating how coffee consumption affects the brain and gut microbiota of healthy adults.

Dr Serena Boscaini and Nurse Caroline O’Leary OF APC Microbiome Ireland, a world-leading SFI Research Centre headquartered in UCC, are recruiting non-coffee drinkers aged between 30 and 50 years old to volunteer.

This study involves two in-person visits to University College Cork over approximately six weeks and expenses will be covered.

The team aims to delve into the effect of coffee consumption on the gut microbiota, stress, and cognition, something that remains largely unexplored.

“People are incredibly passionate about coffee and we believe that this is a wonderful opportunity for coffee lovers, and haters, to play an important part in research that will tell us more about how coffee benefits our microbes and our brain,” added Caroline O’Leary. 

To find out more or to volunteer to take part, email Caroline O’Leary at carolineoleary@ucc.ie or Dr. Serena Boscaini at serena.boscaini@ucc.ie or visit apc.ucc.ie/coffee.