Changes in the pleasantness of caffeine-associated flavours consumed at home

Previous laboratory studies have reported that moderate caffeine consumers develop a liking for the flavour of a novel caffeinated drink. The present study tested whether results from laboratory studies are applicable to real-life situations. Forty moderate caffeine consumers were randomly allocated to four conditions (n = 10). Three of these conditions involved consumption of two novel flavoured fruit drinks, one caffeinated (100 mg) and one without caffeine, at different times of the participants' daily routine (breakfast, anytime, night). Participants in the final (control) condition evaluated the drinks on the three test days only. Those participants who received the drinks at breakfast showed a significant increase in liking for the flavour of the caffeinated drink, whereas those who consumed the drinks at night showed a significant decrease in liking for the same flavour. Results imply that the post-ingestive effect of caffeine may depend on the time and condition during which the caffeinated flavour is consumed.