I wonder to what extent coffee is an association rather than an actual antecedant of productivity. This is more evident with nicotine for example, where the add

I wonder to what extent coffee is an association rather than an actual antecedant of productivity. This is more evident with nicotine for example, where the addicted user will tell you all sorts of hogwash about how great smoking is, how they have the best converstaions with people when smoking, how they love the sound the plastic wrap makes when it comes off the packet, how they wrote their novel while chainsmoking etc. In reality they come to associate relief of their nicotine cravings with whatever they are doing at the time. Nicotine and caffeine probably do have some cognitive benefits (my understanding is that the effect for nicotine is there but minimal), but they are likely to be quite exaggerated. There is also quite a lot of variation in caffeine metabolism, and this no doubt has an impact on the perception of its effects. Some people down 6 cups of coffee a day and are fine, whereas I would be incarcerated for amphetamine abuse if I had that much.