Consuming caffeine before a mentally stressful task leads to a 15–20% higher increase in cortisol levels compared to taking a placebo, and this effect is similar in men and women.

Consuming 750 mg of caffeine daily in three doses increases cortisol levels throughout the day when individuals are exposed to mental stress, physical exercise, or eating after exercise, and this increase occurs similarly in both men and women, though the overall stress response size may differ by sex.

Consuming caffeine on the same day as a stress test does not change the level of cortisol released in response to stress in healthy young adults. The pattern of cortisol response is more likely related to regular, long-term caffeine consumption than to a single dose.

People who regularly consume caffeine show a stronger cortisol response when exposed to social stress, compared to those who do not.

People who regularly consume caffeine show a stronger cortisol response to stress, and this pattern was observed in two separate groups of young adults.

In response to mental stress, men tend to have a higher peak cortisol level than women, with a 25–30% greater increase. In contrast, women tend to have a stronger cortisol response to eating a midday meal after exercising, especially when caffeine has been consumed.