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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 4 / B2
Published
Title
Coffee, Mood, and Gut Bacteria
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-07-coffee-mood-gut-bacteria/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) A study compares regular coffee and decaf.

b) A city bans coffee after midnight.

c) Farmers switch from coffee to tea because of weather.

Illustrated landscape scene of a relaxed Asian woman sitting in a cozy cafe, holding a steaming cup of coffee with both hands and looking at it softly.
Enjoying a cup of coffee.

Ask: (1) Do you drink coffee? How often? (2) Do you think food and drinks can change your mood? Why or why not?

VOCAB LIST

gut-brain link (n. phr.) — The connection between digestion and the brain.
immune system (n. phr.) — The body system that protects you from disease.
gut bacteria (n. phr.) — Tiny living things in the gut that can affect digestion and health.
anxiety (n.) — A feeling of worry or nervousness.
digestion (n.) — The process of breaking down food in the body.
attention (n.) — the ability to focus on something carefully.
decaffeinated (adj.) — Made with most or all of the caffeine removed.
swelling (n.) — A condition in which part of the body becomes larger or thicker.
self-control (n.) — The ability to control your feelings and actions.
disturb (v.) — To interrupt something and stop it from staying calm or normal.

Reading

Researchers in Ireland say coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or decaffeinated coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.

The researchers followed participants with questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.

Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better self-control. The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the nervous system.

However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.

The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can disturb sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.

Coffee, Mood, and Gut Bacteria

Level 4 Source: healthline.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Illustrated landscape scene of a relaxed Asian woman sitting in a cozy cafe, holding a steaming cup of coffee with both hands and looking at it softly.
Enjoying a cup of coffee.

Researchers in Ireland say coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or decaffeinated coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.

The researchers followed participants with questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.

Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better self-control. The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the nervous system.

However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.

The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can disturb sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.

Speaker: British Female  Duration: 1:55  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Researchers in Ireland say coffee may (1) mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or (2) coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.

The researchers followed participants with (3) , diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.

Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better (4) . The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the (5) .

However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger (6) , and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.

The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can (7) sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • Coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, and both regular and decaf coffee showed benefits in the study. Correct answer
  • The study suggests that decaf may be the better option because it improved learning and memory more than regular coffee.
  • The article focuses on how the right amount of coffee can help people avoid sleep problems and feel less stressed.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Both coffee groups said they felt less stressed during the study.
    The article says both the regular coffee group and the decaf group felt less stressed.
  • The team relied only on body samples to study the effects of coffee.
    The researchers used questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples, not only body samples.
  • The study says drinking more coffee is always better for gut and brain health.
    The final paragraph says more coffee is not always better and too much can disturb sleep.

True or False

1. Both coffee groups said they felt less stressed during the study. TRUEFALSE True

2. The team relied only on body samples to study the effects of coffee. TRUEFALSE False

3. The study says drinking more coffee is always better for gut and brain health. TRUEFALSE False

Multiple Choice

1. What did the researchers study besides mood changes?

   a) Sleep schedules and exercise habits

   b) Gut bacteriaCorrect

   c) Workplace stress at coffee shops

   d) Weather and seasonal changes

2. Which drink was linked to better learning and memory?

   a) Regular coffee

   b) Both drinks equally

   c) Decaf coffeeCorrect

   d) No coffee at all

3. What was associated with caffeinated coffee?

   a) Better digestion and stronger memory

   b) Higher anxiety and worse attention

   c) More sleep and less pressure

   d) Lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swellingCorrect

4. What do the researchers say about how much coffee to drink?

   a) Two or three cups a day may be useful, but too much can disturb sleep.Correct

   b) Everyone should drink as much coffee as possible for brain health.

   c) One cup a week is the only healthy amount.

   d) People should avoid coffee completely if they feel stress.

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Influenceg) mood

2. Feelf) stressed

3. Helpe) digestion

4. Supportd) the immune system

5. Lowerc) anxiety

6. Drinkb) coffee

7. Disturba) sleep

a) sleep

b) coffee

c) anxiety

d) the immune system

e) digestion

f) stressed

g) mood

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. decaf seems like a good option if someone wants coffee but worries about sleep.

    To me, / But, / For example, / Because of that,

    To me, decaf seems like a good option if someone wants coffee but worries about sleep.

  2. Coffee might help some people focus, it can cause problems if they drink too much.

    and / because / but / so

    Coffee might help some people focus, but it can cause problems if they drink too much.

  3. People react to coffee in different ways. I think the right amount depends on the person.

    Also, / So, / For example, / Still,

    People react to coffee in different ways. So, I think the right amount depends on the person.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. drink it B. every day. C. coffee is popular D. because E. In my country, F. many people

    In my country, coffee is popular because many people drink it every day.

  2. A. take a short break B. try to sleep C. earlier. D. and E. When I'm stressed, F. I usually

    When I'm stressed, I usually take a short break and try to sleep earlier.

  3. A. coffee helps me, B. depends on C. Even if D. the person. E. I'd still say F. the right amount

    Even if coffee helps me, I'd still say the right amount depends on the person.

Discussion Questions

  1. What was your first reaction to this story?
  2. Why do you think the researchers compared regular coffee and decaf?
  3. Why might some people prefer decaf after reading this article?
  4. Do you think coffee helps you focus or feel calmer? Why or why not?
  5. Is coffee a popular drink in your country?
  6. What problems can happen if someone drinks too much coffee?
  7. Should people change their habits after reading one study? Why or why not?
  8. How do you usually manage stress during busy times?
  9. Do you think the right amount of coffee is different for each person? Why?

Answers Coffee, Mood, and Gut Bacteria / Level 4

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) influence, (2) decaffeinated, (3) questionnaires, (4) self-control, (5) nervous system, (6) attention, (7) disturb

Main Idea: Coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, and both regular and decaf coffee showed benefits in the study.

True or False:

  1. True. The article says both the regular coffee group and the decaf group felt less stressed.
  2. False. The researchers used questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples, not only body samples.
  3. False. The final paragraph says more coffee is not always better and too much can disturb sleep.

Multiple Choice: b, c, d, a

Vocabulary:

  1. Influence: mood
  2. Feel: stressed
  3. Help: digestion
  4. Support: the immune system
  1. Lower: anxiety
  2. Drink: coffee
  3. Disturb: sleep

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Contrast. 3) Result.

  1. To me,
  2. but
  3. So,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. In my country, coffee is popular because many people drink it every day.
  2. When I'm stressed, I usually take a short break and try to sleep earlier.
  3. Even if coffee helps me, I'd still say the right amount depends on the person.

eslnewsstories.com