Coffee has long been the go-to beverage of the bleary-eyed early morning crowd – but could the jolt of energy that comes with all that caffeine be put to even better use in the gym?

For some people, the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

While your local supplement store is likely to have shelves upon shelves of fancy pre-workout powders that get your heart rate buzzing, you could get the same type of benefit with a simple cup of coffee.

Why coffee could be great for your workout

Trainers and athletes alike swear by coffee over pre-workout supplements because they often have the same active ingredient: Caffeine.

The stimulant has proven effective in boosting athletic performance, and nutritionist Megan Medrano of Run Whole Nutrition told MensHealth.com that caffeine ingestion “can improve performance during intense exercise lasting 5 to 20 minutes” – provided that you’re taking it in alongside food.

“Your body still needs an adequate amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein to power through an entire workout,” Medrano added. “If you want to add coffee to your pre-fuelling plan, be sure to add it in addition to your normal meal or snack, not in place of it.”