Nadia comes to the counter holding her phone. Tomasz, a medicines counter assistant, asks if he can help.

Nadia: I keep seeing posts saying that coffee is really good for you, so I’m thinking of getting a proper coffee machine for the house. But is coffee actually okay for everyone, or should some people avoid it?

Tomasz: That’s a really good question. For most healthy adults, around three to four cups a day is fine, and the research on coffee is mostly positive. But there are some people who need to be more careful. Who would be drinking it?

Nadia: Me, my husband and my mum, who lives with us. I do get quite anxious sometimes, and I haven’t been sleeping brilliantly.

Tomasz: Caffeine can make anxiety, palpitations and sleep problems worse for some people, so you might find it helps to cut back, and not have caffeine in the afternoon. Decaf is a good option as it seems to have many of the same health benefits as caffeinated coffee. Does your husband take any medicines?

Nadia: He takes a thyroid tablet every morning. He usually has it with his breakfast coffee.

Tomasz: Coffee can stop that type of medication being absorbed properly. It’s usually best taken with water on an empty stomach, with a gap before coffee or food. What about your mum?

Nadia: She has a weekly tablet for her bones, and she gets heartburn quite a lot.

Tomasz: Your mum’s medication needs to be taken with plain tap water only, and she’ll need to wait before having anything else, including coffee. Coffee can also make heartburn worse for some people. Because there are a few medicines involved, I think it would be really helpful for you to have a quick chat with our pharmacist. Would that be okay?

Nadia: Yes, definitely. I had no idea there was so much to think about with a cup of coffee – thank you.