[CallMeJim]

Were there significant productivity and quality improvements for a coffee break, when compared to a simple break of the same length without coffee?

My gut feel is that the important part here is the break, not the coffee — prior to that point it was common to work without stopping.

[wpietri]

And even if the caffeine did improve productivity over and above the break itself, that still doesn't prove that the bill doesn't come due later, outside of work hours.

[strken]

I'd like to see the results from comparing coffee, tea, a caffeine-free herbal tea, water, a break without any substance, a break at your workspace vs a break at a breakroom some distance away, sitting while drinking vs standing while drinking, sun vs indoors, conversation vs silence, and so on.