70% of Coffee Drinkers Say Daylight Saving Time Causes Anxiety, Study Shows

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 coffee drinkers with internet access between Feb. 3 and Feb. 4, 2026 and found roughly 70 percent reported some degree of anxiety or concern about the upcoming daylight-saving time shift, in a study commissioned by Tata Consumer Products U.S. Inc., owner of Eight O’Clock Coffee. The survey frames the time change as a disruption to morning routines that matter to coffee consumers.

The survey underscores how central coffee is to those routines: 93 percent of respondents said they make their own coffee every morning, and the same 93 percent agreed coffee provides at least some motivation to get through the day. Respondents drew a tight link between quality and outcome - 73 percent said a good cup makes their day more successful, while 79 percent said a quality cup impacts how easy their day feels.

Respondents also quantified the ritual. On average people reported spending 16 minutes making and drinking coffee, compared with 11 minutes showering, nine minutes eating breakfast, and eight minutes on hair and makeup. Nearly half - 47 percent - admitted they go to bed earlier specifically to ensure they have enough time for their morning brew, and 48 percent said they plan to keep their coffee routine unchanged even with less daylight during the day.

The survey drilled into DST-specific worries and behavioral trade-offs: 29 percent said their top concern is having to wake up earlier, 27 percent cited feeling more tired, and 27 percent cited difficulty falling asleep. Only 15 percent said they would skip coffee if running late; instead respondents said they’d forgo other tasks first - 40 percent would skip making the bed, 25 percent would skip eating breakfast, 22 percent would skip shaving, and 17 percent would skip packing lunch. Half of respondents said they would even be late for work to enjoy a perfect cup.

Christina Scharer, vice president of marketing at Tata Consumer Products U.S. Inc., summed the behavioral impact tied to that anxiety: "Daylight saving time disrupts routines and with one hour less in the day, suddenly every minute feels more precious. Our research shows that 28 percent of respondents will reach for more coffee to power through the time change."

Methodologically, Talker Research notes the study was administered online and points readers to its Process and Methodology page and a downloadable questionnaire and infographic for full transparency; the work was commissioned by Tata Consumer Products U.S. Inc. and was fielded Feb. 3–4, 2026. Talker Research and Tata also make story assets available for reuse with credit to the organizations.

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8, when clocks move ahead at 2 a.m., and the survey suggests the shift will not push coffee to the sidelines; if anything, it tightens the ritual - with sizeable shares of drinkers changing bedtimes, reaching for extra caffeine, or refusing to give up that first cup.