The optimal time to drink coffee isn't when you normally have it

Maybe coffee doesn't need to be the very first step in our morning routines.

While it's often associated with wakefulness, experts claim there may be benefits to holding off on that cup of joe for a different time of day.

Cortisol, a stress hormone, is highest in our body right as we wake up, according to Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition.

DRINKING COFFEE AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY COULD REDUCE DEATH RISK, STUDY FINDS

From there...