Caffeine Source and Shooting Performance Among Esports Players: Coffee Versus Energy Drink

This study investigated the effects of two caffeine sources (coffee and energy drink) on the shooting performance and reaction time of nine first-person shooter esports players (eight males, one female; age = 23.7 ± 3.1 years). Participants completed three experimental trials, consuming either a water control or 151 mg of caffeine from both a coffee (COF) and sugar-free energy drink (END). Participants completed two shooting tasks on the KovaaK’s first-person shooter aim trainer (static clicking and reactive tracking), a Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and a subjective ratings questionnaire at four time points: baseline, 60 min, 80 min, and 100 min posttreatment. Irrespective of source, caffeine significantly improved static clicking and reactive tracking shooting performance, as well as reaction time on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. Caffeine improved ratings of alertness, tiredness, and overall mood, and increased jitteriness, while only END decreased ratings of hunger. Participants expected better performance with COF and END, but no associations were found between improved performance and expectancy. In summary, irrespective of source, COF and END improves the shooting performance and reaction time of first-person shooter esports players, with improvements not associated with expectations of caffeine efficacy.