Professor bans coffee from his 8 AM class, much to the dismay of his student who works nights and only gets 5 hours of sleep: 'How do I survive mornings without it?'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Oct 20, 2026 12:30 PM EDT

Most students can probably handle skipping their morning coffee during their 8 AM lecture, but this young scholar is in a difficult situation. He works nights to get through school and shows up to his morning class on less than 5 hours of sleep every day. If he doesn't have his coffee in class, he doesn't have time to drink it beforehand. 

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  • Teacher instructing students in a classroom lecture
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Professor lecturing to his 8 AM class.

    Not actual story subjects.

  • Professor banned coffee from our 8 AM class. [How do I] survive mornings without it?

    One of my professors banned coffee from his classroom because he can't stand the smell. Apparently it gives him headaches so he asked everyone to stop bringing it in. He said the smell tends to linger in the room even after class ends.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • I get it. It's his classroom and I'm not gonna argue with the guy over a cup of coffee. A few students weren't too happy about it but nobody said much.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • The problem is his class starts at 8 AM and I work late shifts and most nights I don't get home until midnight and by the time I've eaten something and finished my assignments I'm lucky if I get 5 hours of sleep.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • Coffee has been part of my morning routine since freshman year. I usually grab a cup on my way to campus and sip it during my first class. It helps me wake up and pay attention instead of spending the whole lecture trying not to fall asleep.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • I know this isn't some huge issue and I'm not trying to get the professor to change his mind. I respect his reasons. It's just that balancing classes with work has been exhausting enough and losing the one thing that helps me get through early lectures isn't ideal.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • I've thought about switching to energy drinks but I don't want to start carrying cans around campus every morning and they aren't the healthiest. I've also heard people talk about caffeine gum and other alternatives but I have no clue about any of that.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • I'm curious how other students deal with this kind of schedule. Especially those who work late. and have classes first thing in the morning. Is there anything you've found that helps you stay awake and pay attention without drinking coffee during class? I still plan on having my morning cup before heading in
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • but I could use something to get me through those longer lectures. Any advice would help because I've got a whole semester of 8 AM classes ahead of me.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • book22220 Why not just drink it before class?
    via u/book22220
  • zombiesatemybaby And get up 5 minutes earlier? Do you know what you're asking of OP? You might as well be asking them to cut off their own arm!!
    via u/zombiesatemybaby
  • accidentalscientist Well, they said they work night shift and get 5 hours of sleep at best. As someone who did that, waking up earlier and getting even less sleep is a big deal.
    via u/accidentalscientist_
  • KaputDrumming OP Trust me I'd love to have those extra 5 minutes loool. But when you're running on barely any sleep after a night shift every minute counts.
    via u/KaputDrumming
  • mizboring Buy some Starbucks doubleshots in a can (espresso and cream are my fav) and down it on your way to class. They are small.
    via u/mizboring
  • Evening Culture_42 Part of the benefit of bringing coffee to class is that having a mug to sip during lectures keeps you awake, in addition to the caffeine, right? I totally get it. It's not just the caffeine, it's also the warm flavored liquid that you can sip to break up the monotony. Why not try a strong mug of builder's tea? Very strong British blend black tea, with a healthy spoon of sugar and milk. Of course, that requires making it yourself which takes more time, or teaching your local co
    via u/Evening_Culture_42
  • BugPuzzleheaded6160 If it comes down to it you could just get a solid thermos to put it in so he doesn't see it and it would likely conceal the smell more.
    via u/BugPuzzleheaded6160
  • DiligentPeak1929 As someone who used to be just like this professor, travel mugs don't help much. And particularly if 50 of them are about. Plus, coffee breath is a thing. I can now actually drink coffee, but it took over 10 years of what amounts to exposure therapy before I had my first cup in over 20 years. But that exposure was my choice - I married a pot a day guy. The Prof may not be in a place to handle it.
    via u/DiligentPeak1929
  • VicsKid The sleep deprivation from your current work/class schedule is much worse for your health than energy drinks.
    via u/VicsKid

    This is the real problem. If he had even a couple more minutes in the morning to drink coffee, he wouldn't need to ask this question.

    When you're in college, it's easy to overwork yourself, especially when you have to pay your own tuition and bills. You are out on your own for the first time, so you are figuring out how much you can handle, and you often overdo it. When I was in college, I did so much all the time that it absolutely exhausted me. I didn't have to take so many credit hours, work part-time, and take on leadership roles, but I didn't have my parents in my life to tell me "no," so I let myself work myself so hard until I learned what I could actually handle. 

    I hope this young man has someone in his life who can help him get through college without sacrificing his health. If not, at least college is only four years. An 18-year-old can survive four years of bad habits.

  • wellstone_fan Caffeine gummies. They're great. I use them on car trips when I don't want to have to stop again right away.
    via u/wellstone_fan

    Caffeine pills are also an option, but I understand why people are hesitant to recommend them. They are easy to get addicted to, and who among us has not been freaked out by the episode of Saved By The Bell where Jessie gets "so excited!" I wouldn't recommend them to someone who gets 4 hours of sleep every night, because they are so tired it would be easy to take too many out of convenience or exhaustion. It's better that he stick with a caffeinated beverage.

  • I can't believe nobody suggested what I would suggest: Diet Coke. I know Diet Coke is objectively much less healthy than coffee, but honestly, I don't think health is this guy's number one concern right now. If it were, he wouldn't have a job that makes 5 hours of sleep seem like a luxury. I like Diet Coke because it's much cheaper than coffee. One bottle of Diet Coke is $2.50, and a cup of coffee from a coffee shop is a lot more than that! Sure, Diet Coke has less caffeine, but it has just enough to wake you up for an 8 AM class! I know a lot of people find the idea of drinking soda at 8 AM to be gross and undignified, but if you don't like tea and your can't bring coffee to your lecture, a nice cold bottle of Diet Coke might be your best option, especially in college, when it is available at vending machines across campus!

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caffeine class school student students tired college students lecture teacher Professors tea coffee college student
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