You might be on the coffee lover’s side, or thinking it’s the most disgusting porridge on Earth. Either way, your genes could be to blame according to Dr Karan Raj, a National Health Service surgeon in the UK and a popular medical TikToker with over 4.4 million followers.

“There are at least six genes related to the way your body processes caffeine,” he says in a recent video, going on to explain four of the genes related to coffee.

The BDNF and SLC6A4 genes influence how you experience the gratifying effects of caffeine, says Dr. Raj, and depending on how they’re wired, can make you crave coffee even more.

The CYP1A2 gene is linked to the way your body metabolizes and breaks down caffeine. If you have the CYP1A2 * 1A variant of this gene, you are a “rapid” metabolizer of caffeine, according to a study by Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Those who break down caffeine faster are more likely to drink more [coffee] because the effects wear off faster, ”says Dr Raj. “It may also explain why some people may drink coffee late in the day and still get a good night’s sleep.

Finally, the TAS2R38 gene is connected to taste receptors in your tongue that allow you to taste bitterness, says Dr. Raj. “If you have two copies of this mutated gene, you will be less susceptible to the bitter taste,” he says. “And you are more likely to like and [really enjoy drinking] Coffee.”

Whether or not coffee is your jam or not, there is nothing wrong with you. We are all just wired differently.

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