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I'm not sure I could force myself to fall asleep after drinking some caffeine, especially when I have a kitchen timer staring my in the face with 15 minutes left on it.

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Caffeine takes 15 minutes to kick in. So it won't disturb your nap. Down an espresso shot before your nap and you will wake up in 15 minutes without a kitchen timer and you will be very alert too.

While it may take fifteen minutes to kick in, for many people it has very strong associations with waking up. For somebody who habitually drinks coffee in the morning, even decaf may make them more alert for a few minutes by placebo. (I'm more of a tea drinker, and find hot herbal teas can have the same focusing effect.)

Also, if people usually drink their stimulant sweet, that's another confounding variable.

Caffeinated energy drink?

Likewise, if you usually drink those, you probably associate those with trying to be more awake as well.

(I'm assuming that's what you meant.)

No, I meant as a change from coffee so he wouldn't have the association.

> very strong associations with waking up

Which is why I said espresso shot, which you can throw in without much time for "ooh I am drinking coffee" thoughts.

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