Nestlé's CEO says he drinks at least 8 cups of coffee daily and tackles his biggest tasks in the a.m.

• Nestlé's CEO drinks "at least" eight cups of coffee daily — and downs the first five by 10 a.m.
• Philipp Navratil enjoys his coffee black and cold and has only recently started dabbling in decaf.
• Despite a high caffeine intake, he said he sleeps about eight hours a night and wakes up at 6:30 a.m.

Lots of executives drink coffee. Few drink as much as Nestlé's CEO, Philipp Navratil.

"Before 10, I would have had five cups for sure," the CEO told Business Insider, adding that he typically has "at least" eight cups of coffee every day.

The CEO of the company behind more than 30 billion-dollar brands, including Nespresso and DiGiorno, said he likes his coffee black, cold, and without sugar. Navratil said he considers his go-to drink a "healthy beverage" and has only recently started dabbling in decaf.

Navratil said he starts with drinking water when he wakes up to make sure he's hydrated, and then switches to coffee. Starting his day with coffee is part of his routine, and he really "looks forward to that cup."

This is part of a series of stories from Business Insider's conversation with Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil:

• Nestlé's CEO says these 3 qualities will get you promoted
• Nestlé's CEO says this is the most important skill for workers in the AI era
• Nestlé's CEO shares the feedback he got that changed how he leads
• Nestlé’s CEO shares his advice for building teams that can weather a crisis

Top morning priorities

Navratil said he sleeps well despite his caffeine intake and tries to get eight hours every night, though he admits it doesn't always happen.

The CEO said he typically wakes up around 6:30 a.m. because he works best in the morning. He said he aims to get his most productive hours in before lunch.

"I'm better in the morning," said Navratil, who started working at Nestlé in 2001.

The CEO said he has his final cup of coffee after dinner, and typically drinks an espresso — although that cup might be decaf. Navratil said coffee is more of a "psychological thing" to him, anyway.

"I really enjoy coffee," Navratil said. "I just like the flavor."