- According to legend, an Ethiopian goat farmer named Kaldi discovered coffee in the 6th century. He noted that his goats became energized when they snacked on what turned out to be coffee berries. Kaldi gave some coffee berries to a local monk who figured out how to brew the berry’s beans to make coffee.
- Coffee beans as we know them are actually the pits of berries that are grown on bushes. Even though coffee is actually a seed, it’s called a bean because of its resemblance to actual beans.
- Scientific studies, in general, find that coffee in moderation is beneficial. Studies have found that coffee is good for your liver, may lower heart attack risk, colon cancer risk, and generally reduce the risk of early death. That is just a partial list of the potential benefits. See this study for more info. Not all studies are positive – some have shown negative health effects, but because coffee is awesome I’m going to ignore those negative studies.
- The average 8oz cup of coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine. Decaf coffee contains about 10 milligrams of caffeine. A shot of espresso has 65 milligrams. A can of Coke has about 30 milligrams, and an 8oz cup of black tea has about 50 milligrams of caffeine. Experts recommend consuming no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day.
- Americans place 22nd when it comes to the amount of coffee we consume at 3.1kg per capita. First place goes to Finland at 9.6kg per capita. (Figures are in dry weight of coffee consumed given variations in how coffee is brewed.)
- Very importantly, a warm cup of coffee is associated with an increased need to defecate in about 30% of humans. What causes the need to defecate after coffee? It’s not the caffeine. Instead, the coffee (whether caffeinated or decaf) triggers a distal colon response. While the exact mechanism is not known, it is thought to be the result of a variety of hormonal effects triggered by naturally occurring chemicals in coffee.
Hate to burst the bubble. Not a fan, only useful minimally and very strategically for athletic performance -competition. And caffeine is not healthy for children or adolescents, yet the marketing of such products is excessive and extensive. Caffeine is not awesome for young population, and caffeine laced products and recipes are becoming too pervasive in the food market. Furthermore, most warm liquid beverages also lead to defecation. Perhaps caffeine or coffee stimulate particular response. Not a compelling reason to consume.
This out from WU this morning. John, as always, you’re ahead of the curve.
http://sportsacl.wustl.edu/2017/09/coffees-benefits-may-be-greatest-over.html?m=1