If there is one thing all of us have in common, it is that we all love coffee. So, here are some reasons why we love drinking coffee and how it has become a vital part of our day.
I must admit I remember my coffee origin story, but I can’t really remember why drinking coffee is something I fell in love with it. Of course, it tastes great, but so does pizza, yet you won’t see me eating it every day. Taste is a factor, but the flavor alone is too shallow of an explanation.
To rationalize this unconditional love, I jotted down why drinking coffee is such a vital part of my day.
1. It Improves Our Overall Mood
Have you ever caught yourself smiling when you take that first sip of your cup of Joe or when you feel captivated by the smell of your favorite coffee shop upon entering? There is a scientific explanation.
A roasted coffee bean contains more than 1000 chemical compounds. These molecules, such as guaiacol (which emits that smoky and spicy aroma) and 2-furfurylthiol (which gives off that roasted smell), can be found in your regular brewed coffee. That is why it smells so good to us!
How about when consuming it? Drinking coffee is an effective mood booster because coffee fuels the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel good. The antioxidants also help since they aid in lowering your stress levels.
2. It Can Prolong Your Life
I certainly want to spend more precious time with my loved ones. Good thing the beverage we all love can help facilitate that.
A study conducted over ten years by the American Medical Association’s JAMA Internal Medicine showed that subjects who drank one to eight cups of coffee per day were 10% to 15% less likely to die during that period than non-coffee drinkers. This may be due to the rich health benefits that your regular cup of coffee provides.
You shouldn’t worry about being dependent on coffee, as well. Though caffeine withdrawal is a pain, its physical and social effects are not severe compared to illegal drugs or alcohol, so it doesn’t fall under the “addiction” category. But just to be safe, moderation is always key!
3. An Array Of Flavors To Choose From
Up to now, it still blows my mind how many flavors a simple beverage can have. There are four main types of coffee beans right now, namely Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. On their own or blended, they will give different flavor profiles to enjoy.
Those are just the beans. Factor in the countless instant coffee flavors, over 300 Keurig and Nespresso pods and capsules, and the menu our favorite coffee shop offers, and we have a robust, sometimes weird java-filled world we can explore. As coffee lovers, we yearn to experience all these different varieties.
I just stick with the regular black coffee. But I wouldn’t put it past me to try some of the best gourmet coffee brands.
4. It Brews Your Creativity
This will resonate with you if you love to brew your own cup. I believe making coffee is an art form.
It can be as simple as playing around with your instant coffee by adding different kinds of milk or additives such as honey, lemon, or even egg yolk. It can be complex to try out several home brewing methods or use coffee-makers such as the Chemex or the Hario V60 to learn new techniques to extract your coffee’s full flavor.
Simply put, we love to drink our coffee because it can bring out our imaginative side when making it. It is a beverage that you can play around with.
5. It Brings Out Our Societal Side
You would be surprised to know that coffee shops were one of the most preferred meet-up venues as early as the 18th century. There is a chance your great-great-grandfather also bonded with his friends over coffee! This tradition continues to prevail because these establishments feature a beverage that improves your mood and an environment that promotes rest and relaxation.
From the coffee itself, the eye-pleasing interior design, to the jazz lounge background music we hear, these minor details allow our coffee shop to become a place conducive to spending time with your friends or making new ones.
I spent a lot of time studying in a coffee shop alone. I wasn’t interacting with anybody, but seeing that other people were going through the same routine, in the same vicinity drinking the same coffee as me, brought an unexplainable sense of comfort.
