Coffee is everywhere. It’s the most popular drink in the world, and it’s no surprise that people like it so much. Coffee has been around for over 1000 years and has been used as a stimulant in many cultures the world over. Today, there are many types of coffee, but all have one thing in common – they are delicious and very addicting!

 Understanding the Basics – Coffee Beans

Traditionally, there are two types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta.

Robusta is a coffee bean that has a bold and somewhat bitter taste. Compared to other beans, Robusta produces an intense, deep aroma and has a high caffeine content. The beans are mainly used for instant coffee and in espresso blends.

Arabica is the preferred coffee bean for many roasters because it has a lower acid content and a soft, smooth taste. It is also preferred for its ability to stay fresh for long periods of time without degrading as much as other beans do.

 Advantages of Coffee

Coffee is a beverage that has been around for centuries, and it has become the world’s most popular drink! It is enjoyed in many forms throughout the world, but there are some benefits of coffee that many people don’t know about. Following are some benefits of coffee:

Increase metabolism: Coffee also helps with weight loss because it contains Chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to increase metabolism. This chemical is also an antioxidant, which has shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

Increase energy levels: Caffeine is a known stimulant and helps increase energy levels. It can also help people who have trouble focusing or need extra wakefulness. Additionally, coffee has antioxidants that help the body fight off many diseases and conditions such as heart disease, dementia, and diabetes.

May help with type 2 diabetes: Whether drinking coffee lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes can be argued, but it is likely that the drink helps maintain a healthy body weight. In a study conducted by Harvard University, researchers found that people who drank three to four cups of coffee a day had lower levels of insulin resistance and consequently a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

May benefit brain health: Drinking coffee has been shown to have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of developing dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers believe that it could be due to the antioxidant properties in coffee or even its ability to increase levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Unfortunately, this can make coffee addictive too.

Beneficial for  weight management: Studies have proven that coffee can help you lose weight by reducing the calorie intake and appetite. A study has shown that people who drank two or three cups of coffee a day had significantly less body fat than those who did not drink coffee. Additionally, it is thought that the caffeine in coffee reduces inflammation and pain, which may help with weight management

May protect liver function: Coffee drinking had linked to several health benefits, such as lower risk of kidney stone formation, reduced risk of fractures in older adults, and protective effects on cognitive function. There is also a growing body of research linking coffee drinking to a reduced risk of liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which are being caused by obesity and type 2 diabetes.

 Disadvantages of Coffee

Consuming coffee in large amounts can lead to certain side effects, including sleep disruption and irritability. The mental fatigue that is associated with too much caffeine can also lead to stress, lack of focus, and social withdrawal. The following are the most common disadvantages/detriments to drinking coffee:

Can cause anxiety: If you drink a lot of coffee-it can cause anxiety and irritability. Over time, the same amount may not be enjoyable for some people who are sensitive to what it does to their bodies. It may also disrupt sleep patterns and increase blood pressure.

Can cause Insomnia: Many people enjoy the taste, smell, and stimulating effects that a cup of coffee in the morning provides, however for others these effects are undesirable. For those individuals who suffer from headaches or sleep problems from their coffee consumption, one solution may be to switch to decaffeinated or low caffeine coffee products instead. It is also important to understand that staying awake for long periods of time is bad for health.

Can worsen Diarrhea: Coffee can help with nausea caused by motion, but if you have diarrhea, it might make your condition worse. You should avoid coffee if you are experiencing symptoms like these, or if you need to follow a diet because of an issue.

Not advisable for individuals with epilepsy: Some people may think that a cup of caffeine is harmless for them, but for people with epilepsy, it’s a big mistake to drink coffee. Adversely affecting many parts of the brain, caffeine causes the seizure frequency to increase for up to 12 hours after consumption. If you have epilepsy and are faced with having only one cup of coffee a day, decreasing the number can make much more difference than replacing it with something healthier like tea or water.

Irritates gut: In moderation, it does not pose any serious health risk – but daily coffee drinkers should take note that even the best coffees are loaded with a number of gut-irritating additives. It can worsen symptoms of IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)

Makes bones more fragile: Coffee also has some negative side effects that are too commonly overlooked. A 2015 review found that drinking more than 5 cups per day can increase risk for fracture in women and men. This is because caffeine can increase the amount of calcium that is flushed out through urine.

The flavor of coffee also changes throughout the day, so many people prefer to drink their coffee in the morning, when it tastes its best. Another interesting feature to note is that coffee also tastes different when it’s hot vs cold.