View Full Version : Coffee Trivia
Coffee has been in use since about 900 A.D. It was first used as a stimulant, a wine, and as a medicine. :coffeedrink:
In general, West Coast coffee drinkers prefer darker roasted coffees while East Coast coffee drinkers prefer a lighter roast.
Coffee has been in use since about 900 A.D. It was first used as a stimulant, a wine, and as a medicine. :coffeedrink:
just posting:
When you travel you may notice differences in the taste of your coffee simply from the altitude at which you are located. Taste buds are less sensitive at higher altitudes than at sea level.
source: coffee-trivia:laugh:
Esham g
02/22/09, 01:50 AM
I`m a new coffe user can u tell me how can i make friends over here.:smilie3:
I`m a new coffe user can u tell me how can i make friends over here.:smilie3:
Just visit the site every now and then, I made friends here all by myself.
Try to go/ attending EB's and other gatherings here, before you knew it, you have lots of friends!
Welcome here and goodluck!:groove:
Here are some more trivia guys:
1. Coffee was first known in Europe as Arabian Wine.
2. The Arabs are generally believed to be the first to brew coffee.
3. Milk as an additive to coffee became popular in the 1680's, when a French physician recommended that cafe au lait be used for medicinal purposes.
4. The first Parisian cafe opened in 1689 to serve coffee.
5. Bach wrote a coffee cantata in 1732
6. In the year 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice.
7. The heavy tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773, which caused the "Boston Tea Party," resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. Drinking coffee was an expression of freedom.
8. The founding fathers of the U.S., during the revolution, formed their national strategies in coffeehouses.
9. In early America, coffee was usually taken between meals and after dinner.
10. In the year 1790, there were two firsts in the United States; the first wholesale coffee roasting company, and the first newspaper advertisement featuring coffee.
11. The prototype of the first espresso machine was created in France in 1822.
12. By 1850, the manual coffee grinder found its way to most upper middle class kitchens of the U.S..
13. The Civil War in the United States elevated the popularity of coffee to new heights. Soldiers went to war with coffee beans as a primary ration.
14. In 1900, coffee was often delivered door-to-door in the United States, by horse-pulled wagons.
15. The first commercial espresso machine was manufactured in Italy in 1906.
16. In Italy, coffee and espresso are synonymous.
17. The average age of an Italian barista is 48 years old. A barista is a respected job title in Italy.
18. Italians do not drink espresso during meals. It is considered to be a separate event and is given its own time.
19. In Italy, espresso is considered so essential to daily life that the price is regulated by the government.
20. Italy now has over 200,000 coffee bars, and still growing.
21. In Greece and Turkey, the oldest person is most always served their coffee first.
22. In the ancient Arab world, coffee became such a staple in family life that one of the causes allowed by law for marital separation was a husband's refusal to produce coffee for his wife.
23. Raw coffee beans, soaked in water and spices, are chewed like candy in many parts of Africa.
24. In the last three centuries, 90% of all people living in the Western world have switched from tea to coffee.
25. Coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the United States.
^^^ source: Trivia 101
trailblazerstravelntours
02/27/09, 11:26 PM
Coffee has been in use since about 900 A.D. It was first used as a stimulant, a wine, and as a medicine. :coffeedrink:
There's so much about coffee here. Thanks, tcha. People use coffee today to cleanse internal organs like the liver. They call it coffee enema. Some believe that coffee is better used as cleanser and doctors say it is very effective because of its antioxidant properties. Some people shy away from coffee as a drink because it causes hyperacidity. But the aroma of coffee is hard to resist. So I reserve those yummy cups for special occasions only. :coffeedrink:
ctivnan
02/28/09, 04:59 PM
Here are some more trivia guys:
3. Milk as an additive to coffee became popular in the 1680's, when a French physician recommended that cafe au lait be used for medicinal purposes.
5. Bach wrote a coffee cantata in 1732
22. In the ancient Arab world, coffee became such a staple in family life that one of the causes allowed by law for marital separation was a husband's refusal to produce coffee for his wife.
Dear Tcha, :thanks: very much for the additional info on coffee! :Bunny Smiley 6088:
I find these three especially intriguing! :coffeedrink:
There's so much about coffee here. Thanks, tcha. People use coffee today to cleanse internal organs like the liver. They call it coffee enema. Some believe that coffee is better used as cleanser and doctors say it is very effective because of its antioxidant properties. Some people shy away from coffee as a drink because it causes hyperacidity. But the aroma of coffee is hard to resist. So I reserve those yummy cups for special occasions only. :coffeedrink:
^^^ hi,miss you! hey, where can I find that wheat grass and how much is it?:)
Did you know that...?
legend of "cowboy coffee"? It was said they made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock and immerse it in water heated over campfire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.
- one time there was a group of women who formed Women's Petition Against Coffee (WPAC). That was in London in 1674. They complained that their men were always at the coffee houses, and not being at home as needed during domestic crises.
- the requirements for making of good espresso is summarised by the 4 "M"s: Macinazione (the correct grinding of coffee blend), Miscela (coffee blend), Macchina (the espresso machine) and of course, Mano (barista).
-the first coffee advertisement was a handbill distributed in 1651. It read:
"The Vertue of the coffee drink first publiquely made and sold in England, by Pasqua Rosee...in St. Michael's Alley Cornhill...at the Signe of his own head." It is now housed in the British Musuem.
-until the tenth century, coffee was considered a FOOD? Ethiopian tribesmen would mix the coffee berries with animal fat, roll them into balls, and eat them on their nomadic journies!
Do you know how coffee is spoken in these countries?
Country Spoken as: Country Spoken as: China (Mandarin) Kafei Japan Koohii Czechlovakia Kava Laos Kafe Denmark Kaffe Lebanon Qahwa Egypt Masbout Holland Koffie Israel Kave Norway Kaffee Finalnd Kahvi Philippines Kape France Cafe Poland Kawa Germany Kaffee Italy Coffea Greek Kafes Kenya Kalawa Hawaii Kope Spain Kafe Hungary Kave Arabic Countries Qahwa / Kahwa Indonesia/Malaysia Kopi Thailand Gafae Iran Gehve Armenian Sourj Iraq Qahwa Ethopia...where it may have started: Buna
source:kofeekorner
I use to think the crappiest coffee in America came from Charbux.
Now I'd have to say it's McDonald's. Their attempt at cafe quality coffee based drinks must be the biggest joke ever. My wife was hooked on their vanilla skim milk lattes because she always said my shots and milk based drinks are too strong for mere mortals. She went to the local McDs several times and the last time what they gave her was steamed milk and some vanilla flavoring. No coffee taste at all. She took it back and the next one was worse than the first. The guy was trying to tell her something like "I pushed the right button to make that" and that is pathetic. If a company is going to tout their coffee as the best they should get their crap right and buy decent equipment and train people properly to do the job right. Just my opinion as usual. Later!
posted by: shadow745 at coffee forums
So what is the truth about coffee?
by CHERRY MASLEN, Daily Mail
Last updated at 16:59 19 October 2004
THE BAD NEWS
The Heart
It is suspected that too much coffee can trigger an irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia) in those prone to the condition, which affects around 2 per cent of the population. The problem is believed to be caused by the stimulant caffeine. However, the British Heart Foundation says that drinking moderate amounts is unlikely to increase the risk of developing arrhythmia in those not already susceptible to it.
Blood pressure Research into whether caffeine raises blood pressure took a new turn in 2003, when a team at Edinburgh University tested its effect on the arteries around the heart - rather than in the arm as normal. After the caffeine equivalent of four to five cups of coffee, volunteers' blood pressure rose sharply, even though the arteries in the arm showed no change. This hidden rise may explain why previous studies regarding caffeine and high blood pressure have been inconclusive. The long-term effects on the cardiovascular system are still unknown.
The Stomach
Coffee does not cause ulcers but could aggravate existing ones, because it stimulates the stomach's acid secretions.
Diabetes
Two reports this year have shown different views on caffeine and Type 2 diabetes, which is controlled by diet and drugs rather than insulin injections. American research found a link between coffee at mealtimes and increased blood sugar, indicating that caffeine could make this form of diabetes worse by interfering with blood sugar control. Diabetes UK, however, felt the study was too small (14 people) to make any recommendations, other than encouraging diabetics to check their blood sugar regularly so they are aware of fluctuations.
Conversely, research by Helsinki's National Public Health Institute found that coffee appeared to protect people from developing Type 2 diabetes in the first place. This is backed up by a report from the Harvard School of Public Health, which also suggests it is minerals in coffee - rather than the caffeine it contains - that have a protective effect.
Dehydration
There seems little doubt that coffee is a diuretic, encouraging the body to lose fluid, though some studies, including one published by the National Academy of Sciences in America, claim the effects are negligible. Migraine Coffee has long been listed as a possible trigger for migraine.This is thought to be due to compounds called amines in coffee, which stimulate blood platelets in the brain to clump together, releasing the chemical messenger serotonin and so triggering a migraine.
Loss of vitamins and minerals
Caffeine inhibits the body's absorption of iron and other nutrients, and causes calcium to be expelled from the body in urine. There has been concern this could increase the risk of osteoporosis. However, research is inconclusive, according to a UK Government report on nutrition and bone health, and in any case most people drink coffee with milk, increasing their overall calcium intake.
Fertility
Caffeine has been associated with low fertility. One study maintained that three or more cups a day was enough to reduce the chances of conceiving, though the results were partly based on what women could remember about their coffee consumption ten years previously.
But researchers at Sao Paulo University in Brazil discovered that men who regularly drank coffee had stronger sperm than men who did not. It is thought that caffeine has a stimulating effect on sperm, just as it does on the central nervous system.
Pregnancy
The Food Standards Agency issued a warning to pregnant women earlier this year after research suggested caffeine could be harmful to an unborn child. Pregnancy also slows down the elimination of caffeine from the system. The recommended daily limit for pregnant women is 300mg of caffeine, roughly equivalent to four cups of instant coffee, or three cups of freshly brewed.
THE GOOD NEWS
Antioxidants
Like both black and green tea, coffee contains antioxidants, which can help prevent the cell mutation which may lead to cancer.
Headaches
Surprisingly - given that it can be a migraine trigger - the caffeine in coffee can also help cure headaches. It is one of the ingredients in some headache pills because it increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers by as much as 40 per cent.
Brain stimulation
As coffee is a stimulant, it can help concentration. Earlier this year Dr Chiara Trombetti, of the Humanitas Gavazzeni Institute in Italy, went as far as suggesting a morning cup of milky coffee could get sleepy schoolchildren off to a good start. However, that is unlikely to be echoed by nutritionists here, who recommend sufficient sleep and good diet as better ways to cope with the mental demands of the day.
Liver health
Doctors cannot explain the link, but several studies have shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver.
Gallstones
Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones. In one study, women who drank four cups of coffee each day were 25 per cent less likely to need surgery for gallstones than non-drinkers.
Good for the skin?
Caffeine appeared to improve microcirculation when applied to the skin in one study, making cellulite look better.
from LiveScience
Buzzed goats make important discovery
It is only fitting that the history of a beverage so associated with good conversation starts with a storybook-like tale. Native only to parts of subtropical Africa, the stimulating effects of wild coffee beans are said to have been first discovered in about A.D. 800 by an Ethiopian shepherd named Kaldi, whose goats kept him up at nights after feasting on red coffee berries.
The shepherd shared his find with the abbott at a local monastery, where monks first brewed the beans into a hot drink, reveling in the way it kept them awake during long hours of prayer.
Romantic exaggeration or not, by A.D. 1000 the bean with a buzz was a favorite among those needing a boost in East Africa as well as across the Red Sea in Yemen, where the crop had migrated over with slaves.
If Ethiopia was the birthplace of coffee, Yemen was where it grew up. The brew first took hold among clerics there too, but spillover into the secular crowd didn't take long and skyrocketing demand soon led to the world's first cultivated coffee fields there in the 1300s.
The entire Arabian peninsula became a hotbed of coffeehouse culture, with cafés – called kaveh kanes – on every corner.
By the 15th-century, Mecca resembled a medieval (http://www.livescience.com/history/060803_medieval_torture.html) incarnation of Seattle, men sipping steaming mugs over games of chess and political conversations. Coffee houses were such an important place to gather and discuss that they were often called Schools of the Wise.
Coffee had much the same effect in Europe when it was introduced there in the 1600s. Cafés were the center of social life, where people with similar interests could gather and talk. The British insurance company, Lloyd's of London, began as a café popular with sailors who often discussed insurance matters.
GOOD NEWS FOR COFFEE DRINKERS
I frequently get asked if I think drinking coffee is like sleeping with the devil. People are surprised when I tell them no, and that coffee can be a healthy part of life--it doesn't have to mess with your sleep. There are a multitude of benefits that accompany coffee drinking, and now we have one more reason to add to the list: it can cut the risk of stroke in women.
The new study just published (http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20090216/coffee-cuts-stroke-risk-in-women?ecd=wnl_day_021709) shows that four or more cups of coffee a day reduced the risk of stroke by 20 percent in women. (Sorry, but men were not analyzed; this study came from a 24-year examination of nurses with no history of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, starting in 1980. My guess is they'd find similar results in men. The risk of stroke is higher in women, however.)
The best news came for those who don't smoke. Among those who either quit or never smoked at all, the risk was reduced by 43 percent. That's incredibly telling. Another blow to smoking. Another reason to kick that habit. But keep drinking your coffee.
So, how do you get your coffee fill without losing sleep over it? Four cups might seem like a lot, but not if you're drinking a regular brew. Some coffees contain more caffeine than others (a cup from Starbucks is like high-octane gas versus the regular stuff you make at home).
The secret is to avoid drinking coffee after 2 PM. It's a challenge if you're used to getting a pick-me-up when those late-afternoon slumps kick in. This is when switching to a less caffeinated beverage like green tea is ideal. Or sneak a 20-minute nap before 3 PM, then have a cup of tea. Just be sure to avoid all sources of caffeine after 3.
Interestingly, the benefits of drinking coffee seem to be limited to coffee. It's not the caffeine that's lowering the risk for stroke. There's something in the components of coffee itself.
That means don't start doubling up on your soda intake. No free passes on that, no matter how much you love a cold can of Coke or Pepsi. I know plenty of people who are addicted to soda and wonder why they don't sleep well at night when they drank it too close to bedtime. Caffeine and sugar make for a powerful "insomniatic" punch. If you need the fizz, try sparkling water. You'll probably lose weight, too, as you gain better sleep and nix excess calories. A sure-fire way to reduce your risk for all sorts of health problems.
Sweet Dreams,
The Sleep Doctor
Michael J. Breus, PhD
HUFFINGTONPOST.COM
Coffee May Help Fight off UV Skin Damage
Staff Writer
10:22 AM CST, March 2, 2009
kfsm.com
There's another reason to have that morning cup of joe. A new study shows caffeine can help kill off human cells damaged by UV light, a key trigger of skin cancer. Researchers hope the findings will one day lead to creams with caffeine in them that help reverse the effect of UV damage and prevent some skin cancers.
Coffee trivia from corsinet.com
"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and as sweet as love" - Turkish Proverb
52% of Americans drink coffee.
A acre of coffee trees can produce up to 10,000 pounds of coffee cherries. That amounts to approximately 2000 pounds of beans after hulling or milling.
A scientific report form the University of California found that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges. The antioxidants are heterocyclic compounds which prevents cancer and heart disease. It's good for you!
Adding sugar to coffee is believed to have started in 1715, in the court of King Louis XIV, the French monarch.
Advertisements for coffee in London in 1657 claimed that the beverage was a cure for scurvy, gout and other ills.
After the decaffeinating process, processing companies no longer throw the caffeine away; they sell it to pharmaceutical companies.
After they are roasted, and when the coffee beans begin to cool, they release about 700 chemical substances that make up the vaporizing aromas.
An arabica coffee tree can produce up to 12 pounds of coffee a year, depending on soil and climate.
Australians consume 60% more coffee than tea, a sixfold increase since 1940.
Beethoven who was a coffee lover, was so particular about his coffee that he always counted 60 beans each cup when he prepared his brew.
Before roasting, some green coffee beans are stored for years, and experts believe that certain beans improve with age, when stored properly.
Before the first French cafe in the late 1700's, coffee was sold by street vendors in Europe, in the Arab fashion. The Arabs were the forerunners of the sidewalk espresso carts of today.
Brazil accounts for almost 1/3 of the world's coffee production, producing over 3-1/3 billion pounds of coffee each year.
By 1850, the manual coffee grinder found its way to most upper middle class kitchens of the U.S.
Caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances. Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee.
Citrus has been added to coffee for several hundred years.
Coffee as a medicine reached its highest and lowest point in the 1600's in England. Wild medical contraptions to administer a mixture of coffee and an assortment of heated butter, honey, and oil, became treatments for the sick. Soon tea replaced coffee as the national beverage.
Coffee beans are similar to grapes that produce wine in that they are affected by the temperature, soil conditions, altitude, rainfall, drainage and degree of ripeness when picked.
Coffee is generally roasted between 400F and 425F. The longer it is roasted, the darker the roast. Roasting time is usually from ten to twenty minutes.
Coffee is graded according to 3 criteria: Bean quality (Altitude and Species) Quality of preparation Size of bean
Coffee is grown commercially in over forty-five countries throughout the world.
Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with over 400 billion cups consumed each year.
Coffee lends its popularity to the fact that just about all flavors mix well with it.
Coffee Recipe from: 'Kitchen Directory and American Housewife' (1844)
"Use a tablespoonful ground to a pint of boiling water [less than a quarter of what we would use today].
Boil in tin pot twenty to twenty-five minutes. If boiled longer it will not taste fresh and lively.
Let stand four or five minutes to settle, pour off grounds into a coffee pot or urn.
Put fish skin or isinglass size of a nine-pence in pot when put on to boil or else the white and shell of half an egg to a couple of quarts of coffee."
Coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the United States.
Coffee sacks are usually made of hemp and weigh approximately 132 pounds when they are full of green coffee beans. It takes over 600,000 beans to fill a coffee sack.
Coffee trees are evergreen and grow to heights above 15 feet but are normally pruned to around 8 feet in order to facilitate harvesting.
Coffee trees are self-pollinating
Coffee trees produce highly aromatic, short-lived flowers producing a scent between jasmine and orange. These blossoms produce cranberry-sized coffee cherries. It takes four to five years to yield a commercial harvest.
Coffee was first known in Europe as Arabian Wine.
Coffee, along with beer and peanut butter, is on the national list of the "ten most recognizable odors."
Coffee, as a world commodity, is second only to oil.
Commercially flavored coffee beans are flavored after they are roasted and partially cooled to around 100 degrees. Then the flavors applied, when the coffee beans' pores are open and therefore more receptive to flavor absorption.
Dark roasted coffees actually have LESS caffeine than medium roasts. The longer a coffee is roasted, the more caffeine burns off during the process.
During the American Civil War the Union soldiers were issued eight pounds of ground roasted coffee as part of their personal ration of one hundred pounds of food. And they had another choice: ten pounds of green coffee beans.
During World War II the U.S. government used 260 million pounds of instant coffee.
Finely grinding coffee beans and boiling them in water is still known as "Turkish Coffee." It is still made this way today in Turkey and Greece or anywhere else Turkish Coffee is served.
Flavored coffees are created after the roasting process by applying flavored oils specially created to use on coffee beans.
Frederick the great had his coffee made with champagne and a bit of mustard.
Hard Bean means the coffee was grown at an altitude above 5000 feet.
Hawaii is the only state of the United States in which coffee is commercially grown. Hawaii features an annual Kona Festival, coffee picking contest. Each year the winner becomes a state celebrity. In Hawaii coffee is harvested between November and April.
Hills Brothers Ground Vacuum Packed Coffee was first introduced in 1900.
Iced coffee in a can has been popular in Japan since 1945.
If you like your espresso coffee sweet, you should use granulated sugar, which dissolves more quickly, rather than sugar cubes; white sugar rather than brown sugar or candy; and real sugar rather than sweeteners which alter the taste of the coffee.
In 1670, Dorothy Jones of Boston was granted a license to sell coffee, and so became the first American coffee trader.
In 1727, as a result of seedlings smuggled from Paris, coffee plants first were cultivated in Brazil. Brazil is presently by far the world's largest producer of coffee.
In 1900, coffee was often delivered door-to-door in the United States, by horse-pulled wagons.
In 1990, over 4 billion dollars of coffee was imported into the United States.
In early America, coffee was usually taken between meals and after dinner.
In Italy, espresso is considered so essential to daily life that the price is regulated by the government.
In Japan, coffee shops are called Kissaten.
In Sumatra, workers on coffee plantations gather the world's most expensive coffee by following a gourmet marsupial who consumes only the choicest coffee beans. By picking through what he excretes, they obtain the world's most expensive coffee -'Kopi Luwak', which sells for over $100 per pound.
In the 14th century, the Arabs started to cultivate coffee plants. The first commercially grown and harvested coffee originated in the Arabian Peninsula near the port of Mocha.
In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family's pot filled with coffee.
In the last three centuries, 90% of all people living in the Western world have switched from tea to coffee.
In the year 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice.
In the year 1790, there were two firsts in the United States; the first wholesale coffee roasting company, and the first newspaper advertisement featuring coffee.
Irish cream and Hazelnut are the most popular whole bean coffee flavorings.
It was during the 1600's that the first coffee mill made its debut in London.
Italians do not drink espresso during meals. It is considered to be a separate event and is given its own time.
Italy now has over 200,000 coffee bars, and still growing.
Jamaica Blue Mountain is often regarded as the best coffee in the world.
Japan ranks Number 3 in the world for coffee consumption.
Large doses of coffee can be lethal. Ten grams, or 100 cups over 4 hours, can kill the average human.
Latte is the Italian word for milk. So if you request a latte' in Italy, you'll be served a glass of milk.
Lloyd's of London began as Edward Lloyd's coffeehouse.
Milk as an additive to coffee became popular in the 1680's, when a French physician recommended that cafe au lait be used for medicinal purposes.
Modern coffee brewing methods use approximately 200° water.
October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.
Only about 20% of harvested coffee beans are considered to be a premium bean of the highest quality.
Over 10,000 coffee cafes plus several thousand vending machines with both hot and cold coffee serve the needs of Tokyo alone.
Over 5 million people in Brazil are employed by the coffee trade. Most of those are involved with the cultivation and harvesting of more than 3 billion coffee plants.
Over 53 countries grow coffee worldwide, but all of them lie along the equator between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Over-roasted coffee beans are very flammable during the roasting process.
Raw coffee beans, soaked in water and spices, are chewed like candy in many parts of Africa.
Regular coffee drinkers have about one-third less asthma symptoms than those non-coffee drinkers. So says a Harvard researcher who studied 20,000 people.
Retail espresso vendors report an increase in decaffeinated sales in the month of January due to New Year's resolutions to decrease caffeine intake.
Roasted coffee beans start to lose small amounts of flavor within two weeks. Ground coffee begins to lose its flavor in one hour. Brewed coffee and espresso begins to lose flavor within minutes.
Scandinavia has the world's highest per capita annual coffee consumption, 26.4 pounds. Italy has an annual consumption per capita of only 10 pounds.
Special studies conducted about the human body revealed it will usually absorb up to about 300 milligrams of caffeine at a given time. About 4 normal cups. Additional amounts are just cast off, providing no further stimulation. Also, the human body dissipates 20% of the caffeine in the system each hour.
The 2,000 Arabica coffee cherries it takes to make a roasted pound of coffee are normally picked by hand as they ripen. Since each cherry contains two beans, it takes about 4,000 Arabica beans to make a pound of roasted coffee.
The Arabica is the original coffee plant. It still grows wild in Ethiopia. The arabica coffee tree is an evergreen and in the wild will grow to a height between 14 and 20 feet.
The Arabs are generally believed to be the first to brew coffee.
The aroma and flavor derived from coffee is a result of the little beads of the oily substance called coffee essence, coffeol, or coffee oil. This is not an actual oil since it dissolves in water.
The average age of an Italian barista is 48 years old. A barista is a respected job title in Italy.
The average annual coffee consumption of the American adult is 26.7 gallons, or over 400 cups.
The average cup of coffee contains more than 1000 different chemical components, none of which is tasted in isolation but only as part of the overall flavor.
The Civil War in the United States elevated the popularity of coffee to new heights. Soldiers went to war with coffee beans as a primary ration.
The coffee filter was invented in 1908 by a German homemaker, Melitta Benz, when she lined a tin cup with blotter paper to filter the coffee grinds.
The coffee tree produces its first full crop when it is about 5 years old. Thereafter it produces consistently for 15 or 20 years.
The drip pot was invented by a Frenchman around 1800.
The Europeans first added chocolate to their coffee in the 1600's.
The first coffee drinkers, the Arabs, flavored their coffee with spices during the brewing process.
The first commercial espresso machine was manufactured in Italy in 1906.
The first Parisian cafe opened in 1689 to serve coffee.
The French philosopher, Voltaire, reportedly drank fifty cups of coffee a day.
The heavy tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773, which caused the "Boston Tea Party," resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. Drinking coffee was an expression of freedom.
The largest coffee importer center in the U.S. is located in the city of New Orleans, LA.
The most widely accepted legend associated to the discovery of coffee is of the goatherder named Kaldi of Ethiopia. Around the year 800-850 A.D., Kaldi was amazed as he noticed his goats behaving in a frisky manner after eating the leaves and berries of a coffee shrub. And, of course, he had to try them!
The United States is the world's largest consumer of coffee, importing 16 to 20 million bags annually (2.5 million pounds), representing one-third of all coffee exported. More than half of the United States population consumes coffee. The typical coffee drinker has 3.4 cups of coffee per day. That translates into more than 450,000,000 cups of coffee daily.
The vast majority of coffee available to consumers are blends of different beans.
The word "tip" dates back to the old London coffeehouses. Conspicuously placed brass boxes etched with the inscription, "To Insure Promptness," encouraged customers to pay for efficient service. The resulting acronym, TIP, has become a byword.
The word 'cappuccino' is the result of several derivations, the original of which began in 16th century. The Capuchin order of friars, established after 1525, played an important role in bringing Catholicism back to Reformation Europe. Its Italian name came from the long, pointed cowl, or cappuccino, derived from cappuccino, "hood," that was worn as part of the order's habit. The French version of cappuccino was capuchin, from which came English Capuchin. In Italian cappuccino went on to describe espresso coffee mixed or topped with steamed milk or cream, so called because the color of the coffee resembled the color of the habit of a Capuchin friar. The first use of cappuccino in English is recorded in 1948 in a work about San Francisco. There is also the story line that says that the term comes from the fact that the coffee is dark, like the monk's robe, and the cap is likened to the color of the monk's head.
There are about 30 milligrams of caffeine in the average chocolate bar, while a cup of coffee contains around 100 to 150 milligrams.
Those British are sophisticated people, in almost everything except their choice of coffee. They still drink instant ten-to-one over fresh brewed.
Turkey began to roast and grind the coffee bean in the 13th Century, and some 300 years later, in the 1500's, the country had become the chief distributor of coffee, with markets established in Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Venice, Italy.
Until the 18th century coffee was almost always boiled.
Until the late 1800's, people roasted their coffee at home. Popcorn poppers and stove-top frying pans were favored.
When a coffee seed is planted, it takes five years to yield consumable fruit.
William Penn purchased a pound of coffee in New York in 1683 for $4.68.
storing coffee
You have heard it all. Store coffee in the freezer, store coffee in the refrigerator, store it in the pantry.
There are so many different ideas out there, which one is right?
Coffee will loose it's flavor when exposed to air. So actually all of the above is correct, depending on how you use your coffee.
Always store the coffee in the an air tight container. That does not change. But here is where it does:
Pantry - Store it in the pantry if you plan on using it within 2 weeks.
Refrigerator- If you don't use it as often you can store it in the refrigerator for about a month.
Freezer - If you only use coffee occasionally, you can store it in the freezer. It should stay fresh for up to 3 months.
from: kitchenhintsandtips.com
What is Organic Coffee
Organic coffee beans are coffee beans that have been produced without the use of pesticides or herbicides. This is both beneficial to both the producer and the consumer. However, non-organic coffee is typically higher yielding because it is not usually shade grown. The definition of certified organic coffee can be extended to include an emphasis on recycling, composting, soil health, and protection of the environment.
^^^buzzle.com
Caffeine in your drinks:
By means of comparison, a 7 oz cup of coffee has the following caffeine (mg) amounts, according to Bunker and McWilliams in J. Am. Diet. 74:28-32, 1979: 7oz coffee:
Drip 115-175
Brewed 80-135
Instant 65-100
Decaf, brewed 3-4
Decaf, instant 2-3
12oz tea:
Tea, iced (12 ozs.) 70
Tea, brewed, imported 60
Tea, brewed, U.S. 40
Tea, instant 30
Other:
Mate 25-150mg
Espresso 100mg of caffeine 1 serving (1.5-2oz)
Acording to The American Beverage Asscoiation the numbers are a little different:
Coffee, 8oz drip 104-192 mg
Tea, 8oz brewed 20-90
Iced Tea, 8 oz 9-50
Soft Drinks, 8 oz 20-40
Cocoa Beverage, 8oz 3-32
Milk Chocolate, 1 oz 1-15
Dark Chocolate, 1 oz 5-35
Other data on caffeine:
Generic stay-awake pill 100mg
Vivarin 200mg
Cold relief tablet with caffeine 30mg
The variability in the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee or tea is relatively large even if prepared by the same person using the same equipment and ingredients day after day.
^^^coffeefaq.com
More coffee facts...
^^^allwomenstalk.com
Fact #1 …
The average coffee tree has a “life expectancy” up to 70 years, which is comparable with the length of a human life! The first harvest is picked when the tree is about 5 years old, and after that the coffee plant supplies a steady harvest of raw coffee (http://www.ringsurf.com/info/Food/Coffee/Coffee_Growing_Regions/) several times a year.
Fact #2 …
The history of coffee (http://www.ringsurf.com/info/Food/Coffee/History_of_Coffee/) is quite a mystery. Humankind knows at least a few different legends describing the origin of that popular drink. In accordance with one of them, coffee came from Africa and was named after the province of Kaffa in Ethiopia. Another legend states that coffee was first discovered by monks who quickly became passionate coffee enthusiasts as it helped them survive through long periods of monotonous prayers and meditations.
One more legend about the coffee origin declares that the coffee plant is indigenous to Europe and was first used by herdsmen tribes, who ate coarsely ground coffee with fat of their cattle. Maybe, that fascinating coffee dish should be brought back and served in Starbucks (http://allwomenstalk.com/7-facts-about-coffee-you-do-not-know/www.starbucks.com)? :)
Fact #3 …
When, in the 17th century, “coffee madness” reached Europe, Pope Clement VIII declared the beverage to be a “devil’s tool” and warned the Christians against drinking it. But that only was until he happened to taste that heavenly drink himself… So, the Pope quickly changed his mind and decided to baptize coffee (http://www.delawarecitycoffeecompany.com/about_coffee.html) and, by doing that, to defeat the devil… Thus, the Pope’s final approval made coffee a legitimate beverage for every Christian!
http://allwomenstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/coffee1.jpg (http://allwomenstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/coffee1.jpg)
Fact #4 …
The custom of tipping servants originated in early English “coffeehouses” (http://www.realcoffee.co.uk/Article.asp?Cat=history&page=3), which were quite dirty and noisy places in that time. In order to have a better service and to ensure getting a cup of really good and strong coffee, customers would put coins in a jar
Where did the word 'coffee' originate?
Kaffa? A province in Ethiopia where it was first discovered.
Kaaba? The holy building in Mecca.
Kavus Kai? A Persian king who was able to defy gravity and levitate by drinking coffee.
Kahwe? Meaning roasted in Turkish.
Cahouah? A hunger curing drink in Arabic.
Cohuet? Meaning strength or vigour in Arabic.
^^^justaboutcoffee.com
Coffee Can Make You Smarter Now---and Later: New Dementia Study From Sweden (http://www.drinkingcoffeeallthetime.com/2009/01/national-coffee-association-has.html)
The National Coffee Association has reported that 61% of coffee drinkers say that coffee makes them more mentally focused.
Many of us feel that coffee makes us more alert and happier too.
And now a group of researchers have published an article in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (http://www.j-alz.com/) reporting new data on the coffee-mental health link: Drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of developing dementia by 65%. These statistically significant results are based on data compiled over a 21-year period on 1,409 middle-aged adults.
The Study (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/ki-mca011409.php) was conducted in Sweden by Dr. Miia Kivipelto, an associate professor of Neurology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Like the rest of Scandinavia, Sweden has a robust (and, in my opinion, enviable) coffee-drinking culture. Average per capita consumption per year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_consumption_per_capita ) is 7.9 kg, compared with 4.2 kg in the United States.
Like other researchers, Dr. Kivipelto is not 100% clear on why coffee has positive effects on mental health. She does, however, have three well-formulated guesses:
1. Coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, which has been associated with an increased risk of dementia.
2. In animal studies, coffee has been shown to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques--the physical hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (generally found during post-mortem examinations).
3. Coffee may have an antioxidant effect in the bloodstream, reducing vascular risk factors for dementia.
Clearly, there is a link between what we consume and how well we function both physically and mentally---but, there is some disagreement among experts about the precise mechanisms.
John Zeisel, PhD, author of I'm Still Here: A Breakthrough Approach to Understanding Someone Living With Alzheimer's Disease (http://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Breakthrough-Understanding-Alzheimers/dp/1583333355/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232668515&sr=8-3), features a discussion of the latest news that fast food causes Alzheimer's Disease (http://www.blogger.com/%28http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000559_Alzheimers_disease_fast_food_brain_fun ction.html%29) on his blog (http://www.imstillhere.org/).
Dr. Zeisel, president of Hearthstone Alzheimer Center in Woburn Massachusetts, developed the Artists for Alzheimer's program.
The study in question was also conducted at the Karolinska Institute. Scientists fed mice a high-fat, junk-food diet for 9 months---and the mice started to develop brain plaques and chemical changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The study design is imperfect, but the results are clear---poor nutritional choices lead to less than optimal outcomes.
Coffee, it seems, has proven to be a good nutritional choice for many---myself included. The continued accumulation of positive data is again leading us back to the idea that coffee is good for us!
Drink up, enjoy, and think hard!
^^^drinkingcoffeeallthetime.com
Coffee cocktail 'limits stroke damage'
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39077000/jpg/_39077995_coffee_cup203.jpg The drug has as much caffeine as two strong cups of coffee
A 'coffee cocktail' drug could reduce the amount of damage caused by strokes, researchers say. The drug is as potent as two cups of strong coffee combined with an alcoholic drink.
The drug - a mixture of caffeine and ethanol (alcohol), called caffeinol - had already been shown to limit damage from ischaemic strokes in animal studies.
It has now been shown to be safe in a small study of human stroke patients.
Combination
Researchers from the University of Texas Houston Medical School gave caffeinol to 23 male and female stoke patients with an average age of 71.
They found they were able to give the patients lower doses of the drug than animal studies had suggested, while still achieving the same blood levels of caffeinol which had been shown to offer protection in rats. In those tests, an artery supplying blood to the brain was blocked, mimicking what happens in an ischaemic stroke.
It was found the amount of brain damage was reduced by up to 80% if caffeinol was given within three hours.
Further research will now be carried out to test the drug's effectiveness in humans.
Patients can already be given thrombolytic 'clot-busting' drugs, but their effectiveness depends on being given in the immediate aftermath of a stroke.
The researchers found caffeinol could be safely given alongside thrombolytic drugs.
Professor of neurology James Grotta, who led the research, said the research had demonstrated that the combination of caffeine and ethanol may reduce the amount of damage after stroke.
He added: "Neither caffeine or alcohol offered protection alone, but the combination was protective.
"Our goal was to see if we could safely achieve the same blood levels of caffeinol that we achieved in our animal studies.
"We discovered that we could use even lower doses than we used in the animal studies and achieve the blood levels that were neuroprotective in animals."
Preliminary
He added that more work was needed to find the ideal mixture of caffeine and ethanol.
The team will also look at whether combining caffeinol with cooling treatments carries even more benefits.
Other studies have suggested that cooling the brain can limit stroke damage.
Martin Brown, professor of stroke medicine at University College London, told BBC News Online: "This is very exciting. We don't have many treatments that actually reduce the amount of damage to the brain after a stroke."
But he added: "We do have to be rather cautious. There are a huge number of different drugs that seem to work in animal models, but don't then always work in humans."
Professor Brown, said it was not certain how caffeinol worked.
But he said: "Alcohol does have the effect of opening up blood vessels and caffeine, which is beneficial in conditions like migraine, could improve blood flow.
"In addition, these are very safe drugs to give because - obviously - these are drugs which are used by everyone."
The research is published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2935439.stm
euqinimod
08/20/09, 03:19 PM
Quotations about Coffee
A cup of coffee - real coffee - home-browned, home-ground, home-made, that comes to you dark as a hazel-eye, but changes to a golden bronze as you temper it with cream that never cheated, but was real cream from its birth, thick, tenderly yellow, perfectly sweet, neither lumpy nor frothing on the Java: such a coffee is a match for twenty blue devils, and will exorcise them all.
- - - Henry Ward Beecher "Eyes and Ears"
The world's costliest coffee, at $130 a pound, is called Kopi Luwak. Essentially, it is the droppings from a type of marsupial that eats only the very best coffee beans. Plantation workers track them and scoop their precious poop.
- - - Irena Chalmers "The Great Food Almanac"
Never drink black coffee at lunch; it will keep you awake all afternoon.
- - - Jilly Cooper
Black as the devil,
Hot as hell,
Pure as an angel,
Sweet as love.
- - - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord "recipe for coffee"
It is disgusting to note the increase in the quantity of coffee used by my subjects and the amount of money that goes out of the country in consequence. Everybody is using coffee. If possible, this must be prevented. My people must drink beer.
- - - Frederick the Great
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.
- - - Alex Levine
If this is coffee, please bring some tea; but it this is tea, please bring me some coffee.
- - - Abraham Lincoln
I think if I were a woman I'd wear coffee as a perfume.
- - - John Van Druten
If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girl friends. And they tolerated it and let us go ahead and play with our toys.
- - - Orson Welles
>>>www.corsinet.com
Unusual way to sweeten your coffee without sugar...
Sweeten Your Coffee - Brown Sugar
Brown sugar sweetens coffee in much the same way as sugar does. However, since brown sugar has a higher molasses content, you get a delightful, slightly bitter flavor. I found that the sweetening capabilities of brown sugar in your coffee are similar to that of regular table sugar. That means you use pretty much the same amount.
Sweeten Your Coffee - Honey (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/17983/honey.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif
Honey is an all natural sweetener (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/80499/sweetner.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif that has some health benefits besides being quite sweet. Honey, however, has a distinct flavor that it imparts to the coffee it sweetens. If you like honey (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/17983/honey.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif in general, this sweetener (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/80499/sweetner.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif is for you. If you do not like honey, do not sweeten your coffee in this way. The flavor is quite strong.
Sweeten Your Coffee - Stevia (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/18203/stevia.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif
Stevia is an all natural sweetener (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/80499/sweetner.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif derived from a plant. It is a healthy alternative to table sugar or artificial sweeteners. It is a lot sweeter than table sugar by volume, so you do not have to use as much stevia (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/18203/stevia.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif to sweeten your coffee. This coffee sweetener (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/80499/sweetner.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif has a licorice like taste that some users may find offensive. There are also flavored stevia (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/18203/stevia.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif liquids that you can use to both sweeten your coffee and create new taste sensations like vanilla, hazlenut, and mint.
Sweeten Your Coffee - Cocoa Mix
While this is essentially using sugar or an artificial sweetener (http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/80499/sweetner.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif to sweeten your coffee, it has the added benefit of chocolate (http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/874/chocolate.html)http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/siteimg/beta/interlink.gif as well. Adding one package or teaspoon of hot cocoa mix to your coffee creates a hot mocha treat. This taste rivals expensive specialty coffees from trendy shops.
^^^associatedcontent.com
3 Reasons Why Coffee Is Good for You
Check out some of the surprising benefits of java
By Abigail L. Cuffey (http://www.womansday.com/content/search?SearchText=Abigail+L.+Cuffey) Posted August 17, 2009 from Woman's Day; September 15 (http://www.womansday.com/content/search?SearchText=Woman%27s+Day%3B+September+15), 2009 (http://www.womansday.com/content/search?SearchText=2009)
Photo: © Getty Images
Your daily cup (or three or four) of coffee or tea could actually be improving your health. Research shows that embracing your habit just might reduce your risk of…
1. Endometrial Cancer
Women who drank more than four cups of coffee or tea each day were 50% less likely to develop endometrial cancer than nondrinkers.
2. Stroke
Those who had an average of two to three cups a day were 19% less likely to experience a stroke.
3. Muscle Pain
Having two or three cups of coffee first made exercisers feel less sore afterward.
Of course, you never want to overdo it. Check out Ask WD: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? (http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Ask-WD-How-Much-Caffeine-is-Too-Much.html) for more information on the number of cups you should drink in one day.
^^^womansday.com
Aug 14, 2009
Free coffee at Changi airport-www.straitstimes.com
By Ess Aubrey Gabrelyn http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090814/coffee-btfile.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif
The complimentary coffee will be distributed at Changi Airport's Departure Check-in Halls and Baggage Claim Halls. -- BT FILE PHOTO
FROM next week, Changi Airport passengers can warm up Monday mornings with a free cup of coffee.
'Java Mondays with Changi' offers freshly-brewed coffee from 6.30am to 7.30am on Monday mornings for six months, Changi Airport Group announced on Friday.
Passengers only have to look out for staff carrying dispensers to enjoy their free perk-me-up treat, which will be the Starbucks' brew of the day.
The complimentary coffee will be distributed at Changi Airport's Departure Check-In Halls and Baggage Claim Halls at Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Coffeers, don't forget to grab your FREE coffee when you are in Changi Airport..
Coffee helps brain, liver to function better
Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:48:54 GMT
The latest studies by German researchers have shown positive effects of coffee on human health, saying it improves functions of liver and brain.
The studies run by Germany's Green Cross points out that coffee accelerates digestion, and prevents age-related diabetes, chronic liver disease and replacement of liver tissue by fibrous scar tissue.
Drinking at least four cups of coffee a day is also reported to reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis by up to 80 percent.
The report says coffee can help reverse some elements of memory impairment commonly seen in Alzheimer sufferers and improves concentration.
Health promoting ingredients of coffee like chlorogenic acid also play important roles too. Chlorogenic acid is one of the antioxidants found in coffee that can cut nearly in half the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.
Source: Press TV (http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=101729§ionid=3510210)
aboutcoffee.net
Cosmetic compositions containing a coffee extract pigment
The present invention relates to a pigment composition comprising an effective amount of an aqueous extract of coffee and at least one organic pigment. The pigment compositions are useful in preparing cosmetic formulations in which a true black color in the final product is needed. In particular, the pigment composition is useful in the preparation of eyeliner, lash coloring, and hair dyes or rinses.
^^^http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6110474.html
Decaffeinated coffee is not 100% caffeine free. When coffee is being decaffeinated, 2% of the caffeine still remains in it.
^^^amusingfacts.com
A person would have to drink more than 12 cups of hot cocoa to equal the amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee.
^^^amusingfacts.com
Mint in coffee for bad breath???
We all know why Starbucks puts boxes of breath mints close to the cash register. Your morning latte can create a startling aroma in your mouth, strong enough to startle your co-workers too.
But intriguing new research from Tel Aviv University by renowned breath specialist Prof. Mel Rosenberg of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine finds that a coffee extract can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath. New laboratory tests have shown that the extract prevents malodorous bacteria from making their presence felt - or smelt.
"Everybody thinks that coffee causes bad breath," says Prof. Rosenberg, "and it's often true, because coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, becomes potent when mixed with milk, and can ferment into smelly substances."
But not always. "Contrary to our expectations, we found some components in coffee that actually inhibit bad breath," explains Prof. Rosenberg. The findings were presented last month to members of the International Society for Breath Odor Research in Germany by Yael Gov, a researcher in Prof. Rosenberg's laboratory.
A "taster's choice" for stopping bad bacteria
In the laboratory, the team monitored the bacterial odor production of coffee in saliva. In the study, three different brands of coffee were tested: the Israeli brand Elite coffee, Landwer Turkish coffee, and Taster's Choice. Prof. Rosenberg expected to demonstrate the malodor-causing effect of coffee in an in vitro saliva assay developed by Dr. Sarit Levitan in his laboratory. To his surprise, the extracts had the opposite effect.
"The lesson we learned here is one of humility," says Prof. Rosenberg. "We expected coffee would cause bad breath, but there is something inside this magic brew that has the opposite effect."
Prof. Rosenberg would love to isolate the bacterial-inhibiting molecule in order to reap the biggest anti-bacterial benefits from coffee. "It's not the raw extract we will use, he says, "but an active material within it." His latest discovery could be the foundation for an entirely new class of mouthwash, breath mints and gum. Purified coffee extract can be added to a breath mint to stop bacteria from forming, stopping bad breath at its source, instead of masking the smell with a mint flavor.
Prof. Rosenberg is a successful scientist and inventor who has already developed a popular mouthwash sold widely in Europe, a pocket-based breath test, and an anti-odor chewing gum.
American Friends of Tel Aviv University
^^^brightsurf.com
No link found between caffeine intake and development of hypertension in women
Habitual coffee drinking is not associated with an increased risk of hypertension in women, although an association was found with the consumption of sugared or diet colas, according to a study in the November 9 issue of JAMA.
Approximately 50 million people in the United States have hypertension, and the prevalence is increasing, according to background information in the article. Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, and congestive heart failure. Therefore, even small reductions in the prevalence of hypertension could have a potentially large public health and financial impact. Several previous studies have indicated a possible association between caffeine intake and the risk of hypertension. Short-term studies have demonstrated that caffeine intake acutely increases blood pressure, but over time, weakening of this effect does occur. A long-term effect of caffeine intake on the risk of developing hypertension would be of substantial public health importance given the widespread consumption of beverages containing caffeine, but currently, studies of this association are scarce.
Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer, M.D., Sc.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether caffeine intake or consumption of certain caffeine-containing beverages is associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in women. The researchers analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Studies (NHSs) I and II of 155,594 U.S. women free from physician-diagnosed hypertension, who were followed-up over 12 years (1990-1991 to 2002-2003). Caffeine intake and possible confounders were ascertained from regularly administered questionnaires.
Over the 12 years, 19,541 incident cases of physician-diagnosed hypertension were reported in NHS I and 13,536 in NHS II. In both cohorts, no linear association between caffeine consumption and risk of incident hypertension was observed after multivariate adjustment. When studying individual classes of caffeinated beverages, habitual coffee consumption was not associated with increased risk of hypertension. By contrast, consumption of cola beverages was associated with an increased risk of hypertension, independent of whether it was sugared or diet cola.
"In this study with more than 1.4 million person-years of follow-up [the number of women in the study times the number of years of follow-up per woman], the relevant exposures and outcomes have been found valid and accurate, and coffee intake was updated to reflect changes in individual behavior. We found strong evidence to refute speculation that coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in women," the authors write.
Concerning the link found between colas and hypertension, the researchers write: "? we speculate that it is not caffeine but perhaps some other compound contained in soda-type soft drinks that may be responsible for the increased risk in hypertension. If these associations are causal, they may have considerable impact on public health."
JAMA and Archives Journals
^^^brightsurf.com
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