Wake up, coffee lovers! To those who cannot go a day without caffeine, now is your extra special time—Happy National Coffee Day! This is a good excuse to kickstart your day with a dose of caffeine, as everyone who loves coffee will be celebrating this day just like you are, all over town.
There are a lot of benefits that coffee has to offer beyond just waking you up. While the coffee is still hot and brewing, dive into this article as it explores what more caffeine can do and why it deserves a holiday!
History of National Coffee Day
In 1607, Captain John Smith introduced coffee to the US. Dorothy Jones of Boston, Massachusetts, opened the first American coffeehouse in 1670. If not for the Boston Tea Party, you might still be sipping tea today.
As settlers pushed westward, coffee fueled their journeys, even making its way into military rations as a rum and brandy substitute. In 1850, Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills, now Folgers, emerged in San Francisco as the nation's first coffee company.
Coffee, that timeless warm embrace, once stood in contrast to the now-trendy iced versions. In 1983, the All-Japan Coffee Association spotted a trend: folks sipping more java in the cooler months, and just like that, October 1 became their "National Coffee Day."
Across the globe, in September 2009, the United States joined the coffee celebration. Its roots trace back to 2005, when the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans brewed up the idea of "Coffee Day." September 29 marked the start of the first New Orleans Coffee Festival, giving National Coffee Day in the US its aromatic start.
Debunking Coffee Myth
Reputation precedes it, but coffee is not exactly bad for your health. Here are some misconceptions about coffee.
Coffee is bad for you.
Caffeine may be addictive by nature, but that does not mean that coffee is unhealthy. Coffee has several advantages; therefore, it's not an issue if you consume it once a day or more. However, you should be mindful of the ingredients you use in your coffee, such as the amount of sugar, cream, sweetener, and flavoring syrup. The problem starts when you put other things in your coffee, unless you only use fresh milk or drink plain black coffee.
Coffee makes you sober.
Alcohol and coffee don't go well together. Coffee may increase alertness and disguise drunkenness, but you are not really sober; you are merely feeling that way. You can only become sober over time. Coffee may make you feel more alert because it raises blood pressure and pulse rate, but it has no effect on how quickly the liver metabolizes alcohol.
Darker coffee means stronger coffee.
Darker coffee honestly seems like stronger coffee, but it's actually not. Darker toast may have the strongest aroma and deeper flavor, but light toast coffee has the most caffeine due to its shortest roast time, which means that it retains most of the caffeine and its acidity.
Drinking coffee in the morning ASAP.
Yes, you need coffee in the morning, but you might want to wait for at least 20 minutes before taking one for its intended purpose. See, when you wake up, your brain is pumping high with cortisol, which makes you feel awake and alert, so when you drink coffee with that cortisol level, you may not feel the extra benefit of the caffeine; it may only raise your blood pressure.
Coffee causes insomia.
Coffee will not necessarily keep you awake, but it may impact the quality and duration of your sleep, depending on how much and when you take it. It is advised to limit your intake to no more than 400 mg per day (about four cups of brewed coffee) and to avoid drinking it after 2 p.m. if you want to enjoy your coffee without compromising your sleep.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the first webcam ever developed was to watch coffee? In order to prevent having to walk to the break room only to find an empty pot, researchers at the University of Cambridge installed a webcam to monitor the coffee maker in their computer laboratory.
Healthy Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Coffee is more than an “energy drink.” It has been linked to a long list of health benefits when consumed correctly. Here are some good things about drinking a cup of Joe:
Energy Booster
Like a snap, coffee has the ability to make you focus and stimulate your central nervous system, making you wide awake. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), caffeine is a naturally occurring methylxanthine class central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The coffee aroma alone can jolt you awake if you're used to drinking coffee. Your cognitive function gets better, which helps you focus and be more productive.
Mood Lifter
Literally, happiness in a cup, as a dose of caffeine can trigger your hormones, especially those chemicals in your brain that will make you feel good. The Institute for Scientific Research on Coffee has found a link between coffee and its positive effects on anxiety. Notice that you'd rather take your coffee first before dealing with anything?
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Coffee isn't just a pick-me-up; it's a health-boosting elixir. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee says the antioxidants included in coffee fight harmful radicals and save your cells from oxidative stress. Also, moderate coffee drinking has been linked to a lower risk of different diseases.
Workout Buddy
Taking coffee before a workout can give you an extra push as it increases your adrenaline levels, giving you extra energy to perform it. According to a study by the NLM, drinking coffee is linked to better physical performance and faster gait speed among 126 older people. Take that shot of espresso and hit that fitness goal.
Good for Digestion
Your digestive system gets triggered by coffee, resulting in regularity and preventing constipation. It acts as a little poke to keep everything on track.
Know More About Your Coffee
If you love coffee, you should learn more about it so you can prevent consuming it wrongly and risking your health. Take some precautions and learn what to do and what not to do if you would like to include coffee in your life.
Here are some do's and don’ts for your coffee:
What to Do?
What not to do
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Buying pre-ground coffee–It is recommended to buy whole beans and grind them on your own to maintain their freshness.
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Reheating coffee–You may forget that you made coffee, but it's better if you made a fresh one than reheating a cool one to avoid a bitter aftertaste.
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Skipping cleaning day–Make it a habit to clean your coffee maker, coffee grinder, and other coffee equipment because they tend to have built-up oil that can affect taste.
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Storing coffee in the freezer–Storing your coffee in the freezer can lead to moisture in the beans, which will make the flavor lose its flavor. Store it at room temperature only.
- Mixing with many sweeteners–Sometimes we like to add flavor to our coffee, but make sure you don't overdo it.
Key Takeaway
For some people, coffee has already become a way of life. Coffee can be enjoyed whenever and however you please, as long as it is made correctly. It will ultimately boost your mood and make you happier and more productive.
Gather your friends on this special day and head out of town to look for a coffee shop you've been wanting to check out for a while. Take this time to catch up with friends and family, or just relax with a cup of coffee in a beautiful spot and be appreciative of your life now.
Like everything else, it's important to keep in mind the importance of National Coffee Day and that, in order to have a healthy relationship with coffee, it must be consumed in moderation. Enjoy and have a drink!