Opinion: Coffee is a Blessing to Humanity

There is a force that drives society today. It most likely controls you, your friends and your family. It captivates the hearts and minds of humans until they are no longer able to live without it. What could possibly be capable of influencing humanity in this way? Well, there’s a good chance that it’s sitting in your pantry at home this very instant. Coffee.

 

Millions of people across the world require a cup (or two) of joe before they can leave their houses and start their days. They wait in lines that are ridiculously long, just so they can have the bitter-sweet taste of coffee on their lips.

 

Starbucks workers are constantly bombarded by angry, impatient customers who can’t seem to function without their incredibly complicated coffee concoctions. Coffee has become as much a part of many people’s daily routines as brushing their teeth.

 

Though the addiction may be new, coffee itself has been around for a very long time. While original reports conflict, The National Coffee Association considers Arabia to be the birthplace of this drink.

 

“Coffee was first cultivated and traded in Arabia. By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia and by the 16th century, it was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey,” Coffee & Health said in an article about coffee.

 

Once the consumption of coffee began to grow in popularity, it spread like wildfire.

 

With this popularity came the appearance of coffee houses. These coffee houses were important places for social gatherings. They provided people with a place where they could exchange news, opinions and ideas, as well as listen to music, watch performance and play games. Coffee houses were so important in the spread of information that they were often called “Schools of the Wise.”

 

Now, we have our modern versions of coffee houses — places where people gather to read, write, talk and pass the time. Coffee has become much more than a beverage — it has become a social construct. When people want to catch up or reconnect with their friends, they often say, “We should grab a cup of coffee sometime,” which translates to, “Let’s have a conversation.” The entire atmosphere of a coffee shop promotes connection and community.

 

In the workplace especially, coffee plays an important role. Research compiled by Hamilton Beach revealed that the typical office worker drinks 20 cups of coffee a week. Coffee breaks in the workplace offer an important segment of downtime. Coffee breaks can relieve overall stress and offer workers a chance to socialize.

 

Now, I know what you may be thinking, “But isn’t coffee bad for you?” On the contrary, coffee has actually been found to have a significant amount of health benefits. Many early studies blamed coffee for health risks such as heart disease or stunted growth. However, according to an article by Mayo Clinic, these earlier studies forgot to take into account the fact that known high-risk behaviors, such as smoking and physical inactivity, tend to be more common among heavy coffee drinkers.

 

“Studies have shown that coffee may have health benefits, including protecting against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and liver disease, including liver cancer. Coffee also appears to improve cognitive function and decrease risk of depression,” Mayo Clinic reported in March 2017.

 

Although, dumping all that cream and sugar into your coffee definitely adds fats and calories (up to hundreds of calories in some cases).

 

There are a few health risks associated with coffee. For example, drinking it too close to bed time can disrupt your body clock. However, as a college student, this is often the effect that I am aiming for.

 

All in all, I personally view coffee as a blessing to humanity. What’s not to like? It tastes good, keeps you awake, has proven health benefits and can even help you be more social. No matter how you drink your coffee, black or with an excessive amount of sugar, you too can be part of a historic coffee culture.