Coffee is a global phenomenon, do you realise we drink over a billion cups of this tasty drink around the world every day? Yes that is billion in a day! We can’t get enough of this innocent little drink, yet why do we love it so much, let’s look at the top reasons.
Caffeine - I think this is the main reason why coffee has become so popular, for the early morning kick in the pants it gives you. Yet not everyone loves the effects of caffeine and I stick to decaffeinated coffee like about 10% of all coffee drinkers do.
Caffeine is actually a stimulant which is why people love it so much. When you wake up in the morning and you have to drag yourself out of your comfy bed and down into the cold kitchen, then people like to have a quick ‘pick me up’ to get them started on their way. After you drink your coffee and the caffeine kicks in then your tiredness falls away and you feel alert and ready to face the day. Caffeine also raises your dopamine levels (like an amphetamine does) which makes you feel good, another reason people love it!
The scary thing is that caffeine is actually classed as a psychoactive drug, and you can get addicted to it. The ‘high’ that people experience from a cup of coffee is only shortlived, around an hour or so in a typical coffee drinker. After that then you start to crash and will feel worse than before you had a cup, so then most people go and grab another cup to pick themselves up again.
Taste - In a world dominated by sugary, carbonated beverages, then it is nice to have something like coffee which is more of a savoury taste. It is something entirely different to other kinds of drinks, which makes it more appealing.
Social reasons - Coffee is so popular that almost everywhere you go you’ll be offered a cup, it is part of the social side of our lives, we all get together round a good brew and have a chat. Plus you can get it almost anywhere now so you never have to struggle to get a cup.
Temperature - If we didn’t have coffee and tea, then it is hard to think of other warm drinks that would fill that void. There is something comforting, as well as warming of course, about having a warm drink, and personally I prefer it to any other kind of drink out there.
So the world is firmly in the grip of coffeemania and I don’t see that slowing up anytime soon, it has become a welcome fixture in our lives. Anyway I’m off to put the kettle on - do you fancy a cup?
A great way to make real coffee is with a vacuum coffee maker, it makes a great tasting brew and it is fun to watch! Consider getting a Bodum Santos if you do want a vacuum coffee maker.
