It took some time to come around to drinking coffee, despite all the good things I have heard. Whenever I tried drip coffees, the bitter taste turned me away. It wasn’t until I discovered lattes that I really got into the taste. The creaminess of the milk added extra flavor the placated my taste buds, and I started to drink it more.
Many people told me coffee was an “acquired taste,” and it truly did take me about two years of drinking lattes before I could drink drip coffee. After further researching coffee, I’ve found many more benefits to the drink than just the flavor.
It’s a great energy booster.
That’s a no-brainer, coffee gives you energy. Caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulates the central nervous system, causing you to be more alert and energetic.
Caffeine increases the metabolism rate and starts to burn fat. This also has a great effect on burning fat and exercising. The added energy carries over into a regular exercise routine through the stimulation in the nervous system.
Coffee is good for your liver.
According to the Huffington Post, people who drink “large quantities of coffee on a daily basis had lower levels of abnormal liver enzymes.”
Other chemicals in coffee beans help to maintain a healthy liver when consumed daily.
It can make you happier.
In a recent Harvard study, researcher Michel Lucas found that women who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of depression compared to those who do not.
When I drink coffee, I am more alert. I find that I get more enjoyment out of my surroundings than on the days I don’t drink any. While the research verifies the long-term effects of coffee on depression, the short-term effects are quite apparent: I am livelier and happier.
There are many other health benefits.
Research has shown that drinking a healthy amount of coffee every day can help fight many diseases. This list includes liver and colorectal cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
It can also lower the risk of strokes and diabetes.
It tastes amazing.
I have been a barista for six months now, so I have had plenty of time to experiment with different flavors and variations of espresso. I’ve tried cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos and espresso shots, both good and bad.
After all of this experimentation, I know what I like and what I don’t like. I enjoying brewing coffee and mixing flavors and changing recipes. I truly believe now I am addicted to coffee, and I see no harm in that. In fact, I feel livelier, happier and healthier, all while drinking an amazing cup of joe.