You may not be a fan of coffee, but sometimes it’s necessary to consume caffeine to remain alert during the day. You could find yourself in a coffee shop for a work-related gathering or academic group and dread making a choice of what to buy.
Maybe your coffee experience did not begin well. The coffee that has already been ground and is sold at supermarkets might not be the best possible quality. Consequently, you may feel inclined to add a large quantity of sugar or cream to mask a bad or burned taste in your coffee. Attempting to find the best coffee for those who do not usually consume coffee may persuade them to reconsider their feelings about coffee.
What are the Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee?
For many years, medical professionals advised the general public to reduce their intake of coffee, mostly due to studies indicating it could raise the chances of heart disease. Despite what was once thought, research done in the last few years has revealed that coffee has several advantageous health effects. Most of these investigations gave consideration to how age, sex, BMI, physical activity, tobacco usage, and any past cancer diagnosis within the family could impact the results. Researchers accounted for those elements so that they could distinguish the impact of coffee on well-being from the effects of individuals’ lifestyle and prior medical conditions.
In 2018, the greatest investigation was held by researchers from the United States. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute and Northwestern University studied the coffee drinking habits of almost a half million people in the United Kingdom. It was determined that those who consumed the most coffee (from 0 cups to 8 or more cups a day) were at a lower risk of dying from either cancer or cardiovascular diseases compared to those who drank less. The results of the differences were notable and remained the same no matter the gender; age; body mass index; if they had diabetes; or if they had a history of cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke. The effects of drinking coffee were substantial for decaffeinated, instant, and ground brews, but instant had a weaker impact. The scientists looked into the influence of usual genetic mutations which influence the speed at which caffeine is broken down, and they noticed that this had no effect on the helpful effects that coffee has.
A study of over 171,000 healthy adults in the UK revealed that those who drank more unsweetened or sugary coffee on a regular basis had a decreased risk of death, due to any cause, as well as heart disease and cancer after a period of 7 years, once other factors such as age, gender, smoking, exercise, and obesity were taken into consideration. Surprisingly, the same results were not found for those who consumed larger amounts of artificially sweetened coffee. Though the information used in the study was rather outdated being approximately 10 years old, the UK’s coffee drinking practices are not as popular as those of the U.S., so the outcomes of the study may differ depending upon those who currently partake in the United States.
Colorectal Cancer
Meta-analyses use statistical methods to bring together data from multiple similar studies to form an overarching analysis. The findings from all of the studies combined are often more reliable than any single study alone. The combined results of three meta-analyses indicate that drinking at least four cups of coffee a day may reduce the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer by between 11 to 24%.
Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer
Research performed on 67,470 women involved in the Nurses’ Health Study found that females who drank four or more cups of coffee daily had a 25% lower risk of contracting endometrial cancer as compared to women that ingested just one cup of coffee a day. Women who drink 4 or more cups of coffee daily were 30% less inclined to contract endometrial cancer than those who abstained from coffee. Decaffeinated espresso had the same result as caffeinated espresso, but caffeinated tea did not reduce the possibility of endometrial cancer.9
Liver Cancer and Cirrhosis (Scarring of the Liver/Chronic Liver Disease)
A research concluded that those who drank only one or two cups of coffee every day had a small decrease in the probability of acquiring the most frequent type of liver cancer in comparison to persons who did not drink coffee, yet those who consumed three or four cups of coffee had almost half the chance of getting this sort of liver cancer as those who abstained from coffee. Those who drank five or more cups of coffee a day had even lower risk than those who didn’t drink coffee at all, which was approximately one third of the risk of non-drinkers.10
A study conducted in Japan showed that, compared to those who did not drink coffee, those individuals who consumed a minimum of five cups of coffee daily had a 76% decreased risk of developing that particular kind of liver cancer. The most impressive improvement was observed in individuals afflicted with hepatitis C, a virus that can enhance a person’s likelihood of getting liver cancer,although the scientists are still trying to figure out the rationale behind it.11
Skin Cancer
Researchers utilized data from two large studies, the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and discovered that male and female participants who drank more than three cups of caffeinated coffee each month were 17% less likely to contract basal cell carcinoma compared to individuals who drank fewer than one cup a month. Basal cell carcinoma is the most prevalent and least hazardous type of skin malignancy. Drinking decaffeinated coffee did not affect basal cell carcinoma.13
Regardless of your caffeine intake, the top strategy for protecting yourself from skin cancer is to restrict your exposure to the sun and to UV radiation!
Type 2 Diabetes
In Finland, citizens are among the highest coffee drinkers globally and a research involving 14,000 individuals observed over a period of 12 years established that men who drank 10 or more cups of coffee on a daily basis had a 55% lower chance of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus when compared to those men who drank two or fewer cups of coffee a day. Women who consumed at least 10 cups of coffee each day had a 79 percent less likely chance of getting type 2 diabetes than those that drank less than two cups in a day.15
Parkinson’s Disease
An examination of in excess of 8,000 Japanese-American men showed that men who drank no coffee in any way shape or form were three to five times more likely to endure Parkinson’s sickness inside a period of 30 years contrasted with men who had four and a half or more cups of coffee in one day.16
Suicide
When performing suicide studies, researchers considered factors such as alcohol intake, medications, and stress levels as potential contributors. Through an evaluation of 128,000 Californian individuals spanning 10 years, scientists concluded that for each additional cup of coffee somebody drank every day, their likelihood of committing suicide decreased by 13%. Drinking at least a single cup of coffee daily appeared to lessen the chance of suicide. A 10-year research study of 86,000 female participants revealed that those who regularly drank two or more cups of coffee each day were 50% less likely to attempt suicide in comparison to those who abstained from coffee.16
Classic coffee options for non-coffee drinkers
A coffee shop’s list of drinks can be daunting, even if you are a coffee fan. It can be difficult to determine the initial step in trying new things, and the coffee shop personnel might not always have time to respond to your inquiries.
For those who don’t care for coffee, beverages made with espresso and milk may possess the perfect balance of flavor away from the strong taste of traditional coffee. Not everybody is capable of digesting dairy products easily, yet the majority of coffee shops will provide alternatives such as nut or oat milk if requested.
An espresso made with newly milled coffee will likely have a superior flavor than brewed coffee which has been sitting around and may become acrid in flavor. If espresso-based drinks are not your cup of tea, you should consider sampling a single shot of espresso from a quality coffee house – even if you think you dislike coffee.
A cafe that specializes in coffee may use better quality beans than those usually found in grocery stores when purchasing pre-ground coffee. It will probably improve your enjoyment of a coffee beverage. Do not be shy to talk to a barista and quiz them about how coffee beans and roasting levels vary. Argentinian Malbec and French Pinot Noir have complimentary tastes; similarly, there are different types of coffee beans that come with various distinctive flavors. In specialty coffee shops, you can determine whether you like light roast or dark roast coffee.
Caffé latte
When it comes to espresso-based beverages, the caffé latte has the greatest proportion of milk compared to coffee. A tiny latte can be prepared in an 8-ounce mug with a single shot of espresso and enough steamed milk to fill the remainder of the mug. Lattes may also be flavored with different syrups.
A sizable caffé latte could have two shots of espresso and a greater amount of milk to fill a high cup. Typically, one-third espresso and two-thirds milk is the usual proportion of milk to coffee, with a light foam on top. However, slight variations in the quantity of milk can be used when attempting to fill a glass. Expert baristas can design latte art by pouring out designs resembling love hearts, swans, or other creative abstractions using the froth.
Mocha
Caffé mocha is a term that describes the mixture of coffee and chocolate. Nevertheless, not many individuals are aware that the coffee beverage derived from Mocha, Yemen which used to be an early coffee trading hub.
A mocha drink combines espresso, hot milk, and chocolate. This beverage can be made with either cocoa powder or chocolate syrup as the chocolate component.
In other words, a mocha is a blend of hot chocolate and espresso that gives those who do not normally consume coffee an exciting flavor experience. A mocha can be topped with whipped cream just as hot chocolate can. You may encounter different types of mocha coffee that have either dark or white chocolate added in.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino and latte both make use of the same components, but the former contains less milk and more foam compared to the latter. A different version of this coffee beverage called bone dry cappuccino has no liquid milk, only milk foam. A classic cappuccino generally consists of one third espresso, one third steamed milk, and one third foamed milk.
Cappuccino is usually not sweetened, but cocoa powder or grated chocolate is typically sprinkled on top of it. One way to flavor a cappuccino without adding calories is to sprinkle either ground cinnamon or cardamom (which is used commonly in Sweden) on top.
Flat white
The flat white beverage has gained widespread recognition globally, originally beginning its fame in Australia and New Zealand. A flat white is sometimes said to be a combination of a cappuccino and a latte. Generally, there is a proportion of one part espresso, possibly two, to two parts milk. Nevertheless, a flat white has less milk than a caffé latte. The name “flat” is derived from the lack of foam in the beverage, which is not as abundant as it is in a latte.
Macchiato
A macchiato is an espresso beverage that consists of just a small amount of steamed milk. Compared to the other coffee drinks that have been mentioned, the macchiato contains the least amount of milk in comparison to espresso. The Italian word “macchiato” translates to “marked”, signifying an espresso shot which is clearly distinguished from the milk added to it. This beverage is usually served in a very small cup, as there isn’t much of it in quantity.
Flavored coffee drinks for non-coffee drinkers
For novices, coffee can be quite an acquired taste, so flavored milky drinks are often considered a tastier alternative to the more intense, bitter taste of black coffee. Not everybody has the same taste for just plain black coffee, however, flavor-infused coffee drinks can be a delicious indulgence, almost like a sweet treat.
Flavored lattes provide coffee shops with the chance to demonstrate their originality with exceptional special offerings. These cafes have some of their most favored choices.
French vanilla latte
French vanilla is a term used to explain a custard or ice cream made from egg yolks, vanilla, and other ingredients. The amalgamation of creamy and smooth flavors proved to be a hit, so coffee shops began to add syrups to their coffee beverages to replicate the same style.
If you’re a big fan of desserts with a vanilla flavor, a French Vanilla Latte could be the perfect drink for you. Typically, vanilla and hazelnut syrup are included, which naturally provides a pleasant sweetness and a distinct hazelnut taste to the coffee.
Caramel macchiato
In order to commemorate its 25th birthday in 1996, Starbucks crafted the caramel macchiato. It contains more dairy products than a regular macchiato, caramel flavoring, or caramel topping. This beverage can be procured in many cafes and franchises, but it is also possible to concoct a caramel macchiato from the comfort of your own kitchen. Start the preparation of the drink by pouring vanilla syrup into the mug, followed by topping off the cup with frothed milk. Brew a robust cup of coffee from an espresso brewer or Moka Pot and add in a drizzle of caramel syrup.