MYTHS ABOUT COFFEE
Dec 9, 2021
In the world of coffee, there are countless myths that have arisen over time and from its consumption. In this post, we share 5 myths that are most commonly heard on a daily basis:
1. “Espresso or caffeine are not healthy”
There are differing opinions on whether espresso or the caffeine in coffee is beneficial to our health. Some of the benefits it provides include:
- Stimulation of our nervous system. Caffeine helps us stay focused and also contributes to our good mood and breathing.
- Coffee is a good complement to diets: It helps with digestion and eliminates hunger. It also has antioxidant properties that help eliminate free radicals.
- Caffeine can cause a good remedy for headaches and contributes to the action of painkillers.
- In reasonable doses, coffee does not impair sleep or cause harm to the heart.
2. “Espresso coffee has too much caffeine.”
The safe amount of caffeine that should be taken daily is 300 mg which is equivalent to 7.5 espressos or 2.6 filtered coffees.
Although it may not seem like it, espresso contains the lowest concentration of caffeine among all types of coffee drinks because the reduced extraction time required to make espresso does not allow all the caffeine in the ground coffee to dissolve in water. Therefore, a cup of espresso 30 ml would contain about 40 mg of caffeine.
What is true is that caffeine isn't only found in coffee, but also in many foods and beverages. For example, 240 ml of iced tea would contain more than 40 mg of caffeine, a 330 ml Coca-Cola would contain more than 30 mg of caffeine, very similar to hot chocolate, which would have 20 mg of caffeine in a 150 ml cup.
3. “Coffee is addictive”
This is one of the most common myths about this beverage. Coffee isn't addictive; rather, when consumed daily, it becomes a habit.
Nor has it been proven that people who drink coffee every day need higher doses than usual. In fact, the opposite is often true: people who drink coffee daily are characterized by very regular and consistent drinking habits.
4. “Coffee counteracts the effects of alcohol”
You've probably heard that when someone has overdone it with alcohol, a cup of coffee would help counteract the effects. To this day, coffee doesn't reduce blood alcohol levels. In fact, if a person drinks it while under the influence of alcohol, it can have a rebound effect and keep the person overexcited because it also activates the nervous system due to the caffeine.
5. “Coffee wakes you up instantly.”
It's not true that the moment you drink coffee, your body is instantly activated; rather, caffeine's effect on the body isn't immediate. Our body takes about 15 minutes to metabolize this component , and the effects of coffee take about 45-60 minutes to appear.
What other myth do you commonly hear? Tell us on our social media!
