For the Love of Coffee

Well, not yet. My birthday is coming up in a few days though. So why am I singing? Because I got an email today saying that my next Gevalia shipment is shipping out. Perfect timing! I’ll be getting some more Antico Greco, Breakfast Blend and French Roast. Three of my favorites. (Actually all four of the European blends are favorites, with Cafe Sperl at the top and Antico Caffe Greco #2.) So happy birthday to me! Have some coffee - Why thank you, I think I will.

I’m not a “coffee for the caffeine” drinker. Well, not always. SOMETIMES. But most of the time, I drink it for the flavor, for the aroma.

So sometimes I crave coffee in the evening. Or at night. Those times when it would be less than convenient to down a cup (or two) because after all.. there IS caffeine in it.

So. I did what any fine coffee lover does. I ordered decaf. In less than a week, 3 boxes of Gevalia decaf will be shipped to my door. I’m most looking forward to trying the Creme Brulee. Just the name sounds delicious. Here’s hoping. =)

But if I did, the first step would be admitting it. ;0)

Wordless Wednesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom (and that’s 12 boxes/bags of coffee in my freezer.)

The Oatmeal has the most informative, most funny little piece about coffee… 15(ish) Things Worth Knowing About Coffee.

I knew a good deal of that already but I did NOT know that robusta (vs. arabica) has 50% more caffeine (I need to get me some of that!) and the visual descriptions of the different methods of serving coffee (espresso, cappuccino) were the best and easiest to understand that I have ever seen! I think next time I want to order a Breve. =)

And I also can’t help wondering if the berry around the coffee bean isn’t useful for SOMETHING? Seems like an awful waste just to strip it off to get to the bean. Strip it off and make jam out of it or something? Okay, rant over.

Now off you go. To The Oatmeal! Go! Now!

Are you still here?….

Another recent study indicates that YES, coffee may indeed have many health benefits! Music to my ears.

Behold:

• Coffee drinkers may be at lower risk of liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Coffee-drinking men seemed to have a lower risk of advanced or lethal prostate cancer than other men, and middle-aged people who drank moderate amounts of coffee — three to five cups a day — had the lowest risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life compared to less (or more) frequent drinkers.
• Polyphenols or flavonoids, the type of antioxidants found in coffee, are also found in other foods and drinks, like tea, red wine, and chocolate. All three have been proven to moderately help brain function, a benefit that can’t be chalked up to caffeine
• Coffee may even have a hormone-like effect in the body, …A compound known as trigonelline “can act like estrogen,” he says.

These quotes, taken from the recent article published on CNN Health, are just a few of the possible benefits mentioned.

I found the tidbit about the estrogen-like hormone to be the most interesting. If true, could this be supporting evidence for why coffee seems to help my mood swings when suffering from PMS and other hormonal fluctuations? I have already seen how coffee can help with headaches and mental alertness. For me, the proof is in the pudding. Or the coffee, as the case may be.

I can’t believe I just said the D-word. But it’s true. I’m one of those people. One of the ones who drink coffee for the taste of it, not it’s caffeine benefits. Or at least… not ONLY.

However.. one can’t just go chugging coffee at nine o’clock at night just because the taste buds have a craving!

Which leads me back to the decaf coffee. I’m thinking about keeping decaf on hand so I can drink coffee later in the day but not stay up all night.

I’m just wondering.. does that make me MORE or LESS of an addict??