A Look Into The Coffee Culture: America Living On Beans Maggie C.
FUN FACTS:
It’s
the year 2015. The human race has gone so far,
and we move so fast. From one thing to the next, we are constantly working to create a better society, a bet-
In the U.S. alone, 400 million cups of coffee are consumed each day, and 136 billion
ter life for the individual. With so much happening, so much to remember, the hundreds of things that affect us in just one day, what keeps us going? The simple answer is ...coffee. So insignificant, so simple and everyday, yet it is the core of our world. America is the largest caffeine consumer on Earth. It’s excessively addictive; yet, it gives us the boost we need to make ends meet. Is that really healthy? And what is it doing to our economy? Perhaps it’s time to face the facts and ask ourselves: Would we be better off without coffee?
The term, “cup o’ Joe” comes from the famous American soldier’s love of coffee, nicknamed, “GI Joe’s” in World War II.
Where does America’s Coffee Come From? A short history of the modern day trade routes and production
First off: everyone knows
taking the lead with near-
what coffee is, but how
ly 6 billion pounds of cof-
was it created? How does
fee produced. This collec-
America get it? This caf-
tion is also known as,
feinated beverage has ac-
“The Coffee Belt”. Each of
tually been around since
these rely incredibly heav-
the eleventh century, dis-
ily on this business. Nei-
covered by an Ethiopian
ther imports nor exports
goat herder when he no-
to America are not taxed.
ticed that his herd became
While this seem seems
overly energetic and
fair, it ends up being tak-
couldn’t sleep after eating
en it on poor African third
the red berries that grow
-world countries who de-
on the coffee plant. From
pend on this. Nowadays,
there, the substance went
seven million people in
through countless changes
Ethiopia alone live com-
and cities across conti-
pletely off emergency food
nents, from Europe, to the
aid every year. As a first-
Middle east, Africa, Latin
world country and major
America, and finally
player in world trade,
reaching America in 1663,
America and other large
around 600 years later.
coffee consumers do not
Today, the top five export-
feel these effects any-
ers of coffee, in order of
where near as harshly
least to most, are: Ethio-
However, it is U.S.’s larg-
pia, Indonesia, Colombia,
est food import, and the
V ie tn am , an d in f ir s t
most valuable commodity
place for 150 years, Brazil,
just after oil.
Fun Facts:
In the ancient Arab and Turkish cultures, a woman could only divorce her husband if he failed to provide her with enough coffee.
A single pound of coffee requires over 2,500 pounds of water.
Part of the reason tea takes the overwhelming majority in England over coffee may be because in 1675, the King Charles II banned coffee shops, believing his subjects chose to conspire against him over the beverage.
The Liquid Power Pill Flip Side
Coffee: America’s Drug of Choice Believe or not, coffee is in fact
to break. Depending on the
a drug, the most common psy-
length and consistency of one’s
choactive o ne (it changes
drinking, 7-12 days of gradual-
mood, perception, and/or con-
ly reducing consumption
sciousness). A single table-
should do the trick, though
spoon of straight caffeine will
there are quite a few side ef-
induce seizures and instantly
fects, including nausea, head-
kill a person. The average cof-
aches, and ironically enough,
fee drinker consumes about
great fatigue. However, it’s not
2.1 cups of coffee a day, in-
just regular coffee. Decaffein-
creasing with age. To break
ated coffee is known to possess
down the science behind why
the same results, as well as
it’s so addictive: the coffee
sodas and teas. Moderation
molecule enters the brain, and
and variation are key when it
because they are so similar, it
comes to coffee consumption.
While there are many negative sides to our favorite brown beverage, there also happen to be some great ones that most people aren’t aware of. It’s simply a common beverage, and unless one would drink the maximum of 100 cups inducing death, you should be okay. coffee can actually do may good things for the body. It holds healthful antioxidants, it’s good for your heart, it allows you to exercise regularly and complete work at your best, and it can fight gout and curb depression. Some health advice: Everyone is different. ———— continued below——-
is able to hold off adenosine. This is the chemical that induces tiredness, thereby enforcing a feeling of alertness. Regular drinkers will build up a resistance, as the brain creates more of these adenosine molecules, and end up drinking unhealthy amounts. High doses are expected to bring insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and nervousness. Luckily, this is a relatively easy addiction
Some people may have to limit themselves to a couple ounces, others may be perfectly fine with 3 or 4 cups a day. Genetics play a role (surprise, surprise), and caffeine is no excuse for not getting enough sleep. Caffeine takes six hours to run out, so stick to a morning cup to keep drinking coffee but improve still one’s lifestyle, skip the sugar and milk, or try soy or almond milk. Also, reduce intake to one cup a day, and always drink AFTER a meal. Caffeine shoots sugar into the bloodstream, which could lead to a heavy drop in blood sugar on an empty stomach. Hold off those cravings and have some breakfast first :)
Fun Facts:
-The priciest coffee in the world is $600 a pound, harvested from wild cat feces. It’s called Luwak Coffee.
Coffee vs. Tea: Coming To A Boil
The timeless debate! Bean-buffs and leaf-lovers have been at each other’s throats for decades over the superior beverage. While opinions can’t be fought, health benefits and disadvantages can be proven instead. The ups and downs of coffee have already been mentioned, but a few more: The greater caffeine content calm airways, helping those with asthma, lessens migraines, and in fact, while it didn’t have any major benefits, it also doesn’t cause any major health problems. So avid coffee-drinkers don’t really have anything to worry about, but they shouldn’t expect anything more. In contrast, tea is full of antioxidants and possible cancer-decreasing qualities, however, these cancer-fighting chemicals can be lost by adding milk. Too much coffee or tea will result in the same cons as previously said. Overdoses of unfiltered coffee can lead to bad cholesterol, though excessive tea consumption may cause brittle bones and osteofluorosis
(skeletal changes) due to it’s large amounts of fluoride, and certain teas have been known to carry aluminum and unsafe levels of lead, so be careful when ordering from unknown companies. In reality, the main culprit is an overload or sugar or milk in any drink. So keep it clean, and either way should be just fine. To conclude, coffee is running through the veins of the Americans, and whether they’re drinking one cup a month or 4 everyday, this country is not about to give it up. One drink, just a small part of an everyday routine, becomes the root of a constantly changing culture and the dictator of millions of lives across the world, all just to keep someone awake for a few hours so they can get through the day. International corporations, small farms, family-owned shops, a unique stamp upon every level of the modern-day economy of such an influential world power. America: living on beans.
-There are at least nine Starbucks every square mile in New York City. Rightfully so, as New Yorkers consume seven times more coffee than any other city in the US. No wonder New York is the city that never sleeps! -It is a large possibility that coffee beans will someday be able to replace oil as fuel.
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