Arabs as far back as the 9th century have brewed this taste delight and it
has penetrated society at many levels ever since. In fact, the word coffee is
derived from the Arab word "qahwa" which means "that which
prevents sleep".
Of course, this should come as no surprise because the most commonly cited
reason for consuming this morning nectar in the United
States (90%) is "to wake up".
The effects of caffeine can last until bed time for some people. Studies
have shown that caffeine intake can increase athletic performance, improve
memory, enhance alertness and increase the rate of information processing by
nearly 10%. Some fitness trainers claim the benefit of fat cell release into
the blood stream. Just remember, once released, it must be burned by activity
or it just gets redeposited. Probably on your hips!
But more than the alertness factor that coffee brings to your morning, there
are unlimited choices fitting every drinker's taste from the popular iced mocha
to the standard "cup-o-joe". Coffee connoisseurs often enjoy more
than one flavor depending upon the time of day, the location or the occasion.
So many different ways to consume the elixir of the gods!
You may have wondered why your same Columbian Supremo tastes different the next
time you order it the same way. Was it the waitress? Did they water it down?
Did it brew too long? Was the cup properly washed?