As we near the new year and the bog-standard resolution of cutting out caffeine, you might be wondering what are the benefits of drinking coffee? Read on to discover why the positives of drinking quality speciality coffee kick any negatives to the kerb
1. Coffee community
Coffee folk are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. The speciality community – which ranges from farmers and importers to roasters and baristas – is welcoming, knowledgeable and inclusive. Bonded by their ambition to make coffee as delicious as possible while ensuring each person involved is paid a fair price for their hard work, the coffee community is passionate about the craft and eager to share the experience with others.
Online communities via social media and coffee forums, as well as IRL destinations such as coffee shops and roasteries, are great places to meet likeminded individuals who love to chat all things coffee.
2. Health benefits
There’s plenty of evidence to support the claims that coffee drinking (in moderation) has powerful longterm health benefits. Researchers have linked coffee’s high levels of antioxidants (such as polyphenols) to a reduction in the risk of health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and liver, heart, and neurological diseases.
3. Supporting real people
By choosing to drink speciality coffee, you’re choosing to support every person in the supply chain – from farmers at origin to independent roasters in the UK.
In the Indy Coffee Guides we feature small-scale independent roasteries that only source speciality coffee from farmers who are paid fairly for their high-quality crop. That means wholesalers and roasters spend a small amount more to put people before profit.
4. Peak physical performance
Many athletes sip coffee before training and competitive events to enhance their physical performance. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, elevates heart rate and facilitates the release of adrenaline, increasing blood flow and delivering a surge of finish-line smashing energy.
5. Boosts brain power
Need caffeine to kickstart your brain each morning? You’re not alone. Studies suggest a cup of coffee can increase concentration levels, improve mood and boost alertness. Some experts believe it can also help improve long-term memory.
6. The joy of brewing
Whether you consider it an opportunity to practise mindfulness, or simply use it as a break during a busy day, the ritual of grinding and brewing coffee provides a natural pause.
From listening to the whirr of the burrs to inhaling the intoxicating waft of fresh coffee aroma and watching the grounds bloom, the sensory experience is a meditative ritual that delivers great coffee as its payoff.
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