Stop and smell the coffee

Can l get a refill? That’s the expression often used when it comes to coffee.

When you hear the expression “let’s have a coffee”, it congers up many possibilities and directions. Having coffee could mean some good news; or possibly some bad news; or just a time to meet and chill out with someone you like. When someone says let’s connect for a coffee, those simple words can open up a tremendous number of possibilities.

Arabica is still considered the best coffee, but it’s come a long way from the Muslim mystics who treasured it centuries ago to the chains that line our streets today. When you think coffee, you probably think of an Italian espresso, a French café au lait, or an American double grande latte with cinnamon. North America and, in particular, Canada became a nation of coffee drinkers because of the excise duty King George placed on tea. In Europe, coffee became popular at more or less the same time, in the 16th and 17th centuries. In fact, coffee comes from the highland areas of the countries at the southern end of the Red Sea – Yemen and Ethiopia. Coffee is produced in hot climates like Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Vietnam and Indonesia with South America being the number one producer of coffee beans in the world. Today ubiquitous chains like Starbucks and others grace every international airport and follow all the trendy sections of most cities and beyond.

Coffee is a powerful beverage

On a personal level, it helps keep us awake and active. On a much broader level, it has helped shape our history and continues to shape our culture. Coffee plants grew wild in Ethiopia and were probably used by nomadic tribes for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the 1400s that people figured out they could roast its seeds—then it really took off and by the 1500s, coffee had spread to coffeehouses across the Arab world. Within 150 years, it took Europe by storm, and as they say, the rest is history. Coffee had a major impact on the rise of business, and coffeehouses and other establishments that carried coffee exploded becoming the “in thing”, and to this day, coffee breaks and get-togethers are still as popular as ever.

Many new ideas and associations have been created and consummated over a cup of java. The insurer Lloyd’s of London was founded hundreds of years ago in one of London’s many coffeehouses, and compositions by Bach and Beethoven were also spawned in coffeehouses. For all the upsides coffee has brought to the modern world, it has also ushered in its fair share of problems.

Yes, the caffeine in coffee can elevate your heart rate, cause some sleepless nights and occasionally give us a case of the jitters, but, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Research has linked moderate consumption of about three to four cups per day with a longer life span, plus a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s. According to recent medical experts, coffee drinkers tend to live longer.

Coffee drinkers tend to live longer

In today’s changing and power-pressured world, getting that edge to help you get through a day seems to be getting tougher and tougher. Looking for anything that can help and generally be good for you seems to be nonexistent until now. Coffee definitely fits into the formula that should be part of your daily routine. Of course, you need to check with your doctor before you do anything different, but a couple of cups of coffee seem to be a great start.

To different people, coffee is associated with many different things, but for me, there is a connection between coffee and music. When l need a break from everyone, l usually grab a coffee, turn on my music and chill out. Research has also shown that ambient music and coffee will enhance cognitive flexibility, which refers to the ability to think diversely to solve problems and learn concepts.

Coffee itself has also been shown to have a similar effect on creativity. In addition, it can help make us more focused and boost brain function in several different ways. it seems that coffee and music complement each other very well, and combining these two rituals brings sweet harmony wherever we may be.

Art and coffee

Another great coffee combination I enjoy is sitting with my cup in front of an interesting piece of art and lose myself in it for some time. This gives me a meditation-like feel and helps me to think clearer and tackle whatever l may have on the horizon.

Coffee goes with many things that give us joy and relaxation. Music and art and are just my suggestions, but as we know, coffee has blended nicely with many things over the centuries. You may not have thought of these experiences this way, but if l have planted a new thought for you, l have done my job.

Let’s grab a coffee and talk about that!

Vince Nigro/MS