Drinking Coffee All the Time: Coffee & Life

Starbucks and the Inner Id

2012-01-27T13:47:00.000-05:00

All day long, I am responsible. I see the world through the prism of someone who has been a mom for almost a decade and basically done pretty much the same work with the same people for more than 15 years. What that means is that I am boring in certain respects. I eat my greens, work out quite a bit, keep a clean house, and go on date nights with my husband. I am boring---except I’m not. I too have an inner id---an id that I don’t let out very much. Not sure why. It won’t hurt anybody. I feel the safest place to observe my inner id is the safe sanctum of a nice café in a large city. But when I walk out those doors---oh well, I once again become the me that I’ve been all these years. Nice, responsible, disciplined, happy, kind of boring me. How about you? Can you tell me about your inner id???

From January 26, 2011

I have had a pretty tough day. I’ve been working hard, copy writing on demand all day. Trying to basically write a 12-page custom publication in a couple of days. I’m in downtown Manhattan. But I’ve stopped off at Starbucks. There is a barista with the highest cheekbones I’ve ever seen. She is ethnically unidentifiable and stunningly beautiful. She is a perfect size 2. Definitely under 25—and she is completely unselfconscious. When she takes an order, she simply looks at you with her expanding eyes and in a very matter-of-fact, professional-barista way asks what you want. She is exceptional because she is not narcissistic or trying to be cool or appealing. For that reason alone, she would be a good role model for my daughter, I think. The guy in front of me gets a cappuccino. His friend gets water. I get a 3-pump grande skim chai—which for the record has caffeine.

All day, I have been thinking about this character Felicity in Flaubert’s “A Simple Heart.” At 18, the man who promised to marry her went off and married someone else, shocking her into lifelong sadness and an endless search for love. As a maid, Felicity was involved in caring for other people’s children, who eventually either died or abandoned her. She fell in love with God and eventually with a parrot. When the parrot died she had it stuffed, and even as she herself lay dying, she focused on the parrot, worrying about its eternal soul. I wish Felicity had been able to come to Starbucks and find soulmates or friends to hang out with---to cure the loneliness of the French countryside.

As I sit here in lower Manhattan, there are lots of people catching up, talking about when they got married, how they met their spouses, whether they should go to CUNY Law School, their fascination with feather earrings. There is a man of indeterminate age, probably in his 50’s, with one of those hats that looks like he just got back from skiing in the Alps. His scarf is plaid. He is wearing high-end running shoes and frayed faded denim jeans, eating oatmeal, wearing hipster glasses and texting. He is not at all unappealing. Since I am writing about him, I keep looking at him and now he is looking at me too. I am nondescript today, wearing a navy blue suit. Basically sitting here working. He is not wearing a wedding ring, but he is toting a backpack---a sign that he is happily engaged with his work, I assume.

Across the street is Dunkin’ Donuts with its bright orange and red lighting. It looks like it would be painful to sit in there. One would need sunglasses for sure. And above that there is a sign for breast mammography and medical/dental/podiatry. All of this is housed in a post-war, tan building with green-trimmed windows. I can imagine that there are many women who go for a mammogram and come to Starbucks for a latte afterward. Or perhaps they go get their teeth whitened and come for a hot chocolate to get rid of the taste. Perhaps they work in one of the nondescript offices doing something terribly creative. I wonder about all of those people. This sea of humanity whose lives intersect at one corner and who congregate in one of the two largest coffee chains in the northeast (and in the case of Starbucks in the world).

It’s raining. There are so many young people milling about with coffee and bags and umbrellas, and so many middle-aged people who look incredibly young. And so many people drinking coffee whose eyes widen each time they take a sip. I should be rushing home, but I’m not. I’m going to go order more coffee now.

Coffee & Politics 2012

2012-01-24T21:25:00.003-05:00

Coffee’s universal popularity is indisputable. Most people love it. According to information collected and reported in a recent issue of National Geographic (see graphic inset), coffee is the 2^nd most recognized smell in the world. It is widely loved for its utility, ability to enhance functional capacity, and its taste. When we’re down it picks us up and it even makes us healthier.

Today is a big day politically. It’s unclear where the Republican primaries will net out as both Romney and Gingrich consolidate their popularity among voters. Add to that, the excitement of Obama’s State of the Union address, which is expected to address economic concerns and the need for more jobs, and it’s clear that the United States is geared up for lots of café talk.

Coffee has always been part of the American political landscape. During the Boston Tea Party in 1773, drinking coffee was patriotic. As the nation was being formed, the founding fathers got together in coffeehouses and strategized. Coffee continued to be popular during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Coffee was also included in the ration pack sent with soldiers as part of their combat ration packs during World War 1 (1914-18) and World War 2 (1941-45).

Coffee is the great equalizer. Factory workers drink coffee, as do bankers, as do artists, and even gemologists. We owe a lot to the factory workers of the 1940’s who first insisted on being able to take a “coffee break” in order to get a respite from the intensity of their jobs.

Every day, my friends and I drink coffee. We discuss our children, our work, our health, our lives. And we do it over coffee---because in the final analysis, everything is political.

Our Annual MLK Party: Coffee, Justice, and Lip Gloss

2012-01-17T22:48:00.007-05:00

Every year, we have a party called “Drinking Coffee (and Hot Chocolate) in Honor of MLK, Jr.” We get together on what is almost always a cold night and drink hot drinks, listen to music, talk, and let the kids play. It’s a nice way to acknowledge the holiday. Though one year some of the kids read parts of King’s most famous speech (“I Have a Dream”--- the one that he delivered in Washington, D.C. in 1963) out loud, we don’t generally recite quotes or watch youtube videos of Dr. King or anything like that. Basically, it’s just another party in Montclair. A typical multiracial groupfest with dogs and cats wandering about and lots of kids running around---some with parents of different races, others with parents of the same gender, some with parents from similar ethnic backgrounds, but radically different backgrounds in other ways. Many married people and some single people. People with children and without children. People from every part of the United States and the world.

I chose the coffee-drinking theme not only because I know that coffee is a form of community glue---and that it is healthy and invigorating---but also because Dr. King liked coffee. In fact, he drank coffee as part of his writing process. The idea of Dr. King fretting over a blank piece of paper and drinking coffee is incredibly humanizing. While he has become an icon, he was a person—a person who got married, had kids, drank coffee, and probably did not plan to die in his 30’s.

It has often bothered me that I don’t know the words to the “I Have a Dream” speech by heart. It stands as one of the greatest prose pieces in the history of American writing. As a writer, I am dazed by Dr. King’s mastery of our beautiful American language. His use of metaphor and point/counterpoint exposition. Yet, I am deeply pained by the imagery that his language evokes. That of the “sweltering summer of discontent” and people languishing in the “dark and desolate valley of segregation” waiting to get to “the sunlit path of racial justice.”

These beautifully assembled words reflect an awful reality---a huge opportunity cost. The price paid by all of the people who went through sweltering summers and never enjoyed a day at the beach—metaphorical or otherwise. People who wanted to read and never had an opportunity to. People who worked in tortuous jobs, because those were the only jobs available. People who woke up day after day only to deal with the psychic strife that accompanies the legacy of years of racism and other types of discrimination. Those who missed the mark---not because they weren’t up to the task at hand---but because they never even had a chance to try. The door to success was closed---and failure was a foregone conclusion.

At our party, after we had marveled over interesting toys, discussed ways to support a family facing a medical challenge, compared different gyms, and debated the merits of being on or off of facebook, I lamented that I had not prepared any MLK-related activities for the kids. What was the point really? Some kids were busy drawing pictures or walking on stilts downstairs while the adults watched the Giants game on TV. Some were upstairs playing in my daughter’s room, secretly putting on lip gloss or playing some tween-oriented online game. Others were on the main floor, sitting at the table in the dining room trying to get every last drop of fat-free organic whipped cream out of the container. All told, we were in the midst of living out one version of Dr. King’s dream in a completely relaxed unselfconscious way.

Then we took a couple of group photos. As the photographer took the shot, we held our coffee cups up and said, “I have a dream.”During that moment, there was absolutely no sense of irony---only a sense of transitory magic. People complain that MLK day has been reduced to a set of tropes and clichés. However, I think that the “I have a dream” speech, the MLK holiday, and all of the related symbolism serve as reminder of the need to be mindful of the idea of justice. Justice.

Although the kids don’t totally get it yet, there are at least 100,000 acts of justice that created all of the circumstances that made that party possible. It’s mind-boggling to really think it through. When the kids were out doing service projects the next day, they were holding up signs with photos of MLK, Jr. on them. They were performing small acts of justice. I am certain that they were waiting to finish, so they could get back to the things they wanted to do. I am also sure that they felt that calm quiet sense of satisfaction that comes with service. It’s all good. What matters is that these small acts of justice are done at all. It all adds up to something. Even if it just means putting a hot mug of coffee in someone’s hands so they have the energy and drive to try again. Or putting a hot mug in someone’s hands to simply welcome them in.

A Shout out to a Coffee House in Bahrain: Where Lattes and Tear Gas Mix

2012-01-04T18:28:00.004-05:00

Although the Kingdom of Bahrain is renowned for its pearls and oil, as well as its World Trade Center and Financial Harbor, it is also getting attention for how the ongoing Arab Spring Revolution has been playing out here.

One of the hotspots of the uprising it turns out is Costa Coffee, a café in the capital city of Manama.

In an article published in the New York Times on December 29, 2001 with the title “A Haven for Dissent in Bahrain, Where Lattes and Tear Gas Mix,” Adam Ellick writes about Bahrainis who get together at Costa Coffee not only to drink coffee and eat sweet treats with their friends and families—even bringing their children—but also to protest the lack of democracy in their tiny island nation of 1.23 million people.

What’s the issue? According to Ellick, “The island is governed by a Sunni family, the Khalifas, with ties not only to Washington, but to Riyadh. The country is majority Shiite.” The Bahraini Shiites complain of systematic discrimination, exclusion, and lack of access to jobs, education, and positions of influence. It is an unfortunate example of a common problem. There have also been reports of torture and killings of dissidents.

The desire for justice is universal and the lack of justice that has emboldened people all around the world also encourages them to seek community. Where? In cafés and coffee houses.

At Costa Coffee, coffee-drinkers are regularly disrupted by militia wielding tear gas and seeking to scare them and inflict harm. But people keep coming back for more coffee and more community. Costa has become a command center of sorts for intellectuals and government protesters, who tweet their messages about what’s going down in the streets of Manama

Fear has been transmogrified by a sense of purpose and community. Coffee undoubtedly has had an energizing and focusing effect, providing a sense of well-being and warmth in the face of government-sponsored tyranny. Ellick writes, “This surreal scene in which activists gather at a high-speed café with high-speed Internet to a backdrop of tear gas illustrates the contradictions of Bahrain---a cosmopolitan, successful banking center with a well-educated population that is facing crushing repression and sectarian tension."

Bahrainis love to drink lattes with gingerbread syrup...Here's to their ability to achieve their societal goals in a nonviolent way---and to drink coffee in good health and in peace.

Coffee For Better Performance in the (Happy) New Year

2011-12-31T13:32:00.005-05:00

This year, we spent part of winter holiday skiing in the Berkshires. I love the quiet thrill of being on top of the mountain, anticipating the downward descent. I love a brisk sunny day---and I love a good cup of coffee.

Turns out the coffee in the ski lodge was not so good. It was black sludge. In contrast, the coffee at the hotel we stay in near Mass Moca was smooth and perfect. It came in a thermos, housed in a corrugated metal lunchbox. I was charmed, but the coffee, was and always has been excellent at Porches.

Despite the fact that one cup was amazingly good and the other breathtakingly bad, I drank them both. They served an important purpose. They helped improve my performance. Numerous studies have shown that caffeine enhances sports performance across a wide range of activities, such as running, tennis, and rowing. Effects can last up to an hour.

True, coffee is remarkably energizing, but the underlying reason that coffee enhances performance is that caffeine increases the power output of muscles by releasing calcium stored in muscles. The result: longer and faster performance, with an average improvement of 5%.

I have a friend in his 60’s (around my father’s age), who skis hard, fast, and intensely. He skis better than me by orders of magnitude. He is a coffee drinker, as am I. While that 5% may make a marginal difference for him competitively, for me, it just makes me happier as I leisurely come down the slopes watching my husband and daughter whiz by.

Northeastern winters are a distinct pleasure. Of course, we are accustomed to this reality and the idea that coffee and other hot drinks will get us through.

Happy New Year! Enjoy….Here’s to a happy, prosperous, healthy, productive, and awe-inspiring 2012!

Drinking to Uterine Health and Starbucks Hits a Milestone in China

2011-12-01T23:59:00.005-05:00

Ni hao! It’s coffee-drinking time!

Just as the cool air arrives and finally starts to settle in here in the northeastern United States, we get the awesome news that Starbucks has opened its 500^th café in China! It’s in the international departure hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3. The president of Starbucks China, Belinda Wong, cites the value of Starbucks as the ability to “serve our customers.” Drinking hot beverages in a spirit of community, whether a standing or transitional community, is universal. John Culver, president Starbucks Asia Pacific speaks to the need to offer the “Starbucks experience to provide the highest quality Arabica coffee, handcrafted beverages, and an exceptional experience one customer at a time.”

Fortunately, as people in China drink more coffee, they will also reap the tremendous health resources associated with coffee. Now for the latest coffee-health update: Women who drink at least 4 cups of coffee per day are less likely to get uterine cancer. That’s the news according to data from a 26-year study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention on November 22, 2011. In a study of 67,470 women between the ages of 34 and 59, researchers explored the link between coffee and uterine cancer between 1980 and 2006. Women who consumed 4 or more cups had a 25% lower risk of developing uterine/endometrial cancer, compared with those who consumed less than one cup per day (P=.02).

Researchers suggest that the link may be based on the fact that coffee lowers estrogen and insulin levels, but caution that cream and sugar could ruin the health-enhancing effects of coffee.

Drink up and stay healthy and happy!

Drinking Coffee in North Creek, Decreasing the Risk of Prostate Cancer, Enjoying a Warm Brew in the Fall--and Guess Who Got Married?

2011-11-18T13:51:00.004-05:00

North Creek, New York is a small town nestled in the Adirondacks. We recently visited North Creek for a friend's wedding. A few of us went out and spent an afternoon exploring the town, hiking on the creek-side trails and going to the community art center. Along the way, we ended up at Sarah's Cafe and Bakery, which offers not only coffee and espresso drinks, but also handmade pastries, hearty oatmeal scones, savory soups, and specialty cakes, the coffee was smooth, well brewed, and not too hot or too cold, and it was served with a smile. Not only did it energize me for the hike, but I ended up going back the next day. I felt healthy and happy---not only for myself, but for my friends, Maddi and Reubena, who got married!

Speaking of health….according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health,published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, drinking coffee decreases the risk of dying from prostate cancer. In a study of 47,911 men who drank both regular and decaffeinated coffee, drinking at least 6 cups of coffee a day lowers the risk of developing prostate cancer by 20%. Even more important, this level of coffee consumption reduces the rate of lethal prostate cancer by 60%.

We all want the same things…to be happy and healthy and engaged meaningfully in life. Many of us want really good coffee—and some of us want it all the time.

Happy Thanksgiving and wishes for good health to all!

Coffee plus Jobs is a Good Thing, As is Good Health

2011-11-05T16:27:00.002-04:00

I've seen my 3rd grader wearing lots of rubber and elastic bracelets on her wrists. Some say things like "Life!" or "boogie bash 2011"while others are associated with her various affiliations, like School of Rock. Some are hair bands to tie back her hair on the days she does gymnastics. Others are simply for decoration---a bit of glitter here, neon glow for that special nighttime effect. Well now, I have my own bracelet. It says "Indivisible." I got it at Starbucks for $5.00. Starbucks has teamed up with the Opportunity Finance Network to provide financing for community businesses. The goal is simple and straightforward: to create and sustain jobs.

The impulse to do good is a strong one. Sometimes the time and effort seems daunting, but there are avenues to do good and to effect change. Starbucks, which contributed $5 million to jumpstart this project, is at the epicenter of many creative activities and social interactions that lead to solid output and sustained friendships. Why not launch a "grass roots" jobs program harnessing the collective power of the millions and millions of people who go to Starbucks every week, or in some cases every day, or in certain cases, several times a day.

One thing I am learning is that life is fickle. I choose to move through my days being active and alert and alive, but as humans we all contend with the threat of poor health and the randomness of the world around us. Coffee, in my opinion, helps buffer against the stress of that reality. It makes us happier---and healthier.

Let There be Light

2011-10-31T22:51:00.003-04:00

For many of us in New Jersey in Montclair and in other towns, a late October unexpected snowstorm has left many without power.

During this time, our neighbors have been like beacons of light. We support each other with a warm smile, a friendly gesture, a helping hand---and often a big cup of coffee!

One beacon in our community has been the Starbucks in Upper Montclair, which is offering wifi and access to endless cups of coffee. Though tempers run short as days go by with no power and people start traipsing off to hotels in Manhattan now that local hotels are full---coffee and espresso drinks offer warmth, comfort and energy.

Here's to a quick recovery, a return to normalcy, and an easy winter. We deserve it.

Also, I'd like to say thank you to the unfailingly polite and professional baristas.

Stay warm---and let there be light!

Coffee Reduces Depression & Suicide---But Why?

2011-10-01T22:27:00.003-04:00

Fall 2011: Archives of Internal Medicine publishes a study, which in turn, is picked up by media outlets everywhere. The proclamation: Coffee reduces depression in women!

That’s old news.

What’s new, however, are the data---and the continuation of a longstanding study of women from the Nurses’ Health Study. Researchers found that over a 10-year period, women who drank coffee had less self-reported depression. That is 2 to 3 cups per day was associated with a 15% reduced risk of depression, compared with drinking 1 cup or less. Drinking 4 or more cups increased that benefit---and reduced the risk of depression by 20%.¹

For the record, decaffeinated coffee did not have any impact on the risk of depression.

Fifteen years ago, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a similar study. They looked at 86,625 women between the ages of 34 and 59 over a 10-year period. The period of analysis was from 1980 to 1990---and the endpoint was suicide---a very severe outcome associated with depression. In this study, women who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day were 66% less likely to commit suicide, compared with non-coffee drinkers.²

Looking at this data side by side, I was curious about why the researchers were more interested in suicide than depression during the earlier analysis. Depression in the recent study was defined as feeling self-reported depression or being on antidepressants. I suspect---and it’s just a hypothesis—that the widespread availability of antidepressants AND access to coffee in a community setting in places like Starbucks has allowed people to address their depression more effectively than in the past. Good pharmacology and a communal coffee culture has helped ease our pain, be it chemical, existential, or circumstantial.

The idea that coffee helps people be less depressed is intuitively understood by the hundreds of millions of people who enjoy it every day. We are more productive, alert, engaged, and energized for the task at hand. Yes, it is largely due to the caffeine---in fact, 80% of all caffeine consumed is consumed in coffee. But I believe that there’s more: There is the power of community. Drinking coffee together. Then going out for a walk---and enjoying the gifts of the season.

Happy fall, coffee drinkers…as the days get shorter and cooler, join me in drinking lots of hot coffee. Let’s stay happy!

References:

1. Kawachi et al. A prospective study of coffee drinking and suicide in women. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:521-5.

2. Lucas M et al. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of depression among women. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171:1571-78.

Gray Skies, No Problem: Drinking Coffee at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

2011-09-21T14:16:00.004-04:00

On Labor Day, there was a gray canopy hanging over Washington, D.C. And though the day was utterly devoid of that bright September sun that we all love so much, the steel grey of the sky above was beautiful. Our goal that day was to go to the newly constructed, recently opened MLK Memorial. For some reason, we were giddy with excitement. Perhaps for ourselves, perhaps for our children, perhaps for all of the people who will come from all over the world to see this memorial in the future. For that reason, the gray sky seemed even more beautiful. Even more beautiful was the shades-of-gray contrast between the sky and the monumental grey-stone monument/memorial of Martin Luther King, Jr. rising out of the earth like a gray rocket of hope. We were stunned by the scale.

The memorial is the work of Master sculptor, Lei Yixin. It is 28.5 feet tall and positioned between Independence Avenue and West Basin Drive. One enters the memorial through a stone archway aptly named the “ Mountain of Despair” and then confronts the “Stone of Hope.” One must walk around the “Stone of Hope” to see the imposing, thoughtful image of the dignified MLK—who was 39 years old when he died.

After leaving the site of the memorial and meandering along the paths of downtown Washington, we headed towards the Museum of Air and Space, where we marveled over the Spirit of St. Louis, facebooked photos of the Wright Brothers full-room exhibit, and purchased a “future astronaut” sippy cup at a deep discount—and where I started to crave a cup of coffee.

Where's the Coffee?

There was no coffee available at the Museum of Air and Space or the Hirschhorn Museum next door. We moved through the sculpture garden, becoming temporarily transfixed by the sculpture of a figure flying backwards off a horse. Finally, we walked into the National Gallery of Art and headed straight for the cafeteria.

Full disclosure: I’ve had a lot of coffee from the NGA cafeteria in my lifetime. I grew up in the D.C. area and remember using the Iwo Jima memorial as a playground as a little girl and going to school in Falls Church and secretly drinking coffee in the mornings. The coffee at NGA is not Starbucks coffee. It doesn’t have to be. It’s good. The cashiers are exceedingly polite and kind. On that day, I got trail mix and coffee in one of those standard-issue off-white ceramic mugs---a standard that I’ve grown to love over the years. The brew was hot and dark, bold, but not bitter. I devoured it with a dollop of skim milk. Two cups later and I was exhilarated!

As we viewed the work of the great masters, I noted with particular joy a painting by Georges Braque. So glad I had the energy to get excited once again about collage art. Thank you, coffee!

Post-script: I usually have an annual coffee-drinking party at my house in honor of MLK’s birthday each January. Last year, we took a break, as I was expecting another child. However, I am not pregnant and don’t plan to be in January. So, if you’ve been invited in the past, look for your invite!

July 4th, 2011: Hot Coffee, Cool Parties and a Decreased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

2011-07-05T00:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Fourth of July!

What a terrific holiday this has been…and best of all, I’ve recently been exposed to another powerful paradigm shift. A new study shows that coffee can help stave off the symptoms and memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Researchers at the University of South Florida, where the study was conducted, think that coffee may even have preventive effects against AD!

This study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease on June 28, 2011, evaluated memory function and disease development in mice with induced AD. The results were very specific in that the only thing that was effective in preserving and improving memory over the long term was caffeinated coffee---not decaffeinated coffee and not other types of caffeinated drinks.

The primary mechanism was associated with increased blood levels of a growth factor known as GCSF, or granulocyte colony stimulating factor, which is associated with improved memory and a decrease in the brain’s production of beta-amyloid, which is the plaque found in the brains of people with AD. GCSF creates new connections between brain cells and increases the birth of new neurons in the brain. Coffee also has anti-inflammatory properties.

It seems that we should all be enjoying these benefits, but the researchers stress that Americans just aren’t drinking enough coffee to reap those benefits. In fact, we average about 2 cups a day. When it comes to memory, the benefits really kick in at the 4 to 5 cup mark. That’s where the paradigm shift comes in. More really is better. Researchers suggest that we start ramping up intake in our 30’s when AD can start to develop.

Everyone, including Americans, wants to be healthy. Coffee, it seems, may help us achieve that goal. I also want to be able to remember all of the cool parties we have attended on July 4th and the beautiful fireworks that lit up the night sky this past weekend. And, of course, I want to remember the look of awe in my children's eyes.

The information about AD is new, but here's what we know: We already know that coffee significantly reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease, type II diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver disease, and stroke.

Finally...one more question: Do you like your coffee hot or cold? On a hot day, I still like my coffee hot. Hot water and hot healthy drinks are an excellent way to detoxify the body and build the digestive system. So have a hot cup of coffee as you watch the fireworks! It’s another dimension of hot (and healthy) fun in the summer time!

Coffee by the Campfire---and Medical News About Coffee’s Benefits in Hep C

2011-06-29T00:41:00.010-04:00

At night, in the woods, when there is no wifi or temperature-control device available, you realize that your deepest, darkest fears are probably real. However, in the morning, when it’s sunny out and you wake up and stretch, you feel much better and reconsider your bleak thoughts from the previous night. Camping feels like a more extreme version of reality. The one constant, it seems, is the comfort of coffee in the morning.

Recently, I went with a group of friends and our kids camping. Oh, what an adventure! I was in charge of the coffee, but had the added challenge of not knowing whether there was a stovetop or electricity. Out of desperation, I purchased Maxwell House---something I haven’t done in years. (My friend also brought along Via from Starbucks).

We needed a robust supply of coffee, as every adult there was counting on the bitter brew to ease into the day. We used a stovetop powered by a propane tank visible from our window. We also used Styrofoam cups---an environmental faux pas of enormous proportions…but the cabin did not come stocked with china, so we did what we had to do. We boiled water in a frying pan and made cup after precious cup, which was drunk with a sense of sacred gratitude by each one of us.

…And now an important health update about coffee and liver disease: New findings from a study published in the June 2011 issue of Gastroenterology showed that in patients with hepatitis C treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin, coffee drinkers were twice as likely to respond to their treatment.

In the analysis, 46% of non-coffee-drinkers had an early virologic response; 26% had no detectable serum hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) at week 20; 22% had no detectable serum at week 48; and 11% had a sustained virologic response.

In contrast, among coffee drinkers, 73% had an early virologic response; 52% had no detectable HCV RNA at week 20; 49% had no detectable serum at week 48; and 26% had a sustained virologic response.

There is a strong evidence base showing that coffee has positive effects in the liver, specifically, coffee is associated with a lower level of liver enzymes, reduced progression of chronic liver disease, and a reduced incidence of liver cancer.

Ironic but true, I drank Maxwell house in the woods with a group of friends and enjoyed it immensely. By doing so, I discovered quite by accident that coffee hubris is as misguided as any other type of excessive pride. Certainly, I enjoyed the Via and the cup of Sumatra I had upon returning home. But, when one is in adventurous situations---camping out with kids, at a lonely interstate rest stop, in a fancy hotel room with a broken coffee maker—it all comes down to getting a cup of coffee. And when you get it, you may even be tempted to say: “Good to the last drop!”

As American as Apple Pie---Starbucks at 40

2011-06-01T01:40:00.002-04:00

It’s the 40^th anniversary of the incorporation of Starbucks…and in celebration of this seminal time, Starbucks has introduced the “Tribute” blend…which is incredibly bright, with nice bold overtones. I like it both hot and cold…In tribute to the 40^th anniversary of Starbucks, this post is dedicated to them. Arguably, the Starbucks experience, which incorporates an appealing lexicon, pleasing physical lay-out, music-drenched ambiance, and access to world-class newspapers, embodies the highest ideals of bohemian culture. Yet, Starbucks is a well-run corporation, with CEO Howard Schultz, CEO, at the helm as a benevolent and savvy business icon. To its credit, Starbucks’ corporate governance has led to such widespread recognition that its good works are lauded throughout the business community.

The story of how Starbucks became “Starbucks” is legendary and interesting from both a cultural perspective and a business perspective. Howard Schultz became Marketing Director of Starbucks in 1982, when it was still a bean company. While meandering down a street in Milan during a break from a professional conference, he decided to stop for espresso at one of the more than 200,000 espresso bars in Italy. He was riveted by what he saw, heard, and felt. People were talking, laughing, reading, and otherwise productively engaged---and he himself found the atmosphere both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. The epiphany was immediate. His goal: To export this phenomenon back to the United States. In retrospect, that he succeeded is in some ways remarkable.

In the early 1980’s, the United States was not an obvious target for a nationwide coffee chain. There were a slew of negative reports about coffee and caffeine in particular being not only unhealthy, but associated with cancer and other diseases. The popular taste tended towards soft drinks and sugary juices, and there was no large-scale precedent---especially outside of large cities---for just hanging out, reading, and drinking coffee. But Schultz succeeded in taking the “mystery and romance” of the coffee experience and making it a tangible reality in the United States. One of the main marketing principles aimed at an aspiring middle class was the idea of acknowledging and elevating individuality by making individual espresso and coffee drinks specified to customers’ desires. Add to that the integration of Starbucks’ music, book, and film enterprises, all within the context of a comfortable, edifying atmosphere, and the appeal becomes readily apparent.

Day in and day out, we congregate at Starbucks--for business, for pleasure, for rest and stimulation; alone or with friends, partners, and children...these are the days of our lives. And where we spend them and how we spend them matters. That's why I choose coffee---every day!

Coffee and Breast Cancer---New Findings Support More Consumption, Not Less

2011-05-21T23:37:00.005-04:00

Coffee is good for you. More evidence is here. And this time it's aimed directly at women.

A new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that higher-than-normal coffee consumption significantly decreases the risk of ER-negative breast cancer.*

This study, which was published as a provisional PDF in Breast Cancer Research on May 11, 2011, included almost 6,000 women, who were included in six different cancer registries in Sweden. Available information about the women, who were all between the ages of 50 and 74, included health status, lifestyle habits, and various other factors (like whether the women were taking hormone therapy) that needed to be factored into the analysis in order to make it valid.

The study was well designed in that it was a population-based and case controlled. When the researchers compared women who drank 5 or more cups of coffee a day with those who drank one cup or less, they found a modest overall decrease (about 20%, with a trend towards significance) in all types of breast cancer. However, when they looked at ER-negative breast cancer in isolation, there was a markedly and significantly reduced risk: 57%.

Swedes are huge consumers of coffee. Median intake is 3 cups per day. So this is an ideal population in which to study the health effects of coffee. This study is encouraging for many reasons, but especially so, because at one time, many people mistakenly thought that coffee was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

This may seem like an outdated view now, but today I was talking to a woman in her 70’s. She was proudly telling me that all of her children had attended college---and that none of them were chronic alcohol drinkers, smokers, or coffee drinkers. I almost winced at this statement. Many people continue to inveigh against coffee drinking—but the data are the data---and they are overwhelmingly positive.

The researchers suggest that it is the polyphenols in coffee that contribute to its anticarcinogenic effect, with a significant impact coming from trigonelline in this case. In addition, coffee increases the plasma levels of enterolactone, which is associated with a decreased risk of ER-negative breast cancer.

This is not the first study suggesting that coffee is protective against breast cancer, but it is one of the largest and one of the first to focus exclusively on ER-negative breast cancer.

For many women, including myself, this type of news makes coffee drinking that much more satisfying.

Many thanks to Dr. Li and his colleagues in Sweden!

*ER stands for estrogen receptor. In contrast to ER-positive breast cancer, ER-negative breast cancer is not driven by hormones and is considered harder to treat.

My Mother's Melitta

2011-05-05T11:37:00.005-04:00

When I was 15, I started brewing coffee with my mother’s Melitta Drip Coffee Maker. I learned by watching her. She would carefully take out a filter and line the plastic cone that sat on top of a glass carafe. The coffee dripped very slowly and seemed to take a long, long time to brew.

It smelled amazing. I watched in utter fascination. Then, I started taking sips when she wasn’t looking. We never had a conversation about whether I should drink coffee or not. I just started making and drinking coffee---all day long, and into the night.

Coffee made me feel better, more alive, and more focused. When I started drinking coffee, I became a better student, a better friend, a better big sister, a better daughter. Still, I assumed that on some level I was harming my health. I secretly feared that one day if I didn’t stop in time, my obsession with coffee would catch up with me. Like my friends who smoked cigarettes or went out drinking, I treated my penchant for Maxwell House like a vice.

Little did I know that two decades letter, researchers would celebrate coffee as a health-enhancing beverage. When I first heard the good news, it made perfect sense to me. Previously, coffee was assumed to have negative effects on health, but in fact, many of the studies on which those assumptions were based were flawed, mainly because they failed to factor out other health habits, such as cigarette smoking. Twenty years ago who would have thought that large-scale coffee-drinking would take hold with such intensity in the United States? Where would we be without cafés? Who would we be now, culturally, if there was no Starbucks or Peete’s or local independent coffee house? Where would we go? The coffeehouse/café tradition, which goes back to the Middle East and Europe, first took hold in the United States more than 100 years ago mainly in large cities. It continues to evolve and influence the physical and social rhythms of our lives. Despite all of the ambiguity about the role of coffee in our society, and the occasional hand-wringing about its effect on health---all available evidence shows that coffee is overwhelmingly good for us physically, psychologically, and socially.

Flying High: Celebrating Space Travel and High-Altitude Coffee

2011-04-12T23:14:00.003-04:00

Today we are celebrating flying high!

50 years ago today on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel in space. He is a much-celebrated cosmonaut, who literally set the standard for aspiring to lofty ambitions.

Five years after Gargarin soared beyond the earth's atmosphere, Alfred Peet opened Peet's coffee in Berkeley, California---in April 1966.

He too was ambitious, having immigrated from Holland in 1955 after spending time in Indonesia working for Lipton tea. He was also focused on altitude--specifically "high-altitude" coffee from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and East Africa. He found this coffee superior to what was available in the United States at the time.

Drinking a cup of Peet's coffee today, I was grateful for its strong aroma and slightly bitter taste---offset by just the right amount of skim milk.

Kudos to Gagarin and Peet---who both stand tall in the annals of firsts!

Simply Sunday: The Joy and Consolation of Coffee in the Neighborhood

2011-02-20T15:15:00.002-05:00

Sunday in mid-March feels like the beginning of a major flirtation. We’re flirting with spring and all of the optimism and bright energy that accompanies it. But on this Sunday, we’re in a holding pattern. The snow is melting leaving patches of green-brown grass and slushy puddles of water behind. At the same time, forecasters call for 1 to 3 inches of snow on President’s Day. Translation: All outdoor play dates will be moved indoors. The gyms will be thrumming with activity. There will be a minimum of grousing to go with the shoveling---grateful as we are that it’s almost over.

Sunday is another day in the neighborhood. We wake up to bright sun and pre-brewed coffee. It’s Casi Cielo---an esteemed blend---and the last of the coffee to be found in the house. The baby is terribly congested to the point that we must put her semi-sitting in the stroller so she can breathe properly---and walk her around to calm her. So instead of going to my Sunday morning Zumba class at Studio360, a very energetic downtown boutique studio in Montclair, I put on a tunic and jeans and head to the drug store to get “Simply Saline” and the New York Times. I get a kick out of using my Extra Bucks.

Then I head across the street to Starbucks where I buy 2 half-pounds of coffee (house blend and Kenya). I am able to briefly sit and read about Paris in the travel section.

My week is chock a block with fitness activities—Zumba, yoga, cardio-scultping, machines, pilates, resistance workouts, long afternoon walks…but today, Simply Saline trumps zumba. I finish my coffee and head home and spend the rest of the morning dancing to Gershwin to entertain my blissfully irrigated baby.

Global Coffee Love

2011-02-14T18:08:00.005-05:00

When you think of coffee do you think of a specific country? Perhaps you think of Italy , Turkey, or Ethiopia. Perhaps Brazil or the United States. Well, how about Japan? Writing in the New York Times on February 9, 2011, Oliver Strand makes the point that the idea that coffee authenticity is tied to a particular country is ridiculous. Coffee love is global!

Consumption varies from country to country. The Japanese, it turns out, are avid coffee-lovers, consuming 903 million pounds of coffee a year. And though Japan is not a huge producer of coffee, the Japanese do bring their inimitable style to the coffee-brewing process. Strand extols the aesthetic utility, precision, and affordability of Japanese brewing equipment. He notes that some of the best-designed coffee brewing tools, such as grinders, drip cones, and pouring kettles range in price from $15 to $50 each and deliver an exquisite experience.

Curious? William-Sonoma stocks Hario brewing equipment from Japan. Check it out here.

Happy Valentine’s Day, coffee lovers!

Breaking Coffee-Health News: Roasting Coffee Uncovers Life-Enhancing Antioxidants

2011-02-03T18:37:00.002-05:00

Coffee is celebrated for its health benefits, largely because of its daily contribution to antioxidant consumption. Antioxidants improve health by zapping the free radicals that are responsible for aging and degeneration in the human body. Joe Vinson, PhD, asserts that Americans get most of their daily dose of antioxidants from coffee, a total of 1,299 mg per day. That’s more than the 294 mg from tea or the 39 mg from apples. So what exactly is the source of all of those antioxidants? Is it from the phenolic compounds or chlorogenic acids found in coffee? How about the caffeine? Well, yes, theoretically those are all contributing factors to the presence of antioxidants in raw, green coffee beans. But when it comes to accessing those antioxidants, the magic is in the brewing!

Researchers Yazheng Liu and David Kitts at the University of British Columbia studied the antioxidant content of green unroasted coffee beans compared with roasted beans. They found that although 90% of chlorogenic acid is lost during the roasting process, antioxidant content is amped up due to a specific chemical reaction that occurs during the roasting process. This reaction is known as the “Maillard reaction.” The term refers to the work by French 20th century chemist Louis-Camille Maillard who looked at how heat affects the carbohydrates, sugars and proteins in food, such as when grilling steaks or toasting bread.

One of the most compelling things about coffee is its tantalizing, soothing, stimulating smell---its ability to stoke olfactory senses. That smell is related to the effects of roasting. So the next time you breathe in the aroma of a steaming cup of coffee, remember you are smelling the scent of good health. Cheers!

Espresso as Metaphor: Trying a New Coffee Drink and Looking Towards the Future

2011-01-25T09:17:00.003-05:00

Several years ago when I was in grad school at NYU, my professor, Dr. Robert Bench, a respected publishing professional, often used the term “future forward.” I found the term charming and provocative all at once. The alliteration notwithstanding, the term evoked an image of people moving rapidly into a physical future space. Plus it synched with my approach to life. The reality is that we are always moving forward and need to make room for new experiences and ideas, including what we consume.

That’s why when it comes to coffee, trying a new brew or new type of drink is a good idea. Yesterday I tried a low-sugar, skim caramel macchiato. According to the barista at Starbucks, macchiato means “marked”. Basically, the drink starts with milk on the bottom, with foam above that. The drink is then topped off with espresso---you really taste the espresso. As most other coffee drinks go (lattes, cappuccinos, etc.) macchiatos are upside down. The caramel drizzle is an added plus. For me, the experience of encountering espresso ahead of foam and milk was novel and exceptionally delicious.

The same day I tried a macchiato, I downloaded “Girl Talk’s” All Day mash-up, which is ridiculously popular. Girl Talk, straight out of industrial Pittsburgh, is a DJ who mixes it up and dances until his feet bleed. I’m not sure about his coffee habits, but would be happy to sit with him over a latte and talk about music. “All Day” was all new for me and amped up my work-up. I burned 600 calories in 45 minutes---a new record. “All Day” is available as a free download under the label “Illegal Art”. It includes a staggering 372 samples and is all about danceable hooks. Think Lady Gaga meets the Beatles, who hang out with Rihanna and 50 Cent, who has a strong rapport with Cyndi Lauper and Miley Cyrus. And that’s just the beginning. Just Jared links to the download here

Now, I’m more open than ever, looking out for subtle ways to stretch and grow and avoid inertia. Coffee has always grounded me, and there really is no substitute for being grounded and having a solid foundation. Starting there, I can afford to try new things, drink new drinks, take flight, and be open to the world around me. Try a new coffee drink today!

Bottoms Up… Happy National Coffee Break Day! (Free Coffee Available at a Cafe Near You)

2011-01-20T14:42:00.003-05:00

In honor of its centennial anniversary the National Coffee Association has ordained January 20th National Coffee Break Day. From New York City, to Portland Oregon, to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, coffee purveyors nationwide are joining in the celebration by offering free coffee and other enticing opportunities. Find out how to celebrate in your area here. Visiting this link will also give you a chance to look at the National Coffee Association’s mochalicious site redesign.

In the midst of our busy, busy lives, taking a break feels good, and in reality a well-deserved break actually stokes productivity. Here’s a historical tidbit about the origins of the coffee break as a part of American culture: In 1964, 74,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members were ready to stop working if management would not agree to give them a daily coffee break. After a series of tiresome negotiations, management conceded and the 12-minute-daily coffee break became part of work-a-day life for U.S. auto workers.

Can’t wait to take a break today, or maybe 3 or 4 to celebrate. So wherever you are, whatever you’re doing—take a break (or at least plan too)---and raise your cup in celebration!

Bring on the Emoticons: Coffee Makes You Happier

2011-01-19T09:36:00.004-05:00

Coffee has long been appreciated for its buoying effect on mood. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 1996 showed that women who regularly drank at least 2 cups of coffee daily during a 10-year period (between 1980 and 1990) were less likely to commit suicide than their non--coffee-drinking peers. Looking at data from the Nurses’ Health Study on 86,625 female registered nurses who were between the ages of 34 and 59 in 1980, researchers considered not only coffee-drinking, but also smoking status, marital status, alcohol intake, levels of perceived stress, and diseases that may have affected the women’s feelings about the value of their lives.

78% of the women drank coffee. Overall, women who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day were 66% less likely to commit suicide. Researchers found that 56 of the women in the study committed confirmed suicide between 1980 and 1990. There was one negative coffee-related finding in this study. The presumably positive effect of coffee on mood notwithstanding, in this cohort of women, those who consumed coffee were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol. They were also more likely to be stressed. However, as researchers looked at the data more closely, other positive coffee-related associations became clear: In addition to decreased risk of suicide, the prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes was lower among women who drank coffee. All of these elements were factored into the analysis, and in the end the positive effect of coffee on mood was directly attributable to the coffee itself.

Seasonal affective disorder is a very real malady. Exercise, coffee and taking in the sunshine when it comes are good strategies for feeling better!

Make Me Happy: Low-Acid Coffee=Less Anxiety and More Joy

2011-01-16T09:03:00.004-05:00

On a recent morning that could have been high anxiety, I chose a low-acid coffee: Purroast. This smooth coffee delivered on its promise---very low acid coffee with a rich, full-bodied taste. The previous afternoon while forecasters were once again promising blizzard conditions, I had joined other shoppers in buying last-minute items that would allow me to comfortably hunker down. Puroast’s bright red-and-white packaging featuring a red bird with geometric plumage appealed to me, but I was also interested in the low-acid experience.

That evening as we waited for the snow fall to start, I was glad I had coffee and also glad that it was low acid, because the next day promised to be challenging. Despite the storm, I was expected to be at an important event involving a workout outfit, a makeup artist, cameramen---and a good friend who I would not let down. As the snow softly pelted the ground, I became increasingly anxious. Would I take the train or wake early to shovel so I could drive downtown? How much feeding and care would my newborn demand throughout the night? My response to that anxiety: set up the coffee maker and go to bed.

The next morning was bright and sunny. The coffee was hot and ready. And the amount of snow was a lot less than we expected. As I drove to my destination, I smiled as I drove by large snow-canopied trees, a bustling cafe and a throng of kids playing in the snow. Puroast lifted me up and left my tummy calm, despite the fact that I did not have time to eat.

I was only able to find the house blend, but Puroast offers a wide range of options, including Colombian Supremo, Autumn spice, Mocha Java, Vanilla, Hazelnut, and Nutcracker Sweet. I’m looking forward to more flavorful low-acid coffee-drinking---and committed to managing anxiety and finding joy every day!

5 Reasons to Love Coffee in 2011

2011-01-13T01:21:00.003-05:00

Love of coffee endures, but sometimes it’s nice to reflect on what we love about coffee. Here are 5 reasons to love coffee in 2011.

1. Coffee makes you healthier: Studies show that coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, depression, liver disease, and high cholesterol.

2. Coffee variety abounds: Beyond the Arabica-versus-robusta divide, coffee differs based on how its roasted, where it’s grown, how it’s brewed, and many other conditions that contribute to a flavor, acidity and overall taste. Recently, we were snowbound and coffee reserves were diminishing rapidly. In order to make coffee, I combined Seattle’s Best Blend with two Starbucks blends, including the slightly sweet Italian Roast and the super-dark smoky extra bold French roast. The result: a dark, sweet, smooth blend. It tasted even better as we watched the snow fall.

3. Coffee bolsters community: During the holiday, we enjoyed Prosecco and coffee in equal measure. Mornings and early afternoons, however, were reserved exclusively for coffee. On New Year’s weekend, we had an especially pleasant afternoon choosing between 3 carafes of coffee and combining each cup with chocolate-covered cherries. La dolce vita indeed!

4. Coffee apparently is a really good economic bellwether and things are looking up: Though consumption dipped in 2009, there was a noteworthy rebound in 2010. Residents of Seattle spent the most---$36 per month on average; Americans consumed the most---66 million cups a year; and 56% of all adults in the US reported drinking coffee on a regular basis.

5. Coffee tastes good! Good coffee has a rich, bold taste that both comforts and stimulates simultaneously. It is the type of drink that can make you feel connected to all other people on the planet. Cold coffee is refreshing on a number of levels, with cooling, invigorating effects. Delicious, refreshing, invigorating, yummy, and satisfying all at once. Coffee is a good thing.