Most of us know the drill: wake up groggy eyed. We stumble around with sleep in our step until many of us turn on the coffee pot. Our senses not fully aware until the bitter liquid touches our lips. The coffee rushes into our system, seeming to fill our veins with the brown substance. It pulls us along our morning routine. One cup, two cups, a Starbucks trip, the Keurig machine at work, an afternoon pick-me-up. Our yearning is insatiable.
Coffee is a phenomenon that stretches around the globe. It is said that coffee’s seemingly magic abilities were discovered in the Ethiopian highlands when a shepherd noticed that his goats, after nibbling on berries from a specific tree, became excited and refused sleep. Experimentation began on the plant, keeping it a secret amongst the people of the area. But soon stories of the wonderful brew spread, along with the drink’s popularity. Coffee houses began to pop up and people frequented them for various social purposes. Music, performances, games, and conversation occurred in these little establishments, putting the consumption of coffee high on the list of social activities. An important center for intellectual exchange, these coffee houses began to be referred to as “Schools of the Wise.”
During the Colonial period, when coffee managed to reach North America, the drink wasn’t as successful as it had been in European countries. Alcoholic beverages still ruled our palate. It wasn’t until the Revolutionary War that the demand for coffee increased seven fold; dealers hoarded their stock and prices rose to ridiculous heights. Coffee was forever engrained into our culture.
So what’s all the hype about? Coffee is a major export commodity, and has become a vital cash crop for many developing countries. Coffee has a stimulating effect on humans due to its caffeine content. Caffeine starts working within minutes, giving us that instant jolt of awareness that we crave. Since coffee conveniently contains more caffeine than a can of soda (between 95 – 200 mg, compared to 30 – 40 mg) it seems like the ultimate choice for the modern person.
Caffeine is chemically addictive due to the way it effects the human brain. After consuming something that contains caffeine, it is absorbed through the small intestine, enters the bloodstream, and is able to reach the brain at alarming speeds. Caffeine conveniently resembles a natural drug found in the human brain called adenosine, which is the byproduct of most cellular processes, telling us we’re losing energy. In fact, it is so similar that it can lock, almost perfectly, into our cell receptors for adenosine and block the correct drug from stimulating the brain. When caffeine blocks these receptors, they prevent us from feeling tired, creating that sense of alertness that we all want in the morning.
Caffeine technically isn’t a stimulant, but more of an enabler; it allows our natural stimulants to run wild (example, dopamine and adrenaline). People who take advantage of coffee’s process feel more aware, energized, fidgety, and clear. Each person experiences caffeine in a different way, which is why some are effected more than others. If you take part in the consumption of caffeine on a daily basis, the brain’s chemistry actually changes as it grows more adenosine receptors in the attempt to maintain equilibrium.
Many humans claim to need coffee to survive, to function properly. Coffee drinking can be so addictive that some people can’t get through the day without several cups; many crave the sensation, like the taste, or enjoy it as a social activity. Some claim that small amounts actually have health benefits in adults. But for those who drink it on the regular, who have accidentally missed their morning coffee or tried to go without, are sure to have experienced a wide range of withdrawal effects. Within 24 hours you may experience headaches, fatigue, decreased connectedness, grogginess, mood swings… The good news is, if you’re trying to quit, these symptoms only last 3 – 12 days and then you are well on your way to a caffeine-free life. But if you have no intention of missing out on coffee’s stimulating effects, lucky for you, your options for your next cup of coffee are endless.
– Mikaela Hammer, JETPUBS Inc.