Coffee Thoughts

tragic lemons
Aug 8, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Dec 4, 2021

Coffee and Capitalism

Almost everyone loves a good cup of coffee, but not all are aware of the origins of their cup of joe. A lot of people are involved in the making of your coffee, from the barista who served it to you, to the farmer who grew the coffee bean itself. Most coffee farmers don't get paid often enough and that has to change. Many may not be able to afford it, but to those who can, do give these a shot. This thing where they pay farmers the amount they really deserve is called fair trade and it doesn't just apply to coffee but other things too, like cotton and sugar. You can look further into fair trade here.

Ethical coffees

Larry's Coffee.
Ethical Bean.
Café Mam.
Higher Ground Roasters.
Conscious Coffees.
Salt Spring Coffee.
Cafédirect.
Grumpy Mule.

Coffee and Modern Culture

I think coffee is tasty like one would say steak is tasty. A strange way to describe it, considering most people would describe it as sweet and aromatic (or bitter, depends on how you take it). Here's a bullet point list of what I think coffee means to people.

It is a symbol of working hard. Some of us like the idea that coffee keeps us awake only so that we can do our work. For them, coffee is seen as a drink that only people who have a lot of work drink. In that sense, it is kind of like making yourself feel more important. There's nothing wrong with that and honestly, I felt the same way when I first started drinking coffee.
We romanticize it. It's an aesthetic. We find the idea of coffee alluring. It's a tradition, passion and joy. Similar to how one is attracted to the idea of reading books. The café aesthetic is a good example.
Related to the point above, its the symbol of the decade. There are so many ways you can have coffee it's almost insane. There are many varieties of the bean, roast, and style of beverage. There’s black (pure) coffee, coffee with cream and/or sugar, espresso, and so on. Anyone can enjoy coffee to their liking.
It has a social ritual aspect to it. It gives you a bit of an energy boost, and improves your mood. It has more of a rich, indulgent flavor, and consistency than say tea. It goes well with sweet, indulgent foods like chocolate, and cream.
Its "addictive". It's active ingredient, caffeine, is addictive, but the addiction has very little obvious consequence in most people, especially compared to other stimulants.
Coffee is stimulating. When we consume it we get a boost of energy and clarity.

Here are some answers I found on Quora:

Coffee is Potential. It gets things started in the morning, and it keeps me going throughout the day. It provides time to reflect, to plan, energy to take action, and even the opportunity to connect with friends (let’s grab a coffee!). It’s a little bean packed with exotic flavors that can transport me to distant lands. It unlocks my potential to think, live and grow
A liquid stimulant that has become a prized commodity in our modern world and which is prepared in differently in various geographical regions. It can be imbibed on its own or mixed with sugar and/or milk and sometimes with alcohol. And after reading that, you probably need a coffee.

Science Behind Coffee

Since I don't get to conduct the studies myself, I have to rely on sources. Here's one I found on a reliable website.

Benefits of coffee

Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
Can Help You Burn Fat
Can Drastically Improve Physical Performance
Contains Essential Nutrients
May Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
May Protect You From Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
May Lower Your Risk of Parkinson’s
May Protect Your Liver
Can Fight Depression and Make You Happier
May Lower Risk of Certain Types of Cancer
Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease and May Lower Stroke Risk
May Help You Live Longer

Unfortunately, we cannot look at just one side of things.

Here are some side effects of too much caffeine. Things should always be taken in moderation, and one cup of coffee will not necessarily have these effects on you.

Too Much Caffeine

Anxiety
Insomnia
Digestive issues
Muscle breakdown
Addiction
High Blood Pressure
Rapid Heart Rate
Fatigue
Frequent Urination and Urgency

How I Like My Coffee

If I am eating something sweet, then I like to pair it with black coffee. Sip it together and enjoy how they balance out.

If I do have to have something on the sweeter side, I would say I am currently in love with hazelnut coffee. I must say I am not really a fan of sweet things, hence why I say relatively sweet. An unpopular opinion, but I don't really like mocha. I don't think mocha should even be classified as coffee. It should be called chocolate with a dash of coffee.