Coffee
Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted seeds, called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. Coffee beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees in over 70 countries, cultivated primarily in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Coffee can have a stimulating effect on humans due to its caffeine content. It is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world. The two most commonly grown are the highly regarded Coffea arabica, and the 'robusta' form of the hardier Coffea canephora.
All coffee plants are classified in the large family Rubiaceae. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees that may grow 5 m (15 ft) tall when unpruned. The leaves are dark green and glossy, usually 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide. The flowers are axillary, and clusters of fragrant white flowers bloom simultaneously and are followed by oval berries of about 1.5 cm (0.6 in). Green when immature, they ripen to yellow, then crimson, before turning black on drying. Each berry usually contains two seeds, but 5–10% of the berries have only one; these are called peaberries. Berries ripen in seven to nine months.
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[edit] Production
In 2009 Brazil was the world leader in production of green coffee, followed by Vietnam, Indonesia and Colombia. Arabica coffee beans are cultivated in Latin America, eastern Africa, Arabia, or Asia. Robusta coffee beans are grown in western and central Africa, throughout southeast Asia, and to some extent in Brazil.
| Rank | Country | Tonnes | Bags (thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 2,249,010 | 36,070 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 961,200 | 16,467 |
| 3 | Colombia | 697,377 | 12,504 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 676,475 | 7,751 |
| 5 | Ethiopia | 325,800 | 4,906 |
| 6 | India | 288,000 | 4,148 |
| 7 | Mexico | 268,565 | 4,150 |
| 8 | Guatemala | 252,000 | 4,100 |
| 9 | Peru | 225,992 | 2,953 |
| 10 | Honduras | 217,951 | 3,842 |
| 11 | Côte d'Ivoire | 170,849 | 2,150 |
| 12 | Uganda | 168,000 | 3,250 |
| 13 | Costa Rica | 124,055 | 1,791 |
| 14 | Philippines | 97,877 | 431 |
| 15 | El Salvador | 95,456 | 1,626 |
| 16 | Nicaragua | 90,909 | 1,700 |
| 17 | Papua New Guinea | 75,400 | 968 |
| 18 | Venezuela | 70,311 | 897 |
| 19 | Madagascar | 62,000 | 604 |
| 20 | Thailand | 55,660 | 653 |
| World | 7,742,675 | 117,319 |
[edit] Decaffeinated Coffee
Seeds are decaffeinated when they are still green. Many methods can remove caffeine from coffee, but all involve either soaking the green beans in hot water (often called the "Swiss water" process) or steaming them, then using a solvent to dissolve caffeine-containing oils. Decaffeination is often done by processing companies, and the extracted caffeine is usually sold to the pharmaceutical industry.
[edit] Effects on Health
Coffee contains several compounds which are known to affect human body chemistry. Coffee contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant. For this reason, it is often consumed in the morning and when feeling tired.
[edit] Benefits
- Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and Dementia
- Reduced risk of gallstone disease
- Reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
- Increase Cognitive performance
- Analgesic enhancement - Coffee contains caffeine, which increases the effectiveness of pain killers, especially migraine and headache medications.
- Antidiabetic
- Liver protection - Coffee can also reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver and has been linked to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary liver cancer that usually arises in patients with preexisting cirrhosis
- Reduce risk of some cancers - Coffee consumption is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer.
- Cardioprotective - reduces the incidence of dying from cardiovascular disease.
- Laxative/diuretic - Coffee is also a powerful stimulant for peristalsis and is sometimes considered to prevent constipation.
- Antioxidants - Coffee contains the anticancer compound methylpyridinium.
- Prevention of dental caries
- Gout - Coffee consumption decreased risk of gout in men over age 40.
[edit] Risks
- Hypoglycemia - caffeine causes a release of glycogen by the liver, which can generate wild swings in blood sugar, causing attacks of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia has a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including weakness, nervousness, sweating and heart palpitations.
- Cholesterol - some individuals, coffee can raise cholesterol, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
- Fertility - women who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant should avoid excess caffeine consumption, which may increase the risk for a variety of fertility problems. Research into caffeine's effects on fertility has yielded mixed results, though a recent study found that the risk of miscarriage doubled with the consumption of 2 or more cups of coffee per day, and others have linked high caffeine consumption with reduced fertility. Numerous studies have also found caffeine consumption by pregnant women to be associated with low birth weight. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 1 to 2 cups of coffee per day.
- Anxiety Symptoms - caffeine can overstimulate the central nervous system. This not only causes anxiety in susceptible individuals, but can also exhaust the adrenal glands over time, decreasing resistance to stress and thus increasing vulnerability to disease pathogens and other health hazards.
- Osteoporosis - excess coffee consumption may prevent the full absorption of necessary minerals, it increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. A study of nearly 1,000 postmenopausal women found that long-term consumption of 2 or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with decreased bone density, regardless of age, alcohol and tobacco consumption, hormone use, and other factors. However, there are indications that these negative effects can be mitigated by adding milk.
- Coffee Addiction - people who quit coffee often experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, decreased energy and alertness, difficulty concentrating, and even irritability and depression. These symptoms usually begin within 12-24 hours of quitting caffeine and hit a peak within 20-51 hours. Overall, symptoms tend to last anywhere from 2-9 days.
- Weight Gain caffeine increases the risk of long-term weight gain by increasing stress hormones and creating a greater risk for hypoglycemia, which stimulates appetite. Although caffeine can assist with short-term weight loss, in the longer term, heavy consumption is more likely to lead to weight gain. Also, studies have indicated that green tea is better for maintaining a healthy weight than coffee.
[edit] Caffeine content
The stimulant effect of coffee is due to its caffeine content. The caffeine content of a cup of coffee varies depending mainly on the brewing method, and also on the variety of bean.
Coffee has the following caffeine content:
- brewed: 1 cup (7 oz, 207 ml) = 80–135 mg.
- drip: 1 cup (7 oz, 207 ml) = 115–175 mg.
- espresso: 1 shot (1.5–2 oz, 45–60 ml) = 100 mg
[edit] Ecological Effects
Originally, coffee farming was done in the shade of trees that provided a habitat for many animals and insects.[35] Remnant forest trees were used for this purpose, but many species have been planted as well. This method is commonly referred to as the traditional shaded method, or "shade-grown".
Many farmers switched their production method to sun cultivation, in which coffee is grown in rows under full sun with little or no forest canopy. This causes berries to ripen more rapidly and bushes to produce higher yields, but requires the clearing of trees and increased use of fertilizer and pesticides, which damage the environment and cause health problems. The traditional shaded method provides living space for many wildlife species. Opponents of sun cultivation say environmental problems such as deforestation, pesticide pollution, habitat destruction, and soil and water degradation are the side effects of these practices.
Another issue concerning coffee is its use of water, it takes about 140 liters (37 U.S. gal) of water to grow the coffee beans needed to produce one cup of coffee, and the coffee is often grown in countries where there is a water shortage, such as Ethiopia.
