Coffee is good for you and offers many benefits..

Is coffee unhealthy?

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive stimulant in the world and to quote www.healthline.com “Many controlled studies have examined the effects of caffeine on the brain, demonstrating that caffeine can temporarily improve mood, reaction time, memory, vigilance and general brain function.”

They post that pure coffee, in addition to being a natural antioxidant, also stimulates athletic performance and helps mobilize fatty acids from fat tissues. According to the Healthline article, coffee may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as dementia. Whilst over-use of anything should be avoided, I do feel that you can enjoy your morning coffee with confidence. 

       

I have personally put one of these theories to the test during my own gym sessions. I enjoy a double espresso shot 30 minutes before I head for my typical one hour session. I undertook six tests in six sessions, three without the espresso and three with. On average I burned 12% more calories during the sessions with the espresso than those without. 

I "think" I am legally obliged to advise that I am not a dietitian nor a health professional and that if you have any health issues or are starting training after a layoff, you should consult your medical professional first.   

The business of coffee

As consumers struggle to balance our budgets, we may wonder why a cappuccino can cost as much as R30 (ZAR/RSA) when simple arithmetic indicates that the trading margin for the shop might be as high as 200%. This sounds high but do understand that the equipment required to produce a good coffee can cost around ZAR 80 000. To recover this over time means that one has to sell a good few coffees! Add the wages and the training costs of a qualified barista and you’ll more easily understand.

There are many businesses, across all economic sectors which are struggling right now. Headlines suggest that the light at the end of this tunnel is a distant pinprick. Let’s each do our bit by supporting locally owned business as we head for the summer holiday season.   

“A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.”

Michael LeBoeuf

Alan Hawkins is the chief roaster at the East London Coffee Co. Contact: sales@elcoffee.co.za.

East London Coffee Company