Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Have Another Cup!

I love coffee, and I usually enjoy a cup or two of fresh brewed coffee every morning. The ritual of grinding the coffee beans, filling the electric coffee maker with clear cold water, filling the filter with the right amount of the dark fresh grounds and then listening to the perking hiss and drip, drip, drip of the brewed coffee filling the carafe is a comforting routine of morning.
As the deep coffee aroma fills the room I wait with gleeful anticipation. Ah, that first cup is just so satisfying! I often just sit and drink it quietly, with no distraction, just to savor it, and feel it's warmth awakening my body to the new day.
Later, with breakfast, I'll have a second cup and sometimes I would guiltily will pour a third cup, feeling that it was probably not a good habit and not very healthy for my body.

That is, until I read this health article from the New York Times, published January 23, 2009:


An excerpt from the article:

"A team of Swedish and Danish researchers tracked coffee consumption in a group of 1,409 middle-age men and women for an average of 21 years. During that time, 61 participants developed dementia, 48 with Alzheimer’s disease.
After controlling for numerous socioeconomic and health factors, including high
cholesterol and high blood pressure, the scientists found that the subjects who had reported drinking three to five cups of coffee daily were 65 percent less likely to have developed dementia, compared with those who drank two cups or less. "

It goes on to say that research shows that caffeine has been shown to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain which are one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, and that coffee may have an antioxidant effect which reduces the vascular risk factors for dementia. People who consume coffee have also been shown to have a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Another excerpt from the article:

"Dr. Miia Kivipelto, an associate professor of neurology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and lead author of the study, does not as yet advocate drinking coffee as a preventive health measure. 'This is an observational study,' she said. 'We have no evidence that for people who are not drinking coffee, taking up drinking will have a protective effect.' "

It may be so, but for now I'll take my chances!

Would you like to join me in with another cup? Do you take it black, or with cream and sugar?

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Coffee is probably one of my favorite things! There is a ritual to preparing it and drinking it that I love.

I drink mine with a little creamer...and I do drink about 3 cups every morning. It keeps me sane:-)

I have heard that it does have some health benefits, and I am going to continue to believe it as long as I can!!!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I used to drink about 20 cups of coffee a day when I smoked. After quitting smoking 10 years ago, I drink 1-2 cups a day...I LOVE coffee....just a little half-n-half in mine please.

Vee said...

My morning begins with coffee brewed by my beloved. It's the one pot that he does; the rest I do. He's been backing off his coffee habit...up to 12 cups a day...way too much. He's drinking one cup of caffeinated coffee and three cups of decaffeinated. If I show him this post who knows what will happen. Actually, it was so interfering with his sleep that I hope that he'll stick with his new program and not feel guilty if he should slip. Anyway, I love a cup or two of great coffee and I love my Earl Grey tea.

Judy said...

Oh Pat...this is so funny! I copied out the results of that study as well...and have a post half done on the benefits of java. Because...I love my coffee...and I'll take endorsements any way I can find them. You and I will just have to get together over a cup of coffee one these days!

Proud Italian Cook said...

The first thing I walk to in the morning is my coffee pot, It's one of those simple pleasures in life. I enjoy grinding my own beans and the smell as it's brewing. I also have coffee every evening about an hour after dinner, I've never been affected by the caffiene, I could go right to sleep! Health benifits are definitly a plus, but I wouldn't give it up anyway!!
That little Leo's a doll!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat, let me run out and get some coffee QUICK because I need all the help I can get! ;-)

For years my grandmother asked me, "Have you learned to drink coffee yet?" No, I would say, I haven't, and I still haven't though I've tried valliantly because I love the smell so much. Mr. Magpie, however, is a coffee drinker, and much to my granny's chagrin (I can hear her asking me that from Heaven in my mind's ear), I don't have coffee with him in the morning. But I do appreciate his, and I have an addiction to Starbuck's hot chocolate. Yes, it is fattening, and yes, I've had to curtail, but it is my rendition of coffee. Wish I had one right now!

I'll be sure and hook Mr. Magpie up with your post, Pat! He'll love it! I do, too! :-)

XO,

Sheila :-)

CatHerder said...

Thats good to know!!! I LOVE all coffees, especially flavored ones..but when hubby and i go hiking we just bring plain black coffee because thats how he drinks it....i drink it any and all ways....i like tea too!

Melissa Miller said...

I LOVE COFFEE AS WELL!

VANILLA FLAVORS ARE MY FAVORITE. :)

Lorrie said...

Pat I've been a life long hot tea drinker, and then in the last year have gotten hooked on the delicious coffee served at a little bistro in our town--my family can't believe it, but I guess it's never too late to learn something new!

I have to ask, is the picture of the Brooklyn Bridge in your header the view from where you live? When I was visiting my sister in NY last March we walked across the bridge from the Manhattan side--so cool. I took a bunch of pictures!

Joanne Kennedy said...

I hate coffee but I wish I loved it. It always sounds so nice to sit down with friends and have a cup of coffee together. My sister that I live with has this wonderful coffee maker and everyone says it makes the best coffee. But I never use it because I hate coffee.

I also don't like tea. I think I'm pretty strange because everyone I know loves coffee and tea. Or at least one or the other.

Hugs,
Joanne

Joanne Kennedy said...

I hate coffee but I wish I loved it. It always sounds so nice to sit down with friends and have a cup of coffee together. My sister that I live with has this wonderful coffee maker and everyone says it makes the best coffee. But I never use it because I hate coffee.

I also don't like tea. I think I'm pretty strange because everyone I know loves coffee and tea. Or at least one or the other.

Hugs,
Joanne

Bo said...

Hi Pat...I do love my coffee too...I'm in to Hazlenut Cream flavored nowadays...with a little sweetner & fat free half & half... a cup does sound good right now!
;-) Bo

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Pat!

OMG thanks for the info! I'll take that off my post!! Yikes I thought it was OUR Tara. Oh well you can't win them all.

I wish it were true about the coffee/dementia thing. My mother lived on coffee from morning til night all of her life and has dementia quite badly. She must be the one out of the study that the coffee didn't help. Sad but true.

I love coffee in the morning, 2 cups every day with sweetner, Splenda. It starts me off in good fashion!

Big hugs & thanks! Sherry

Kathy said...

Oh dear, I have only ever tasted coffee once, I love the aroma but not the taste. (is that weird?) I guess I will have to try again. I am a Tea addict though, Black and Green, which is good for you I am told.
We are hoping to go to the city this weekend Pat to see the Chinese festivities and have some good Chinese food :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I'll have a cup with you, Pat.

When I was browsing the Kitchen Collection Outlet at the lake a couple of weeks ago, I found Paula Deen's little stove top percolater. I almost bought it. I think, with a little encouragement, I WILL buy it!!

Jojo said...

I can't give it up and I don't even want to try!!! It was quite the fashion in Beirut for people to order "white coffee" - a cup of hot water!!! What is the point? Guess we will all have to take comfort in a glass of wine - did you see 60 Minutes this week?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/25/60minutes/main4752082.shtml

I have to add that for 29 years my husband wakes me up by placing a cup of coffee on my nightstand every morning. Coffee in bed -- now I wouldn't give that up for anything!!!

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

In that case, I'll have 12 cups, please. :-)

I cut out caffeine, as I started to realize a few years back that perhaps I wasn't too pleasant to work with. :-) Lucky for me, the coffee shop by me hand roasts (in the owners' Upstate NY barn!) and has totally yummy decaf. It's made the switch a breeze (plus there's still enough of a trace of caffeine to help me keep my eyes open!).

Going home to bake now...So perhaps a nice cup of decaf is in my near future...

aliceinparis said...

Good news!
I am a tea drinker. I wonder if there is enough caffeine to do the trick.

Kat Mortensen said...

Pat,

I love the smell of coffee when you open up the packet of fresh beans, and then when it comes out of the grinder - heaven!

The Scandinavians have a very different approach to the treatment of elderly in retirement. This article is enlightening. I told my husband we should consider moving over there (he still has relatives in Copenhagen).

Kat

http://www.thestar.com/Atkinson2008/article/532841

Barb said...

You capture the way I feel about coffee,there's nothing like the smell of fresh brewed.The best cup I've ever had was in Puerto Rico cafe con leche, thats how I make mine now heated milk,coffee and instead of sugar splenda....Barb

GailO said...

...can't remember how I found this site but I've been reading for a little while and now I have to comment....Thanks for the link! I love coffee (and I love and appreciate your Manhattan Transfer rendition) and now I will have every reason to keep it up! As a semi retired geriatric nurse dementia is always on my mind!

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

WooHoo...good news!! I get so tired of hearing everything we need to quit doing. It's good to know I can keep drinking my coffee...guilt free!
Thanks for the good news Pat! I'll take mine with cream and sugar please;)

Willow said...

Just cream please! And please may I have it in the Blue Willow cup?

Linda Lou said...

Gotta have that cup of Java everyday, now that I have my Mukka, I can save money at Starbuck's and have a delicious cappucino at home!! WHo cares what they say about health benefits, or lack thereof---we have to have some vices don't we???

Just A Girl said...

Hello Pat,
Looks like I'll need to go back to one pot per day instead of my two big cups. Why yes, I would love to join you for a cup of hot aromatic coffee. I'll take mine with cream and sugar please!

How are you doing? I feel like I've been missing everything going on in bloggyland. Life has been busy and hubby needs attention so I've been trying to be disciplined and not be on the computer so much.

I can't believe how big little Leo is getting. He looks like a big person with his darling little smile. Isn't it wonderful when babies become aware of their surroundings?

I hope you have a wonderful week.
xo Cori

Unknown said...

ah...coffee, Pat, I have a love-hate relationship with coffee. Drinking it makes me blog at 3.00 am, not drinking it makes me cranky. So, I drink one, cant sleep the first night, need another cup the next day to stay awake..and the cycle continues. But I do LOVE it so much :P

Anonymous said...

I usually drink 2/3 cups a day, black with a hint of sugar. My dad (he died december 2007 by complications due to a 9 years battle with Alzheimer) used to drink only decaff. This information is new to me, but dad is a point in favor of the theory.

supplies overflowing! said...

I'd love my coffee with a bit of skim milk, please. Seriously- I am about to have my second cup- right now.
Has your pot ever NOT WORKED? Oh my- I have a Farberware pot that I have to plug in every morning- and when I don't hear that "perking hiss" sound that you described, I'm like- NOOOO!
It usually means that I just haven't used enough pressure while inserting the plug, but uh oh- panic can set in very quickly.
Now if you'll excuse me, it is time for that second cup. Enjoy your day!
jenny

Anonymous said...

I'm not a coffee drinker but once in a while, I'll get an urge for coffee from the Dominican restaurant. ;-)

Happy coffee drinking,

Paz

pammiejo said...

YEA! One more reason to keep drinking the java! It is one of my favorite things to have - I don't ever start a morning without it. I drink it black - like all grown-ups do! The smell of coffee is one of my absolute favorites and mix it with the smell of books (like walking into Barnes and Noble - heaven!). We grind our beans and my DH is the coffee expert so he usually makes it. We try all different brands constantly on the search for the "best". I do like flavored ones, he does not. Think I'll have another cup NOW. PAM

RoeH said...

I don't drink coffee. I do LOVE the smell though. My parents did and I well remember waking up to the sound of the percolating and that wonderful smell. If I did drink coffee, I'd probably be making it all day long (and night since I would be AWAKE) just because of those two things with it.

Marg said...

I love coffee, especially grinding my own beans. This past weekend my daughter and man were drying their own beans for birthday gifts. The smell,just wafted through the shop...
OH...I think it's time for coffee.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Coffee with skim milk is what gets me going in the morning. I have been drinking coffee since I was about seventeen. When we had our first baby, my husband started to bring me a cup in the morning and he still does today. The only time that I did not drink coffee was when I was pregnant. On average, I'd say I am a two cup a day girl and would not be sane without it.
♥, Susan

Helen said...

1% milk please ... and thank you!

Rhondi said...

Hi Pat
Maybe I'll have to become a coffee drinker! Hope you enjoy those second cups.
Hugs, Rhondi

Betsy Brock said...

Well, this IS good news since I drink the whole pot by myself daily! :)

me said...

Ummm...I've not ever had coffee!!

(GASP!!)

I have a dear friend encouraging me to try, though. And I just might! :) I love the smell of it so I should love the taste, yes? I'll let you know how my taste testing goes! :P

*hugs*

Anonymous said...

Thank God!! Finally some good news!!! You just made my day! :) Dana

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat, I was just about to give up and go to bed. I saw your comment and wanted to say hello and thank you for such a lovely comment.

Then I started reading your post and found it to be very interesting. I love a good cup of coffee. I too grind up my beans when making my coffee in the mornings. I can't wait for that first cup. I drink two cups and sometimes three. I think I will increase that now. LOL. It could keep my brain healthy and alert.

I would love to have a cup of coffee with you. We could probably visit for hours. I drink mine with cream and Splenda. Just a touch pf both. Mmmmmm, I wish it was morning now.

Thank you for your kind words about my knee surgery. I do know the drill this time. I just want it to be over with. The recovery is long but then I will have two good knees.
That is a good thing.

I will say goodnight my friend...Jeanne

pve design said...

My Mom lost a dear friend 104, she drank coffee every day at 4 with a bit of chocolate. She said it "picked her up" and then she had dinner at 8. Pour me a cup!

Mmm said...

well some good news. Love your descript of savouring your coffee in the morning. Ahhh.

Tara said...

Hi Pat

I read this this morning in the TIMES and emailed it around to friends...at least it is some good news on our horizons!

Gina said...

Thanks for sharing and making me feel better about drinking so much coffee! I'll have mine strong, white with one..and a tuile would go down nicely too please!

Anonymous said...

Oooh wonderful news! I love coffee black no sugar.

I couldn't get over how in NY I was waiting for hubby to finish a conference, sat in a diner and this girl kept re-filling my cup for nothing. I thought she must've been some sort of angel as I was aching from having done a whole district that day by foot. Here in the UK you pay per cup. I wish your tradition would catch on here.