The Stimulating News About Coffee

If you're the kind of person who cannot begin the day without a cup of coffee, you are not alone. Nearly 45 percent of all Americans down a cup of more of this beverage every day. Our fascination with coffee dates back to 1773 when angry colonists, protesting King George's tax on tea, responded strongly by supporting coffee. Coffee ranks second to oil as the leading commodity in international commerce. More than 50 countries grow in excess of eight billion pounds of coffee annually.

Coffee is grown in tropical climates that offer sufficient rainfall, abundant sunshine, and rich soil conditions found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It generally takes between three to five years before a shrub begins to produce berries. One shrub produces about 3500 berries per year or the equivalent of one and a half pounds of roasted coffee.

An estimated 20 million jobs are created for individuals in coffee-producing countries. The United States imports about one-third of the world's annual consumption, or roughly 2.4 billion pounds a year. Although Germany is the second largest importer of coffee, Scandinavia holds the per-capita consumption title, with the average person drinking four cups a day.

The wonderful aroma of coffee and its ability to boost energy have made it the second most popular beverage in America, right behind soft drinks. The stimulating effects of coffee can be felt within one half hour of its consumption. Generally, a person feels better after drinking a cup of coffee and this heightened sense of well being can last for hours. Unfortunately, the down side of caffeine consumption is the inevitable withdrawal that you experience. In addition, some people are more sensitive to caffeine and drinking as little as a cup a day can cause irritability and interfere with a good night’s sleep.

The good news is that most people can safely tolerate about 300 milligrams of caffeine without experiencing any negative side effects. This amount is the equivalent of three, 5-ounce cups of coffee. If you are trying to limit your caffeine consumption consider other food sources you may be consuming that contain it such as regular tea, many soft drinks, and even some bottled waters. The following chart lists the caffeine content of various beverages:

*Caffeine content varies according to brewing time

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