Life begins after coffee.

“What goes best with a cup of coffee? Another cup.”
- Henry Rollins

I fully, 100%, entirely and without question agree with the above statement by Mr. Rollins.

For me, the smell of freshly-made, deep, earthy coffee is one of the greatest ways to start my morning; bonus points if it's on a day off when I have time and the ability to use our coffee machine without waking my girls up. I do like yerba mate from time to time, mainly the kinds with citrus flavours and probably more for the whole ritual around preparing it (mate cup, bombilla and other accessories create a very distinct experience that adds the charm). I've also tried matcha, again because the preparation ritual looked fascinating, but the taste wasn't for me. In short, coffee is the way to go.

I used to drink lattes or cappuccinos for years, and still like coffee that way from time to time, but nowadays I drink strong, black coffee almost exclusively. I love the smell and the taste; I like experimenting with different brands, varieties, and preparation methods.

According to my dad, coffee is what keeps his health in check (my mom finds this questionable). He drinks exactly three coffees a day and has been following the same schedule for years: a cup at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Whenever we're on the subject, he tells me about the new research he's discovered that confirms all the fantastic benefits of his favourite beverage. I really can't imagine him surviving a day without coffee; such a sight would be strange to witness, to say the least.

On the other hand, there is my wife, who claims coffee is a drug I'm severely addicted to (I'm with her on that one, I must admit). She says my nervous system is paralysed and I'm overstimulating myself to unhealthy levels. She's a bit of a health freak, so I take her comments with a pinch of salt.

I even took her advice once, or rather, took a bet with her, and went cold turkey for a week during one of the holidays a few years ago: no coffee, no black tea, no other stimulants. Didn't do much for me, to be honest. The first 2 days were a tiny bit difficult, as I was sleepy in the morning and had a little bit of a headache, but other than that, I didn't notice any clear benefits. Maybe one week was too short a period to really make a difference? I'm not really sure.

An interesting fact about coffee, which I've recently discovered, is that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, and its market cap is predicted to hit $280 billion in 2025. Hard to argue that's the reflection of its huge economic and cultural importance globally. The average UK citizen consumes approximately 528 cups of coffee per year; strong and stable demand, if you ask me.

Anyway, I'll keep drinking, and if you're having a cup while reading this, remember- “Coffee is Always a Good Idea.”

A.O.

photo by A. Orda