Natural drug:
Caffeine is a drug and this naturally derived drug is found in varying quantities in the beans, leaves and fruit of certain plants, not only in coffee – even though it is most commonly consumed in infusions extracted from the processing of cherries from the coffee tree and from the leaves of the tea bush.
In recent studies, moderate consumption of caffeine has been linked to longevity and to a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or basal cell carcinoma, and probably most consequential, studies with animals have determined that caffeine staves off dementia.
More or less cafeine:
Before taking drastic decaf measures, there are some fallacies and facts about caffeine content that may surprise you and allow you to increase or decrease your consumption without switching to a less vibrant brew.
Some say a darker roasted coffee gives a stronger jolt of caffeine. It’s quite the opposite. Caffeine burns off and the drug becomes damaged during the roasting process, so a darker roast will have less caffeine than a lighter roast. Enjoy that flavorful, dark roasted coffee.
If you ever wondered if that instant coffee you make – with a bit of guilt – doesn’t give the same pick-me-up that regular coffee does, we’ll tell you the truth.
Instant coffee is made from robusta coffee beans which have twice as much caffeine as the more common arabica variety. Brew your own and enjoy the better flavor (and forget about the instant stuff).
Aside from roasting and robusta variations, the way a coffee is brewed is a big factor as to how much caffeine the extraction contains. In general, the more time hot water has contact with the grounds, the more caffeine will be leached into the brew. So, a percolated coffee will have more caffeine than an espresso where the hot water is forced through the grounds in seconds. However, volume-wise, a mug of espresso will have more caffeine than a mug of percolated coffee, because a greater quantity of grounds is needed for an equal volume. A French press will provide more caffeine than a traditional drip pot and you can imagine how much caffeine is consumed by those who enjoy Turkish coffee where the powdery grounds are consumed in the beverage.
Now that you know more about caffeine, leave aside the instant coffee and head to any of the places of our Gourmet Coffee Route on our La Antigua map and treat yourself to a good (and guiltless) cup of coffee.
