Coffee is key

Poles like coffee. According to Consumer Panel Services GfK, in 2023, we bought 80 thousand tonnes of it. Although annual consumption in Poland significantly deviates from the world average (the first place is held by Finns, who drink an average of 12 kilograms of coffee annually – almost one and a half litres daily), drinking good quality ground beans in cafes, offices, or at home is gaining popularity. The most frequent consumers of black or white coffee are hospitality workers, scientists, sales representatives, media professionals, marketing and PR specialists, business consultants, and journalists.

The Food Pyramid includes coffee, which outlines what we should consume daily in Poland. This is because coffee has many health benefits when consumed in moderation. Caffeine improves cognitive abilities, attention, reaction time, coordination, and memory. Besides caffeine, coffee contains magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, B vitamins, and valuable antioxidants. It reduces mortality from cardiovascular diseases, lowers the risk of strokes, hypertension, and protects us from diabetes, gallstones, liver cirrhosis, and certain types of cancer. Coffee also has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects – it helps prevent dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. 

Additionally, it is a beverage that improves mood and, importantly, can not only effectively reduce the risk of depression but also alleviate its symptoms. This is confirmed by research from Harvard School of Public Health, whose tests concluded that just 4 cups of coffee a day reduce the risk of depression by 20% compared to those who drink it less frequently. The study was conducted on a group of women, who are more often affected by depression.

How much coffee should we drink? Consumption standards pertain to caffeine, not coffee itself, so it's worth considering other sources of caffeine such as energy drinks, teas, cola, yerba mate, guarana, cocoa, chocolate, and dietary supplements. European recommendations suggest a dose of 200 milligrams of caffeine per single consumption (two cups of coffee, four cups of tea), while the American standard is 400 milligrams of caffeine per day.

What else makes us so fond of coffee? It plays a significant role in our social and office culture. According to research conducted by Eden in the UK, almost half of employees say that good quality coffee is one of the most desirable and obvious benefits in the workplace. Additionally, research from the University of Colorado found that coffee aids in recruitment. Participants were given a cup of drink – one group received a cold drink, the other a hot one. It turned out that those with the hot drink were more often recommended for the job. Based on these results, scientists concluded that when we feel warmth, we have a warmer emotional attitude towards the person we are talking to.

Coffee consumed at work also impacts our efficiency. Research conducted by Ohio State University showed that individuals who drank coffee before a business meeting were more alert during discussions and more enthusiastic about other team members. On the other hand, scientists from the Western University in Timișoara, Romania, after 30 years of research, indicated that we can focus on one task for 50 to 90 minutes. Therefore, breaks at work are essential and should be taken often to improve well-being and productivity.

Coffee fosters new connections and team building. An example is the experience of Özlem Cekic, a Muslim woman. After taking office in the Danish parliament in 2007, her inbox was flooded with hateful emails. Over time, she followed a friend's advice and started a project called "#dialoguecoffee," which involved trying to contact the authors of hostile emails and inviting them for a coffee meeting. Hundreds of conversations proved how a single chat over a hot drink can transform hatred into dialogue and an attempt to understand the other person, even one with a completely different worldview.

Can we say that a coffee break has a "therapeutic" dimension? It's certain that a situation where we can talk to someone, joke, and momentarily detach from duties or problems has a very positive effect on us. It's an opportunity to reduce stress, gain perspective, and activate the more creative area of the brain. However, strategic coffee consumption is key – it's worth reaching for it when we need it. It's best to drink coffee without sugar and creamers, and instead add cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, or functional mushrooms. It's beneficial to wait an hour or two after waking up to better utilize its properties. Coffee should be avoided late in the afternoon and evening to not disrupt natural sleep processes.

Learn more about the beneficial properties of coffee from Kasia Kowalska. We encourage you to listen to the podcast but also recommend others. In each episode, we explore an important topic, talking with experts in the field. It's an opportunity to delve into new perspectives and gain valuable information in an accessible format.

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