There's Nothing Like a Hot Cup of Coffee

By Damian Papworth

Today coffee perhaps best known for its dark, rich, bold flavor and its concentration of caffeine. Most busy parents, stressed students, and on-the-go professionals drink coffee both for its savory taste and for the little pick-me-up it offers each morning or afternoon. While coffee's numerous wonderful qualities have long made it a staple in the diet of many westerners, it has only been recently that scientists have begun to uncover some additional health benefits provided by the bean itself. As a result, more and more people every day are jumping on the coffee train.

Today coffee has been transformed from an everyday beverage to a sort of cultural phenomenon. Gone are the days when ordering a coffee meant something as simple as a black cup of joe or a pot of mud. Today, coffee connoisseurs all over the world enjoy the luxury of customized coffee drinks, which allow consumers to tailor every aspect of the recipe and flavor combination to their specific palate. For bold coffee lovers, a simple double black espresso, with a touch of foam, and a dash of cinnamon will likely do the trick. For those who prefer a more subtle coffee flavor, numerous drink options allow for the pairing of espresso or drip coffee with chocolate, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and countless other flavors.

The recent growth of major chains, such as Starbucks, has given rise to a new movement in coffee that has truly raised the bar for what customers can expect. Gone are the days of a simple cup of joe, or a quick sip of mud, today's coffee consumers are treated to an unprecedented number of interesting flavor combination options. Cafes and coffee retailers now regularly experiment with new flavors, including caramels, chocolates, white chocolates, and more. They also often offer seasonal variations of classic favorites, such as cinnamon spiced lattes during the holiday season, or pumpkin spiced mochas during the fall.

Today's plethora of coffee drink customization options has helped to make coffee a favorite little daily indulgence of millions of Americans. In this troubled economy, in particular, many Americans are taking solace in enjoying some of the smaller, reasonably priced luxuries of life, while forgoing some more extravagant purchases.

Coffee has indeed become a fixture in the daily routine of many of these Americans, not only for its delicious flavor, but also because of the welcome morning pick-me-up it provides. In today's fast-paced world, many of us are not always sleeping eight hours a night or exercising as regularly as we would like. A cup of coffee in the morning provides that little extra boost to help ensure that you have a better, more productive day at the office or at home with the kids.

Additionally as scientists begin to uncover the numerous health benefits of coffee, an increasing number of health-conscious Americans are considering a shift from sodas or teas to this time-tested, nutrition-laden drink.

Recently scientists discovered that coffee beans are one o f the foods richest in antioxidants. Antioxidants, which are typically found in brightly or deeply colored beans, fruits, and vegetables provide human bodies with an increased level of protection from harmful chemicals in the external environment, and as a result they help to prevent premature skin-aging.

Many people around the world have thus taken notice of the potential role of coffee in their skincare and dietary regimen, however perhaps the most important role of the antioxidants found in coffee relates to their ability to improve overall health. Antioxidants are believed to be rich in cancer-prevention properties and to thus help to prevent numerous forms of human cancer.

Whether it is enjoyed for its health properties, its delicious flavor, or its ability to perk up one's morning, coffee is quickly growing in popularity among Americans today. - 30241

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