Campfire Coffee

Richard DiCicco explains how to brew coffee over an open fire . This would be useful in any enviroment without the electricity used by coffee making devices.

-DD

Coffee and Humor

Ted Gioia recounts his lifelong experience with coffee . He concludes by mocking Starbucks, saying "They are now in the over-priced sugary snack (with lots of additives) business."

-DD

The History of Coffee and Tea

Michelle Debczak recounts the history of coffee and tea .

A flaw in this is the inference that Oliver Cromwell suffered a violent death, when in fact the Protector died of illness.

-DDbr />

Coffee Naps

Joseph Stromberg and Joss Fong report on the science of "coffee naps ."

-DD

Coffee as a Medication

Kashmira Gander reports in Newsweek on UK research indicating that moderate coffee drinking can have both positive and negative effects on the human body.

Gander notes that:

Past studies have indicated an inverse association between drinking coffee and the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s and cancers of the liver, bowel, colon and endometrium. But evidence also suggests caffeine could cause high blood pressure or heart attacks in those who find it tough to metabolize.

Gander says that safe consumption is typically defined as less than six cups a day, though there are genetic differences in humans which make some people more or less sensitive to caffeine. Those drinking more coffee still seem to live longer than their peers who abstain.

Coffee drinking may correlate with health without causing health. My thought is that those whose lifestyle includes daily drinking many cups of coffee may have other significant lifestyle factors which tend to be present among those they are not about to die. For example, it can be inferred that heavy coffee consumption means that an individual has significant disposable income. Or coffee consumption may be a by-product of an active social life, or consumed to "power through" tasks that provides a sense of purpose.

-DD