By Rahul Thapa | SHILLONG
The “International Coffee Organization” designated October 1 as International Coffee Day, a unique opportunity for all coffee enthusiasts to enjoy the brew and spread awareness of the struggles faced by coffee growers. The diversity, excellence, and enthusiasm of the coffee industry are being honoured on this day.
Although there is no concrete proof of how coffee was found, there are several well-known stories regarding it. One such well-known story originates from Ethiopia in the 700s AD, when a herd of goats began acting abnormally after consuming red coffee beans. The goats’ owner, Kaldi, was sceptical that the red bean was to blame, so he later decided to tell a monk about his findings. The monk had asked for something to keep him awake while he prayed all night, but according to another story, the monk turned him down and threw the beans into the fire, where they gave off a wonderful aroma.
Other than petroleum, coffee was the second-most traded commodity in the world till the early 15th century. Other than in Ethiopia, coffee was also used in the Middle East in the 16th century to aid concentration.
There are different types of coffees available and some of those are Arabica, Robusta, Black Coffee, Decaf, Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino, Macchiato, Americano, Café au Lait, Cortado, Flat White, Mocha Latte, Red Eye, Irish Coffee. Some of the prominent cold coffees are Iced Coffee, Iced Latte, Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, and Frappe.
However, drinking coffee has also been associated to a number of health risks, including caffeine overdose, which can cause symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, trembling, sleeplessness, migraines, dizziness, and restlessness. The central nervous system (CNS), the heart, and the muscles are all stimulated by caffeine in coffee. Chlorogenic acid may have an impact on blood vessels and the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, and metabolism.
But coffee is not always risky; in other situations, it is utilised for several health benefits, such as when people want to become more mentally aware. Additionally, coffee is used to treat diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia, and many other disorders, but the majority of these applications lack strong scientific backing.