America has developed a love affair with coffee. Where once it was a hot beverage that our parents sipped in the morning while reading the daily news, you now see people carrying cups from Starbucks, Tim Horton's or Dunkin' Donuts pretty much all day long. And how many people do you know who proclaim that they just can't face the day without it?
Why do we love coffee so much? Is it just the caffeine? And should we be drinking as much as we do?
Yes, caffeine has something to do with it. After all, caffeine is a stimulant. It helps people feel more awake and alert. But coffee also contains disease-fighting antioxidants. And research shows that it may:
- Reduce cavities
- Boost athletic performance
- Improve moods
- Stop headaches
- Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, liver cancer, gall stones, cirrhosis of the liver, and Parkinson's disease.
It's important to remember, though, that caffeine is a drug, which can be abused if you use it in place of a good night's sleep or a healthy diet. And the high sugar and fat content in many coffee shop drinks can cause weight gain and other health problems.
When did this love of coffee begin?
After all, America was founded by English expatriates, who were once staunch tea drinkers. Here's a basic timeline:
- 1670 – Dorothy Jones of Boston was granted a license to become the first official American coffee trader.
- 1773 – The good old Boston Tea Party made it unpatriotic to drink tea. A number of taverns started to serve coffee – they were the first “coffeehouses.”
- 1861 – During the Civil War, soldiers took coffee rations with them to the battlefields, and coffee's popularity climbed.
- 1920-1930 – Soldiers returning home from World War I were so addicted to their newfound coffee habit from military rations that the number of coffeehouses in the United States grew by 450%
- 1971 –Starbucks was launched, spurring on the birth of specialty coffee houses across the nation.
So, coffee can be good for us, and it's been ingrained in our society almost since the beginning. But why else is it so popular?
- It's an affordable luxury for most people.
- People enjoy the ritual involved in its preparation, whether making it at home or at work, or picking it up at a coffee shop.
- Having a cup of coffee with friends, family or someone special.is a time-honored tradition.
- The scent of coffee reminds many people of relaxing, warmth, comfort, and home.
At Complete Payroll, we don't sell coffee. But we do provide solutions that can make your office run better and faster—much like caffeine powers your employees! Call or contact us to find out more about our payroll, human resource, employee benefit and time and labor solutions.