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World Coffee Day: The Pros and Cons of Espresso (and the Future of Coffee)

2025-10-01 19:04:11Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
World Coffee Day: The Pros and Cons of Espresso (and the Future of Coffee)
Coffee

October 1 is World Coffee Day, a staple in Western tradition.

But, should its consumption be limited? Or should it be avoided? What are the benefits of caffeine? What can we choose as an alternative to coffee?, are some of the questions that Massimo Spattini, author of the book "The Three Keys to Longevity", answers.

Caffeine: Benefits and Consequences

Caffeine, through a series of complex cellular mechanisms, increases the force of muscle contraction even at low stimulation frequencies.

It promotes increased lipolysis and muscle glycogen storage, thanks to increased oxidation of free fatty acids.

Furthermore, it improves coronary blood flow (increased blood flow to the heart), cardiac output (increased blood flow to tissues), and systolic blood pressure.

By rapidly crossing the blood-brain barrier, caffeine and its metabolites increase neuronal excitability and facilitate the recruitment of motor neurons, thus facilitating signal transmission between the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Its disadvantages

Increases cortisol and adrenaline production: 200 mg (about two cups of coffee) can increase cortisol levels within an hour and keep them high throughout the day.

In people who metabolize caffeine slowly, this can impair sleep quality, leading to a further increase in cortisol at night.

Chronically high levels of this hormone have catabolic effects on muscle, promote insulin resistance, and inhibit weight loss.

For these reasons, caffeine is a double-edged sword: it can be useful on particularly difficult days to support physical or mental performance, but it is not recommended for those predisposed to chronic stress or with high cortisol production.

Coffee: Pros and cons

Coffee consumption is deeply rooted in the lifestyle of most Westerners and beyond.

Studies on the effects of coffee are often contradictory. On the one hand, the caffeine contained in coffee can reduce insulin sensitivity and increase cortisol levels, predisposing to hypertension and insulin resistance.

On the other hand, numerous studies highlight the benefits of coffee thanks to its antioxidant content: regular consumption (without sugar, of course) is associated with a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes of up to 35%.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of mortality by 10% in men and 13% in women.

For many people, coffee is the main daily source of antioxidants.

The effects of coffee, however, depend heavily on individual caffeine metabolism, which occurs in the liver and is influenced by genetic variations.

Approximately half of the population has a slow metabolism of caffeine: in these individuals, consumption can cause nervousness, agitation, insomnia, increased blood pressure, worsening of premenstrual syndrome, an increased risk of miscarriage, and difficulty detoxifying drugs and toxins.

In short, coffee can have beneficial or negative effects depending on individual genetics, health status, and amount consumed.

An alternative to coffee: green tea

Green tea is a valuable alternative to coffee.

Its properties derive mainly from the presence of polyphenols and catechins, which interact with the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating thermogenesis and lipolysis.

Furthermore, green tea appears to partially inhibit intestinal lipases, reducing the digestion and absorption of fats. The effect of green tea depends not only on the caffeine it contains, but also on its combination with catechins and theanine.

The latter, an amino acid present in significant quantities, counteracts the increase in cortisol caused by caffeine, making green tea a stimulating, yet balanced drink.

Green tea can be consumed as a beverage, but the concentrations of active ingredients vary greatly depending on the type of tea and the time of infusion. For a more lasting effect, one solution is to take capsules with standardized extract.

The future of coffee

Extreme drought during the rainy season, between October 2020 and March 2021, followed by a sudden frost in June-July 2021, has brought the entire coffee sector to its knees, causing a sudden increase in the prices of arabica coffee.

Even in Africa, the picture is not encouraging. According to a 2017 study, Ethiopia, the world's third-largest producer of arabica, could lose 39 to 59 percent of its coffee-growing area by the end of the century due to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall.

The economic and social consequences for that country would be devastating, considering that approximately 15 million people work in the coffee supply chain in Ethiopia.


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