“The Lord must have created coffee to reward humans for those bad times they sometimes have on Earth. Having charged your heart and brain with a cup of coffee, you’re ready to face the challenges of life. A good cup of coffee makes life seem better.”
– Sahara Sanders in Indigo Diaries
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The best way to celebrate October is to observe International Coffee Day, which happens on October 1. This day is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places around the world.
Actually, the first official date was on October 3, 2015, as agreed by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), according to Wikipedia. It was launched in Milan, Italy and was used to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers.
Many countries around the world, however, celebrate their own national coffee days at various dates throughout the year. In the Philippines, for instance, it’s on October 21; it was conceived to showcase Lipa City as the longstanding “Coffee Granary of the Philippines.”
In March 2014, the ICO member states agreed to organize International Coffee Day on October 1 “to create a single day of celebration for coffee lovers around the world.”
But the exact origin of International Coffee Day is vague. In 1983, an event was first promoted in Japan by the All Japan Coffee Association. In the United States, “National Coffee Day” was mentioned publicly as early as 2005. However, “International Coffee Day” was first used by the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, which called a press conference on October 3, 2009, to celebrate it and to announce the first New Orleans Coffee Festival.
Because it may be a warm hug or an energy boost depending on the circumstance, coffee is a beloved beverage by a large number of individuals. It’s a simple beverage that can make you feel better after just one cup. There is a cup of coffee for every type of individual thanks to the enormous selection of brews, mixes, and flavors.
The introduction of coffee in the Philippines could be traced back to the arrival of Spanish traders in the early 1500s. Sometimes in the 1880s, the Philippines was the number one coffee-producing country in the world.”
Today, the Philippines is the 14th largest coffee producer in the world, contributing significantly to the global coffee industry. However, most of the coffee produced is being consumed by Filipinos themselves. In fact, approximately 90% of Filipino adults consume coffee regularly. The average age of coffee drinkers is 24-35 years old.
More than half (about 60%) of coffee drinkers prefer instant coffee due to its convenience and affordability. The remaining 40% prefer brewed or specialty coffee. Interestingly, the preference for specialty coffee is growing, with a 10% increase in consumption in 2017.
For those of us who wake up to the aroma and flavor of that morning brew, the evidence is in: Coffee, in moderation, is not bad for you after all. In fact, some studies indicate it may even have health benefits.
“Habitual coffee consumption – black and unsweetened – has more benefits on health than harm,” points out Dr. Paolo O. Dillera, a board-certified internist, gastroenterologist and an interventional hepatologist based in Davao City.
By moderation, it means a minimum of three cups (120-150 milliliters) a day and the “last cup should be taken 6-8 hours before bedtime,” Dr. Dillera suggests, adding that any type of coffee will do just fine: branded, decaffeinated, instant or home ground.
For years the public was warned of the dangers of coffee, the main source of caffeine. In one well-publicized New England Journal of Medicine study released in 1981, researchers found a link between coffee and pancreatic cancer. But when at least seven other studies failed to back up that finding, those results had to be retracted.
The idea that coffee is bad for your heart pops up periodically. A Finnish study found that even those people who averaged 5 to 6 cups of coffee per day were not at a higher risk for developing heart disease than non-coffee drinkers. On the other hand, a Harvard study of 45,589 men, published in 1990, found no link between excessive coffee drinking and heart disease.
Research has also shown that regular, moderate drinking does not dangerously raise blood pressure. And studies have failed to substantiate fears that coffee might trigger abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in healthy people.
“For heart disease, I think the issue is closed,” says Dr. Meir Stampfer, an epidemiologist at Harvard who has studied many aspects of coffee and health. “Coffee drinking at reasonable levels is unrelated to heart risk.”
Because coffee is bitter, most people put sugar and creamer in their brew. But instead of those two, why don’t put – hold your breath! – salt? That sounds odd, if not weird.
Better Report stated: “For centuries, salt has been a secret ingredient in coffee, particularly in Northern Europe and East Asia, to improve its flavor profile. Even during World War II, U.S. Navy sailors added salt to their bitter ship coffee to make it palatable. This age-old practice, endorsed by modern chefs and food experts, continues to be a game-changer in the world of coffee.”
Unexpectedly, adding salt to coffee might enhance its flavor and lessen its harshness. But keep in mind that a little goes a long way while attempting this trick. For a standard cup of coffee, add a little teaspoon of salt. Pinch: one-sixteenth of a teaspoon, for those who are curious. You can use any kind of salt, sea, table, or kosher. Use it gently and make sure you taste it before adding more because some may have a stronger flavor than others.
Better Report reminded, “While adding salt to your coffee can significantly enhance its flavor, it’s important to note that those conscious about their sodium intake should use this hack sparingly.”
