We all know that coffee contains caffeine. It’s one of the things that we love so much about it. There may be some things about coffee and caffeine that would surprise you.
The effects of coffee begin as soon as we smell it brewing. Studies have demonstrated that a reaction begins in our brain as soon as the fragrance of coffee reaches us. Without consuming a drop of caffeine, the coffee has begun its work.
An overwhelming majority, 80%, of US adults consume caffeine each day. Much of that caffeine comes from coffee. In fact, even de-caf coffee includes a low level of caffeine. That’s right, decaffeinated does not mean caffeine free. Regular coffee contains 95-200 mg of caffeine per cup, while de-caf contains about 2-12 mg per cup.
The color of coffee can also be misleading. We tend to think the darker the coffee, the more powerful the brew. However, the opposite is actually true. A lighter colored roast packs a bigger caffeine punch.
Adding cream to your coffee has mixed effects. Obviously, we love the taste of our favorite creamer and this is the greatest advantage to using it. Having creamer in our cup also helps our coffee maintain its temperature. However, the cream also reduces the amount of caffeine that our body absorbs. The milk fat reduces the absorption rate somewhat.
Coffee and caffeine – the two go hand in hand. What a great combination! Our mornings would not be the same without them.
