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Have Coffee Will Write
Ah, caffeine. The lifeblood of writers since coffee became coffee.
As nice as it is to curl up with a book and a cup of tea on a rainy day, when it’s time to write, there’s nothing that gets the blood pumping and synapses firing like a good cuppa joe.
The venerable bean has been in use for over a thousand years. First brought from Ethiopia to Yemen, the Arabs called it qahwa, or “that which prevents sleep.” Yep. That would be it, alright.
1475 was a banner year for coffee afficionados everywhere. The first barista got a job. Constantinople got it’s first coffeeshop, the Kiva Han. Over the next century, however, the stimulant caused a lot of controversy. Conservative imams repeatedly called for legal bans of the beverage, but popular opinion eventually overturned them.
By 1600, coffee had become popular in Europe, spreading from Venice throughout the continent. Not just popular, but baptized. Some Catholic theologians eyed coffee askance because of its Muslim heritage, but Pope Clement VIII made the drink officially Christian. In the words of the Church Lady , “Well, isn’t that special?” The first coffeehouse opened in Italy in 1645. And it’s a good thing, because otherwise there’d be no such thing as the triple shot lattes that I love to indulge in.
But for everyday use, nothing beats just a good cup of coffee. We’re coffee snobs at our house, I admit it. We own a very nice espresso machine, as well as a professional grade grinder and enough gizmos and gadgets to open our own coffeehouse.
For all that, an ordinary Mr. Coffee sits in pride of place. No extras, no steamers, no espresso makers on that baby. Just coffee. Filtered water. Plenty of good beans, freshly ground.
Between the two of us, we empty a pot by noon. I’ve discovered that I really shouldn’t drink more than four cups a day, otherwise I end up wandering through the house, shaking my hands, but incapable of actually accomplishing anything. Caffeine overload.
On the other hand, a cup or two does an amazing job of helping me focus and stay on task. I wasn’t kidding about that synapse firing thing.
According to both the Radiological Society of North America, a 2005 issue of Psychopharmacology, and the American Journal of Epidemiology:
Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall and increase IQ8.
Likewise, in tests of simple reaction time, choice reaction time, incidental verbal memory, and visuospatial reasoning, participants who regularly drank coffee were found to perform better on all tests, with a positive relationship between test scores and the amount of coffee regularly drunk. Elderly participants were found to have the largest effect associated with regular coffee drinking. [9] Another study found that women over the age of 80 performed significantly better on cognitive tests if they had regularly drunk coffee over their lifetimes. [10]
So, how about a cup of coffee today?
Interesting post, Sela! Nice to learn the background of coffee which I was ignorant about. I have heard about coffee improving your mental performance. I’m a big coffee drinker except when it’s hot, then I like iced tea.
I never know coffee had such a controversial and political history. LOL The world never changes, does it? Gia
Coffee and the Church Lady…two of my favorite things.
I have never liked home espresso. It is never the same as going out to get it. And I don’t like my coffee sweet either. I never get flavoring-just a latte. mmmm. Maybe I need to run an errand now.
Mmm…coffee. Besides chocolate, what food stuff is better? Not much.
Hey Sela!
I admit I’m more of a tea drinker, but I do like a latté every so often. :) Did you know in ancient China, tea was used as money. They called them tea bricks, and if you needed change they would break off a portion of the brick. LOL
Oh, and being part Irish, I do like a wee spot of coffee in my Bailey’s. ::grin::
My dad was always fond of calling it the nectar of the gods. He’s absolutely right, especially if it’s a Starbuck’s Cinnamon Dolce Latte.
Cool topic, Sela.
I admit I drink a full pot – 10 cups – of coffee every day before 10 in the morning. If I’m under deadline crunch I’ll knock back a few cups at night, too. I drink it black. And fast.
I have a nice Cuisinart coffee maker, which grinds the beans and then brews the ambrosia while I’m still hitting the snooze button. Doesn’t make me a coffee snob, just more effecient.
That said, I HATE HATE HATE Starbucks coffee and refuse to drink it, and refuse to step into any one of their billion coffee shops. They’ve hoodwinked the entire nation into believing they’ve “got to have their Starbucks.” What a bunch of sheep, and it bugs me to no end that they’ve gotten their hooks into kids as young as 10, that if you’re not drinking something from their shop every morning, then you’re flat out a loser. Besides their coffee consistently rates rock bottom in taste tests, and it kills me to hear people bitch about the high price of gasoline but these same people are more than willing to pay 4 bucks for a lousy cup of coffee?
Oops. Off the soapbox. Maybe I’ve had too much caffeine today? Nah. I’m off for another delicious cup :)
Diane, I drink coffee all year around, no matter the weather. Iced tea is great in the afternoons, but I gotta have my morning java.
Gia, LOL. Plus ca change, and all that. :)
Gwen, dh is a pretty good barista. I don’t know how to operate the espresso machine. It looks like a fighter jet cockpit to me. Must be ok with him, though, since he used to fly them! I get the flavors occasionally, but I like to taste the coffee in my lattes.
Kristen, chocolate covered coffee beans. ‘nuff said.
Cerri, a little Bailey’s goes good with a LOT of things!
Grace, I think your dad and I might get along. gg
Lorelei, I’m not a Starbucks fan, either. Their beans always, always taste burnt and bitter. Not to mention that I’m just flat out stubborn about the way they’re on every other block. I deliberately search out independent coffeeshops and avoid Starbucks as much as possible.
The reason we got an ordinary, no-frills coffeemaker is that the gizmos tend to go kaput before the coffeemaker does. We have a separate grinder that sits right next to the pot in happy harmony.
Is it sad that the one reason I want to go to Chicago is so I can visit the Intelligentsia coffeeshop?
I love coffee, I run on it. I can’t drink tea as it makes me feel sick.
I’m drinking a cup right now. I consider coffee to be nature’s perfect drink.
I’m not much of a coffee fan myself, but it is a fascinating topic. Lots of history!
Oh, what a great, interesting post. I shouldn’t have much coffee with my bad gut, but the brewing of the pot of aromatic hazelnut java is the pre-writing ritual! I swear, couldn’t manage without it.
24 cups a day, fresh ground. I don’t drink it all myself, I get about 6 cups out of that. :) And yes, while writing, it’s a must have.
So it’s only me that feels drowsy after a strong cup of coffee? :-) I’ve never understood why.
The drink that makes me zing is breakfast tea – any time of the day. Absolutely love that stuff.
Nell, you must be the only Brit I know who doesn’t drink tea!
Lucinda, I’ll have to agree.
Teresa, I didn’t realize until I did some research that coffee caused such turmoil!
Ciar, I’m sorry you can’t drink it anymore! But yes, the scent alone starts the process.
Eva, you’ve got a houseful — how many drink coffee?
Yes, Kim. It’s just you. LOL Kidding. Coffee works differently on different people. From what I understand, it’s do with our brain chemistry, as well as other physiological reactions.
LOL I gave up coffee a year ago, and boy, was it hard to do even though I only drank one a day. But it was first thing in the morning and got me going for the day.
Interesting coffee facts!
LOL Sela, now you have me worried why my brain chemistry is so different from everyone elses!
Lorelei,
I’ve heard a name for Starbucks: “Charbucks!”
I don’t like it, either. Gives me heartburn every time.
I love coffee. Unfortunately, I need to drink it with a lot of cream or it upsets my stomach. When I found out that each cup had about 250 calories in cream …. well, now I drink tea.
Thx for the post!