Coffee! It’s the world’s favoured hot beverage with over 40% of the planet’s population consuming it daily, providing about 3.2 billion of us with a cup of delight to start (or finish) the day (1). Of course, this number pales when we add caffeinated tea, and currently 90% of us drink one or the other daily. For the mathematically inclined, that is about 5 million caffeine servings every minute of every day.

From the Math to the Magic

The magic behind this popular coffee elixir is caffeine, the naturally occurring chemical that serves to stimulate the heart, nervous system, muscular activity and oftentimes, good conversation. Like alcohol, caffeine use begs the question of how much is too much? For adults, it is estimated that up to 400 milligrams (mg) is a safe limit. But what does this mean for coffee lovers in the real world? This amount could equate to 2-4 of regular brewed cups or just one 16 ounce cup of Starbucks’ Blonde roast drip coffee - this particular blend packing a heavyweight 360 mg caffeine punch (2).

Caffeine metabolism may be the key in understanding its’ effect. The caffeine kick begins with rapid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, processed by the liver, stimulating central and peripheral nervous systems responses. In simpler terms, this helps us get going in the morning and add a spring to our step.

Health, Healing and Happiness

The discovery of coffee remains a mystery, some believing an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi observed his flock acting particularly energetic, even unable to sleep after ingesting the berries of a certain tree. Made into a drink, these berries were known to promote alertness, wakefulness and even longevity (3).

More recent scientific studies aim to answer the age-old question, “but is it good for me?”. The answer is… well… maybe. Emerging data states caffeine can help treat everything from simple headaches, to promoting insulin sensitivity, an important function in maintaining normal blood sugar levels (4). Unlike alcohol, a well-known liver toxin, in one meta-analysis comparing non-drinkers and coffee drinkers, caffeine aficionados were less likely to develop cirrhosis (5). Caffeine can also benefit certain cancers, nervous disorders and may even have a small protective effect against Alzheimer’s Disease. It is early but worth keeping an eye on this emerging medical data.

The Less is More Lesson

Like most things in life, moderation may really be the key to enjoying a cup or two of your favourite brew. As we are learning more about how caffeine can promote health, caffeine has emerged as a powerful stimulant and even a little excess can result in palpitations, tremors and agitation. Very high doses can result in cardiac arrhythmias, neurological seizures and death. Much like the worst cases of alcohol excess can result in acute alcohol poisoning, acute caffeine poisoning is indeed possible and is a serious medical emergency.

So go ahead and enjoy your coffee in moderation, the way you like it! If you’re really adventurous, you might try an affogato, hot espresso that serves to drown a scoop of gelato. While the health benefits of this particular blend are debatable, the taste and flavor will definitely leave you wanting a second cup.