Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world, and as a consequence what happens there has a large impact on the price paid for this produce all over the world. This year Brazil sees one of the warmest and driest summers in many years. The drought not only leads to smaller beans of lesser quality for the current season, but might also influence the growth, and hence the production for the next season. As a result prices on the world market have gone up and are now at their highest in many months. The drought may not be good news for the Brazilian coffee farmers, but on the other hand the price for farmers elsewhere in the world has gone up. Which is good news for our farmers.
It is well-known that drinking a cup of coffee can give you a boost when you're feeling a little tired. But apparently the extent of this effect depends on when you drink this cup. At least, that is what PhD student Steven Miller discovered. Miller, attached to the University of Health Sciences at Maryland, recently discovered that the effect of coffee is highest when our cortisol level is lowest. As cortisol levels peak right after we get up, it is best to wait for about an hour before enjoying that first cup of coffee. Cortisol also peaks around lunch time and between 5.30 and 6.30 p.m. He explains that drinking coffee will increase cortisol levels in the blood. When it is drunk when cortisol levels are low, the caffeine will give us that boost we are looking for. If, on the other hand, one drinks it when the cortisol level in the blood is already high, the effect is much less and one will need stronger coffee to reach the same effect. So, no matter how strong the desire right after you get up in the morning, it might be a good idea to just wait a while to get the most out of that cup of black gold.
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AuthorI wouldn't be surprised to find out I was born with a passion for coffee. For the life of me, I can't remember not loving coffee. And by that, I don't just mean drinking it, but everything involved from its cultivation over the processing to the final product that is my loyal companion throughout the day. Archives
February 2014
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