A profile of coffee and its surprising benefits

Coffee is an aromatic beverage made from roasted coffee beans which are then used to produce specific blends of the beverage. When the coffee beans turn from green to red to bright orange in color, they are picked, cleaned, and dried at high temperatures. The beans are then roasted, at temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on roasting desired and roasting time. When coffee is made, it is ground into a powder and stored in a filter basket or a drip pan. It should be served hot or cold within a day.

Arabica coffee beans are the most popular variety which have their origin in Arabia. They are noted for their moderate acidity, low acidity, and high acidity tolerance. Arabica coffee offers a delicate, light flavored coffee and is renowned for its aroma. There are several other varieties, for example, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa.

5 Benefits of Coffee

• If you would like to lower your risk of developing neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or dementia, then coffee helps those with the conditions like Parkinson's better control their movements. It also provides significant protection against developing dementia. Researchers found that women age 65 and older who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia in general.
• When purchasing coffee beans, keep in mind that some varieties of coffee beans contain more antioxidants than others. Arabica, coffee beans are considered to be more beneficial to your health than other varieties such as Robusta coffee beans once they are roasted. Though light-roasted Robusta beans have more antioxidants than lightly roasted Arabica beans, in medium- and dark-roasted form, Arabica coffee have more antioxidants than Robusta. In addition to the fact that Arabica is higher in antioxidants, this type of coffee bean has a higher concentration of flavonoids, which are healthful compounds that contribute to good cardiovascular health.
• Research shows that coffee increases alertness and improves the ability to concentrate, both of which are important in any work or school setting. 
• Coffee may help your body may process glucose or sugar better. That’s the theory behind studies that found that people who drink more coffee are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.
• Both regular and decaf coffee seem to have a protective effect on your liver. Research shows that coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range than people who don’t drink coffee.

So those are some of the benefits offered by coffee consumption but there are quite a few others. Care to share one or two that you may be familiar with?

Sources: [1] John Hopkins Medicine. 9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You, The John Hopkins University.