Decaffeinated Coffee Beans and Its Advantages

"Coffee is the next best thing after water!" That statement may be a coffee lover's battle cry, but coffee is indeed the most popular beverage next to water. What is it in coffee that has made it an essential part of our daily lives?

Coffee is said to have been discovered in Ethiopia and brought to Arabia by the traders. The Arabs were the first to boil the coffee beans and make it into a drink similar to tea because of its stimulating effect that keeps one awake. This mild stimulant is of course, the caffeine in coffee that gives us that kick when we feel laggard. From Arabia, coffee was introduced in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire and then it reached Italy where the very first coffee house was opened. That would probably explain why the Italians make the best espressos. Today, coffee has become one of the biggest industries worldwide, and Brazil, and the neighboring South American countries are the leading suppliers of the best coffee beans. It was during the early part of the 20th century that decaffeinated coffee was introduced in Europe.

The caffeine content in the coffee is the main component that gives one the jolt, especially at the start of the day, or when one needs to stay up late at night. But coffee is not enjoyed because of its caffeine, but it is the pleasure from the aroma, then to the pleasant intensity of its taste from the first sip down to the last gulp that makes coffee so enticing. But for those who are wary of the caffeine in coffee, decaf coffee beans are the best substitute. As much as 97% of the caffeine is taken out from decaf coffee beans. And although there are several methods of taking the caffeine out from the coffee such as the water-only process, the carbon dioxide process or the solvent process, what matters most is the taste that gives you the most pleasurable feeling. Coffee is not only a sought after beverage, it is also a highly traded commodity next to fuel. That is why it continues to be a highly debated health issue, and there is a barrage of information out there with regard to its fitness value.

Studies have proven that coffee is a good antioxidant that helps protect our cells, especially as we age, from the harmful by-products of our metabolism. Current findings show that coffee may delay the onset or prevent diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver. However, a good thing will always have its drawbacks. Coffee as a stimulant may cause increased heart rate and blood levels, and too much of coffee can stain the teeth, may contribute to the weakening of bones such as osteoporosis, and can be addictive as well. There is no fast and quick rule on how little or how much coffee we should drink. It will all depend on how much your body can tolerate coffee without compromising your health. Perhaps one can be guided by the dictum, "Too much of a good thing is bad."

But for those who can't have enough of the hot or cold java and is conscious of their wellness or you need to stay awake, but don't want too much of the caffeine, take decaffeinated coffee from decaf coffee beans. There are several choices out there now, and a cup or two can give you the health benefits that coffee has been proven to possess. Decaffeinated coffee will not give you the same jolt that will keep you awake like the ordinary coffee, but the taste and aroma will let out the feel-good sensation that will certainly keep you alive and kicking.