Why I Reheat My Last 7 Sips of Coffee
Because I can. Yep, I am retired and I have the time, so I do. This would be the short answer.
A little back-story will lead us to a more complete answer. Let’s go.
I started drinking coffee at my first “real” job after graduating from college. The workday at Ford would always start at the coffee maker. I was a “coffee-baby”, I did not know how to drink it so I drank mine black. A good (healthy) decision as it would turn out.
I drank two cups of black coffee (almost) every single day of my life. Coffee was part of my morning routine, it became part of my life.
Fast forward 43 years and 15,308 cups of coffee later and I am still drinking 2 cups of black coffee as part of my morning routine. Of note, I have upgraded my brew at home. I drink out of a ceramic mug and enjoy Cafe Du Monde Chicory Blend, from the world famous Cafe Du Monde at Jackson Square in New Orleans. If you are ever in New Orleans I recommend you stop in for a cup along with a beignet.
Life is different now. I have time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Coffee was once something I did out of habit and needed the caffeine fix to avoid the withdrawal headache. But now I have elevated the act of drinking coffee into a wonderful daily ritual. I have a special ceramic cup that is just the right thickness, reminding me of the story of the three little bears - not too thick, not too thin, it is just right. The white cup is etched with the word “Coffee”, seems appropriate, and may be a good reminder someday in case I forget. I now enjoy the smell, taste and even watching the small billow of smoke that rises from the cup freshly poured. Yes, I savor my two cups of black coffee every morning.
I want to enjoy my entire cup of coffee. Over time, my coffee gets “less than perfect”. It gets cold, and I like my coffee hot. So I take the time and make the effort to reheat the last seven sips, which amounts to about one third of my cup. It does not need to be perfect, but I will enjoy it more if I take the extra steps.
I have heard it said that “coffee is life”. I am not sure I would take my love of coffee that far, but I will use those words of wisdom to unveil my poorly cloaked metaphor that has been forming. My life, like my morning coffee that I happen to be drinking now, has been hanging around for a while. My coffee is getting cold, and things in my life have started to change. If you believe the “experts”, I have only a few sips left (in my life). I am thinking I have closer to 7, or a third of my life. To achieve those 7 sips and enjoy them as much as the first two thirds of my life, I need to take action.
Taking action to make the last third of our lives better. What does that look like? Well, I have to think that answer will be different for each of us. Certainly it will be more complicated than popping our coffee into the microwave. A quick public service announcement - overheating coffee in the microwave can change the molecular structure which could cause bitterness and eliminate any health benefits. Who knew?
I am not in a good position to tell you how to microwave your life (I hope you are still following along with bouncing back and forth with the metaphor). But I do have a thought. Do something. Think. What simple things in life could be done to make this day just a little bit better. If you are coming up empty at the moment, may I suggest you start your day tomorrow savoring a cup of coffee. It’s a great start. And always remember Maxwell House- good to the last drop.
Enjoy your day,
Just a little extra-
After drinking 15,000 cups of coffee, and counting, I thought it would be important to discover if this morning routine was healthy or not. Maybe a bit late in the game, but still a question I needed to have answered.Certainly the initial blast of caffeine provides my morning rush and may even enhance my focus, but long term is this helping my goals of living a long, healthy and happy life. Trigger warning, this research was for me. Far be it for me to separate you from your Joe. I mean, that could lead to the end of our friendship. So read on if you want to know. Foreshadow- it’s complicated.
Coffee is a complex blend of compounds that include caffeine, polyphenols and diterpenes. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that wards off drowsiness and improves alertness. Polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, can combat stress, a key contributor to disease and aging. Diterpenes may have a less fortunate effect, potentially raising LDL cholesterol levels in some people.
Beyond the immediate effects, coffee consumption has been linked to longer term health benefits ( do we like where this is going?). Research indicates that coffee's rich supply of antioxidants can reduce inflammation, protect cells from damage, and even lower the risk of certain diseases. Let’s explore the health benefit claims a bit deeper (because it is making me feel pretty good)-
Lowers risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Coffee is jammed with phytochemicals that may act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory in nature,and insulin-sensitivity boosters.
Heart health: A large study published in the Spring of 2022 in The Journal of Cardiology found that drinking three cups of coffee a day is associated with lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Caution- higher consumption may have the opposite effect in some people, and do you remember that compound Diterpenes? Yeh, extra LDL is not good.
Boost brain health: A study published in 2021 in Frontiers of Aging found that coffee drinkers had lower risk of developing cognitive impairment. Another caution- drinking over five cups a day may have adverse effects on the brain.
Improves mood: Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of depression by nearly one-third according to research from Harvard Medical School. The effect may be related to coffee’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Longevity: Considering all of the aforementioned health benefits it should be no surprise that coffee is linked to a longer lifespan. The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that two to three cups per day lowers the risk of dying from any cause. I find this claim…interesting. However, people much smarter than me point out that coffee contains more than 100 biologically active good-for-you components that help lead to the conclusion.
All good, right? Not so fast. Some of the research points to correlation , and not necessarily causation, and often contained disclaimers that “more research is necessary”. Other research points to the negative effects of caffeine causing digestive problems, insomnia, and anxiety. Of course we need to include the fact that we are all different and outcomes may vary.
So can we label coffee as a “magic elixir”? It may be better to consider our relationship with our old friend Joe as very personal and one that should be held in moderation. And in the bigger picture recognizing that our overall health, happiness and longevity involves much more than what we put in our mug.
As for me, I will continue to drink my two cups of black coffee. And yes, I will be heating the last seven sips.
References
Chieng, David March 2022, Effects OF Coffee Consumption On Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Journal of The American College of Cardiology
Gardener, Samantha, November 19, 2021, Higher Coffee Consumption Is Associated With Slower Cognitive Decline, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Goad, Kimberly, September 20, 2021, 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee, AARP
