Why I really love coffee is no surprise to anyone who knows me well. I consider myself a coffee lover (and my monthly expenses attest to that). Yet, coffee is good if you drink it in moderation. It is for me.
Why I Really Love Coffee: 15 Best Reasons
As for why I really love coffee, consider this. Everyone has their favorites regarding particular food, drink, and leisure-time pursuits. For some, a day wouldn’t be right without that first cup of coffee. I can certainly relate. My day doesn’t begin until I have that first sip. It’s fair to say I love caffeine. Here are 15 of my best reasons why.
- I enjoy the experience. I wouldn’t say this about drinking V-8 juice, although I do like the flavor of that beverage. Regarding my café latte, I have to say that it’s an experience that I genuinely enjoy. Yes, water is hydrating, but it’s boring, right? On the other hand, a well-crafted latte is a pure delight. For me, anyway, it’s one of my daily simple pleasures.
- Why I really love coffee: It gets me going. I’m fortunate to have a home espresso machine. That’s enough to get me alert and going first thing in the morning. If it will be hours before I can leave the house for any reason, it helps knowing there’s caffeine readily available when the machine heats up. Besides, when I first get up in the morning, my eyes aren’t fully open until I smell the freshly ground beans, hear the milk steaming, and the espresso flowing into my picked-for-that-day latte cup.
- Caffeine is a source of instant energy. Some say they get a hit from drinking coffee, as in brewed coffee. I’m not that person. I used to drink many cups of coffee when I worked in a corporate office, but that was long ago. And the coffee tasted awful late in the day. Brewing a fresh pot always seemed a waste when no one else would drink it. I used to tell myself I needed the energy. My go-to energy source today – and for many years – is a hot café latte. No matter what time of the day, it gives me instant energy.
- Why I really love coffee: Exercise gets easier. Athletes know that caffeine helps increase their performance. While a novice exerciser, I know that coffee gives me the energy to start and continue daily workouts. And that’s especially important when stiffness and general aches and pains occur.
- Coffee is a natural laxative. Okay, not everyone wants to think about this one. But I’ve found that daily café lattes help me become more regular. Not that I think about this with any emphasis. It’s just something I’ve noticed. I’d rather consume coffee than medicine or OTC drugs/preparation specifically for regularity.
- Why I really love coffee: It helps me think clearly. When I feel that instant energy boost, I think more clearly. What was foggy becomes less confusing. I don’t tend to bump into the counter on the way to the sink or stumble over the newspaper in the driveway. After a refreshing and eye-opening café latte, it is much easier to think things through beyond putting one foot in front of the other.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases the brain’s dopamine production. This neurochemical helps with concentration and focus. Who wouldn’t want to benefit from improved cognitive function?
- I can see better. I take specific vitamins to help my eyesight, including lutein and bilberry. But caffeine is one of the best vision boosts – especially early morning. What better way to get that than with my morning café latte?
- Caffeine helps reduce under-eye puffiness. The vasoconstrictor properties of caffeine make it an excellent way to help shrink puffy under-eye areas. I apply tea bags under the eye area for this purpose, but I also buy eye creams with caffeine in them that are even better.
- It doesn’t have many calories. I use non-fat (skimmed or skinny) milk, Splenda/monk fruit, and sugar-free vanilla syrup. I used to prefer cocoa or sugar-free chocolate, but my taste evolved. Compared to many beverage items available with caffeine, my drink of choice is relatively free of calories. I can’t say that about the Frappuccino, which is delicious but is loaded with calories.
- Why I really love coffee: It’s available anywhere, anytime (almost). If you want or need caffeine, it’s likely within reach in short order nearly any time of the day or night. Granted, Starbucks and other coffee shops like Peet’s, Coffee, Bean & Tea Leaf eventually close for the night. But some all-night diners are open for those who have to have a cup of joe.
- Caffeine accelerates my metabolism (see #2 and #3). When your metabolism increases, you get a boost of wakefulness and increased energy. Knowing this makes me feel more confident that caffeine is one of the good things I’m doing for my body.
- I feel better after drinking it. Call it instant gratification, but there’s something about drinking the café latte that makes me feel better. A lot of this is because I enjoy café lattes, but the rush I get from the caffeine probably has more to do with it. One of the reasons is that I know it contains high amounts of antioxidants and polyphenols, which reduce stress and inflammation and are good for your heart.
- Why I really love coffee: It’s a social experience. I’ve never been to a coffee shop where there weren’t any customers. Well, maybe one time near closing. We were far from home, and I needed the caffeine jolt to drive another 150 miles. But, generally speaking, all the coffee shops we visit have many customers. Nobody seems in a bad mood, just waiting patiently in line for their favorite drink or food item. I enjoy that, especially since I know they’re passionate about their brand. Like me, they wouldn’t be here otherwise.
- I can get out of the house/office. After working hard at the computer for most of the day, my favorite afternoon outing is to one of several nearby Starbucks coffee houses for a café latte, hot or cold, possibly a pastry, or to pick up beans for our home espresso machine. This is not the only reason to get out. It’s also a destination I go to before, during, or after running errands. Truthfully, I probably motivated myself to do what I needed to with the knowledge that I would stop for my coffee sometime during the trip.
- My coffee habit has its rewards. As a longtime Starbucks gold member (for life, it seems), I love earning stars I can redeem for free food or drink. Beyond the stars that translate into freebies, there are other special deals on coffee, mugs, occasional contests (I haven’t won anything significant yet, but there’s still hope), and the knowledge that there will always be a Starbucks nearby.
A downside to this is my annual Starbucks spend. Other expenditures could be worse. Besides, this is one expense (habit) that is much more socially accepted. Now that you know why I really love coffee, why do you?
