Coffee is
a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which
are the seeds of berries from the Coffee plant. Coffee is native to tropical
Africa (specifically having its origin
in Ethiopia and Sudan) and Madagascar,
the Comoros, Mauritius, and Reunion in the Indian Ocean. The
plant was exported from Africa to countries around the world and coffee plants
are now cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial
regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. The
two most commonly grown are the Arabica, and the Robusta.
Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and
dried. Dried coffee seeds (referred to as beans) are roasted to
varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. Roasted beans are ground
and brewed with near-boiling water to produce coffee as a beverage.
Coffee is slightly acidic and can have
a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks
in the world. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g. espresso, French
press, cafe latte, etc.). It is usually served hot, although iced
coffee is also served.
Clinical studies indicate that moderate coffee consumption
is beneficial in healthy adults, with continuing research on whether long-term
consumption inhibits cognitive decline during aging or lowers the
risk of some forms of cancer.
Research has shown that moderate coffee consumption
(3-5 cups daily) may be associated with many positive effects, including:
