FOOD
The daily grind
Although tea can justifiably be referred to as Ireland’s traditional brew, there has been a huge rise
in coffee consumption in recent years. We take a look at what’s on offer and the health issues
surrounding this popular beverage.
The café society that emerged from the
United States has led to an explosion of
coffee chains and independent coffee
shops all over Ireland. It’s now common
to see workers en route to the office
clutching a takeaway coffee, and the
coffee retail business is worth around
€280 million a year. A coffee shop is not
only a place to grab a takeaway but also
somewhere to relax with a newspaper or
a book, or catch up with friends. Many
coffee shops also offer free wireless
internet access. Some coffee lovers
compare coffee to wine, appreciating its
finer qualities and endless variety!
The coffee bean
Like wine, the origin of coffee has a huge
effect on its flavour. Two types of bean
account for almost all coffee grown
worldwide. Arabica beans originate in
Ethiopia and many of the finest coffees
come from these beans. Robusta beans
are cultivated in Africa, the Far East and
Brazil. Most ordinary supermarket coffee
is made from these but Robusta can also
yield high quality beans.
A lot can be told about the coffee by
looking at the beans. If they are Arabica
beans that have been slow-roasted, they
will be dark in colour and have a shiny
appearance. With some coffees, the beans
are roasted very quickly. This results in a
light brown colour and very often a
dry taste.
Coffee may be purchased in whole
bean or ground form. Whole beans stay
fresh for longer, but ground coffee, once
opened, should be kept in a sealed
container and used within a few days.
Ground coffee loses its flavour quickly
and can develop a rancid taste.
Ethical sources of coffee
The economies of some of the poorest
countries in the world are highly
dependent on the coffee trade. However,
many small coffee farmers are paid far
less than their production costs, forcing
them into a cycle of poverty and debt.
While farmers sell at a loss, business for
coffee companies is at an all time high.
Fairtrade offers a viable solution to this
problem, assuring consumers that their
coffee was purchased under fair
conditions and certain environmental
standards. In Ireland, the FAIRTRADE
Mark can be found on a growing range of
coffee products in supermarkets, and fair
trade coffee is available in many coffee
chains and independent coffee shops.
AT A GLANCE
Coffee terms.
Health effects.
Mixed messages
There are frequent and often contrasting
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increase the risk of any cancer, except
possibly bladder cancer. There has even
been a suggestion that drinking coffee
can prevent cancer. The explanation for
this may be in its non-caffeine
components. Coffee contains
antioxidants, which have a protective
effect against cancer, but no one knows
how much protection they offer and
coffee would certainly not be
recommended as a substitute for your
recommended five pieces of fruit and
vegetables a day!
COFFEE GLOSSARY
Useful contacts
Food Safety Authority
of Ireland
Abbey Court
Lower Abbey Street
Dublin 1
Advice 1890 336 677
tel (01) 817 1300
fax (01) 817 1301
email [email protected]
www.fsai.ie
Irish Nutrition and
Dietetic Institute
Ashgrove House
Kill Avenue
• Acidity Positive term used to describe the sharp,
snappy flavour of a coffee.
• Aroma Refers to the smell of the coffee and
signals its taste.
• Barista A person highly skilled in preparing
coffee.
• Bitter or burnt Undesirable flavour characteristics
related to the roasting process.
• Blend Combination of two or more varieties of
roasted coffees.
• Bloom The golden froth on the top of the cup.
• Body Refers to the density of the coffee.
• Flavour Describes the impression you get when
you take the first sip.
Mental performance
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
COFFEE PRICES
email [email protected]
1
Product
Price (€)
Quantity
Bagel Factory
Americano
2.00
12 oz
Bewley’s Cafe
Americano
2.30
12 oz
Butlers Chocolate Café
Americano
2.50
12 oz
Café Gusto, Cork
Americano
2.35
12 oz
Café Luna, Galway
Americano
2.00
12 oz
Café Sol
Americano
2.40
12 oz
Coffee Society
Americano
2.50
12 oz
Insomnia
Americano
2.35
12 oz
La Cala, Dublin
Americano
1.80
12 oz
McCafé (McDonald’s)
Americano
2.20
12 oz
Mews Café, Cork
Americano
2.50
12 oz
Mojo Café Bar, Limerick
Americano
2.20
12 oz
Mugshot Café, Kilkenny
Americano
2.40
12 oz
O’Briens Sandwich Bar
Americano
2.20
12 oz
Pinocchio Luas Kiosk Ranelagh
Americano
2.00
12 oz
Starbucks
Americano
2.50
12 oz
Subway (Dublin 1)
Americano
1.50
12 oz
Superquinn Café Refresh
Americano
2.25
12 oz
West Coast Coffee
Americano
2.45
12 oz
Centra (Dublin 6)
Black coffee
1.90
12 oz
Londis (Dublin 2)
Black coffee
2.00
12 oz
Spar (Dublin 6)
Black coffee
2.00
12 oz
www.indi.ie
COFFEE SHOP
CONVENIENCE STORE
SUPERMARKETS
Aldi
Alcafe Instant
2.39
200g Jar
Dunnes Stores
Nescafe Original
5.99
200g Jar
Tesco
Bewley’s Fairly Traded
Organic Ground Coffee
4.79
227g
Foil Packed
Students often rely on coffee at exam
time and there is some evidence to
suggest that coffee improves memory and
the ability to perform complex tasks. The
result of a study that followed 676
healthy, older men from Finland, the
Netherlands, and Italy for ten years and
measured their cognitive function was
published in the European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition in 2006. Those who
drank coffee had lower rates of agerelated cognitive decline than those who
didn't, with maximum protection seen in
men who drank three cups of coffee a
day. Further studies have suggested that
coffee may protect against Parkinson's
and Alzheimer's disease, but the evidence
isn't strong enough to be certain.
Liver health
In Italy a 2007 review of the relationship
between coffee consumption and the risk
of liver cancer found that an increased
consumption of coffee may reduce the
risk of the disease. The results of another
study in 2006 of more than 125,000
people in the US found that the risk of
developing cirrhosis of the liver dropped
with each cup of coffee the subjects
drank per day. Even if coffee does have
protective effects, however, keeping
within the recommended levels of
alcohol intake is the only way to avoid
alcoholic cirrhosis.
Caffeine hit
reports in the media on the health effects
of coffee. A review published in the
Journal of the American Medical
Association in 2006 found that coffee
may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
but this conflicts with earlier evidence
suggesting that coffee can reduce insulin
sensitivity, which would actually increase
the risk of diabetes. Confusion can occur
because other lifestyle factors such as
smoking or alcohol consumption may
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not be taken into account by researchers
when a scientific study is carried out. For
example in 1981 a Harvard study showed
an increased incidence of pancreatic
cancer with coffee consumption.
However researchers later concluded that
smoking, not coffee, was the likely cause.
Antioxidant protection
Most studies on a cancer-coffee link have
concluded that coffee is unlikely to
The caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant
which is why it is often consumed in the
morning and during working hours. For
most people, one or two cups of coffee in
the morning won’t affect their sleeping
patterns. However consuming caffeine
late in the day can be a problem for
those who are sensitive to the stimulant.
It is advisable to avoid drinking
significant amounts of coffee for at least
five or six hours before bed.
on the menu
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Americano An espresso diluted with hot water.
Cappuccino An Italian espresso coffee containing steamed, frothy milk and sprinkled with chocolate.
Espresso A strong, dark coffee made from roasted and finely ground beans, served in a small cup.
Frappuccino A blend of ice and a mix constituted of coffee, water, milk, and various syrups
Iced coffee A double strength coffee diluted by melting ice.
Instant A powdered, soluble extract from coffee beans.
Latte One part espresso to two parts steamed milk, usually served in a tall glass.
Macchiato An espresso topped with a little frothed milk.
Mocha An espresso mixed with chocolate and topped with whipped cream.
Cutting calories? Choose a skinny latte or cappuccino, which is made with skimmed or low fat milk to cut down on calories and fat. Stay
well away from deluxe treats such as the Maple White Chocolate Crème, a white chocolate based frappuccino with added maple syrup,
served with whipped cream, maple topping and white chocolate sauce!
Consumption of coffee before exercise
or during times of stress should also be
avoided if you have high blood pressure.
Drinking a cup of coffee can cause a
temporary rise in blood pressure but it
isn’t clear whether this can lead to
hypertension, a risk factor for heart
disease. Caffeine reduces absorption of
calcium in the bones, and some scientists
have claimed that people who drink
coffee regularly have a higher risk of
osteoporosis.
Overall, drinking a lot of coffee is not
recommended, as it contains addictive
stimulants which can have negative
effects on energy levels and stress, and
can inhibit absorption of some vitamins
and minerals.
The perfect brew
Learning how to make your own coffee
at home isn’t difficult. We’ve put some
tips together to get you started.
• Use fresh coffee Freshly roasted coffee
should be used in the days after you
buy it as it can go stale very quickly.
Look for a ‘roasted’ or ‘packed on’ date
so you know how old the beans are.
• Grind the beans yourself Unless you
grind the beans just before brewing,
most of the good qualities will be
gone. Use coarsely ground beans for
percolators, medium for plungers and
fine for filters.
• Practice makes perfect If the beans are
too finely ground the coffee may taste
bitter; too coarse and the coffee may
be bland.
• Instant coffee Once you find a brand
you like, experiment with the ratio of
water to grounds for the best results.
• To add flavour Sprinkle spices or
extracts like cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa
powder or nutmeg on the grounds
before brewing.
The price of a cup of coffee can vary
dramatically depending on where it’s
bought. We looked at the cost of medium
sized takeaway Americanos in coffee
outlets around Ireland (see our table,
opposite). The volume of a ‘cup’ of coffee
can vary but in most places the medium
sized ‘tall’ cup holds 12 ounces of coffee.
The exception was Starbucks where the
smallest cup is 12 ounces. The cheapest
takeaway Americano we found was just
€1.50 in a Subway outlet in Dublin 1,
and the dearest, at €2.50, were in Butlers,
Starbucks, Mews and Coffee Society.
Differences in quality and taste cannot
be measured but if you want to save
money, it’s wise to shop around. We
calculated the average cost of a takeaway
Americano at €2.20 but a packet of
Bewley’s Fairly Traded Organic Ground
Coffee (€4.79 from Tesco) provides 24
cups of coffee, while a 200g jar of instant
coffee would provide even more servings.
Consumers have evidently begun to
make cutbacks as we noticed that a
number of outlets have introduced
combination deals to try and combat the
loss. Some are offering a €5 ‘any coffee,
any sandwich’ deal that represents a
saving of up to €2.50 in some cases for
consumers.
CAFFEINE CONTENT
For most healthy adults, a moderate
amount of caffeine – about 2 to 3 cups
of coffee (200-300mg caffeine) per day
– should not pose any physical
problems.
Depending on the type of coffee and
method of preparation, the caffeine
content of a single serving can vary
greatly. On average, a single cup of
percolator coffee of about 200mls can
be expected to contain between 115
and 175mg of caffeine. Instant coffee
has less caffeine than freshly brewed
coffee.
Tea contains less caffeine but the
amount can vary depending on the
variety and how long the teabag is
steeped for.
Beverage
•
•
•
•
•
•
Percolator coffee (200ml)
Instant coffee (200ml)
Espresso (50ml serving)
Strong tea (200ml)
Hot chocolate
Decaf coffee (200ml)
Caffeine
(mg)
115-175
65-100
100
80-120
20-35
2-5
Report by
Sinéad Mc Mahon cc
choice comment
Drinking coffee has its pros and cons, and its effects vary from person to person. Most people will determine
their personal consumption based on their sensitivity to the beverage and on how long they are willing to lie
awake at night! Judging from our findings, if you are in the habit of buying a daily coffee on the way to work
it can cost over €500 per year! The annual savings can be huge if you make your own coffee in the morning
instead. However, if you drink too much you may pay with the jitters and a racing heartbeat. Excessive caffeine
can cause anxiety, insomnia, headaches or stomach irritation. In particular, pregnant and breastfeeding women
should keep their caffeine intake low. If you enjoy coffee it’s best to stick to no more than two to three cups a
day and, if studies are to be believed, you may even reap some benefits for your health.
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