Coffee: Lovelier than a Thousand Kisses

January 2, 2003 9:18 PM

The Coffee Science Information Centre. Bach once referred to coffee as "lovelier than a thousand kisses." The writers and researchers at the Coffee Science Information Centre would agree. This site takes a scientific look at coffee, especially in regard to caffeine and health. Coffee through history is also examined. ::credit::
posted by anastasiav (17 comments total)

i knew coffee was good for me! thank god i only drink it in moderate doses of about 20,000 mg of caffeine a day.
posted by clango at 9:35 PM on January 2, 2003

clango, you teetotalin' fool!

Much as I love the stuff (in moderation, I must say; I'm only about 70% caffeine by blood volume); I'm wondering how strong the coffee lobby who put this website together is and how much they're skewing the statistics.

I mean, I want to believe, and for the most part I do, but still. The 'Summary' section is little more than a list of refutations of alleged health risks, and it just set off my spider senses.

Not that it really matters; I like the taste!
posted by chicobangs at 10:26 PM on January 2, 2003

Scientific evidence aside, coffee is very unhealthy, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
posted by shabrem at 1:29 AM on January 3, 2003

Coffee is great, especially when it has that reddish brown crema on top: espresso!

If you're into espresso, but you somehow feel you aren't there yet, you're probably right, and you might want to start reading up on your favourite subject:

CoffeeGeek
alt.coffee (NG)
Randy G's Espresso Page

It gives you an idea about the lengths people (such as myself, I'll admit) go to to get a sip of the elusive "God Shot".

Oh, BTW: if you're really getting into this, be prepared to be disappointed at the Krups "steam toy" your wife bought you for Xmas: these boys and girls take espresso perfection to another dimension. And... get a decent grinder, that's where it all starts!

Disclaimer: the author will not accept responsibility for an inexplicable urge to "upgrade" all your espresso making equipment.
posted by NekulturnY at 1:46 AM on January 3, 2003

Yeah, these guys are really objective. Who funds 'em, the Coffee Achievers?
posted by pekar wood at 5:36 AM on January 3, 2003

Caffeine is not recognised as a drug of abuse and there is no evidence for caffeine dependence.

Then why do I get near Migaine headaches if I dont have my daily dose of coffee? Oh wait, it goes on to say:

Some particularly sensitive people may suffer mild symptoms of withdrawal after sudden abstention from coffee drinking.

Yeah, like nearly everyone who has a daily cup of joe...
posted by CoolHandPuke at 5:57 AM on January 3, 2003

Heh, super-objective site. But mmm, coffee...the best writing drug of all ("creative lighter fluid" -Floyd Maxwell).

Picard always drank tea.
Kirk always drank coffee.
Any questions?

(more here and here)
posted by gottabefunky at 6:59 AM on January 3, 2003

I don't know why people get so excited about coffee. It's not as though it's chocolate or anything.
posted by Summer at 7:34 AM on January 3, 2003

Excess in anything is foolish. (The trick is determining where "excess" begins, of course.)
posted by rushmc at 8:06 AM on January 3, 2003

[this is good}
posted by adampsyche at 8:08 AM on January 3, 2003

Scientific evidence aside, coffee is very unhealthy, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Pesky science. Always asking us to "prove" stuff.

(and, on preview, replace that curly bracket above with a straight one...must be too much coffee, fingers are all a-jittery)
posted by adampsyche at 8:12 AM on January 3, 2003

German brewmeisters led the charge against the introduction of coffee into Germany on the grounds that it was an "Un-German" beverage. Of course! Everybody KNOWS that BEER is the German national drink. Anyway, women would get together and drink it anyway, and their coffee-groups were derided as "Klatches", hence the origin of the term: "Coffee-Klatch".
posted by troutfishing at 9:02 AM on January 3, 2003

German brewmeisters led the charge against the introduction of coffee into Germany on the grounds that it was an "Un-German" beverage. Of course! Everybody KNOWS that BEER is the German national drink. Anyway, women would get together and drink it anyway, and their coffee-groups were derided as "Klatches", hence the origin of the term: "Coffee-Klatch".

Meanwhile - Bach said that? Didn't he have about 49 kids? I think he like kisses (and other things) as much as coffee.
posted by troutfishing at 9:03 AM on January 3, 2003

German brewmeisters led the charge against the introduction of coffee into Germany on the grounds that it was an "Un-German" beverage. Of course! Everybody KNOWS that BEER is the German national drink. Anyway, women would get together and drink it anyway, and their coffee-groups were derided as "Klatches", hence the origin of the term: "Coffee-Klatch".

Meanwhile - Bach said that? Didn't he have about 49 kids? I think he liked kisses (and other things) as much as coffee.
posted by troutfishing at 9:03 AM on January 3, 2003

Oops. I blame the coffee.
posted by troutfishing at 9:04 AM on January 3, 2003

Well, to be pedantic about it, Bach didn't "say that," it's a line from his "Coffee Cantata" (original German here); it's spoken by the character Lieschen, whose father demands that she give up the vice if she wants a husband. She agrees, but after he leaves to go find one she says

no suitor is to come to my house
unless he promises me,
and it is also written into the marriage contract,
that I will be permitted
to make myself coffee whenever I want.

Then the chorus (trio, actually) finishes with

A cat won't stop from catching mice,
and maidens remain faithful to their coffee.
The mother holds her coffee dear,
the grandmother drank it also,
who can thus rebuke the daughters!

Make of that what you will in terms of Bach's own feelings. Me, I cheerfully admit I'm addicted to the stuff, and have no intention of even thinking about giving it up.
posted by languagehat at 11:37 AM on January 3, 2003

Those lyrics must really lose something in the translation!
posted by rushmc at 2:38 PM on January 3, 2003