Keeping Healthy Coffee Consumption Levels Is Difficult In Miami

Coffee goes by various names and spans many cultures—coladas, cappuccino, cortadito, café au lait. 

It’s a delicacy that dates back to ancient civilizations in Arabia and Ethiopia. 

Here in Miami, it’s a Latin cuisine staple. 

Saying that coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages is an understatement, seeing how it’s ranked behind water in global consumer statistics. 

It’s among the most addictive libations one can stumble upon because it contains caffeine, a stimulant that increases activity in the brain and nervous system. 

It has its benefits—doses of caffeine between 50-300 mg can increase alertness, energy and concentration. 

Moderate coffee consumption throughout one’s life can decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers and Parkinson’s disease. 

But it also has drawbacks—larger doses of caffeine can result in jitteriness, palpitations, high blood pressure and irritability. 

It also contains phytic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in plant-based foods such as whole grains, nuts and beans that interferes with the absorption of nutrients like iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium. 

Although the World Health Organization states that caffeine in moderation poses no issue, the rate at which it is being consumed is alarming. 

In South Florida, the beverage is idolized. 

For many Miami residents, a typical day includes three to five servings of coffee. This differs from other American cities, where it is normal to drink about two servings of coffee a day. 

But not everyone drinks coffee as a pleasure. 

If you’ve been to Miami’s world famous “ventanitas,” small window shops that sell pastries and coffee, you know how crowded they can get. 

There is a reason for all the madness—coffee there is not just a pick me up, but a call to socialize. 

Many locals find time in their busy days to stop by their local café to meet up with friends and strangers to talk about life. 

While the act of drinking coffee is okay, the habit can lead to an unsolicited addiction. 

I began consuming coffee when I was nine to help me concentrate on my academics. My parents hoped it would increase dopamine levels and my focus and make me more enthusiastic about learning. 

However, nobody knew the consequences would severely outweigh the benefits.

I gradually began developing a dependency on caffeine, drinking about four to five servings of coffee a day. 

If I went more than four to five hours without it, I felt extreme fatigue, usually accompanied by a headache.

It took me many years to regulate my coffee addiction to normal levels. Even today, I find myself tempted to drink more than I should, but I can now go eight hours without caffeine. 

Coffee is a highly addictive beverage that should be enjoyed in moderation, but it gets such a strong stranglehold on its users that it might be better to evade it altogether.