The love for coffee goes beyond a morning ritual, people love coffee and all of its so called goodness, however the world of marketing has hidden the real facts about coffee. Almost every strip of shops in Melbourne has a coffee shop, meaning accessibility is beyond expectation. However what quality of coffee are you drinking? Are you having the good stuff or the bad stuff? I think the real question is what is the difference?

The best form of coffee is the old school short black espresso; keep it simple and you will reap the benefits. Straight black coffee helps to keep you energised as well as is an amazing pre-workout. It is full of antioxidants and boosts your metabolism. However, one major thing you should keep in mind is that when you modify the classic drink by adding sugar, milk (almond, soy, dairy milk etc.) you actually lose the benefits of that coffee.

Both quality at which you are drinking as well as how many you are drinking daily is a huge factor. Did you know that coffee and any other caffeinated beverages such as teas, cola drinks etc. can dehydrate your body? That is why when you are served a coffee in Europe they always serve it was a glass a water, to help re-hydrate your body! Limit your coffee serving to once or maximum twice a day, to avoid both dehydrating your system and over caffeinated your body to the point to where you are constantly buzzing!

Unfortunately, the beloved beverage although can be great to drink (if you like the taste of expensive dirt) there are also a lot of things to look out for. Let me break down the various coffee products that a lot of people consume but are not aware of the health risks that come along with them:

Instant coffee and Coffee Pods:

Did you know that instant coffee contains gluten? Which means if you are Coeliac or intolerant to gluten then you can’t actually have it! Having the presence of gluten in it can be a deal breaker for those who are either intolerant or allergic to gluten as you can become very ill. Regularly consuming the smallest serving of instant coffee can come with increased chance of long-term health risks. Due to the high buildup of mold around the coffee beans it has been reported to be carcinogenic and this is the same for the quick and easy coffee pods. We all know the rule of staying away from any moldy food so why drink it? 

Having a cup of coffee is one thing but what quality are you consuming?

• Coach Emilia