Is That Cup of Coffee Killing You? – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

Americans don’t just drink coffee — they exist on it. The United States is the world’s largest coffee market, valued at over $100 billion. More than two-thirds of adults consume it daily, with this figure rising sharply— 37 percent more Americans are dependent on their morning (and often afternoon) cup of coffee today than they were 20 years ago. An average American adult drinks about 3 cups daily, totaling around 1,095 cups of coffee each year.

Coffee isn’t just another beverage; it’s the legal stimulant, the elixir of productivity, and the ritualistic fuel powering a nation that never stops moving.

Yet, as this caffeine culture grows, so too does the barrage of somewhat jarring headlines: Coffee causes heart disease! Coffee spikes stress hormones! Coffee might be slowly killing you!

It’s time to clear the air. Coffee itself isn’t the problem. In its purest, unadulterated form — black and free from harmful additives — coffee is not only safe but also a superfood. What truly poses a danger is what we’ve chosen to put into it. In short, it’s not the coffee that threatens us; it’s the sugar-coated, chemical-laden concoctions we’ve turned it into.

For every fear-driven study that casts doubt on coffee’s health benefits, a mountain of research stands in its defense. For instance, a 2018 study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that coffee drinkers tend to live longer than those who don’t drink it.

Other studies indicate that coffee drinkers have fewer strokes, heart attacks, and cognitive declines than their coffee-rejecting counterparts. There is even data that suggests coffee consumption lowers suicide risk. This is likely due to its mood-enhancing effects. Caffeine stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which can help combat feelings of depression.

Beyond these mood benefits, coffee also sharpens focus, boosts endurance, and is packed with polyphenols. These powerful compounds fight inflammation and oxidative stress, further supporting mental and physical well-being.

Of course, too much caffeine can interfere with sleep or spike cortisol levels, especially if abused. But moderate coffee consumption — one to three cups of quality black stuff — is generally free of serious health risks for most individuals. In fact, when consumed responsibly, coffee may just be one of the healthiest drinks on the planet.

To expand on my earlier point: the real danger doesn’t lie in coffee itself, but in the so-called “coffee culture” we’ve created. Black coffee is a simple, calorie-free, sugar-free powerhouse. But as soon as you start adding sugary syrups, whipped cream, artificial sweeteners, and hydrogenated oils, you’re not drinking coffee anymore. You’re drinking a dessert, a diabetic time bomb.

Consider Starbucks’ White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, for example. This monstrosity clocks in at over 50 grams of sugar, more than double the daily recommended intake for an average adult. Add to that the ultra-processed creamers that flood supermarket shelves, filled with artificial flavors, emulsifiers, and hydrogenated oils — and you’ve turned what was once a healthy, restorative beverage into a metabolic nightmare.

In short, it’s time for a back-to-basics approach.

That’s because coffee is more than a drink. When consumed properly, it is a ritual, a revered tradition, a cultural cornerstone with deep meaning. It has served as a spiritual tool for centuries. Ethiopian monks once used it to stay awake during prayer, a profound form of devotion. Ottoman scholars brewed it as part of elaborate rituals that celebrated the pursuit of knowledge.

In the West, coffeehouses have long been sanctuaries of thought. These places sparked revolutions and philosophical debates. They allowed literary movements to flourish.

Two icons of existential thought, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, frequented Parisian cafés. Their vibrant, somewhat controversial discussions on freedom, existence, and society helped shape 20th-century philosophy.

For Sartre, the café was a space where ideas were born and the human condition could be dissected in its rawest form. In many ways, coffee was an essential part of the ritual of intellectual exploration. Yes, I know, Sartre was a devoted Marxist. But even a broken clock is right twice a day — his insights on bad faith and the danger of self-deception still hold weight.

And while de Beauvoir was indeed a raving feminist, she was also sharp enough to recognize that freedom wasn’t always a privilege; in some instances, it was a burden. True autonomy can be a struggle. It demands constant vigilance against falling into passivity and succumbing to sin.

Also, don’t blame the coffee for their poor decisions.

In more recent times, the philosopher Martin Heidegger viewed the act of drinking as something deeply tied to being itself, a practice that connects us to both the present and the transcendent. For Heidegger, the daily ritual of enjoying a simple drink like coffee became a means of “being” in the world, an act that connected individuals to their environment.

And yet, modern consumer culture has bastardized this ritual. The simplicity and meditative quality of coffee has been overtaken by corporate-driven concoctions, robbing the drink of its meaningful context.

I’ll finish by saying this: Rest easy if you’re drinking black coffee. You’re not only indulging in one of the most health-promoting beverages available but also honoring an ancient, meaningful tradition. The key, as always, is moderation and simplicity. It’s the bucketloads of sugar, syrups, and chemical-laden creamers that pose the real threat to your health.

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