Coffee
Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world.
Improving flavor
Temperature effects taste
- A former English maritime engineer once told me the tale of a magical type of coffee being brewed on a US Navy ship circa 1960s. He says it had the consistency of light syrup and was extremely strong. What is this sorcery he speaks of?
- Lifeblood of Navy: Good Coffee
- Navy Coffee: What Is It? How To Make It? & A Little Bit Of History
- Seasoned Coffee Mug - United States Navy Chief View - YouTube
Caffeine
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a plant alkaloid with a chemical structure of C8H10N4O2. Structurally, caffeine (and the other methylxanthines) resembles the purines. The mean half-life of caffeine in plasma of healthy individuals is about 5 hours. However, caffeine's elimination half-life may range between 1.5 and 9.5 hours, while the total plasma clearance rate for caffeine is estimated to be 0.078 L/h/kg. This wide range in the plasma mean half-life of caffeine is due to both innate individual variation, and a variety of physiological and environmental characteristics that influence caffeine metabolism. The pharmacological effects of caffeine are similar to those of other methylxanthines. These effects include mild CNS stimulation and wakefulness, ability to sustain intellectual activity, and decreased reaction times.