The Surprising Benefits of Coffee: Health, Connection, and Opportunity
Coffee (according to Happy Barista) decreases your chances of Parkinson’s, curbs depression, lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and promotes exercise performance, amongst other things. I’ve never met an unhappy Barista, have you? As it turns out, coffee has a host of beneficial factors.
As it turns out, it may also help you solve problems, increase your social circle, widen your network, and improve your performance in many areas of life, not just exercise. This is purely based on personal research and observation, but take my word for it; it works!
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee?
Research and observation both point to coffee’s positive effects. Beyond the caffeine kick, studies suggest coffee:
- Provides a natural source of antioxidants
- Supports healthy blood sugar levels and may lower Type 2 Diabetes risk
- Lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease
- Reduces the likelihood of depression
- Enhances exercise performance
👉 And for tea drinkers—don’t worry. According to Mindbody, tea offers many of the same benefits.
How Does Coffee Strengthen Social Connections?
Have you ever noticed how many friendships, business relationships, or even life decisions start over coffee?
When coffee shops closed during the pandemic, many people lost more than just their morning cappuccino—they lost a vital hub of social connection. I know I did. The first time I sat outside my local coffee shop again, sipping with a friend after cycling there, I felt revitalized and rejuvenated. Coffee, it seems, feeds not just the body but the soul.
Ever noticed how you feel after meeting a friend at your local coffee shop?
Cycling with my best friend is always a way to heal my soul. It’s as much about the social interaction as it is about the coffee. Recently when I was feeling particularly down, we cycled to our favorite coffee shop. We cycled there and sat outside on the pavement with our warm cups of coffee. I can tell you that when I got back home, I felt like a different person; revitalised and rejuvenated, like something old, timeless, and very essential to my soul had been replenished.
Can Coffee Help With Problem-Solving?
A number of years ago, I worked on a project that needed almost immediate delivery. To cut a long story short, two cups of coffee provided access to vital information on the project, which would have taken weeks to obtain.
Coffee is a widely utilised form of life-saving, not merely because of the caffeinated energy we receive from it, but also because of the social connection that comes with the experience. What’s happening in your life right now? Are you looking to downscale? Is your business in trouble, and you need growth? Want to progress in your career? Do you want to finally sit down and write that book you’ve been looking to? Are you battling with a specific challenge?
Coffee (and cycling – although that’s another piece altogether) is the answer to a host of questions and life situations. And in the days of social connection (in which we still live, you can’t beat half an hour over a good old cup of coffee.
Yes whilst therapy is a solid answer to many questions, I have found that coffee is the answer to all of them. Just the other day I spoke to my mum whilst at her favorite coffee shop, IN SPAIN, whilst I grabbed a cup and sat inside with my blanket, from my home in Johannesburg. Whilst it’s not quite the same as being intimately connected, it’s the next best thing.
How Can Coffee Boost Career Growth?
A couple of years ago, I went for an interview with a global company in an executive capacity. In order to do the interview justice, I needed some help. As it happened, one of my contacts on LinkedIn knew the company, so I asked if I could take him for a coffee. In return, I asked how I could help him, and we ended up chatting about his ex, and he managed to find some clarity on the relationship. It wasn’t what I expected to happen, but it all worked out perfectly. We still stay connected to this day.
Now before you go stalking on social, there’s one vital point I’d like to add before you leave; perhaps the most important point and that is that;
Coffee only works if you’re looking to contribute to the other party
Hooking up with people to see what you can gain has never worked in all my years of experience. Coffee, as an event, should ALWAYS be a mutual event. Before connecting with someone, consider what you can contribute.
And for those of you worrying about the fact that you only drink tea, there’s great news; tea has the exact same benefit! (So says Mindbody)
As I’ve found, almost all of us are looking for an answer to a question, think about how you could solve someone else’s challenge, and you’ve got a coffee match in heaven!
Let me know how it goes!
