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Caffeine (C8H10N4O2) is a white, slightly
bitter alkaloid. sometimes also called "theine". It is a natural
ingredient in coffee, where it comprises two to three per cent of the
weight of each bean, or from about 60–90 mg in an average cup of coffee.
Robusta coffee has a much higher caffeine content than does arabica. As
well as in coffee, caffeine is found in about 60 other plants, such as
tea, cocoa, guarana and kola, and in products made from them, such as
chocolate and cola-based soft drinks.
Because caffeine, as a stimulant of the central nervous system and
cerebral circulation, imparts a feeling of energy and can often alleviate
headaches, it is an ingredient in many pharmaceutical products,
particularly those for headaches and colds. It is also a diuretic.
Tests have proved that caffeine increases mental alertness and the ability
to concentrate, but the idea that strong coffee can offset the effects of
too great a consumption of alcohol is a fallacy. Coffee does not 'sober
up" a truly inebriated person. Rather, it wakes one up, and as a sleepy
drunk is preferable to a lively one, administering strong coffee to
counter the alcohol is probably not a good idea. Also, the ensuing
hangover seems to be worsened by the added complication of large doses of
caffeine.
Excess Coffee
In general, too much caffeine consumption can cause palpitations, shaky
hands, a feeling of anxiety and an inability to sleep. "Too much",
however, varies enormously among caffeine consumers: for some people a
single cup of coffee causes ill effects, while others thrive on ten cups a
day. Coffee is one of the most widely-researched substances on earth, and
yet scientific and medical opinions are still extremely divided. There is
every reason to believe that the individual coffee drinker, exercising
some degree of moderation according to his or her level of caffeine
tolerance, can probably look forward to many years of "safe" coffee
enjoyment.
Coffee is an acidic drink, especially if it
is high-grown arabica, and many people, who find that coffee upsets their
stomach, blame the caffeine content instead of the acidity. Decaffeination
does not remove acidity. so drinking decaffeinated coffee is not the
solution for stomach upset. Acid-neutralized coffees are difficult to
find, but they are available in North America and the United Kingdom. in
France (cafe allege) and Germany (reizarmer Kaffee). They may not,
however, be particularly tasty, as it is acidity that contributes so
crucially to the flavors of high-grown arabicas and their blends.
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