Coffee gets a lot of bad press. From giving us the jitters to contributing to our insomnia and anxiety, one who takes their health seriously daren’t admit they love a regular cup of joe. As someone who strongly believes coffee makes me a better (and certainly nicer) human being, I’m extremely pleased to see that new research is tipped in the coffee lovers’ favour, showing that coffee in moderate amounts can actually contribute to greater health and wellbeing, and even prevent disease.
Coffee as a Health Tonic?
The latest findings show that habitual coffee drinking has been associated with a reduced risk of mortality and chronic diseases, including cancers such as liver, kidney, pancreatic, and to a lesser extent, premenopausal breast and colorectal cancers. The beneficial influence of coffee is said to be due to the presence of a variety of biological compounds such as caffeine, diterpenes, caffeic acid, and polyphenols.
Studies also suggest that coffee could be an effective therapeutic against Alzheimer’s disease. Mice given caffeine in their drinking water from young adulthood into older age showed protection against memory impairment and lower brain levels of the abnormal protein thought to be central to the development of Alzheimer’s. Additionally, older aged cognitively-impaired mice showed signs of memory restoration after following only 1–2 months of caffeine treatment.
Furthermore, a cup of joe may do more than give you a pep in your step to start the day; it may help lower the risk of diabetes. Studies have found consumption of coffee, either caffeinated or decaffeinated, was associated with a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes in both men and women. The protective effects may be explained by chlorogenic acid in coffee, an antioxidant that prevents oxidative stress, which has been linked to the development of diabetes.
Mistral – Local, Exceptional Coffee
So where can you find the best coffee on the island? There’s plenty of bad coffee out there, and when you’re trying to be sensible about your consumption there’s no time to waste your daily allocated brew on anything less than delicious. Luckily here on Mallorca, we have Mistral Coffee – a roastery and coffee shop all in one established in 2017. Founders Greg Schuler and Agata Mikulska are passionate coffee aficionados, and to them taste is paramount, which is probably why so many of the island’s best cafés choose Mistral as their bean supplier.
“Our desire since the beginning has been to source and select the finest quality coffee that highlights the incredible diversity in flavour from speciality coffee. As a speciality coffee roaster, the coffee we source is at the heart of the entire operation. By paying higher prices and establishing close relationships with the farmers the end result is a cared-for product and therefore exceptional coffee.”
The high graded ecological coffee is brought to the island from countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Brazil, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Honduras. The Mistral team loves to continually discover the incredible differences in flavours depending on the different countries and methods chosen by the farmers. They are always testing and trying to bring out as much flavour and taste from each batch of beans they roast to give true meaning to the words ‘speciality coffee’.
At the Mistral café, you will always be able to find a good mix of origins depending on the coffee harvest calendar, roasted for either filter or espresso and the team are always happy to explain and assist with any questions for brewing great coffee at home.
MISTRAL COFFEE
4 Carrer del Banc (near Plaça Major)
Palma de Mallorca, 07001
634 351 187 / 634 363 806
www.mistralcoffee.com
REFERENCES:
Nkondjock, A. (2009), ‘Coffee consumption and the risk of cancer: An overview’ Cancer Letters
Volume 277, Issue 2, 121-125