Health
Espresso health benefits may include:
- alertness
- boosted metabolism
- exercise performance
- increased brain function
- lessen likeliness of committing suicide
- lower risk of depression
- reduced tiredness *all short-term effects
- detoxification
- liver health
- lower risk of dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
- lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis and liver cancer
- lung health
- anti-aging
- healthy skin
- weight loss
Espresso side effects may include:
- anxiety
- brain fog
- caffeine withdraw
- exhaustion
- exacerbated panic attacks
- headaches
- irritability
- heart palpitations
- jitteriness
- sleep problems
- raised blood pressure
Espresso is…
- Gluten Free
- Acidic 4.5 pH level once digested
- Not a common Food Allergen
- Contains caffeine unless specified decaffeinated
Environment
Water footprint: high, it takes 18,925 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of roasted coffee / 2,268 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of roasted coffee
Carbon footprint: high, 10.1 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of coffee, a car driving equivalent of 23.35 miles or 37.5 kilometers
Destruction: high, coffee production is relatively destructive, heavy deforestation, coffee grown by “traditional means” is cultivated under a shaded canopy of trees, a valuable habitat for indigenous animals and insects, these trees prevent topsoil erosion and there is no need for chemical fertilizers BUT due to demand, it is more popular for farmers to use ‘sun cultivation’ with no forested canopy, resulting in necessary fertilizers and a negative effect on biodiversity
Espresso is…
- Unsustainable
Animals
Kills: none, coffee production does not require any animals to die
Harms: none, coffee production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: Asian palm civets (a small mammal) if “civet coffee” also known as Kopi luwak and sanctuary elephants in Thailand if Black Ivory Coffee, civet animals in Indonesia are fed coffee beans, the excreted beans are used for consumption, its rarity and status (the most expensive coffee in the world) has led to intensive animal farming of civets, who are confined in cages and force-fed coffee beans, many of these creatures have no clean drinking water, no interaction with other civets and live in cages in their own waste, many civets must stand, sleep, and sit on wire floors in pain and discomfort and get sores and abrasions from it, they are stressed being in captivity
elephants in Thailand are also fed coffee beans, which they will excrete to make Black Ivory Coffee, there are currently no reports of severe harm yet but they are still exploited, no other animals are indirectly killed or harmed from coffee production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Espresso is…
- Vegan unless Kopi Luwak or Black Ivory Coffee
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems
Laborers
Health and safety: hazardous, adults and children experience dangerous levels of sun exposure, injuries, and poisoning from contact with agrochemicals, due to low wages worker’s children are often underweight and malnourished, families live with no power and have little or no access to safe, clean drinking water and no money for necessary medications in countries like Nicaragua, in Kenya some women and their daughters are sexually abused by their employers and supervisors, more than 90% of study respondents said they experienced or observed sexual abuse within their workplaces
Living conditions: poor, there are reports of child labor for coffee plantations in at least 14 countries around the world, many parents in regions of Brazil take their children out of school to work on coffee farms which creates a cycle because they are denied education for better jobs, women who report sexual abuse are often fired or demoted
Wages: low, some coffee workers earn less than one dollar per day, coffee farmers typically only 7–10% of coffee’s retail price, in Brazil workers can earn less than 2% of the retail price, in Kenya, for instance seasonal workers make around 12 dollars per month, in Guatemala most coffee workers do not get overtime pay or employee benefits required by law, many are paid less than the minimum wage
Espresso has…
- Laborer issues, human rights concerns
espresso is acidic.
Is espresso alkaline or acidic?
Espresso is alkaline.
What is the pH level of espresso?
Espresso has a 4.5 pH level, once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are found in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
espresso is gluten free.
Is espresso gluten free?
Yes, espresso is gluten free. Espresso does not contain gluten. Espresso is a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
espresso is not a common food allergen.
Is espresso a common food allergen?
No, espresso is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to espresso but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
espresso has a high water footprint.
Does espresso have a high or low water footprint?
Espresso has a relatively high water footprint compared to other foods and beverages.
What is the water footprint of espresso?
It takes 18,925 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of roasted coffee / 2,268 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of roasted coffee.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
espresso has a high carbon footprint.
Does espresso have a high or low carbon footprint?
Espresso has a relatively high carbon footprint compared to other foods and beverages.
What is the carbon footprint of espresso?
It takes around 10.1 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of coffee, a car driving equivalent of 23.35 miles or 37.5 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
espresso is unsustainable.
Overall, is espresso eco friendly? Is espresso sustainable?
No. Espresso production is relatively unsustainable.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
espresso is vegan.
Is espresso vegan?
Yes, espresso is vegan. Espresso is not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food. However, it should be noted that espresso production negatively effects wildlife and ecosystems due to its environmental impact.
Animals of factory farms and the livestock industry are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. They’re also injected with growth hormones to become fatter faster and live short lives, being slaughtered as soon as they finish growing and are killed prematurely, well before their natural lifespan.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
espresso is a product that has labor issues.
Is espresso a product that has labor issues?
At this time, there are reports of worker mistreatment regarding coffee.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even be subjected to harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Such mistreatment has been likened to modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic, Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more
Coffee, espresso – FoodData Central – USDA
Espresso Coffee Through History
