COFFEE FOR YOUR SOUL

A LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF COFFEE AND HOW IT BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BEVERAGES IN BANGLADESH

 

 

 

Oh, glorious coffee! The secret weapon of every student! The fuel for every tired office worker! The miraculous God-given plant helps thousands in their day-to-day life. From being something that only nobility could afford to becoming one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, coffee culture is ubiquitous. But what exactly is coffee culture and how has it risen in Bangladesh?
To start, we must rewind the clock a bit. Coffee was first exported by the Somali merchants out of Ethiopia and Yemen in the 15th Century where it was used by the Sufi masters as an aid to help them concentrate on their prayers. It was later exported to Mecca, Medina and by the 16th Century, it was spread to the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, India, and Northern Africa before eventually being exported to the Balkans, Italy, Europe, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Ever since its inception, coffee was used almost extensively as a stimulant for increasing one’s energy and vitality. Despite bans in the past for having mistaken its energy-giving qualities as forms of intoxication, the might of coffee prevailed and coffee drinking has become the norm all across the globe. But what about coffee culture in Bangladesh?

 


Over the last decade, due to mass availability and increased commercialisation, coffee has become one of the most popular beverages in Bangladesh, especially in urban areas. Anyone can drink coffee whether it is a small cup of instant coffee from a roadside stall for 20 taka or brewed by a barista in a well-known chain shop for 250 taka. However, the scene was very different at the beginning when coffee consumption was limited to the upper-middle and upper class of the population. The best coffee was typically found in certain shops like North End Coffee Roasters, Coffee World, and Crimson Cup. With growing popularity, coffee started to take significant spaces in superstores to grocery shops and eventually, became one of the most popular beverages for the masses in the country.

 

WITH GROWING POPULARITY, COFFEE STARTED TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT SPACES IN SUPERSTORES TO GROCERY SHOPS AND EVENTUALLY, BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BEVERAGES FOR THE MASSES IN THE COUNTRY.

 

As the saying goes, “Too much of a good thing can also be bad” is very much applicable when talking about the negative effects of coffee. As we know, it is often used as a stimulant to make one concentrate more and dispel the lingering effects of sleep. One of the most common negative effects of coffee is insomnia. Most people can’t naturally control their caffeine limit and often cross it by drinking too much, leading to insomnia. Increasing insomnia induces tiredness and loss of concentration leading to hyperactivity. Additionally, excess coffee consumption also leads to anxiety as the caffeine in coffee increases the body’s adrenaline levels leading to anxiety and nervousness which can be mentally and physically damaging if taken continuously and without restraint. Additionally, it can also lead to stomach issues. Although small to moderate amounts of coffee can have laxative tendencies, larger amounts can cause diarrhea-like symptoms or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Consequently, when the user is unable to satisfy their cravings they suffer from caffeine withdrawal with both psychical and psychological symptoms which can be either as simple as having a headache or the more severe effects such as ‘caffeine jitters’ and depression.
Unfortunately, coffee culture promotes the idea of needing to drink coffee and then powering through work even at the risk of suffering from burnout. Similarly, peer pressure is also forcing the consumption of coffee to unusually high levels.
So, with all that being said about the good and bad about the rising coffee culture in Bangladesh, the question is, is coffee consumption really that bad? The answer lies in the reader developing their resistance and knowing when to stop or moderate their coffee intake. So, drink responsibly.

Photograph: Internet