There doesn't seem to be any connection between drugs like Adderall and Ritalin and coffee, but there is! The two drugs above are used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and are used to "keep people on the bubble."
It may be a coincidence, but ever since these two drugs began to become scarce in the United States, the country's labor productivity has suffered a setback.
Correlation is not causation, i.e., two phenomena can happen together without one being the cause of the other, but either way it got us thinking.
Isn't coffee the Adderall and Ritalin of the 1700s?
In our opinion, yes. When it was introduced in British coffee houses, this Arabic drink, made from the seed of an Ethiopian berry, turbocharged people's brains. Coffee houses became trendy hangouts, full of people and big ideas.
They were known as "penny universities," where a penny could buy a cup of knowledge. As people gathered to drink their coffee, they developed theories that would forever change our worldview-think of thermodynamics and its intimate relationship to coffee.
Legend has it, in fact, that James Watt invented the first steam engine while observing the kettle for... tea. Tea?!!! Absolutely false, and for two reasons:
1. James Watt himself admitted that this story was precisely a legend.
2. The steam engine was invented by Frenchman Denis Papin, along with the pressure cooker and... the Moka for coffee! (yes, Bialetti only improved, greatly, engineered, well, and patented...) [^]
So we can assume that, having invented the Moka, Papin was also an avid coffee drinker, and thus coffee produced a virtuous circle: by exciting the French physicist's synapses he eventually produced a rapid and efficient extraction method himself.
Well yes, just like Café 124, where gallons and gallons of coffee allowed us to come up with a new extraction method!
Caffeine
Caffeine, the not-so-secret weapon of coffee, is a wonderful substance. It is like a superpower for our brains, helping us to concentrate and stay alert.
Best of all, unlike some stimulants that can lead to problems, a balanced cup can actually improve our mood, cognitive function, and physical performance.
In the Age of Enlightenment, when Europe was moving from rural fields to urban factories, coffee was like a comforting friend, helping people adapt to new clock-regulated routines. Not only did coffee give individuals a boost, it also blended social change and economic growth.
Coffee and Cash
In fact, coffee is great not only for our brains, but also for the global economy: indeed, it is the superstar of global trade, second only to oil. Oil gives us thermal energy, coffee mental energy, which has served us well in figuring out how to use that thermal...
Coffee is a mainstay of the economy of many countries, especially those in the tropical zone. But since it is also consumed where it is cold, let's not forget the thriving business of cozy local coffee shops or multinational chains such as Starbucks. In short, millions of people work as farmers, baristas and more. In addition, the demand for coffee also fuels other businesses: think machinery, packaging, transportation.
Coffee is constantly preparing new ideas, such as new production methods and sustainable agricultural practices. Given Homo sapiens' love of this tropical berry, innovation related to coffee production increasingly spurs economic growth.
So the next time the coffee drink, be it a 124 Best Cold Brew Coffee or an espresso, remember, you are not only enjoying a tasty beverage, you are also supporting an industry that is helping the world to turn.
[^] Faure. Introduction to Operations Research. United Kingdom: Elsevier Science, 1968. p. 213
