1) All other things being equal, the darker the roast, the LESS the caffeine given the same amount of ground coffee BY VOLUME (which is how virtually *everyone* measures ground coffee for use in brewing). This is due to TWO reasons: a) the longer a bean is roasted, the more caffeine in it is vaporized OUT of it (due to the heat applied and the length of time the heat is applied), AND b) the darker the roast, the LARGER the roasted bean becomes because it EXPANDS, producing more ground coffee by VOLUME than a more lightly roasted bean will yield.

2) REPEATED studies throughout the world have shown the following:

a) Unless your ingestion of caffeine – and ONLY caffeine (i.e. EXCLUDE other “energy drinks” that have all other kinds of crap added to them) – produces (in *YOU SPECIFICALLY*) significant “subjective” feelings of “jitteriness;” or “heart palpitations,” “heart flutter or murmur,” and/or *significantly* increased pulse rate and/or blood pressure – AS OBJECTIVELY MEASURED BY ECG, ACCURATE B/P and PULSE RATE measurements, etc. – low-to-moderate amounts of caffein consumption (anywhere from 60 mg to about 250 mg/day) are considered to be not only harmless but actually BENEFICIAL in that it helps improve memory and mental alertness, improve one’s ability to engage in appropriate exercise routines (when ingested 20 – 45 minutes prior to the start of a work-out), and helps avoid or at least delay onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease (when consumed daily over a period of YEARS).

b) Coffee that is brewed using a PAPER FILTER – whether in a drip brewer, espresso maker or a percolator – will generally have NO significant effect on your cholesterol or triglyceride levels. HOWEVER, coffee that is brewed using a french press, espresso machine, drip brewer or percolator WITHOUT the use of a PAPER filter (i.e. espresso, percolator or french press WITHOUT the use of a paper filter, or drip or french press using a metal or nylon-screened “filter”) WILL tend to increase your cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels at least to some degree. This is ONE of the reasons why the Nespresso-brand espresso capsules (for use ONLY in their Nespresso espresso machines) actually have miniature paper filters in them.

c) There is NO evidence that coffee, regardless of how it’s brewed, has ANY effect on your chances of developing or inhibiting the development or growth of ANY form of cancer.

d) As caffeine (as well as alcohol) is a diuretic, people whose doctors have prescribed them a daily synthetic diuretic (most commonly for the purpose of helping to reduce or control blood pressure) SHOULD discuss their level of caffeine (and alcohol) consumption with their doctor as it may affect the frequency and/or dosage of your prescribed diuretic. Accordingly, it is good practice to drink at least 8 oz. of water for each cup (or shot) of coffee that you consume – especially 30 – 45 mins. prior to engaging in an exercise routine – to avoid dehydration.

d) People who find that consuming caffeine-laden beverages tends to make it difficult for them to fall asleep at their desired bedtime should NOT consume such drinks at or after dinner; some cannot drink such beverages even after LUNCH. For such individuals who nevertheless enjoy the flavor of a good cup of coffee later in the day, drinking DECAFFEINATED coffee (fresh-brewed from freshly-ground beans) should just as satisfying. But as the decaffeination process tends to result in a decrease in the “intensity” of its brewed flavor, such people will probably find that their use of DARKLY roasted decaffeinated beans will prove to be more acceptable or satisfying (as well as yielding less residual caffeine due to their longer and/or hotter roasting process).

e) As coffee of ANY kind does not introduce bacteria into the digestive tract and does NOT induce gastric bleeding, it is generally safe for people with gastric ulcers to consume coffee in at least low-to-moderate amounts. HOWEVER – the more *acidic* the coffee (and in SOME people caffeine increases their stomach’s production of acid), the more it is likely to exacerbate the *symptoms* of GERD or inflammatory bowel disease of any kind, or alter the amount of prescribed medications in their bloodstream regarding those meds that are “sensitive” to gastric acid levels. People in these categories would generally do best to at least start off drinking small-to-moderate amounts of darkly-roasted decaffeinated INSTANT coffee, gradually progressing to darkly-roasted “regular” instant coffee, and from there to darkly roasted ground coffee but only as they can tolerate it.

f) Caffeine in beverages takes anywhere from 20-45 mins to actually get into your bloodstream. The quick “wake-up” effect that people attribute to their morning cup of coffee (or tea) within the first half-hour or so of drinking it is ACTUALLY due to their simply ingesting a warm beverage! So if you simply like the flavor of coffee or tea first thing in the morning (or whenever) and only feel the need for its “immediate” perceived boost in energy level, you’d do just as well to stick to decaffeinated coffee or tea… it will give you that same *immediate* “boost” that caffeinated products will (but will NOT provide you with the longer-term, sustained effects of caffeine).

g) Because warm-to-hot beverages – ESPECIALLY those with caffeine in them – often have the effect of stimulating your intestines’ muscular activity and production of intestinal mucous, people with IBS, Chron’s disease, hemorrhoids, etc. should take this into consideration when deciding whether or not, WHEN and HOW OFTEN to drink such beverages.

h) There is currently NO research indicating that drinking coffee has any effect on diverticulitis or diverticulosis per se. HOWEVER – keep in mind that when trying to manage these conditions – ESPECIALLY if your are prone to occasional bouts of the symptoms of exacerbated diverticulosis, or worse yet diverticulitis – your MAIN goals are generally 1) to keep the amount of fecal matter stuck to the interior linings of your colon’s “pockets” to a minimum (as it can promote the development of unwanted bacteria in the lining of those pockets), AND 2) to also keep the amount of PRESSURE on the usually thinned tissue comprising those “pockets” to a minimum. Generally your best bet to control these conditions is to take one dose of Miralax (or its generic equivalent) each day (or initially twice per day if you are experiencing consistent and/or severe constipation) mixed with PLENTY of water – and be sure to drink PLENTY of water THROUGHOUT the day – REGARDLESS of whether or not you choose to drink coffee, tea or any other such beverage.

I hope this information proves helpful.