Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. For many, the caffeine boost that a cup of coffee provides is essential to start the day. Others just enjoy the rich aroma and silky-smoothness of a good cup of coffee. Over the years, coffee has been vilified as a nasty habit from which no good can come off.
But is it truly as bad for you as people say it is and is it really necessary to curb your coffee addiction? Here are some things to consider:
Financial Cost Concerns
Unless you’re the type to siphon instant coffee packets from the office pantry, having at least one cup of coffee a day can be a serious drain on your finances in the long run.
Let’s say that the average you can expect to pay for a decent cup of joe on your way to work is $5. Multiplied by five days a week and fifty-two weeks a year ($5 x 5 days x 52 weeks), the total spent on coffee alone can come up to a staggering $1,300 per annum, and that’s only a modest estimate. It’s enough to pay for a short getaway for two to a neighbouring country, plus extra for shopping.
This doesn’t account for the cost of extra cups that you might need to pull an all-nighter, treats for friends and coworkers, or if you just want a leisurely sip on the weekends; so the actual figure might be even higher.
Other Opportunity Costs
You can always save some money by making it yourself. With the influx of capsule coffee machines in the market, brewing the perfect espresso at home has never been easier.
However, while you may be able to save a dollar without going to that hipster cafe, you still have to account for the cost of the machine itself (a few hundred dollars) and the capsules needed to make the coffee, which don’t come cheap either.
From experience, I can tell you that owning a capsule coffee machine was fun at first, but after a while, it became too much of a chore to use because every single removable part had to be cleaned after each use. Eventually, it was abandoned for the ease and convenience of store-bought coffee. It is now just a white elephant in the kitchen taking up precious counter space. Investments such as these that seem like a good idea at the time might not end up paying for themselves after all, and in the end, it is you who ends up losing money. The time and effort required to maintain your coffee habit are just a few of the non-financial costs that you need to consider when evaluating the need for your daily cuppa.
The Physical Effects of Drinking Coffee
Drinking coffee in excess can really take a toll on your body. There are a plethora of negative effects that drinking coffee can have on your body which you might want to consider before reaching for that next cup. One such effect is the caffeine crash, which is a very real phenomenon that happens when the surge of energy from a shot of caffeine wears off, leaving a person feeling drained, exhausted and generally worse off than before drinking the coffee.
If you are a serious coffee drinker, you might notice your teeth yellowing after some time. Even though Singapore is not as obsessed with blindingly white, straight teeth as America, having such stained teeth can really knock your confidence down. This is easily fixed with a trip to the dentist, but that would require even more of your time and money.
Health Benefits?
Not all is doom and gloom when it comes to coffee. While it is true that drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar is detrimental to your health and waistline, studies have shown that in small amounts, black coffee with little-to-no cream or sugar can actually be good for you!
Coffee is full of antioxidants, which help ward off diseases and illnesses such as diabetes, strokes, and cancer. Coffee has also been found to have memory-boosting abilities and might even make you live longer. Not to mention, you just look cool drinking it.
Summary
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what’s best for yourself. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to drinking coffee every day. The key is to do it in moderation and not to go overboard. If the financial cost is not a big deal to you, then go for it! Having a triple chocolate chip frappuccino with extra whipped cream every day is probably not a good idea, but a cup of good old kopi ‘c’ once in a while won’t kill you.
Written by Claudia Li.
About the Writer: A 90s kid, Claudia is always on the lookout for the best credit cards to supplement her lifestyle. She isn’t afraid of credit card salesmen who approach in public for a chat, and constantly works out the best ways to save on any transaction with her arsenal of cards. Previously in the marketing industry, she now writes on various topics including personal finance, business marketing and other interests.
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