When I worked for the Alzheimer Society of Canada, I paid attention to studies about coffee and brain health. That was also the time in my life when I started drinking coffee. This had less to do with concern about mild cognitive impairment or dementia, and more to do with a fear of falling asleep at my desk thanks to a toddler and baby at home.
I left that job more than a decade ago, but since I’m still a coffee drinker – the addiction is real people – I will occasionally click on an article about coffee to reassure myself that the science remains on the “coffee does a body/brain good” side. So, what’s the new buzz about coffee? This article from Inc., on how “Coffee Makes Teams More Effective, Say Scientists” caught my eye.
Geoffrey James, contributing editor, refers to coffee as the ultimate “superfood” because of all the ways it is good for your body, according to 127 scientific studies. He writes that the only group who should refrain from drinking coffee is pregnant women because it slightly raises their risk of miscarriage. But for the rest of us, the optimal amount to drink, to get the maximum health benefit, is four to five 8-ounce cups a day. (I know, I know. Who is behind these studies? Starbucks? Coffee associations around the world?)
Back to how coffee is good for team productivity and why this matters to you, the reader. While science is sometimes a solo pursuit (especially if you’re a “mad scientist” toiling away in a basement somewhere), more often than not science happens in a lab with lots of people around and heated and strong (coffee pun!) debates occur. And engineers are even more likely to operate as part of a team due to the nature of their work.
According to the Journal of Psychopharmacology: “Consuming a moderate amount of caffeinated coffee prior to indulging in a group activity enhances an individual’s task-relevant participation in the group activity.” But you knew that already, right? Scientists/lab technicians are #1 on a list of professions that drink the most coffee.
However, I will bet you a medium non-fat, lactose-free, sugar-free, extra hot with no foam vanilla bean-flavoured café latte, served in a large cup and topped with cinnamon, that you do not know the right way to drink coffee. I invite you to grab your favourite brew and watch this video by AsapSCIENCE.
Stacey Johnson
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