{"id":1813,"date":"2023-05-22T10:30:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T08:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coffee-spirit.maxicoffee.com\/article\/caffeine\/"},"modified":"2024-12-16T16:08:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:08:22","slug":"caffeine","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.coffee-spirit.maxicoffee.com\/en-gb\/article\/caffeine\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Caffeine?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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THE ORIGINS OF CAFFEINE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"caffeine\"<\/p>\n

Caffeine is a <\/span>molecule<\/span><\/a> found in the leaves, seeds or fruits of several plants. The best known? The <\/span>coffee cherry<\/span><\/a>!\u00a0<\/span> Discovered in <\/span>1819<\/strong> by the German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, the molecule was named “Kaffein” as a chemical compound in coffee, and became the word we know today: “caffeine”.\u00a0<\/span> Extracted from the seeds of the coffee tree, it is chemically identical to <\/span>guaranin<\/strong> (extracted from guarana seeds), <\/span>matein<\/strong> (contained in mate leaves) and <\/span>theine<\/b><\/a> (found in tea). It is therefore<\/span> one and the same molecule<\/strong>, with the gross formula C8H10N4O2, with the same effects. Only the source changes!<\/span><\/p>\n

HOW LONG HAS CAFFEINE BEEN CONSUMED?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

People have been consuming caffeine since the<\/span> Stone Age<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span> It is known that the first peoples chewed the seeds, bark or roots of certain plants to temporarily reduce tiredness, or improve mood.<\/span> Popular legend attributes the discovery of coffee (and its effects) to a goat herder named Kaldi. He observed that his goats became euphoric and stayed awake all night after grazing on the leaves and fruits of coffee trees. When he tried the berries that the goats had eaten, he felt the same vitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Its benefits<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Caffeine is believed to have many benefits. In humans, it acts as a <\/span>stimulant for the central nervous system<\/strong> and the <\/span>cardiovascular system<\/strong>. It helps to <\/span>reduce drowsiness<\/strong> or feelings of fatigue and to <\/span>increase attention<\/strong>.<\/span> Caffeine has short-lived effects, as it does not accumulate in the body. However, some people may be more sensitive to it than others. <\/span>Pregnant women in particular are recommended to consume half as much caffeine in a day<\/strong> as a normal adult. We will see a little later <\/span>how much can be consumed per day<\/span><\/a> without risk.\u00a0<\/span> It should be noted that caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. In North America, for example, 90% of adults use it daily. The UK coffee market<\/a> is mature: 98 million cups are consumed every day.<\/span> As we have just seen, the caffeine contained in coffee has several <\/span>benefits<\/strong>. But it also presents risks if <\/span>we consume too much<\/strong>.<\/span> \"what<\/p>\n

Its risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Consuming this small molecule on a daily basis can have positive effects on our vitality or level of attention. However, too much caffeine can have undesirable effects on the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n