Coffee is a beverage million of people consumes to stay awake and alert. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains nearly 400 other chemicals, including trace amounts of several vitamins and minerals, tannins, and caramelized sugar. Coffee is not entirely free of calories; while a 6 ounce cup of sugar-free black coffee has only 4 calories, some coffee drinks have more fat and calories than a rich dessert. A good example is a cup of whole-milk mocha topped with whipped cream is on a par with a hot fudge sundae.

Instant coffee (or soluble coffee) is popular for those people who prefer speed and convenience. These grounds have usually been freeze-dried and turned into soluble powder or coffee granules.

How Safe Is Your Decaffeinated Coffee? People who want to escape the insomnia and jittery nerves caused by caffeine will always prefer decaffeinated coffee. But even decaffeinated coffee contains up to 5mg of caffeine in a 5-ounce of cup. The decaffeinated coffee you drink is likely to contain the solvent methylene chloride that is used to remove caffeine from coffee. This process leaves small amounts of this chemical in the beans. Methylene chloride is a proven carcinogenic that is toxic to lungs, the nervous system, liver, mucous membranes, Central Nervous System (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

Negative Effect of Drinking Coffee: Coffee, like any food, is best consumed in moderation (1 to 2 cups a day). The following are possible hazards linked to coffee.

• Reduces women's fertility. A recent study found that women who drank more than 3 cups of coffee (300mg caffeine) a day reduced their chances of conception by approximately 25%.
• May contribute to insomnia and disturbed or reduced sleep.
• Drinking large amounts can cause irritability and jittery nerves.
• Increases excretion of calcium. Coffee increases calcium excretion in the urine. To compensate for this loss, heavy coffee drinkers should consume extra calcium-rich foods.

• Caffeine can trigger a temporary rise in blood pressure; it can also provoke cardiac arrhythmias in susceptible persons.

• Caffeine withdrawal may suffer headaches, irritability, and other withdrawal symptoms for a few days so cut back gradually.
• Chemicals used in decaffeination may pose health risks. Always look for brands decaffeinated by water extraction.