NIYA JACKSON CLARISSA GORDON ANGEL JONES The “True Cost” of Coffee

The best part of waking up? Many Americans start their mornings with a cup o’ joe, one famous one being Folgers coffee. Though Americans believe that being able to make coffee at home is very efficient and convenient, what they don’t know is that coffee can have a profound effect on their health, the environment, and numerous different cultures.

How/Why is this product used in the U.S.? Coffee is used in the U.S. as a beverage that is usually consumed during the morning time. This beverage is not usually consumed just for it’s taste, but for its caffeine which is supposed to keep us awake after long nights. What most Americans don’t know is that long term usage can supposedly cause heart conditions, high blood pressure, and even cancer.

How is delicious coffee made? Made by the roasting of seeds of coffee trees an every green tall bush with glossy green glossy leaves living in warm climates. Flowers are used for spreading a jasmine sent and within a few days they are replaced be clusters of green fruit.

What is the most popular coffee sold in America? $4 dollars may not be a lot when your buying a large amount of coffee but at Starbucks it’s the coast of a small Starbucks cup of Joe

What does the industry/ say it’s doing? The government is not taking any action against this American government officials are also part of the 1 million adults in America that drink coffee daily. The industry seems to be going backward on environmental help because of their want of technological upgrades like sun-growing, and not shade-growing coffee which leads to problems like deforestation.

Overall Effects of the Extraction of Coffee Environmental Effects Soil erosion Loss of animal habitats Excessive water usage Cultural Effects: Biodiversity in areas like Latin America Increase of the fast-paced American lifestyle American caffeine dependency

Is all of this necessary? Kopi Luwak: The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak. These coffee beans originate in countries like Bali, Java, and Indonesia. This coffee is obtained by coffee farmers after the beans of clean coffee have been eaten by an animal called the Asian Palm Civet, then defecated. This is said to be done because of the free amino acids that seep into the beans during digestion.

Our Solution to This Problem Though many Americans will be reluctant to get rid of their seemingly wonderful cup of coffee, we believe that a great alternative to coffee will be to consume tea instead. Unlike tea, there are only positive effects except for those who are pregnant, and there is a small dosage of caffeine in tea without there being enough to become addicted to it, like what is possible when coffee is consumed.