Coffee & Heat: A Short Survival Guide.

Our favorite drink becomes an ally and not an enemy.

Without a doubt, the number one topic of conversation these days is the prolonged heatwave, which is testing the endurance of all of us. The warmest July in recent years brought us really high temperatures, which especially in urban centers create conditions of real discomfort. In such a condition, no matter how temporary, it is a given that many elements of our daily life change. But what happens to our favorite drink, coffee, in extreme heat?

Coffee can be a valuable ally to face the difficulties of the day, but it can also create problems for us if we use it incorrectly. We have prepared a small "heat survival guide" for coffee drinkers, who do not want to part with their favorite drink even in the reddening of the mercury.

5+1 Coffee – Tips for the Heat

Coffee is NOT dehydrating: This myth has proven to be one of the most persistent among coffee drinkers. The grain of truth that this claim contains is related to the diuretic effect of caffeine, but experts agree that the loss of fluids after drinking coffee moves within the limits of normal. If consumption during hot days stays at normal levels, combined with enough water and avoiding the simultaneous consumption of other caffeinated drinks (such as iced tea or colas) then there is really no danger.
Hot coffee can cool us more than cold: As paradoxical as it sounds, a hot coffee can make the heat more tolerable, thanks to a mechanism of the human body called allodynia, whereby the ambient temperature becomes more tolerable , due to the higher temperature of the drink. The sweating action of hot coffee (as well as spicy food) can also cool us down. It is no coincidence that in the hot summers of Italy or Arab countries there is no cold coffee even to sample!
Watch out for sugar and whipped cream: Many of the cold, refreshing summer coffees are calorie bombs packed with sugar, syrups and whipped cream. It is wise to avoid such drinks in general, but especially on hot days, unnecessary calories and heavy drinks are good to avoid.
We're not overdoing it: Both the heat itself and its accessories (any activities we have to cancel, drudgery made even more drudgery, the flow of information on social networks) create intense levels of stress. Although coffee is not responsible for anxiety, overconsumption of caffeine can create irritability, which combined with all of the above, can trigger anxiety attacks, which is the last thing we need on hot days.
We combine coffee with other liquids: Coffee does not dehydrate, but it is not particularly wise for us to limit ourselves exclusively to it. We drink plenty of water, lots of fruit juices (natural, sugar-free) to leave room in our bodies for our refreshing coffee – cold or hot, depending on our tastes.
We adapt our habits: Coffee is not just a drink, but an entire culture with many ramifications in every aspect of our lives. So, while the heat lasts, it's good to adjust some of our habits. We avoid delivery at times of great heat stress, and arrange our outings for coffee early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Although the summer cafe is intertwined with the "tables outside", the air-conditioned areas might be a good idea for some really hot days.


For the hot days we are having, there is no need to panic: we follow the advice of the experts, protect ourselves as much as we can from the sun and the heat and have a little patience – with our favorite coffee in hand, of course.