“This is Coffee!”

Kenneth Silverman, Coffee drying farm, Los Ateos, El Salvador, 1980-1982 (369.2005)

Cornell Capa, [Carlos Manuel Pellecer speaks to coffee workers, Puerto Barrios, Guatemala], 1953 (L.2008.8)

William Vandivert, A Russian kid in the Displaced Person Camp gets down to some molasses bread and coffee, 1945 (1368.2005)

William Vandivert, These Russian children are not quite sure whether they like their molasses bread and coffee, 1945 (1433.2005)

Alirio Casas, Wendy Ewald, My mother drinking coffee in the kitchen after she made dinner, Ráquira, Columbia ca. 1982-1983 (3806.1992)

Bill Wood, Harris Grocery, Fort Worth, Texas, 1959 (2011.2.79)

Weegee, [Woman and man kissing at drug store], ca. 1948 (2086–2088.1993)

Coffee, the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water, appears to have many health benefits. To quote from a few recent online articles: “Drinking moderate amounts of [black] coffee is linked to lower rates of pretty much all cardiovascular disease.” (NY Times, May 11, 2015.) And “People who drink three to five cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop clogged arteries that could lead to heart attack.” (Guardian, March 3, 2015.) “A study looking at all cancers suggested that it might be associated with reduced overall cancer incidence and that the more you drank, the more protection was seen.” (NY Times, May 11, 2015.) Drinking black coffee might have a beneficial effect on neurological disorders like “lower risks of Parkinson’s disease, lower cognitive decline and a potential protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.” (NY Times, May 11, 2015.) “Coffee reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.” (NY Times, May 11, 2015.) Coffee may increase longevity: “a major government study found that frequent coffee drinkers have a lower risk of dying from a variety of diseases, compared with people who drink little or no coffee.” (NY Times, May 12, 2012). (The NY Times on coffee.) Coffee, black, is healthy.

This post was made for last years’ Coffee Day, but apparently I didn’t drink enough coffee to finish it… Nowweareheavilycaffeinated! Yes, Coffee Day is just a good excuse to present some great coffee photos. (Of course sometimes it’s hard to drink black coffee and not think “is this an ethical cuppa joe?” and about the workers and the environment and the effects of climate change on coffee and coffee farmers… and coffee art.)

“This is Coffee!”, 1961 from the Prelinger Archives! on archive.org!.