Studies show coffee has health benefits

Health-conscious coffee drinkers just got a little pick-me-up. Last week, livescience.com highlighted a number of recent studies demonstrating the various health benefits regular coffee drinkers enjoy. Among the advantages were:

A 39 percent decreased risk of head and neck cancer (according to Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention), diminished risk of coronary heart disease (Harvard Medical School), and the prevention of memory loss (University of Lisbon). Then again, contradictory reports concluding negative consequences to drinking coffee come out about as frequently as a new Starbucks opens.

Espresso enthusiasts from around the Inland area discussed how the findings affected their love of latte. "I pretty much drink coffee every day with a little bit of guilt. ... this puts me at ease," said Riverside resident Brittany Pierce, lounging on a couch at Riverside's Back to the Grind. "I have a couple of friends down on coffee, so now I can tell them this."

Of course, multiple studies praising the value of eating salads could emerge tomorrow, but those benefits wouldn't quite apply to those who smother their lettuce in ranch, croutons and bacon bits. Earlene Smith, a barista at Riverside's Coffee Depot, recognizes this scenario could apply to coffee as well.

"A nonfat latte might be good for you, one that doesn't have any fat or sugar," said Smith, adding that she'd consider replacing the cookies and cake slices sold at the shop with vegetables, but that "those might not sell as well.

"Most people pour a ton of sugar into it."

Back to the Grind owner Darren Conkerite is as close to a coffee connoisseur as they come. Fourteen years ago he opened his café knowing how the average Joe could profit from a cup of joe. His thoughts concerning reports of coffee's beneficial nature? Duh.

"The news is funny. The news finds things out at different times, but it's something that I definitely knew back in the day when I opened," Conkerite said. "This generation of kids are more health conscious. Anyone about 16 to 23 will have a different outlook on the healthy benefits."

Or they might just like it. Ontario resident Jenny Galvan, visiting Riverside with her sister, said she was sipping her frappuccino for one basic reason. "Because it's good," she said. As for her views toward the validity of the studies? "I'll believe anything if it's incredible."