COFFEE CONSUMPTION OFFERS MANY POSITIVE HEALTH BENEFITS: GOOD NEWS FOR BARISTA TRAINING

BARISTA TRAINING OFFERS ENJOYABLE , HEALTH POSITIVE, AND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

​Barista training programs have been widely offered and conducted for persons with disabilities. Barista skills which include understanding the features of the coffee bean and becoming expert in preparing and serving this popular beverage provide opportunities for employment and generating income.

Results of a recent “universal review” of multiple studies of the health outcomes of coffee consumption, offer good news. The published review was a mega-review of 201 meta-analyses of coffee and its health effects, recently published in the British Medical Journal (see Poole et al, BMJ 2017; 359:j5024),

Heavy compared to light, and any versus no, coffee consumption was consistently associated with reduced risk mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and with liver, gastrointestinal, kidney, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurologic disorders. The lowest risk reduction was observed with three to four cups of coffee daily. A caveat is on order, however, as some evidence for a harmful association of coffee consumption was observed for pregnancy outcomes, (including low birth weight, and first and second trimester pre-birth) and fractures in women (not in men). These assessments were controlled for smoking. Similar health outcomes were observed for decaffeinated coffee consumption.

Learning and practicing barista skills offer a potentially enjoyable and lucrative business endeavor for persons with disabilities. ​