Coffee Lifts Our Mood

How time has flown by and it is already winter season! Winter might be gloomy but you can depend on a cup of coffee to brighten the day. Certainly, nothing brings people together than a piping hot drink in winter. People unite in conversations about the weather and daily grievances over tea or coffee. Entering a café this season, one is welcomed with the aroma of brewed coffee. As such, coffee culture is growing by the minute in Nepal. Now there are budding cafes in every nook of cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, catering to both the locals and tourists. 

Walking on the streets of Thamel in Kathmandu, the aroma of coffee is likely to invite passersby to step into the fashionably decorated cafes. It is one of the highlights of strolling in the streets of Kathmandu with people bustling about their errands. Whether it is Thamel, Asan or Patan, Kathmandu streets never lack a dull moment with every other step leading to a newly opened cafe or small chiya shops. Tourists find the capital city of Nepal as intriguing as its people and their hospitality. 

Now there are top-notch cafes in the city that beckon people to cosy up with a cup of coffee, whether imported, locally-grown or organically sourced. In the winter time, the aromatic flavour of richly brewed coffee is most likely to while away the cold. What makes coffee stand out among other beverages? Not to shade tea lovers, but coffee is a caffeinated beverage that is hard to rival. Caffeine is a chemical compound that provides a jolt of energy, instantly perking up one’s mood. It is thus not surprising that most people ritually take coffee in the mornings to better cope with the day ahead.

The caffeinated drink is even more welcoming in the winter. The foggy mornings and portentous cloudy weather can dampen one’s prospects for the day, but with a sip of coffee, suddenly the world becomes brighter, friendlier and more approachable. And the day ahead, the commute to office, school or college and the weather seem agreeable. In the height of winter, conversations in a café are equally welcoming with a cup at hand and a friend to converse with. 

However, over-caffeination can be problematic as it can cause jitteriness, dizziness and even insomnia due to its stimulating properties. Caffeine is a psychoactive drug and like most drugs, it can lead to addiction. As they say, everything is better in moderation. Thus, while coffee is an instant pick-me-up beverage, it is necessary to moderate its consumption. In the mornings, it is recommended to consume coffee an hour after breakfast. Caffeine on an empty stomach could lead to adverse health problems. Also, it is best to consume coffee without sugar if possible. 

The allure of coffee is that it tastes even more flavoured without sugar. Many thus take their coffee brewed, black and without sugar. But if you prefer a frothy milk coffee with sugar or even cocoa, indulge in it guilt-free, albeit in moderation. As people struggle to cope with the cold in winter, a steaming cup of beverage is certainly welcome. And coffee not only bursts with flavour, but it is also stimulating, rejuvenating and mood-lifting, especially when the weather is so melancholy.