What's better for you: decaf or regular? Scientists have long celebrated coffee's purported ability to stall memory loss and fight cancers, but new studies suggest that caffeine is harmful and worth avoiding for pregnant women and diabetics. To drink, or not to drink? That is the question.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 07 Oct 2008 6:37:37 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34182/brewhaha-over-coffee-muddies-health-facts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultCoffee’s health risks and benefits have been widely debated, often with contradictory “facts” emerging simultaneously—but can they all be right? Yes, Jane Brody writes in the New York Times . For instance, below 550 milligrams of caffeine, beverages are not diuretic (though they are beyond that); and while caffeine causes blood pressure to spike temporarily, long-term hypertension among coffee-drinkers is no more likely.http://www.newser.com/story/34182/brewhaha-over-coffee-muddies-health-facts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 05 Aug 2008 9:21:31 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32034/cup-of-joe-getting-smaller.html?refid=rss_all_defaultOne purveyor of fine coffee is drawing a line in the sand: Come Aug. 1, Chicago brewer and distributor Intelligentsia will phase out its 20-ounce option—or venti, per Starbucks lingo, the Chicago Tribune reports. Brewing such a large cup dilutes the proportions necessary for maximum flavor, Intelligentsia's CEO says, resulting in a "a watered-down, Big Gulpish version.”http://www.newser.com/story/32034/cup-of-joe-getting-smaller.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 09 Jul 2008 12:50:43 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/31334/guzzle-coffee-prevent-multiple-sclerosis.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFor preventing the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis, caffeine might be just what the doctor ordered, the Daily Telegraph reports. In a study involving what must have been some very jittery mice, researchers found that the equivalent of 6-8 cups of coffee per day conferred protection from the rodent equivalent of MS. Don't rush off to Starbucks yet, though.http://www.newser.com/story/31334/guzzle-coffee-prevent-multiple-sclerosis.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 01 Jul 2008 8:28:06 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30152/coffee-may-cut-heart-attacks.html?refid=rss_all_defaultRegular coffee drinking has been linked to a reduced risk of fatal heart attacks, according to a new study of the health effects of coffee. Women who regularly drank three cups of coffee a day had a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease than women who didn't drink coffee. Some studies have found that coffee is a source of antioxidants, which may protect people from heart disease.http://www.newser.com/story/30152/coffee-may-cut-heart-attacks.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 17 Jun 2008 3:40:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30125/coffees-smell-alone-can-perk-you-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe aroma of coffee is enough to wake you up, a new study shows. Smelling coffee stimulated the expression of genes known to reverse the damaging effect of stress and sleep deprivation in test animals’ brains, international researchers tell LiveScience. Coffee’s stimulating effects have been known for ages, but are usually attributed to its caffeine kick.http://www.newser.com/story/30125/coffees-smell-alone-can-perk-you-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 16 Jun 2008 12:11:44 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/28849/starbucks-banks-on-new-hardware.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWith the grounds of a sour economy sticking between shareholders' teeth, Starbucks is looking to a new espresso machine to perk profits back up, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. "What this machine is about is whether Starbucks can get its virginity back," one observer says of the semi-automatic Mastrena, which brewed its first shot in New York today. How the Mastrena might help:http://www.newser.com/story/28849/starbucks-banks-on-new-hardware.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 30 May 2008 15:56:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/28490/coffee-tea-not-seen-to-boost-breast-cancer-risk.html?refid=rss_all_defaultCoffee and tea don't elevate risk of breast cancer, researchers report after a 22-year study involving nearly 86,000 women. Those who drank four cups of coffee or tea—caffeinated or decaf—a day had the same incidence as those who drank a cup or less. "Coffee and tea are remarkably safe beverages when used in moderation," one scientist tells Reuters.http://www.newser.com/story/28490/coffee-tea-not-seen-to-boost-breast-cancer-risk.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 27 May 2008 10:27:12 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/27490/san-francisco-coffee-scene-heats-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPlans for tapping the premium coffee market are percolating in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle reports in an in-depth look at the new generation of roasters. Emphasizing freshness and preparation, next-gen roasters are building Northwest-inspired businesses that offer patrons ground-to-order $8 cups, or $9-$11 pots prepared by a $20,000 halogen-powered siphon from Japan.http://www.newser.com/story/27490/san-francisco-coffee-scene-heats-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 16 May 2008 7:48:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/27032/slutbucks-coffee-logo-spurs-protest.html?refid=rss_all_defaultStarbucks' fiscal woes are well-documented, and, Mother Jones blogger Jen Phillips writes, a boycott by a Christian group could be next, over the reintroduction of its original logo, which features a nearly bare-breasted sea siren. "The Starbucks logo has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute," says Mark Dice, the group's rep. "The company might as well call themselves Slutbucks."http://www.newser.com/story/27032/slutbucks-coffee-logo-spurs-protest.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 09 May 2008 12:23:53 CDT