There have long been rumors about the benefits of coffee (and of course the risks, but this is all about the good stuff). Drink coffee and lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s, colon cancer and dental cavities! And get this, the more you drink the more protection you have. Somehow I missed this study and have been limiting my caffeine intake. New research out this week means those days may be behind me!

I saw a study this week on how increases in the number of Starbucks in a neighborhood are associated with a decrease in crime. The article cites gentrification as the reason. Hmmm. I wonder. I remember the Starbucks shooter but Starbucks is listed as evidence of gentrifying along with ornamental grasses, three colors of paint rather than two on houses, artists and gelato. Starbucks does our neighborhood analysis for us?  So, hello Starbucks and neighborhood pride, goodbye urban decay and violent crime?

Another study out this week talks about how hot coffee can influence how much we think we like someone. A new study in the journal Psychological Science shows that we like people more when we’re holding a hot beverage. The authors link this to our use of metaphorical language such as “she gave me the cold shoulder” or having “warm feelings” toward someone.  Maybe a café Americano says “welcome” better than a rum and coke.

While it certainly is true that I am much less irritable after I’ve hit my neighborhood Starbucks, maybe it also means I’m less prone to violence and more genial when I’m sipping my favorite (venti skinny vanilla latte) hot drink.  But I’m not sure I buy that coffee is that powerful. Still, I’ll pay more attention to my assessments of others when I have a hot as opposed to a cold drink!