China embraces coffee culture more than the coffee

By Lucy Hornby

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Jessie Tang has noticed a difference between her Chinese customers and others who patronize the Coffee Hill stand in a Shanghai office building.

"Foreigners buy coffee to carry away in the morning, but Chinese like to drink it socially," said the manager of one of Shanghai Summit Coffee Co.'s five shops. "They prefer to drink at the tables here, usually as part of a business meeting or if they are waiting for someone."

The industry's dream of 1.3 billion Chinese starting their morning with a cup of coffee may never come true. But urban China's acceptance of the coffee shop as a place to meet is likely to drive a growing appreciation for the black brew.

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How to Drink Coffee

Depending on how you use it, coffee can be a pick-me-up or a real downer.

By Jennifer Warner, WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

A cup of coffee with breakfast, another during the morning commute, a few lattes at the office, and an espresso after dinner -- is this a healthy habit or an addiction?

Coffee's caffeine jolt can temporarily boost alertness, perk up performance, and possibly even improve concentration.

But before you pour yourself another cup of joe, experts say it's important to remember coffee's main ingredient, caffeine, is a drug and not a nutrient required for good health like vitamins and minerals. And as with any drug, there are right ways and wrong ways to use it.

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