Instant coffee. The beverage of choice for college students, campers, and, apparently, a growing number of younger Americans. While the convenience factor is undeniable, a recent study is raising eyebrows (and potentially affecting eyesight) regarding its link to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Let’s sift through the grounds and see what the data actually suggests.
The Hubei University of Medicine study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, found a “genetic association” between instant coffee consumption and dry AMD. Crucially, the researchers themselves state there's no direct evidence that instant coffee causes AMD. This is a correlation, not causation—a vital distinction often lost in clickbait headlines. They do suggest that individuals at high risk for AMD should consider limiting their instant coffee intake.
Now, what constitutes "high risk"? The study doesn’t elaborate, leaving us to speculate. Is it purely genetic predisposition, or are there other lifestyle factors at play? Details on the specific genetic markers identified also remain scarce, making it difficult to assess the true magnitude of the risk. The optometrist Dr. James Dello Russo, quoted by Fox News, aptly notes that "the magnitude of the risk warrants attention," even if causation hasn't been proven.
But let’s look at the numbers on the other side. Nielsen IQ reports that instant coffee is driving nearly 20% of growth in the packaged coffee sector. Millennials and Gen Z are fueling this trend, with 15% of consumers choosing instant coffee at breakfast. Is this a blip, or a long-term shift in consumption habits? And if it is a shift, how will it impact the prevalence of AMD in future generations? It's a question worth asking, but impossible to answer definitively with the current data.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have BrewBird, a Bay Area startup aiming to "banish bad office coffee once and for all." Their solution? A $10,000 single-cup coffee maker that uses whole beans and compostable pods with QR codes to ensure optimal brewing parameters. (The machine's price tag is substantial (subsidized or leased)).
The underlying problem BrewBird is trying to solve is quality control. As Sharon Healy, CEO of Sightglass Coffee, points out, selling coffee outside of a cafe setting often leads to a loss of control over the final product. Beans sit for months, brewing is done in haste, and the resulting coffee sits for hours. BrewBird aims to replicate the barista experience in an office environment, ensuring a consistently high-quality cup. As reported by the SF Standard, The startup banishing bad office coffee once and for all.
But is it worth the investment? At $2 per pod, the cost per cup isn't outrageous compared to a fancy coffee shop—but the initial outlay is significant. CEO Mickey Du compares BrewBird to early iPhones and Teslas, positioning it as a luxury product that will eventually become more accessible. It's a classic tech industry narrative: start with the high-end market and work your way down.
I've looked at dozens of these "disruptive" coffee solutions, and this one has a chance, but the price needs to come down by approximately 90% before it will really take off.
The instant coffee/AMD link is worth monitoring, but the data isn't conclusive enough to warrant a mass exodus from the instant aisle. As for BrewBird, it's an interesting solution to a real problem (bad office coffee), but the price point makes it a niche product for now. The real question is: Will the next generation of coffee drinkers prioritize convenience over potential health risks, or will they embrace the artisanal coffee movement, even in the workplace? Only time (and more data) will tell.
