Back in the 1600s, doctors genuinely believed that people could just burst into flames for absolutely no reason at all.

They called it spontaneous human combustion. One minute you're sitting there minding your own business, next minute you're a pile of ash on your favorite chair. The theory was that too much alcohol in your system could turn you into a walking candlestick. Which seems like a pretty extreme way to discourage drinking if you ask me.

The thing is, these supposedly mysterious cases always happened near fireplaces or candles. And the victims were usually holding pipes or cigarettes. Real head-scratcher there, Sherlock.

But here's what gets me about the whole thing. People back then were so convinced this was real that they literally changed their entire lives around it. They avoided certain foods. They stopped drinking. They probably sat in their cold houses refusing to light fires because they were terrified of turning into a human torch.

All because someone came up with a theory that sounded scary enough to be true.

These days we don't worry about spontaneous combustion anymore. We've got new things to be weird about. Like ordering coffee that's so hot it could probably strip paint off a wall. Extra hot lattes that require a hazmat suit to handle. Drinks that make you wonder if the barista is secretly trying to test your pain tolerance.

The mystery isn't whether humans can randomly explode anymore. The mystery is why anyone wants a beverage that threatens to melt their face off.

If you prefer your coffee at a temperature that won't send you to the emergency room, and you like reading about the weird and wonderful world of coffee without anyone trying to sell you a seventeen dollar oat milk situation, stay tuned. 

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Today’s coffee note: Hawaiian Kona Coffee 

The best Hawaiian Kona coffee beans are grown at about 2,000 feet above sea level on the fertile slopes of the volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kona coffee is known for its rich yet light and delicate taste with a complex aroma. 

Well-balanced with a medium body, it is clean in the cup with a bright and cheerful acidity. Kona coffee often reveals buttery as well as spicy qualities and subtle winey tones with an excellent aromatic finish.

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Catch you later,

des