Coffee, oat milk and the start of my day at the Wesley

By Dr Jo Schoeman

Before a busy day of consultations or operating at the Wesley, I enjoy a small ritual: stopping for a coffee with oat milk at Steamtrain Espresso Bar and Kitchen, beside Auchenflower train station and just outside the hospital. It gives me a moment to gather my thoughts before the day begins. I also simply enjoy a good coffee.

“A quiet coffee before the working day.”

What is good about coffee?

For many of us, caffeine helps us feel more alert and focused in the morning. Coffee also contains a range of naturally occurring plant compounds. Large reviews have found that people who drink moderate amounts of coffee tend to have lower rates of several health problems than people who do not drink it. These are mostly associations: they do not prove that coffee itself prevents disease, and they are no reason to start drinking it if you do not enjoy it.[1]

The amount that suits one person may be too much for another. Coffee can disturb sleep or cause jitters and palpitations, especially in people who are sensitive to caffeine. I prefer mine early in the day, when I can enjoy the lift without letting it interfere with the night ahead.

Why oat milk?

I like its taste and the creamy texture it brings to coffee. It is a practical dairy-free option for people who avoid cow’s milk. If oat milk is a regular replacement for dairy, however, it pays to check the carton: products vary, and oat milk usually provides less protein than cow’s milk. Choosing an unsweetened product fortified with calcium can help, while vitamin B12 and iodine are also worth considering in the context of your overall diet.[2,3] A splash in a coffee is a pleasure, rather than a nutritional strategy in itself.

A urologist’s small caveat

I cannot write about coffee without mentioning the bladder. Caffeine can make urinary urgency, frequency or night-time trips to the toilet worse for some people. If that sounds familiar, try a smaller coffee, have it earlier, or see whether decaf makes a difference. Keep drinking an appropriate amount of water; cutting fluids too far can make bladder symptoms worse. Persistent symptoms deserve an assessment rather than being blamed on your morning coffee alone.[4]

For me, that oat milk coffee at Steamtrain marks the start of the working day. It is a pleasant pause, a familiar stop by the station, and a chance to arrive at the Wesley ready to see my patients. Like most good habits, it works best with a little balance.