-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Dear Doctor Science, Why does coffee smell and taste so much better in the morning than it does in the afternoon?

-- Rick Zollo from Finland, MN

Two reasons. The first is psychological. Coffee is the most co-dependent bean there is. Having little internal integrity, it becomes what it senses you want it to be. By afternoon it tires of warping itself to meet your expectations, and lashes out in a passive/aggressive display of displaced hostility, usually targeted to Type A personalities. The second reason is that by afternoon, that pot of java that's been on the burner since 10 AM smells and tastes like used motor oil. In fact, many third world countries use overcooked coffee for that very purpose.

Subscription questions - send a blank message to faq@drscience.com. Visit the Ask Dr. Science web site at sponsored by those smart folks at eGroups For info about advertising with Dr. Science, send a blank message to advertise@drscience.com. All Dr. Science material Copyright 2001 Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre. All rights reserved.

Listen to Dr. Science on 89.5 WIUW-FM at 7:59am in Warsaw, IL

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001