A week of news - time for a coffee?

At last the news all caffeine junkies in the profession have been waiting for – that drinking coffee could be good for your eyesight.

A research report released by Cornell University this week showed it was an antioxidant found in coffee called chlorogenic acid, and not caffeine, that could prevent retinal degeneration, meaning there is equal hope for those on decaff.

The studies were carried out on coffee-drinking mice, which must themselves have been quite some spectacle to watch, but the drink's soaring popularity among humans of course makes this a significant discovery.

Therefore, while some independents are already renowned for their barista services, there could soon be an extra reason to entice patients with a flat white. Retailers including Waitrose are already onto this trend, offering a free cup to its members, raising the bar for high street operators looking to provide that extra perk.