i've never been a coffee drinker but i am thinking of taking it up.
Good. In moderation, there is nothing I have seen that proves coffee to be bad for you. There are at least some marginal health benefits:
http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food
At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones.
Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis.
There's also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.
Do yourself a favor, and buy a grinder so you can get whole bean. Keep them in the freezer. Freshly ground coffee is ten times better. I like 8 O'Clock as a decent brand for the price. Anything with spanish or french on the package is almost always good, too. Florida has some great Cuban coffee.
And decaf is not coffee, in case that idea occurs to you. Decaf is an insult to coffee.