Coffee is one of the most ubiquitous and unifying products in the world. It is, in one form or another, consumed in high volume in every corner of the earth. It is an enormous industry that employs untold millions of people from bean pickers to marketing executives. Coffee is also a cornerstone upon many other sectors. Without coffee, how many of us would witness a decline in our productivity at the office? Heck, how many of us would see a noticeable drop in our overall happiness? Coffee holds tremendous power over modern society and, especially, over the contemporary worker. Here are eight compelling reasons to embrace our java overlord:As we all know, caffeine is one of the most common stimulants readily found in many domestic products. Caffeinated coffee keeps people awake and provides their central nervous systems with a boost that helps keep them productive throughout the day.The coffee break is a 20th-century invention, becoming more prevalent following the Second World War. A 2010 study at MIT showed that employees who take coffee breaks together demonstrate an overall improvement in their productivity. These breaks create a forum within which employees can share both personal and work-related experiences. Allowing employees to take these breaks together showed a lift in overall performance.The US National Institute for Health released a study that found a correlation between the amount of coffee consumed and risk of death. From the study: "The researchers found that the association between coffee and reduction in risk of death increased with the amount of coffee consumed. Relative to men and women who did not drink coffee, those who consumed three or more cups of coffee per day had approximately a 10 percent lower risk of death." Another study conducted by the National Institute for Health concluded that consuming caffeine before performing pain-inducing computer work resulted in attenuated pain development versus subjects who did not consume caffeine. Admittedly, the sample size of the study is small, but the results show the possibility of prescribing caffeine as an everyday pain moderator.Over the last 30 years, the proverbial coffee pot has assumed the role of the office water cooler. Being a coffee drinker in an office setting lends itself to more social interaction that can increase productivity. More importantly, coffee drinkers at work tend to be happier in their jobs.In 2011, a survey released a list of the professions that consumed the most amount of coffee. Rounding out the top 5 in the list: scientists/lab technicians, marketing/PR professionals, education administrators, writers/editors and healthcare administrators.