In this study (perhaps funded by Folgers) coffee was shown to actually kill the herpes virus on contact (type 1 - can be cold sores or genital) and it also inhibits the replication of the polio virus. Now in case you are wondering why someone would test coffee against herpes and polio, you’re not alone. My guess is that the lead researcher probably has both. Or they were looking for funding and tested it out on a bunch of viruses first. At any rate, it kills herpes on contact. So if you’re going to a social event, or a family event, and people are really kissy … just carry around a cup of coffee and dunk your lips in it after you kiss someone
 
Oh. and if you thought polio was eradicated by the vaccine, perhaps it was actually Starbucks or McDonalds that are really responsible for the eradication in the Western world.
 
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Jun;46(6):1919-24. Epub 2008 Jan 26.