Coffee and Health

Millions of people all over the world need coffee in the morning to wake up and use it for situations requiring extra alertness. Whether it is a school lecture, business meeting, or you need to stay awake, coffee can be very helpful. The caffeine that is the active ingredient in coffee is very efficient at such tasks, and therefore no wonder coffee is the most consumed beverage in the entire world. Lately there has been completed a numerous of studies of coffee and how it affects health.

Antioxidants

Coffee is well known for its rich amount of antioxidants. These nutrients help fighting free radicals in your body, which lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants also reduce the occurrence of oxidative diseases such Alzheimer’s, a degenerate brain disorder.

Caffeine

The most important ingredient in coffee, caffeine, is what makes us feel more alert and increases our concentration. Caffeine also has several other benefits that might not be as obvious. It is a good preventer like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and several others.

Cons of Coffee

Large quantitates of caffeine is not recommended and can in rare cases even be dangerous. Some people are extra sensitive to caffeine and should limit their ingestion. There are excellent decaf options out there that should at least give the good taste.

Coffee and other beverages that are served warm should be kept in insulated travel coffee mugs to not get cold too fast. We recommend looking into a ceramic travel mug as these never stain the taste with the material the mug is made of.

Overall coffee is a very good addition to your diet and an excellent tool to get yourself up in the morning. There is no reason to stop or reduce your drinking if you don’t feel uncomfortable. If you believe you have overdosed on coffee or caffeine you should contact your doctor.

Coffeemakers for All Spending Budgets

Are you in the market for a coffee maker? Maybe you have an idea of how much you would wish to spend already. If you don’t there are a few questions you could ask yourself to assist you to make that decision. You can find coffeemakers now a days that match virtually any budget however; try to spend the right amount for your needs.

Today you do not have to pay a king’s ransom for coffee machines. Around the least expensive end of the marketplace you may buy a good solid coffeemaker for as little as 20 dollars and even less. Needless to say at the other end of the range you might easily pay out five hundred dollars. Determining just how much you should invest really should be dependent on how much you will use the appliance and indeed your budget. Steer clear of the temptation to overspend if it’s your very first coffee machine.

Precisely how serious are you in regards to your coffee drinking. Maybe you’ve used and operated a coffee maker before. How many people might use this coffeemaker? These represent the types of things a person will need to ask when getting a new coffee maker. Bunn coffee makers are great mid-range coffee brewers, appropriate for quite substantial usage and they produce excellent coffee. They are recommended for the more serious coffee drinkers and cost a little more accordingly. Mr Coffee coffee makers on the other hand, are at the cheap end of the scale though still providing decent value and quality. They’re just perfect for first-time customers due to their selling price and user friendly set up. If you begin with a Mr coffee coffeemaker you may later decide to upgrade without wasting too much money.

Do your homework with the individual models available. Just because it is expensive and from a big named brand does not mean it will be good value. Try reading a few internet testimonials for unbiased opinions from other buyers before placing your order.

Foods That Burn Fat Efficiently

When we think about food it is usually about putting on weight. There is another side to this – Many nutrients actually have natural abilities to make you burn faster and can therefore be digested if you try to lose weight. We go through the most important of those foods in this article.

Coffee

Coffee and espresso have a lot of caffeine in them. Caffeine releases the fat from the cells and into the body. In other words when you spend your energy, if you consume some caffeinated coffee or tea, you more easily burn fat.

Apples

Eating an apple a day is sufficient to get the amount of pectin to saturate your body. These small nutrients makes the fat cells absorb water and thereby dis-enables them to gather more fat. Also look into fruit that contain large amounts of vitamin C (hint citrus). Vitamin C have similar properties for fat burning as the caffeine in your coffee.

Vitamin D

You can find vitamin D in numerous different food sources. The main ones are fatty fish and eggs. Make sure to eat plenty of those. Supplementation is possible but be careful to not overdose. This vitamin does not only promote fat loss, but also contribute to an overall better healthy preventing various diseases.

There are numerous benefits of vitamin D supplement. You might want to consider looking up on it regardless of its fat burning properties because of its other benefits.

Make sure you are careful and use the recommended dosages when supplementing with vitamins. Overdose vitamin B12 can potentially be dangerous and this is the case for others too.

Eat Spices

There are many spices out there that contain significant fat burning properties. To mention maybe the most efficient of them, cinnamon, has been scientifically shown to prevent insulin (a hormone for fat storage).

Now you know that eating certain kinds of food can greatly benefit in the fight against the fat. Try to eat these food types, but not too much of them. Variation is always good.

Coffee Thermoses

Do you love coffee? Have you made coffee an integral part of your life? If so, coffee thermoses would be a great choice for a workaholic like you. If you know that you drink coffee everyday or make a quick trip to Starbucks everyday for your latte, if you do some math and determine that you are spending a lot of money when you know how to make coffee yourself, you might consider investing in a coffee thermos. If you need a large amount of coffee or need a continual supply of coffee, you might be better off investing in a coffee thermos. Think of the trees and the money that you’ll save!

What should you look for in a great coffee thermos? You want a coffee thermos that is dish washer safe and of course, one that will never leak. If you drive, you want to consider if your coffee thermos can fit the cup holder in your car. You also want to be aware of how long your coffee thermos can keep your coffee hot. Will you need it hot for the afternoon? Or will you need a coffee thermos that lasts for a couple hours? You also want a high quality mug that won’t get that dreadful metal taste in your coffee. So in general you should look for a coffee thermos that is leak and spill proof and suits the needs of your own lifestyle. Most of these coffee thermoses are rather inexpensive, coming in the price range from twenty to forty dollars, but if you are an avid coffee drinker, these are expenses saved over the long run. A great coffee thermos will be your companion throughout the year since the same technology can keep cold temperatures longer.You can find out more about coffee thermoses here.

Coffee Cupping: A brief outline

Coffee Cups and Cupping

What has coffee cupping to do with coffee? Cupping is defined by those in the coffee trade world as, the judging of coffee with all of ones senses’.

Cupping is both an art and a serious professional skill. Those who apply this skill and knowledge are called, ‘cuppers’. Coffee beans and brewed coffee is tested and the results recorded for quality. New blends are created this way too.

Sensing the aroma

Three senses are involved in cupping: taste smell and feel and not in that order. Generally, the smell and taste of coffee are considered to be linked. The coffee taste is noted as being one or other of salt, sweet, acid or sour. An example of a low acid coffee is Green Mountain Fair Trade Organic Sumatran Reserve. Remember these classifications from science? The coffee grounds give off an odour and these are smelled first, notes are made. Then the hot water is poured over the grounds and the aroma is inhaled through the nose to test the fragrance. More notes are made. The timing of this is essential as the aroma is at its best just when the hot water has been poured. The silver spoons used in the process are usually kept close to the temp of the liquid coffee.

The cupper carefully breaks the crust on the coffee surface to catch the ultimate aroma. After recording this, the cupper moves to the nest sample.

Sensing the Coffee in the Coffee Cups

The coffee judge (Cupper), uses the sense of feel to check the coffee’s body. The fullness and texture of the coffee in the mouth. Coffee cupping is usually performed at the region of production and again during the marketing/sales process. Once the coffee is cooler, the Cupper will slurp it back into the mouth for best results. The coffee droplets will land at the back of the throat and disperse through the nasal cavities. The overall taste, acidity of the coffee, weight and taste while in the mouth are the all important factors; a report on the aftertaste is the next step.

The Cupper’s Tools

Tools used for coffee cupping:

coffee measure, burr coffee grinder, coffee beans coffee grounds, coffee cups ( rocks glasses- 5-60z or porcelain bowls-175-225ml; N.B. no biodegradable coffee cups), lids, silver spoon, garboon, one glass for rinsing spoons, one glass for Cupper, water crackers (if Cupper prefer to clear palate between tastings), undistilled, flavourless and odourless boiled water. To record notes , provide the Cupper with a pen, pad and clipboard. Prepare the grounds no more than 15 minutes before cupping.

To check out exact measurements, for example, how much coffee per cup, see the SCAA protocols for detailed information.

What it Takes to Find the Best Coffee in the World

Millions of times per day the world over, people from all walks of life enjoy the taste of fresh hot cup of coffee. Most people prefer the coffee that tastes great. Nobody wants to taste coffee that just tastes like mud. That’s why people seek the finest tasting coffee in the world. So let’s take a look at how to find it.

First, a person looking for the best coffee beans in the world must define what he means when he uses this phrase. Is the person simply looking for a coffee that tastes good and doesn’t cost too much? Or is the person not so concerned about price, but rather wants the best tasting coffee available?

Since taste is very subjective, what one person considers to be the best coffee, another person might not like at all. Consider for example Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Many people enjoy the sharp taste of this coffee. However, some people prefer a much lighter roast. Therefore, it is important for a person to know what types of coffee he or she likes before trying to select the best coffee.

Additionally, the method of brewing the coffee can have an impact on its taste. So a coffee that tastes terrific when brewed in a particular manner may not taste as good when brewed in a different manner. For example, let’s consider vacuum coffee maker youtube reviews. Some coffees that people say taste to bitter when brewed in a normal coffee machine come out very well in a vacuum coffee maker. The vacuum process seems to take some of the bitter full little components out of the coffee during the brewing process.

Moreover, the availability of the coffee is important as well. The coffee might taste great and even be affordable but if it simply too hard to obtain or not available on a regular basis, it is really not suitable for daily consumption. Some coffees, and blends in particular, are available during only certain seasons of the year. So, if you find a coffee in this category that you really like, it can be useful to stock up on it while it is available. Some people store unopened bags or cans of coffee in the freezer hoping to increase their shelf life.

6 Health Benefits of Espresso

I love coffee and drink it regardless of the nutritional value. I was excited to recently read about the health benefits of coffee and espresso.

1. Espresso and coffee beans have anti-oxidants. These are the new buzz word around nutrition circles. These little micro-chemicals help repair your body after an illness or workout. They clean your blood and fight off illness.
2. I was surprised to learn that popping that espresso pod in the maker in the morning was actually helping me lose weight!  The caffeine that boosts your metabolism, which in turn helps you burn off more calories. Plus, since coffee has low calories, it does not add anything to your daily count. Keep in mind that fancy drinks like Mochas and Latte’s add lots of calories because of the sugar, chocolate, and milk added to them, so those don’t count!
3. That same caffeine that helps you lose weight also helps you exercise. You get some extra energy (or the sensation of it) from the coffee and espresso which may allow you to workout longer or harder.  Frankly, I need all the energy and motivation I can find to exercise!
4. A more dramatic health benefit is that Harvard medical school did a study and found that those who drink coffee are 50% less likely to suffer from cancer. These included colon, rectal, and breast cancer. Wow, 50%!
5. Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous systems. While it has not been proven conclusively, studies over the last 30 years have shown that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk at contracting Parkinson’s Disease.
6. The liver is probably the hardest working organ in the body. It gets the unglamorous task of cleaning out our blood. Cirrhosis of the liver is a disease most often found in alcoholics where they are damaging the liver with excessive drinking. Studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers are 80% less likely to develop this condition.

While espresso and coffee are not a cure all, drinking just one espresso can help your health.