Shade Coffee
Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? I don’t know, but for some reason, when I read the term “shade coffee,” I thought of something mystical. In any case, it is just a term used to refer to coffee that is grown without full exposure to the sun. Why do they do this? Because shade grown coffee takes much longer to ripen and it is believed that longer ripening times makes the coffee’s flavor better.
I am not an expert in this area so I think I’d better share with you the view of a person who knows more about this. Here’s an excerpt from a post in Coffee and Conservation – a very interesting blog on coffee and the environment:
In order to produce faster, higher yields and prevent the spread of coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix), many coffee plantations have begun to grow coffee under sunnier conditions. The fewer shade trees that are in coffee plantations, the less biodiversity there is in those plantations.
This loss of biodiversity, especially in birds, has led conscientious consumers to look for “shade grown” coffee. However, coffee is grown under a continuum of conditions, from rustic or traditional, to full sun, and these “shades of shade” are not all equal when it comes to the health of ecosystems. Unfortunately, there is no official definition of “shade grown,” so coffee so labeled may be grown under what are technically shady conditions, but which are little better full sun.
There is more to be learned about shade coffee. I suggest that you visit the blog and find out for yourself.
Coffee Can Increase Risk of Miscarriage?
Alright I am officially confused. If you recall, I posted an entry on Coffee and the Risk of Miscarriage a week or so ago. That post was all about a study stating that small amounts of coffee during the early stages of pregnancy do not increase the risk of miscarriage. Today, I saw an article on Yahoo about a study that states that coffee can double the risk of having a miscarriage! So which one do I believe?
According to Dr. De-Kun Li of Kaiser Permanente Division of Research:
Women who are pregnant or are actively seeking to become pregnant should stop drinking coffee for three months or hopefully throughout pregnancy.
Ok, that was the original premise. She qualifies her statement though:
To me, the safe dose is zero. If you really have to drink coffee, try to limit it to one cup or at the most two cups.
There you go – the limit is 2 cups, which the first research we featured also mentioned. So I guess it is the amount that determines the results. Anyhow, another research done at Harvard Medical School shows that coffee decreases the risk of ovarian cancer. Researcher Shelley Tworoger says:
With regard to caffeine and caffeine-containing beverages, we generally observed a lower risk of ovarian cancer with increasing intake.
This, at least, is a positive thing for us coffee drinkers, don’t you think? Just a note – decaffeinated coffee does not count. Apparently, it is the amount of caffeine intake that has the benefits.
Does Coffee Still Keep You Awake?
The reason I am asking this question is that last weekend, I went out of town with some friends and I had some realizations when it comes to coffee. So we went out Saturday night, right? We had some drinks and afterwards, we had some coffee. Of course, it was I who instigated the early morning coffee run. What surprised me was that a friend of mine kept on vehemently refusing to have some of this delectable brew!
I kept on insisting that it would be great after a long night out drinking alcohol, right? Well he said that he just could not take the chance of drinking coffee and then not being able to sleep. I thought it was ridiculous at first and then I realized that there was some truth to what he was saying! After all, I drink coffee to stay awake (at least that’s what is in my mind).
So we got around to talking about how coffee keeps you awake and all that stuff. Anyhow, I realized that coffee does not really keep me awake anymore – unless I have several cups in a row. I am not alone – I read this post by Shalini wherein she was talking about how addicted she is to coffee. I am sure that many of you would be able to relate to this somehow.
So should I do something about this? Should I cut back so that coffee will keep me awake again? I don’t know – I don’t think I even want to.
The Coffee Mate Line
Okay, before I even write anything, I would like to say that this is by no means an advertisement for Coffee Mate – well, at least, not in the paid sense. I just thought of writing more details about this particular brand simply because it is what I like and what I use everyday.
That being said, did you know that Coffee Mate has more products in its line aside from the powdered kind? I guess I am not THAT much of a fan of Coffee Mate as all I am familiar with is the powdered kind. Anyhow, a visit to their site revealed to me that they have liquid and concentrate versions. It is quite interesting, really. I wonder how that would affect the taste and texture of the coffee?
Anyhow, what I wanted to talk about are the different flavors that they have for the powdered kind. I normally use the Original blend but from time to time, when I feel like it, I use Hazelnut and French Vanilla. I have to lessen the amount of sugar I put in my coffee when I use these flavors, though, as they are already quite sweet.
From the web site, I saw seasonal flavors and special edition flavors – I have never seen them on the shelves at the supermarket but maybe my timing is just wrong. I think the peppermint mocha would be great. Has anyone tried these flavors? Maybe you can tell us more about it.
What Do You Put In Your Coffee?
Many people like their coffee strong and black. I appreciate this brew, I really do, but I also like my coffee to have a blend of sweetness and creaminess. So assuming that you put sugar in your coffee and that you like something to make it creamy as well, my question to you is this: do you prefer some sort of creamer or do you prefer milk?
I personally prefer Coffee Mate as a creamer. It gives you that creamy texture and taste without overpowering the taste of the coffee. I use milk sometimes – especially when I run out of Coffee Mate, which is as rare as a blue moon really – but it doesn’t seem to be the same. The coffee still tastes good but the texture and taste are quite different.
Maybe I have just gotten used to having Coffee Mate in my coffee. Anyhow, this poses a problem for me sometimes when I go out of town. I remember visiting friends and all they had was instant coffee (it’s ok I can take it) and no Coffee Mate at all! There was this other time when my hosts did have creamer but it was of a different kind and it was just not very good with coffee.
Am I being particular and too finicky? I think not. If you take your coffee seriously – like when you cannot function normally until you have had that cup, with Coffee Mate of course – then you would probably understand how I feel. So what do you put in your cup?
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
When talking about the best kinds of coffee in the world, it would be inevitable that Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would be mentioned. This is because it has become one of the most sought after kinds of coffee in the world. What exactly is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?
It is a kind of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, hence its name. The most interesting aspect of this kind of coffee is the fact that it lacks a bitter taste and has a very mild flavor. Of course, there are people who do not appreciate this aspect but there are always those who enjoy coffee with this flavor.
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is grown in the eastern part of Jamaica, 5,500 feet above sea level. Of course, coffee is grown for local production in this area as well. However, the Jamaican Coffee Board, recognizing the importance of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee to their economy, has laid down certain restrictions for the exportation of their coffee. In fact, according to the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee site:
The Jamaican Coffee Board reserves GRADE 1 beans for export only as a green, unroasted coffee. The higher the grade number, the bigger the bean size. This dictates any roasted coffee coming directly from Jamaica is usually a mix of Grade 1, 2 and even 3. The Board refers to this mix as “Triage”. If you seek the finest Blue Mountain Coffee, insist only on Grade 1 beans.
How much should you expect to pay for this coffee? It depends on where you get it but do expect to pay about $30 for 16 oz of whole roasted beans.
Herbal Coffee
This might be old news for some but I thought it is still worth a post. Ever heard of Ganoderma Coffee? If I remember correctly, we had a post on a specific brand of this coffee way back in 2006. Click here to read more.
Anyhow, Ganoderma Coffee is supposed to be a healthier alternative to the regular coffee. What makes it special as compared to ordinary coffee is that it contains extracts of the herb Ganoderma Lucidum, which is actually a mushroom. It is purportedly a “miracle herb” and can be found in many East Asian countries.
So what miracles can this herb perform? Among many things, it is supposed to bring beneficial results for those who are suffering from diabetes, hypertension, liver problems, and even high cholesterol problems. Ganoderma Lucidum is also great for those who have trouble falling asleep at night.
Proponents of Ganorderma Coffee claim that it tastes just as good as regular coffee. I would honestly have to disagree as my first sip of the coffee was a disappointment! I could taste the strong coffee flavor – that was good – but there was an off taste to it. I suppose that was the mushroom extracts. Then again, I am only one person. The success of this coffee has been noted in many countries and it has gained quite a following. I suppose, then, that you would have to taste it for yourself before you can make a judgment. I suggest buying in small quantities first and then getting more if you like it.
Coffee and the Risk of Miscarriage
One of the biggest concerns of female coffee lovers is the fact that they would have to cut themselves off from their favorite brew once they become pregnant – at least that is the popular belief. A new research conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City gives us hope with regard to drinking small amounts of coffee even during pregnancy.
According to Dr. David A. Savitz, the proponent of the study, “Based on what we’ve seen, it’s not a cause for great concern.” He was talking about the fact that there even if a pregnant woman drinks coffee, the risk of miscarriage does not increase. Of course, he was talking about moderate coffee intake here, moderate being less than 2 cups of coffee per day.
As a matter of fact, similar studies have been conducted in the past. However, Savitz’s study is a bit different because of the fact that his subjects reported the consumption of coffee before pregnancy and during the early stages of pregnancy.
So what are the implications? I, for one, am quite happy to have a solid scientific basis that I do not have to totally cut myself off from coffee if I get pregnant. Of course, it does not mean that I can continue drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day – less than 2 cups would have to do.
Then again, I am sure that there will be some people who would be a bit iffy about drinking coffee while pregnant. You can’t get rid of old beliefs that easily. My suggestion is for you to consult with your OB and make the decision for yourself.
Coffee for the Skin
I depend on my morning cup of coffee. I’d rather have brewed coffee, of course, but when on trips, sometimes, I have had to settle for the instant kind. It does not matter, as long as I have my morning dose of caffeine – taken orally in the form of a hot cup of coffee.
I was pleasantly surprised and amused when I read about skin care companies experimenting with coffee-based products, though. Does coffee have skin care properties? Though I have not really seen or tried these products, it seems that in the US and other world markets, coffee-based skin products were released last year.
The idea is that caffeine perks you up – thus my dependence on that morning cup. Skin care companies think that if applied topically, their coffee-based products could perk you up as well and make your skin look and feel better. I don’t know about this, but it could work.
Then again, if you are thinking of using coffee-based skin products to perk you up, I doubt that it will be as effective and as enjoyable as simply brewing a pot of coffee and drinking a cup or two. For one, though the products may contain caffeine, I doubt that there is enough there to give you a jolt. Another thing is that these products are applied topically. That means that if the caffeine is to enter your blood stream, it has to go through the skin – that takes a while and the amount is probably small. The bright side is that you will smell like coffee all day long!
In any case, these products should be worth a try, don’t you think?
Home Roasting
What? That may be the first thing that came into your mind when you read the title for this post. I am talking about roasting your own coffee beans at home as opposed to merely buying ground coffee beans from the supermarket or your coffee shop.
So why should you even think about roasting your own coffee beans? Why go through all that hassle? To be honest, I have not even tried it for myself yet but from what I have been hearing and reading from others, you do not really know what good coffee is until you make a batch from freshly roasted beans. I do not know how true it is but being the coffeeholic that I am – always in search for the best coffee – I am more than willing to give it a try.
You may be thinking that home roasting would entail a lot of effort, time, and money. Well I found this really great post from the CoffeeGeek which will allow almost anyone to roast his own coffee at home. Guess what his main tool is? A popcorn popper!
Ingenious, isn’t it? Seriously, I might not have thought of this idea had I not ran into the CoffeeGeek’s post. Well, I would suppose that a popcorn popper is not a difficult thing to acquire – plus the fact that it is quite affordable. You may even already have one at home!
If you are interested in trying this out, you should pay a visit to the step by step guide on how to roast coffee beans at home using a popcorn popper. Here’s to a successful endeavor for all of us! Happy New Year!
