More Health Benefits From Coffee?
Every now and then, we hear about new health benefits that coffee can bring about. Seriously, I do NOT need to be convinced that coffee is good for you. I love the drink and that’s that. But for those of you who like reading this kind of thing, you’d love to know that the results of a recent study were published this month in the journal Hepatalogy.
The title of the article is “Increased caffeine consumption is associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis.” What’s hepatic fibrosis anyway? Hepatic means something to do with the liver and I think fibrosis means scarring. This is linked to hepatitis and other liver problems. Details of the study:
One hundred and seventy seven patients were studied over a six-month period. The group was comprised of close to half male and female, with 112 chronic hepatitis sufferers. The participants consumed 308 mg of caffeine a day, the same as 2.25 cups of coffee.
I was just thinking that maybe the reason my liver is OK is that I drink more coffee than that!
Another study focuses on prostate cancer. Natural News shares:
In December 2009, research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference showed that coffee reduced the risk of prostate cancer because of its effect on blood sugar, insulin and glucose metabolism. The research was collected from over 50,000 men, from 1986 to 2006. Men who drank the most coffee had a 60 percent lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer, compared to the men who drank no coffee.
I am definitely not a man but for you guys out there, drink up! Your coffee addiction just might save you from an unpleasant inspection by the doctor.
Sour Cream Cherry Coffee Cake
Are you looking for something new to pair with your coffee? Or maybe you just like baked goodies. Both apply to me, actually. While I am not particularly skilled at baking, I am lucky enough to have friends who can’t seem to stop themselves from whipping up baked goodies. Here is a recipe I found at Mercury News, which I intend on sending someone’s way. I think it has a lot of potential especially since it makes use of fat-free sour cream. It calls for cherry preserves (it’s Cherry Coffee Cake!) but I am also thinking that other fruits may be used as substitutes. Here goes:
Ingredients:
¼ pound unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup fat-free sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon zest
½ cup best quality cherry preservesProcedure:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch square cake pans.
2. In a large mixer bowl, beat butter with sugar until well combined. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add sour cream and mix thoroughly.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
4. Blend in the vanilla and lemon zest thoroughly. Then stir in the cherry preserves, so the batter is streaky, not pink. Spread batter in pans and bake 20-30 minutes (15-20 minutes for muffins), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.Makes 2 cakes or 18-24 muffins
Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 22nd Annual Exposition & Symposium
From April 15 to April 18 of this year, Anaheim is set to host the 22nd Annual Exposition & Symposium of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). Fondly called “The Event,” the symposium will welcome coffee professionals from over 40 countries. The Event will focus on everything specialty coffee including trends, products, technology, and coffee farmers’ livelihoods. There will also be a special focus on sustainable farming.
There are two other special reasons to look forward to The Event. These are the United States Barista Championship (USBC) and the Roasters Guild Coffees of the Year Competition. These two contests are traditionally held during the annual symposium and draw a lot of attention. The first contest, USBC, will feature the best baristas from all over the United States. They will be preparing and serving 12 orders. More than having the distinction of being the best of the best, the winner of the contest will be representing the country in the 2010 World Barista Championship which will be held in London this June. The second contest focuses on various coffee products hailing from all over the world. Judges will be sampling and tasting the coffee based on their fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste, and body. Naturally, the winner will hold a prestigious position in the world of coffee.
There will also be seminars, workshops, trainings, and exhibits at The Event. For those who want to learn to become baristas, this is the place to be in April. For more information, visit the web site of The Event.
Haitian Bleu Coffee
Haiti has been at the forefront of the news for about a week now, ever since that massive quake hit the country. The international community has been mobilizing itself in an effort to provide aid to our fellowmen, and if you haven’t lent a helping hand yet, you might want to check out some ways by which you can do this. The easiest and surest way for many is to text “Haiti”to 90999 (any carrier in the United States). This will donate $10 directly to the Red Cross, who will in turn use the money for relief efforts in Haiti.
On another note, have you ever heard of Haitian Bleu coffee? This is actually a relatively new blend of coffee, which was introduced in 1995. Proponents describe this blend as smooth and medium bodied, with a hint of sweetness to it – perfect for an easy weekend morning (or afternoon!), don’t you think?
Even before the earthquake hit Haiti, the country has been suffering from all sorts of problems, poverty being one of them. As such, those who patronized Haitian Bleu coffee were not only satisfying their own cravings but also helping out one of the most disadvantaged nations in the Western world. Today, with what has happened to Haiti, one might be hard pressed to find the coffee beans in the market. It doesn’t mean that in the future, no Haitian Bleu will be found though. And if we all do our little part in helping the country rebuild, this coffee blend will surely find its way back.
Drip Coffee Or Espresso?
What’s the difference between drip coffee and espresso? Check out this really old post from our archives to read about the details. For now, let’s just say that drip coffee is what we normally make at home using the “regular” coffee maker. Espresso is made with a different kind of machine (espresso machine, duh) and is usually the base used in coffee shops. Your lattes and other favorites are espresso-based.
So why the question? I was talking to my boss, who used to work for one of the biggest coffee shop chains in the world, the other day. She mentioned something about the difference between the effects of espresso and drip coffee. This is what she said: “If you want to get that energy kick, drink espresso. If you want a longer lasting effect, then drink drip coffee.”
I didn’t know that, did you? It got me thinking about how coffee has affected me. For the past two years (estimated), I have been using my Duomo espresso maker at home. I do have a drip coffee machine, but I rarely use it. I have a huge mug of espresso-based brew in the morning and it does wake me up real good. However, I do have to drink a couple more cups of drip coffee (recently it’s been Krispy Kreme’s smooth coffee) throughout the day. Perhaps my boss was right. (What I am thinking, she’s my boss. Of course she’s right!)
Does anyone have information on this? Is the premise accurate?
The Perfect Coffee Table
Looking for a new coffee table? Can’t live without a computer? I have a web site for you – something that will definitely make your mouth water and will keep you up all night trying to think of ways to get your hands on what they have to offer. Retro-Tech is a British company that specializes in computer tables. They have been in the business for the past 10 years, and have made quite a name for themselves.
What caught my interest is their Platinum Coffee Table. Yeah, just because it is called a coffee table, it doesn’t mean you HAVE TO use it while enjoying your favorite drink (and we all know what that is!). Then again, if you are anything like me, you’d always have a cup of coffee while fiddling with your computer.
In the morning, I spend several hours writing. I go through a mug or two of coffee. When I come home at night, I surf the net or play a game. A cup of coffee is the perfect companion. Same thing during the weekend when I catch up on some writing work during the day – coffee is never far from me.
Now imagine having this Platinum Coffee Table which has a built in computer! It has a 22-inch LCD monitor and an Intel Dual Core Processor. It also serves as a hub – it can connect to other gadgets in your living room! I can just see myself never leaving the couch if I had this table right in front me. Now where can I get $5,000?
Discover Seattle Through A “Coffee Crawl”
What in the world is a Coffee Crawl? If you go to Seattle, you can experience one for yourself. You probably already know that Seattle is well known for its huge number of coffee shops. The inhabitants of this city are coffeeholics like no other place on earth, I think. But you might be surprised at just how many coffee shops there are in Seattle!
Indeed, they say that there are so many places to have great coffee – each one of them with something unique to offer – that even the locals may not know about all of them. Hence the idea of a Coffee Crawl was born. This is the brainchild of people over at Seattle by Foot, an organization that aims to introduce both locals and visitors alike to what the city has to offer.
It is not surprising that Seattle has a lot more to offer in terms of coffee than any other city. After all, residents have a reputation for making this brew their priority. Figures show that despite the harsh economic times, people in Seattle continue to patronize their favorite coffee shops. There are even reports that sales have increased in the past year, when the effects of the crisis were at their highest.
Seattle by Foot’s Coffee Crawls seem to be the answer to the ever increasing demand for coffee in all its glory. There is more than Starbucks to be found in this city – try going on a Coffee Crawl and discover a whole new world of joe!
India’s Cafés Mix Interesting Brews
Here is something that I would love to see take off where I am at. In India, some of the biggest cafes are starting a new trend: coffee mixes with (more than a little) kick to them. From vodka to beer to rum to whiskey – these spirits are used to bring coffee drinking to a whole new level.
Take Café Coffee Day for example. They have a very interesting menu called High Spirits. Even more interesting is the fact that some of their drinks are NON-alcoholic, although they taste just like their alcoholic counterparts. India Times published a write up last month:
Its coffee beer has the same colour, froth, texture, fizz and taste of regular beer. The only difference is that the beverage is non-alcoholic and leaves a coffee aftertaste in your mouth. Cafe Coffee Day is also developing a slew of other coffee-based spirits, and is planning new product offerings around these non-alcoholic products.
Their menu is currently not available though – eager customers have to wait till they finish research and development. I am thinking it should not take forever. That article was written early in December. Who knows, they might be ready to launch the menu in a month or so? There are other cafes who have similar offerings, so the Indian coffee market is probably quite content right now.
As for me, I am wondering if a similar trend will be picked up by other countries. If I had the money, I would start my own coffee shop and have my own version of “High Spirits!” In the meantime, if any of you ever find yourself in India, why not look for a coffee shop or two with this kind of menu?
