Stop And Inhale The Coffee
If you think that you are too busy to even gulp down a shot of espresso to give you that jolt in the morning, think again. This professor from Harvard (whom some have described as nutty) either has no time to mess around waiting for a cup of coffee or has too much time on his hands. Either way, he was able to create a whole new product that can give you that much needed wake me upper: inhalable coffee.
Dubbed Le Whif, the product is just like a contraption that would normally contained candy powder. In order to “eat” the candy, children would have to suck at the tube – similar to asthma inhalers. Instead of the usual flavors, though, Le Whif is pure caffeine. In fact, one tube contains 100 mg of caffeine – the same amount that you would get from a shot of espresso.
Of course, the product was designed so that the particles will not go straight to your lungs. Instead, the coffee (or chocolate; there is another flavor) particles are big enough that they will stick to one’s tongue and cheeks when inhaled. This results in the person actually getting a taste of the flavored concoction inside the tube.
Each tube, or stick, costs $3 if bought individually. They also come in boxes of three, which go for $8 – you make a dollar savings.
What do people have to say about Le Whif? Let’s just say that hours after it was launched, the candy store went out of stock of Le Whif!
I think I shall be conventional and stick to my brewed cup in the morning. How about you?
Ca Phe Overload
That’s what they call coffee in Vietnam – ca phe. It’s pronounced almost the same (at least to my untrained ears). I spent almost a week in Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City) and I have to say that I had more coffee than I should have had.
Vietnamese coffee has long been known to coffeeholics, but I have to admit that it was (probably IS) not my favorite kind. Still, I couldn’t contain my glee at the fact that coffee could be bought everywhere for very cheap. Saigon has tons of coffee shops – much like the ones you see in other cities, except that they normally have tables and chairs on the footpath. I suppose it’s the French influence, and I love it!
There are cheaper alternatives – the sidewalk vendors with their little carts. They have their own mini tables and even littler stools. For half a dollar, you can get a cup of Vietnamese coffee – iced or hot!
Needless to say, I started my day with several small cups of coffee at the hotel. They brew their coffee in a more modern way, using a drip machine. As the day went on, I would go walking around the city, with at least 3 coffee stops. I normally like my coffee hot, but the heat and humidity in Saigon forced me to change my habit.
Coffee lovers who are looking for more than their usual dose of caffeine should drop by Saigon. You might not want to leave.
Want Some Free Coffee Recipes?
Are you tired of making the same old brew day in and day out? To be honest, I am NOT. I am a creature of habit and for the most part, I like having my huge mug of espresso in the morning and then a cup or two of brewed coffee during the day. Still, there are days when I feel like trying something new – we all get them. What I normally do is just head on over to the nearest Starbucks or Coffee Bean. It would be great to be able to make new coffee drinks at home, though…
…and that’s what this FREE Coffee Recipe E-book will allow you to do! I stumbled upon the freebie at Coffee Fair:
Our site sponsor is Boca Java… gourmet coffee delivered right to your front door. Feel free to check out their large coffee selection at: www.bocajava.com.
Get ready to grab (for free of course) one of the most delicious collections of free coffee recipes available online. It’s an amazing 53 page collection of the coffee recipes you’ve come to know and love such as Caramel Macchiato, Double Mocha Frappe, Chai Tea and many more. Plus delicious and one of a kind mouth watering coffee pastries & amazing custom blend coffee sauces, too.
For your safety our e-book has been virus scanned and checked and is completely safe and clean. There are also no irritating ads in it and there’s nothing in there you to buy either. Just good ol’ delicious coffee recipes!
I have already clicked and downloaded. What are you waiting for???
Batangas Coffee Organic Soap
Batangas coffee is my coffee of choice. It has a very bold flavor which makes many other blends pale in comparison. Unsurprisingly, I have only used this coffee for drinking purposes. To my delight, however, I discovered another use for Batangas coffee. Last month, a colleague of mine went around the office selling organic soaps, and guess what? She had something made of Batangas coffee!
The manufacturer is called Cycleina and they specialize in all sorts of organic soap. I have actually used a lot of their other varieties (flavors, if you will) but nothing has made me more satisfied than their Batangas coffee one. The soap bar is square shaped and not too thick. The best thing about it is that it has coffee grounds incorporated into the bar. The result is silky smooth skin because the grounds serve as a gentle exfoliant!
Seriously, I do not even have to use my loofah anymore when I use this soap when taking a shower. I am not so sure about its effectiveness as a facial soap – I am a bit iffy about using it as I am particular when it comes to facial products – but I do not see any serious problems with it. My bar is now gone, and I need to stock up. Oh, the best thing about it is it’s so cheap! Less than 2 dollars for one bar of sheer happiness! I wish they made lotions in the same variety. That would complete the bath set, wouldn’t it?
Fruits In Coffee
While I have not really had fruits in my coffee, the idea does not sound so bad at all, don’t you think? After all, the fruitiness should complement the strong flavor of coffee.
I recently heard about a company called Fruitology. Yeah, it sounds fruity and made me crack a smile when I first read the name, but in case you’re interested, they have recently launched a line of coffee fruit energy shots. Fruitology is actually a company known for its line of beverages and supplements – the distinguishing feature of which is “wholesomeness.”
Anyhow, their new line is called Energy Shot. The “secret ingredient” is KonaRed Coffee Fruit. This ingredient is supposed to give you the boost that you need to get through a tough day. In additional to the boost, you get fruity flavors that are supposed to refresh you. More from the press release:
In keeping with Fruitology’s promise to deliver unique, healthy-lifestyle products, each Coffee Fruit Energy Shot is “all natural” and preservative free with a fantastic gourmet flavor and added nutritional benefits such as 100% Daily Allowance of Vitamin C per shot. With its incredible nutritional properties, anti-oxidant power, and energy value, the addition of the coffee fruit also reinforces Fruitology’s mission to enhance the well-being of people around the world.
I’d still take my good old brewed coffee any day, but I’d be more than willing to give this a try. The products are supposed to be out in March. For more information, visit Fruitology’s web site.
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?
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!
Will Coffee Help Your Hangover?
I am writing about hangovers because it is the last day of the year and we all know what that means – lots of alcohol tonight! Correct me if I am wrong, but you are probably gearing yourself up for that FUN New Year’s party later on. You might even be getting ready for more than one party tonight.
I’m actually at the beach right now, relaxing my butt off. I do have a red face due to two days of island hopping (I know I put sunblock; I don’t know what happened). What better place to usher the New Year in at the beach with a fifth of Jack Daniel’s?
Needless to say, it might be a bit hard to get up tomorrow – for all of us. So how are you going to deal with that inevitable hangover?
Everyone has his own remedy, I think, but one common idea is to drink coffee – black coffee. As much as I value this beverage, though, let me tell you now that it is NOT a good idea.
The thought of sipping a steaming hot mug of black coffee may appeal to you, but it will not help your hangover. The hot liquid may feel good going down, but the caffeine content will do nothing for your head. In fact, it will just dehydrate you even more, making the hangover worse. If you have to have that cup of coffee when you wake up – as I am sure I will – then make sure you drink lots of water afterwards. Now THAT may help with the hangover.
Drink Coffee And You Won’t Die
Alright, that title is quite exaggerated, I know; but I just read something on how coffee can actually help lessen your chances of dying. This is no joke.
Roy Edroso from Village Voice writes about a study that the Wall Street Journal recently published. To make the long story short, the study found out that the more you drink coffee, the less likely you are to die during the period you drink coffee. So let’s say that I drink 5 cups of coffee a day for the next 5 years. This means that my chances of dying in the next 5 years are going to decrease. Sounds good to me!
Of course, the study has a disclaimer – the word MAY. Every time I read a study on anything, the conclusion always includes that word: MAY. If so and so, you MAY so and so. It’s the same thing with this study, I guess.
As much as I love coffee, I know that there are adverse effects if I drink too much – I don’t need a doctor or a scientist to tell me that. More than 5 cups (sometimes even less) and I would need antacids to keep my stomach acidity at bay. I also have to admit that you do develop a dependency on caffeine after being used to taking it into your system regularly. Anything you’re addicted to can be bad…
So what’s the verdict? Chug down as much coffee as you can to lessen your chances of dying in 2010? I think not. I’ll stick to my 3-5 cups a day and see how it goes.
Coffee-themed Christmas Dinner
I only have several hours before our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, and most of my dishes are ready for cooking. This year, it’s slightly different for us as my immediate family is spending the night away from the rest of the extended family. As such, I would have to prepare all of the food. Since we’re not that big of a family, though, I wouldn’t have that much to prepare.
It’s a bit too late for me to put this idea to work for tonight, but maybe we can do this tomorrow or later in the week – a coffee-themed meal. We’re a family of coffee drinkers so I already know that this idea will be a hit, and as I sit here sipping my nth cup of brewed coffee, I am trying to think of how to incorporate coffee into a whole meal.
Is there any sound basis for this idea, though? I mean, I might be biased towards the use of coffee for entrees, main courses, and desserts simply because I can’t get enough of it. I did look it up, though, and many chefs are already using coffee as marinades or rubs for meat. One reason for this is that the enzymes found in coffee grounds work as a meat tenderizer. Of course, the coffee flavor is a BIG plus. As for desserts, it is easy to think of coffee-flavored goodies: brownies, cakes, jellies, and the like.
In the next few posts, I will try to share recipes – I shall start my search now.
