Coffee Storage Tips
You would think that storing coffee is a simple thing, which it really should be if not for the many misconceptions that surround the best way to do it. In fact, We are not exempt from having been misled into believing less than accurate facts, which we (with much apologies) unfortunately passed on as advice. But that was so 5 years ago, and now that our caffeine addiction has lead us to be more savvy in dealing with the multitude of different coffee that we’ve tried, we now know that glass containers definitely are NOT the best way to store coffee beans, whether ground or roasted.
In storing your coffee, you need to take into account the reasons that affect coffee’s freshness AND flavour. Coffee loses freshness easily when exposed to air, so this means always going for an air-tight container. Coffee also absorbs moisture easily, so this means no storing it in damp places like your freezer or fridge. Aside from absorbing moisture, it also absorbs the flavours of other food near it, again this means making sure that you get an air-tight container.
For soluble coffee (think Nescafe and Taster’s Choice), the above tips are enough to address their storage needs, since they have a very long shelf-life anyway. This means that the air-tight glass containers they come in are good enough, as long as you remember to keep the lid on tight.
When it comes to ground coffee though, you have to be extra careful about storage. Ground coffee loses flavour and spoils the fastest, which means that you should always keep it in air-tight containers that won’t let light pass through. The reason for this is that the coffee interacts with sunlight, making it lose flavour. The best containers in this case are air-tight non-reactive cans. Even if you do store ground coffee properly though, you can expect them to spoil in a week or two (if not days). So never ever try to store ground coffee in bulk.
You can store coffee beans in greater bulk than ground coffee, but again you have to make sure that they are stored away from the light. At the least, make sure your air-tight containers are stored in a cabinet or in the pantry where it is cool, dark, and dry. Do not open the container every day, but take a small amount and transfer it to a smaller coffee can to decrease the number of times you expose the stored coffee beans to the air.
If you follow the above advice, you can ensure that your coffee will give the full-bodied flavour every cup should give.
Fairmont and Main Script Coffee Storage Jar Courtesy of Coffee-Maker.org.uk
Can Coffee Help Control ADHD in Kids?
If you have a child with ADHD, then you’ve no doubt run into a wide array of advice and treatment recommendations to help modify your child’s difficult behavior. One of the most recent trends setting ADHD online forums afire is the use of coffee to treat ADHD symptoms in children. Sure, we know coffee is a common part of the daily routine for most adults . . . but haven’t we always been told to keep it away from the children? So, how does this coffee ADHD treatment work? Can coffee help control ADHD in kids? Before you run to the supermarket and stock up on Folgers, read on for some answers.
Stimulants and ADHD. As you probably know, most common ADHD treatments are stimulants – usually in the form of amphetamine and methylphenidate. That is because stimulants actually have a calming effect on children with ADHD. Therefore, it seems to make sense that caffeine might be useful for treating the symptoms of ADHD. Also, it is probably safe to say that most parents would prefer to give their children caffeine over amphetamines. Read more
5 Coffee Flavored Treats You Need to Try
If you are a coffee fan, then you know that coffee is not just a beverage or a morning wake up call. Coffee is so much more than that. It is a lifestyle. You are either a coffee person, or not – but never in between. The aroma of coffee can incite visions, memories and fantasies of coffee-centered moments . . . and, generally speaking, those who love coffee REALLY love coffee. For that reason, experiencing coffee encompasses more than that cup of piping hot joe; there is a world of delectable delights that feature coffee as their main star, and if you are a coffee lover, you absolutely must taste them. Here are five coffee flavored treats that you need to try.
Tiramisu. The next time you are out at your favorite Italian restaurant, you simply must try this classic coffee-laden desert. Featuring coffee soaked lady fingers, a sweet, creamy bed of mascarpone cheese, and chocolate shavings, this luxurious treat will change the way you see coffee forever . . . and may even haunt you in your dreams. Yes, it is that good. Read more
What on Earth is a Coffee Enema? Can Cost YA Money
If you have any “new age” friends, or are prone to the new age lifestyle, yourself, then you might have heard of a procedure called the coffee enema. Anyone who has ever had too much coffee to drink could probably assume that a coffee enema is the same thing. Well, it’s not. A coffee enema is like a traditional saline enema – only with coffee. If you are interested in learning more about what on earth a coffee enema is, then read on:
The benefits of a coffee enema. The caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine in coffee are the ingredients that make coffee enemas so effective. These substances combine to stimulate relaxation of the anus’ smooth muscles and dilate the bile ducts and small blood vessels of the anus in order to clear the body’s toxins out from the intestines and usher them out via the colon. Coffee is also very useful for stimulating the liver to release toxins – even more so than traditional enemas.
History of the coffee enema. Natural and holistic health practitioners have been administering and recommending coffee enemas for years. Coffee enemas were introduced in 1917, but they were brought into the public eye about seventy years ago by Dr. Max Gerson, who made it part of his “Gerson Therapy” program.
Read more
Is Coffee Good for Your Skin?
When you think of coffee, you think of a hot, steamy brew that delivers a caffeine jolt and helps get you through the sleepy hours. Nearly everybody loves its refreshing kick, but did you know that coffee serves another great purpose, too? Believe it or not, coffee is an excellent skin care treatment. Take a look at some of the benefits coffee can provide your skin.
Coffee Reduces Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
If you have dark circles under your eyes, they could be caused by a variety of factors: fatigue, allergies, dehydration, or heredity. You may not be able to eliminate those noticeable circles completely, but an application of coffee beneath your eyes will help minimize the puffiness and inflammation at least temporarily. Read more
Dessert and Good Coffee
There is, perhaps, no finer marriage in the world than a fantastic dessert and brewed coffee. It’s an interplay of flavors and textures. But not many people realize that (like wine and food) certain kinds of coffee work especially beautifully with certain kinds of dessert. It depends on the flavor personality of the coffee. Read more
5 Awesome Coffee Blends for the Holiday Season
If you’re a coffee lover, then you know how very much just the smell of a fresh brew can add to the already comfy, cozy feel of the holidays. But did you know that you can make the most of your love for the roast by choosing seasonally-themed flavors? Get the scoop on what’s hot this year (as well as what’s time-tested) with this list of five awesome coffee blends for the holiday season:
Royal Kona Pumpkin Spice
Warm a cold Halloween night or provide a stimulating after Thanksgiving-dinner aperitif with this light to medium roast, pumpkin-flavored blend. While many holiday-themed coffees tend to cater to the winter holidays, this blend is special in that it’s more specific to the fall season. Read more
Starbucks Steps Up Fight Against Climate Change to Preserve Coffee Supply Chain
Starbucks has been making headlines recently for various reasons, from their logo change to lawsuits, and now for their efforts against climate change.
The Guardian reported yesterday that Starbuck’s Sustainability Director, Jim Hanna, expressed their concern over the effects of climate change, as well as their seriousness in finding ways to tackle the problem. Being a business though, Starbucks concern for climate change is obviously not just for the welfare of the environment, but its possible effects on the global coffee supply chain, which will obviously hurt their bottomline. As Jim Hanna said, “If conditions continue as they are – is a potentially significant risk to our supply chain, which is the Arabica coffee bean…If we sit by and wait until the impacts of climate change are so severe that is impacting our supply chain then that puts us at a greater risk. From a business perspective we really need to address this now, and to look five, 10, and 20 years down the road.”
Starbucks is definitely not taking this problem sitting down; in fact they have been implementing their “climate change strategy from 2004, focusing on renewable energy, energy conservation, and collaboration and advocacy.”
Early this month, Starbucks also renewed their partnership with Conservation International, which involves a $3 million, 2-year renewed commitment that will “expanding pilot programs in coffee-growing communities in Chiapas, Mexico, and Sumatra, Indonesia, which are designed to support and reward coffee farmers and coffee-growing communities for efforts taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”
So who says that profitability and environmental responsibility can’t go hand-in-hand? Not Starbucks.
Starbucks settles suit
Starbucks is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, coffee establishment on earth. And as with any extremely popular establishment, it will attract different kinds of legal action against it. Some are unfounded while some may have basis in truth. Starbucks recently got rid of one lawsuit through settlement.
The suit, a discrimination charge against the company, was filed by Elsa Sallard, who was born with dwarfism. Sallard claimed that she was discriminated because of her height. During an orientation for possible Starbucks employees, Sallard suggested that she can use a stool so that she can perform other tasks that are part of the job. But on the same day of the orientation, she was fired allegedly because she will likely put her co-employees and customers in danger.
Sallard’s suit was filed through the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC, and charged Starbucks of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The settlement amounts to $75,000 which Starbucks will pay to Sallard. The company will also give ADA training to all of Starbucks’ managers and supervisory employees.
I understand Sallard’s grievance and equality should be something that all companies and people should strive for. But I do understand where Starbucks is coming from. Handling extremely hot beverages is a work hazard and there really is an increased likelihood of a mishap or accident if a person, even if she is extremely capable, goes up and down a stool. There’s political correctness but then there’s also common sense.
Coffee Break Will Make the Boss Happy
Several studies have varying opinions on coffee side-effects. On one side, they say coffee is helpful; on the other, they say it’s dangerous. Well only one thing is for sure—having coffee break will make your boss happy.
Better Memory Retention
David Foster’s research along with colleagues from Massachusetts Institute of Technology has discovered that taking a break helps the brain to retain information better.
They experimented on rats to repeatedly run on a track. Their brain has memorized a pleasurable pattern on the track. What’s surprising is that when they repeated the experiment after the rats’ break, their memory retention is 20 times faster.
So, having a coffee break will help you perform better at a mentally-demanding work. Actually, taking any break from work, like enjoying other office refreshments or self-grooming, is also beneficial for memory retention.
Activate Mind and Body
Better have a coffee break than just any other break. Coffee has caffeine that activates mind and body, keeping you perform better at work. It’s the reason behind sleeping difficulty when coffee was taken within two hours before bed time.
In fact, a study from France found out that taking at least three cups of coffee everyday by women 80 years old and over can reduce their risk of having memory decline to about 70 percent.
But don’t overdo your coffee break. Drinking more than four cups of coffee everyday will lead to caffeine addiction with symptoms like depression, fatigue, irritability, brain dilate, and jumpiness. Your boss will never be happy with a caffeine-addicted employee, for sure.
