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?
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.
Self Stirring Mug For (Lazy) People
No one take offense, alright? I would be the first to say that I can be as lazy as the next person every now and then – maybe lazier than some. For those who are likeminded, check out this self stirring mug from Think Geek.
Forget the spoon. Forget the popsicle stick. Forget the plastic stirrer. You have to wash the spoon and throw away the popsicle stick and plastic stirrer – that will require more energy than necessary. More so, using fewer popsicle sticks and plastic stirrers can be your contribution to the environment!
With the self stirring mug, you don’t need any of these tools. All you need is to pour the sugar (artificial sweetener if that’s what you use) and cream into the mug and you’re good to go! This mug is made of stainless steel – it will go with anything you wear – and has a spinning disk inside. It is powered by two AAA batteries, and the spinning motion is triggered by pressing a button on the handle. The mug has a snap on lid that will keep the liquid from spilling when “stirring” or when you’re on the go. So basically, it doubles as a travel mug. Isn’t that just perfect for when you are in the car? You don’t need two hands to handle that coffee!
The mug’s dimensions are 4 3/8″ H x 3 3/8″ W.
Oh, and what about cleaning? It’s a snap as well – just use liquid soap and water, press the button to stir, and rinse. Energy efficient, that’s what I call it! $18.99 at Think Geek.
Gevalia Pod Coffee Maker One Day Sale At Woot
Depending on where you are, you have got anywhere from a couple to several hours to get your hands on a Gevalia Pod Coffee Maker for a very low price. Woot is offering a one day only sale for this pod coffee maker, which they are selling for a mere $9.99. I should tell you that they will charge you $5 for shipping, so that amounts to $14.99 in total. Since this coffee maker normally goes for around $40, I’d say that this is still a great deal!
So why would anyone want a Gevalia Pod Coffee Maker anyway? This brand, Gevalia, is actually a European brand which traces its roots back to 1853. The founder, Victor Theodor Engwall started his business by importing the finest coffee (according to his own taste) to his Swedish town. For more than a hundred of years, this company has flourished and has continued to branch out.
This particular model on sale at Woot is dubbed the Gevalia G90 Pod Coffee Maker and can actually be used for brewing both coffee and tea pods. Just like other pod coffee makers, you do not need to deal with messy coffee grinds – you just need the pods (coffee or tea in sealed bags). The whole thing is made up of removable parts, making cleaning an easy task. You also have the option of brewing one or two pods at a time, depending on how strong you want your brew to be.
It may not be the best coffee maker out there, but you can’t beat the price!
Drink Coffee, Win A Nobel Prize
Finally – a formula for winning a Nobel Prize! Well, maybe not quite – my excitement shows just how much I am NOT in the running for one of those prizes, but it does show how passionate I am about my favorite brew, doesn’t it?
Anyhow, the current winners for the Nobel Prize in three categories (namely chemistry, economics, and physics) have let the word out: coffee is instrumental to their success. The say that – alongside intellectual freedom and independent research – coffee has contributed to their achievements in their own fields.
The benefits of coffee have long been known to many. Coffee stimulates you, giving you that often much needed jolt to keep you going. If you ask these distinguished intellectuals, though, it is not the caffeine that they hold in high regard. As a matter of fact, it is the idea of coffee breaks that they praise. They say that these breaks provide time to discuss ideas, to air out them out, and to sort out a cluttered mind. Indeed, it does not matter if it’s coffee or tea that you drink – heck, maybe even fruit juice will do the trick!
What’s this got to do with us coffee lovers then? I guess it’s about time that we realize that our favorite drink is not the end all be all. Those times that we get together with friends for coffee should also be recognized for what they really are: enjoying each other’s company and spending time with people who matter. The coffee is the icing on top of the cake!
Here’s to a Nobel Prize in our futures?
