Archive for August, 2009

Coffee, and the Dangers

31st August, 2009 by tommy

Many people have heard of the increase of studies that have arised to prove coffee is healthy but what people need to consider is the adverse effects of drinking to much.

One main health risk is osteoporosis. This disease which is primarily a weakening of the bones. Osteoporosis expert Heaney of Creighton University stated that consuming 300-400 mg of caffeine a day can increase your risk of fracturing a hip bone. It is helpful to put milk or cream in coffee to offset the dangers of the caffeine on the bones. Still caffeine can have adverse effects on the elderly and those who are most prone to osteoporosis and so should be drunk with caution.

For those that are prone to mood disorders or anxiety should carefully monitor their caffeine intake. Caffeine is a known stimulant and can stimulate the increase of stress hormones and for those prone to mental illness this can exaggerate symptoms.

Coffee has been known for it’s notorious inhibiting of sleep. Many complain that if they drink coffee at night their sleep is interrupted and even insomnia can occur. It is a good idea to refrain from the consumption of coffee three to four hours before bed, this also includes decaf as most decaf coffee’s still have a small amount of caffeine.

Infertility was another concern some studies have shown. One study showed that as little as one cup a day could decrease by half the chances of becoming pregnant. Subsequent studies have show that for low to moderate coffee drinkers being infertile should not be a concern, however, if you drink more than 300mg of caffeine a day the risk is much higher for infertility.

As one can see although coffee has some health benefits there are risks to consider before downing mugfuls of coffee a day. Before you hit your favourite coffee shop for a cup of java consider the health risks.

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From Percolators to Espresso Machines: Finding the Right Coffee Maker

31st August, 2009 by tommy

You would probably be hard pressed to find a home today that doesn’t own a coffee maker. They are in practically every kitchen. Some are nothing more than stove top percolators and some are full-fledged coffee/espresso/cappuccino makers able to churn out a latte or a cup of coffee.

The coffee maker you decide on for your kitchen should be one that matches your coffee preferences. If all you are concerned with is a good cup of coffee, a simple coffee maker will suffice. However, if you are regularly making a morning trek to the local coffee shop for an espresso, you might want to consider purchasing one for your kitchen.

There are many types of coffee makers to choose from, knowing what each one is will help greatly in making your purchase.

Drip Coffee Maker

The drip coffee maker is the one you see in most kitchens. The coffee is brewed by heating and siphoning water from a reservoir. This water is then deposited slowly into a filter basket filled with coffee grounds. The resulting coffee then drips through the filter into a decanter which sits on a heating element.

Today’s drip coffee makers can be found with a wide variety of options. The decanter is typically 8-12 cups in size and can be glass, ceramic, or even stainless steel. Your coffee maker can have a clock, an automatic timer to start brewing before you wake up, and can even have a built in grinder for the freshest ever. Most also have an auto-off option which turns the heating element off after a certain amount of time.

You can’t get more traditional in your approach to coffee brewing than by using a drip coffee maker. Introduced for home use in the 1970s, these machines work by letting water pass through coffee grounds held in a paper filter or plastic filter. The clear, light-bodied coffee then collects in a brew pot.

Single Cup Coffee Maker

These machines are among some of the newest on the market. Some are available that use regular ground coffee in a smaller filter basket yet only brew one cup at a time, while others use specialized coffee pods to brew individual cups as needed.

These coffee makers are great for people who don’t drink a lot of coffee or families that have only one coffee drinker. Another added benefit is that each person can brew their favorite coffee or flavor.

If you use the pod type brewers you will pay a premium price for the pods, making this coffee maker more expensive than other models.

Percolator

The stove top percolator may look like an antique to many people. For those who have used percolators they know that the coffee has a very different taste from drip coffee makers. This type coffee maker is very slow and alters the natural taste of coffee.

Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is the ultimate in coffee makers. However, unless you purchase a combination espresso-coffee maker you will only be making espresso. Espresso machines are wonderful for making coffee based drinks and are very quick. If you like espresso occasionally and you are a coffee drinker to; you might want to consider a combination coffee-espresso machine.

Your coffee maker is what you want it to be based on your investment. If you are a ritualistic coffee drinker who has to have that morning cup of java to get going, spend a little more money and get a machine that is going to last and that does what you want it to do. If however you only have a coffee maker so that your guests can have coffee or you only occasionally have coffee yourself, there is no need for you to make a large investment.

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Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on coffee makers for A1 Coffee Makers - your online guide to coffee makers and espresso machines.

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Great Coffee in Seconds

31st August, 2009 by tommy

Nothing is better than sitting down with a perfectly made cup of your favourite coffee. These days you can make that cup of joe in many different ways. The key is to know how to brew that perfect cup.

Brewing (drip machines)

A drip machine is the most common coffee maker out there, it is quick and easy to use. In order to get that perfect cup of java here are few tips.

1. Buy the right filters. There are many types of filters and often it will say right in the owner’s manual of your coffee maker which filter and the corresponding number to purchase. You can get away with other filters but the quality of the coffee will not be as good as it could be with the right filter.

2. Coffee to Water Ratio: This depends a great deal on how strong you enjoy your coffee. For light coffee drinkers keeping the water to coffee ratio even is best. For those that like their coffee on the stronger side adding an extra spoon or two of coffee is the solution.

3.The right spoon: Most coffees (Folgers is a good one) comes with a scooping spoon. You can also buy these for very cheap at most retail stores. They will help with measuring the correct amount of coffee. Most drip makers are marked on the carafe with how many cups you can make. One spoon to one cup is average, six cups then six spoonfuls. If you do not have the fancy coffee spoon then the average one leveled tablespoon per cup is best.

4. Flavoured Coffees: If you are looking for that Irish Cream or vanilla flavoured coffee stop the hunt now. Flavoured coffees you find in the grocery stores are usually the below average coffee over flavoured to hide the chemical fumes that have seeped in during transport. Since the coffee used in the flavoured coffees are not a high grade they are transported poorly. If you really want a good flavoured cup of coffee you can buy flavour oils and flavour your own individual cup after the coffee is poured.

-another alternative to flavouring coffee is spice it up! Use a combo of a pinch of cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, and a pinch of all spice throw that right into the coffee grinds before you place it in the filter. Then let the coffee brew with all those spices and you will be delighted at the taste. Also just cinnamon is nice too.

5. Instant: When making instant remember one teaspoon of coffee per cup of water.

6. Sugar and cream please: sugar and cream are what adds the calories in a cup of coffee for alternatives consider honey and skim milk.

Extra Tip: When brewing coffee add a pinch of salt to the coffee and mix before adding the grinds to the filter this will greatly decrease the bitter taste of the coffee.

Coffee can be a soothing an exhilarating addition to life but only when made correctly, everyone knows the horrible taste of a bitter badly made cup of coffee is not the best way to start the day. These tips will serve you well on your next coffee making endeavour.

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The Hazards of the Kentucky Coffee Tree

31st August, 2009 by tommy

If you are interested in growing your own coffee, or a plant that produces a good substitute for coffee you are best to avoid the Kentucky Coffee Tree. This is because the seed pods that it yields contain high amounts of a toxin known as cytisine that will cause respiratory failure if consumed in measurable amounts.

Why is it called the Kentucky Coffee Tree if it doesn’t make coffee? Early American settlers in the area now known as Kentucky thought that the plant produced a good substitute for their beloved beverage, and so their discovery of the tree with its coffee-bean like seeds made them give it this misleading name.

Today it is most often planted in parks and public gardens due to its lovely appearance and unique characteristics. Many southern homeowners will also use the trees as a “green” way of cooling and heating their homes. This is because the tree is quite late to produce leaves in the spring, and loses its leaves relatively early in the fall. This means it provides great shade, and also lets the sun hit the home or building early in the cooler weather months. Additionally, the branch structure of the Kentucky Coffee Tree is very sparse and this means less winter clean up and less shade during the coldest times of the year.

The Kentucky Coffee Tree grows in a wide range of “zones” but is actually quite rare. Growing them intentionally, however, is very easy and gardeners should be a bit careful about cultivating them if animals are frequently around. This is because the pods shed by the trees are just as toxic to animals of all kinds as they are to people.

If growing them is desired, the gardener is advised to buff the outer seed pod with sand paper or a file and soak them in water for a day or two to speed up germination. The trees are very tolerant of almost all weather conditions and can even withstand serious drought and air pollution if necessary.

The Kentucky Coffee Tree was also the source of a lengthy controversy in the state that gives it its name. In 1973 a clerical error was discovered on the Kentucky State Statutes which invalidated the claim that the state’s official tree was the Tulip Poplar. Suddenly all different voices began giving alternative trees that should be named the official state tree, and the Kentucky Coffee Tree became one of the main options. After much acrimony and heated public debate, it did become the official state tree in 1976, but this was short lived.

In 1994 a second movement began to get the Tulip Poplar reinstated as the state tree, and with the help of knowledgeable historians and passionate devotees the Kentucky Coffee Tree was booted from its position and the Tulip Poplar again named as the state tree.

Today, the Kentucky Coffee Tree is one of only two remaining species known as “naked branches” trees due to the fact that it remains without leaves for roughly six months of the year. When the leaves do come in they are large and fairly pink in color, but this soon transitions to a lovely blue-green by the end of the season.

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Choosing Unique Coffee Mugs

30th August, 2009 by tommy

No matter where you go or what you are doing it is likely that you will see coffee and tea mugs in use or for sale. In fact, there are probably far more mugs than people, and yet we still give them as gifts and buy unique or original mugs when we see them. People in offices choose unusual mugs in order to make a personal statement or to make their coffee or tea easily identifiable. Household mugs tend to be a reflection of the personal style of the owner, and this makes it even more appealing to know that there are so many styles available.

While it is fun to find or even collect them on a trip or vacation, it is important to use them only when they are absolutely safe and stable. What does this mean? Well, if you have any doubts about the quality of the glaze or paint on a unique coffee mug you should test for lead or toxins. The little kits used to do this are very affordable and easy to find in a hardware store. This is especially true if the mug happens to be “vintage” because it has only been within the last twenty to thirty years that all manufacturers were forced to offer up products that are entirely food-safe, including serving and table ware that is glazed.

Additionally, it is a good idea to find out about the level of tempering that has been done to the glass or materials in order to know that shattering is not going to occur with any extremes of temperature. For example, if you intend to put ice into the mug and then pour scalding hot coffee over it you will need to know that this will not cause fractures and shatters in the glass or porcelain. You will also want to double check about microwave and dishwasher safety if you frequently put all other coffee mugs and beverage holders through such demands.

What sort of unique coffee mugs are available? Well, there are as many designs and looks as is possible to imagine. People can find unique designs that might look like disposable cups. For example, there are porcelain travel mugs and household mugs that look exactly like the disposable “take out” mugs seen in every fast food restaurant or mini mart in the world. There are also some mugs that are meant to look like crumpled up Styrofoam and plastic cups as well.

While there are many whimsical mugs such as these, there are also some that offer aesthetically pleasing or extremely handy designs as well. For instance, there are some coffee mugs that have built in cookie and biscuit holders in their base. There are also some that have handles designed for a much easier grasp. Some coffee mugs use artisan bases and hand sculpted bodies to create a very unique look too.

Finally, there are some unique travel mugs intended for those who are forced to enjoy their morning cup of tea or coffee while on the go. These come in almost an equally wide range of styles as standard mugs too.

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