Not just coffee

Posts Tagged coffee

Organic Coffee Plus

Aug 23

Posted by admin in life

Does organic coffee taste better or are we just happier believing we have found another fair-trade product that is healthier for us? I love the concept: coffee and good health. Yes, I am a proponent of every last bit of coffee research that defines how I am becoming healthier by just having my regular dose of coffee. or, is that doses? Check out my coffee and health archive and see what a believer I am.

It’s not just organic coffee that does the trick; it’s the way it gets into the cup. Not every machine can turn a great bean into a magic cup. Believe me, I’ve had plenty of mediocre cups from supposedly great coffee beans.

No doubt that there is a relationship between the bean, the brewing process, and the end result.  You can buy all the great beans, spend some serious money, help the growers, and go home and use bad-tasting water and a sub-par machine and wonder how you wasted $20. The coffee was great at the store, you mutter, but here…not so much.

What is one to do. A few simple facts to follow and you’ll be smiling. First, the beans are important. When and how they got to the store and how they were taken care of are all integral components of that dream cup. The water always plays a role. Ask the Brita or Pur folks to share their research that demonstrates how people turn ordinary tap water into a much better tasting water, one without the requisite taste-hider slice of lemon or lime! Then watch the coffee sommelier, the coffee bar person, or as some would affectionately say, the barista, use the machinery to take the bean from its container into your cup.

No, I am not saying we all need to get in line and buy a Jura, a Saeco, or a Clover machine or even extol the virtues of single-cup brewing where we ask questions about the strength of the brew and how much space we need to leave in the cup for milk and sugar. BTW, fill the cup with the espresso, no additives necessary. I am saying a great bean may need some help.

Yet, serious coffee drinkers need something more than the $10 filter machine. Count your number of cups, your gas mileage to the local spot, add in the cost of your multiple espressos, and you can easily justify a machine of some substance. I’m always fascinated how excited basic coffee drinkers become when they taste a cup from a home version of the best of push technology. They have had their first cup of great, home-cured coffee.jura1ena5_5062n_bk

It can be done. Simple mathematics: A good bean, great water, and a machine to match.

Sip and enjoy.

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Musings Along the Food Trail

Aug 10

Posted by admin in restaurants

It’s always fun to find a new farm market and sample the fresh-picked produce or try a meat or fish from a protein vendor! Yet, price often remains a little difficult to swallow as fresh-picked corn at the farm market at 50 cents an ear seems a little stiff when compared to the nearby grocer whose signs tout “local” and whose price states 5 for a dollar, i.e. 20 cents an ear! Go figure or try to distinguish which fresh taste matches your wallet’s outlay. Sometimes math calculations outweigh devotion.

Sure the tomatoes are lush and mouth-watering, but a table filled with baby squash varieties has no equal. Price seldom enters that equation as the beauty of squash blossoms with the mini zucchini attached far outweighs any price anxiety. Anyway the blossoms are feather weights and barely tip the scale. Even if your local market managed to have these beauties, you would favor the 2-hour farm stand. No contest.

As for the grocer, everyone wants my number or wants to give me a number. They want my business; my loyalty. Grocers have been in this game a long time, but I’ve noticed we’re moving away from the two-price tier of shopping. If you have a card, you get one price and those who have not given away their lifestyle purchasing info are charged higher. Never really liked this system and much prefer the one I am seeing more of: Everybody gets charged the same price and those with reward cards get a little kickback for future purchases. No more confusion about the tagged price and what you have to give away to save the 40 cents. Reward those who have the “special card.” That’s OK.

More restaurants want to sign me up, too. Restaurant loyalty cards are nothing new as Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You demonstrated over a decade ago. Reward the repeat diners; that’s not rocket science, but good business. The Palm has had its 857 Club for years, and now other restaurants at the full range of price points want to get in on the action. Not a bad move as the economy is still a laggard affecting restaurant sales.rewards

Specials will continue if not increase during these confusing times. This year we’ve seen a growing number of restaurants move into the happy hour space. Expect that concept to proliferate as it drives business at an otherwise slow period and for many spots extends their volume into a strong bar business.

As for good decisions, think it took Starbucks a long time to join the free Wi-Fi brigade. Irony there is that I’ve been seeing smaller coffee shops move out of that space. Yes, it’s a space issue as all day computer campers scout out the perfect area for their work. Not an easy problem to fix anywhere regardless of size of the establishment. Certainly helps when the weather is nice and outdoor access expands the arena.

My mantra today is quite simple: Let me buy the freshest foods I can afford and reward me for loyalty that involves a simple question not a long form!

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Two Eggs, Hold the Toast

Aug 5

Posted by admin in dining out, news

Have you been eating breakfast out lately? A lot of diners have helped drive breakfast business and more restaurants seem to be expanding their offerings for the “most important meal of the day.” At the same time there’s a new upcharge that’s starting to make waves: Wheat bread has become a more expensive commodity. What’s doubly interesting about the shortage of wheat products and the expected spike in price is that for the first time wheat bread has reached the top tier of bread choices.wheattopgraphic1

Yes, inroads have been made. According to the Chicago Tribune, wheat bread sales have finally surpassed those of white bread. Pretty impressive data considering it was not that long ago that the bread options were more limited and more consumers preferred the old standby, white bread. We have become more attuned to our health issues and the importance of fiber-rich foods. Yes, we should give plenty of credit to the food writing pioneers that addressed the white v wheat issues and helped turn the tide.

Now the expense part of the bill. Commodity prices for wheat, orange juice, and coffee have risen considerably since June. If you haven’t seen the increase reflected in your grocery or dining out bills, you will. At the same time, weather issues (extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfires–take your pick) are playing havoc with the future pricing outlook.

So what is one to do? Stock up? That won’t solve the dining out portion of the discussion. As with most commodities, as consumers we are in a wait-and-see period. Maybe the ban by Russia on wheat exports will not have the disastrous affect on multiple products. Or, we will just once again adjust to rising prices in multiple store aisles and at our restaurant tables.

We’ve already seen the coffee increases, now expect the other hard-hit commodities to take money from our wallets.

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Keepin’ the Coffee Hot

Aug 4

Posted by admin in Environment, lifestyle

Now I recognize that I’ve shared my love for seasonal iced coffee, but every once in a while, I go for the hot cup. Like this morning: 4 shots of espresso, a splash of water, and my definition of a true Americano! The problem is hot coffee should be hot, not the in-between temperature scale, but brewed to the right temperature. Keeping the cup’s contents hot proves to be the challenge.

I may have found the perfect solution: the new HydroFlask. Yes, a product with such a perfect name should have multiple uses. Today, we concentrate on the coffee test. Let me cut to the chase: Passed with flying colors (that may also describe the product’s choice of bright colors)! Coffee stayed hot; lost none of its prized tastes, and pleased the sipper: Moi.

Most significantly you do not have to panic about the plastic. We’re talking about the all-important BPA-free qualities. A double-wall insulated product such as this needs to pass the BPA-free zone or it won’t last in our environmentally conscious lifestyle. Coffee tasted so good and refreshing even hours later that I tested it on cold water, right from the refrigerated Brita. No metal taste but the same, cool refreshing beverage. Just for the record, I purchased the product and this endorsement is of my own choosing, even though it sounds like a public service everesthydrobuleannouncement! BTW, we’re not talking about carrying around something cumbersome or heavy. Just the opposite: lightweight and functional!

The maxim applies: What’s hot stays hot, and what’s cold keeps the chill. Just the way we want it, regardless of the activity or usage. Another impressive feature is the company’s commitment to the give-back principle as they donate 5% of the gross revenue to a charity of your choosing! A definite win-win.

However you define hydration, this product proves to be the summer winner! Check it out.

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G-F Chocolate

Jul 27

Posted by admin in gluten-free

To indulge but to survive. That’s the G-F battle cry. Well there’s hope on the horizon for the chocolate lovers. You can indulge without a worry as the product line of options continues to grow.

The Think Thin folks have an impressive lineup including chocolate fudge, mudslide, and dark chocolate. They even have mini bars coming in at 100 calories with plenty of protein for fortification. You can easily conquer the sweet tooth craving.

Lara Bars are recognized more for their fruit flavor varieties, but the new dark chocolate bar will please those who shy away from the sweet date-nut taste and prefer a lingering chocolate flavor. The Jocalat line includes my personal combination of tastes: Chocolate Coffee. A win-win G-F taste!Laracoffee_main_large

As more people seek out high protein bars and quick snacks, the G-F marketplace continues to expand and offer possibilities.

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Fun, New Product

Jun 28

Posted by admin in chocolate, lifestyle, news

Every so often something fun and almost unimaginable comes along. Sure you can ask, why? Why do we need it? How is it life-changing? OK, maybe none of these questions fit, but here’s something to enjoy.

How about a one-calorie chocolate you inhale. Yes, merely inhale: Make that Le Whif, a small tube that lets you literally breathe chocolate into your mouth. You even have a choice of flavors: pure chocolate, raspberry, and mint. OK, now the really big news. Yes, chocolate is of special interest, but what about coffee: Le Whif Coffee, a breathable coffee powder with the equivalent caffeine as from an espresso or closer to a double may solve those times when you want a spot of coffee but don’t have time to make one!whifcafe53

Is either product as tasty as having a piece of chocolate or holding a cup of espresso? No, of course not. It’s more like a party trick. Something fun to savor without worrying about a messy cup clean-up or chocolate bar stickiness.

These lipstick-like inhalers do the trick and demonstrate what happens when you combine the talents of David Edwards, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard, with design engineers:  You get a good-looking product that uses particle engineering. This product is part of his artscience labs where creativity has taken on an exciting definition. Pick a flavor, choose a tube, and enjoy.

Take a breather has a wonderful new meaning!

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Drink Up: Pour These

Jun 23

Posted by admin in beverages, health

OK, what health news interests you? What’s your drink of choice? How healthy do you want to be? Coffee? Tea? Wine? We’ve got it all and today it’s all in the good news column!

Check it out:

–A new study from the Netherlands found that coffee and tea drinking in moderation reduced the risk of heart disease. Too often we find studies with a particularly small sample size. Not this time. They followed almost 40,000 coffee and tea drinkers for 13 years. Impressive. Those that consumed 2-4 cups of coffee daily had a 20% lower risk of heart disease than those consuming less coffee. Tea drinkers: You’ll love this. Those who drank 3-6 cups of tea daily reduced their risk by 45%. Even those who drank more than 6 cups daily were able to reduce their risk by 36%. Wonder about the mixed drinkers: The coffee-tea-coffee-tea routine folks?mrcofffeetea

–More interested in the positive news re: wine? Got you covered. We’ve talked a lot about the health benefits from red wine and its major property, resveratrol, and now, not one, but two studies indicate the positive powers from the compound in red wine and grapes. Drink and be skinny one study finds (fat cell reduction protects against heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s). The other study reaffirms the overall heart-healthy benefits from red wine. Of course, the researchers point out additional research is needed, but these results are in the right column.

–Soft drink consumption down. Well, that’s not totally accurate but in a study at Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s University, researchers found that if they created a “soda tax” more people would forgo the sugary sweet drinks. They raised the price of the beverages by 35% for a 4-week period and watched sales drop while coffee and diet beverage increased by 20%. Not so sure about the diet drink approach but believe taxing sugary drinks may provide some of the positive health results (less diabetes, obesity) than relying completely on individual decision-making.

So it’s a hot week, this first official week of summer, cool yourself down with an iced coffee or iced tea. Enjoy dinner with a glass of red wine, and hydrate sufficiently with water. Your body will thank you.

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Love These Studies

Jun 10

Posted by admin in beverages, health, news

Every once in a while I feel obligated to share some health news with you. Like with the positive effect of certain beverages. Wine mostly tops my list but a new study should interest even more people as researchers in Spain believe they have found a positive link between moderate drinking (not just wine but other alcoholic beverages, too) and a decreased risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Everyone believes the study is still in its early stages of suggesting positive lifestyle changes and caution that drinkers who also smoke may negate the positive effects from the alcohol.wmc_home_glass

An interesting side-note is that women seemed to fare better with this beverage link than their male counterparts. Just a few weeks ago we found that women are increasingly the largest purchasers of wine in this country but still are often ignored when a wine list is presented at a restaurant. Maybe someone will start to note that women are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about wines and are not afraid to walk into a wine store or order wine in a restaurant. Have you noticed that wine stores are hiring more women! Pay attention, restaurants!

A beverage at a totally different part of the spectrum has demonstrated positive results as well. Not that long ago we discovered that coffee drinking counted as part of our daily hydration endeavor. Now a study demonstrates that tea which had been considered a dehydrating beverage actually rehydrates better than plain water as it provides the positive, heart-healthy antioxidant effects.

Just one more bit of health news to ponder today. Again we look at the heart-health link and this time we toss out much of what we previously considered about the dangerous factors in dairy food contributing to higher cholesterol and possible weight gain. A new Swedish study demonstrates the opposite result between dairy foods and cholesterol. Again, women fared better than men; this time with improved heart-cholesterol numbers. Women who consumed the most milk products had an improved cholesterol profile.

If one study says go to the right, an author awaits to disprove the notion. That’s a possible end result of the dairy-cholesterol link. Call me a skeptic!

As with all studies, these are beginning pieces of welcome news for lifestyle changes and improved health benefits.

Stay tuned.

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Health Food/Food for Health

May 11

Posted by admin in chocolate, health, news

I love days when everything in the health news department affirms much of my thinking. Today was certainly one of those days. Here are three beauties to ponder:

–Coffee. I am always on the lookout for the latest positive news about coffee and its potential health benefits. A meta analysis was conducted by researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health examining over 700,000 people who are coffee drinkers. They found that having more than six, yes, six 8-oz cups of coffee daily, did not boost the likelihood of getting colon cancer. They found the same effect from soda drinking, but we need to think about the sugar-laden drinks as causing other problems such as obesity. Now the tea drinkers did not receive as big a boost in the clean health department. The jury is still a little unclear on this one. Coffee and soda drinks did not yield an increase in colon cancer.

–Dark chocolate. As readers of this blog know, I have a special warm spot for news about dark chocolate. Today’s report from Johns Hopkins University finds that a compound in dark chocolate may protect the brain after a stroke by shielding the nerves from further damage. Researchers hope that this particular property may someday be used to protect people against strokes. So a simple translation means eat and enjoy dark chocolate while at the same time you are insulating yourself from the dangers of getting a stroke. We’ve recognized the heart healthy chocolate benefits so this further validates additional benefit from a little sweet.see's

–Vitamin D. So much has been written about the vitamins lately and Vitamin D was last year’s attention-grabbing darling as so many people were all of a sudden diagnosed with a D deficiency. Could it be that we are so dedicated to our sunscreen regimen that the sun has no chance to give us its beneficial D attributes? Now that millions have been told to take Vitamin D, this particular study from the Cleveland Clinic says the optimal time to take this vitamin is with your biggest meal of the day. Figure out that simple calculation and pop your D to protect yourself. It will make a major difference.

Keep in mind that this week, May 9-15, is Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Nothing complex about any of these reports, but they are all simple information solutions to improve our overall health.

Settle in with a hot brew and a piece of wonderful dark chocolate, and don’t forget to include your D with whatever meal has the most calories. We can enjoy ourselves and impact our health.

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On Ice, Please

May 7

Posted by admin in beverages

Love this time of the year when vendors think about adding ice cubes and offering ways to chill us down. Iced coffee has been my drink since the 1st warm day of summer/spring which is the way the season came in this year!

Now everyone’s vying for my attention. Let me explain the ground rules: I pretty much like a black coffee over ice. The other way is a black water drink that has little impact. I prefer a couple of espresso shots that I then pour over ice. If I am out and order a coffee, I often ask for a coffee and a separate glass of ice. Please. Trust me. This works and preserves the integrity of the brew. The only other process with some hope of eliciting a delicious sigh comes when a true coffee maven says, “Want a couple of shots of espresso that I pull over ice?” YES, that’s an ally.

If you wander over to Starbucks, you’ll see they’re focused on us. Yes, how would you like that Frappucccino is the question of the season. Here’s your chance to create the cool drink you want–make it lite with skim, skip the whipped, add an extra shot. You get the message. Your way. This is a good week to take advantage of their new approach to Frappuccinos as they celebrate 1/2-priced Happy Hour specials until the 16th.

Dunkin’ Donuts is quite serious about their iced response and intends to introduce a new, stronger dark roast that will boost the flavor profile for the iced coffee drinkers. They already do a double roast for their iced drinks in keeping with my personal mantra: Don’t water it down. Most locations have a free iced coffee afternoon on the 11th.

McDonald’s has not turned its back on the iced potential. They are into frappes and offer a wide selection of iced beverages. Their price point may make them a serious player in these still tough economic times.

Maybe the biggest news of all is that iced slushie2a17351540164051968e9a4a8e2d42af or slurpee type drinks have an advantage before exercising. Green’s my favorite.

Love this icy season!

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