The Coffee Maker From the 19th Century

About twenty years ago almost every home, restaurant and office kitchen in Costa Rica was equipped with a gourmet coffee making device called Chorreador de caf?r simply caf?akero. It consisted of an unvarnished wooden frame about 33 cms. tall, with a round hole at the top where a wire rimmed cloth filter or strainer was placed. Fine ground gourmet coffee was placed in the filter and boiling water was poured in filtering down to the gourmet coffeepot below.

This humble device is losing ground fast to modern percolators, gourmet coffee makers and Mr. Gourmet coffee machines. The reason usually given is that the new devices are said to be faster and more convenient. In our home the Chorreador de caf?ives on. Why? The gourmet coffee simply tastes better.

You don't need gourmet gourmet coffee to brew a great gourmet coffee. Brewing a great Gourmet coffee making is an art where every step should be followed closely. Some advice given below may seem superfluous but should be rigorously adhered to.

This information applies to those who live in or will be visiting Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee we will be using is not export or imported gourmet coffee. We will be using two off-the-shelf pure gourmet coffees that you can buy in supermarkets anywhere in Costa Rica. I will call them brand A and B. will not publish brand names here because I am not endorsing or publicizing brand names though there is only one gourmet coffee that helps children. The gourmet coffee should be fine ground, brand A and B mixed 50 - 50%, then stored in an airtight glass container. The two brands seem to complement one another creating a special blend. Now you know how they make a breakfast blend gourmet coffee.

Bring the water to a boil. The water should be fresh tap water and not reheated from water left in the gourmet coffeepot. Filtered water is even better; collected rainwater works well to make a great gourmet coffee.

Place six teaspoons of fine ground gourmet coffee into the filter, then mount the filter on the wooden stand. Two tablespoons of gourmet coffee produce four cups of gourmet coffee. Use a non toxic paper gourmet coffee filter, a non bleach type. Use a papersack or pantyhouse if no filter is available.

To make the best gourmet coffee please place a glass or stainless steel receptor under the filter and begin to slowly pour the boiling water into the filter or gourmet coffee. You may have to stop occasionally adding water so that the level of water drops and does not overrun the gourmet coffee. Continue pouring as needed until you have the four cups. Do not introduce metal spoons into the filter to agitate the mixture.

In the future you can experiment by adding a touch of cinnamon or vanilla or chocolate or cloves to the coffee mixture. Smell the gourmet coffee and if you must - foolishly top the gourmet coffeepot and serve.

You must always use a perfectly dry filter. If you prepare gourmet coffee two or more times a day, you will probably need two filters so one can dry while you use the other. A wet filter causes wet coffee. The reason for this is that if you use only one, it is likely that it will not be totally dry the next time you brew gourmet coffee. By using alternating filters you will always have a dry one on hand. Filters are best dried by a hairdryer or in the sunlight.

For daily use you should carefully rinse the filters in running tap water to remove all residue. It is natural that it will stain. You should now worry about this as it is normal.You should wash the filter weekly but drink gourmet coffee daily. Never wash the filter in soap or detergent, wash it only with salt to remove the accumulated grease. This can be done by generously salting the damp bag and virgorously rubbing it. Afterwords you should sufficently wash and rinse the filter to remove all traces of grinds and salt.

If you are in a hurry, go ahead use instant gourmet coffee or your Mr. Gourmet coffee maker, but if you want a REAL cup of gourmet coffee, you are going to have to put some effort into preparation. I hope that this article inspires those Americans and Costa Ricans who have forgotten this charming way of brewing gourmet coffee. For those woodshop owners and handyman experts here is a detailed explanation. Anyway you look at it - if your are using Costa Rica gourmet gourmet coffee you will for sure have a great cup of gourmet coffee.

Here's what you'll need: A 5" X 18" X 1/2" Maple or your choice of wood. A 6" X 8" X 3/4" Maple or your choice of wood. Finish nails Glue

Cut the base out of 3/4" maple, 7 1/2" X 6". Chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" in from each corner. Cut the two short sections, one on each end, 15 degrees. Next please cut two supports from 1/2" pieces 9" long at 5 degrees on each end. Be sure the angles go the same direction on each end. Please cut the top out of 1/2" wood, 6" X 4 1/2". Please carefully draw and then chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" from each corner. Please carefully draw and then cut a notch on each end of the top and base to fit the 1 1/2" supports using a dado blade. Place the saw so it is set up the miter with a small piece of wood at the base to give the notch a 5 degree angle. Use duct tape to hold it together.

Mark the center of the top and draw a 4" circle. Cut out the circle with a scroll saw or saber saw.

Glue and nail the pieces together and you are almost ready to start making gourmet coffee. The Basket Maker: find a cone or use the basket from a stiff wire like a clothes hanger and a piece of cotton. Carefully mark and thenBend the wire to make a handle and a 4 1/4" circle of coffee beans.

So then use your coffee maker; next add a filter and add the finest Costa Rica coffee beans and add hot water and your sum is the finest gourmet coffee available. Want to be a cowboy use some old pantyhose as your coffee filter. Want to be a homeless person - use an brown sack as your coffee filter. Want to be really rugged - use some leaves. As long as its the Tarrazu or the Costa Rica coffee bean the flavor will still shine through. Its the anticipation that counts.

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Can Coffee Be Used As A Fertilizer?

Used coffee grounds have been discarded as trash by millions of people around the world. Is there another use for your used grounds? The answer is "yes," and the more you learn about the used coffee grounds the more sense it makes to use them as a fertilizer. My Grandmother taught me years ago the secret of used coffee grounds. She said that the grounds give your plants more life. I always wondered what she meant by more life. Then as I watched her plants grow I seen some amazing things. Her tomato garden was huge, and much larger than our neighbors. Tomatoes the size of a softball grew in her garden and at a fast pace. When the neighbors would inquire as to her secret she said I have rich soil. She did not lie; because due to those used coffee grounds her soil was rich indeed.

Used coffee grounds are a great fertilizer for gardens because of their high nitrogen content. Of all the mineral nutrients in the soil, nitrogen is generally the most difficult for plants to acquire. The reason plants have difficulty is because of the way they acquire the nitrogen. It is primarily thru their roots, which are buried in the soil. Most plants depend on mineral forms of nitrogen in the soil, and this is where your coffee grounds come into place. Your used grounds give your soil the added nitrogen that your plants need. Coffee grounds also contain potassium, phosphorus, and many other elements that aid in plant development. Many rose gardeners report that used coffee grounds aid in their roses development. Reports also add that when used coffee grounds have made their roses more colorful and larger than normal. In fact, when added to a compost pile used coffee grounds compost very quickly.

Nitrogen is a component of all proteins, and is crucial to life. In several studies, plants that have a nitrogen rich soil grew faster and larger then plants that grew in natural soil. It is clearly wiser to save those used coffee grounds and use them in your gardens or household flowerpots. If you are not using used coffee grounds you are wasting a great resource.
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The Top 10 Coffee Franchises

When you have made the decision to start your own coffee shop business and you have already done all your research, you now need to decide what coffee franchise you want to go with. This may take some time to figure out because you want to explore all your options before making your decision. There is a lot to consider when you start to look into all your options.

There are also hundreds of coffee franchises so you will need to narrow your search down to the top 10 coffee franchises so you can make your decision based on the demand of the coffee drinkers. Here is a list of the top 10 coffee franchises that you may want to consider and a little about what they offer.

#10: Sonoma Coffee Cafe
With a Sonoma Coffee Cafe you will serve your customers great tasting coffee but you will also offer chocolates, donuts, bagels, even breakfast sandwiches.

#9: Gourmet Cup
It's not just coffee at the Gourmet Cup. You can also enjoy a variety of tea as well. Your customers will come back time and again to enjoy the rich aroma of the coffee you offer.

#8: Coffee Heaven
Coffee is the only thing you will find in Coffee Heaven. The name speaks for itself. There is no mistaking what this name is about.

#7: Kelly's Coffee & Fudge Factory
Coffee goes with everything including chocolate. Your customers may have a choice of baked pastries, salads, sandwiches, and home-style fudge. They will also receive a variety of flavored coffee, teas, or smoothies.

#6: Jo to Go Drive through Expresso
The best thing about the Jo to Go is the fact that it also caters to kids, which is usually in the vehicle with mom or dad in the mornings too. You can serve your customers all the latest flavors in coffee, smoothies, fresh bakery goods and kids stuff too.

#5: The Coffee Beanery
This global franchise has a lot to offer you and your customers.

#4: Hawaii's Java Kai
You can serve both hot and cold drinks to your customer. Keep them coming back with fruit smoothies and baked goods.

#3: Cafe Ala Carte
This is a great concept and you can control the number of customers you have. This cafe travels to all the exciting outings including open houses, weddings, family reunions, grand openings and more. Plus you can have a regular schedule for dedicated customers.

#2: Its a Grind
Featuring a blues and jazz theme for their coffee houses, it offers good espresso, iced blended coffee drinks, bagels, muffins, scones and other baked goodies. It is one of the fastest growing coffee franchises.

#1: Maui Wowi
There is something special about Maui Wowi. You can offer your customers fruit smoothies, Hawaiian Coffee, Smoothie Rip Sticks, Hawaiian Springs Water, Low Carb smoothies and more.

We hope the above information serves as a good starting point to evaluate your possible picks for a coffee franchise. Keep in mind that with each franchise, there are different franchise fees, royalties, initial investment amount, advertising fees, and renewal fees. Every persons business desires, needs and goals are different as are each of the franchise opportunities previously mentioned above. Your best bet for some advice on narrowing your list of choices to the best coffee franchise for you would be with an experienced franchise consultant.

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The History of Coffee

Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee!

Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.

No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!

As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee!

The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!

The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee machine was invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! The automatic espresso maker began its journey in the 1930’s.

By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

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The Pros and Cons of a Coffee Shop Franchise Opportunity

Every once in a while comes the opportunity of a lifetime. An opportunity that gives you the chance to please yourself and others is hard to find. When you decide to open up a coffee shop you may want to go on your own and try to do everything or you may want to consider a coffee shop franchise to get yourself started. There are several pros and cons to a coffee shop franchise opportunity and you have the choice to weigh your options and go with the best opportunity for you. If an opportunity is knocking, you do not want to pass it up.

Pros of a coffee shop franchise opportunity
When you choose to go with a coffee shop franchise you will not be alone in your new business venture. The coffee shop franchise company wants to see you succeed and to do that they will coach you and help you every step of the way. They will teach you about all the products they offer, how to manage employees, how to handle all the business activities, ordering supplies, and what to look for or avoid. Your franchise manager or coach can make your new business run as smooth as can be while giving you all the information that you will need in order to continue after they leave. A franchise will usually provide you with one week to two weeks of training. First you will experience the business opportunity by visiting one of the successful franchises already established. Then a coach or manager will come to your location and help you during the first few days or week.

The cons of a coffee shop franchise opportunity
There are always good points and bad points to any business. The bad points are that each franchise will usually have their own set of rules and regulations. The main downfall, of course, is the amount of money you need up front before your business even begins. Then you have additional expenses as well. Sometimes it makes you feel as though things would have been a lot less expensive if you went on your own but you don't have the support that will benefit your business in the long run. When you go with a coffee shop franchise, there are several regulations which must be adhered to including declaring the amount of earnings. You must have a certain amount of employees maintained at all times and the business must be run the way that they specify.

Each coffee shop franchise usually has their own site that lists the major rules and regulations so you can get a first hand look at what may be required. This will help you determine if you want to peruse this franchise more or if you feel you would be better off if you went to another franchise.

Coffee shop franchise opportunities are there to help those who want to be their own boss get started with some type of guidance. The benefit of coffee shop franchises helping you is it also gives them a cut of the profit as well. It is a situation where both companies win, the franchisor and the franchisee.

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Coffee Shop Franchises for the Desiring Entrepreneur

Everyone dreams of owning their own business. Sometimes the ideas just fall in your lap while others struggle to come up with something that they like and can make money doing. It's not only difficult to think of something but then you have the expenses that come with if you are considering buying the franchise as well. Then you must consider the fact that the franchise may not always be popular and the franchise may be lost. One great thing about the coffee shop business is the fact that coffee will never be out of style. In fact the future looks very bright for the coffee business around the world. With different flavors being developed regularly, it is easy to see why people would love to see what is coming up next in the coffee world.

There are several different coffee shop franchise businesses to choose from and each one offers something different. They may offer freshly baked pastries and breakfast sandwiches, or deli sandwiches and coffee. You can even serve ice cold fruit smoothies to your number one customers who find that your smoothies hit the spot on a hot summer day. In the winter they can select from all the best flavored hot coffee you offer to help them warm up their day.

It's not easy starting one of the many coffee shop franchises but you can do it with careful planning and help from the franchisor. The initial investment depends on each franchise and they each offer you something different. Being in business for yourself can be very rewarding for you both financially and emotionally.

You will first need to think about what you are looking for in a franchise. For example, do you already have a cozy little shop that would be great to start your business in or do you want one that is on the go? Maybe you want to have a drive through coffee shop where customers don't even get out of their cars to get their coffee because your employees will be bringing it to them. This is not only a wise concept but it is a great way to promote your business because people will soon start talking about the fact that they do not need to get out to get their daily dose of quality coffee in the mornings.

There are other things to consider when you want to open up a coffee shop franchise. You need to think about the location expenses, employee expenses, insurance and more. Your franchise manager will go over all the expenses with you so you will know exactly how much to account for your business.

Like any business, be sure to create a business plan. Be sure to include all your goals, both personally and business-wise, and how you want your business to turn out. What do you want to achieve? It's all up to you. Before making your final decision on a franchise, be sure to speak to someone with each franchise that interests you the most and then you can base your decision on your conversation. Enjoy your new business!

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How to Choose Among the Best Coffee Franchises

What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. This phrase can be applicable to almost everything in life. We can't always have the same things as everyone else otherwise life would be very plain. We always need a selection in everything we do. Choosing the best coffee franchises for you is no different. You need to find the best coffee franchise by process of elimination since there are so many to choose from. To help you in your search for the best coffee franchise to choose here are some tips.

Tip #1: Do your research. Just about everything is on line these days and coffee franchises are no exception. You can find out how many complaints have been launched against a certain franchise, if any. You can also find out what they offer and how much everything will cost. Each franchise offers something different. It may be rich homemade style fudge or deli sandwiches made fresh in the shop. You will have the choice of which one you want to offer to your customers.

Tip #2: Don't feel pressured. When you start to contact the best coffee franchises on your list they may start calling you or emailing you after receiving all your contact information. Only contact the ones that you find interesting and you want to find out more about.

Tip #3: Make a plan. You need to know where your financing is going to come from and how much you will have access to. You also need to know where you want to put your coffee shop, your hours, what else you plan to sell if anything. Your plan will help you stay within your limits when you start talking to franchise owners about their opportunity.

Tip #4: Don't sell yourself short. You may not realize it but after talking to a franchise owner you may decide to go with a franchise that doesn't necessarily fit into your plan. Although this may be more affordable or seem like the best deal possible at the time, in the long run you won't be as happy with your new business. Stick to your plan. This is what you thought of and this is what will make you the happiest.

Tip #5: Always remember that you are in control. Even though you are buying into a franchise you can still maintain control of your own business. Rules change all the time and you need to be careful that the rules and regulations do not change after you sign the papers.

It's nice to be in business for yourself but you also need to look after yourself when starting your new business venture. Even though your business may not do as well as you hoped you can still save it with a little more effort. Remember that it is what you want it to be. The more time you put into it the more successful you can be. Always ask questions when you don't understand and only sell what you want to sell in your business. Don't feel pushed to sell something that was not on the agreement.

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Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee-an Introduction to One of the Best Coffees in the World

Widely considered to be one of the worlds best, if not the best, coffees, Jamaican Blue Mountain is a rich, smooth roast. This aromatic and flavorful coffee has to be experienced to be believed.

The Beginning of Jamaica's Coffee Trade

The history of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is just as rich and interesting as the coffee itself. According to one legend, King Louis XV of France sent three coffee plants to French colony Martinique around 1723. Just one of the three plants survived, and this particular coffee plant was given to Sir Nicholas Lawes, a former Jamaican Governor, approximately five years later. Once this coffee plant arrived on Jamaican soil, a coffee crop was quickly established thanks to soil rich in nitrogen, potash, and phosphorous. Less than ten years later, coffee exportation had already begun. More than 600 coffee plantations had been established by the early nineteenth century.

It is believed that all of the coffee plants grown in Jamaica today are descendents of that single plant, of the Arabica typica variety, that arrived in Jamaica from France, via the island of Martinique.

The Blue Mountains Factor-why does that Coffee Taste so Good?

The fantastic Blue Mountain taste is achieved by a combination of three different factors: altitude, a special kind of rich, nutrient-laden soil called volcanic soil, and the treatment processes undergone by the beans once they are harvested.

The hub of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee production is, of course, Jamaica's Blue Mountains, a magnificent mountain range that rises more than seven thousand feet above sea level. The high altitude, dense cloud cover, and low annual rainfall of the region all serve to slow down the maturation rate of the coffee crop. In this region, crops take up to ten months to mature, whereas in most other parts of the world, the average time taken is five to six months. The longer maturation time produces beans that are larger and have a more concentrated and complex flavor.

Like every other mountain in the islands of the Caribbean, Jamaica's Blue Mountains are the peaks of extinct volcanoes. Throughout centuries of eruptions, the soil created on the peaks of the Blue Mountains has become extremely nutrient-rich due to the decomposition of plant life, and the deposition of accumulated biomass. This extraordinarily rich soil is an important ingredient in producing the exceptional quality coffee beans that go into every cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

This is not the entire story, however. There is one more important factor, without which Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would not be as highly-regarded as it is today. The production and distribution of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is rigorously regulated and protected by the Jamaican government to ensure that every bean roasted and every cup brewed is of the highest quality.

For example, only coffee grown at an altitude of between 3,000 and 5,500 feet is allowed to bear the name Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. If the coffee plants are grown between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, the coffee is known as Jamaica High Mountain Coffee, and plants grown below 1,500 feet are Jamaica Low Mountain or Jamaica Supreme Coffee. These regulations ensure that all Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is grown at the special altitude that delays maturation of the coffee plants and produces that complex and rich flavored coffee. In addition, there are geographical requirements as well as elevation requirements, in that to bear the Jamaican Blue Mountain, the coffee plants must be grown in one of only four parishes in the region.

Another unique aspect of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is that pulped and washed coffee beans are allowed to age for a full six weeks, which is a particularly unusual part of the preparation process. Finally, before export of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is allowed, it is checked for appearance and taste, to ensure that every single batch of coffee is of the highest quality.

How to Best Enjoy Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Once you have made the effort to purchase one of the very best coffees in the world, it would be almost criminal if you did not ensure that your coffee is properly stored and brewed!

Storing your coffee properly requires that it be sealed in an airtight container, away from any foods with strong odors or flavors, such as curry powder and other spices. Refrigeration in an airtight container is the ideal way to store ground beans.

You can keep your coffee tasting great by cleaning your coffee pot immediately following each use. Never use detergent or other cleaners in your coffee pot, this can affect the taste. Simply empty the pot, brush and rinse thoroughly with hot water. Additionally, give the pot a rinse with hot water before making a fresh batch of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, and enjoy.

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Tips To Give Up Coffee

Coffee for many households has now become a daily routine to wake themselves up in the morning. Many people have a sense of belief that without the daily cup of coffee that they would not be as alert and functional. While the sense that coffee has an ability to create better alertness in the morning research in fact indicates that a non-coffee drinker is actually less groggy and more productive and alert than their coffee drinking counterparts.

So if coffee doesn' t actually wake you up as suspected by coffee drinkers then why do people still drink coffee in the morning. Well partly is because it has become habit and due to coffees addictive nature they have also now become dependent on it. They have created a false sense of belief in their minds that without coffee they would not be as functional or productive.

If you want to give up coffee and create a healthier life for yourself then here are a few tips to get you going.

1. Wean yourself off coffee. Because coffee is addictive you may experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, irritation, fatigue and even depression. If you are currently drinking several cups of coffee a day you will want to start by cutting that by a cup a day over a short period of time. If you drink only a cup a day then cut that by either the amount of coffee you use to make it or reduce your cup size. The idea is to get your body acclimatized to the reduction in caffeine you are consuming daily and make it easier to eventually get rid of the addiction.

2. Go Decaf. A great innovation in coffee has been the availability of decaf coffee. While this is not necessarily the best option to take you can use decaf coffee as part of your process to stop drinking coffee. This way you can still be drinking the same number of cups of coffee as before but you will replace some of your regular coffee cups with decaf and gradually increasing the number of decaf cups over time until it fully replaces all your regular cups of coffee.

3. Replace your drink of choice. You don' t always have to be drinking coffee. Why not replace it to another warm drink like tea. Green tea for instance contains less caffeine then coffee and have also been known to have antioxidants that is beneficial for your well being.

4. Create a new morning routine. Instead of running to make your cup of coffee in the morning create a new morning routine. Maybe put on your sneakers and start your morning with a jog. You will find the cool morning air hugely beneficial to waking yourself up as you are feeding oxygen to your brain and awakening it for your day.

5. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is hardly conducive to starting the day on a fresh note. By getting enough sleep at night somewhere around 7 to 8 hours you will find that when you wake you won' t feel as tired.

It is not far fetched to live without coffee and you can do it easily with some of the simple steps above. You will find that without coffee in your system you will actually be more awake and productive in your day.

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Healthy Lifestyles, Happiness- Socrates, Reviled Alive, Revered Ever After

Socrates in his youth was a fit warrior, but wounds of wars made him in old age an ugly old man. Socrates was retired with a small pension when he could no longer fight, and would walk in rags through the streets of Athens in his later years.

But in his youth, during the height of the Golden Age of Greece, Socrates had performed with great bravery at three great battles against the ever looming armies and navies of Persia. As Socrates aged, he limped and was infirm; no longer fit for military defense of Athens.

A respected, wise old warrior, he was allowed to walk and talk to groups of people at the markets. And as always all would stop and talk to an old man and listen to his times of war with Persia when they held them off at the pass, which was always the case when Athenians could rejoice.

To others and youth this was ancient history, but what drew the brightest students and scholars to the feet of this quiet and thoughtful humble old warrior to hear of his wise series of questions and answers that he brought you to conclude about you own questions which Socrates would usually turn back on the student.

Socrates would encourage the students to search his own deeper meaning about a sometimes witty but shallow question. They could now allow how this must reflect their deep inner thoughts, worries, needs or actions.

His purity of mind allowed thoughts of good and ways to improve the human condition and how we all must search our own soul and moral code before causing another a harm. This is often heard from an old warrior, but none spoke with such clarity around the essence of a question. What was the question asking, really?

At first it was as the old warriors around the village water hole in their older days, who would reflect on what had gone wrong and how they could have made right and what had gone wrong in their battles, defeats, retreats and occasional victories. What had it all been for, would be asked of Socrates.

Most old warriors, even today, would defend what ever decisions, however apparently harmful, the present administration was taking. This little civilization on a hill was surrounded by ignorance or power, and all citizens of Greece needed to be on their alert.

As at Gettysburg or the Battle of Britain,some times the fate of democracy could seem to hang by threads, being defended by those brave few. Socrates made the leaders of ancient Greece jealous and he was by law required to die. His choice was hemlock rather than strangulation, the sword, or by being hanged.

This happened quickly with Aristotle, Plato and a few students with him to the end, which Aristotle later described to a young Alexander, within years of birth.

But with the disciples and wise men from the east, even 350 years before Christ, men believed in a nirvana or heaven of bliss for those who lived pure lives.

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Sales of Energy Drinks Continue to Increase

Energy drinks are becoming the beverage of choice for many young people, and as their popularity rises, so do the sales numbers. Although soft drinks still sell the most of all cold drinks, energy drinks continue to chip away, claiming a larger percentage of the lucrative market each year.

Much of the gain in popularity of energy drinks has to do with aggressive marketing campaigns directed primarily at young people. Hip and edgy advertisements promise that energy drinks will ignite your mind, refresh your body, help you party like a rock star, and enhance your performance and stamina.

Energy drinks are especially popular among college students looking for something to help them stay alert during all-night study sessions. Of course, they are also used to mix popular alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

Energy drinks with names like Rock Star, Monster, Red Bull, Full Throttle, Spike, Amp and Life Force all sell the image of strength, energy and speed. Slick and colorful packaging increases the attraction for users lured by the "cool" factor.

Although young people make up the largest percentage of users, energy drinks appeal to anyone who feels like they need an extra boost, and these days, that means most of us. Energy drinks appeal to truck drivers trying to stay awake for the long haul, computer programmers, young professionals, and athletes hoping to increase performance.

Energy Drinks Have Double the Caffeine of Soft Drinks

Caffeine is the primary ingredient in energy drinks, with most drinks containing twice the amount of caffeine as soft drinks

Ingredients making up the remainder of energy drinks vary widely, but sugar is generally the secondary ingredient, in itself an energy booster for most people. One container of energy drink will have between 14 and 17 teaspoons of sugar, and if several cans are consumed, that's a tremendous amount of sugar. Many health professionals recommend a limit of 12 teaspoons of sugar per day.

Other ingredients vary from brand to brand, and are often herbal, allowing the producer to promote the drink as healthy and nutritious. Most of these herbal ingredients are energy boosters.

Taurine is an amino acid that is found naturally in the body. A person's taurine balance can become depleted during extreme physical exertion and high stress. It is also believed to have antioxidant properties that can enable the body to dispose of toxins and harmful substances more efficiently.

L-Carnitine is another amino acid found naturally in the human body, believed to increase energy and metabolism.

Many energy drinks contain herbs such as ginseng and guarana root, which are thought to be healthy ingredients that increase energy and reduce stress; or ginkgo biloba, which is believed to aide memory and concentration.

Possible Risks of Energy Drinks

The high levels of caffeine in energy drinks can create problems for many consumers. Caffeine is a stimulant, and is known to be mildly addictive. When used excessively, it can create stomach ulcers, nervousness, headaches and heart palpitations, but how much caffeine it takes to cause problems varies from person to person.

Thought to be potentially more problematic are the various extra energy boosters. The level of these ingredients is usually not listed on the label, and it's often difficult to know how ingredients such as taurine, L-Carnitine and energy-enhancing herbs will affect the body when combined with caffeine.

Although the jury may be out about the health benefits and potential risks of energy drinks, there is no argument that they become particularly dangerous when they are combined with alcohol. Unfortunately, this use of energy drinks is becoming increasingly popular.

Mixing a depressant like alcohol with a stimulant like an energy drink is often an invitation for trouble because the energy drink can lessen alcohol's effect on the metabolism. As a result, it's easy to drink more and feel the effects less, an especially dangerous combination that leads drinkers to believe they aren't as impaired as they really are. Energy drinks can also make alcoholic drinks taste less like alcohol.

Energy Drinks in Moderation

When is comes to energy drinks, the old adage is especially true. Energy drinks are believed to be a safe drink when used in moderation. An occasional energy drink will cause most people no problems whatsoever, and may give the user a slight and short lived boost of energy. However, energy drinks should not take the place of proper nutrition and adequate rest, should never be used in place of a meal, and should never be mixed with alcohol.

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Latte Art, Coffee, Cappuccino, Espresso, Get Yours in Style

Coffee is a almost a food group to most people. It gets us going in the morning, keeps us going in the afternoon, and tastes good after a fine meal.

But coffee is no longer just "coffee".. there are so many options now. Have you ever gone to a specialty coffee shop?.. It can be more complicated that getting a takeout burger! Non fat, low fat, espresso, double espresso, cappuccino, latte, low fat latte, chocolate latte.. and the list goes on, as you can add toppings.

This of course does not help the waistline any, but man it taste good. If you are unsure of what the basics are of specialty coffees, here is a quick breakdown.

Latte: dark roast coffee made with milk

Cappuccino: dark roast coffee made with steamed milk and milk foam on top

Espresso: caffeine jolt!.. concentrated dark roast espresso coffee.

Each one of the above can be altered with different roasts. So now you have to pick your roast, what type of milk or milk foam, and toppings of course!

You can make these at home, there are many machines on the market now, that will help you create your perfect cup of coffee, what ever form that is. No longer are we dependent on that old coffee percolator our parents or grandparents had, that was hauled out for Sunday breakfast!

With this new surge of coffee and coffee stores out there, there are coffee artists that will make your coffee look to good to drink. Check out the free video clip of a "Latte Artist" and you could get some ideas for impressing your friends with your new found coffee talents!

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The Benefits of Electrolytes in Sports Drinks

It has been 50 years since the sports drink was introduced to athletes in the United States. The first sports drink, Bengal Punch, was given to athletes at Louisiana State University in 1958. Gatorade, the most recognizable name in sports drinks, debuted the following decade at the University of Florida and revolutionized the way athletes energize and re-hydrate themselves during a sporting event.

Since then, other sports drinks similar to Gatorade have been introduced to the market, including Glaceau Vitamin Water. These drinks are incredibly popular with adult and teen athletes, as well as beverage consumers in general.

The main ingredients that sports drinks contain which enhance athletic performance are electrolytes, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Athletes can gain many benefits from sports drinks while they are physically active. Among the most important of these aspects are:

Replenishment of Electrolytes

Electrolytes are salts that are naturally part of body fluids. When an athlete (or a gardener or a mail carrier or anyone else who engages in physical activity) sweats, electrolytes are lost through the sweat. If electrolytes are lost too quickly, the body does not have the ability to restore them as rapidly as they were lost. Sports drinks contain electrolytes such as chloride, sodium, and potassium to help replenish what was lost through sweat. Introducing electrolytes back into the body helps keep dehydration from occurring. Dehydration can become a very serious problem if not attended to. Electrolytes help to increase the absorption of fluids into the bloodstream.

A person who is exerting energy can quickly become dehydrated, in as little as 30 minutes. Therefore, it is suggested that athletes begin drinking a sports drink even before they start their activity.

Replenishment of Energy

Anyone who has ever exercised knows that fatigue can occur quickly. One of the reasons for this is that exercise increases metabolism, and when a person's metabolism is working overtime, it breaks down carbohydrates quickly. Carbohydrates are one of the main sources of energy for the body.

By replacing lost carbohydrates, the body can continue to work efficiently and an athlete has more energy to complete their activity.

Replacement of Lost Vitamins and Minerals

The human body also draws energy from various vitamins and minerals only found in certain foods, beverages or supplements. Sports drinks contain these vitamins and minerals to help keep the body working efficiently during activity.

Quenching of Thirst

As the body loses fluids, a person who is exerting energy will become thirsty. The ingredients found in sports drinks can quench thirst as effectively as water and better than soft drinks leaving the person feeling more refreshed and energized.

The Right Balance of Ingredients

In the past, many athletes created their own energy/sports drinks. Some still do. However, a sports drink that has a proper balance of ingredients will be much more effective than a homemade version. Most commercial sports drinks have the correct balance of electrolytes, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and liquids. Without the right mix of ingredients in the proper amounts, a sports drink could hinder instead of enhance performance. Upset stomach or poor absorption rate of the drink could occur from the wrong balance of ingredients.

A Variety of Color and Flavor Choices

If you think that the color of a sports drink does not make a difference, spend a few minutes at the snack bar at a Little League field. Children, and many adults, find the color choice very important. Color can invoke a mood such as a cool blue color giving the feel of thirst quenching mountain water or a hot red color invoking the image of energy. It may be psychological, but it is still important.

Those who drink sports drinks also have taste preferences, and with the variety of sports drinks offered today, there is a choice for every taste.

They Don't "Run Through" a Body as Quickly as Water

Water may quench thirst, but it doesn't replenish any of the lost electrolytes, carbohydrates, vitamins or minerals that sports drinks can. Although all of these things are lost during sweating, they can also be lost through urination. Water causes more frequent urination than sports drinks do. Therefore, sports drinks not only replenish these important electrolytes, carbohydrates, vitamins or minerals, they also can help the body hold on to the ones they already have for a longer period of time.

The main ingredient in any sports drink is, of course, water. Water is important for re-hydration. The additional ingredients in sports drinks make them a better choice than water alone for athletes and others who exert a lot of energy and need to replenish the essential nutrients that have been quickly depleted in their bodies.

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Drinking Coffee for Health and Weight Loss

Like many topics and issues in the health and weight loss industry I believe drinking coffee for health and weight loss has been left unsettled with a growing controversy every day. People having all kinds of views whether bias or unbiased, has really made this topic difficult to come to a conclusion. So from all my research, studying, and experimenting I believe I have been able to come up with the unbiased truth on the topic drinking coffee for health and weight loss.

I would like to start off and put to rest some myths you might of heard that just seem to be used against coffee that have been proven wrong. So let me just quickly clear up these myths.

First, the caffeine in coffee does not increase the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver injury, pancreatic cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer incidence, or certain types of cancers. The truth is coffee actually decreases the risks or has absolutely no effect on these health conditions when coffee consumption is taken in moderation.

Second, the argument that declares coffee as a drug because of its drug like qualities like addiction, a stimulant, and mood altering. These things can become a problem without moderation a discipline but coffee being one of the healthiest beverages out there, I would rather have people drinking coffee than soda pops or sugar drinks.

Third, an excess of coffee increases urinary secretion of important minerals such as magnesium, potassium and sodium and uses up a fair amount of vitamin B1. These minerals and vitamins are very important to our body's health but that is why I like to bring up several tests that have been conducted which should clarify a few things. These test proved that people that drink coffee consume an average of 8 to 14% more minerals and vitamins than people that don't drink coffee. I don't know if coffee drinkers eat healthier or what but there mineral and vitamin loss is made up by consumption of food and daily multi-vitamins.

These myths have had an impact on the questions and controversy against coffee being benefial or not for healthy living and weight loss. I must point out that anything in excess is bad for you so when people say coffee is unhealthy, I can most of the time point out ten unhealthier things they do instead of drinking coffee.

Now that we are pasted that, let us focus on the advantages and disadvantages of coffee.

Advantages:

Coffee is actually one of the healthiest beverages billions of people consume regularly.
Coffee containing with bitter orange, hydroxycitric acid, and chromium can encourage an increase up to 30% in metabolic rate.
Coffee with exercise when taking 300mg averages a 20% increase in energy and fatigue while burning fat increased 107% greater than without caffeine.
Caffeine in coffee keeps our brains alert and receptive of new information.
Regular consumption of coffee decreases the risk of type II diabetes and many other health risks.

Disadvantages:

Coffee when consumed in excess can be addictive, stimulate, and a mood charger.
A large amount of coffee or caffeine consumed all at once can have a negative affect on blood sugar levels that influences fat burning that could change into storing fat.
Too much coffee over time can stain your teeth.

With so many benefits of coffee for health and weight loss it is hard to be worried about the few disadvantages when moderation can solve it all.

Step 1 Coffee Clean Up

Coffee when consumed straight and by itself it perfect. Having zero calories, zero carbs, and zero fats one can see that it would not hinder weight loss. When adding all that extra sugars, sweeteners, syrups, alcohol and so on just make it a high calorie dessert.

Sticking with regular or straight shots of coffee with limiting extras like milk and sweeteners is necessary for achieving healthy living and weight loss.

Step 2 - Coffee in Moderation

Too much coffee at one time can affect blood sugar levels so the easy fix is reducing your in take at one time. Spacing out your coffee in take throughout the day would be something to consider and would benefit as an appetite suppressant while reducing chances of increasing blood sugar.

Reducing your coffee in take might be a struggle and can possibly cause headaches and constipation but in the end is worth it.

Step 3 Limit Simple Carbs with Coffee

Avoiding or at least limiting simple carbs while drinking coffee would be wise as coffee can affect blood sugar negatively and adding simple carbs will just encourage an insulin spike.

Step 4 - Exercise

Exercise has so many benefits besides burning calories and suppressing your appetite. Exercise can also help regulate your body's use of insulin to keep blood sugar down and making coffee have little affect on your body. So make sure you participate in aerobic activities, lift some weights, and keep drinking that coffee and you should achieve weight loss in no time.

Don't let people tell you coffee is a bad drug and should be avoided at all costs. You know the truth that coffee actually has more benefits than negatives, so enjoy your coffee worry free about hindering for diet and weight loss goals.

Have a great day and God bless!

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Austin Coffee: Keeping it Weird

Austin has been known for its individuality for decades. Though the chain stores and restaurants are slowly creeping their way in from the edges of Austin's sprawl, still many independently owned shops blanket the heart of the city. Coffee shops in Austin truly capture the essence of what the city is known for- a friendly, laid back atmosphere, where one can feel a sense of community by joining their friends or making some new ones.

As Austin is a college town, coffee businesses thrive around the university, keeping students alert while cramming for upcoming exams. Though Quackenbushs held court on the Drag directly across from UT, they relocated with a slight reincarnation in the heart of Hyde Park with Quack's 43rd Street Bakery. Hyde Park is home to a large student population who enjoy not only the delightful coffee, but Quack's large lineup of desserts and baked goods, which can be found distributed to other shops without an in-house bakery.

Spider House also plays host to students from an old renovated house overlooking Hemphill park, just north of campus. Though the inside is very cozy, the large outside decks of the Spider House see a lot of action, especially in the evenings when live DJs and bands play nightly, and the cheap drinks and free movie screenings only add to their popularity.

Though Little City just closed its campus location, its downtown location is going strong. Located on Congress Avenue, Little City is the obvious coffee shop choice for those who prefer a little local flavor to that of Starbucks (which is located directly across the street). Little City serves up a wide variety of coffee drinks, and over 15 whole bean blends from around the world, and if the diner is lucky, certain nights they serve up low priced entre and wine combinations with some good people watching from inside the shop or a small sidewalk table.

South of Little City, in the middle of the Second Street District, lies Austin Java's third store location on the first floor of City Hall. Austin Java beat out 25 other local establishments vying for the slot, with its wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options- definitely a standout in the coffee shop business, when food options can be limited to a muffin or prepackaged breakfast taco.

South Austin is the heart and soul of the coffee house community. Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse promotes togetherness and a place for community action and people watching, like their website says it was, in the prefranchise days. They offer an all vegetarian menu to accompany a cup of joe, and several nooks to gather or seclude, both inside and out, just off the banks of the creek.

As the coffee shop of the swanky San Jose Hotel on South Congress, Jo's Coffee offers more than the coffee drinks and sweets available from the open air stand. The Rock N Reel happens every Thursday evening, with a themed pairing of music and movies, and Sundays bring the Sinners Brunch with live music and South Austin Speedballs, a three dollar longneck beer and coffee combo.

Further down South Congress lies Ruta Maya, possibly the king of the coffee houses. Housed in one of the repurposed World War I aviation buildings, Ruta Maya seems sprawling compared to other shops. The space is needed however, as Ruta Maya is upholding the old tradition of the coffee shop as the Penny University- a common area where, for the price of a cup of coffee, one could be educated by other customers with experienced backgrounds. Today, for the price of a cup of coffee (now more than a penny), Ruta Maya offers yoga, tai chi, environmental awareness classes, and a single parent resource network, allowing Austinites to come together, enjoy each others company, and keep the bonds of the community strong.

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Electric Cookers: Cook Fast, Forget Past

Cookers have been used in the households for a long time. Several types of cookers are used for cooking food in the kitchen. Gas cookers, electric cooking devices and oil-filled cooking equipments are some of the popular choices for cooking. The electric cookers are not only used by the housewives but also by the professional chefs. The professional people prefer to use these equipments because they are non reactive and so they keep food hygienic.

Electric cookers are simple cooking utensils that are manufactured considering several safety measures. With the technological advancements taking place, different manufacturing companies are making programmable cookers which can be very helpful to the users. Such cookers can be adjusted for high or low pressure cooking, boiling, baking or warming the food items. The electronic thermostat is used in manufacturing the cookers which gives more strength to them.

The electric range cookers are being manufactured in many colours and designs. Several attractive features have been added in them in order to lure the customers. The push-button controls and digital display are the latest facilities provided with the electric cooking devices these days. The available designs are chrome range, chrome solid door type and many others. One can also find the manufacturers claiming that their cookers do not consume electricity at all. The users should avoid falling in such traps.

For making a smart purchase, one should take care of certain points. Users can go for the renowned brands since they provide a sort of reliability. These big names follow stringent quality policy in their organisation and therefore the probability of manufacturing faulty cookers is very less. The higher temperature resistance capability in cookers is another factor that should be considered because such products can cook food in a faster way. The nutrients of vegetables and other types of foods stay trapped in such cookers. In addition to that, multi-deck container facility is provided in some of the advanced electric range cookers so that users could cook several kinds of food at the same time.

The best places where electric cookers can be found are the online shopping portals. These marketplaces give a host of choices to the customers such as free gifts, discounted price, cash back offer, etc. Shopping becomes more enjoyable at these websites.

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The Many Types of Coffee Pots

The definition of a coffee pot is a vessel used to brew or make coffee. These come in many different styles and offer various ways to produce the desired brew.

Drip Maker

The most widely used coffee pot today is the drip maker. These work by placing coffee in a filter and placing it inside of the container which holds water. The water is heated and pumped through the coffee where it then drips into the pot below. Water temperature is controlled internally to maintain a temperature just below boiling. Boiling coffee tends to produce a bitter taste which is undesirable to most people. These drip pots come with many features which include clocks, alarms, and delayed timers. Most offer the benefit of setting the timer to go off about the time you usually get up in the morning. It is very pleasing to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Percolator

Another popular type coffee pot is the percolator. Percolators work by pumping water into the container holding the coffee until the desired result is achieved. The coffee stays in the same container in which it is brewed. A basket keeps the dry coffee from being deposited into the coffee container. Percolators were popular in the 1970s and 80s before the drip maker became the coffee maker of choice. Percolators are still used today to produce large quantities of coffee since the drip maker usually has a limit of twelve cups.

Vacuum

Many people still enjoy the tradition of vacuum coffee pots because the pots offer interesting shapes and designs. These pots work on the theory that steam creates a vacuum which draws the water and steam through the coffee grounds without distributing the grounds throughout the coffee. The process is similar to the percolator with the exception of the repeated pumping action required of the percolator.

Coffee Pot Safety

There were times when coffee pots were made with long cords which would reach from a good distance across the room. This became a hazard to children who were playing on the floor. Many young children were burned when they pulled the pot off in the floor and the coffee splashed on them. Today coffee pots usually come with a short cord that will only allow you to use it close to an electrical outlet. It is important that you not use an extension cord since this could allow small children to get hurt.

It is also important that your home coffee pot be equipped with a timer that will automatically shut off after a certain period of time, usually two hours. This could prevent a fire if you forget to turn the pot off before you leave the house. This feature can give you peace of mind when you remember half way through your day that you left the coffee pot on.

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Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets Can Light a Spark

There are two unique ways for someone to add a spark to anyone else’s life when giving a gift. These ideas can clear the fog in one’s noggin after a long nights slumber in the morning hours. They can revive one’s spirits later in the day after the ghosts of fatigue or malaise have made their presence known. The secret treasures that can be bestowed are called Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets.

You may know some or many folks who cherish their cup of coffee or tea like nothing else. The cobwebs in their minds are replaced with energy, focus, and vitality. The aroma and taste of these two sought after commodities are what many people turn to when they need a boost from a sagging mind frame. Perhaps you personally can testify of the reviving qualities of either type of beverage and wish to share it with your good blessings.

That’s why Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets can be precisely what you need to bring a generous dose of good cheer into someone’s world for birthday, anniversary, get well, thank-you, or overall friendship reasons. These treats go beyond giving just the main attraction but include other goodies as well. The coffee or tea varieties can contain cinnamon stirs, cookies, honey, creamers, biscuits, and chocolates. Others may have an inspiring book or a peaceful CD. These and even the delightful container they come in would add to the glory, indeed!

Think about those that you know who gotta have their cup o’ joe or spot of tea when the need arises. Take the advice of aGiftBasketParadise.com and consider Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets as gift ideas for these people in your life. Provide them the source of vigor and zip that raises them to the heights that they wish to be.

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Cup Of Coffee

Gifts For The Coffee Lover
By Victor Epand

We all drink coffee, well most of us do, so at Christmas or on a birthday, a coffee gift can be an excellent way to show you care. However, beyond buying, well, more coffee, what can we do to make a special coffee gift to a special coffee lover?

We will ignore buying specialty coffee here, because that is simply too easy to do, instead we will focus on various other types of coffee gifts there are to give.

Customized mugs, which say something along the lines of World's Best Husband, are a good way to give a coffee lover a unique gift. You can usually find a place that will put anything you want on a coffee mug, including a special picture, saying or a goofy graphic. Another option is to make a coffee mug yourself through clay pottery. If you don't know how to do that, paint a special design on a coffee mug using paint pens. This will give the cup much more sentimental meaning.

Coffee makers are a pretty standard gift for a coffee lover, but you can go the extra mile and get them one with all the bells and whistles. An even better option is to buy them a coffee maker that doubles as an expresso or cappuccino machine. Once the coffee lover has had a taste of cappuccino from their own machine, they won't be going back to regular coffee.

Specialty creamers are available in every grocery store and, for a relatively cheap price, you can add a Mocha, French Vanilla or Butterscotch flavor to your usually boring coffee. The only problem with this gift is

that once you buy it for the coffee lover and they get a taste of it, they are going to want it from then on. Be prepared to foot the bill.

Flavored stir sticks are a unique type of way to add a punch to any coffee. Recipes can usually be found on the internet and most will dissolve as you stir. If you go healthy, you eliminate the need for sugar in coffee, which as we all know, can be very unhealthy.

For the healthy nut, you might look for some of that soybean coffee. Its different than soymilk, and yet it doesn't have the caffeine. Roasted soybeans are used to imitate the flavor of coffee, and the result is often remarkable.

The last, and best gift, you can get a coffee lover is a gift card to a coffee shop. This will allow them to buy the coffee they want or the accessories they need. Most coffee shops, especially the larger ones, offer this option.

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Bunn Coffee Makers

Coffee Grinder
By sajith joseph

A coffee grinder is an essential piece of coffee processing equipment. Grinding the coffee beans is an important step in coffee making. The perfect grind will enable you to enjoy the best cup of stimulating coffee. Grinding of coffee beans should be done just before brewing.

People who want the best flavor in their coffee use coffee grinders. Coffee grinders work so well because they unleash the bean oils and aromas right before you make a pot.

Coffee grinders were used commercially in the coffee houses that seemed to be sprouting up on every corner in town. The grinding blades could be brought closer together or further apart by tightening or loosening a screw. The innovation of the wall mount happened around this time too. While it seems like a small thing, the grinder no longer had to be held in your hand while you grind.

Using a grinder helps to prevent the loss of some of the oil that provides the coffee its flavor. If you were to drink ground coffee that has been open for sometime the intense flavor would be lost as the grounds have begun to lose the oil. But using an espresso coffee grinder prevents this from happening.

Coffee experts recommend

adding two heaping tablespoons of whole beans to the grinder for every six ounces of water you plan to use. To be exact, you probably should measure out your water before you add it to the coffee maker if you are using a drip coffee maker.

There are so many Commercial coffee grinders on the market; select the best one. UK based Karas-coffee machine company are commercial coffee machine wholesale suppliers to some of the finest venues across the country as well as supplying a wide range of coffee makers and espresso machines across UK.

By: sajith joseph

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

There are so many Commercial coffee grinders on the market; select the best one. UK based Karas-coffee machine company are commercial coffee machine wholesale suppliers to some of the finest venues across the country as well as supplying a wide range of coffee makers and espresso machines across UK.

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Coffee Break Arcade

The Coffee Experience
By Liz Canham

There has developed a new craze in Britain in recent years. You can see it wherever you go; people walking or even riding bicycles, carrying a cardboard carton of the stuff. Yes, you guessed it, it's the coffee craze. The coffee experience has taken over from the can of cola and the coffee vocabulary litters our speach.

In America coffee drinking became particularly popular with the birth of a well known chain of coffee shops. In the cafés of Europe, particularly Italy, Spain and France, strong coffee has been the beverage of choice for centuries.

Drinking coffee has become so addictive that people will even queue up to be served their favourite variation, be it latte, espresso, mocha or a plain americano. One chain of coffee shops sells at least forty different blends of coffee from all over the world. There are blends from Latin America, Africa, Arabia, Asia and even Europe, as well as mixed blends and decafinated versions.

Coffee shops and cafés have popped up everywhere, in cities, towns and villages across the country. This phenomenon seems to have been caused by the desire of the youngsters of today to have a place to meet friends and do business as well as shoppers seeking refuge for their sore feet. Indeed coffee shops seem to be taking the place of the pub for many people.

Some business people even set up their offices in coffee shops; with the advent of wireless connections for their laptop computers and the ever present mobile 'phone, nobody actually needs to actually be in their office in order to work. This situation is ideal for informal business meetings as the atmosphere is much more relaxed than it would be at their place of work.

The coffee experience

has now become such an important part of life so café owners need to look to their laurels if they are to survive. Customers are becoming far more selective when it comes to choosing the venue for their coffee drinking and the choice of products has a bearing too. With all the competition, only the coffee shops which provide the most comfortable atmosphere and best variety of coffees, well made, together with accompaniments such as pastries, cakes and biscuits will attract the most custom.

Customers expect not only different blends and origins of coffee these days but different flavours too such as cinnamon, hazelnut, nutmeg and chocolate. Not only must the coffee be well made and flavoursome but a wide choice of additives needs to be available. Gone are the days when white sugar would do; now there must be brown sugar, sugar crystals, honey and low calorie alternatives. The whiteners may include whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk, pouring cream, whipped cream and low fat powdered creamer. People aren't just looking for a drink but a whole experience when they go for a cup of coffee.

Consumers are even tiring of the more traditional ways of making coffee and are demanding that it be blended with cola, jam or spices usually associated with making curry. There are almost no lengths to which the coffee fanatic will not go to enhance the coffee experience.

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Organic Coffee

Coffee Vs. Water -- Which One Actually Gives You More Energy?

Coffee is by far one of the world’s most popular and loved beverages. According to Wirthlin Worldwide (a market research company), North Americans consume on average 1.8 cups of coffee per day. Compare this to our water consumption. It is recommended to consume on average 8-10 8oz glasses of “living water” (ie. mineral rich, slightly alkaline, and energy producing when in body) each day. However, scary statistics reveal that 20% of North Americans drink no water at all while only 42% of us consume a mere 2 glasses or fewer.

The struggle between water and coffee is intensified further when you take into consideration that for each cup of coffee (100 mg caffeine) your body needs 3 cups of water to compensate for the water loss that occurs due to coffee’s diuretic effect.

Before ordering your next “mocha latte frappawhatever…” remember the following facts about coffee:

• Coffee intensifies stress, causing an average 40% increase in adrenaline. This results in increased blood pressure, heart rate, perspiration, nervousness, and irritability.

• Coffee increases the secretion of stomach acid by 400%, contributing to gastritis and peptic ulcers.

• Coffee have a 50% higher risk of heart attack (British medical journal Lancet)

• Coffee causes a significant loss of nutrients, especially magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and B vitamins.

• Coffee is a major source of cadmium, a heavy metal that has been linked to cancer and immune suppression.

If you’re a woman, please consider the following even scarier facts:

• Caffeine is linked to ovarian cancer, and bladder and kidney cancers.

• Coffee increases the risk of miscarriage and can double the rate with just 1 cup (160 mg caffeine) per day (JAMA, 1993).

• Coffee has adverse effects on the baby’s muscular development and nutritional balance and increases the risk of birth defects.

• Coffee reduces fertility. More than 1 cup per day makes a woman half as likely to conceive (American Journal of Epidemiology)!

In regards to your energy, the caffeine inherent in coffee is the stimulant that gives you that short lasted energy rush in the morning. But here’s the problem, caffeine is like any other stimulant – it is a drug which creates dependency. This dependency occurs as result of the caffeine receptors in your body which become

saturated fairly quickly. As such, you need to consume more caffeine to elicit the same effect! You can see how this vicious cycle can get out of hand. If you’re a coffee drinker just think of the last time you went without coffee for a day or two. How did you feel? Tired, irritable, headache? Exactly!

Water is bliss

Now consider the wonders of water. Considering that the adult body is at least 60% water its no wonder that clean “living water” can have absolutely phenomenal effects on your body.

Water is central to many bodily functions including circulation, digestion, absorption, and elimination of wastes. Water also carries electrolytes (ie. sodium, potassium) which are essential for electrical signaling within the body.

Considering its many roles in the body, is it any wonder that you can feel tired and sluggish when dehydrated?

Water is also a natural blood thinner since it makes up the majority of our blood. Water constitutes 95% of the plasma component of the blood which, in turn, comprises roughly 55% of total blood volume. Therefore, when your body does not receive enough water, the blood loses its fluidity as water is drawn out of the blood. The result – clumping of red blood cells. This increased blood viscosity leads you to feeling more tired and sluggish.

So, one of the easiest, safest, and best ways to improve your energy throughout the day is to constantly sip on “living water” to keep your body hydrated and functional.

A rule of thumb for how much water you should be drinking per day at rest is the following:

Multiply your body weight (lbs) x 0.55 and divide by 8. This will give you the number of 8oz glasses that you should be drinking per day at rest.

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Kona Coffee

Gourmet Coffee Trivia
By George Moore

Ponder this please while sipping that great cup of gourmet coffee

* The Boston Tea Party was planned in a coffee house - the Green Dragon Coffee House

* One Coffee Tree or plant in its normal harvest will produce enough coffee cherries to make one pound of coffee bean

* 27% of U.S. coffee drinkers and 43% of German drinkers add a sweetener to their coffee.

* The world's largest gourmet coffee producer is Brazil with over 3,970 million coffee trees and bushes. Colombia produces alot of gourmet coffee for its size - coming in second in the world with around two thirds of Brazil's production of gourmet coffee.

* Hard bean means the coffee was grown at an altitude above 5000 feet.

* Arabica and Robusta trees can produce crops for 20 to 30 years under proper conditions and care.

* Most coffee is transported by ships. Currently there are approximately 2,200 ships involved in transporting the beans each year.

* In Turkey a husband who refused to provide his wife with the drink could be divorced by her!

Next to the United States Germany is the world's second largest consumer of coffee in terms of volume at 16 pounds per person. Second to the United States at 19 pounds per person.

Well Over 53 countries grow coffee worldwide, but all of them lie along the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

An acre of gourmet coffee trees can produce up to 10,000 pounds of gourmet coffee cherries. That amounts to approximately 2,000 pounds of beans after hulling or milling.

* The percolator was invented in 1827 by a French man. It would boil the gourmet

coffee producing a bitter tasting brew - alot like Starbucks coffee today. Today most people use the drip or filtered method to brew their gourmet coffee.

* With the exception of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, no coffee is grown in the United States or its territories.

* Up until the 1870's most coffee was roasted at home in a frying pan over a charcoal fire. It wasn't until the 70's that batch roasting became popular.

* Each year some 7 million tons of green beans are produced world wide. Most of which is hand picked.

* The popular trend towards flavored coffees originated in the United States during the 1970's.

* October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.

* The first coffee tree in the Western Hemisphere was brought from France to the Island of Martinique in the 1720's

* China drinks 70 times as much tea as coffee

* Coffee trees are not grown anywhere in the continental US but can be found in Hawaii. Due to the high costs of land the coffee is sold at quite the premium falsely convincing people it is a premium grade coffee

* Coffee beans can be eaten raw or raw in chocolate - deliverying twice the punch and caffeine as brewed coffee

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Coffee Cup

Choosing The Right Bean To Cup Coffee Machine
By Fenton Wayne

Bean to cup coffee machines enable the caterer to serve superb tasting fresh espresso coffee drinks and speciality coffee variations at the touch of the button with the minimum of fuss.

Customers demand quality and choice. Gone are the days of offering a choice of a black or white coffee. Nowadays it is important to offer the very best coffee and coffee variations in different cup sizes together with a decaffeinated option.

The most convenient way of supplying this insatiable demand is with a bean to cup machine.

Bean to cup machine capacity (usage) is usually divided into three criteria.

Light volume - serving between to 30-80 cups a day
Medium volume - serving 100-200 cups a day
High volume - serving 250+ cups a day

If your expected number of cups per day is close to the overlap of volume then we recommend that you go for the next model up.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing a machine is whether to go for a model with a 'built in' milk frother'.

Cheaper models will not have a built in milk frother, but may have the option of an 'add on' unit that froths the milk. The more expensive models have a fully automatic milk frother built into the machine which is also refrigerated to keep the milk cool.

Since a high percentage of drinks served will likely contain frothed milk it only really makes sense to go for the fully automatic built in versions unless your budget is very restrictive. Add-on milk frothers can be clumsy and not function to a consistent basis. There is nothing more frustrating to a busy caterer than a shop full of customers and milk that won't froth!

If your budget is tight it is best to compromise on some other features rather than the fully automatic frother option. If you are happy for you or your staff to froth milk by hand then you might as well go for the more traditional espresso machine instead and froth the milk whilst waiting for the coffee to come through the group head.

Recently there have appeared on the market bean to cup machines which incorporate a canister of powdered milk for those who do not want the inconvenience of fresh milk, although this is a trade off with sacrificing overall drink quality.

Bean to cup machines are big business. There are now a large number of manufacturers of bean to cup machines

and the number is growing all the time.

It is best to choose a model from a manufacture that they have been producing for a number of years so that any initial problems have long since been ironed out. Now is not the time to be a guinea pig with a brand new model however fantastic it may seem.

Most manufacturers produce a series of models with different functions and features suitable for low, medium and high volume coffee production.

This is where you pays your money and takes your choice!

Machines are available with one, two, three or even four bean hoppers. This gives extra capacity for busy periods and / or the option of a decaffeinated coffee.

Auditing facilities are also available on the top models where information about the drinks served over any given period can be obtained and maybe downloaded onto a computer for later analysis.

Digital displays, visual looks should also be considered before making your final choice. Note that many of the top models are available in a choice of colours to match the decor of the establishment.

However as already mentioned the two most important things to establish are that the machine can cope with expected demand and that it has a built in milk frother. All other features can be considered secondary.

Before contacting a potential supplier make sure you have decided which size and what features you would like from your machine with reference to this report. That way you will not be persuaded to upgrade or pay for things you do not really require.

Don't forget to pay particular attention to the servicing costs and water treatment systems.

Remember that without a built-in milk frother you will have to froth the milk by hand and that may cause problems.

However a reliable and well maintained bean to cup machine should give many years of profitable service and provide excellent quality delicious drinks to your customers.

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