I have to start my day with a cup of iced coffee, whether brewed at home or purchased at a local coffee shop; I live on coffee. As a recent college graduate, I was penniless
I have to start my day with a cup of iced coffee, whether brewed at home or purchased at a local coffee shop; I live on coffee. As a recent college graduate, I was penniless most of the time, and coffee was my way of fueling up. I lived on coffee, energy drinks, and ramen noodles in college, which shows you where my priorities are.
I’ve lived in New York City for 10 years, and I can tell you that we have the best coffee shops in the world, but there are coffee shops around the world that we should all try at least once in our lives. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things every coffee enthusiast ought to know.
1. Coffee is a cherry
What you brew is the roasted seed of a fruit called a coffee cherry. The beans you are brewing are the roasted fruit seeds, called a coffee cherry. If you bite into the cherry, you’ll find two seeds developing with flattened sides. According to the US National Coffee Association (NCA), there is only one oval seed, the blueberry, in about 5% of the world’s coffee. It is also known in Spanish as caracolillo (“little snail”).
There are two types of coffee. The first one is the arabica, and it comes from the original coffee plants discovered in Ethiopia. These bushes produce a fine, sweet, and aromatic coffee that is more expensive and represents about 70% of the world’s production. The second one is the robusta, which is slightly more bitter and contains twice as much caffeine. This type of bean is mainly used in blends and for instant coffee. It is grown in Central and West Africa, some parts of Southeast Asia, notably Indonesia and Vietnam, and Brazil.
2. Coffee grown from animal dung can fetch very high prices
Civet or elephant? The most expensive coffees come from the intestines of one of these animals. Kopi luwak is a coffee that consists of the feces of an Indonesian palm cat called a civet. The coffee cherries ferment as they pass through the cats’ intestines, after which they are collected and sold. A 500-gram bag of these beans can fetch as much as $700 (more than 400,000 FCFA) in high-end retail stores.
But it now faces stiff competition from so-called Black Ivory Coffee, made from hand-picked coffee cherries eaten and excreted by elephants in Thailand. Black Ivory was invented by a Canadian, Blake Dinkin, and sells in the US for about $85 (about 50,000 FCFA) for a small 35-gram bag. According to Toronto Life magazine, it produces an “almost tea-like, non-bitter beverage with notes of cocoa, tamarind, tobacco, and leather.
3. Coffee is good for you
Coffee is rich in antioxidants, which prevent our cells from being oxidized by toxins, chemicals, and inflammation. Earlier this year, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggested that drinking three cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of death from several key diseases, including heart disease. The study followed more than 500,000 people in 10 European countries for more than 16 years.
Other studies have looked at whether it can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and combat neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. But more studies in these areas are needed. The caffeine content of coffee is also a way to increase people’s energy levels and increase athletic performance.
As a stimulant, caffeine has potential risks if consumed in excessive amounts. However, there is such as thing as too much of a good thing, and the overconsumption of coffee can be bad for you. If you are pregnant, it is best to reduce your caffeine intake, as it is associated with low birth weight and sometimes miscarriage. British health authorities recommend that pregnant women consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. That’s more than one cup of filter coffee or two cups of instant coffee.
Looking for help?
What better way to start your day than with delicious flat white coffee and a smile? Table 55 is a pizza restaurant in Seaford inviting everyone to enjoy great pizza, their delicious and freshly brewed coffee, and other delectable dishes.
They also offer reliable and quick pizza takeaway services, so place your order with them now and pick up your piping hot pizza from our restaurant. Browse through their menu to see which other delicacies are waiting for you. If you have to taste something there, though, it is their coffee; it is the place to be as a coffee lover.