Sabtu, Desember 13, 2008

Caffeine in Coffee

Be careful if you drink too much coffee, don't you worry with the caffeine? This question always come when some body know that I am a drinker coffee. I think I should know what the caffeine is. Let's we learn together for our healthy and knowledge about this favorite drink.

Caffeine, which is found in coffee and other foods (cocoa, tea), is that substance that keeps us awake, both when we need it and when we don't want it. Unfortunately, to some people this and other side effects of caffeine are not welcome.
Decaffeinated coffee or "decaf" is coffee that has had most of the caffeine removed. By weight, the amount of caffeine found naturally in coffee is only about 1% for the Arabica and 2% for the Robusta coffee beans.
When you read "97% Caffeine Free", 97% of that 1% or 2% has been removed.
There are currently two methods used commercially that remove caffeine from coffee:
European Process and Swiss Water Process.
European Process :
Most decaf coffees are made using a chemical process first used in Europe. This process involves soaking the beans in water and then "washing" them in methylene chloride to absorb the caffeine from the bean. After this, the beans are rinsed clean of the chemicals, dried and shipped to the coffee roasters.
The advantage of this method is that it provides decaf coffee with more flavor than the Swiss water processing. Although there is virtually no trace of any chemicals left in the bean after roasting, some people are uncomfortable knowing that the coffee they are drinking was chemically processed.
Swiss Water Process :
The second method is known as "Swiss water processing". This process uses no chemicals, but rather hot water and steam to remove the caffeine from the coffee. The "life" of the bean is taken into the water, and then the water solution put through activated charcoal filters to remove the caffeine. Once the caffeine is removed, these same beans are then put back into the decaffeinated solution to re-absorb everything except the caffeine. The beans are then dried and shipped to the roasters. The disadvantage is that the water processing removes more than just the caffeine. Some of the oils from the coffee bean are removed as well, making it less flavorful.
The best thing to do for those who really want this kind of decaf is to start out with a high quality, Arabica bean. Even though some of the flavor will be lost, there will still be a lot left to enjoy.
In here I learn how to make a great cup of coffee:

Easy Espresso & Cappuccino
Yield: 4 servings
4 coffee measures (1/2 cup) dark roast coffee
1 ½ cups (12 oz.) water
4 twists of lemon peel sugar to taste
Brew coffee in your choice of coffeemaker.
If you have an espresso pot or machine, follow manufacturer's suggested proportions of coffee and water. Pour coffee in demitasse cups, garnish with lemon twist, and offer sugar to guests.
Cappuccino Variation:
Pour 2 parts brewed espresso and 1 part hot milk into tall mugs. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, or grated chocolate.
Espresso De Menthe:
Measure 1-2 tablespoons Crème de Menthe into each demitasse cup;
fill with espresso, leaving room for a dollop of whipped cream on top.

We can make the taste as we like, if me, more like Cappuccino, even less whipped cream on top, hhmmmmmm.... really delicious.

Jumat, Desember 05, 2008

Sex and Coffee

I love this words : Sex and Coffee, make me want to know what the connection or causality between Sex and Coffee. so let's we can read together and know better about this lovely drink (maybe only for me), but it really interested.

This is a part of some one site that I have been read :
Coffee has supposedly been around since about 1200 A.D., and sex has been with us since we began procreating. So it only makes sense that there would be some link between coffee and sex. And there are in fact many links; some in ways you did not even imagine. It seems that women at one point blamed coffee for everything from homosexuality, to lack of virility. Eventually it was praised for it's sexual performance enhancing capabilities, among other benefits. And these beliefs were held in times where medical and scientific practices were questionable at best. However, modern day studies and surveys suggest that coffee and sex still are linked, and important on the minds of both young adults and the elderly alike.

And this is the other one, a women from Netherlands said :

Drinking coffee is one of those things very little people don't do. All over the world people drink coffee in their own special way. And everyone makes their coffee at home in a way they like it the most. If you like drinking coffee, it's nice to know that there are many different kinds of coffee and different ways to make and drink your coffee.

I'm such a kind of person who wants to know, because of my coffee drinking habit or addiction. I usually drink more than 8 cups a day. Not those small ones. No I like to have big mugs of coffee. Most of the Europeans drink about 142 liters coffee a year per person. Not me. I'm more of a 300 liters kind of person. And I like more than one kind of coffee. Except decaf. That's like having sex without any passion. And I love to drink my coffee like I love sex. Hot, steamy, tasteful, strong and with variation and if possible every day.

But let’s get back to coffee.

Caffeine is the ingredient in coffee that makes us people more able to concentrate and being alert. One cup contains about 80 mg of caffeine. It has a stimulating effect on our central nerve system. That stimulating effect can become a problem when you drink coffee just before you go to bed, and it's hard to fall asleep (but then there is that other thing you could do). Some people are very sensitive for caffeine. For those people; don't drink coffee or when you like the taste, drink decaf.

And now what do you say ???