There are good reasons to drink coffee and this post is for those that are looking for reasons to keep drinking it.
Here's a list of some good reasons to drink coffee.

1. Ease the pain
Two cups of coffee can cut post-workout muscle pain. Make your cup of joe with little or no cream at all.

2. Coffee Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels. This is because it contains a stimulant called caffeine, which is actually the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. After you drink coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it travels into the brain.

3. Helps Burning Fat
caffeine is found in almost every commercial fat burning supplement. There is a good reason for that … caffeine is one of the very few natural substances that have actually been proven to aid fat burning. Unless you are not making your coffee sugary.

4. Improve Physical Performance
Caffeine also increases Epinephrine (Adrenaline) levels in the blood. This is the "fight or flight" hormone, designed to make our bodies ready for intense physical exertion. Caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel.

5. Lower the risk of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a gigantic health problem, currently afflicting about 300 million people worldwide. It is characterized by elevated blood sugars in the context of insulin resistance or an immunity to secret insulin. For some reason, coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

6. Fight Depression with coffee
Depression is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life. In a Harvard study published in 2011, women who drank 4 or more cups per day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed.

7. Lower the risk of some types of cancer
Liver and colorectal cancer are the 3rd and 4th leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of both.

If you want to drink coffee for its health benefits, drink your coffee black, without sugar, non-dairy creamer or cream, or flavorings. If you are dousing your cup of coffee in creamer, non-dairy creamer, sugar, and other sweeteners and flavorings, you are missing out on the therapeutic benefits and potentially harming your health.

It is known as one of the most powerful organic supplements to take for weight loss, and there are numerous reviews about it online. These reviews discuss both the pros and cons of taking the extracts. Any honest review should take general info into consideration, as this can help readers assess the product’s effectiveness. This goes for all products and not just weight loss products.

1. Green Coffee – There is a difference between green coffee beans (raw coffee beans) and dark beans that are used in drinks is that the former are roasted for, and there is a difference when it comes to attributes. Beans that are roasted tend to create a pleasant flavour, but its weight loss abilities are eradicated. The weight loss effects are usually due to the chlorogenic acid, which is an ingredient found in many green coffee bean pills.

Green coffee beans do various things. Some of these things include slowing down the release of glucose and reducing fat deposits. Another benefit includes being able to burn fat naturally. If you want to lose a lot of weight and you want to get in better shape, then consider taking a green coffee beans extract.

2. Can It Help With Losing Weight – If you want to lose weight with green coffee beans, then you need to know how much you should take and when you should take it. If you want to get the best results and lose as much weight as possible, then consider taking the extract in 800mg capsules. You should take it twice per day.

Also, the action of the extract may be affected supplements contain other ingredients. Also, there may be ingredients in some supplements that may not work well with caffeine. If you take a supplement that has ingredients that don’t mesh well with caffeine, then the effects of the caffeine may receive a boost. This means you may be putting your health at risk, and the last thing you want is for that to happen and you might not get the results you were hoping to get.

3. 800MG Is Sufficient – It’s recommended to take 800mg capsules in the morning time and in the evening time. This is a good enough dosage, but keep in mind that if there are other ingredients inside the capsule, then you may find it hard to swallow. It may also not contain a good amount of the extract.

4. Choose A Supplier Sensibly – Numerous reviews do mention that fake or harmful products exist. Sure, it’s convenient to go online and shop around, but if you don’t choose a supplier sensibly, then you could end up wasting money on something fake or completely useless. This means you won’t get any results at all.

Always go for a product that has been approved, as well as tested. Also, only buy from reputable and authentic websites. If you want to ensure you’re buying a product from an authentic website, then make sure to verify its SSL certificate, which is easy to do.

In the 1950s. coffee was the breakfast beverage of choice, but it was frequently overboiled, weak and usually pretty tasteless. Unless you had traveled to Europe you didn’t know the difference, it was just the way coffee was. Those lucky enough to visit France or Italy had an “aha” moment when they first raised a cappuccino or a cup of French roast to their lips, breathed in the aroma and took their first sip. Zowie, this was not Maxwell House, to be sure. For the more adventurous, coffee presses and funnel carafes made a slight difference, but it wasn’t until the early 1970s when trends began to change and new milestones influenced the world of coffee forever. Those most memorable include:

Decaf – in its small orange packets of instant was awful, as were most coffee substitutes, but once cans of pale brown grounds became available, Americans consumed it more readily, and many restaurants started brewing it, sometime in the 1960s, although decaf had been around for decades; freeze-dried was not much better;

Mr Coffee – launched in 1972, when former baseball legend Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio first smirked on television about the new Mr. Coffee, Americans were intrigued and soon flocked to stores, buying it in droves; gone were the days of overboiled and scorched coffee forever; two years later, a staggering 5 million had been scooped up (roughly half of all coffeemakers sold in that time period) and people tossed their percolators;

Soon to follow was an influx of European drip coffeemakers, like Braun and Krupps, as the revolution began;

Although several Starbucks coffee shops already existed in Seattle in the early 1970s they sold only beans and accessories, not actual coffee drinks and drip coffee to consume on the spot, but ten years later Howard Schultz, who had a coffee machine import business, saw the potential, bought the company and began serving hot freshly brewed on the spot, setting the entire industry on fire;

Once people got hooked on their first lattes and cappuccinos, they looked to purchase at-home espresso makers, although the first ones were a bit challenging for most and could blow up at a moment’s notice; these days they are far more user-friendly;

Peet’s Coffee – beginning in 1966, a small coffee shop in northern California, sold only beans in the early years and seemed content with just a local operation, only to see what they were missing and eventually joined the stampede, opening shops nationally, serving coffee and coffee drinks, followed by Green Mountain, Caribou and Green Leaf Tea and Coffee;

Frappuccino drinks- (inspired by Italian ices and slushes) was introduced and made wildly popular by Starbuck’s in 1994;

In 2003 – Keurig introduced a kitchen counter top machine which made one cup at a time, ideal for home use and small offices;

These days, eighty percent of Americans drink coffee at home sometime during the day, and millions more stop off at drive-through kiosks, coffee bars and convenience stores to get their fix. It’s readily available bottled and cold, residing next to soft drinks in the checkout counters of supermarkets, and our beloved cold designer slushes and flavored concoctions can be whipped up in our coffee shop of choice. Mercifully, gone are the days of workplace vending machine coffee, instant and vapid substitutes, which don’t fool anyone. We are finally a sophisticated society, probably viewed by Western Europeans as coming very late to the party but having arrived just the same.

I have traveled all over the country. And with every place I’ve visited, I’ve sipped on my favorite beverage, coffee, in many different coffee shops. I have never been a person to just stop at the nearest coffee chain for my coffee fix either. I’ve always been one to look for the “mom and pop” type coffee place. The places whose character is formed by the owners, staff and those who frequent the shop.

Below are the top four things I think create a coffee shop’s character and make it what it is.

Music

To me, music can impact anything. Your mood, your energy, and well, your coffee shop. Music can greatly enhance or totally destroy the vibe of a cafe. I feel like a coffee shop should be consistent in the type of music it plays to its customers. If it plays calming acoustic music one day, but dance music the next, customers may not know what to expect. While variety can be a great thing, attracting a consistent type of customer base might not work out so well if a shop’s music is too diverse. A perfect example of not being consistent is when one of my favorite coffee shops played electronic music consistently and then one day blared vulgar rap music. I had to leave so I could get my work done.

Staff

A friendly staff is super important. My everyday shop is about 50% related to the fact that I know the staff and feel comfortable at the shop. They know my name, what I drink and all about me.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of a shop is everything. It’s created by the people in it, the music, the shop’s design and the art on the wall. All of these things work together create an energy and a vibe. Personally, I like consistency. Also, I like a combination of coziness with an eclectic feel. Pictures, paintings, and displays of collectibles are some of my favorites. Also, here’s one that’s important, temperature. One of the most popular coffee chains I can think of seems to want to freeze their customers out by jacking up the air conditioner. That’s a great way to ruin everything.

The Coffee Itself

Since I am talking about what makes a coffee shop a “good” coffee shop, I probably also need to talk about what I personally think is one of the most important factors in having one. The actual coffee and products offered. Are there just three items offered? Is the coffee genuinely good? Is it too weak? Does it have a bad aftertaste? Is there coffee consistent with every order?

What are your thoughts on what makes a good coffee shop?

Nothing beats a hot cup of coffee to jumpstart your day. But don’t overdo it. Experts say that drinking too much coffee and other caffeine-laced beverages can increase your chances of getting stretch marks.

Caffeine is a stimulant that is consumed by 80 percent of the world’s population on a daily basis. The stimulating effects of this drug make it a popular ingredient in coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, and energy drinks. Upon ingestion, caffeine affects mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system, and gastric and colonic activity.

While the Institute of Medicine does not consider caffeine as a diuretic owing to conflicting reports, caffeine-containing beverages can increase the urinary output of some people, causing them to lose fluids.

“Your reaction can depend on the amount that you consume, the type of product, and your tolerance level. If you have urinary incontinence, you may experience a greater ‘urgency’ to urinate after consuming a caffeinated beverage. You will need to monitor your reaction and tolerance to caffeine to determine how you are affected,” said dietitian Betty Kovacs in MedicineNet.

Stripped of water, the skin becomes less elastic and dry, making it an easy target for stretch marks. So if you’re a caffeine junkie, now is the time to take it easy and drink more water instead.

“Adequate hydration keeps your skin soft and less likely to develop stretch marks. Caffeine can increase your risk of stretch marks. If you’re stuck on your caffeinated coffee or tea, make sure you balance the fluids. Drink just as much – or more – water as you drink coffee, tea, or soda,” said MedicineNet.

Improving your diet can also do wonders for your skin. To lessen stretch marks, MedicineNet advises readers to consume lots of zinc, such as nuts or fish; foods high in vitamins A and C, such as carrots and citrus fruits and milk; and protein-rich foods, such as eggs. These foods supposedly promote skin health and there’s no harm in trying them.

Of course, your susceptibility to stretch marks depends on how bad your skin is overstretched. Repeated overstretching due to pregnancy, obesity or weight loss can greatly increase your chances of developing them.

“Stretch marks are a normal part of puberty for most girls and guys. When a person grows or gains weight really quickly (like during puberty), that person may get fine lines on the body called stretch marks. Stretch marks happen when the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching. Although the skin is usually fairly elastic, when it’s overstretched, the normal production of collagen (the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in your skin) is disrupted. As a result, scars called stretch marks may form.,” explained TeensHealth, a project of the Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media.

The good news is that this annoying skin condition eventually disappears. But if you like quick results, try Strevaxl, a new product that repairs and renews the skin to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and prevent the formation of new ones. For details, visit http://www.strevaxl.com/.

Percolation is just one of a few ways to brew coffee. Other methods include French press and auto drip. While all of them result to a caffeinated drink that many of us love, the taste they produce have been contended with for many years.

Looking at the pros and cons of each method would have been a nice read while consuming your cup of coffee, but we’ll just keep it brief and focus on coffee percolators in this post.

Percolator coffee pots are generally built with or without its own heat source. The ones with a built-in heat source are electrically powered. You just plug them in and you’re good to go. On the contrary, the ones without a heat source are typically place on a stove or a campfire. They are ideal for outdoor use and perhaps, the only kind coffee machine that you can use off the grid.

Now, let’s look at the most sought after coffee percolator brands and find out why end users love them.

Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite Coffee Percolator

Type: Stovetop

Capacity: 8-cup or 12-cup variants

Material: Stainless steel

Filter: Permanent basket

The Farberware brand has existed since 1899 and is an established name in the cookware industry. The Yosemite is Farberware’s attempt at bringing back to basics the passionate beverage drinkers of today. The company claims that brewing coffee this way extracts a fuller and richer flavor.

The Yosemite certainly delivered! It has continued to be a best seller in both online and brick and mortar stores in the United States. These are the reasons why users love the Yosemite:

• Brews the best tasting coffee on camping trips or when living off-grid
• Takes about 25 minutes to brew, but well worth it
• Can be used even without electricity
• Can also be used to boil water
• Durable interior and overall construction.
• No need for filters
• Easy to clean, dishwasher-safe

Presto 02822 Stainless-Steel Coffee Percolator

Type: Electric

Capacity: 6-cup or 12-cup variants

Material: Stainless steel, aluminum bottom

Filter: Disposable

Presto has been in business since 1905. The company specializes in making pressure cookers, but it has expanded to other cookware throughout the years.

The Presto 02822 is a 500-watt electric percolator that promises to make great tasting coffee fast. Why do users love it?

• Brews in about 8 minutes
• Easy to use
• Stays hot for hours
• Space saver
• Responsive customer service

West Bend 54159 Classic Stainless Steel Electric Coffee Percolator

Type: Electric

Capacity: 12-cups

Material: Stainless steel

Filter: Disposable

West Bend is another old and reputable company with its roots tracing back to 1911. It specializes in electric kitchen appliances.

The West Bend 54159 is a 950-watt electric percolator that’s loved by users for the following reasons:

• Brews in about 10 minutes
• Simple mechanism, no confusing buttons
• Detachable power cord
• Spout does not spill
• Stays hot for hours

A coffee percolator doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that an automatic drip coffee maker has. Most of these machines are simple and require a certain amount of attention to operate. But in the end, it’s all about the taste. Many aficionados swear by the taste that a percolator produces. After all, what good is coffee if it tastes like mud?

Scientists have long believed that coffee is beneficial to our health. It helps our heart function normally and now scientists believe that we should drink four shots of espresso per day or cups of coffee containing equivalent amounts of caffeine. This idea was put forward by a group of German researchers who found that coffee affects the cells in our blood vessels, making them perform as though they were younger than they are. Older adults can this benefit from the stimulus that coffee provides to their cells.

The results of two major studies of coffee drinkers, one carried out in the US by the National Institutes of Health studied more than 400,000 people and the other conducted in Europe studied 521,330 people. Both found that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from heart disease. This particular finding debunks the old myth that people with heart problems shouldn’t drink coffee.

Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of cirrhosis of the liver, a lower risk of developing some cancers, a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and are less likely to suffer from depression than people who don’t drink the brew.

But what if you don’t like the taste of coffee? Green tea might be the answer to this question as it contains similar amounts of caffeine.

A word of warning though before you overdo your intake of caffeine. Too much caffeine can make your heart beat faster, and cause other health problems. Different people have different reactions to caffeine. One person might easily be able to drink four or five cups of coffee a day, while another person might suffer adverse effects. Scientists have also said that as caffeine can be responsible for making blood vessels grow, this can have the effect of giving more oxygen to boost cancerous tumors. So if you have been diagnosed with cancer, stay away from coffee.

Cardiologists say that coffee may (it hasn’t yet been proven) reduce arrhythmias in those who have irregular heartbeats. Coffee is not the answer, in itself, to living a long life. Everyone should exercise regularly and eat healthy food. Avoid additives and preservatives as well as food that has been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides. Eat organic produce, even if it is more expensive, if you want to improve your chances of living to a ripe old age.

Coffee is not a panacea, but research studies have found that it can improve longevity and lower the risk of contracting certain diseases.

Starting with the basics – Fresh is best.

– If you don’t have a coffee bean grinder go for ground coffee (filter ground). It won’t retain its freshness as long as a bean but its a good place to start.

– One more important point before you dash off to the supermarket (or Amazon) – Roast types:

• Espresso roast – designed for espresso coffee machines

• Filter roast – designed for pour over method of making coffee IE Caferiere, Aeropress, Drip fed.

and this is where it gets a murky or milky as you like – another guideline for you

• If you prefer it black then go for a Single origin coffee (from a single known geographical location – such as a farm or estate)

• If you like to drink it with milk/cream go for a Blend

First, try your coffee black & add milk if you want to… are you still with me?

Now lets chose a region from which your coffee will have originated – the worlds “Coffee Belt”

Coffee is grown in the worlds warmer latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer & Capricorn. Within this “coffee belt” there is a vast array of altitude, rainfall, sunshine & soil conditions which will alter the taste of the coffee, much like wine growing.

• Central & South American coffee for chocolate flavor, clean & sweet Know for its hint of a chocolatey, nutty flavor. Brazil has a heavier bodied peanut character. Colombian coffee is mellow with a caramel or toffee taste.

• East African or Arabian coffee for fruity complex flavor. East African and Arabian coffees have a bit of a fruity flavor. They do have undertones similar to a fruitier, sweeter wine. They also have a lighter taste than coffee from other regions. Ethiopian coffee has complex berry & wine-like aromas, whereas Kenya is known for its stone fruit influence.

• Asian coffee for earthy, luscious flavor. If you prefer an earthier, more bitter flavor, Asian coffee is a good option. Coffees made in Asian countries tend to have an earthier, richer flavor. They will be more bitter than sweet in comparison to coffee from other regions.

• Indonesian coffee for earthy, spicy flavor. Indonesian coffee has an earthy heavier bodied flavor, along with a hint of spice. If you want something bitter, but flavorsome, Indonesian coffee is an excellent choice.

  The Roast & therefore the Taste

  Light roast: likely to be a bit sourer than other roasts. If you dislike sweeter tasting coffees, a light roast is a good option

  Medium roast: tend to best preserve flavours best during brewing. If you want to taste the distinct caramel flavour of a Colombian then go for a medium roast.

  Dark roast: will diminish flavour a little. You’ll still get some of the coffee’s original flavor, but you may end up with a bittersweet aftertaste or undertones. Try it if you prefer your coffee less sweet.

  And lastly… a good coffee should provide:

  • Details about its origin, where it was farmed, roasted & ground.

  • A “roasted on” date, try and consume within a month of this date.

  • Check the Ethics – A large % now carry Fair Trade & Rain Forest Alliance – but just because it doesn’t have a badge, it does not mean it is unethical. Small coffee farmers maybe part of a co-operative which have set standards for fair pay etc.

  Be careful – Caffeine levels vary by coffee. Coffee usually has anywhere between 65 to 100 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Stronger coffee would be on the higher end of this spectrum, while weaker coffee would be on the lower end.

  • No Decaf coffee is 100% caffeine free so if you’re sensitive to caffeine always check the content… our decaf coffee is delicious.

Good communication is as stimulating as a decent cup of coffee… and just as hard to sleep after.

After meeting potential clients for the first time, I replay the meeting on a continuous loop… all night.

If you have the meeting set up then you have your foot in the door, now all you have to do is impress them.

Here are a few pointers:

1. Most importantly – do your homework on your client/their company/market they are in, a Google search takes seconds but can reap huge rewards.
2. Chose your meeting space wisely, if it’s a cafe then is there a quiet room you can use, out of the way so you can talk in peace? If not then is your space clear of clutter but reflects your personality? Can you showcase your talent without it being too obvious – unless that’s the whole point then go for it..show off?
3. Dress smartly/professionally but not out of character – you have to be comfortable too.
4. Be aware of your body language – you may be nervous but try not to show it. Take deep breaths, smile & enjoy it.
5. Start with small talk & don’t go straight into the business it will overwhelm the situation.
6. Buy decent coffee – I know we own a coffee business but I can’t emphasize enough how little effort it takes to serve amazing tasting coffee.
7. Now you can talk business – make sure you have also researched their competitors & those industries aligned with their business.
8. Gently critique their business – what they are good at, what they are not good out, list how you can help them improve.
9. Ask them what they like about their business what they don’t like & what they are looking for.
10. Ask open-ended questions, take notes & repeat their answers so you know that the information is correct.
11. Only say “Yes” or agree to work with them if you are 100% sure you can deliver.

If the client has taken time out to meet with you then chances are they want to work with you.

Take all the information you have, write it down in a contractual agreement, making sure both parties understand the small print… and you are both happy with it.

Amazing coffee isn’t expensive & if you get it right your prospective client will be impressed right from the start.

The most important thing to remember: Clients just want you to be able to solve their problems.

Have you done that?

Coffee beans were discovered around 900 A.D. and were first used as a beverage in Yeman. It is also where the coffee beans were first ground. Before we talk about the grinding, we need to step back and look at how coffee cherries were first turned into coffee beans. Coffee cherries were first picked from coffee bushes or trees depending on how well they grew. These Arabica coffee cherries were picked when the cherries were a bright color. They were then put in the fire and roasted until the cherries burst open. This process produced two roasted coffee beans from each coffee cherry.

Now, lets talk about how they were ground. People in the Middle East were already grinding grains and spices. They were grinding them by simply pounding between two rocks or using a pestle and mortar. The pestle and mortar were made mainly from stone and wood because they had resistance to absorbing the chemicals that left flavors and scents of various foods. Coffee beans, although much tougher, were also ground by this method. However, even though they were boiled first because they were tougher than grains and spices, they were not ground very fine. The coarsely ground beans were put in a special copper or brass coffee maker called an Ibrik. An Ibrik is somewhat round on the bottom half and then had a straight body the rest of the way up. There was a long fairly wide spout at the top and a metal strap handle in the shape of a large C connected to the pot. Drinkers strained the coffee through their teeth to get the full flavor of the coffee. Today, some still grind the coffee beans with a pestle and mortar. To get the consistency of a drip grind, it takes up to ten hours of grinding with a stone pestle and mortar by hand.

As the coffee beans were exported by traders to different parts of the world, coffee grinders were created using some other kind of apparatus. When coffee reached Europe, spice grinders that were already being used were the first step towards the mechanical coffee grinder. It is believed that the first bean grinder was produced as early as the 14th century in Europe. The first known coffee grinder was mass produced in the early 1800’s in France, but the inventor remains unknown.

By the mid-1800s, various coffee grinders were seen in almost every home in Europe and America. Most of the coffee grinders had a grinding handle on the top of a box that was set inside a bowl shaped holder of roasted coffee beans. The bottom of the box had a drawer that held the coffee beans after being ground. Some grinders were elaborately made and decorated. Today’s household coffee grinders are mainly electric and use ceramic burrs or stainless steel blades to grind coffee. Commercial use grinders however use only ceramic burrs.