The Grind

Cheer up this' blue Monday we've got some tips & tricks to enhance your mood and fix your Monday blues! What is Blue Monday? Blue Monday is a term that refers to a day in January that is often seen as "the most depressing day of the year" because it falls on the third Monday in January. It is thought that the combination of feeling guilty about holiday overindulgences, post-holiday blues, and the fact that many people have broken their New Year's resolutions by this point, can contribute to feelings of sadness and low mood.  So whether you’re having a Blue Monday or just feeling a bit down on any other day of the year, we have some tips and tricks to help you get through it. 1 - Get out! Get outside and spend some time in nature. Even a short walk or a few minutes spent enjoying the outdoors can improve your mood. Why do the outdoors have such a positive impact on your state of mind? Here are some reasons: The sights and sounds of nature can help to distract the mind from negative thoughts, and the fresh air and sunshine can help lift your mood. The sunlight can help to improve your body's production of vitamin D, which is important for maintaining energy levels. Engaging in physical activity in nature, such as walking, hiking, or biking, can help to improve your mood through the release of endorphins. These chemicals, known as "feel-good" hormones, can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Spending time in nature can also help to promote a sense of connection to the world around you, which can be a powerful mood booster. 2 - Get active! Exercise or engage in physical activity. Physical activity has been shown to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety while also improving sleep quality which contributes to a better mood. 3 - Slow down and experience mindfulness Practice mindfulness or meditation. Taking a few minutes to focus on your breath or engage in a guided meditation can help you feel more present and calm. By focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and worries, mindfulness practices can help to calm the mind and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. By paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judgment, mindfulness practices can help us develop a more accepting and compassionate relationship with ourselves which also helps to boost self-esteem. It's important to note that the benefits of mindfulness and meditation may not be immediate and may take time and regular practice to be fully realised. It's also important to find a practice that works for you and to be patient and consistent in your practice. 4 - Connect with others Spending time with friends and loved ones, or even just chatting with a coworker, can help boost your mood. Social connections can provide emotional support. Having strong social connections can provide a sense of belonging, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. It also provides practical support. Having people to turn to for help and advice can provide a sense of security and make it easier to cope with challenges. It is especially powerful for personal growth! Building and maintaining relationships with others can help us develop new skills, learn new things, and grow as individuals. Our favourite way of connecting? Around a cup of coffee of course! 😉 We might be biased on this opinion but we can all agree that there is nothing like a coffee date to properly catch up with a friend! More than that, coffee on its own can connect people through love for the beverage and mutual understanding of how crucial this substance can be to your day-to-day functioning. If you’re a dedicated coffee drinker you’ll know what we mean. 5 - Get enough sleep This is an obvious one. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability and low mood, so make sure you are getting enough rest. 6 - Drink coffee  Again, this could be slightly biased coming from us… but let’s not overlook some widely known benefits of drinking coffee. Here are some ways in which coffee can potentially improve your mood: Coffee can increase alertness and energy. The caffeine in coffee helps to improve alertness and energy levels, which can improve mood and overall sense of well-being. Coffee can improve cognitive function. Caffeine has been shown to improve memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions, which can lead to a better mood. Caffeine can also improve physical performance, which can lead to a sense of accomplishment and improve mood. Coffee can be a social activity. Drinking coffee with friends or loved ones can be a social activity that helps to improve mood through social connection and bonding.   Bonus TIP: Learn from Blue Zone Lifestyles Ever heard of Blue Zones? Blue Zones are areas of the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives. They are called Blue Zones because they were originally identified by demographer and researcher Dan Buettner, who used a blue pen to mark them on a map.  Blue Zones are characterised by several common characteristics, including a high number of centenarians (people who live to be 100 years old or older), a strong sense of community, a focus on healthy living, and a diet that is rich in plant-based foods. Some examples of Blue Zones include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; and Loma Linda, California. Dan identified 9 common denominators to identify lifestyle habits of the world’s healthiest, longest-lived people. These include: 1 - Move naturally Some of the world’s longest-lived people live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. In a sense, it’s about deviating from the mechanical conveniences of house and yard work and going back to basics.  2 - Purpose According to Dan, knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy. 3 - Downshift What the longest-lived people have that we don’t are routines or rituals that help shed stress.    4 - 80% rule Essentially it’s about eating until you are about 80% full to keep a 20% gap open between feeling hungry and full that could be the difference between gaining and losing weight. People in the blue zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then they don’t eat any more the rest of the day. 5 - Plant Slant Beans, including fava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. 6 - Wine at 5 o’clock We all deserve a glass of our favourite drink after a long day. 7 - Belong Belonging to a faith-based community seems to increase life expectancy. 8 - Loved ones' first By putting family first, ageing parents, life partners and children are receiving support and care that increases overall life expectancy. 9 - Right tribe The social networks of long-lived people have favourably shaped their health behaviours. The world’s longest-lived people chose–or were born into–social circles that supported healthy behaviours, Okinawans created ”moais”–groups of five friends that committed to each other for life. To learn more about Dan Buettner’s research have a look at his article Power 9® Reverse Engineering Longevity With these tips in mind, we hope your Blue Monday turns into a happy Monday, and that you will manage to improve your mood and enhance your lifestyle for a happier & longer life!

Learn how to make your own Espresso Martini, using Caffeluxe Nespresso Compatible Pods or Dolce Gusto Compatible Capsules. Create the perfect brew that will make your espresso martini burst with intense coffee flavours and take your cocktail making skills to the next level. Our Nespresso Compatible Signature Range and Dolce Gusto Compatible Coffee Pods come in different flavours and variants for all coffee lovers. You can add a touch of excitement to your beverages every time by experimenting with various types of coffee, impressing your guests with the delightful and unexpected flavour combinations you create with each swirl of their drink. Espresso Martini Recipe Serves 2 Ingredients For your simple syrup 170g Brown or White Castor sugar 1/2 cup water   For your Martini Ice 100ml Vodka of your choice 50ml Espresso shot of any of your preferred Caffeluxe coffee pod 50ml coffee liqueur of choice Garnish with a topping of your choice   Method - syrup Boil the kettle Once water has boiled, add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let it cool completely   Method - Martini Step 1 Place your 2 Martini glasses in the fridge to chill. Step 2 Starting with your simple syrup is the first step in creating this amazing martini. Simple syrup is a staple in any cocktail journey. Combine castor sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil by stirring constantly. Step 3 Make your espresso shot with our Limited Edition Aluminium Range Nespresso Compatible Pods or one of our Dolce Gusto Compatible Coffee Pods. Depending on your coffee preference, you may enjoy this martini in your own way. Place our Nespresso compatible capsule in your machine and brew 50ml (espresso shot). Step 4 Once your simple syrup has cooled down, add a tablespoon to a cocktail shaker. Fill it 3 quarters of the way with ice. Now add your vodka, coffee liqueur and your caffeluxe espresso. Shake the mixture until it feels extremely cold to the touch. Step 5 Time to strain your martini into the glass that you chilled. You can garnish with coffee beans or any topping of your choice. Don't have a Nespresso machine? Not to worry! You can also use our Friends Instant coffee or pick from our wide range of beans & ground. Enjoy!   Recipe adapted from: Miriam Nice Source: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/espresso-martini Reference: Nice M 2018, Espresso martini, BBC good food, Viewed 7 December 2022<//fheoggkfdfchfphceeifdbepaooicaho/html/site_status_block_page.html>

Ordering your coffee these days can be a little intimidating, but not with the Caffeluxe Coffee Guide. Let us teach you our ways, brew!   A – Affogato Espresso poured on vanilla ice-cream. Can be served in a cappuccino cup.   A – Americano Espresso with added hot water (100-150ml) Often served in a cappuccino cup. This drink is preferably made when the espresso is added to the hot water rather than all the water flowed through the coffee that would lead to over extraction)   C – Caffe Latte A tall ‘milk’ coffee. An espresso with steamed milk & only a little milk foam poured on top. Sound like too much? Try our Caffeluxe Dolce Gusto Compatible Caramel Latte Coffee Pods. One Drink, at a touch of a button. Perfect every time.   C – Caffe Mocha A Caffe Latte with chocolate & whipped cream. Pour chocolate syrup into a tall glass, followed by an espresso shot & steamed milk.   C – Café Au Lait The perfect French morning coffee. This delicious coffee is made by mixing dark roasted filter coffee (usually made in a French press) and warm milk. But again, Caffeluxe is to the rescue. Try our delicious Caffeluxe Dolce Gusto Compatible Café Au Lait Coffee Pods.   C – Cappuccino A coffee drink consisting of espresso & milk foam mixture. Served in a cappuccino cup. Caffeluxe also has made life easier for you by creating this delicious Caffeluxe Cappuccino Crème Coffee Capsule. Perfect Cappuccino every time, without the fuss.   C – Cold Brew Coffee Cold brew coffee is a smooth cold beverage prepared by brewing freshly ground coffee in cold water. Perfect on those scorching South African Summer days.   D – Double Espresso Also known as Doppio. Doppio is Italian Multiplier, meaning ‘double’. This is a double portion of espresso, served in a larger espresso cup or cappuccino cup.   E – Espresso (pronounced with an ‘S’ not an ‘X’ – unless referring to the morning TV show) Espresso, the beauty of a quick single shot. Usually around 40ml, served in an espresso cup. Why not try out our Caffeluxe Nespresso Compatible Dark Roast Espresso from our Signature Range?   E – Espresso Con Panna A shot of espresso topped with creamy whipped cream. Sounds good, doesn’t it? E – Espresso Macchiato Espresso with a little milk foam, served in an espresso cup.   F – Flat White A coffee drink with a double espresso & light frosted milk. Again, this luxurious drink with silky foam can be found conveniently wrapped up in our Caffeluxe Dolce Gusto Flat White Coffee Capsules. Now there is truly no excuse to spoil yourself at a push of a button.   F- Frappe Rich iced coffee made of espresso, milk & ice. Flavoured Syrup can be added is desired. This drink is mixed in a blender & served in a latte glass. (300ml)   F – Freakshake News to you? Well carry on reading! A Freakshake is basically anything that is blended/mixed/stirred with various toppings, making this the most ‘Instagrammable’ coffee at the moment. Coffee Freakshakes are made with cold brew coffee.   I – Iced Latte Ice, cold milk and your favourite espresso in a latte glass (300ml). Feel free to mix some sugar or flavoured syrup for that extra kapow!   I – Iced Mocha Cold Caffe Mocha. Prepared like an Iced Latte, but garnished & flavoured like a Caffe Mocha. Served in a 300ml glass.   I – Irish Coffee This classic is always a winner. Classic coffee Cocktail where Irish Whiskey is mixed with filter coffee and gently topped with a layer of freshly whipped cream. For those who don’t enjoy the occasional tipple, try Caffeluxe Nespresso Compatible Irish Cream Espresso Capsules. You’ll thank us later.   L- Latte Macchiato Just like the traditional Caffe Latte, but with a thicker, more generous layer of foam. Often made by pouring an espresso last into the milk. This tall (300ml) drink is served in a Latte glass.   L – Lungo An espresso pulled long. Meaning that this is generally served up to 100ml, flavour depending. Caffeluxe Dolce Gusto Compatible Americano Lungo Pods or our Caffeluxe  Nespresso Compatible Dark Roast Lungo Capsules take out all the guessing. Helping you to get your fix without any hassles.   O – Open-Pot Method A brewing method is as old as the hills. Ground coffee is steeped (not boiled) in an open pot, and then separated from the brewed coffee by straining.   R – Ristretto A very short shot of espresso. Usually enjoyed in an espresso cup, but only at about 20ml.   T – Turkish Coffee Coffee ground to a powder & sweetened, brought to a boil & then served, grounds & all! That’ll give you a ‘Get Up & Go!’   V – Viennese Coffee This coffee is brewed by drip or filter method, usually topped with a delicious helping of whipped cream.        

You may love drinking your cup of black coffee every day, but how much do you know about its health benefits?  Black coffee is the purest form of coffee that is brewed without any additives such as sugar, milk, cream or added flavours. According to Statistic Brain, up to 35% of coffee drinkers in the US drink their coffee black. So, let’s look into some of the great benefits of drinking black coffee.   Coffee’s nutritional value Black coffee is one of the best drinks in terms of nutritional value. Typically, an 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains 0% fat, 0% cholesterol, 0% carbohydrates, 0% sodium, and only 4% potassium.   Black coffee is additionally rich in nutrients and full of antioxidants.   Cleansing your system  Coffee is a diuretic beverage, that helps your body get rid of salt (sodium) and water. This means that the more coffee you consume, the more often you will need to relieve yourself. This helps in flushing out toxins and bacteria from your system every time you visit the loo.   Helping you burn fat  We all want to burn fat as easily as possible. Black coffee helps in burning fat rapidly by improving your performance during workouts, if you consume it 30 minutes before your workout.  It assists your body in releasing adrenaline into your bloodstream, which prepares your body for physical exertion. It also boosts your metabolism, which takes care of burning your belly fat.    Benefitting your liver The liver is an essential organ of the body which helps in digesting food and getting rid of toxic substances from your body.   People who drink 4 cups of black coffee every day are at a lower risk of developing liver problems such as liver cancer, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, as well as alcoholic cirrhosis.   Coffee can reduce the risk of Diabetes Drinking black coffee can help reduce the risk of diabetes. A study showed that people who drank two cups, or less, of black coffee were at a higher risk of developing diabetes, compared to those who drank two or more. Meaning; the more black coffee you consume the lesser your risk of developing diabetes.   Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee help equally in controlling diabetes, by increasing the production of insulin in your body.    A great alternative Some of us can’t enjoy some classic milk-based coffee products due to digestive disorders like lactose intolerance. Black coffee is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to it. You can satisfy your taste buds and also keep your health in check by consuming black coffee.  Did you know that approximately 65% of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy?    Coffee helps in reducing stress We’re all swamped with stresses of all kinds. Sometimes it can be a little too much to take and can lead to serious mental health conditions like depression.  Drinking black coffee is a great way to uplift your mood and make you feel better - as caffeine increases dopamine in the brain. An increase in dopamine will make you happier and therefore help in reducing stress.    Decreasing the risk diseases  Black coffee has many great benefits. Not only can it help in making you feel energized but it can also lower your risk of Parkinson’s by 60% and Alzheimer’s by 65%, protect you against gout disease, and reduce your risk of cancer.  Drinking a few cups of black coffee every day can also help your heart, as it has a similar effect as going for a walk. Therefore, it helps in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases including stroke in the long run and reduces the inflammation levels in your body.   So, what are you waiting for? Go pour yourself a nice cup of black coffee and enjoy its great benefits.

A cup of coffee, hot or cold, is always a great idea. But have you considered using your favourite beverage to make mouth-watering desserts?   We’ve put together 5 amazing dessert recipes for you to try out with your coffee. Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies  Ingredients: ⅓ cup instant coffee granules 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, softened 1 ¼ cups white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips   Preparation: Start the process by dissolving the coffee granules in 2 tablespoons of hot water. In a bowl, add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix well to combine them together. Now, beat the butter and sugar together to achieve a fluffy texture. Pour and mix the coffee, vanilla, and eggs in the butter mixture. Next, add the flour mixture to this liquid mixture and combine to form a cookie dough. Don’t forget to add the chocolate chips and fold! Bake for 10 minutes according to your usual settings.   And there you have it, delicious Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies are ready!    Cappuccino Popsicles  Ingredients:  A cup of Cappuccino 2 tablespoons corn syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla essence 1 teaspoon cinnamon   Preparation: Brew a cup of Caffeluxe’s Cappuccino Creme and pour that into a saucepan. Add corn syrup, vanilla and cinnamon to the cappuccino.  Warm and mix it all together. Pour the mixture into popsicle moulds. Pop them into your freezer and let them freeze for at least 10-12 hours.   There you have it, your Cappuccino Popsicles are ready to be savoured.    Espresso Chocolate Brownies  Ingredients: 1 cup salted butter, melted 2 cups granulated sugar ⅓ cup of coffee powder 4 eggs 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder A handful of chocolate chips   Preparation: Add sugar and butter to a bowl and mix well with a spatula. Next, add in the star of the recipe, the coffee powder. Now, add the eggs and combine it well (until there are no lumps). Add in the flour and cocoa powder next and mix it in properly. Lastly, add in a pinch of sea salt and the chocolate chips. Mix it well and pop them into the oven for baking.   Enjoy the delicious Espresso Chocolate Brownies. Save us a piece, please!    Coffee Ice Cream  Ingredients:  2 ½ cups of milk 1 tablespoon cornflour ½ cup of sugar 1 ½ tablespoon instant coffee powder ¾ cup fresh cream ¼ teaspoon vanilla essence   Preparation: Start by dissolving the coffee powder in 1 tablespoon of hot water. Mix and keep it aside. Now, combine the cornflour with ½ cup of milk and keep it aside too. Mix the remaining 2 cups of milk with the sugar in a pan on medium heat and stir continuously. Next, add the cornflour-milk mixture to the milk-sugar mixture and stir continuously for a few minutes. Add the coffee-water mixture to this and stir again until everything is combined well. Take the mixture off the heat and cool it completely.  Once it cools down, add vanilla essence and cream and mix it really well. Pour the mixture into a container of your choice and even it out. Freeze it for at least 6-7 hours.  For better results, you can remove the mixture from the freezer and pour it into a grinder and blend it until smooth. Then you can pour it back to the container and freeze it for 10 hours or until it sets well. You can also add dry fruits of your choice to take it to the next level.   Your Coffee Ice Cream is ready. So, what are you waiting for? Scoop and eat away!    Mocha Truffles Ingredients: 1 cup double cream ¼ sugar 1 ¼ dark chocolate, chopped ¼ cup butter, softened 4 tablespoons of Caffeluxe’s Espresso, cooled 4 tablespoons cocoa powder   Preparation: In a pan, heat the cream and sugar just until it boils. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the chocolate, butter and espresso to it. Set aside for two minutes. Then stir it until everything is melted well together. Let it cool, then chill it for 2 hours.  Take a teaspoon full of the mixture and roll it into balls. Roll them into the cocoa powder or melted chocolate and repeat the same method with the rest of the mixture. Chill until they are firm and ready to be served.   Isn’t that so simple? The outcome will be so flavourful and rich.  We hope you enjoy trying these 5 simple recipes with coffee we put together for you. Now it’s your turn to try them out!  

Have you ever wondered why coffee is one of the most popular drinks around the world?  Did you also know that almost 7 million tons of coffee are produced every year? And that, in total, 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihood?  This confirms the fact that coffee is a very popular beverage, both for those who consume it, but also for those who produce it. For many people, the obvious answer to the first question is: caffeine. While this is a very frequent reason, it certainly isn’t the only.  A hot steaming mug of coffee first thing in the morning, is what fuels a large fraction of our society to kickstart their day.  The caffeine in coffee helps to get our blood moving and make us feel energized. It is definitely very effective in helping us to stay awake and alert. That’s not all. Coffee has many health benefits that are largely attributed to its high level of antioxidants. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of several serious diseases, such as, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, certain types of cancer, and many more - making coffee a truly powerful beverage. So, now you have a whole list of arguments to shell out, when family, friends or colleagues question your coffee consumption.   Let’s have a look at coffee’s role across different age groups. You may have noticed that coffee is a favourite across most age groups. But do you know for what reasons? The working age-group, of course, largely depend on coffee to manage their long working hours. Beyond staying and feeling awake, it helps in improving productivity and helps them deal with their sleep-deprivation.  Coffee is also very popular among this group as it’s usually widely available at offices and is served in torrential quantities - giving the quick kick during boring meetings, facilitating small-talk, and powering the late nights at the office. Perhaps the most important is the social aspect - that they can use a short coffee break as an excuse to get a pause from work and have a quick gossip with their colleagues.  When it comes to older adults, they would simply claim it’s a habit - yet, beyond the mere habit, there is one good reason they should drink coffee: brain function.  Researchers have determined that moderate caffeine consumption of about one to two cups of coffee per day could help older adults' brain-functions by increasing their sensitivity to insulin.  This, in turn, is helpful as a higher insulin sensitivity lowers the chance for developing Type 2 diabetes - one of the biggest health concerns in today’s age. Moderate consumption can further assist in protecting the liver, boosting energy levels, improving heart health and memory, along with other brain functions. Among the younger age-groups, millennials make up for a major percentage of the world’s coffee drinkers. Surprisingly, coffee isn’t popular among this age-group for its taste, but instead for how it plays a part of a social and active lifestyle. Generation Z’ are, along with Millennials, vastly influenced by social media with all the mouth-watering coffee pictures. The aesthetic images of coffee and coffee artwork therefore also pose as a force of influence for the younger generations to consume coffee.  You would rarely see them in the local café, stretching the last sips of an espresso, but rather, you will find them in long lines in Starbucks. Queueing with their friends to get one of those large extravagant frappes, with all the bells and whistles it comes with, that they can then take stunning photos of. Increased varieties have contributed to coffee’s popularity. Coffee has become a lot more than just an ordinary beverage consumed for the daily caffeine-fix. The choices of coffee are so vast now, that we select our coffee according to our taste and liking.  Those days, when we would walk into a café or a coffee shop and ask for a generic americano, are gone. Coffee lovers now have a huge number of options to choose from and even whether they would prefer it to be hot or cold.  Perhaps you have your favourite, that you swear by. Maybe it’s the Tanzanian Peaberry? Or maybe it’s the elegant blend of the Kenyan and Ethiopian? Whichever may be your favourite, it is certainly worth exploring the vast universe of coffee varieties.  While there are the classics such as, espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, new varieties and flavours have emerged - such as mocha, Caramel Latte, Hot Chocolates, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Pumpkin Spice and many more. Not to mention the countless alternatives to milk to go with them. We have seen major brands take the lead in making coffee more than what it was back in the day. Brands like Starbucks have made coffee drinking a trend more than a need. With Starbucks and other similar coffee shops/brands offering a wide range of varieties of the popular beverage, coffee is continuously evolving. Coffee has also gained popularity because it’s one of the most customizable, flexible and quick beverages to buy. Therefore, it isn’t a surprise that coffee has turned into the preferred social drink. Whether it’s for business meetings, friendly catch-ups, group study sessions, or various other social and unsocial events, it is most people’s go-to beverage. Different people have different reasons to consume it, but what remains in common is their love for coffee.  

Coffee Scrubs for Cellulite Reduction - Get your recipe here. za.caffeluxe.com

All of us have our own special ways we like to make our coffee. How we sip on our morning brew may also vary vastly.

The invention of coffee pods has transformed the way this popular beverage is being consumed.   Did you know that in 2018, the global coffee pods market was valued at almost US $1.3 billion? It’s estimated that Nespresso alone manufactures around 14 billion pods a year!   Not sure what exactly coffee pods are? A coffee pod is essentially the pod version of a teabag: a pre-portioned serving of coffee wrapped in plastic, aluminum, or biodegradable material, ready to be infused with water.   Each capsule contains 5–7 grams of ground coffee and makes one serving of coffee. To use these pods you will need a machine that is specifically designed to brew coffee pods. You should note that there are different types of pods and machines designed specifically for each type as well.    A step-by-step guide to making coffee with a coffee pod machine   Coffee pod machines might seem like a recent development, but they were originally developed about 40 years ago by Eric Favre, who invented Nespresso for Nestlé in 1976.   The process to use these machines is very easy and user friendly. Here are a few simple steps:   First, you need to fill the water tank at least halfway. Turn the machine on. Place a cup, it can be the size of your choice. Now, open the pod container, load your coffee pod in and close the lid. Press the right button if you have the machine with more options. If there is more than one button, you must choose the right option according to the size of your cup. In no time, your coffee will be pouring out of the machine, and once done, you can add milk, cream, or sugar as you like.   Once, your coffee is ready, make sure to remove the pod container and empty it into the trash. Wash the machine and tray with a damp cloth. It is also extremely important to descale your machine at least twice a year for longevity and to make sure your coffee tastes best always.   Why does everyone love coffee pods so much?   The coffee pod market has been booming over the past few years. According to the National Coffee Association, by 2019, around 40% of Americans owned a single-cup, pod-coffee machine. So, here are some of its advantages that make coffee pods a favourite:   Pods are time efficient  One of the most important advantages of coffee pods is that they save a lot of time. You no longer have to measure the coffee beans, grind them, set-up for brewing, and then wait until it’s complete. Pods are prepared with the right amount of everything, saving you the time for preparation. This applies not only to consumers but also to businesses. Efficiency is always appreciated.     Pods are easy to use Pods are also very easy to use, as all you have to do is pop the pod into the machine and click a button. That’s it! Your coffee will be ready in just a matter of seconds.   Pods provide consistency in taste One thing you can be certain of with coffee pods is that you will always get the same taste of your favourite blend.   Coffee capsules come in wide varieties. You can choose from the popular latte, decaf, americano, or cappuccino, to more exotic flavours such as toasted almond, turmeric latte, salted caramel, pumpkin spiced latte, and so many more.   In all these options, one thing is guaranteed and that is, your coffee will have a consistent taste every time. You don’t need to worry if you’ve put too many coffee beans in or too little water etc. This makes the process fun rather than tiring when you need that first cup in the morning.   Pods are the perfect single-cup portion  Haven’t we all at some point made more coffee than we needed? Surely we’ve all been there. That’s exactly what coffee pods help us with. Coffee pods are a single-serve coffee container, which helps in making just the right amount of coffee for one person which ensures there’s no excessive coffee and hence reduces wastage.   Pods require less cleaning and are easy to dispose  An ordinary coffee maker can make cleaning a hassle after you’ve made your cup of coffee. This is not the case with Coffee Pod Machines. They are very easy to clean and handle. All you need is a damp cloth to wipe the exteriors and to drain the water tank after use. Coffee pods are simply disposed of in the trash or returned for recycling.   Coffee is such an important part of most people’s daily lives. It really is great to have an option that is not only saving you time but also ensuring that you get the best experience and a super delicious cup of coffee to savour every day.

  A ‘psychoactive substance’ is a terminology used to classify chemical substances that have the power to alter a person’s mental state. They do so by changing the way the nervous system and brain works. This leads to a person feeling intoxicated, which is often the number one reason why people consume psychoactive substances.   Caffeine is found in a wide range of places including certain fruits, leaves, and seeds of plants such as coffee and tea plants. It can also be produced in a controlled clinical setting. Caffeine is present in a wide range of food and beverage items such as chocolate, tea, coffee, cocoa, and energy drinks.     But how did a psychoactive substance become so mainstream?   Author, Murray Carpenter notes that people have been guilty of caffeine consumption one way or the other for thousands of years. People grew it, sometimes used cacao beans as a form of currency, and also used it in rituals of human sacrifice.   Unlike other substances that are classified as psychoactive drugs, caffeine has been socially accepted and is an okay thing to consume. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. Caffeine consumption actually affects the same parts of the brain as cocaine. However, the ways in which caffeine affects the brain is completely different.   The World Health Organization actually included coffee in its list of carcinogens in 1991. It was subsequently exonerated from the list after promising research found no correlation of coffee with an increased risk of cancer, but found instead results linking consumption of coffee to a decreased risk of cancer.     Have you ever wondered how coffee helps us stay awake and boost our mood?   Well, the brain has a certain molecule called adenosine. Scientists believe this molecule to help us go to sleep at night. What caffeine does is it latches onto these molecules and pushes them out of the way. This is why we feel more alert and awake after a cup of coffee.   However, adenosine catches onto this act and as a result, produces more molecules. The more an individual consumes cups of coffee the lesser are the effects of caffeine on the adenosine receptors. Our body looks to keep a balance, so it increases its adenosine production.   This is the reason why we notice our morning cup turn into two cups, then three, and before we know it we drink the whole coffee pot ourselves. The more adenosine molecules we have in our brain, the more caffeine we require to keep them at bay.   A cup of coffee also helps boost your mood. This takes place in the same way that it helps us stay alert, by blocking adenosine receptors.     There have also been interesting studies about the health benefits associated with caffeine. For example, how drinking more cups of coffee can be linked to a longer life span. Also, there has been a study that indicates users of coffee to have a lesser chance of depression.   Like any psychoactive substance, coffee does have its negative effects too. Younger regular users can experience an adverse effect on their brain development just like with any other psychoactive substance.   A study done by Durham University concluded that people who consume caffeine in higher doses are three times more likely to have extra-sensory experiences than people who consume it in lower doses, indicating hallucinogenic properties.   If caffeine is addictive or not is largely quite a debated topic. People not in favour of this claim that they consume it for the pleasure and taste of the product. Whereas, people who are in favour simply point out how many people rely on their morning brew before they can function properly. They claim that people have a risk of physical dependence if they are regular users of coffee.   Fun Fact: In 1911, Coca-Cola was sued by the US government claiming that the use of caffeine in their soft drinks was a public health hazard. Coca-Cola won the legal battle in court.   In Conclusion: Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that has infiltrated most of our lives. People consume caffeinated products without knowing it is a psychoactive compound. However, it is important for everyone to understand all facets of this substance before they decide to ingest it.   That being said, your daily dose of caffeine is probably nowhere near the harmful or toxic level required for you to experience any adverse effects of caffeine - even if you tried really hard. Making coffee probably the safest psychoactive compound.   So, by all means, go ahead and make yourself your daily cup of deliciousness!

Coffee is consumed by millions of people around the world every day. But do coffee lovers know enough about their favourite drink? We have answered 6 common questions about coffee for you to understand and know your preferred beverage better! 1. How is coffee made? Coffee comes from coffee beans. The coffee plant is planted during the wet season when the soil is moist. The fruit called ‘coffee cherries’ takes approximately 3-4 years to be borne by the coffee tree. Once the coffee cherries are ripe, they are ready to be harvested. Thereafter, they are processed either by using the dry or wet method, which then gives us the coffee beans. The beans are then milled before being exported to their destination. After which arrives the crucial step: Roasting. Roasting the coffee beans is important so that the coffee’s flavour and aroma are enhanced. The aromatic brown beans are the roasted coffee beans that we purchase from our favourite stores. Roasted coffee beans go through the grinding process and this process differs from person to person. Generally, the finer the grind, the faster it is to prepare coffee. That’s why instant coffee powder is finely grounded and easily prepared when compared to ground coffee. 2. Can coffee help you lose weight? Yes! Black coffee has zero calories, fat and cholesterol. It contains antioxidants and is rich in nutrients. But it is important to remember that additives like cream, milk, sugar etc. would increase the calorie count. Coffee on its own is a healthy and low-calorie beverage option. Black coffee is recommended as a pre-workout drink in order to boost metabolism and performance. It is also beneficial in losing belly fat. 3. What is the difference between instant coffee and filter coffee? Instant coffee is the pre-brewed coffee that enables people to quickly prepare coffee by adding hot water or hot milk. Filter coffee is ground roasted beans that help prepare coffee by pouring hot water over the beans and then filtering it for a fresh cup of coffee. Instant coffee is thus the easier and faster option of the two. 4. What is the difference between cappuccino, latte and macchiato? The only commonality between the three is that they’re all espresso-based coffee drinks and the difference really lies in how they are prepared. Cappuccino is prepared by adding equal portions of espresso, hot milk and milk foam. A macchiato is prepared with a larger portion of espresso and a smaller portion of milk foam. Finally, a latte is prepared by adding hot milk to a shot of espresso. 5. What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee beans? There are two main types of coffee beans, Arabica and Robusta. The Robusta beans carry a higher caffeine content than the Arabica beans. Robusta beans are grown at lower altitudes and produce fruit faster than the Arabica plant. Robusta is generally grown in Africa and Indonesia, while Arabica is generally grown in Africa and Latin America. 6. What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee? Iced coffee is a type of chilled coffee beverage which is prepared by adding lots of ice to your cup and then pouring hot coffee over the top. Cold brew takes longer to prepare, is stronger in taste, and has a higher caffeine content. It is made by soaking coarse ground coffee in cold water for at least twelve hours. The ground coffee should be filtered out after the soaking process which then results in concentrated coffee. Milk or water can be added to it later, along with ice, as the cold brew is more bitter in taste than the iced coffee. Did you find these answers interesting? Let us know in the comments below and also any other coffee questions you would like us to answer!

A study done in 2013, showed how energy drinks can cause more vehement heart contractions. This could be extremely dangerous for people with pre-existing heart conditions.

No matter the reason, most of the UK population consumes coffee. According to the findings of research conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the UK’s total population was consuming 95 million cups of coffee a day in 2018. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some great health benefits of doing so? Well, we’re in luck! There are many such benefits. One of them is that coffee helps reducing the risk of several types of cancer. Data published in the July 2020 New England Journal of Medicine stated that some of the coffee compounds may have anti-cancer properties and this may be beneficial in reducing many types of cancers. Several other studies have also shown that coffee may lower the risk of different kinds of cancer, including head and neck, colorectal, breast, skin, liver cancer among many others. Let’s take a look at how coffee helps in reducing the risk of three of these types of cancers. 1. Liver Cancer In 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO), after reviewing more than 1,000 studies, confirmed that regular and moderate intake of coffee may prevent liver cancer. Coffee not only assists in lowering the risk of liver cancer, but it also helps lower the risk of other liver diseases. It lowers the risk of fibrosis, i.e., scar tissue that builds up inside the liver, and cirrhosis, i.e., a condition in which the liver does not function properly due to long-term damage. Furthermore, coffee slows down the progression of many liver diseases. What’s best about these benefits is that they aren’t limited to the way you consume your coffee. Meaning, the benefits are the same no matter how your coffee is prepared - instant or espresso. 2. Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In the UK, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes. Around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. While there are uncontrollable factors like old age or family history etc., that add to the risk of developing breast cancer, not every case is as such. It is quite amazing to note that coffee could help in reducing the risk of this widespread illness. Several kinds of research indicate that coffee neither causes breast cancer nor increases its risk. These studies actually show that it on the contrary lowers the risk of breast cancer. In 2013, a large meta-analysis looked at 37 studies with more than 59,000 cases of breast cancer and reported that drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Similarly, a study published in January 2015 further confirmed the link between coffee and lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. It was also reported that the risk of breast cancer was reduced when highly caffeinated coffee was consumed and that there was a direct relation in consumption and risk. The higher the consumption of coffee, the lower the risk of breast cancer. 3. Skin Cancer Did you know that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer? A diet and health study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health and AARP, involving 447,357 non-Hispanic white participants who were free of cancer. The participants were asked to fill out a food frequency questionnaire at the beginning of the study. According to the findings of the study, people who drank more cups of coffee every day were less likely to develop melanoma, compared with those who drank little to no coffee. People who consumed one to three cups of coffee a day saw about a 10% decreased risk of melanoma while those who drank four or more cups saw a 20% decreased risk. The team noted that these results were only found among participants who consumed caffeinated coffee, not it's decaffeinated counterpart. In conclusion, coffee not only helps with lowering the risk of various types of cancer but also reduces the risk of several other diseases and therefore, offers a great number of health benefits. The added energy-boost, taste, and flavours make coffee the widely favourited beverage it is today.

‘Caffeine-free’ and ‘decaffeinated’ drinks are two completely different things. However, people use these words interchangeably. Many people who are caffeine-sensitive also order decaf coffee with the thought that they are caffeine-free. ‘Decaffeinated coffee’ refers to the type where the caffeine has been extracted from coffee. This process still leaves a little caffeine in there, whereas, ‘caffeine-free’ is a term used to refer to things that never had caffeine in them, to begin with. Did you know that there is no tea leaf that is caffeine-free? All tea plants contain caffeine, so if you are drinking caffeine-free tea, there is a chance that it is not tea but herbal tea or tisanes. Fun fact: Many people think that the decaffeinated process takes place on roasted beans or instant coffee but that is not true. The process actually starts with the beans at their rawest form: green beans. Curious about how ‘decaffeination’ began? The first time someone decaffeinated coffee was actually by accident. It was discovered by Ludwig Roselius, founder of Kaffee HAG’s. In 1903, he received a coffee shipment that was contaminated by seawater. This caused the natural caffeine to leach out of the coffee beans, all while maintaining the original flavour. Intrigued, Roselius set out to try and replicate this process of caffeine removal in an industrial setting. He tried multiple solvents but finally found his preferred result through benzene, and decaf coffee was born. Benzene was later discovered to be a possible carcinogenic, so alternative methods were tested. This gave birth to the modern decaffeination process. Ever wondered how coffee is decaffeinated nowadays? Coffee can be decaffeinated using multiple methods. In all of the decaffeination methods, the green coffee beans are firstly moistened so that the caffeine can be easily extracted from them. One of the decaffeination processes is called the ‘direct solvent method’. Here, solvents like coffee oil or ethyl acetate are generally used to extract the caffeine from freshly submerged beans. The liquid solvent is thus exposed to a batch of moist green coffee beans, so that the beans start to dissolve the caffeine. The solvent is then removed by evaporation and the beans are rinsed with water after. This process has to be run multiple times - solvent is added to the container, circulated, then emptied many times to get the caffeine levels to the required or desired amount. Solvents are preferred over water for the decaffeination process as they remove almost all the caffeine much more precisely than water. These solvents used in the process that are more caffeine-specific (solvents that are specifically used for the process to decaffeinate products) can actually remove up to 97% of the caffeine content in the beans. So, how is tea decaffeinated? There are several decaffeination methods to remove caffeine from tea. The most commonly used process for caffeine removal is the ‘Supercritical CO2 Method’. In this decaffeination process, carbon dioxide is kept under extremely high pressure, where the gas actually turns into a somewhat liquid state, almost like a thick fog. The loose-leaf tea is kept in a closed container with the carbon dioxide at a pressure reaching up to 5,000 pounds per square inch. This helps the caffeine separate, and then the caffeine is extracted from the container. Even after the decaffeination process, there is still roughly estimated 2 milligrams of caffeine or 2 percent caffeine per cup in a properly brewed cup of decaffeinated tea. The extracted caffeine is usually then sold to other companies who use it to put in their products like sodas, energy drinks, etc. Closing thoughts Not only is the decaffeinating process quite fascinating, but it is also safe for our health. In 1999, the FDA concluded that the chemicals used in the decaffeinating process are safe to use. This is because the trace amounts left on the beans are so minuscule (10 parts per million or 0.001% of the finished product) that they cannot adversely affect your health. A cup of decaf coffee contains around 7mg of caffeine which is much less than the 70- 140mg in a regular cup of coffee. If you’re someone who drinks coffee regularly, you can easily drink a decaf coffee in the evening without worrying about having trouble falling asleep. Your body is probably already accustomed to the regular coffee dose that the decaf will not keep you up at night.

Did you know that people throughout history have tried their hand at making coffee a forbidden drink? Coffee is now so interwoven in our daily lives that most of us cannot even imagine a day without it. However, this was not the case a few centuries ago. From superstitious reasons to paranoid rulers, here are 5 people who made historical attempts to ban coffee. 1. The Governor of Mecca in 1511: The governor of Mecca was paranoid about coffee. He believed that drinking too much coffee stimulated radical thinking . The governor was scared that this thinking would result in the people uniting and turning against him. He also believed that coffee’s effects were similar to those of alcohol. Legend has it that the event that tipped him over towards banning coffee, was when he saw a group of men drinking coffee in a mosque to stay up for their night-long vigil. However, the Sultan of Cairo disagreed. Since the Sultan outranked the governor, he had the last word, and overruled the governor’s attempt to ban coffee. 2. Clergymen of Italy in the 16 th Century: The clergymen in Italy were not too pleased with the introduction of coffee in Europe. They deemed coffee as a satanic beverage (for reasons we will never know) and pushed for a ban on coffee. This proposal was presented to Pope Clement VIII. He tried the “satanic” drink and was surprisingly impressed with its taste. He found it so delicious , that he jested: “The drink should be baptized!”. After the Pope’s approval, there was a surge in coffee houses all across the European continent. 3. Murad IV Ghazi of Constantinople in 1623: When Ghazi was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century, he liked to walk around his empire in disguise to hear what people would say about him. He often noted that in coffee houses people would bad mouth the ruler. He noted that people drinking alcohol would sing and be jolly, whereas the coffee drinkers he observed, would express their dissent with the current emperor. As a punishment, he decided to make drinking coffee a capital offence. Ghazi passed away when he was very young and his successor did not have the same attitude. His successor was much more lenient in his approach towards coffee and quickly lifted the ban put in place by his predecessor. 4. King Gustav of Sweden in 1746: The king of Sweden thought coffee and tea to be harmful to public health. To reach a “definite conclusion”, he ordered a somewhat scientific experiment. His test persons? Two twins who were sentenced to death. Instead, the king changed their sentences to life in prison, and ordered one to drink 3 pots of coffee , and the other one to drink 3 pots of tea , every day, for the rest of their lives. The king also assigned each twin a separate physicians to look after their health and study the effects of coffee and tea on their bodies. Before the experiment was concluded, Gustav III was assassinated in 1792. By then, the two physicians had also passed away, and coffee never got banned. The tea-drinking twin, later passed away at the age of 83 and was long outlived by his coffee-drinking twin. 5. Frederick II of Prussia in 1781: Frederick II or “Frederick the Great of Prussia" believed that coffee was only meant for royals and noble people , and not the for common peasant, as they didn’t understand how to enjoy it. He was also upset about the amount of money spent by the country on importing the coffee . So, he tried to get people to replace their coffee habits with beer. He declared to his subjects that “His Majesty was brought up on beer” . This was to put a notion into people's minds about beer's superiority over coffee. Long story short, the royal announcement did not catch on. As a consequence, Frederick II imposed a ban on the import of coffee. That didn’t hold for long through. The people of Prussia found coffee as a much better breakfast beverage than beer. So, the ban gave way to a huge wave of coffee smuggling. The amount of coffee being smuggled was much larger than the amount imported before the ban. In fact, the quantity was so large that Frederick the Great realised he was losing out on too much import tax, so he lifted the ban. 6. BONUS Throughout the 18th century, women across Europe were rallying and protesting against coffee as they thought it was making all the men impotent. They wanted coffee banned. But it was too late, the continent was already addicted to the bean water . Could you imagine a world where coffee was actually banned? Impossible. We would have no dark roasts ,no lattes ,no espressos and would be missing out on so much more. Today, we can be grateful that none of these bans were successful, while sipping on our favourite cup of coffee .

You may love drinking your cup of black coffee every day, but how much do you know about its health benefits?

If you can’t imagine your life without coffee, you probably would argue that coffee beans should be among the most important commodities in the world. While coffee might be the most important commodity for many people in the world - being one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world - it is not the most traded.  The number one commodity? Oil. In 2019/2020, around 167.6 million 60 kilogram bags of coffee were consumed worldwide. But where is all that coffee coming from?   Global Production According to the Global Exchange, there are approximately 25 million farmers in over 50 countries involved in producing coffee. The top coffee producing countries are: Brazil (2,595,000 metric tons per year) Vietnam (1,650,000 m.t.) Colombia (810,000 m.t.) Indonesia (660,000 m.t.) Ethiopia (384,000 m.t.)   Brazil Brazil’s coffee accounts for roughly one third of global coffee production, making it the world’s largest coffee producer. In fact, Brazil has held this title for over 150 years.  Over 3.5 million people are involved in coffee production throughout the country. In 2018, Vietnam, the world’s number two producer, only managed to produce half of Brazil’s total output. Vietnam Coffee was first introduced to Vietnam in the mid 19th century, when the industry was built through a plantation system. Vietnam’s coffee industry has since become a major source of economic activity in the region.  By value of Vietnam’s agricultural exports, coffee is second only to the country’s famous rice industry. Of total output, 97% of Vietnam’s coffee is of the robusta variety. Colombia Colombia’s 600,000 coffee growers are responsible for the third largest output of coffee in the world, which is particularly impressive given that most of them pick the beans by hand.  Colombia’s coffee and its unique flavour are most popular to importers like the United States, Germany, France, Japan, and Italy. Growing mostly arabica beans, Colombian coffee is known for its smooth and flowery taste. Indonesia In 2017, Indonesia produced an impressive 660,000 metric tons of coffee. The country’s arabica coffee is known for having low acidity with a bold flavour, making it ideal for blending with more acidic varieties from other parts of the world.  Like Colombia, more than 90% of Indonesia's coffee is grown naturally by small, independent landowners operating with 2.5 acres of land or less, mostly on small islands. These islands’ oceanic mist and volcanic soil are credited for lending Indonesian coffee its unique flavour. Ethiopia Ethiopia is known for being the cradle for arabica coffee. As Africa’s largest producer of coffee the country sees roughly 60% of foreign income coming from coffee. Close to 15% of the country’s population relies in one way or another on the coffee trade as a source of income.  Ethiopia itself is a large consumer of coffee - half of the country’s coffee is consumed by its own people. The remaining 50%, that is exported, sees high demand in Europe, North America, and East Asia.   Global Consumption The World loves coffee. So much so that some countries largely rely on its exports.    It might be that oil fuels our economy, but coffee certainly fuels our soul, and we see that in the consumption.   Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed daily all over the globe.   The Covid-19 pandemic has come to adversely affect coffee consumption.   The temporary closure of many businesses, especially in the out-of-home may contribute to the decline of coffee consumption and prices in 2020.   Consumption fell in Europe by 0.6%. In other regions, however, it increased.    Looking East towards Asia and Oceania the demand for java grew the most, with almost 3%.    Looking West towards the Americas, the coffee drinkers drank 1.4% more coffee in Mexico/Central America, 0.7% more in North American and almost the same in South America.   While here on the African continent the coffee consumption rose by 1.8%.   When Covid hit, there were those who stock-piled toilet paper - and then there were those who stock-piled coffee. One wouldn’t want to play with a coffee lover’s supply of delicious Espresso.   So which countries in the World consume the most coffee?   Annual consumption per person Netherlands - 8.3 kg Finland - 7.8 kg  Norway - 6.6 kg Canada - 5.5 kg  Lebanon - 5.3 kg Germany - 5.2 kg Brazil - 5.1 kg Qatar - 5.0 kg Switzerland - 4.8 kg Italy - 4.7 kg     From the graph we see a lot of European and Middle Eastern coffee lovers, as both regions have had a long tradition of drinking and enjoying coffee. The USA is far down the list with 3.5 kg. Don’t let this fool you. Many of the higher ranking countries are tiny, so their per capita consumption is high, but the US remains one of the top coffee consumers in the World.  Americans love their coffee too, especially their Lattes.  More than 425 coffees are sold per second in the US, and the coffee industry is responsible for 1,694,710 jobs in the US economy alone. Coffee has the amazing power to elevate our moods, energize us, bring us all together or separate us - if we haven’t had it yet - which is probably why it ultimately plays a very important role in our lives.    

A good cup of Café Au Lait every morning, can help bring together the energy and calmness you need to fight to power through your day and overcome those grey cloudy days.   A large fraction of our population depends on a good, tasty, aroma filled coffee to begin their day. Most of which would noddingly agree that they experience a positive change in their mood after kicking their day off with a warm cup of coffee.   The mood-altering effects of coffee have, in fact, a merit in science.   When we go off to sleep our body accumulates an organic compound called adenosine. The adenosine activates the adenosine receptors in our body, which leave us feeling tired and depleted of energy and inspiration when we wake up early in the morning.    That early dose of caffeine in our morning coffees goes in and blocks these receptors and prevent us from feeling tired, while giving us a spark of energy to get our day going.   This blockage happens by caffeine binding with adenosine-receptors, which also allows for more dopamine, a hormone in the human body responsible for self-motivation and decision making, to bind with dopamine-receptors making us happier.   The exact same reaction happens when we grab that mid-day-power-coffee. Caffeine kicks in and gives us that boost we need, in the middle of the day, when we are feeling low. It’s not only our energy level that gets a boost, but also our mental health.   A study conducted by Qingdao University Medical College in China concludes that there is an 8% lower chance of suffering from depression per cup of caffeinated coffee a day. (Of course, to a limit).   Caffeine simply inhibits the chemicals causing depression, to bind with the receptors in the human brain, while it also happens to be the ingredient that can help us stay awake.   Many studies have indicated that a great percentage of users have reported signs of depression when they don’t drink any coffee during their day - compared to users who drink 2 or more cups of coffee a day.   The most common symptoms of depression include anhedonia, the lack of ability to feel happy, and an absence of inspiration. Depression is a mental health condition that increases the oxidative-stress markers in blood stream. The recipe for acute depression is having proteins that cause inflation to accumulate in the bloodstream.   The anti-inflammatory chemicals that are found in coffee are namely chlorogenic acid, trigonelline, tannic acid, and can assist in bringing the levels of the inflammation-causing-protein down.   To minimize this adverse effect, a good cup of delicious aroma filled coffee, with its anti-inflammatory properties, can do the trick. Caffeine is therefore considered as a great organic compound blocking, and hormone binding antioxidant, that happens to recharge us with both energy and happiness.   So, with the right amount of coffee, a person can be both mentally and sensory satisfied.   Coffee is here to help enhance our working memory, improve our alertness and concentration, and relieve us from depression, while we are striving for a stronger and healthier living.   Make sure to check out Caffeluxe’s latest varieties of delicious caffeinated coffees.    

Some say that if you put the word ‘culture’ in a pod, place the pod into an espresso machine, press the little button - and out comes millennials. The sale of instant coffee has been on a fast decline, from £808m in 2013 and expected to reach lows of £700m by the end of 2020. That’s because younger generations have become coffee snobs, throwing out their tins of sand-like coffee and choosing to settle for the ‘finer tastes’, but what’s all the fuss about? It’s easy to assume that a few properties are lost through the process of instant-coffee processing. Coffee does lose many of its oils that give ground coffee their rich flavor. However, does that also mean that all the health benefits of coffee are lost in the instant-coffee processing too? Dietitian Melanie McGrice notes that the difference between the instant coffee and ground coffee are pretty negligible, however there may be a small difference in terms of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and caffeine levels. It’s in potassium that ground coffee takes the lead by doubling the amount of that in instant. Though the main difference usually lies in the other “c” word - yes caffeine - according to Body Fusion dietitian, Emily Hardman. She further compares that one cup of instant coffee contains 60-80 mg of caffeine vs ground coffee that averages between 60-120 mg. It is true that caffeine improves your physical and cognitive performance, mental alertness and decreases fatigue. That being said, more caffeine is not necessarily a good thing and its impact on your health is dependent on the individual and the dosage. There’s a fine line of indulgence between “maximum benefit” and going “coffee cocoo loco”, why moderation is key. It’s settled then, ground coffee might win this round, but only just. It’s also safe to say that kids these days will do anything for the ‘culture’, (whatever that means). So the next time a 20 year old asks you for a cup of coffee, save yourself the hassle. Give them a cup of Medspresso™ and tell them to chill out.   For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com

  Now we’re sure you’ve heard this before. The mispronunciation of the word espresso with an “x” instead of an “s” is a common one and it’s understandable and generally related to the misconception that the word is some ‘gucci’ Italian word that translates to Express (as in ‘fast’). Italian it is, but more so referring to the process. Espresso, meaning ‘pressed out’ is an explanation of the phenomenon; The passing of almost-boiling-hot water through coffee grounds using pressure, pouring out a rich cup of coffee filled with aroma and flavor. The second myth buster to this tale is understanding the ‘espresso experience’. ​The appreciation of a good cup of coffee is bound by its flavor, which is accentuated by a tango of taste and aroma, rather than just a solo of taste.  Don’t believe it? Block your nose the next time you sip on an espresso. You will be rushed with the bitterness of caffeine but you will not experience the full flavor of the coffee. That said, the cup is only as good as it’s maker. A coffee connoisseur or an espresso expert knows to use great quality coffee beans, ground to the perfect consistency like that of the Medspresso™ pods, which would truly make the Italian, Luigi Berrazza, who patented the process in the late 1900s, proud. But if you are still having trouble with the pronunciation and coffee just isn’t for you, you can use the coffee grounds as DIY face scrubs according to beauty lab chemist Danuisa Wnek, “coffee grounds are physical exfoliators that can lift off dead skin cells”, or you can just order an exquisite cup of hot chocolate.   For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com