The Grind

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.

  1. Coffee in numbers. If you can’t imagine your life without coffee, you may probably want to put it first place in the ranking of top commodities. It is not - but it is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. In 2018/2019, around 165.35 million 60 kilogram bags of coffee were consumed worldwide. According to the Global Exchange, there are approximately 25 million farmers in over 50 countries involved in producing coffee. The top coffee producing countries: 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.) The number one commodity? Oil.   2. Coffee is a psychoactive. Coffee has the same psychoactive properties as schedule I substances and is the only legal drug. The lethal dose of caffeine is roughly 100 cups of coffee. Which is a lot, so do not worry coffee is safe and has many health benefits. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for caffeine to reach its peak level in the blood. The body typically eliminates half of the drug in three to five hours, and the remainder can linger for eight to 14 hours. That is why it is advisable to plan your coffee breaks or switch to alternatives, such as the Medspresso Rooibos tea or Hot Chocolate before bedtime.   3. Decaf isn’t the same as caffeine free. Think switching to decaf in the afternoon means you aren’t getting any of the stimulant? Not quite. One Journal of Analytical Toxicology report looked at nine different types of decaffeinated coffee and determined that all but one contained caffeine. The dose ranged from 8.6 mg to 13.9 mg. So, yes, even brewed decaf has caffeine. To avoid it completely go for caffeine free. “If someone drinks five to 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee, the dose of caffeine could easily reach the level present in a cup or two of caffeinated coffee,” study co-author Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., a professor and director of UF’s William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, said in a statement.   4. Energy drinks often don’t have more caffeine than coffee. By definition, one might reasonably think that energy drinks would pack loads of caffeine. But many popular brands actually contain considerably less than an old-fashioned cup of black coffee. An 8.4-ounce serving of Red Bull, for instance, has a relatively modest 76 to 80 mg of caffeine, compared to the 95 to 200 mg in a typical cup of coffee, the Mayo Clinic reports. What many energy drink brands frequently do have, though, is tons of sugar and hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Coffee is natural and has little to no additives or preservatives depending on the brand. Coffee also contains healthy nutrients such as vitamins B2 and B5, potassium, niacin, and magnesium.   5. Dark roast coffees actually have less caffeine than lighter roasts. Not all coffee is created equal. In regards to both taste, profile and caffeine. A strong, rich flavor might seem to indicate an extra dose of caffeine, but the truth is that light roasts actually pack more of a jolt than dark roasts. The process of roasting burns off caffeine, meaning those looking for a less intense buzz might want to opt for the dark roast at the coffee shop.   6. One cup of black coffee only has one calorie. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one cup of regular black coffee brewed from ground beans contains 2 calories. Whereas, 1 fluid ounce of rich black espresso contains only 1 calorie. If you brew your coffee from decaffeinated beans, the calorie count reduces to zero. Adding sweeteners, cream, and other mix-ins can quickly jack up the total. A venti Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks contains 88 grams of sugar and 600 calories — more than a McDonald's Big Mac!   7. There have been five attempts to ban coffee throughout history. Can you believe it? Coffee was first banned in Mecca in 1511 because leaders believed it stimulated radical thinking. And, 16th century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600. But Ottoman leader Murad IV took it even further when he ascended the throne in 1623 by creating the first punishments for drinking coffee, which included beatings and being thrown into the sea. In 1746, the Swedish government made it illegal to even have coffee paraphenalia, including cups and dishes. And finally, in 1777, Frederick the Great of Prussia issued a manifesto declaring beer’s superiority over coffee because he believed it interfered with the country’s beer consumption. For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com  

We can't get enough of these yummy iced coffee recipes and just had to share them with you. They're easy to make and costs very little Randella's per cup. If that's not enough, making it yourself means you get to choose your favorite Cafféluxe variant. So... Bring on the summer heat! We have you covered with the best brews in town. Thai Iced Coffee Prep: 10 minsMakes: 2 to 4 servings Ingredients:2x 110ml Lungo shots, strong coffee4 - 6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milkIce cubes1/4 cup evaporated milk or fresh heavy cream Method: Pour the coffee into a glass jug or other container for mixing and pouring. Add sweetened condensed milk to taste and stir well until dissolved. Add a few ice cubes and refrigerate for 1 or more hours. To serve, place a few ice cubes in the bottom of each glass and pour the coffee over. Top each drink with a few tablespoons of the evaporated milk or heavy cream. Taste test the coffee—you want it to taste strong and sweet. Add more sweetened condensed milk if you prefer it sweeter, or more evaporated milk/heavy cream for a richer taste or if it's too strong. (Note that this iced coffee is meant to be rather sweet.) Turn this drink into a cocktail: This iced coffee is excellent as is, or serve with a shot of Irish cream, Kahlua, or your favorite liqueur. Frappuccino Prep: 10 minsMakes: 8 servings  Ingredients:3x 110ml Lungo shots, strong coffee2/3 can sweetened condensed milk1 cup whole milk1/2 vanilla bean2 teaspoons vanilla8 cups ice Method: Brew the strong coffee and let it chill.  Use a refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process, or just let it chill in the fridge overnight.  Add the strong chilled coffee, milk, and sweetened condensed milk to a blender. Split the vanilla bean.  Use half of the split bean and scrape the seeds out. Place the seeds in the blender. Add in the vanilla extract. Fill the blender the rest of the way with ice (leaving a little room at the top for blending) Blend until smooth. Serve with whipped cream. Frappuccinos can also be frozen in mason jars and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months! Cold Brew Prep: 10 minsMakes: 4 - 6 servings Ingredients:4 cups of filtered water1 cup of ground coffee Method: To make the best cold brew, start with a quality coffee bean. A coarse grind works best and makes filtering easier, so skip your standard containers of pre-ground coffee and buy whole beans and grind it yourself. With your ingredients ready, place the ground coffee in the pitcher. As you stir, slowly pour water over the beans. The moistened coffee will immediately begin infusing the water with flavor and you will notice a color difference right away. Once the beans are thoroughly saturated, cover your brewing container with a lid or cling wrap. Place it in the refrigerator and let it steep for 12 hours, though you could do up to 24 hours. Filtering the finished coffee is important. Any filter system will do, you just want to make sure to get as much of the coffee grounds out of the drink as possible. Store your filtered cold brew in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to a week—a shelf life hot brewed coffee can't touch! Mix it up: Cold brew can be sweetened with your favorite liquid sweetener or milk. Unlike hot coffee, granulated sugar or sweeteners will not dissolve well in cold coffee. You can also serve it over ice or make coffee cubes so the water doesn't dilute your brew. Cold brew makes superior iced coffee drinks to a hot brew method as well. It's also a great alternative for mixing up coffee cocktails, giving you the rich flavor of espresso without the need for a fancy machine. Since it lacks the bitterness, cold brew is an excellent way to add the flavor of coffee to baked goods, marinades, and sauces.   Source: www.thespruceeats.com

Caffeine. It's one of the most widely-publicised ingredients in coffee, and it's what puts the get-up-and-go into our morning cup of java. But aside from its hugely welcoming effect as a stimulant, particularly early in the morning and late at night, how much do you actually know about caffeine, and the effect it has on the human body? Let's strip it down to the bare essentials, and take a closer look. What Is Caffeine? In its most basic form, caffeine is a drug - albeit a legal one found naturally in coffee and in a variety of beverages. By simply altering the actions of a number of hormones and neurotransmitters, two of our most important chemical signals, caffeine is able to produce a significant effect within our bodies. As soon as you ingest a dose of caffeine, either through a cup of tea, coffee, or another caffeinated beverage, the caffeine begins to bind itself to the adenosine receptors throughout your brain and nervous system. These receptors act as inhibitory neurotransmitters that suppress the level of activity of the neurons that interact with them. Given that adenosine is associated with the promotion of sleep and relaxation, and that caffeine binds itself to these receptors, preventing them from performing their intended action, this is the reason behind the alert and wakeful feeling that most people experience when consuming caffeine. Once the caffeine has suppressed your adenosine function, it then begins to alter the role of other hormones and neurotransmitters within your body - the most significant of these being the adrenals that produce and secrete epinephrine and cortisol. These 'fight or flight' hormones are used to increase your heart and respiration rates while also causing you to relax. Studies show that caffeine is able to increase the amount of epinephrine in our bodies by as much as 250%, effectively producing a stress response, while increasing the circulation of serotonin in parts of the nervous system as well. The result? Increased energy levels and an elevated mood, all thanks to one natural drug. No wonder coffee is such a beloved morning, afternoon, and evening staple! The Benefits of Caffeine Although caffeine is technically classified as a drug, it nevertheless has far fewer side effects than illegal narcotics, and even legal substances such nicotine and alcohol. In fact, when taken in moderate quantities, it can even have a proven range of benefits, such as:    Morning alertness: Tired in the mornings? A jolt of caffeine can have just the stimulating effect your body needs to get up and at 'em.   Athletic performance: Studies have found that caffeine can in fact help athletes improve both their endurance and muscular power. This equates to better training sessions and greater gains in strength, fitness and overall performance   Improved cognitive performance: In addition to better preparing your body for physical endurance, caffeine can also help your mind to think more clearly, with low to moderate doses of caffeine facilitating improvements in both short-term memory and systems processing. Making the Most of Your Daily Cup So how can you maximise these very real benefits while avoiding any potential side effects?   Monitor your caffeine intake. While low to moderate doses of caffeine can be beneficial, ingesting too much over time can lead to a continuous replacement of hormones within your body, broken down by the continuous binding of caffeine to your receptors. Ultimately this can lead to a decrease in Vitamin B, a suppression of iron absorption, and headaches and fatigue should you ever lower your caffeine intake. If you ever start to feel jittery after consuming coffee or other caffeinated beverages, limit your intake immediately, and monitor your body for other symptoms of overexposure to caffeine.   Experiment with alternatives. Want to experience the naturally stimulating qualities of caffeine without drinking coffee? Try alternatives such as cacao, or unprocessed chocolate. Cacao contains a compound similar to caffeine that is able to stimulate blood flow throughout the body while leaving the nervous system intact. As a result, you'll feel more alert, vibrant and energised - although you may want to keep an eye on your waistline if you start to consume it on a regular basis!   Now that we've laid the ins and outs of caffeine bare, it's time for you to decide if and when to regulate your caffeine intake. If you feel the benefits of being more awake and more stimulated throughout the day, it's likely your caffeine consumption is in balance with your body's needs. If, however, you feel erratic, shaky or anxious, you may want to cut back on coffees and cooldrinks, and supplement your fluid intake with water instead. Whichever direction you choose, however, it's safe to say that caffeine is more good than bad - so whether you feel better on one cup of coffee, or even two or three, drink up and enjoy!