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Is cocoa found only in chocolate? Is cocoa really unhealthy? What exactly is cocoa?

What exactly is cocoa?

Cocoa describes a variety of things. At the very beginning is the cocoa tree. This ripens particularly in sunny areas and bears the so-called cocoa pods. Once these have matured, they can be opened. Inside are the pulp and seeds. We know the latter in this country as cocoa beans. At the beginning, however, the seeds look very different – rather soft, light and white in colour.
Only the fermentation ensures that these transform into our classic brown cocoa beans. During this fermentation process, certain substances are released that later provide the chocolate flavor we crave when the beans are roasted. After that, a wide range of products such as cocoa drinks, chocolate or even cosmetics can now be manufactured.

Where is cocoa grown?

Similar to the coffee plant, the cocoa tree also needs a very special environment in order to thrive perfectly and blossom fully. The tropical heat around the equator is best suited for this. More than 40 countries around the world are now dedicated to the cultivation of cocoa. There are numerous growing areas, particularly in Asia, Latin America and Africa. However, around 75 percent of the total harvest comes from South Africa. The following countries are among the areas with the strongest cultivation areas:
Peru
Ivory Coast
Indonesia
Nigeria
Nicaragua
Papa New Guinea
Ghana
Brazil
Incidentally, the cocoa tree must never stand in direct sunlight. Therefore, the plants are often grown in the protection of the rainforest or planted together with mixed cultures such as coconut palms or citrus fruits, which cast shadows over the cocoa trees with their leaves.

These types of cocoa exist

Incidentally, there are four major types of cocoa beans, between which a distinction is made:
criollo
Trinity
Forastero
Arriba
The Forastero cocoa is generally considered to be the most well-known variety and is the most cultivated worldwide. But the other cocoas can also be found in the trade and offer various advantages depending on preference and taste. Incidentally, the seeds of the cocoa tree contain a large number of healthy ingredients. However, most of these are lost during drying (fermentation) and subsequent roasting. First of all, however, it should be said that the remaining ingredients also make cocoa a real super food.

How healthy is cocoa now?

As is almost always the case with cocoa, “It depends”. Cocoa can be divided into two categories. On the one hand there is the natural cocoa, which as pure cocoa powder has up to 350 calories per 100 grams. These are caused in particular by the fat content in raw cocoa. On the other side is the industrially produced cocoa. Here the calorie content can vary greatly and depends on the extent to which the powder has been de-oiled and sugared. With a cocoa content of mostly less than 25 percent and a high amount of sugar, this variant often has twice the number of calories as natural cocoa.

Cooking Tips

The Espresso Maker – What is it And How Does it Work?

Are you looking for a cheap alternative that you can use to make strong coffee at home without a portafilter machine or fully automatic coffee machine? We have a handy answer: the espresso maker!

What is an espresso maker?

The espresso maker is a small pot that is traditionally made of aluminum but is now increasingly made of stainless steel. With it, you can easily prepare fresh coffee on the kitchen stove or a hob. The most famous model was developed in 1945 by the Italian Alfonso Bialetti. A device for making coffee from France, which was already on the market in 1819, is considered to be the forerunner.

How is an espresso maker constructed?

A typical espresso maker consists of three parts:
The upper part is the collection container for the finished coffee. With the help of the integrated riser pipe, the coffee flows upwards. Below the riser is the first filter.
Below that is a funnel insert with a sieve, into which the ground coffee is placed.
The lower part is a kettle with a valve, into which water is filled.

How does an espresso maker work?

About the process of making coffee in the espresso maker: When the water is heated on the hob, the boiling water escapes through the metal tube and hits the ground powder. The coffee then flows through a fine sieve and rises in the tube to the upper part of the cooker. Here it is caught in a kind of jug. Admittedly, it sounds a bit complicated in theory, but in practice it’s incredibly easy. Done it once and you can hardly make mistakes afterwards.

Step 1: Fill with water

Unscrew the espresso pot and remove the funnel. Fill the kettle with preheated water. This step is intended to prevent the coffee from taking on the taste of aluminum or metal. Depending on how much coffee you want to drink, you should also choose the appropriate pot size. For a good result, the pot should always correspond to the amount to be prepared. That said, it doesn’t make sense to cook only two in a six-cup cooker. It is important during preparation that the safety valve is not covered with water.

Step 2: Fill in the ground coffee

Reinsert the funnel and fill it completely with ground coffee. It shouldn’t be squeezed. You will get the best results if you freshly grind the beans. Make sure that the grinding degree is set between fine and medium so that the coffee does not taste burnt or bitter later.

Step 3: Heat the espresso maker

Screw the top of the jug back onto the bottom. Then place the espresso maker on your hob and heat it up. Note that the stove should only be heated at medium heat. As soon as the water starts to boil, the top of the pot fills with the finished coffee. Don’t be surprised if you hear a “gurgling” or “whistling” sound coming from the device. Then you know that the coffee is being brewed. The noise is due to the pressure inside the cooker. The espresso is initially quite dark, but becomes lighter as the process progresses. You should remove the espresso maker from the stovetop as soon as steam comes out of the spout in the lid. From here the residual pressure in the pot is sufficient to complete the extraction. At this point, however, you can also cool the pot with a damp cloth and thus end the extraction.

Select coffee beans and degree of grinding

In general, you can use any coffee bean in an espresso maker. Depending on how strong you want your coffee to be or how much you want it to resemble an espresso, you should also choose the beans. For a full-bodied aroma, we would recommend a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. These are also used to prepare a classic espresso and add a powerful flavor to your drink. For this, the beans get an extra espresso roast.

Your coffee from the espresso maker will be particularly good if you freshly grind the beans beforehand. The degree of grinding should be finer than for filter coffee preparation, but not as fine as for the portafilter machine. If you’re not quite sure, just give it a try:

If the coffee then tastes too watery, the grind was too coarse. If your drink is rather bitter or tastes almost burnt, the degree of grinding was probably too fine. During preparation, the funnel should be completely filled with ground coffee.

Which hotplates can I use with an espresso maker?

Basically, you can use an espresso maker on all hotplates, it depends on the material and the stove. Don’t be surprised if an espresso maker from the company’s stock doesn’t work in your kitchen: espresso pots made of aluminum cannot get hot on induction hobs. This is similar to old pots, which also do not work on induction stoves. You should therefore pay attention to the material your device is made of.

Good to know: In an emergency, the espresso maker can also work without electricity. You could even enjoy a delicious cup of coffee while camping with the help of a gas cooker. The practical coffee machine “To Go” can accompany you everywhere.

How to clean the espresso maker

In order for the espresso maker to have a long service life, it should be cleaned after each use:

After making coffee, let the device cool down first.
Then unscrew it.
It is best to clean the espresso maker by hand. Wash each part individually with lukewarm water without adding detergent until all residue is removed. For example, you could use a sponge to help.
Then dry the individual parts and reassemble the espresso maker.
There should also be a general cleaning every few weeks. To do this, first repeat the normal cleaning steps. Next, prepare a bowl of lukewarm water to which you add either citric acid, vinegar, salt, baking soda, or baking soda. It is also important not to use detergent or artificial cleaning agents. Place all parts (except for the rubber seal) in the prepared water for 15 minutes. This is how stubborn deposits and limescale are dissolved. Then wash everything under neutral water and dry thoroughly again. Finally, the espresso maker can be reassembled.

Food

How Many Calories Does Coffee Have?

Sooner or later, igur-conscious people ask themselves how many calories are in coffee. The good news is that coffee itself has no calories. The bad news: Coffee variations such as cappuccino, latte macchiato and Co. make a big difference. Find out here what the calorie count of coffee is.

Whether for breakfast, in the office or after a delicious meal, coffee is one of the most popular beverages around the world. But do you know how many calories coffee has? This question divides minds: While some claim that the hot drink even helps you lose weight, others say that it can be a real calorie trap. But which of these is true now? The answer: both! But from the beginning…

What are calories anyway?

Calories are known to be those little animals that sew clothes tighter at night. No, seriously – first of all, calories are actually kilocalories, abbreviated to kcal. This is nothing other than the unit that indicates the energy contained in food. The precise definition is:

One kilocalorie of a certain food supplies exactly the energy required to heat up one liter of water by one degree Celsius.

If you want to lose weight, you have to consume fewer calories than your body actually burns. All those who want to gain weight must consume more calories than they burn. The average calorie requirement per person is around 2000 kcal.

However, factors such as gender, height, weight and level of activity also play a decisive role. For example, a tall, physically active person burns more calories per day than a smaller person who hardly moves.

A lightweight: coffee itself is low in calories

Coffee drinkers who enjoy their drink black can rejoice: there are actually no real coffee calories. However, if you take it very seriously, a normal cup of coffee has just 4 kcal. A regular espresso only has 2 kcal per cup. These are indications that figure-conscious people can certainly neglect in their diet.

On the contrary, black coffee can even be beneficial for burning energy. Because the drink can boost the metabolism in the body and ensure that fat is burned faster. The popular hot drink helps with weight loss. However, this only applies to active people who exercise, and only to black coffee without any additives.

Milk and sugar make coffee a calorie trap

Unfortunately, not all coffee is created equal. What you put in the coffee is also decisive for the calorie count. This means sugar and milk. If you like sweetening your coffee, add 20 kcal per teaspoon of sugar. Milk also contains calories, more or less depending on the fat content. For example, if you add a third of whole milk to your cup of coffee, you will consume 40 calories.

Coffee types such as latte macchiato or cappuccino that contain milk and sugar also have more calories. The more of it is drunk, or the more milk and sugar it contains, the more calories the drink has.

Of course, coffee can also cause weight gain because the body is supplied with energy that first has to be burned off again. This means that what is actually a low-calorie drink can quickly become a calorie trap.

Overview: This is how many calories coffee and individual types of coffee have

Because coffee has many facets, the calorie information varies accordingly. To give you an overview of which varieties contain the most calories, we have sorted the drinks according to their nutritional value:

Pretty figure-friendly: A cup of espresso has just 2 kcal.
The following applies: the purer, the better. Even a cup of black coffee doesn’t matter. She comes to 4 kcal.
A cup of latte that consists of half low-fat milk and half coffee has about 65 kcal.
All cappuccino lovers consume just over 90 kcal with a cup of their beloved pick-me-up. Each teaspoon of sugar adds 20 kcal.
A latte macchiato also has almost 100 kcal due to the milk. With the whole milk variant, it can quickly become 150 kcal. That doesn’t even include the sugar.

Minimize calories in coffee – this is how it works

Anyone who pays attention to their diet and energy intake in order to maintain their weight or even lose pounds should opt for the lower-calorie coffee variants.

If you don’t want to do without latte macchiato or cappuccino, it’s best to choose low-fat milk. Instead of milk, you can also use milk substitutes such as soy or almond milk. This reduces the number of calories, the coffee gets a pleasant aroma and people with lactose intolerance can also enjoy it without regret.

You should avoid sugar if possible. However, if you really need something sweet in your coffee, you can use sugar substitutes. Try it with sweeteners from the health food store such as agave syrup, maple syrup or stevia. These substitutes contain significantly fewer calories than sugar, but still taste almost as good.

You should also be careful with coffee variations that you get on the go. Here, large mug coffees can contain added syrup and cream and can quickly exceed the 300-calorie mark. Then the drink sometimes turns into a small meal, at least if you go by the calorie count.

Food

What is a Macchiato and How Does This Coffee Specialty from Italy Work?

A cup of macchiato promises coffee enjoyment like in Bella Italia. But what is the difference between an espresso macchiato and a latte macchiato – and how can the specialties be perfectly prepared?

The fine difference between espresso macchiato and latte macchiato

Espresso macchiato and latte macchiato sound similar in name, but they are two different drinks. The espresso macchiato (also known as macchiato for short) is a genuine Italian specialty. With this type of coffee, the espresso is “stained” with milk (macchiato). It is characteristic of the drink that the barista only adds a little milk froth to the espresso.

The latte macchiato, on the other hand, consists of espresso and significantly more milk. Conversely, with this variant, the milk is “stained” by the espresso.

How do you make latte macchiato?

The perfect latte macchiato is served in a glass, because this is how the color nuances of the espresso and the milk can be seen. The hot drink consists of a total of three layers: the milk is at the bottom of the glass, then the espresso follows in the middle and the relatively firm and creamy milk foam is enthroned at the top.

How can the layers be separated? Quite simply: When pouring espresso and milk froth, caution and the right order is required.

First pour the milk into the glass.
Now add the milk froth.
Finally, carefully pour the espresso through the milk froth.

Prepare espresso macchiato: Here’s how

The preparation of an espresso macchiato does not require quite as much skill as the latte. To serve the perfect espresso macchiato, first froth the milk. Tip: The froth is particularly firm and retains its consistency longer if you use milk with a high fat content.

Prepare the espresso separately. First pour the espresso into the cup and garnish it with the milk froth.
The delicious hot drink is available in different versions:

● Italians like to drink a doppio macchiato, which consists of twice the amount of espresso. This variation is also often served in a glass. Incidentally, an espresso macchiato tastes particularly good when the cup is warm.
● Cold macchiato is a pleasure, especially on warm summer days. This is prepared without foam. Instead, the espresso is simply mixed with some cold milk and called espresso macchiato freddo.

Cooking Tips

Strawberries Go Moldy: Does the Whole Bowl Have to Be Thrown Away?

If there is mold on a strawberry, you don’t have to throw away the whole skin right away. However, you should be careful about what you eat. We explain what you have to pay attention to.

Not all mold is dangerous: precious cultures on cheese, for example, are edible. The situation is different with unwanted mold on foods such as fruit, vegetables and bread: These can sometimes produce mycotocins. These metabolites can damage the liver and kidneys over the long term and even have a carcinogenic effect, as the Apotheken Umschau reports. That’s why you should also be cautious if you notice mold on a strawberry.

Strawberries get moldy: You should pay attention to that

If you’ve bought a bowl of strawberries and spot mold, you should be on the lookout. You should then do the following:

Don’t eat the moldy strawberry! Even if only one spot has visible mold, you should discard the whole strawberry. Because: Especially in water-containing foods such as strawberries, traces of mold can spread invisibly throughout the fruit. Therefore, discard the moldy strawberry.
Also discard the strawberries that are directly adjacent to the moldy strawberry. The mold may have spread (invisibly) to these as well.
Check any other strawberries in the bowl. If you can’t find any signs of mold on these, they are still safe to eat, as SWR reports. However, if several strawberries are moldy in the bowl, it is better to dispose of the whole bowl, as nutritionist Christoph Meinhold advises in the forum of the Federal Center for Nutrition.
Before you eat the remaining strawberries, be sure to wash them thoroughly. You can use clear water or soda water for this. Then you should eat the strawberries as soon as possible.
Tip: You can prevent mold in strawberries by not storing them in their skins, but rather laying them out flat on a plate in the fridge. Nevertheless, you should consume the perishable fruit as soon as possible – preferably on the day of purchase. You can also freeze strawberries.

Strawberries: delicious and healthy – but regional and seasonal, please

Strawberries consist of about 90 percent water and are therefore particularly low in calories – at least without sugar. They are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium and also provide more vitamin C than citrus fruits. Around 100 grams of strawberries cover the daily vitamin C requirement. From a health point of view, there is a lot to be said for the popular fruit, which, despite its name, is actually a nut.

Strawberries are only really healthy if they come from organic cultivation. Because conventional strawberries are mostly contaminated with pesticides, as Öko-Test found out in a comprehensive test. We therefore recommend that you only buy strawberries of certified organic quality.

But strawberries can also be problematic from an ecological point of view if they do not come from regional cultivation: imported strawberries often come from Spain or other southern countries. Since a lot of water is used for cultivation (up to 280 liters for 1 kilo!), this is partly to blame for the water shortage in those countries. The long transport route also contributes to the poor ecological balance of imported strawberries. In addition, there are even reports of rapes on Spanish strawberry plantations.

We therefore recommend that you only buy organic strawberries from German outdoor cultivation. The delicious fruits are in season here from May to August. Of course, even better are strawberries you picked yourself from the neighboring strawberry field or you plant strawberries yourself.

Food

Grocery Check: Is It Still Possible or Does It Have To Go?

My yogurt is not old!

It happened to me again recently. A yogurt from almost prehistoric times was hidden in the back of the refrigerator. Since it still looked normal from the outside, I was brave and opened it. Lo and behold: everything is perfect, put it in the breakfast muesli!

But not everyone is that brave. Around 206,000 tonnes of food ends up in the garbage in Austrian households every year, even though it is still edible. Most are thrown away unchecked, simply because they’ve passed their sell-by date.

Greenpeace food check

In a long-term test that began in January 2017, the environmental protection organization Greenpeace, on behalf of the ORF’s “Mother Earth” campaign, found that food has a much longer shelf life than the best-before date (MHD) would have us believe.

Eight foods were examined, including eggs, yogurt, cake, salami, and soy yogurt, which were 14 days past the specified best-before date. The tested yogurt in particular achieved an amazing result: even 26 weeks after the best-before date, it was still perfect and edible! Soy yogurt, smoked tofu, eggs, salami, cake, and cheese also held up surprisingly well. A vegetarian sesame dip was the earliest to give up, but this was still ok two weeks after the best-before date.

Best before date (MHD) is not the same as to use by date

By the way: The MHD is not the expiry date! Only a few perishable foods have a real expiry date (use-by date), e.g. B. Fresh meat and minced meat. The pack then says “Use by…”. In addition, the MHD is given far too short by many manufacturers in order to avoid liability issues.

Determine the shelf life of food

So we rely on common sense and our five senses. An exceeded best-before date is by no means a reason to throw away food. If you smell it, pay attention to the consistency and taste a little of it, it is usually easy to determine whether it is still edible.

Foodless is more

In order not to waste food in general, Greenpeace recommends not to go shopping when hungry, not buying excess food, and, above all, avoiding perishable multipack offers.

Here you will find the best recipes with yogurt (also with expired ones!). If your expired yogurt is still good, why not try this quick yogurt poppy seed cupcake or these fabulous savory pickled yogurt balls.

By the way: Leftovers from cooking also have a right to further use and don’t have to go into the bin uneaten 😉 Even when cooking with leftovers, you can still prepare wonderful meals!

Food

How Long Does Eggnog Last?

Traditionally, we only drink eggnog every holy time, namely at Christmas and Easter. The question is: if you don’t drink the whole bottle in one go, how long can you drink the rest?

The facts

Eggnog usually consists of three ingredients: egg yolk, sugar, and alcohol. The alcohol content is usually around 20% alcohol by volume. Its roots can be found in the New World: In the 17th century, European seafarers tasted a drink made from avocados for the first time, which was offered to them by the South American natives. In Europe, the discoverers no longer wanted to do without the delicious, creamy drink, but avocados were not available. So they simply replaced the exotic fruit with eggs – and the eggnog was born. Related to the classic eggnog are English Eggnog or Mexican Rompompe.

Eggnog likes it cool and dark

If the bottle is originally sealed and stored in a cool and dark place (preferably standing up in the fridge), eggnog lasts for over a year, and the traditional manufacturer Verpoorten even speaks of two years. Incidentally, since eggnog is counted among the spirits, it does not have to have a best-before date. Once opened, eggnog should be drunk within half a year – which is about the ideal time between Easter and Christmas ;-).

Homemade tastes best

When we make eggnog ourselves, we have the advantage that we know for sure what’s inside. Not sure how long it will last.

As a guide, you can stick to store-bought eggnog. The most important thing when it comes to the shelf life of eggnog is hygiene, both during preparation and storage. If you make eggnog yourself, it is better to use several smaller bottles (these should of course be sterile) than one large one, so smaller amounts of the liqueur can be used up faster and leftovers don’t stand around for too long. If there are leftovers from the homemade eggnog: drink it up within six months!

Shaken, not stirred

Regardless of whether you bought it or made it yourself, it’s worth shaking the eggnog bottle well before opening it. The fat in the yolk combines with the other liquid ingredients to form an emulsion. It may be that solid components settle a little at the bottom of the bottle, but this says nothing about the freshness of the eggnog! If in doubt, a “sensory check” can help: look closely, smell, and taste – rely on your 5 senses to assess whether the liqueur is still edible (you can find out more about the shelf life of food here). By the way: According to a study, salmonella doesn’t stand a chance in eggnog if it contains at least 14% alcohol by volume. Even if you have a “no risk – no fun” attitude in real life, you should be careful with eggnog. If you don’t want to finish the bottle, we recommend our best eggnog recipes, because eggnog leftovers can also be wonderfully packed in cakes or creams – and eggnog cream always goes well with it anyway!

Technology

Packaged in a Protective Atmosphere: What Does That Actually Mean?

Packed in a protective atmosphere – you can read that on many products in the self-service counter in the supermarket. In this article, you will find out whether this is good or bad.

What does “packaged in a protective atmosphere” mean?

Most groceries in the supermarket come in packaging. But packaged is not always packaged. For example, you can differentiate between “packaged under air” and “packaged in a protective atmosphere”.

Fish and meat from the self-service counter are most often packaged in a modified atmosphere. Bread, pre-baked rolls, pasta from the refrigerated section, packaged cheese, sausage, nuts or ready-cut fruit are now also packaged in this way.

If food is packed under air, this can lead to unfavorable changes. Some examples of this are:

faster corruption processes
proliferation of bacteria
oxidative changes, i.e. changes in color or taste.
In order to avoid such changes, many foods are packaged in a protective atmosphere. This works in such a way that the ambient air is first extracted and then replaced with a specifically modified gas mixture. The gas mixture is adapted to the individual product. It can consist of oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2) or other noble gases. The process is officially called “Modified Atmosphere Packaging”. The protective atmosphere then extends the shelf life of the food and you can recognize this from the note on the package (“Packaged in a protective atmosphere”).

Pork and beef are also often packaged using an advanced process. It’s called “High O2–MAP”. The special thing about this is that the oxygen content is higher than in normal air and higher than in normal packaging in a protective atmosphere.

Advantages and disadvantages of products packed in modified atmosphere

Disadvantages of food packed under modified atmosphere:

Food packed in a modified atmosphere is always packed in plastic.
You do not have the option to adjust the amount of the product to your consumption. This is relevant, for example, when you buy meat. If you buy groceries fresh at the counter, you can buy exactly as much as you need and thus avoid food waste.
In addition, products that have already been packaged are less fresh – even if they are packaged in a modified atmosphere.

Advantages of food packed in a modified atmosphere:

The packaged products are of higher quality. This is because changes in the products are reduced by the packaging.
The light red color of beef and pork is preserved.
The food has a longer shelf life.
Additional preservatives are not necessary.
Products that are packaged in a protective atmosphere must be stored with particular care. If the packaging is damaged, it is no longer effective.
Foodstuffs packaged in a modified atmosphere are also marked with a use-by date. In contrast to fresh products, it is clear to the consumer how long it can be enjoyed. The use-by date indicates the period in which bacteria and fungi do not noticeably multiply. Since the protective atmosphere slows down bacterial growth, the use-by date can also be found on the packaging.

Are there any health concerns?

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, food packaged in a protective atmosphere is not harmful to health.

The products in a protective atmosphere are regularly checked for their gas composition. This means that the composition of the air in the packaging is checked. In an investigation by the State Office for Consumer Protection in Saxony-Anhalt, for example, the ambient air was completely replaced in 90 percent of the products.

One final tip: if you’re buying groceries that are packaged in a modified atmosphere, check the packaging for damage. She just looks undamaged.

Lifestyle

What Influence Does Coffee Have on our Bodies?

We drink it at the start of the day, at meetings with colleagues and it is also a must for afternoon cakes: our beloved coffee. Without him we miss something in the morning. After just one cup from the industrial coffee machine, we feel better, fitter and more awake. We drink it in a wide variety of ways – filter coffee, café crème, latte macchiato & Co. – and even when we’re on the go it’s a must.

But what actually happens with the coffee from the coffee machine in the office in our body?

Coffee’s journey through our bodies begins in the mouth. We perceive the numerous different aromas of coffee from the industrial coffee machine in our pharynx in the back of the mouth.

Then it goes to the stomach. There, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body. The distribution of the caffeine takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

In the intestine, the components of coffee – caffeine, acids, tannins and bitter substances – stimulate intestinal movement. This stimulates the digestive process and the food breaks down faster.

Caffeine directly affects the central nervous system by occupying the adenosine receptors. Adenosine is the messenger substance that signals tiredness to the body. By blocking these receptors, the tiredness signal is eliminated and we can (for the time being) carry on happily.

Depending on how it is prepared – with a filter coffee machine or a coffee machine in the office – the coffee can have a cholesterol-raising effect. This is due to the substances kahweol and cafestol that get caught in a filter when it is used. If you use a filter-free preparation method, for example in an industrial coffee machine, these two substances get into the coffee and thus into our body.

People who suffer from high cholesterol should therefore rather resort to filter coffee. However, according to current knowledge, coffee drinking with a normal coffee consumption of about four cups a day does not need to be a concern.

If you drink coffee, the caffeine it contains increases your heart rate. This leads to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, the blood vessels are dilated. This is due to the release of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. But don’t panic: These symptoms are harmless and only last for a short time. Casual coffee drinkers will notice these symptoms more clearly and quickly. On the other hand, habitual coffee drinkers who visit the coffee machine in the office several times a day will probably not even notice these symptoms.

Similar to the blood vessels, the vessels of the bronchi are also dilated due to the caffeine. In addition, the caffeine leads to a relaxation of the bronchial muscles. This makes breathing easier.

Caffeine stimulates kidney activity. However, the coffee from the industrial coffee machine does not remove any water from the body and can even be included in the fluid balance. Normal coffee consumption (approx. four cups a day) is considered harmless and has no harmful effect on the kidneys.

What advantages does coffee or caffeine have on our body?

Caffeine has a performance-enhancing effect. The ability to concentrate and think after drinking the coffee increases.

Caffeine also has a pain-relieving effect. Especially with headaches and migraines, it can be helpful to treat yourself to a cup from the coffee machine in the office. This is why some headache pills contain caffeine.

One reason for many to reach for a cup of coffee: Its sleep-delaying effect – it wakes us up in the morning and drives away tiredness, and in the evening it helps us to keep our eyes from closing so quickly. Of course, the effect depends on how much coffee you are used to enjoying. People who drink coffee regularly usually suffer less from the effects of caffeine at night than people who only occasionally reach for a coffee cup.

Coffee protects the liver cells. Several studies have confirmed that coffee has a positive effect on liver values. In addition, coffee can counteract liver fibrosis.

Regular coffee consumption from the industrial coffee machine or the caffeine it contains reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, coffee – whether from a filter machine or from an office coffee machine – is not considered carcinogenic. On the contrary, some medical studies suggest that coffee reduces the risk of certain types of cancer.

So coffee only has health benefits?

Numerous studies should prove that coffee has a positive effect on our body. However, there are just as many studies that are intended to prove the opposite. In general, coffee in moderation is perfectly okay. You can drink up to 4 cups (normal cups, no jumbo cups!) of coffee from the office coffee machine per day without hesitation. The amount of caffeine contained in each cup naturally depends on the type of coffee and the degree of roasting. In the end, it’s always best to listen to your body. He lets us know when it’s time to choose another drink for the day. Have you ever noticed that you didn’t like the coffee when you were sick? This is also a sign from our body that coffee is not the best drink for us in this situation. But don’t worry, as soon as we’re on the mend, the coffee starts to taste good again and we can go to the coffee machine in the office without hesitation.

Lifestyle

What Does the Taste of Your Coffee Say About You?

Do you drink coffee black, as a latte, cappuccino, caffé latte or espresso? Take this personality test to find out what the taste of your favorite coffee says about you. Your coffee preferences say a lot about your character. Find out!

This is what the taste of your coffee reveals about your personality

Black

You are a confident and straightforward person who doesn’t care for unnecessary frills. They like to keep things as simple and straightforward as possible. The same applies to coffee, which you can only pimp with a little sugar. In order to master the day, the coffee machine is turned on in the morning. If you had to be described in one word, you would probably be called “minimalist”. True to the motto: Less is more.

Espresso

You are at home in big business. With you, everything has to go in no time. You don’t have time for extensive coffee talks and therefore prefer to have a quick espresso (or a double). You are a workaholic and enjoy taking on leadership roles within a group. You work hard for success. So you need the quick caffeine kick. A healthy diet and balancing out with sport are also very important to you.

Latte macchiato

Let’s be honest: You don’t actually like coffee that much and you would still like to drink hot chocolate. But because you are of a certain age, you reach for the latte macchiato. Since it’s mostly milk, drink the mildest coffee beverage. No wonder you can be described as a comfortable and easy-going person. You like to drink your latte in good company at Sunday brunch with your loved ones or in a cozy café around the corner.

Coffee latte

You prefer the caffè latte in a cozy environment with friends and family. It is particularly important for you to spend a lot of time with your loved ones, which is why you like to put some duties on the back burner.

Cappuccino

The first thing you do after waking up is not the coffee, but your cell phone. Something important might have happened on your social network. They are very active and like to be everywhere. At work are at home in the creative field, always motivated and slightly obsessive. You prefer to drink your cappuccino in a sweetly decorated café, where you can also relax for a few hours with your laptop or a book. Served with a small muffin or croissant. Yummy!