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The Myth of Coffee: How Healthy is The Drink Really?

There have been numerous myths surrounding coffee for years. For many, it has now become an indispensable part of every day.

Caffeine as a stimulant

When it comes to coffee, the caffeine factor plays a crucial role. Many people reach for a cup of coffee early in the morning to shake off morning fatigue and start the day awake. The effects of caffeine are quite varied. First and foremost, it ensures that our circulation gets going and our mood rises positively. After consumption, our body needs about 30 to 45 minutes to transport the caffeine into our bloodstream. With normal consumption, caffeine has a stimulating effect on the psyche. The main advantage of this is that we can overcome performance lows and get into an alert and alert state. Even the memory capacity of our brain can be temporarily improved by consuming coffee. Concentration increases and we overcome phases of tiredness. Another great benefit of caffeine is that our peripheral blood vessels dilate – at the same time, the cerebral vessels shrink. This can alleviate migraines and headaches – a property that pharmaceutical companies have now discovered for themselves. Caffeine is found in many headache pills these days. Of course, excessive caffeine consumption can also have a negative effect on our body. Sleep disorders, headaches and restricted motor skills are side effects that can occur if consumption gets out of hand. As with so many things in life, enjoying delicious coffee should be done in moderation.

The side effects of too much caffeine are partly to blame for the fact that coffee has a bad reputation in some circles. But if you don’t drink dozens of cups at once, you have nothing to fear here either. This is different for pregnant women, for example. The half-life of caffeine elimination for a normal human is around four hours. Expectant mothers, on the other hand, have to reckon with a half-life of around 20 hours. Therefore, you should take a closer look here. A suitable alternative would also be decaffeinated coffee. Older people often use this variant, so that it can be one or two more cups a day. A variety of flavors and manufacturing processes allow everyone to enjoy an unforgettable coffee experience – with or without caffeine. After all, it’s not the quantity that counts, but the taste – and that’s just wonderful with coffee.

Coffee – healthy or unhealthy

With regard to the question of whether coffee is healthy or unhealthy, the advantages and disadvantages of coffee should be discussed. In general, however, it can be said that coffee is better than its reputation suggests. In the following, the symptoms of coffee consumption are to be considered in more detail:

The rumor has long been that coffee is harmful to the heart and even causes cancer. However, it is now known that exactly the opposite is the case. According to the European long-term study EPIC, in which health data from over half a million people were evaluated, there is evidence that the consumption of coffee protects against brain tumors, colon cancer, prostate cancer and much more. The complex composition of coffee, which consists of several hundred ingredients, indicates that this is more of a healthy than an unhealthy drink. Scientists have also observed that the arteries of people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day have less hardening than those of people who don’t drink coffee. This primarily benefits our heart and has a positive effect on blood flow. A study by doctors from Boston (USA) also showed that a few cups of coffee a day lowers the risk of heart disease. In total, more than 1.3 million coffee drinkers took part in the study. With the advancing studies, more and more all-clear signals are being raised about coffee. Myths about coffee consumption are losing ground and are making the already popular drink even more popular.

The fact that coffee was often considered unhealthy in the past is due to many characteristics and prejudices. Even today, some of these rumors persist and wrongly condemn the drink. For example, it is denounced that many coffee drinkers are also smokers and die earlier. However, recent studies show that people with a tendency to consume coffee tend to live longer rather than shorter. Earlier studies were simply falsified, since the factor of smoking was included there. A big problem factor for many is caffeine. But here, too, it is true that consumption in moderation is more beneficial than harmful. There are also numerous types of coffee without caffeine.

When it comes to our heart, coffee keeps coming up. So he should be responsible for high blood pressure. In people who drink coffee only occasionally, caffeine causes blood pressure to rise slightly for a short time. However, regular coffee drinkers get used to this increase in blood pressure and compensate for it after just two to three weeks. So this no longer occurs or only very slightly.

Not all coffee is the same

The variety of coffee beans and the different methods of preparation give the issue of coffee a whole new meaning. There is mild as well as strong coffee, tart flavors or a light variety of aromas. Everyone likes their coffee differently and this is where you have to take a closer look. Depending on the roast, type of coffee and preparation, every body reacts differently to the pleasure of coffee. Sensitive stomachs can, for example, tolerate strong roasts better than mild ones, since the longer roasting breaks down bitter substances. You just have to try it here. Once you have found the right coffee for you, it can work wonders. It can boost digestion, strengthen the liver and have an extremely invigorating effect.

If we look at the different types of coffee, the question quickly arises as to whether coffee also makes you fat. Here it can be said quite clearly that the standard black coffee, i.e. the pure caffeine drink, has just two calories – in other words, we could drink coffee all day long and would not gain weight. But that changes when milk and sugar come into play. The numerous coffee specialties such as cappuccino, latte macchiato and other milk coffees make the low-calorie drink look like a little fattening. But the same applies here: “the masses make the difference”. If you don’t reach for too many calorie bombs and don’t drink them in bulk, you certainly won’t gain weight. For some of us it is also worth taking a look at an organic coffee. This is purely natural and contains no additives. So coffee drinkers can breathe easy and don’t have to worry about too many calories.

Coffee is better than its reputation

The fact that coffee is considered unhealthy by some people is mainly due to the many prejudices and myths surrounding the subject of coffee enjoyment. Nowadays, however, it can be said that coffee is not only better than its reputation, but is also considered healthy. Side effects such as shaky hands, palpitations, weight gain and others have little to do with the coffee itself. With normal consumption, coffee has a positive effect on our body and also tastes wonderful. Everyone has to decide for themselves which coffee is the best. However, the variety of coffee types and flavors leaves nothing to be desired and gives us a true pleasure experience.

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Drink Coffee To Fight a Cold?

Not only can coffee be used to make tasty hot drinks, coffee is also a natural remedy. However, many advise against drinking coffee when you have a cold.

Drinking coffee when you have a cold

Who does not know it? The nose runs, the throat scratches and the head hurts. Colds are uncomfortable and put those affected out of action for a few days. But as if that weren’t bad enough, many people believe that they have to do without their beloved cup of coffee during their illness. Instead, tea is drunk. But is this really necessary? Should you avoid coffee if you have the flu? Or does the cup of coffee even help you get well faster? After all, many health-promoting properties are also attributed to coffee.

How does a cold affect the body?

A common cold is usually caused by viruses. The result: You suffer from symptoms such as a runny nose, cold, cough and/or slight shivering. During this time you lose a lot of liquid and should therefore drink enough to make up for this loss. Hot drinks help to reduce the symptoms. However, there is a clear recommendation not to replace the water balance with coffee. A cup in the morning should still be fine. However, you should not overdo it with coffee when you have a cold.

Due to the stimulating effect, excessive coffee consumption should be avoided if you have the flu. This can result in symptoms such as muscle pain, high fever and headaches. With the flu, the circulatory system is already so stricken that it can quickly become overloaded. Here it is better to drink water (still water if possible) and tea. When it comes to teas, we would recommend green or fruit teas, as black teas contain caffeine. In addition, an extensive bed rest is announced. For a few days you should not exert yourself and take it easy on your body.

Caffeine for a cold

Caffeine is not only an ingredient in coffee, it is also added to medicines because it can counteract the symptoms of illness. It is contained as an additional ingredient or active ingredient in some antipyretic drugs in particular and has an analgesic effect. Thus, these drugs are ideal for colds. Nevertheless, one should not overdo the coffee consumption during the cold phase in order to protect the circulation and body. Then nothing stands in the way of a speedy recovery.

Prevent colds with simple means

Many colds can be prevented with simple measures. To prevent a cold, you should drink enough water, eat fruit and dress warmly. Wet hair in the fresh air is an absolute no-go. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly also helps to prevent infection. A black coffee with a slice of lemon is particularly tasty, especially during the wet and cold season.

Coffee for cough

If an unpleasant cough occurs during a cold, coffee in combination with honey can help. Studies have shown that coffee with a teaspoon or two of honey is even better for chronic dry cough than a chemical cough reliever. And a cup of coffee revitalizes body and mind when you have a cold. Thus, coffee promotes well-being and reduces the feeling of illness. Of course you should treat yourself to enough rest, but there’s nothing wrong with a cup of coffee.

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Coffee – a Drink of Variety

Coffee is not only the most popular hot drink in this country, it is also the basis for many great drink variations. A treat for every taste.

Coffee with a difference

How do you like to drink your coffee? Black, with milk or maybe with egg or peppermint liqueur? Yes, you read that right – coffee can be prepared in many ways. After all, the world of coffee is full of variety and the multitude of different tastes almost calls for innovative compositions full of experimentation. So there is no boredom while drinking coffee

Coffee in all its diversity

Coffee is drunk all over the world. No wonder, then, that the diversity of cultures is also noticeable when enjoying coffee. In addition, there are always new trends and innovations that conquer and enrich the coffee market. So it doesn’t always have to be just the coffee with milk or hazelnut syrup to enjoy the coffee drink in a different way. Coffee has a long history behind it, so that people from all over the world have creatively prepared their coffee “differently”. Various ingredients and recipes were tried out, from which you can now benefit. We invite you to try out the recipes for yourself or to let your creativity run free to enjoy your coffee “sometime differently”.

The best innovative coffee recipes full of variety

The Turkish Honey is a treat for all the senses. After all, this delicacy is not only something for the palate, but also a colorful eye-catcher. The Turkish Honey is prepared with honey, pistachio liqueur, condensed milk, milk foam and espresso. The following steps must be observed:

First, heat up 4 cl of condensed milk
In a latte macchiato glass, add 2 cl honey, 4 cl pistachio liqueur and the warmed condensed milk one after the other
Then carefully pour two cups of espresso onto the condensed milk
Finally, the Turkish Honey gets a milk froth crown
First comes a stretched mocha in the bowl
This is then mixed with an egg yolk and two teaspoons of honey
The yolk gives the drink an even brown color. You are welcome to refine the Kaiser melange with a little brandy.

It gets exotic with the banana coffee shake. The preparation is really easy. You will need a banana, some lemon juice, milk, vanilla ice cream, yogurt, maple syrup and 100ml of coffee. All ingredients are pureed in the blender and best served in a latte macchiato glass. A topping of cream and cinnamon rounds off the banana coffee shaker perfectly. Who would have thought that coffee taste could be so fruity?

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Energy Drink vs. Coffee – Which Provides More Energy?

Energy drinks and coffee are known for their stimulating effects as both drinks contain caffeine. But which drink provides more energy?

Pick-me-up with caffeine: energy drink and coffee

At first glance, energy drinks and coffee don’t seem to have much in common. One drink is cold, sweet as sugar and is preferably drunk quickly from cans. The other drink is usually comfortably warm, aromatic in taste and sometimes part of a relaxed ceremony. While energy drinks are particularly popular with young people, adults of all ages enjoy a good cup of coffee. However, one thing connects both drinks – the caffeine they contain. In addition, both drinks are absolutely trendy and score with a large number of variations. In addition, both energy suppliers are often viewed critically, as they are already consumed by young people as a stimulant and are therefore a reflection of our society, which is characterized by stress and pressure to perform.

The energy drink – flashy, caffeinated and dangerous?

Energy drinks are beverages that have a stimulating effect due to their ingredients. They come from Japan and were used here during the Second World War to improve the pilots’ vision thanks to the taurine they contain. The drink came to Europe at the end of the 1980s and was particularly popular in the techno scene. Since then, the sugar bombs have been an integral part of the beverage market. However, while coffee is the most popular drink among Germans, only a small group consumes energy drinks on a regular basis. Due to their colorful marketing and the promised increase in performance, young people in particular rely on energy drinks.
A coffee drink usually consists of coffee beans, water and, depending on taste, milk and sugar. The energy drink contains water, sugar, carbon dioxide, caffeine, taurine and many other additives. The effect of many ingredients is controversial. For example, experts disagree about the effect of taurine. While some studies state that taurine may have performance-enhancing effects, others state the complete opposite. Energy drinks have also come under criticism because they are often drunk with alcohol. The stimulating effect influences the self-assessment. An overdose of caffeine or alcohol can quickly occur. There is also the danger of judging yourself to be more alert than you really are, which sometimes provokes accidents.

Energy drink and caffeine – a comparison

But which drink actually contains more caffeine and how does it affect the body? If you convert the amount of caffeine to a liquid amount of 100 ml, normal filter coffee contains about 45 milligrams of caffeine, the energy drink contains about 30 to 40 milligrams. Due to the other ingredients, however, the effect of caffeine differs. A 250ml can of energy drink contains almost 30 grams of sugar. Sugar is not only a short-term source of energy, it also releases happiness hormones. The effect of the caffeine sets in after just 10 minutes – blood pressure and pulse rise.
In contrast to the effect of the caffeine in coffee, the performance-enhancing effect of the energy drink wears off after just one hour. Many consumers report feeling tired afterwards. The increased sugar is processed and the performance drops again. A coffee that is drunk without sugar keeps you awake and active a little longer, until the stimulating effect wears off here too. Due to the many additives in an energy drink, it is difficult to assess the effect. In some cases, there was even serious damage to health or even death. The sweet taste in particular encourages people to drink more, so that young people in particular quickly consume more caffeine than is healthy.

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Chai Tea – The Aromatic Drink From India

There are many variations of chai tea. It is always aromatic and very tasty. But how is it properly prepared? Learn more here.

Chai Tea – Indian specialty

Chai tea has been a classic drink in India for centuries. The aromatic tea with milk is served here for all occasions. Meanwhile, the rest of the world enjoys this tasty hot drink. There are always new variations, and chai tea is an integral part of any beverage list. But what makes Indian Chai tea so special?

Masala Chai – what’s in it?

In its pure form, chai tea is black tea that is refined with a blend of spices. It is therefore a spice tea. The term Chai Tea is a Western interpretation of the name. The term Cha originally comes from North Chinese and means tea. At that time it was spread along the most important trade route, the Silk Road. In this way, the original term cha became the word chai (pronounced chai) or cay.

Chai also stands for tea in India. The tea is therefore also correctly called Masala Chai. Because masala means “mixture” in the Hindu language. The spice mixture is not clearly defined. Cloves, cumin and other spices find their way into the mix. The following flavor carriers are used particularly frequently:
cardamom
blackberry leaves
Cinammon
star anise
cloves
Ginger
The tea mixture should be stored in an airtight container. Otherwise, some of the spices will quickly lose their fine aroma and the tea will then no longer have the typical spicy taste.

Enjoy modern interpretations of chai tea

In India, chai tea is almost always made from black tea. However, the constantly growing tea culture outside the country is happy to experiment with taste. So today there are a variety of interesting tea blends. Green tea, black tea, rooibos tea and tea blends from different varieties add variety to the teacups. Since the black tea blends are often very tart in the base note, these variants are very well suited to switching from a strong spiciness to a slightly milder taste.
Chai tea with rooibos is a good alternative for people who want to enjoy tea in the evening or are sensitive to caffeine. For those who like it really exotic, there are seasoning mixes with fruit or aromatic vanilla. A dash of milk is a must if you want to enjoy Chai tea in the traditional way. There are a number of variations of this today. With the help of fluffy milk foam, the classic drink becomes the popular Chai Tea Latte.

Observe the correct brewing time

The brewing time of the chai tea is determined by the base mixture. Green tea has a different brewing time than black tea. Especially with these two types of tea you should keep an eye on the brewing time. If this is too long, the tea can taste bitter very quickly. Rooibos tea tastes perfect after about five minutes, but can steep longer if necessary without an unpleasant taste developing. When buying chai teas, be sure to pay attention to the information on the brewing time. Just try a little with your own mixtures.
The tea can also be refined with various flavors in the form of syrup or special milk. Almond milk and coconut milk are popular additions among vegans. A dash of vanilla flavor turns the tea into a whole new drink. A good balance between sweet and tart is the best basis.

Enjoy chai tea at any time of the day

A black tea-based chai tea is a great morning pick-me-up. A chai tea with a herbal tea base helps to relax and switch off after a long day. If you want to recharge your batteries, you can use a green chai tea with lemon extract. The varied chai tea or latte is therefore always a good choice.

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The Frappuccino – Recipe And Preparation of The Cult Drink

With the Frappuccino, the American coffee house Starbucks has succeeded in creating a real cult drink. We’ll show you that you don’t necessarily have to go to one of the branches to enjoy iced coffee, you can easily prepare it yourself.

Frappuccino – what is that?

A frappuccino is an iced coffee variation that consists of the basic ingredients espresso, milk, cream and ice cubes. The taste of the Frappuccino can be changed with different additions such as caramel or chocolate sauce.

The term is a proprietary creation of the American coffee house Starbucks and is made up of the words frappé and cappuccino. Other coffee houses sell the same mixed drink as a frappé. The original frappé is actually a Greek national drink made from instant coffee and ice cubes. Starbucks has been selling the Frappuccino in a variety of flavors since 1995. The smallest variant costs a little more than four euros.

How do you make a frappuccino?

You don’t have to go to any Starbucks to enjoy a Frappuccino. You can get all the ingredients for this in the supermarket. It only takes about five minutes to prepare. Of course also as a vegan version.

Ingredients needed for two glasses (about 0.4 l):
About 20 ice cubes
A double espresso
150ml milk (as a vegan alternative, oat milk is the best option)
A tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
Approx. 100 ml whipped cream for the topping (alternative: “plant-based whipped cream”)
Optional: chocolate, caramel or vanilla syrup

Step 1: Prepare espresso

Whether with a fully automatic or an espresso machine, that’s up to you. To start, you’ll need a double espresso, ideally made from a strong bean. Then let it cool down for about three minutes. If you do not have a portafilter, strong filter coffee, e.g. from the espresso maker, will also work.

Step 2: Whip the cream

You need about 100 ml of cream for two glasses of Frappuccino. Pour the liquid cream into a tall container and whip until stiff with a hand mixer. Alternatively, you can of course also use spray cream and dose as you wish. By the way: There is now also vegan cream for whipping, with which the whole thing works just as well. These versions are mostly based on soy, oats or coconut.

Step 3: Mix espresso and milk

Put the cooled espresso with the milk or milk alternative in a blender and mix both ingredients. If you don’t have a mixer handy, you can use a whisk or spoon.

Step 4: Add ice cubes

Add the ice cubes to the blender and blend again. The ice cubes are processed into crushed ice, i.e. very fine ice cubes, by the scissors of the mixer. You can of course also buy crushed ice directly if you don’t have a mixer. You can usually find crushed ice in the frozen section of the supermarket.

Step 5: Pour into the glass

Prepare two glasses, each holding at least 0.4 l. Now carefully pour in the mixture.

Step 6: Topping

After filling the glass, use a spoon to spoon the whipped cream on top. You can pimp up your Frappuccino with different toppings. For example, with syrup or for even more refinement, fruit, small biscuits or chocolate sprinkles are suitable.

How many calories does a Frappuccino have?

The sweet drink sounds like a real calorie bomb. However, since the frappuccino consists almost half of ice cube water, the number of calories is still within limits. 100 ml contains about 62 kcal. With a drink of 400 ml you consume 248 kcal. For comparison: A black coffee contains zero calories, a cappuccino with around 180 ml and whole milk around 82 kcal.

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Black Coffee: What Makes the Drink Without Milk

Black coffee is better than its reputation. We explain what black coffee is and why it can also be good for your health.

What is black coffee?

Very simple: A coffee prepared without milk or milk alternative and without sugar is a black coffee.
It doesn’t matter whether you prepare the caffeinated drink in a French press, a fully automatic coffee machine, with a hand filter or in a conventional coffee machine.

How you drink the coffee is of course up to you, but some people say they don’t like black coffee. This may be because coffee tastes more bitter on its own than if you add milk, for example. This makes the drink milder. However, you only get the unadulterated taste of coffee if you drink the drink “black”. Black coffee also has many health benefits compared to the variant with milk. You can read exactly what these are in the next section.

Is black coffee healthy?

The effects of coffee on the body have already been investigated in numerous studies. The general tenor:

Regular consumption of coffee is healthy and can have positive effects on the body.
For example, black coffee contains antioxidants that can help prevent disease. How many antioxidant properties a coffee has depends, among other things, on the degree of roasting of the beans. It also has anti-fibrotic effects on human organs such as the liver.

What is also true are the following statements:

Coffee strengthens long-term memory: researchers at the University of Baltimore found out in a study that people were able to remember something better if they had consumed caffeine afterwards. However, the effect cannot be increased at will. There was a habituation effect among consumers.
Coffee promotes mental performance: According to a study by brain researcher Prof. Bernd Fischer, enjoying one to three cups of coffee should increase the speed of information processing by ten percent. In addition, coffee consumption increases sustained attention. Tip for employers: If you provide your employees with coffee, this has been scientifically proven to increase productivity.
Coffee lowers cancer risk: Four cups of coffee can reduce the risk of skin cancer by 20 percent. That’s what scientists at the Yale School of Public Health found. The researchers drew their findings from a study that proves that some coffee ingredients can protect against cell damage from UVB radiation.
Coffee drinkers live longer: From an American long-term study, a team from the Harvard School of Public Health drew data from which it can be seen that coffee drinkers live longer than people who avoid the caffeinated drink. Before they now increase their coffee consumption every day: Of course, this was not the only factor, the living conditions of the individual test subjects also have to be taken into account.
Black coffee detoxifies cells: According to a study by the University of Graz, black coffee in its original state promotes what is known as autophagy. This is a kind of “self-digestion program” in the body that cleans and detoxifies cells.

Why you should drink a coffee black

Unfortunately, animal milk in coffee reduces the positive properties and effects of the drink mentioned in the previous section. Researchers at the University of Graz have discovered that animal proteins can inhibit the process of cell purification. They therefore recommend drinking coffee black or, if you don’t like this variant, with plant-based milk.

The body’s reactions to black coffee vary from person to person. Therefore, you should only drink it in moderation at first to find out how wholesome it is for you. The roasting of the coffee beans produces acid and bitter substances. These can have effects on the gastrointestinal tract, for example attacking the gastric mucosa on an empty stomach. However, it is not 100% proven which substance in coffee causes stomach pain. For a long time, chlorogenic acid was considered responsible. In the meantime, however, this theory has been refuted. Likewise, according to the German Coffee Association, it has not been proven that drinking coffee increases the risk of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

How much coffee are you allowed to drink in a day?

According to the German Institute for Human Nutrition, four cups of normal coffee reduce the risk of developing liver cancer by 75 percent. However, not much more should be consumed. This is due to the high caffeine content in coffee.

Excessive caffeine consumption can be harmful to your health. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) cites increased nervousness, insomnia and tachycardia as consequences. As a rule of thumb, about 5.7 mg per kilogram of body weight is fine. So for a woman who weighs 60 kilograms, that would be around 342 mg. That roughly equates to the four cups of coffee per day mentioned above. For pregnant or breastfeeding women, about half of the value is considered harmless to health.

Although one cannot speak of a dependency or addiction to coffee or caffeine, according to the German Coffee Association, there are habituation effects after regular consumption. Caffeine does not target brain regions known to be addictive. However, it can happen that headaches occur, for example, when coffee drinkers abruptly forego their daily coffee dose.

How much caffeine is in black coffee?

The caffeine content in coffee generally depends on several factors. First of all, what beans you choose. Arabica beans have a lower caffeine content (average 1.2 percent) than Robusta beans (around 1.7 – 3.6 percent). However, these values ​​also vary. You have to consider how hot the beans were roasted, how finely ground the coffee is, and how long you let it steep while preparing it. Simple guidelines: the finer the beans are ground and the longer you let the coffee steep, the higher the caffeine content. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a black coffee has around 90 mg of caffeine per 200 ml, which is about the same as a normal coffee mug.

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How Real Italians Drink Their Coffee

Do you love coffee? Do you love Italian coffee and the lifestyle that goes with it? The dolce vita and the fiery charisma of the Italians? Then it’s high time for you to become a real coffee connoisseur! we have for you

7 tips on how to mutate into a true Italo slurper

1. Put on your sunglasses! I’m sorry, what? Italians always wear their sunglasses no matter what they are doing or where they are. In the museum, on the toilet in the restaurant or at the table in the piazza, with a wonderful coffee. With clouds. And rain. The sun could come out at some point… 😉 That’s real optimism!
2. NEVER order an espresso!… and certainly not an EXPRESSO please! The Germanization of an Italian term is really, really bad (please don’t order any GNOTSCHI in the restaurant either, that’s at least as terrible). In addition, a real Italian never orders an espresso, but always a cool and simple caffè. Basta.
3. Zick Zag! With the Italians, a lot goes “al volo” – including drinking coffee! The Italian prefers to enjoy the pick-me-up while standing right at the bar – and that means several times a day!
4. Cappuccino only in the morning! In Italy, people only drink their cappuccino, i.e. the coffee with milk froth, in the morning – and they prefer it with a sweet cornetto or brioche. What is good must be enjoyed accordingly! And Italians are particularly good at that 🙂
5. Tell. tell a lot. It’s not just a cliché, it’s a fact that Italians like to talk a lot. And usually not exactly quiet either. 😀 It’s like wearing sunglasses: you do it anytime, anywhere! It is therefore important – when you meet someone for the daily coffee – that you have enough topics to talk about to talk to the other person under the table!
6. Gesture! However, talking alone is not enough: an original Italian also manages the acrobatics between holding cups between the fingers and wild gestures, which can sometimes be a bit disturbing to outsiders. But: waving your hands and arms around is part of a real Italian coffee gossip!
7. Never go to the bar unstylish. Italians are always well styled, not only the ladies but also the male specimens attach great importance to their appearance. Above all, the hairstyle has to fit, otherwise nothing works. A cup of coffee in one hand, the other brushing dark hair away from his face… what a picture of a real Italian boy!

Yes, the love of really good coffee is something typically Italian – with all the trimmings. If you are now ready for “un amore italiano” with our tips, then you can also bring our original Italian caffè straight home – and your hair can be a little disheveled there! 😉

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Summer Drinks: Five Refreshing Drinks in the Heat

Summer drinks should be light, fruity and refreshing. It is important to drink enough, especially on warm days. We’ll show you five recipes for delicious drinks that will quench your thirst when it’s hot.

Light summer drink: ginger mint drink
For a glass of this summer drink you need:

2 sprigs of mint
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
200ml ginger ale
1 tbsp orange or ginger syrup (optional)
ice cubes
That’s how it’s done:

Wash the mint and shake the leaves dry. Then tear them into smaller pieces and put them in a glass.
Grate the ginger and add it to the mint leaves.
Fill the glass with ginger ale, ice cubes and possibly syrup and stir the drink briefly.

Fresh strawberry lemonade

For 2 large glasses of strawberry lemonade you will need:

200 grams of sugar
1 lemon
10-12 strawberries
400-500 ml mineral water
ice cubes
How to prepare the summer drink:

First stir up a sugar syrup. To do this, put the sugar in a saucepan with 200 milliliters of water and bring the liquid to a simmer.
Let the mixture simmer for about five minutes without stirring. Take the pot off the stove and let the syrup cool down completely. It is also important not to stir the mixture!
Place the syrup in a sealable jar and store at room temperature until ready to use.
For the lemonade, first wash the strawberries and remove the stalk.
Squeeze the lemon juice. Add it to the strawberries and puree them until you get a smooth consistency.
Now add some sugar syrup to taste. It is best to start with one or two teaspoons and taste the mixture. Then add a little more if needed. Mix the strawberry puree and the simple syrup well.
Divide the soda base between two glasses and carefully fill them up with mineral water and ice cubes. The summer drink is ready.
Tip: Strawberry season is from May to July. During this time you can buy them regionally at weekly markets or pick them yourself in a strawberry field near you.

Banana Iced Coffee: A fancy summer drink

For four servings of banana iced coffee you need:

2 ripe bananas
4 cups of coffee
400 ml organic milk (alternatively: soy or oat milk)
4 teaspoons hazelnut syrup (optional)
ice cubes
How to mix the summer drink:

Peel the bananas and cut them into pieces. Then place them in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Brew the coffee and let it cool down completely. Then put it in the fridge for about ten minutes.
Place the frozen banana chunks, coffee, milk, and any syrup in a blender. Mix everything together until you have a creamy shake. Alternatively, you can also use a blender.
Divide the shake between four glasses and add a few ice cubes if you like.

Summer drink with rhubarb and ginger

For two liters of fresh lemonade you need:

2 kg of rhubarb
40 grams of ginger
100 grams of sugar
1 liter mineral water
2 limes
That’s how it’s done:

Remove the ends of the rhubarb and then cut the stalks into pieces.
Peel the ginger and cut it up as well.
Put the rhubarb, ginger, sugar and 500 milliliters of water in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes until the rhubarb has broken down.
Remove the pot from the stove and let the mixture rest for about 30 minutes.
Pass the mixture through a sieve, squeezing out the rhubarb well with a spoon.
Top up the resulting juice with mineral water.
Wash the limes in hot water and cut them into slices. Finally, add the slices to your summer drink.

A creamy summer drink: berry yoghurt smoothie

For two glasses of smoothie you need:

100 g (vegan) yoghurt
1-2 tbsp honey or syrup
150 grams of raspberries
150 grams of blueberries
400 ml milk (-alternative like oat milk)
This is how the summer drink works:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and puree them into a creamy smoothie.
If necessary, taste the mass again with honey or syrup and then divide your summer drink into two glasses.
Note: Milk often comes from factory farmed cows. So pay attention to organic products or choose a vegan alternative. Oat milk, for example, also has a lower carbon footprint than cow’s milk.

By the way, we also have ideas for light summer recipes that you can prepare on hot days: Summer recipes: Light dishes that are suitable for hot days.

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Cooking Tips

Drink Meal: Why It’s Not a Good Idea

In order to lose weight, many resorts to drinking meals. You had better let that go. The reasons for this and more sensible alternatives can be found in this article.

This is how drinking meals work

When it comes to losing weight, there are now many different ways – from low-carb diets to low-fat diets to drinking meals. They all promise success within a short time.

Drinking meals work as follows: A distinction is first made between ready-packaged products and drinking meals, which you mix yourself with a powder and water or milk.

At the beginning, to make it easier to start the weight loss process, the drinking meals replace full meals. So you don’t eat anything solid and your number of calories per day remains the same.
Since the daily amount of calories remains the same here, you don’t lose weight at first. It is then slowly reduced because a calorie deficit is crucial to losing weight.
After a certain time, individual self-prepared dishes are added again. It’s usually up to three weeks, but that can vary depending on the meal you’re drinking.
To ensure that drinking meals contain sufficient nutrients, they are subject to the dietary regulation. It prescribes a certain amount of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, iron, calcium and vitamins. In the phase of losing weight, in which you have a calorie deficit, you move between a minimum of 800 and a maximum of 1200 calories. The individual drinking meals only have a calorie content of up to 400 kilocalories.

If you decide to go on a diet with drinking meals, there are a few things to consider. Drinking meals are not always intended for weight loss or weight maintenance. Some are just meant to replace meals or make sure you’re consuming enough calories when you’re stressed. Therefore, take a close look at a product before you buy it.

That’s why you should avoid drinking meals

As nice as the promises of drinking meals are, there are a few reasons not to use them:

If you continue eating the same way you did before you diet, you’re likely to gain weight again. This is the yo-yo effect. In order to make a difference in the long term, you have to change your eating behavior in the long term. It is also important that you move enough. This aspect often slips into the background in diets with drinking meals.
When drinking meals, there is a risk that you are undersupplied with important nutrients. This can happen if, for example, you equate protein shakes with drinking meals or diet shakes. It’s not the same. Drinking meals are intended to replace meals and therefore contain all the necessary nutrients. Protein shakes, on the other hand, do not contain all the nutrients that the body needs, but mainly proteins and hardly any carbohydrates or fiber. But your body needs it too!
Furthermore, you should always follow the instructions for diet shakes. For example, if you cut your drinking meal in half after a while, you’ll only get half as many important nutrients. After all, a full drink provides you with the necessary nutrients. On top of that, you may be lacking in phytochemicals that you normally get from fruit and veg and that are lacking in drinking time.

Basically, drinking meals provide you with sufficient nutrients. Diets with drinking meals still mean a big change for the body. If this does not receive enough nutrients because the dosage with the drinking meals is not yet running smoothly, it can become unhealthy. For example, if there is a lack of protein, muscles can be broken down during the diet.
Drinking meals often contain little fiber. This can lead to digestive problems.
In addition to drinking meals, you must not forget to drink enough. This can easily happen since drinking meals have a liquid consistency. This can result in dizziness or cardiovascular problems.
Drinking meals are very monotonous in the long run. With solid meals and home-cooked food, you have many more options, despite different tastes in drinking meals.
In addition, there is no social aspect of eating together with friends or family.
In addition, drinking meals are quite expensive.
Drinking meals alone is not recommended. Pay attention to the aspects mentioned above, and if you still want to try a drinking meal, inform yourself in detail and seek medical advice in advance.

These alternatives to drinking meals exist

If you want to lose or maintain your weight, these are sensible alternatives to drinking meals:

Eat more consciously.
move more A good place to start is regular walks.
If possible, only eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full (intuitive eating).
Eat a balanced diet and only eat sweets in moderation.
Finally, it is important that your health always comes first! Do not be seduced by the ideals of beauty conveyed in the media. Being happy with yourself and your body is the most important thing. Also, every body is unique. For some, one way to lose or maintain weight may work well, and for others, another way.

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