Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

Drink

Browsing
Cooking Tips

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.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

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.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

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.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

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.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

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! 😉

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

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.

Keep Reading
By
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.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Coffee History – Since When Do You Drink Coffee?

Coffee has become an indispensable part of our everyday life. But since when has the popular hot drink actually been drunk and how did coffee come to Germany? In this post you will learn more about the origin and history of coffee.

Back to the roots: the coffee story in Ethiopia

In general, the origin of coffee cultivation is not historically documented. However, the custom of drinking a hot brew made from roasted coffee beans is said to have originated in Ethiopia. It has been proven that the plant genus Coffea originated in tropical Africa. The Ethiopian highlands are considered the place of origin of the Coffea Arabica bean. Coffee was first mentioned there early in history – namely in the 9th century.

According to legend, a 9th-century goatherd named Kaldi in southwestern Ethiopia discovered coffee when he observed his goats frolicking at night, nibbling on the cherry-like fruit of a small tree, and didn’t seem tired. To get to the bottom of the matter, he tasted the cherry-like fruit himself. He quickly noticed its stimulating and refreshing effect.

Coffee probably came to Arabia from Ethiopia through slave traders. Old writings show that the Yemenis were already operating the first coffee-growing areas in the Middle Ages. In the port city of Mocha in Yemen, in the 14th/15th Century the first coffee plantations. The term “coffee” is derived from the Arabic “kahwe” or “qahwa”, which means something like vitality or strength.

The story goes on: spread of coffee & arrival in Europe

From the middle of the 15th century, coffee made its way to the Egyptian metropolis of Cairo via the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina. A turning point in coffee history. Because from then on an expansion of the Ottoman Empire took place from the 16th century.

Coffee conquered Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and south-eastern Europe. The first coffee houses were popping up everywhere. For years, Arabia, especially Yemen, had a monopoly on the coffee trade. The Arabs had only supplied their trading partners with raw beans and previously poured hot water over them. As a result, the beans became incapable of germination and could no longer be grown in other regions. The small state secret was properly guarded by the Arabs.

A change in the history of coffee did not take place until the 17th century. With the beginning of colonization, the coffee monopoly of the Arab world fell and coffee found its way into Europe. More and more travelers and pilgrims reported about the energy-rich drink and brought small amounts of the coffee back to their home countries. With the expansion of trade routes, sacks of coffee beans were soon arriving in the major port cities such as Venice, London, Amsterdam and Hamburg, and coffee became a coveted beverage of the sophisticated wealthy in these cities.

Gradually, numerous coffee houses opened in Europe and North America. The first coffee house opened its doors in Venice in 1647. As a central meeting place for the citizens of the city, the coffee house gained social relevance. More coffee houses opened in the years that followed: 1650 in Oxford, 1652 in London, 1673 in Bremen, 1677 in Hamburg, 1685 in Vienna. The coffee house tradition is still maintained in some large cities. And coffee cultivation also expanded abruptly.

Long after its origin: coffee becomes a popular mass drink

Once in Europe, the triumph of coffee could no longer be stopped. Here, coffee became a coveted beverage of urban elites and nobility, because coffee was initially considered a pure luxury good. Only later in history, in the middle of the 19th century, coffee gradually became a popular and mass drink.

This development in coffee history can be attributed to the mass production of coffee on plantations in South America and the increasing purchasing power of the working class. The coffee trade became much easier due to the advancing industrialization and the broad working class also felt a relative prosperity. While coffee was still a stimulant for the aristocratic upper class, workers particularly valued the powerful and invigorating effects of coffee.

Industrial finished products have been consumed for the first time since the 20th century. In times of war, soldiers were provided with easy-to-make and long-lasting instant coffee. From 1945, however, bean coffee was in short supply. During the Second World War, coffee production was curtailed in factories, and instead the focus of nutrition was shifted to carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes and flour. Instead, German coffee consumers had to be content with a coffee substitute called Muckefuck.

This can be prepared in different ways. Basically, chicory roots are used for the production of the drink, which are roasted, ground and finally infused like ordinary coffee. This gave the substitute coffee its coffee-typical color. Other main components of the hot drink were barley grains, which were also roasted. Other grains such as rye and spelled were also worked into the mixture for a change. There are two explanations for the origin of the word coffee substitute. Some assume that the term comes from the French “mocca faux” (wrong mocha). And others in turn believe that Muckefuck can be derived from the Rhenish “Mucke” (brown woodworm) and “Fuck” (lazy). The taste of the drink can be described as nutty. Of course, the taste cannot be compared to coffee from a filter coffee machine.

Gradually, through different methods of preparation and coffee variations, coffee became one of the most important commodities in the world – and remains so to this day. Today, coffee is considered the second most important raw material on the global trading market. The range of coffees is large and diverse. Germany is supplied with tons of Arabica beans and Robusta beans. These are ideal for grinding and brewing in filter coffee machines. The largest coffee exporter is Brazil, beating Vietnam by far. The largest country on the South American continent supplies the world with 2.7 million tons of coffee every year. Vietnam contributes around 1.6 tons of green coffee every year – and the trend is rising. Because more and more citizens of the world who want to enjoy a cup of coffee from the filter coffee machine need to be catered for.

The history of coffee in the 21st century

A lot has happened in the coffee world in recent years. Not only the variety of coffee is constantly growing, but also the coffee machine manufacturers always surprise with technical innovations. But our attitude towards this drink and its value chain has also changed.

Coffee, pad and capsule machines as well as fully automatic espresso machines are becoming increasingly popular and can be found in more and more households. Due to constant further development by the manufacturers, the preparation is becoming faster and quieter and the coffee more aromatic. The variety of coffee specialties that can be prepared with the coffee machine is also increasing regularly. Milk drinks such as cappuccino or latte macchiato are now particularly popular.

But the importance of coffee has also changed over the course of history. Coffee is no longer just a synonym for pick-me-up, but has developed into a luxury good. There is a growing willingness to pay more for quality coffee products and equipment. The increased interest in the processing of the coffee goes hand in hand with the idea of ​​quality. Drum roasting is the preferred refining method for those interested in coffee. This development of quality awareness is also reflected in the numerous small specialty roasters that are currently conquering the backyards of many large cities. In addition to quality awareness, the idea of ​​sustainability has also become more and more important to coffee drinkers. In addition to price and quality, the origin and possible certifications also play a role. Customers want to know more about their coffee.

One effect of this coffee evolution is the “third wave of coffee”. The third coffee wave stands for high-quality coffee, which is seen as a luxury food. It is her concern to shape all components of the value chain in a high-quality and sustainable manner and thus to increase the product and taste quality. For them, roasting is a craft and not just an unimportant step. But the working and living conditions of the local coffee farmers are also important to this movement. In this way, as many middlemen as possible are eliminated so that the greatest possible proceeds go directly to the coffee farmers. Additionally, in this movement, the original and alternative brewing methods are favored as opposed to the fully automatic coffee maker. The focus is on aromatic coffee preparation that has nothing to do with speed or simplicity. Here, no coffee machine makes the filter coffee, but it is poured by hand. Quality awareness and consumer interest should be aroused. They should decide for themselves which coffee is good and not blindly trust the colorful coffee packaging.

Learn more about the origins and history of coffee

Those who would like to learn more about the cultural history of coffee can visit various coffee museums with attractive exhibits, for example the forerunners of the filter coffee machine. Located directly on Lake Zurich in Switzerland is probably the largest collection on the cultural history of coffee. The Johann Jacobs Museum in Zurich maintains an extensive library and exhibits, among other things, machines and fine porcelain from bygone times. Since 2013, the Coffee Museum has been dedicated to the complex history of the global trading world based on commodities such as coffee and cocoa.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Why Do You Drink Coffee?

If you drink coffee from the coffee machine in the office, you will wake up and wake up

The strong aroma of the freshly brewed coffee wafts alluringly towards you as you approach the kitchen. Suddenly you automatically accelerate your step, while the anticipation of the delicious hot drink grows noticeably.

The next moment you are already standing in front of the fully automatic coffee machine. Your fingers press the start button as if by themselves. Your cup will be filled in seconds. Take it without hesitation and enjoy sip by sip of the black gold, which permeates your entire body with its pleasant warmth and gradually conjures up a smile on your lips. Whether at home or at work: Thanks to the stimulating effect of caffeine, tiredness has left your face. Because caffeine has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, it increases the oxygen supply to the heart – cardiac output increases, the blood vessels dilate and this leads to an increase in cerebral blood flow. According to a study, even small amounts of coffee can improve visual responsiveness and auditory alertness. After drinking coffee you are more concentrated and receptive, your ability to react has increased enormously. You go to work full of energy and creative ideas.

The daily lifesaver coffee has become indispensable for many employees in the office due to its refreshing effect, which is why it accumulates in front of the coffee machine in the office day after day. One colleague needs an extra strong coffee to wake up, while another colleague prefers to drink a coffee specialty that contains particularly creamy milk froth that he can use to sort his thoughts. In order to meet all wishes, preferences and requirements, the fully automatic coffee machine for the office should have as many preparation functions as possible and ensure maximum convenience.

When you drink coffee at work, you encourage socializing and a relaxed atmosphere

Whether in front of the espresso maker, the filter coffee machine or the coffee machine – a colleague who carefully prepares his coffee in the kitchen as he does every morning on his favorite machine always looks forward to like-minded connoisseur friends.

Preparing it together and drinking coffee together promote social interaction. Precisely because drinking coffee creates a relaxed atmosphere, delicious coffee should not be missing on the table at a meeting. At the push of a button, each individual participant in the meeting is provided with their favorite coffee specialty.

If the exchange of information or brainstorming with work colleagues should take a little longer, coffee saves the day in this situation.

Drinking coffee will give you good breath

Bad breath is a kind of folk ailment. Around a quarter of all people worldwide are affected. Everyone has at some point noticed bad breath from a co-worker or had someone they trust ask them about bad breath – although this is rarely the case.

Bad breath can be temporarily eliminated by chewing gum or brushing your teeth, but not everyone has the right tools at hand at work.

Thankfully, just a few years ago, Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University found that drinking black coffee can actually inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. In Professor Mel Rosenberg’s experiment, saliva samples containing typical oral bacteria were mixed with coffee extracts. To the surprise of scientists, it turned out that the release of gases that caused bad breath decreased significantly, and in addition, a fragrant odor was noticeable from the test tubes. The gas released by bacteria could be measured with the help of tools.

Now that you’ve learned that black coffee is capable of giving you good breath, you know the answer to the question, “when should you drink coffee?” – Before a meeting, going to the coffee machine is all the more worthwhile.

When you drink coffee, you stimulate your metabolism

Every course makes you slim – be it the long or the short way to the coffee machine. In general, it should be known that regular physical activity has a positive effect on and stimulates the metabolism.

The metabolism, which is the basis of all vital processes in the body, so to speak, promotes fat burning. However, what very few coffee drinkers know when enjoying their coffee specialty:

The active ingredient capsaicin contained in coffee has heat-forming (thermogenetic) properties and ensures that the stomach and intestines get going. Capsaicin boosts the metabolism properly, and the body burns more calories in this way. In addition, it has been scientifically proven that capsaicin stimulates the formation of saliva and gastric juice through its blood circulation-increasing effect and thus promotes digestion. Drinking coffee can also be healthy.

Another fact is that the caffeine in coffee from the office coffee machine has an appetite-suppressing effect and at the same time stimulates the metabolism. Have you ever experienced the appetite-suppressing effect on yourself?

When you drink coffee, it triggers feelings of happiness

There are days when you want to scream out loud at work because you feel like you’re getting over your head. The long to-do list has to be completed before the weekend and every task has the highest priority.

That’s why you’re very likely to be the last person to leave work late at night, and to make matters worse, the printer gets on your last nerve. Before you let the stress overwhelm you, pause for a moment while drinking a cup of freshly brewed coffee, breathe in its aromatic scent deeply, repeat this several times, consciously closing your eyes. Can you feel how the intense aroma of coffee gives you a feeling of calm and security?

Just the smell of the freshly roasted beans from the coffee machine for the office can lower the stress level in such moments and trigger feelings of happiness in us. Scientists also discovered that the caffeine contained in coffee leads to the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine – the happiness hormone par excellence –, serotonin and endorphin in the body. Two to three cups of coffee therefore create an exuberant feeling in the drinker that lasts for a long time. Out of sheer lust and joy in life you want to hug the whole world and tell every colleague what a wonderful person he is.

When you drink coffee, your skin becomes more beautiful

The phrase “cold coffee makes you beautiful” comes from the Baroque period, when wigs and made-up faces were part of the ideal of beauty in high society. Because the cosmetics were of poor quality, coffee could only be enjoyed cold – otherwise all the make-up would have run off.

Nowadays, the make-up products have a higher-quality formulation, which is why even coffee drinkers with make-up on their faces can drink the black gold hot from the coffee machine.

But there’s actually a lot more to the saying, because drinking coffee can actually make you beautiful – it doesn’t matter whether the coffee from the fully automatic coffee machine in the office is consumed hot or cold. Coffee contains a significant number of antioxidants that are able to neutralize free radicals caused by external influences such as car exhaust and UV radiation, thus slowing down the aging process in our cells. Studies in Japan, Spain and Poland were able to prove that the daily morning pick-me-up contains many antioxidants that have an anti-inflammatory effect.

So when you decide to have a coffee during your next pause at work, remember that when you drink coffee you are feeding your body antioxidants with their beautifying properties.

When do you drink coffee?

Of course, coffee is not only drunk at meetings in the office. Drinking coffee is also simply part of it in many other situations and the positive effects mentioned are also achieved then. The place where the most coffee is drunk is probably still the office. The favorite drink of the Germans helps with thinking, lightens the mood and gets people talking to each other. No other drink is served as often in funny, serious and stressful situations as freshly made coffee. Since you already know why people in Germany like to drink coffee, we will now tell you the top 5 occasions when coffee is a must.

1) Drinking coffee at the meeting in the office

For the sake of completeness, it must not be missing in the ranking. The everyday classic in everyday work: the meeting. Whether it’s a short appointment or a meeting marathon, our coffee is a must. Depending on the number of participants, they are often served coffee from a professional coffee machine at the conference table during the meeting.

If it is only a small group of participants, they usually take care of themselves at the fully automatic machine, which is accessible to everyone. But a meeting without coffee? Almost impossible. Because coffee is one thing that connects most of the participants. It gives us energy, keeps us awake and sometimes gives us the opportunity to be silent and think for a moment. But coffee is also indispensable outside of meetings.

2) Drinking coffee at the job interview

And so we stay in the office even with place 2, but change the situation. Another absolute guarantee for coffee: the job interview. In most cases, when asked for a drink, coffee is offered in addition to water. Companies that have a fully automatic coffee machine can quickly respond to the preferences of the potential new employee.

In addition to various social benefits, a fully automatic machine is a clear plus point on the list when it comes to distinguishing between two possible employers. Because employees who have access to a professional beverage supply see this as appreciation. But not only that: According to a survey by Mars drinks GmbH, more than 70% of employees have a more positive work attitude and more energy thanks to coffee. In addition, they can work in a more focused manner. If that doesn’t speak for an office coffee machine.

3) Drinking coffee at family gossip

Get out of the office and into your free time. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a birthday party, a big family reunion or any other occasion: when the family gets together, the coffee pot should not be missing on the table. After all, it’s easy to exchange news and discuss problems while drinking coffee. During the strenuous discussion and listening, a few cups of coffee are quickly drunk.

If you have a fully automatic machine, you can offer your family some variety in addition to filter coffee. With a creamy cappuccino or an aromatic espresso, discrepancies can be resolved much more easily. This is mainly due to the fact that coffee not only wakes you up, but also makes you happy. As you know, the hot drink has a positive effect on our mind and calms us down.

4) Drinking coffee at a meeting with best friends

If you haven’t seen your best friends for a long time, there are two things that you absolutely have to do when you meet up: tell each other the latest news and, of course, drink coffee. Popular hot drinks for such a meeting are usually cappuccino and latte macchiato.

And since one or two drinks is not enough to exchange news, the selection of the location often depends on the size and taste of the coffee offer. However, since most cafés and bars already have professional fully automatic coffee machines, there are only rarely negative points for the hot drinks served. The meeting with the best friends can take a little longer.

5) Drinking coffee at breakfast in the cafe

Anyone who goes to a café for breakfast wants to enjoy the food and be pampered with delicacies. And of course coffee should not be missing. For many, it is a welcome change to drink their way through the most diverse coffee creations, since most people only have filter coffee at home.

If a café has a professional coffee machine, the aromatic taste is a small highlight. Therefore, such appointments are very popular and a breakfast invitation is also a great gift for various occasions. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy delicious delicacies and wonderfully fragrant coffee in a pleasant atmosphere?!

Of course, there are many other occasions where a good coffee should not be missing. And sometimes there is no specific reason at all, just a wish for a moment of downtime – with an aromatic and steaming cup of coffee in your hand.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Drink Coffee to Fight a Cold?

A cold is annoying and usually comes at an inopportune time. Everyone knows the symptoms, such as a headache and sore throat, as well as a runny nose, exhaustion and tiredness. The general advice when you have a cold is rest and drink tea. But shouldn’t I also drink coffee when I have the flu, or should I rather not drink it? We clarify.

What is a cold?

An adult gets an average of two to four colds a year. Children usually catch colds more often because they can get infected quickly in kindergarten or at school. A cold is caused by viruses that are caused by different causes. If the body’s immune system is weakened, e.g. due to stress, exposure to cold or because we have contracted it from someone who is already ill, the familiar cold symptoms are triggered.

During the cold, the body is busy fighting the virus and strengthening the immune system. This results in a large loss of fluids. Household tip number one is therefore still: drink a lot!

Those affected have to compensate for the loss and therefore drink enough fluids. Hot drinks such as tea and hot lemon are particularly popular when you have a cold and help to counteract the annoying symptoms. But does coffee have the same effect as tea?

Pro – coffee with a cold

The positive properties of coffee are now well known. It increases concentration and stimulates the metabolism and our cardiovascular system. The reason for this is the caffeine contained in coffee. Medical medications that reduce fever and relieve pain also contain caffeine as an additional active ingredient. The caffeine supports the inhibition of pain and constricts the vessels. So it sounds great up to here. However, when you have a cold, your immune system is already compromised.

So it’s not necessarily advisable to top it up with our everyday coffee consumption. The fluid loss should be compensated primarily with water. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that even with a cold, a cup of coffee or two promotes well-being. However, it can also be the case that you don’t like the coffee at all. This can definitely happen when we have a cold, because our body knows best what is good for us at that moment. And that’s rest and relaxation.

Con – coffee with a strong flu

A normal cold turns into a bad flu? Then you’d better do without coffee altogether. Grab water and tea. But beware: Black tea also contains caffeine. Better to use other types of tea. In the pharmacy there are special tea blends that help relieve flu and cold symptoms.

Home remedies: coffee with honey

From a cold to a dry cough – the recommendation here is to sweeten your coffee or espresso with a little honey. This combination is anti-inflammatory and at the same time fights the urge to cough. A study confirms this. But don’t overdo it. Consuming too much coffee can cause headaches and circulatory problems. So only enjoy in moderation.

Conclusion: coffee with a cold is allowed

You don’t have to do without your daily cup of coffee when you have a cold. Nevertheless, the same applies here: pay attention to a healthy average. Do not overdo it with coffee consumption during the cold phase to continue to protect the body. Pimp your black coffee with some honey. If you have a strong flu, you should avoid drinking coffee altogether.

Keep Reading
By