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Tips for Making Coffee with Optimal Water Temperature

Making delicious, acid-free coffee is all about balancing the variables. One of the most overlooked, but extremely important, variables is the water temperature. It’s also one of the easiest to control, adjustable factors.

Understanding how water temperature affects your coffee can do a few things for you. It gives you the knowledge you need to use water that is consistent and reliable. Let me give you an overview of the best water temperature for coffee.

How water affects coffee processing

As you probably already know, the hotter your water, the faster it extracts things from the coffee grounds. Near-boiling water only takes 2-4 minutes to achieve a balanced extraction. However, cold water can take anywhere from 3 to 24 hours to produce cold coffee.

The ideal temperature range for hot brewing is 90 to 95 degrees Celsius. This is hot enough to extract gently and quickly, but not so hot that it’s uncontrollable.

  • Coffee above 1 degree Fahrenheit tends to pull things out of the ground very easily, resulting in bitter coffee
  • Water below 95 degrees has difficulty in extraction, often resulting in sour, immature coffee

The 90-95 degree range is not the target standard for water temperature when brewing coffee. It’s just the spectrum that most people around the world use the most because it tends to make the best, most balanced coffee. You are always able to deviate from this tried and true temperature range, but I don’t suggest it unless you’re a seasoned coffee enthusiast.

There are quite a few coffee pros who use lower temperatures to get different results in their coffee.

The way to consistent and reliable water

If you’re really just looking for a way to get the water to the right temperature evenly and easily, that’s a good thing! Finding your water’s sweet spot is an easy way to reliably achieve the best water temperature. First, you need to determine the altitude of your place of residence. The boiling point at sea level is 100 degrees Celsius. The higher you are, the lower the temperature the water needs to be to boil.

If you live in an area where boiling occurs between 90 and 95 degrees, you’re one of the lucky ones. You can just take your water right off the kettle as it will boil at the ideal range. If you live at sea level, you should let your water cool for a minute or two after it boils before using it. I suggest using a thermometer and a stopwatch to see how long it takes your water to cool to an acceptable temperature. It could be as little as 1 minute, but it could also be 5, depending on your height and the size/material of the kettle.

If you’re near sea level, you can also skip preheating your coffee maker. If you then pour in your water, which is over 95 degrees hot, it will immediately cool down as the coffee maker absorbs some of the heat.

If you live at a very high altitude where boiling starts below 94 degrees, you risk running out of your coffee extraction by boiling with just a little too cold water. You may need to adjust your brewing style slightly to brew the best coffee possible. I suggest trying a few things:

  • Heat your brewing vessel very well to reduce the temperature loss when filling the water
  • Increase extraction by either grinding your coffee a little finer or increasing the brewing time

Change water temperature to improve the coffee taste?

There are ways you can use water temperature to achieve specific flavors, but it’s quite difficult to do this consistently unless you have a dedicated kettle that heats water to specific temperatures. These are very convenient, but they are often very expensive. If you’re looking to improve your coffee, it’s much easier to keep your water temperature in the ideal zone and instead use the grind size to make small changes. Adjusting the grind size is quicker and easier to control than adjusting the water temperature. You can also use the best fully automatic coffee machines for perfect coffee enjoyment.

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Diet Study: Ginger Water Helps You Lose Weight

Researchers at Columbia University in New York have shown in a new study that ginger water helps you lose weight. The reason is the active ingredients in the ginger root.

Losing weight with ginger through capsaicin and gingerol

According to a study by Columbia University in New York, the reason for the positive effect are certain “sharpening agents” in the ginger root, which stimulate the metabolism. These contain the active ingredients capsaicin and gingerol, which trigger a heat stimulus when consumed. The human body reacts to this with increased blood flow and sweating to cool down the overheated body. The physical reaction in turn activates the metabolism and thus consumes additional calories.

Spicy food helps you lose weight

The fact that spicy food generally helps with weight loss has already been shown by test persons who felt less cravings for salty, fatty and sweet foods by seasoning their main meals with chili. The participants also felt less hungry with ginger tea or similar hot drinks.

How to make ginger water yourself

Ginger not only tastes good in warm but also in cold drinks. To make ginger water, you first peel the bulb and cut it into thin slices, which you put in a liter of water. The water should then simmer for around 20 minutes and then cool down. You can “spice up” the drink with a little lemon juice. Alternatively, so-called “ginger shots” can also be used.

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Food

How Unhealthy is Stagnant Water?

A glass of water is a popular refreshment, especially in summer. But if it stays for a few hours, the taste changes – it tastes sour. But is stagnant water unhealthy?

Stale water becomes acidic – hardly any health concerns

Of course, the taste buds notice the sour taste – especially if you drink fresh water regularly. However, there are no health concerns – stagnant water has no effect on the stomach

In addition to the change in taste, a glass of water or an open drinking bottle is also an invitation for dust and small dirt particles. But also for bacteria – these can now form more easily, multiply and thus also falsify the taste. The pathogens can also spread more easily if several people drink water from the same bottle. A cold or herpes infection have lighter conditions.

However, it should be emphasized that the risk of pathogens in stagnant water is quite low. On the other hand, tap water that has been in the pipe for several hours should not be drunk, explains the Federal Environment Agency: “Ingredients from the pipes could have accumulated here.”

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Lifestyle

Water and Care for Flowers and Plants on Holiday

With water bottles cut off or clay pots, you can keep your flowers nice and moist even when they’re on vacation. Drive with confidence. You no longer need to ask neighbors to water your flowers. The water bottles do this all by themselves. Do you want to go on vacation and can’t find anyone to water your flowers? No problem. With small water bottles, you will quickly master the problem.

Plants took care of despite vacation

If you don’t have a nice neighbor to water your indoor plants and window boxes during your vacation, you can also place the plants in the garden during your vacation without damaging them.

Dig a small pit in a partially shaded spot in the garden and place the plants in it. Then fill the space between the plants with wet peat and finally stretch a transparent film over it. Packed like this, your plants will survive the holiday undamaged and are well cared for.

Water bottles for watering flowers

Buy small plastic water bottles with a capacity of half a liter. They are nice and small and fit in your flower pots. All you need is a kitchen knife and you’re good to go.

How do I use the water bottles?

Cut the bottles in half with the kitchen knife. This creates a funnel. Now put the water bottles in your flower pots with the spout down. Then fill it with water using the watering can. The flower water can always flow and the soil stays nice and moist. Now you can go on vacation without worrying. The water supply lasts up to three weeks and you no longer have to worry about your flowers.

Clay pots for watering flowers

You can also use shapely clay pots for this purpose. which can be bought in hardware stores. You can also use these when you are at home, saving you the daily watering of the flowers.

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Food

Can Mineral Water Actually go Bad?

Do you know that? An open bottle of mineral water suddenly tastes stale after a while. This inevitably raises the question of whether mineral water can go bad?

Mineral water from PET bottles lose their taste more quickly

It’s not that easy. The best-before date is prescribed by law and is not an official expiry date. According to the German mineral water information center, “mineral water can still be enjoyed without hesitation even after the deadline has expired.”

Water in plastic bottles has a shorter expiry date than water in glass bottles. There is a specific reason for this: water from plastic bottles loses its taste faster because oxygen can penetrate the PET bottle better than glass.

It is also rumored that hormone-like chemicals could escape into the water if the PET bottle were to heat up. A study by the University of Frankfurt am Main examined this suspicion. The biologists Jörg Oehlmann and Martin Wagner reported that twelve of the 20 types of mineral water tested contained a hormone similar to female estrogen.

Why does my mineral water taste stale?

The biologists also report that the estrogenic load in PET bottles is twice as high as in glass bottles. One reason for this could be the plasticizers contained in the plastic. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, there are indications that this could gradually detach itself from the plastic and migrate into the water. It has not yet been confirmed whether this can also lead to health problems, but it is at least suspected.

Nevertheless, opened bottles should be consumed within a few days. Because microorganisms such as bacteria can get into the open bottle – and multiply there quickly. This happens quickly, especially in the summer when it is bright and very warm, according to the researchers at the Mercy Medical Center. Therefore, it is also recommended to store opened bottles in cool places.

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Food

Water: Can Drinking Too Much be Dangerous

Water supplies the body with vital minerals. But how many liters you need every day to stay healthy depends on various factors. Drinking too much water can even be dangerous for digestion and blood values.

Water Intoxication: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

If you take in more fluid than your body eliminates, the fluid stays in circulation and dilutes the blood. This has a negative effect on your body. Muscle weakness, disorientation or epileptic seizures can then follow. In very rare cases, it can also be fatal if water intoxication (hyponatraemia) occurs.

Symptoms of water intoxication:
drowsiness
nausea
headache
seizures
However, the risk of not drinking enough is much higher because it is often simply forgotten. Become aware of how important it is for you and your health to drink enough water.

Health benefits of drinking water

Drinking water has many health benefits:
high concentration/performance
improves the complexion
serves as a lubricant for the joints
helps against headaches and menstrual pain
promotes health and digestion
helps the body regulate temperature
Many underestimate the positive effects of water and resort to unhealthy sweet drinks as an alternative to quench their thirst. They taste delicious, but our health does not benefit from them. The water, like the blood, serves to transport oxygen and nutrients to the organs and their cells and to remove “waste”. So water cleans the body from the inside.

It is best to buy a reusable drinking bottle* that you can refill as you wish. Or you set a limit in the morning for how much you want to have drunk by the evening and adjust the amount to your individual constitution.

Losing weight with water: is that possible?

You can lose weight by drinking water. Water increases the number of calories you burn even when you are resting. Drinking before and during meals is also said to help with weight loss as it fills the stomach and thus reduces appetite. However, too much liquid during food intake quenches the “digestive fire”, which in turn is less beneficial because the liquid prolongs digestion time.

Because hunger and thirst are closely related in the brain, it can make you feel hungry even though your body needs fluids. The advice here is to drink a glass of water first and wait to see if the feeling of hunger persists.

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health

Cherries and Water Make Your Stomach Ache: That’s Really The Point of Grandma’s Myth

Many people know this nutritional advice from grandma: cherries and water don’t go together. The myth that the combination of fruit and liquid causes stomach pains is even said to go so far that the stomach can burst. But is that really true? We got to the bottom of this legend and we have the answer for you.

Controversial Myth: Stomach Pain from Eating Cherries and Drinking Water?

There are no medical studies that the Federal Center for Nutrition refers to as to whether cherries actually cause stomach pains when combined with water. However, there are various theories as to how the severe abdominal pain can occur after eating the cherries along with drinking water. The nutritionist Claus Leitzmann speculates that the origin of the grandparent myth probably comes from the war and post-war period.

Clean water was scarce at that time. The abdominal pain was probably caused by contaminated water that was drunk along with the cherries that were eaten. Other causes of abdominal pain can be yeast or bacteria on the cherries. In the stomach, they can start to ferment together with the drunk water and the fructose of the cherries and cause severe stomach pains. The water you drink also dilutes the stomach acid, which loses its protective effect.

The harmful bacteria can therefore continue to work unhindered on the fermentation process in the stomach. People who suffer from fructose intolerance should therefore be particularly careful when consuming foods containing fructose. A doctor’s recommendation is not to overdo it with the consumption of cherries and to drink liters of water afterwards. If you stick to a halfway normal consumption amount, there will probably be no stomach ache. By the way: Apricots (apricots), damsons (plums) and other stone fruit, as well as gooseberries, can cause stomach ache for the reasons mentioned above if you eat too much of them and drink too much water afterwards.

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Lose Weight With Cucumber Water, Strengthen The Immune System and More: There Are Seven Benefits in The Brew

Although the brew from gherkins contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients, it is usually thrown away carelessly. We present seven healthy benefits from the all-round talent that you probably don’t know yet.

All-round talent cucumber water: seven interesting and healthy benefits

The preserving classic is rich in vitamins and nutrients. In addition, the cucumber water contains many spices and herbs, such as dill and mustard seeds, which are also healthy.
vitamin C
vitamin E
calcium
zinc
iron
magnesium
potassium
phosphorus
We present seven interesting health facts about cucumber water that you probably haven’t heard of:

#1 cucumber water as a weight loss aid

Summer is just around the corner and you still need to lose a few pounds*: Cucumber water is ideal for this thanks to its ingredients. It is very easy to incorporate into a healthy diet. The absolute calorie killer in cucumber water is the vinegar it contains – this supports digestion and ensures that the pounds break down quickly. This works particularly well with apple cider vinegar*. You should be careful which cucumber water you want to use as a weight loss aid: In general, it is advisable to buy a glass of organic cucumbers and always pay attention to the amount of sugar they contain.

#2 After exercise: A glass of cucumber water

Cucumber water is also highly recommended as a drink after exercise. Since you lose a lot of electrolytes through sweating, you can easily get them back through the cucumber water. Among other things, cucumber water contains potassium and sodium, which the body urgently needs after exercise.

#3 A plus for the immune system

The water from the gherkins is generally suitable for strengthening the immune system*. This is due to the vitamins it contains, including vitamin C and vitamin E. The special thing about it: since the water has a high acid content, it even makes it easier to absorb the vitamins and nutrients.

#4 Inside cleaning

The enzymes contained in cucumbers, the peptidases, are able to split proteins. This is good for digestion when eating meat, for example. They also ensure that the intestines are cleaned because they have a bactericidal effect. Cucumber water also contains probiotic bacteria that are good for gut health. These arise during the fermentation process of the pickled cucumbers.

#5 Healthy for the alkaline household

The consumption of cucumber water also ensures that the acid-base balance is kept in balance. This is due to the base-rich nature of cucumbers. For example, you can counteract gout or rheumatism.

#6 Heartburn? cucumber water!

If you suffer from heartburn*, you should try cucumber water. The vinegar in the water is shown to be beneficial for the stomach. It is particularly effective if you take a sip of cucumber water before you eat.

#7 Cucumber water as an anti-hangover remedy

Those who have overdone it with alcohol often suffer from an unpleasant hangover the next day. But here, too, the cucumber water can help: As after sport, we lack electrolytes when we have a hangover, which can be brought back into balance by consuming the cucumber water. This ensures that you feel fitter again quickly.

Conclusion: Cucumber water as an insider tip for healthy eating

Cucumber water really is a great by-product of pickles and is easy to incorporate into a health-conscious diet. If you can’t bring yourself to drink the water pure, you can also use it as a dressing, marinade or for dips. Because it’s really a shame to throw it away!

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Water Retention: These 10 Foods Naturally Dehydrate Your Body

You feel heavy and uncomfortable in your own skin: water retention in the body can be stressful. Many people struggle with it, especially in summer. These 10 foods naturally dehydrate your body.

Water retention puts a strain on you, you feel swollen and your legs are heavy and leaden. Although you haven’t gained an ounce and you’re very careful about your diet, you feel unwell and your jeans are a little tighter than usual. The causes of water retention – or edema – are varied. But it doesn’t have to be an illness. Warm summer temperatures are often enough to promote water retention, especially in the legs. A high-carbohydrate diet or a diet too high in salt or sugar can also promote edema.

Water retention: what is behind it?

Slight swelling in your hands, feet, or face can occur when it’s hot or after standing or sitting for too long. Swollen feet or legs are more common in summer than in winter. Such slight swellings subside on their own. However, if the swelling does not go away on its own, it is advisable to see a doctor.

However, if your body breaks down the water retention after a short time, there is probably no illness behind it. Then it is advisable to pay attention to your diet.

Dehydrate your body: These foods will help you get rid of water retention

With the right diet, you can quickly get rid of water retention or even prevent edema directly. We have collected 10 foods for you that actively drain your body.

1. Cranberry – as a fruit or as a juice

Whether as a fruit in muesli or yoghurt or as (unsweetened) juice: cranberries are a real drainage miracle. The fruit helps the body to remove pollutants and you can cover part of your fluid requirements with the juice.

2. Asparagus – whether green or white

Asparagus is particularly popular in Germany – and it drains the water enormously. There is a large amount of aspartic acid in both green and white asparagus. And this acid stimulates kidney activity and thus ensures that the body excretes more water. The asparagus itself consists almost entirely of water and has hardly any calories, while at the same time the body is supplied with many vitamins and folic acid.

3. Water – simple and effective

It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard this, even if it sounds paradoxical: You have to drink a lot of water to dehydrate your body. When your body fears that it is dehydrated, it retains and stores all the water that is in the body. If you drink enough water, your body excretes the liquid and rids you of toxins.

4. Rice – Potassium flushes the body

Rice is high in potassium, which helps you get rid of excess fluid. If you opt for the whole grain variant, you also get a good amount of dietary fiber. So if carbohydrates, then definitely rice.

5. Banana – sweet, delicious and draining

Like rice, the banana also contains a lot of potassium and thus dehydrates the body. The fruit also tastes delicious and sweet.

6. Cucumber – helps to process proteins

Cucumbers are 95% water and also have a diuretic effect. The enzyme erepsin also ensures that the body can process proteins better. Especially in summer, the fresh cucumber is definitely a perfect snack.

7. Potatoes – but unpeeled

Potatoes are healthy, of course, but they only have a dehydrating effect if you cook and eat them with their skins on. The shell contains the key substances that free you from water retention.

8. Pears – fruity fresh and more draining than apples

While pears have more calories than apples, they also have a much higher dehydrating effect on your body. The fruit contains phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

9. Nettle tea – miracle cure for dehydration

Nettle tea is not for everyone when it comes to taste, but when it comes to drainage, it is a real miracle cure. Above all, it has a draining effect because it stimulates urine production and the cleaning of the kidneys. However, one should not consume too much of it, as it can raise blood pressure.

10. Celery – calcium and potassium content

Celery has a particularly high calcium and potassium content and hardly any calories. The plant regulates the fluid exchange in the body and thus reduces water retention. Be careful with kidney diseases: You should first consult your doctor.

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Water Intoxication: Can Drinking Too Much Be Dangerous?

Water supplies the body with vital minerals. But how many liters you need every day to stay healthy depends on various factors. Drinking too much water can even be dangerous for digestion and blood values.

Water is the source of life and provides the human body with important minerals. On average, an adult should drink around 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day, although only seven out of ten adults claim to actually do this. Since the body loses about 2.5 liters of fluid a day, it must be replenished regularly. Depending on your age, weight, state of health and physical activity, the amount of water you should drink every day varies and can go up to 4 liters. We should drink more, especially on hot days, as we lose more fluid through heavy sweating.

Water Intoxication: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

If you take in more fluid than your body eliminates, the fluid stays in circulation and dilutes the blood. This has a negative effect on your body. Muscle weakness, disorientation or epileptic seizures can then follow. In very rare cases, it can also be fatal if water intoxication (hyponatraemia) occurs.

Symptoms of water intoxication:
drowsiness
nausea
headache
seizures
However, the risk of not drinking enough is much higher because it is often simply forgotten. Become aware of the importance of drinking enough water for you and your health.

Health benefits of drinking water

Drinking water has many health benefits:
high concentration/performance
improves the complexion
serves as a lubricant for the joints
helps against headaches and menstrual pain
promotes health and digestion
helps the body regulate temperature

Losing weight with water: is that possible?

You can lose weight by drinking water. Water increases the number of calories you burn even when you are resting. Drinking before and during meals is also said to help with weight loss as it fills the stomach and thus reduces appetite. However, too much liquid during food intake quenches the “digestive fire”, which in turn is less beneficial because the liquid prolongs digestion time.

Because hunger and thirst are closely related in the brain, it can make you feel hungry even though your body needs fluids. The advice here is to drink a glass of water first and wait to see if the feeling of hunger persists.

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