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WHAT IS COFFEE?

Updated: May 5, 2022



For ages, coffee has been both admired and derided. It's been blamed for causing impotence and insanity, as well as being a treatment for sloth and a "gift from God."

The most well-known component in coffee is caffeine, the most commonly ingested psychoactive drug on the planet. Although the positive benefits of coffee on the human body have been extensively studied, coffee has become a complicated beverage containing a thousand distinct components.





HISTORY OF COFFEE


Around the years 800 to 900 A.D.

Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat farmer, was the first to find coffee berries (cherries). Kaldi got fascinated after seeing his goats get to start dancing about after eating the red coffee bush fruit. He decided to try one of the enchanted berries and discovered that it increased his energy and vigour. In the end, a wise monk gathered berries and ground them into a fine powder on the monastery grounds. He prepared the first cup of coffee by mixing the powder with hot water. After trying this bizarre mixture, he discovered that it provided him with a burst of energy. He was overjoyed by his discovery and immediately returned to his monastery to share it with the other monks. The monks welcomed it as a "gift from God,"


Circa A.D. 1000

Yemen was colonized by Arabian merchants about 1000, Roasting coffee was the first thought of here. Using various methods, including growing coffee on plantations, roasting the beans, and boiling them, the people of the Middle East created a drink known as Kahwa, which means "that which inhibits sleep."


1300’s

Muslims in the 1300s drank coffee that had been cooked like bean soup. They believed that this soup would protect them from evil since they were superstitious. Coffee was brought to Asia, the Mediterranean, and North Africa by Muslims as their religion expanded. They boiled the coffee to kill any weed seeds that may have travelled with the beans. Coffee beans transported from Mecca to other parts of the world may be traced back to an Indian pilgrim.


1450-1650

Coffee was brought to Constantinople by Ottoman Turks (Istanbul). Men in the Arabian world frequented coffeehouses to socialize, play games, and drink very hot, black coffee. Women were not permitted to attend these meetings during this period.


1615-1700

After travelling to Turkey, a Venetian trader fell in love with coffee and became a convert. He became obsessed with coffee and started selling it after importing it via the Port of Venice. In

Venice, coffee became a hot product that rapidly swept throughout Europe.


1690

An Arab port at Mocha was used by the Dutch to transport a coffee plant. When it came to moving and growing coffee for a living, the Dutch were the first to succeed. Beginning in Ceylon and Java, their East Indian colony, they made their way across the world. That's why it's called "java" coffee. After a while, Amsterdam evolved into a central trade hub for coffee.


1714

The Dutch were well-informed. They had mastered the art of growing coffee in enormous quantities, and they took advantage of their newfound knowledge by kissing European royals.


1727

French coffee estates in the New World were fiercely guarded. Despite being against Brazilian law to spread coffee production, Brazilian Lieutenant Colonel Francisco de Melo Palheta accomplished just that. As a result, coffee would no longer be a privilege reserved for the wealthy. Instead, it would be accessible to the whole public.


1882

Opens the doors of the New York Coffee Exchange.


1900-1910

For the coffee industry, the 1990s were a decade of breakthroughs. R.W. Hills was the first to use vacuum-packing technology to keep coffee fresh longer. The first commercial "espresso" machine was created by an Italian entrepreneur called Luigi Bezzera, who wanted to reduce the time of his employees.


1933

Dr. Ernesto Illy created the first automated espresso machine. A good cup of coffee, in his opinion, should "colour the tongue." Espresso is credited to Illy, who is known as the "Father of Espresso."


1945

Instead of using steam to extract the coffee, Achille Gaggia used manually operated piston pumps and hot water in his espresso machine. Until espresso made using steam equipment had a harsh, burned flavour. Modern espresso shots are topped with a delicate white froth called crema, which imparts a subtly sweet flavour to the drink.


1966

Alfred Peet began bespoke coffee roasting and disseminated the practice across the United States and Canada. When he moved to Berkeley, California, he started Peet's Coffee and Tea. He was a big fan of dark-roasted coffees, and Peet was a big proponent of them. He would go on to serve as a roasting mentor to the people that started Starbucks.





Is Coffee Good or Bad for You?

Coffee's impact on health is debatable.

Whatever your preconceived notions about coffee maybe, there are many benefits to be had from drinking it. High antioxidants have been associated with a lower risk of various illnesses in those who consume large amounts of them. There's caffeine in there, which may be problematic for specific individuals and cause sleep disturbances. There's still a lot to learn about coffee's benefits and drawbacks for humans, but here's what we do know so far.


BENEFITS OF COFFEE FOR YOUR HEALTH


1. Coffee Improves Your Physical Performance.

You may enhance your exercise by 11-12 percent if you drink a cup of black coffee an hour before you begin. As a result, caffeine elevates your blood adrenaline levels. It is the "fight or flight" hormone, adrenaline, which aids you in getting ready for physical activity.


2. Coffee Helps In Weight Loss.

Magnesium and potassium in coffee help the body utilize insulin more effectively, lowering blood sugar levels and curbing your desire for sweets and salty foods.


3. Coffee Helps To Burn Fat

As a result of caffeine, adipose cells can utilize fat as a fuel source during workouts.


4. Coffee Aids Concentration And Alertness.

Caffeine helps you concentrate and stay awake when used in minor amounts throughout the day, such as 1-6 cups.


5. Coffee Reduces Mortality Risk.

According to research, coffee drinkers had a 25% reduced overall risk of early mortality than non-drinkers.



6. Coffee Lowers Cancer Risk.

According to one research, coffee may lower men's risk of prostate cancer by 20% and women's risk of endometrial cancer by 25%. Those who participated in the study had a daily caffeine intake of four cups of coffee. Caffeine may also help prevent the most prevalent skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, from forming.


7. Coffee Lowers The Risk Of A Stroke.

A low risk of stroke is linked with moderate coffee intake (2–4 cups per day).


8. Coffee Reduced The Chance Of Parkinson's Disease.

According to research, regular coffee use has been found to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease by 25%. In Parkinson's patients, caffeine has been shown to increase activity in the dopamine-producing area of the brain.


9. Coffee Has Antioxidant Properties.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, which act as mini warriors in your body's battle against free radicals.


10. Coffee May Reduce The Risk Of Type II Diabetes.

Coffee reduces insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, which lowers your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Caffeine is a stimulant.


11. Coffee Protects Your Brain From Damage.

Caffeine use lowers the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. It also lessens the chance of developing dementia.


12. Coffee Lifts Your Spirits, Aids In The Battle Against Depression And Suicidal Thoughts.

Mood-lifting neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, are produced when you consume caffeine. Two cups of coffee a day reduces suicide risk by half.

If you want to enhance your coffee with natural stimulants, here are some suggestions.

COFFEE DRINKING MAY BE DANGEROUS


1. Bad Coffee May Be Harmful.

The contaminants in poor-quality coffee may make you ill, give you a headache, or make you feel awful. This may happen if the beans used to make your coffee were damaged in any way, such as being over-ripped. Your cup may get contaminated with one spoiled bean. It's not a problem if you make the investment and get high-quality specialty coffee.


2. Coffee May Be Fatal.

In a short period, yes (if you drink 80-100 cups or 23 litres). This quantity of caffeine is deadly and will leave you with a blood caffeine level of 10-13 grams. You will, however, vomit up the most of it before you get there since 23 litres of any fluid is a lot. A single glass of 23 litres of water has the potential to be fatal.


3. Coffee Causes Insomnia And Restlessness.

Caffeine is, once again, the culprit. Caffeine consumption should be limited to 400 mg per day or about 4 cups of coffee. Caffeine-sensitive individuals should use caution while drinking coffee. By now, you've probably figured out how much and what kind of coffee works best for you. Our genetic code tells us how much caffeine is safe for us to consume.


4. If You're Expecting, Limit Your Coffee Intake.

However, there is little doubt that caffeine will reach the fetus when you consume coffee while pregnant. Your baby is susceptible to caffeine. Studies on the effects of coffee on a fetus have been contentious. Reduce your daily coffee consumption to one cup if you're a big coffee user and can't quit while pregnant.


5. Choose Filtered Coffee If You Have High Cholesterol.

Cafes Tol and kahweol, two compounds found in coffee, may increase LDL cholesterol levels. Most of the LDL is removed by filtering the coffee. However, espresso, Turkish coffee, French press, and Scandinavian "cooked coffee" include Cafes Tol and kahweol. A cup of espresso has so little LDL (bad cholesterol) that it poses no health harm to those with normal cholesterol levels. According to certain studies in the early stages of diagnosis, Cafes Tol and kahweol seem to have some anti-cancer properties and are healthy for the liver.)


6. For Children, Caffeine May Increase The Likelihood Of Bedwetting.

According to one study, the intake of caffeine by 5-7-year-old children may enhance the likelihood of their developing enuresis or bedwetting.


DO YOU LIKE IT OR DISLIKE IT?

It's essential to watch your coffee intake if you're overweight, have high cholesterol, are pregnant, or have children. For others, consuming a small cup of coffee each day (between 1-6 cups) may be beneficial. It has many health benefits, including the prevention of severe illnesses, an increase in mental and physical strength, and even assistance with weight reduction. It's essential to keep in mind that as long as you're drinking toxin-free specialty coffee and brewing it properly, you can and should be able to enjoy it guilt-free. Please share this post with your friends if you like it and took the time to read it all the way through.


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Many of the research included in this article are observational, which should be kept in mind. They looked at the link between coffee consumption and illness outcomes but failed to connect the two.

Given the intense and persistent links shown in research, coffee may be beneficial to your health.

Despite its bad reputation, coffee seems to be beneficial for most individuals, according to recent studies. Coffee, if anything, should be grouped with healthful drinks like green tea but consumed in moderation.


FALL & WINTER SEASONAL DRINKS


Following are some fall season drinks that I created and you can enjoy too! Just stay connected and follow me on my Pinterest for the recipe.

· Hot Brown Suga

· Mint Mocha

· Pumpkin Spice Latte


The two most common drinks I make during fall are as follow,


Hot Brown Suga

I love coffee with brown sugar, maple syrup or cane sugar. The taste of the beans and the flavour of natural sugar work together to have a deeper more complex flavour than white sugar and it retains more nutrients.


Dark Brown Sugar

If you want to give an intense taste to the food, dark brown sugar is a perfect idea. It contains 6 5% molasses. It is commonly used in rich foods like gingerbread, black cake, chocolate.


Raw Sugar

Unrefined sugar is termed raw sugar. It has very less moisture and large crystals of sucrose. The number of minerals present in raw sugar is more than light and dark brown sugar.


Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is a superfood a rich source of minerals like

  • calcium

  • magnesium

  • vitamin B6

  • selenium

  • iron

It is also known as the black treacle in some parts of the world because it is a by-product of the process of refining sugarcane. Blackstrap molasses is a good source of vitamin B6, and this vitamin has close links with our happiness. So go ahead and add 1 Tbsp of it to your coffee.


Pumpkin Spice Latte

This drink is a fall favourite! With all the warm spices of this celebrated season flavour, a combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove the occasional cardamon a little pumpkin puree added to the warm oat milk gives the latte extra body. Creating this as a creamer allows me to enjoy falls favours throughout the Christmas holidays. If your looking for a pumpkin spice recipe just click here to create your own jar at home.


Stay Cozy and Bye for now! 😊🖐🏾



Stay Connected on Pinterest for all the Fall & Winter Seasonal Drinks recipes and videos. If you like this recipe or want to know more, you can let me know in the comments below or on social media using #ThompsonsTastyTreats and tag us @Thompsonstastytreats. We’re always happy to read your feedback and love seeing your take on our recipes.


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