15 May 2012

Some say it's first thing in the morning, just after you wake up. Others claim it is mid-afternoon before the sugar slump turns you into a walking zombie. Others enjoy their daily cup just after dinner when a digestive aid is needed. We all think we have the best answer to when a good time is to enjoy coffee, but with so many differing opinions, it is no wonder that someone has come up with a scientific answer.

Caffeine Zone is a free application for Apple software products, such as the iPhone and iPad. Developed at Penn State University, the app calculates the ideal time for you to take a coffee break, that is, the time when you would most benefit from a jolt of caffeine. Users enter their caffeine consumption information and the app plots it on a graph, showing how the caffeine affects their system through the day.

Besides the optimal caffeine zone calculated, the app also calculates when you should not have coffee if you plan to get some sleep, or whether you should have an extra cup.

We all know the effects an excess of caffeine can have on our bodies, and using an app like this could help us limit the effects of this excess or benefit from coffee even more.

11 May 2012

It's easy to make jokes about being addicted to coffee. After all, who hasn't gotten to work in the morning, unable to hold a conversation until the first cup is gone? A manufacturer of coffee in the United States though, may have taken the whole 'addiction' thing a little too far.

Meth Coffee, launch in San Francisco, is a brand of 'super-caffeinated' beans mixed with Yerba Mate for a feeling of 'mania, zania, euthanasia, fantasia and all manner of paranoia', according to the manufacturer.

Though the caffeine levels are unknown, Yerba Mate is known to have a caffeine content of up to 2%. The combination of coffee and this substance could yield a caffeine high parallel to none. Whether the idea initially started as a joke or not, this coffee actually IS available on the US market, though not without many warning labels.

08 May 2012

For those of you who have inquired about barista training - this might be for you:

The SA Coffee Club in association with Stil Coffee Roastery will be hosting a basic barista course on Saturday 26 May. Topics to be covered include:

- The basics of making good espresso - grind, dosage, timing.
- Getting your grind right.
- Frothing milk - correct texture and temperature.
- Basic machine maintenance.
- The basic principles of latte art.

Cost:      R350 per person.
When:    Saturday 26 May at 10:00 to 13:00.
Where:   Stil Coffee Roastery, Northlands Deco Park.
To book: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

03 May 2012

Though it may have crossed your mind to have a steaming cup of coffee with your morning eggs, how would you feel about combining the two? This is not as far off the mark as you may think. Though not commonly practised these days, a long time ago people would put egg shells into their coffee.

It wasn't so long ago that coffee filters weren't well-known and for those who enjoyed a strong brew, drinking the grounds became a real problem. The solution? Egg shells were put into the cup and they would keep the coffee grounds at the bottom. Legend also has it that the shells would take some of the bitter sting out of the coffee, making it smoother and easier to enjoy.

In modern times, the thought of putting old egg shells into your coffee may make you nauseated, but in the olden days, this was pretty standard practise. Luckily, we don't have to resort to the extreme just for a cup of coffee.

24 April 2012

Check out these beautiful "Doggie Coffee Cushions" made from recycled coffee bags. It's not only a comfy bed for your pooch, but they're also environmentally friendly. They retail for R200 and it's a great way of giving something a second life that would ordinarily end up in a landfill.

Available from Stil. Coffee Roastery in Northriding. Pop in or contact them on 011 462 2443.

23 April 2012

Today, we thought we'd veer away from the subject of coffee to bring you a very special bit of news. According to the Telegraph UK, Assam tea will soon be declared the national drink in India. This is being implemented as a tribute to the life of Maniram Dewan, the perosn who introduced commercial tea farming to Assam and was an important part of the struggle against British colonialism. 

According to Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Indian Planning Commission Deputy Charmain, the drink should be accorded national status by April 17th 2013, the 212th anniversary of Dewan's birth.

Since the tea industry is the largest employer in the organised sector in India, it makes sense to nationalise the drink, and yet not all of the country's citizens are pleased with this development. Some complain that tea is a symbol of colonialism, while others have argued that healthier options, such as coconut water, were not given due consideration.

However you choose to see it, we can all agree that tea, like coffee, is one drink that should be given its due.