Coffee

Coffee is a drink made by brewing ground and roasted coffee beans. Coffee beans grow in pods high on trees in countries close to the equator. Due to its high caffeine content coffee is drank to increase energy levels – especially in the morning!

When the coffee pods are ripe they are dried and the beans are removed. The beans are roasted to increase the flavour. They are either sold whole or pre-ground.

Coffee is something a lot of people obsess over, there are endless numbers of machines, pots and gadgets on the market to help you achieve that perfect cuppa!

Coffee has a deep and complex taste, it amazing in baked goods like cake, cookies, brownies and muffins! Coffee and walnut cake is a coffee flavoured sponge cake with walnuts, topped off with a sweet mascarpone icing – it’s delicious!!

Types of coffee

Espresso – An espresso is a particularly strong kind of coffee. It is made by passing a small amount of hot water through ground coffee and is served in a small cup (also known as an espresso cup). Espresso is of Italian origin and forms the base of most Italian coffee. It is usually served in a single or a double shot.

Macchiato – A macchiato is an espresso shot with a small amount of foamed milk, its served in an espresso cup.

Cappuccino – A cappuccino is made up of a single shot of espresso and steamed milk. An espresso shot is poured into the cup as the milk is being steamed, the milk is then poured into the cup and it is topped off with a little milk foam. Some baristas make designs on the top of the drink with the milk, this is called ‘latte art’. It is also sometimes dusted with chocolate powder.

Café Latte – A latte like a cappuccino is a shot of espresso served with steamed milk, the difference is that a latte contains more milk than a cappuccino.

Flat White – A flat white consists of an espresso shot and steamed milk, what sets it apart from a cappuccino is that has little to no foam on top. It is usually decorated with elaborate latte art.

Americano – An americano is simply a shot of espresso with hot water. The best way to make one is to fill the cup with hot water then pour the coffee into the cup. This prevents the coffee form ‘burning’ giving it a more pleasant taste.

Coffee alternatives

If you are trying to curb your coffee consumption you may want to swap it for one of these options…

Green tea – We love green tea, it’s a wonderful alternative to coffee! It doesn’t contain as much as coffee but that may be a good thing! Also, some studies have shown that green tea boosts metabolism and brain function

Energy drinks – If you are looking for a fast pick me up you could grab an energy drink. They usually contain caffeine, sugar and they are most often carbonated. They are not the most healthy option but they are good when you are on the go.

Decaffeinated coffee – Do you long for a morning coffee but caffeine make you too jittery? Decaff coffee is for you. Its made from coffee beans with 95% of the caffeine removed.

Butter and coffee

We can’t talk about coffee without mentioning one of the most divisive topics in recent years… butter in coffee. Yes, you read that right, it’s made by combining coffee and butter in a blender and drinking it while hot!

It’s said this combination keeps you feeling fuller for longer, eases caffeine sensitivity and increases energy levels.

Coffee nutritional information

Is coffee good for you? Is coffee bad for you? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer!

It may surprise you but coffee is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Coffee has high levels of vitamin B5, vitamin B2, niacin, thiamine, potassium and manganese.
Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which can damage your cells and contribute to ageing and diseases, such as cancer.

The caffeine found in coffee can temporarily positively affect your mood, brain function, your memory and your responsiveness. Some studies have also shown caffeine to improve your metabolism. However, caffeine can leave you feeling jittery and overconsuming can trigger feelings of anxiety.

There is only about 1 calorie per 100g of coffee.