We drink coffee in all kinds of different places. We can drink it at work. We can drink it standing in the kitchen as we try to wake ourselves up in the morning. We might even treat ourselves to a milky coffee as we get ourselves ready for bed at night. In this case it would probably be a decaf of course.
Caffeine, Coffee and Coffee Makers
Caffeine.co.uk provides information and reviews on Coffee and Coffee Makers, including eveything to do with Caffeine (the technical name being trimethylxanthine).
Caffeine is a bitter tasting substance found in the beans of coffee and cocoa as well as the leaves of the tea plant, kola nuts, guarana berries and the ilex plant.
Coffee Makers
There are now many different ways to enjoy caffeine intake, and we’ll be looking at them in more detail. The most popular, of course, is coffee, and typically the speciality coffee drinks based on the espresso, where the flavour from freshly ground beans is extracted by near boiling water and pressure.
h2. A Selection of the Best Selling Coffee Machines
Millions of people around the world drink coffee on a daily basis and in many different ways. They drink it at coffeehouses, such as Starbucks, Coffee Republic or Costa Coffee or they prepare it at home. Learning how to make a good espresso is part of the enjoyment, as is learning about different coffees and what brews they are best suited to. In fact making a humble cup of coffee has become an art, with competitions between baristas around the world. But you have to have the machine to do it.
Many of the coffee makers now on sale can give you just as good a brew as the one you get at your local coffeehouse. And they differ in style as well, from modern stainless steel items to coffee makers that look as if they’ve come from a 1920s film set. Modern examples include pod coffee makers as well as the Nespresso machines that cut down on cleaning and deliver a regularly consistent taste and aroma.
Learning how to make a good espresso is part of the enjoyment as is learning about different coffees and what brews they are best suited to. Price is important as well, because the range is large. A full-on espresso bean to cup machine will cost a lot more than a standard filter one. So knowing which type you want is essential. It’s also worth looking at the websites of outlets that supply coffee machines. There are a number to choose from with varying breadths of selection.
How Caffeine Works
When you take in caffeine there is a rise in your heartbeat, you breathe more quickly and your base metabolic rate increases – that’s why coffee is often used as a weight reducing agent. You produce more stomach acid and urine while smooth muscles become relaxed. All this takes place between 15 and 45 minutes after consumption. The central nervous system is also affected, but slightly later. The result is a boost in energy, better concentration and less fatigue. Athletes know that caffeine improves endurance; it allows you to do more before exhaustion sets in.
Most people can drink up to four cups of coffee a day without any harm. In fact caffeine may have some beneficial health properties. Its been linked to lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, for instance. And it might lower the risk of developing gallstones or kidney stones. But if you overdo it there can be negative results such as restlessness, irritability, sleep loss and anxiety. And if you stop taking it in you are almost certain to suffer withdrawal symptoms including headaches. These usually pass within days, though. The secret is to enjoy your caffeine drink in reasonable moderation. It’s also worth considering that different people react in different ways. Some are more caffeine tolerant than others. Also, different brands contain different amounts of caffeine. So it’s almost impossible to come up with a ‘safe’ limit to consumption. You’ll probably know when you’ve reached your limit.
Coffee or energy drink
Whether you enjoy coffee or another type of energy provider is a matter of personal taste. Drinking coffee, especially an espresso involves a certain amount of ritual that makes the drinking of it even more pleasurable. And you can enjoy the taste, aroma and feel of the coffee as well as the lift it gives you. Energy drinks are typically drunk in a hurry and for their stimulating effects rather than for their taste. This holds true especially for the new craze, energy shots, that can taste more like unpleasant medicine than a refreshing drink.
Coffeehouses
If you want to savour your coffee while reading the newspaper or just watching the world go by its got to be the coffeehouse. In the 1960s coffeehouses were virtually unknown. From being the centres for political thought and gossip in the 18th century they had more or less died out. Then came the speciality outlet Starbucks, offering espressos, cappuccinos and lattes with more to follow. Today more and more outlets, whether speciality or not, offer espresso based drinks. Even McDonald’s is getting in on the act. Still, there’s something to be said for lounging in your favourite coffeehouse with like-minded people enjoying your favourite macchiato.
From Bulls to Monsters
Since the 1980s the market in energy drinks has grown. Almost every country, it seems, has one of its own if not more. It began with Red Bull and theirs really is the story of the energy drink market explosion. It created the mystique around the drink that made it so popular within youth culture and anti establishment culture. The main ingredient of these drinks is, of course, caffeine. But there’s Taurine, an amino acid as well, and in many brands a host of vitamins, especially the ‘B’ variety. Red Bull made its name through word of mouth, but many market their products aggressively, through promotions and sponsorship, especially of extreme sports and high risk ones.
New energy drink on the block
Energy shots hit the market and boomed. They’re small caffeine loaded packages with no pretence to tasting good. They exist for a purpose and that purpose is to use the merits of Caffeine to provide a burst of energy, to help you concentrate or stay awake longer. Workers on night shifts are learning the benefits of the energy shot as are athletes and people who need to concentrate for long periods of time.
Finally
There’s no doubt that with youth culture energy drinks are the most popular stimulants it can buy. But for most of us it’s still a good cup of coffee. So you’ll want to know about the high street coffeehouse that suits you best and you’ll want know which coffee maker suits your need, from style to function.
Once you know what’s on offer and the websites to visit you’ll be prepared to make the right choice.