Healthy Food & Snacks

As simple as coffee is to make there are coffee lovers out there who are constantly trying to improve on the perfect cup. From something so simple as pouring almost boiling water over coffee grounds seemingly becomes ever more complex.

It doesn’t need to be this way, if you start off with the right approach your coffee is guaranteed to taste better.

First things first, if you love coffee and want to make a better brew then throw away any instant or ground coffee that you have lying around. Seems drastic I know, but the reason is simple. This method of making coffee is already likely to be severely compromised due to the grounds already being exposed to air which you would have had no control over. This in-turn would have caused the coffee to oxidize, thereby potentially ruining the perfect brew, and all this before you had even got your favourite cup out of the cupboard.

There is a better way…

The only way to limit coffee grounds to prolonged air exposure is to invest in a coffee grinder and grind your own. That way you can order coffee beans and mill the exact quantity you need, giving you the freshest coffee grounds possible time after time.

So which coffee grinder do you choose? There are a few different types that you need to know a little about before you can make that decision.

Crusher Style Coffee Grinder:

Probably the cheapest type of coffee grinder, the crusher attempts to compress the coffee bean into grounds by simply forcing it to explode. Although this approach does work and would be an improvement over store bought coffee grounds, it’s major stumbling block is the end result is irregular, uneven coffee grounds that will limit you to the types of coffee you can make.

Blade Style Coffee Grinder:

Works by mincing the coffee bean over-and-over. Again, this method doesn’t produce an even, consistent grind, and also because the blade rotates extremely quickly, they can be very noisy.

Burr Style Coffee Grinder:

A coffee enthusiasts dream! The burr grinder comes in two forms the flat base variant and the conical type. They work by rotating two steel burrs at adjustable heights to grind the coffee. Both types of Burr produce even, consistent coffee grounds and this where your investment should lie. read more »

I’m a New Yorker and I love my coffee. With so many options around, it’s easy to get caught up with one or two convenient places, overlooking some of the many great purveyors around.

Most recently, I found a new place that’s won my heart, as I believe it may very well have the best coffee I’ve ever had. I know that I’m not alone when I say that too.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is apparently a chain with roots in Seattle and Portland, along with a few California locations. They recently opened up a branch in New York, connected to a hotel (this hotel also has West Coast roots).

I’ve tried both the iced house brew, as well as the regular coffee, and both are phenomenal. These are some of the best beans I’ve ever tasted, and they really give me quite the energy kick.

The prices are reasonable, and most comparable to those you’d find at Starbucks, but the coffee itself seems to be of a much higher grade. There’s also a nice early 20th century theme going on, as the baristas dress in traditional gear.

I’ve read reviews online after trying Stumptown’s coffee to see if others feel the same way that I do. What I found was that many Seattle residents swear by the chain, calling it the best coffee that Seattle has to offer.

In a city like Seattle, there’s so much great coffee. That’s one of the city’s claims to fame. If avid coffee drinkers are claiming that this is the best around, I’d say that’s a pretty high quality endorsement right there.

I don’t know if you’ll be able to get to a Stumptown, but if you can, I’d definitely suggest trying the coffee out. You’ll probably be hooked like I am. If you can’t get to one, make it a point to stop at one if you’re traveling.

One look at a line at the local Starbucks in the morning and you don’t need to be convinced of the huge amount of coffee consumption in the U.S. The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the U.S. adult population drinks coffee daily. Guess there’s nothing like the first double espresso in the morning to clear the cobwebs from our heads so we can face the day.

But what are the effects relating to fitness? If that grande-no-foam-double-whipped-extra-shot-no-fat latte gives us the get-up-and-go to start our day at work, will it do the same if we’re headed to the gym?

Physiological Effects

The main ingredient in coffee that gives us that jolt is caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine is found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and chocolate, and is a popular added ingredient in carbonated beverages and some over-the-counter medications such as cold remedies, diuretics, aspirin, and weight control aids. It is estimated that in the U.S., 75% of caffeine intake comes from coffee.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that normally causes a calming effect in the body. The resulting neural stimulation due to this blockage causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone. Your heart rate increases, your pupils dilate, your muscles tighten up, and glucose is released into your blood stream for extra energy. Voila… you now have the caffeine buzz.

But wait…we’re not done yet. Caffeine also increases dopamine. Dopamine activates the pleasure in parts of the brain. It has been suspected that this also contributes to caffeine addiction.

Physiologically, caffeine makes us you feel alert, pumps adrenaline to give you energy and changes dopamine production to make you feel good. Another espresso, anyone?

Ergogenic Effects of Caffeine to Performance

In addition to various psychological and physiological benefits, numerous studies have documented caffeine’s ergogenic effect on athletic performance, particularly in regard to endurance. Studies show that caffeine ingestion prior to exercising extended endurance in moderately strenuous aerobic activity. Other studies researching caffeine consumption on elite distance runners and distance swimmers show increased performance times following caffeine consumption. read more »