Author Archives: coffee

How to Become a Backyard Conservationist

You can help improve our environment by making a few simple changes in your backyard. Most steps are simple, straightforward and help is available if you are unsure how to get started.

Conservation Tip #1: Mulch

Straw, bark, grass, wood chips or stone provide a protective layer over the topsoil. Mulching reduces erosion and aids with water conservation by holding water around the base of plants to help prevent evaporation. Mulch is a great garden aid to help keep weeds from growing, cutting down on your gardening work. It is also a conservation method that can add a finishing touch in your lawn or garden.

Conservation Tip #2: Bird Sanctuaries

Allowing trees and bushes to grow in your yard provides a safe environment for birds to build homes and forage. In addition to natural bird sanctuaries, birdhouses made from gourds or small wooden birdhouses also offer ideal homes for birds.

If you are providing sanctuary for birds, you may also include bird feeders. Birdseed comes in different varieties which tend to attract different birds. Inexpensive bird feeders can be purchased in almost any retail store. Homemade bird feeders often include spreading peanut butter on a pinecone or apple and rolling it in birdseed.

The key to feeding birds is to position your bird feeder on a pole, or some other position so that squirrels will not steal the food. Squirrels are ruthless when it comes to hoarding food.

Conservation Tip #3: Plant

You may be an avid gardener or someone who has never had their hands in the soil. It’s time to dig in and plant. Flowers will beautify your landscape. Fruits and vegetables can be grown organically and help put food on your table.

One of the best things you can plant is a tree. Trees are essential to our environment. The oxygen, carbon-dioxide exchange between plants and animals depends in large part upon trees. Trees can be purchased to produce fruit, flower, or provide shade. Consider the ultimate size of the tree you are going to plant and choose your planting location carefully. Your new tree will not only beautify your yard but will provide new sanctuary for birds and other wildlife.

Conservation Tip #4: Wildlife Sanctuary

Trees, shrubs, and ground cover all provide places for wildlife to live and find refuge. If you would like to invite and house more wildlife in your yard, prepare areas specifically for wildlife to live. Consider planting fruit-bearing shrubs, to provide food for wildlife.

Garden vegetables will also feed wildlife. If you garden for you and your family, fence off your garden from your wildlife garden, consider planting a few garden vegetables within the wildlife sanctuary of your land.

Flowering plants will also attract birds and butterflies. Once birds find your sanctuary, they may decide to make it their home.

Oranges: Three Health Benefits You Should Know About

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While many people try fad diets and supplemental pills to attain more excellent health, they’re probably better off looking to nature for physical well-being. Indeed, one of the earth’s most popular fruits-oranges-offer a variety of benefits that can contribute to greater wellness and fight disease. Here are three key ways eating oranges can help you become more healthy.

1. Increased Iron Absorption

According to WebMd, the vitamin C in oranges contributes to iron absorption. The mineral is significant for many reasons, including the fact that it helps to DNA production and is used to make haemoglobin, the property responsible for delivering oxygen to the body. Unfortunately, humans do suffer iron loss for a variety of reasons. Women, for example, lose significant quantities of the mineral during menstruation and childbirth.

2. Stroke Prevention

As many know, the most common type of strokes happens when blood clots prevent the body’s supply of blood from flowing to the brain. These blood clots are generally caused when the artery wall narrows as a result of plaque build-up. The ability of orange to prevent this activity is rooted in its high Vitamin C content. Discussing this very thing, Tiffany Tseng argues that the fruit’s vitamin C prevents plaque adherence to artery walls, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a stroke.

3. Curbs Cancer

In their survey of research findings from the US Agricultural Research Service, the George Mateljan Foundation reports that one of the orange’s compounds-limonoids-proved efficacious in fighting cancers of the skin, lung, mouth, stomach, breast, and colon. Limonoids can have this disease-fighting effect because they destroy cancerous cells through a process called apoptosis.

Upon recognizing the diverse ways that oranges can contribute to health, it is crucial to begin consciously incorporating the fruit into your diet. There are several ways that this can be done. I am not fond of the way oranges taste alone. For this reason, I tend to blend them into smoothies comprised of other fruits like bananas. You can try anything from strawberries to pineapples. Fruity blends may be a good idea for individuals who enjoy the aesthetic dimension of eating because these types of smoothies are often colourful and eye-catching. Depending on how well you blend the fruits and which ones you use, the smoothie can have a predominantly pulpy thickness or creamy consistency. Tastes can also vary, ranging from citrusy to slightly sour. Whether eaten alone or consumed with other fruits, oranges can be a treat that satisfies the appetite and fights a slew of debilitating diseases.

Auto Care: How to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet?

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You find yourself rushing to work in the mornings. Yet, you cannot seem to get the day started without a cup of coffee; there are likely many days in which you enjoy a cup of coffee on the drive to work. Being able to drive safely and drinking or eating is a skill that many have mastered. However, bumps in the highway will arise. To avoid spilling coffee on clothing, most people fling the coffee on the floor or in the passenger seat. While this approach prevents ruining your clothes, it will also create a dark stain in the vehicle’s interior. Removing coffee stains from light coloured fabric is possible. The key is cleaning the stain before it dries.

Step 1: Once you’ve come to a complete stop, grab a towel or napkins and blot the stain to remove as much of the coffee as possible. If your car’s interior is dark, the coffee will not create a noticeable stain. Nonetheless, removing residue and cleaning the stain is necessary to avoid a permanent coffee smell in the car.

Step 2: You can clean the coffee stain with an automotive carpet cleaner.

Step 3: If a carpet cleaner is unavailable, create your own. Combine 1 quart of water, 1 tbsp of vinegar, and a ½ tsp of detergent. Detergent can consist of dishing washing liquid or washing machine detergent.

Step 4: Using a soaked towel or spray bottle, apply the mixture to the stain. Allow the mixture to saturate the stain for a half hour.

Step 5: Using a towel soaked in warm water, wipe away the mixture.

Step 6: Allow the stain to dry.

Step 7: If stain remains, repeat steps 4 and 5.

Step 8: Apply a stain repellent product to the carpet.

Step 9: Once the car is completely dry, vacuum the interior.

Unfortunately, after stains have been cleaned and seemingly disappear, they may resurface once the carpet dries. In this instance, the only way to guarantee complete stain removal is to have the vehicle professionally detailed. Auto detailers used specialized cleaners which are very useful with restoring stain damaged interior carpet. Also, don’t forget to ask about a stain guard or repellent. Stain repellents are excellent because they protect carpet and fabric from permanent stains. When spills occur, they will not soak into the fabric. Instead, liquids such as coffee, sodas, and so forth will bead at the surface, which makes cleaning easy.

Decaf Coffee Beans: How to Make Decaffeinated Coffee

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Want to know how decaf coffee beans shed their caffeine before you made your purchase? Sure it’s night time, but you are about to run out and order your unique vanilla flavoured no foam latte anyways. Lucky for us coffee lovers we can purchase decaffeinated coffee. Otherwise, this little stunt could buy you a night of tossing and turning until you finally slip into a slumber 30 minutes before your alarm goes off! We’ve all been there, and most of us have opted for decaf in those late days.

Decaffeinated coffee beans can be every bit as flavorful as regular coffee, just lacking in a bit of pick-me-up. Although a little jolt can be a lifesaver in the morning, not everyone needs or wants the side effects of caffeine paired with their drink. So how is decaffeination accomplished? Over the years, there have been a variety of exciting processes that coffee beans have undergone to extract their high caffeine. Sometimes, this process is taken place before roasting.

The most popular methods of decaffeinating coffee beans are the European and Swiss methods. The European process begins with first soaking the coffee beans in water and then extracting the caffeine in methylene chloride. Once this is complete, there is no trace of the chloride solution, and the beans are ready to be roasted. Some people are hesitant to drink this type of coffee. Sometimes, this European process is favoured because it mostly leaves the other flavours found within coffee untouched.

On the other hand, the Swiss method uses hot water and steam to remove caffeine; however, it also removes a great deal of the natural coffee flavour. Regardless, this method is famous for being practical without the use of chemicals. The Swiss Water method puts the beans into water that then uses charcoal filters to remove the caffeine.

Often the slightly lesser flavour in decaffeinated coffee beans is easily masked by adding flavouring to the beans. Flavoured coffee beans are a great alternative to your standard run of the mill coffee. They can come in just about any flavour imaginable. For the best possible taste in decaffeinated coffee beans, Arabica bean variety is the best as they are of very high quality and less likely to be disappointing. Although any decaffeination process will take away some flavour, it usually isn’t enough for the average coffee lover to even notice.

Coffee and Your Health: Friend or Foe?

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Do you find it impossible to get through your daily routine without that morning cup of coffee? No worries. Recent studies are proving that moderate coffee consumption has more health benefits than risks.

Cancer. Researchers have found that coffee has anti-cancer properties(anti-oxidants). Coffee drinkers were 50 per cent less likely to develop liver, breast, colon and rectal cancers than non-coffee drinkers.

Diabetes. Moderate to heavy coffee drinkers maybe half as likely to develop diabetes as light or non-coffee drinkers. It may be due to ingredients in coffee that decrease blood sugar levels. Also, drinking coffee increases your basal metabolic rate, which may ward off Type II Diabetes.

Gallstones. Coffee decreases the cholesterol content of the bile produced by the liver, which reduces the risk of developing gall bladder disease.

Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee appears to protect men, but not women from Parkinson’s Disease. It may be because estrogen and caffeine require the same enzyme. The estrogen utilizes the catalyst, so the caffeine can not access it.

Exercise Endurance. Coffee drinkers demonstrate improved endurance in long-duration physical activities.

Cardiac Effects. The American Heart Association released a series of studies this month that demonstrates some health benefits for coffee drinkers. One study included more than 3000 participants over 20 years and found no link between moderate coffee consumption and atherosclerosis(commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries). The participants included men, women, various races, smokers and non-smokers, whose daily coffee intake ranged from zero to more than four cups per day.

Another study demonstrated that coffee drinkers have an actual decrease in the risk of hospitalization for abnormal heart rhythms. Participants who drank four or more cups per day had an 18 per cent lower risk of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation(most common arrhythmia) than those who weren’t coffee drinkers. It remains unclear as to why coffee would prevent heart rhythm abnormalities, as caffeine does cause some people to become anxious or jittery. Preliminary theories include the possibilities that coffee drinkers may exercise more, or have healthier diets.

There was a link between coffee consumption and elevated blood pressure, but it was considered only a mild effect. The results were from six studies that included approximately 172,000 participants. The report demonstrated that drinking one to three cups of coffee per day slightly increased the risk of high blood pressure.

Despite all the recently discovered health benefits, coffee can aggravate certain conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis, and certain psychiatric conditions. Patients should discuss their coffee/caffeine intake with their primary care physician if they have any questions or concerns.

The Effects of Coffee on Your Health

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Coffee has indeed never lost its popularity and is still one of the world’s favourite drinks. There is even now what we call instant coffee so you can enjoy coffee anytime and anywhere without the need to grind the coffee beans and brew them. Canned cold coffee is readily available everywhere. Coffee beans, coffee mugs, or any coffee-related item, these are now popularly being given as gifts. You can often hear people say that coffee is their daily morning fix; however, there are dangers when you drink too much coffee all the time.

While coffee seems to induce energy and make you feel mentally and physically alert, it is not an energy boost from the body. Instead, it is just a trick that the chemicals do. The substances produced through the caffeine intake causes stimulation only of the body. When the body feels this, it signals the body and brain to a stress response mode. As you may know, people take coffee to wake themselves up in the morning. But because this is a stress response, the body and brain act as if it is responding to a fight or flight situation making the heart beat faster and triggering the alertness of the brain. When the body absorbs too much of this during the day, eventually fatigue and mood swings might set in.

Caffeine can also affect one’s sleeping pattern. Because of the caffeine that makes the heart and body race, the body will be restless. It may have difficulty preparing and relaxing for sleep. Increasing servings of coffee may be needed eventually by those who abuse caffeine intake. Just like any other illegal or prohibited drugs, a shot of espresso or a cup of coffee may not give the body the same effect over time. Consequently, more and more coffee and caffeine doses may be required.

Also, just like any other case of addiction, stopping or decreasing the intake of coffee may make the person experience nausea or headache. These withdrawal symptoms may appear for the first few months during withdrawal.

Just like anything in life, moderation and control is key to everything. Caffeine, as well as sugar, syrups or other additives in coffee, will indeed be harmful if you consume them too often or too much.

How to Make Coffee in a Coffee Press

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Making coffee in a coffee press leads to more vibrant, fuller flavoured coffee. However, while delicious, coffee press coffee is not convenient nor straightforward to make. There are many caveats along the way to that cup of Joe.

Grind your coffee beans yourself. And when you do, make sure they aren’t exceptional grounds. The powder will both clog your coffee press filter and end up in your cup. While some sediment is normal, ending up with sludge is not only most definitely not tasty, but not healthy.

Once you get your beans to the right consistency, start your kettle and bring water just to a boil.

Pour a little of the hot water in the coffee press to preheat it, swirl the water, and then dump it out. It will help the press maintain consistent temperature throughout the brewing.

Pour your coffee grounds into the coffee press and fill with water, leaving an approximately one-half inch from the pouring spout. Stir the grounds with whatever utensil is handy (I like chopsticks), and then top off the carafe back to within a one-half inch of the spout.

Put the lid on the coffee press and depress the plunger just until it rests on top of the grounds. It helps all of the grounds to release their flavour. Most lids have a slotted opening for filtering the coffee as it’s poured. Make sure this opening is not over the pouring spout, to hold in as much heat as possible.

At this point, the coffee is brewing and should be left alone. However, I like to set a towel around or over the coffee press to help hold in some extra heat.

Leave the press alone for approximately 4-6 minutes, depending on how strong you want your brew.

Grip the press by the handle firmly, while setting your other hand on top of the plunger, and then let just the weight of your hand press it down. If the plunger won’t move, pull it up and try again. If it still won’t move, pull the lid off, stir the grounds, and try again. It should move fairly quickly.

Once the plunger has reached the bottom of the coffee press, you’re ready to pour. Coffee-pressed coffee is much stronger in flavour and caffeine content than coffee made in a machine. Consider this when flavouring.