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EnjoyBetterCoffee - New Blog Post
Posted 8/25/2011
 
We just posted on our blog asking whether where you drink your coffee affects how that coffee tastes and how much you enjoy it!  We would love to hear what you think!
 
Link to Amsterdam Video
Posted 8/13/2011
 
Check out this video on YouTube of "A Day In Amsterdam".  The tourists who made it film for about 5 minutes without narrating. You'll hear the clang of the tram's bells, see the various bikes and riders making their way (sometimes perilously) along the narrow streets and see many different boats, including those docked on the side of the canals in which people live and others where the occupants are meandering along as they cruise through the canal system.  We love this video as it really gives a sense of standing along the street watching it all.  The only thing missing is the smell of food wafting from the local Febo (a popular food automat), sugary pastries from one of the many bakeries and fresh bread being sold at the local bread shop. 
 
Our Blog Now Has Coffee Recipes
Posted 8/13/2011
 
We have started posting some of our favorite coffee-related recipes on our blog.  Please let us know on the blog if you try any of them - we want to hear about your experience!
 
Summer Fancy Food Show Opens Sunday, July 10, 2011
Posted 6/30/2011
 
It is again time for the Summer Fancy Food Show, this year held in Washington, D.C., and sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT).  As members of NASFT, the show is a special opportunity for us to meet other NASFT members and share our premier products with key players in the food and beverage service industry.  This year, NASFT is anticipating unparalleled media presence, from network and cable television to the web and all types of social media.
 
Last summer's show drew attendees from 95 countries to explore foods and beverages from more than eighty different countries.  Exhibit space was sold out and the location was packed with over 23,000 industry insiders.  This year promises to be more of the same!  The organization also holds its annual sofi awards (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) presentation during a red-carpet ceremony.   (Last year's winner for a new product was an hibiscus vinegar.  There were 33 Gold Winners in all.)
 
The Show runs from Sunday, July 10th through Tuesday, July 12th.  After the exhibits close down on the last day, volunteers collect 100,000 pounds of chocolate, cheese, olive oil, snacks and much more.  Those provisions are then deployed to 200 community food pantries and soup kitchens.
 
Look for links on our Facebook page to news and articles about the show as it gets closer!
 
 
Coffee and Health - Still More Good News
Posted  4/10/2011
 
Even more studies are finding that coffee is good for you.  While many studies in recent years have reported that drinking coffee may be good for your heart and might even prevent strokes, several in the last few years found a strong link between coffee and cardiovascular health.
 
Research from the 1970's through the 1980's never found a definitive answer.  Some studies found it helped; others that it hurt; still others found no connection at all.  Recent years have shown a resurgence in these studies, and the results are promising.
 
For instance, in March, Swerdish researchers announced results of a large study showing that coffee seemed to reduce the risk of stroke in women by up to 25%. 
 
In the last 2-3 years, researchers have found a link to a decreased risk of stroke.  A 2008 study in Finland of male smokers found that those who drank 8 or more cups per day lowered their risk of stoke by 23% compared to the men who drank little or no coffee.
 
UCLA and USC researchers announced a study of coffee consumption and stroke prevalence among more than 9,000 participants.  The likelihood of stroke was highest among people who didn't drink coffee and lowest among those who drank the most coffee.
 
A study published in 2009 found that the 83,000 women enrolled who drank two to four cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of stroke than women who drank less than one cup per month.
 
Just this year, a study out of Japan foudn that of the 81,000 mean and women in Japan that drank just one or two cups of coffee a day reduced their risk of death from cardiovascular disease by up to 23%.
 
Whether this is surprising to you personally or not, it is still good news for those of us who love coffee!
 
 
Enjoy Better Coffee Now Blogs!
Posted 3/22/2011
 
We are excited to announce the debut of our new EnjoyBetterCoffee blog!  We want our blog site to become a place where people who love coffee can share information about coffee.  We want to hear about your coffee experiences, we will have reviews and other thoughts about our different coffees and coffee products.  If it is about coffee, we want to hear it!
 
You can check out our blog at: enjoybettercoffee.wordpress.com/
 
Please stop by and let us know what you think! 
 
We hope this will be the start of something that will help you Enjoy Better Coffee!
 
Keukenhof Gardens in Holland
Posted 3/12/2011
 
The Keukenhof Gardens are a popular tourist attraction in Holland.  This link on about.com has some great pictures of the Gardens, which open later in March.
 
 
Canal Skating in Holland
Posted 2/11/2011
 
Check out this video, artistically produced, set to music, of someone skating along the canals in Holland just last month.  What fun!  See the video here. 
 
Coffee and Brain Function
Posted 1/24/2011
 
New research suggests that caffeine may hold potential benefits for proper brain functioning.  Now, that coffee that helps get you going in the morning may also protect against cognitive decline.  The international study generated a collection of topics to explore.  At a high-level, they found that caffeine has a postitive effect on thinking and memory; protects against Parkinson's disease; prevents brain degeneration; improves a sense of well-being and happiness; enhances aerobic endurance; decreases risk of Type 2 diabetes and contains a huge amount of antioxidants.  Read the full article here.
 
 
Seared Scallops with Espresso Beurre Blanc
Posted 12/11/2010
 
INGREDIENTS:
1 small shallot, finely diced
5 stems of parsley (stems only), coarsely chopped
4 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon espresso dissolved in 1/4 cup recently boiled water
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Fine sea salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons or 4 ounces) very cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, plus 1 tablespoon
12 to 16 large sea scallops
 
1.  In a small saucepot, add the shallot, parsely stems, peppercorns, cider vinegar and espresso powder disolved in the hot water.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat and simmer until reduced to 2 teaspoons, about 10 minutes.
 
2.  Whisk in the heavy cream, then begin adding the stick of cubed butter, about 3 small cubes at one time, whisking constantly.  Add more butter only once the butter just added has melted into sauce.  Once all the butter is incorporated, remove from heat, add sugar and season to taste with salt.  Strain into a bowl and set aside.
 
3.  Working quickly, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a heavy-bottomed 12-inch stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until butter foams at the edges of the pan.  Pat scallops dry on paper towels, and season lightly with the fine sea salt.  Sear scallops 3 minutes on first side, until golden brown.  Turn and sear 2 minutes on the reverse side.
 
4.  Plate the dish with a puddle of beurre blanc in the center, with the scallops nestled on top.  Serve immediately.
 
Surprising Sources of Caffeine
Posted 12/11/2010
 
Health.com has a slideshow with several sources of caffiene, in foods you might not think about as having caffeine.  They include non-cola sodas (root beer and orange soda), coffee and chocolate ice creams, weight-loss pills (a daily dose of one particular type is like having 12 cups of coffee), energy water (often having guarana, a plant that is a natural source of caffeine), breath fresheners, SumSeeds Energized Sunflower seeds and instant oatmeal (aptly named Morning Spark).  If you prefer your caffeine in coffee and tea, then it pays to read the labels on other products!
 
Coffee and Health
Posted 10/20/2010
 
MSN.com has a great article on the positive news about coffee.  It has been linked to a lower risk of diabetes, and contains a soluble fiber, the type that can help lower cholesterol.  The article referenced, from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, notes that there is about 1 gram of fiber per cup.  While it is a modest amount, it is just one more piece of good news about the health benefits of coffee.  Once again, drinking a moderate amount of coffee (2 to 3 cups per day) isn't harmful and may even be helpful and protective.  The MSN article also reviews coffee's impact on the heart, blood pressure, its antioxidant properties, and more.  You can read the full article here.
 
Coffee and Little-Known Health Benefits
Posted 10/05/2010
 
We love being able to report that the benefits of drinking coffee just keep, well, pouring in!  Yes, we know it is a great way to start the day, but it also can improve brain function.  That means you may find that you have better memory recall, improved cognitive ability and better logic comprehension.  One study in Austria found that coffee improved the participants' short-term memory!
 
Two different studies have shown that heavy coffee drinkers were less likely to develop Parkinson's disease, compared to those who do not drink coffee.
 
Coffee also is a natural antioxidant.  We hear all the time that the body needs antioxidants:  to cleanse the blood, prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure.
 
If you are trying to lose weight, coffee can assist in motivating your metabolism and in burning calories.  It is naturally low in calories if you are not loading it with sugar and cream, and it works as a natural diuretic to help you shed water weight.
 
Harvard Medical School published a study showing that coffee drinkers are less likely to suffer from cancer; in their study, they found coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to develper cancer.
 
Did you know that many medications include caffeine?  Asthma and migraine medications can have caffeine because it is known to help with the symptoms of these conditions.
 
So, what does all this mean?  Well, if you love coffee, you can keep drinking it without worrying about the negative effects.  Most sources will remind you to drink it in moderation, but you don't have to be afraid to imbibe!
 
Coffee in the Morning
Posted 10/05/2010
 
A new survey finds that a third of American workers say they need a cup of coffee to get through the workday.  By profession, nurses claim to be the most dependent on that caffeine, followed by doctors then hotel workers.  By age group, it is the young folks - ages 18 to 34 - that say they can't make it through the day without drinking coffee. 
 
Coffee and Health News
Posted 08/31/2010
 
There are a pot-full of reasons to enjoy coffee!!  Coffee may lower your risk of developing diabetes, Parkinson's disease, colon cancer and gallstones.  Coffee has been used to treat headaches, manage asthma and can even protect teeth.  This is an article on WebMD summarizing the benefits of coffee. 
 
This article is from the Harvard Medical School Health Publications, which maintains that coffee is safe for the moderate drinker.  They consider moderation as a few cups a day. 
 
Coffee Recipe:  Chili- and Coffee-Rubbed Smoked Chuck Roast
Posted 08/25/2010
 
1 dried whole Anaheim or new Mexico chili
1 dried whole ancho chili
2 Tbsp whole cumin seeds
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp espresso coffee, ground fine
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
4 lb chuck roast
1 cup apple, hickory or oak chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
 
  1. In a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, tast both chilies until fragrant, about 1 minute per side.  Transfer to a cutting board.
  2. Add cumin seeds to skillet and toast, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 60-90 seconds.  Transfer seeds to a blender or the bowl of a mini food proocessor. 
  3. Remove and discard stems from chilies and cut into 1-inch pieces, then add to blender or processor.  Add vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, ground espresso, salt, pepper and water.  Process to a smooth paste, adding water 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary.
  4. Place chuck roast in a large bowl or baking dish and coat completely with chili paste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 12 hours.
  5. Remove from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
  6. Meanwhile, light a smoker, charcoal grill or gas grill and prepare for indirect cooking. Place a drip pan below cooking grates and stabilize the temperature at around 250 F.
  7. Drain wood chips and scatter them over the coals (or place them in a smoker box and set over the heat source in a gas grill or electric smoker).
  8. Place chuck roast on cooking grate over drip pan. Cover grill or smoker and cook, maintaining temperature at 250 F, until an instant-read thermometer registers 180 F at the center of the roast, 3 to 4 hours.
  9. Wrap roast tightly in heavy foil and cook (with the grill or smoker covered) until fork tender and an instant-read thermometer registers 200 F to 205 F, about another 1 to 2 hours. Remove roast from heat and let rest, in the foil, for 30 minutes.
  10. To serve, shred meat using forks or slice across the grain. 

Makes 8 servings.

 
Enjoy Better Coffee at the Fancy Food Show
Posted 07/30/2010
 
We continue to be excited about the Summer Fancy Food Show held a few weeks ago in New York City.  The show is sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), and is held 2 times a year, winter and summer.  All exhibitors are members of NASFT, while attendees are retailers, restaurateurs, distributors and trade and consumer media representatives.  The shows bring together thousands of attendees from more than 80 countries to see and taste all sorts of innovative specialty food products, including confections, snacks, cheese and, of course, coffee.  NASFT presents seminars, workshops, tours, cooking classes and other special events during the show.  The 56th Summer Show sold out its exhibit space, and drew 23,304 attendees.  Attendance exceeded last year's strong showing, and was the highest at any Fancy Food Show in the past decade.  The show exhibitors also made food donations to City Harvest, an anti-hunger organization in New York City.  Food was collected right after the exhibit closed and then deployed to 200 community food pantries and soup kitchens.  You can read reviews of the show here.
 
Enjoy Better Coffee, as a member of NASFT, showed there as one of the 2500 exhibitors.  We offered coffee tastings of Douwe Egberts Excellent Aroma ground coffee.  We received very positive responses from the attendees.  In particular, the instant coffee sticks were a big hit!  Tea was one of the trends this year, so we plan to bring our line of delicious teas from www.EnjoyBetterTea.comto the party next time!  Speaking of next time, the winter show will be held in San Francisco, California, at the Moscone Center from January 16-18, 2011, and of course we will be there to show off our tasty coffees and teas.

 
As always, Enjoy Better Coffee!