Why We Pay Any Price for a Good Cup of Coffee

What is the appeal of the coffee shop? What makes people go to coffee shops everyday? Why do people pay the outrageous amounts of money for a cup coffee they can just as well make at home?

Simply enough, it's because people just love coffee! They love the taste and the smell of the hot liquid craved by so many. It's that "eye-opening" sensation you get from that first cup of coffee of the day. Of course, everyone has a favorite so the tastes and smells of the coffees and blends will vary from person to person. But from the first sip to the last, people love coffee. Some might argue that it's the stimulating affect of the caffeine of the coffee bean that keeps them coming back again and again; however, those who drink decaf still can't seem to get enough either!

Another reason people love coffee is the social factor: people love people! A coffee shop is a great place to meet people and socialize. You walk in for a cup of coffee in the morning and your chances of running into someone you know are very high. Who's not happy after they their first cup of coffee?

A coffee shop is a great place to have a business meeting. You could meet either for breakfast, lunch or after work and it's not as formal as the boardroom. A coffee shop is also very convenient for college students. Most coffee ships are open around the clock; there's always one on campus (or just around the block). And who doesn't need the caffeine to keep the creative fires burning!

Coffee beans and blends and other coffee condiments make great gifts. Different coffee types and accessories can put a smile on a gift recipient's face.

For many people, stopping at the coffee shop is just part of the morning ritual they couldn't do without - almost like putting on socks. It is a quiet time to relax before starting the day, a time to stop and read the paper, think about plans for the day, or make a few decisions. Life is busy and hectic, and time for a coffee is time to relax and unwind or to get charged up for the day ahead.

Other than the love of coffee, the socializing and the rituals, going to a coffee shop is just plain easier than making the coffee at home. You don't have to worry about grinding the beans or working the coffee maker. You don't have to wait for the coffee to be ready. You don't have to clean up. All you have to do is walk in off the street, place your order, and in minutes you have a great tasting cup of coffee just like you wanted. What could be better?

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Coffee Gifts - Top 5

Looking for a gift for a coffee drinker in your life? They are probably just about tired of getting the same old coffee mug. But, if coffee is their way of life, there are many gifts that you can give them to allow them more convenience and better flavor. Here are some things that you should think about.


* Grind Out An Idea. Does the coffee drinker in your family like to purchase fresh coffee beans and then grinds them before bringing them home? If so, then why not purchase a coffee grinder for them. Use web consumer reviews to help you choose the best one because there are many. These are fairly straightforward pieces of equipment. But, going with a low end version is not going to be a good choice for gourmet coffee beans.

* The Coffee Gadget. There are many gadgets out there that are just amazing. There are those that are made for coffee too. To find them, look at your options on some of the coffee websites. For example, an excellent choice would be a coffee mug/burner that plugs into the cigarette lighter of your car. If your coffee lover takes his coffee to work or drives a lot, then this is the ultimate. It keeps coffee hot and fresh while you are driving. You can even find single cup coffee makers that will actually brew a cup of coffee from the cigarette burner.

* Nothing Says Love Better Than Chocolate. What does chocolate and coffee have to do with each other? Let's face it. They are just born for each other. Gourmet chocolates are an excellent compliment to coffee. If you don't want to go that route, look for those candies that are made with espresso in them for an even bolder taste and experience.

* Pack A Basket. Pack a gift basket with coffee varieties, with chocolates, with a variety of creamers and maybe even a mug. They are sure to take full advantage of this as coffee drinkers.

* Coffees from around the world? Many coffee drinkers love the richness, the flavor and the aroma of coffee. But, there are hundreds of different flavors. They come from all over the world and can offer more pleasure to the taste buds than you would have thought. You could provide them with a selection of coffees from around the world. If they like gourmet blends, then go for those. The good news is that there are many great options offered online. You literally can get a great cup of coffee on some of the online coffee markets!

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Green Tea - Is it Really Useful For Our Health?

Almost everybody knows about this plant. There are many scientific laboratories that analyse this plant. This product is tea.

Tea is bush plant. It is mainly produced in hot and subtropic countries. It is refined after picking process. Tea has four kinds:green, red, yellow and black

The less refined type is Green tea. Because of this, it doesn't lose necessary elements and vitamins, so people take advantage of this type of tea more than the other types of tea.

Many people can say that, what the green drink can do for a person. As if they know everything about this plant. To tell the truth, actually we don't know everything about the benefits of this incredible product. It looks like a new remote control of TV set. There are so many buttons on that, so we can spend quite much time to learn all of them. Simply, it is enough for us to know just the most necessary buttons. So, our attitude to the Green tea is like this. Even, there is such condition that, many experts consider that to drink such tea is dangerous for our lives. But it is not like this.

In reality, green tea is grandiose and useful crop. It is very rich with protein. Depending on the varieties of tea leaves, drink may contain from 15 to 25% protein. Because of our poor knowledge about green tea, we don't know how to use this excellent product and instead we turn it into harmful product.

Losing weight is one of the greatest problems nowadays. Science is very weak to prevent and help this disease. But, people who busy with this problem can help. But, there is a frequent question for people who suffer from overweight. Is it really possible to use green tea for weight loss?

According to the researchers, flavonoids in green tea extract improve the digestion system, moreover, scientists have discovered strong antioksidants in this type of tea, which it can defend the genetic features of cells. Moreover, this drink is stronger in comparison with the antioksidants like E and C. Scientifics prove that, if a person drinks at least three cup of green tea everyday, he lose minimum 80 calories per 24 hours.

for more information visit http://green-tea-purity.info/

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10 Health Benefits of Black Tea

Black Tea is made from the same plant as green tea and white tea. Black tea doesn't mean tea without milk, and white tea doesn't mean tea with milk. The difference is the way the tea leaves are processed after picking. Green and white teas are hardly processed at all, whereas black tea is fully oxidized.

Here are 10 health benefits of drinking black tea:

1. Studies continue to show that tea is very good for you, and has some amazing health properties that cannot be ignored.

2. Black teas contain antioxidants which prevent the damage caused by free radicals which can lead to numerous diseases.

3. Drinking black teas can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as it helps to expand the arteries, which increases blood flow to the heart.

4. Research has shown the black tea can be used in the fight against cancer. Properties of the tea slow down the growth of cancerous cells without destroying healthy cells.

5. Tea is also believed to help to delay the aging process. Nowadays there are many anti aging creams and lotions that contain tea extracts to help the skin look younger.

6. Drinking black tea can help to burn fat and speed up metabolism. This makes it an ideal drink for those who are looking to lose weight, or who exercise regularly.

7. Drinking tea such as black and green tea helps to reduce bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol

8. Tea contains fluoride, which can help to prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel.

9. For those people with diabetes, drinking tea can help to decrease glucose levels, which can reduce the risk of cataracts, and other conditions brought about by diabetes.

10. Investigations have shown that the benefits of black tea are lessened when milk is added. So, in order to take advantage of the amazing health benefits of this tea, it's recommended that you don't take your tea with milk or sugar.

There are so many different loose teas to choose from that you won't get bored. As well as black, why not try white and green tea? Many people don't make these sorts of teas properly, which is why some people don't like loose tea. By using a tea machine, you can ensure that you are getting the water temperature and the steeping time right, you can be reassured that you are getting the health benefits of black tea.

Drinking just 3-5 cups of black tea daily can bring about all these health benefits. If you drink tea already, why not change to black or green tea, and see if that improves your health and well being. By starting to drink black, green or white tea today, eating healthily, and getting regular exercise, you can dramatically reduce the risks of serious medical conditions. If you're not currently a tea drinker, what are you waiting for?

Choose from a range of Black Tea Green Tea and other loose gourmet teas, and discover the revolutionary Tea Machine at Fine-t.co.uk. Buy online in confidence, and find out more about tea, and why it's so good for you.

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Trend Spotting - Coffee is the New Lunch

Times change. "Green is the new black." Who could have imagined that two clashing forces - the Fashion Media and Birkenstockers - would stand united by this simple phrase? Surpassing its creators' wildest dreams, "green is the new black," has brought these disparate groups together. No doubt about it, the environment is on everyone's lips and minds.

But in the corporate world, there is another trend ready to make the jump from fringe to mainstream. We're not talking about a life-changing phenomenon. Not another Kyoto Accord, but a milestone, nonetheless. "Coffee is the new lunch."
There, you have it. A simple concept, but one charged with implications.

Blame it on the economy, or clever Starbucks marketing or scientific research on coffee's antioxidant properties. Or maybe cappuccino has been waiting in the wings ever since martini glasses disappeared from Power Lunch tables? The point is, everyone's going for coffee. Not as in "break," but for networking and deal making and sharing information - the business of doing business.

Lunch itself is still around - in food courts, cafeterias and even park benches at this time of year. But when it comes to one-to-one meetings, "coffee" is at the forefront. There are some practical reasons for this shift to coffee shops. Compared to sorting out a lunch menu, ordering coffee is a breeze; a coffee shop is also neutral territory. When you consider the distractions of lunch at a restaurant, plus the time factor and the cost - this change of venue makes sense. Especially when you're just getting to know someone - rather like a first date.
What took us so long to make the transition?

The time is ripe to establish a few coffee-culture guidelines:

• Location counts. Pick a spot near a potential client's office, not across town.
• Plan on one hour, tops.
• Be Prepared. Not in the official Baden-Powell sense, but notebook, pen, your company brochure, some conversation starters and background on the person you're meeting.
• Punctuality reigns. There is no excuse, short of a tsunami, that is acceptable. But just in case, be sure to exchange cell phone numbers.
• Business attire mandatory. Whether you've just left your home-office or are on the way to meet your trainer, jogging suits are for the gym. Period.
• Dedicated tea drinker? No worries - plenty of choices from Earl Grey to chamomile. If you're the host, be certain to suggest a top-of-the-line Mochaccino, or one of its relatives, to your guest before placing your own modest order.
• Frappuccino , mocha latte, or macchiato ¬- frazzled by all that barista lingo? Check this out for confidence building: www.coffee-illuminated.com/how-to-order-coffee.html
• The protocol of who pays is simple. If you extend the invitation, you pick up the cheque - or in this case, pay the cashier. And remember the tip jar.
• Turn off your cell phone and forget about it. Off limits. Same for texting. Nothing goes on the table except your cup. The one and only one exception - you're a doctor on call.
• Follow-up. Acknowledge the meeting and send an e-mail within a day or two.

So, when you realize you've just said; "Nice to meet you," and you meant it - the next step is simple. "How about coffee next week?" That's it. Nice and easy, in less than five minutes, you've made a cappuccino-connection.

Diane Craig
Image and Etiquette Expert
http://www.corporateclassinc.com

Diane Craig, President of Corporate Class Inc., is a leading image and etiquette consultant. For over 20 years she has provided corporate consultations, helping hundreds of men and women realize their professional and personal goals. She is a sought after speaker at national business meetings, regularly gives comprehensive workshops to corporate groups, and offers private consultations on business etiquette, dress and dining.

Recently, Diane launched a new Teleseminar: The Look of Success by Diane Craig

Learn how to:
• Develop your own individual look of success
• Project a powerful first impression
• Achieve a polished, professional appearance
• Master executive dress code secrets
• Gain confidence, poise and respect
• Create a wardrobe-building strategy
• Maintain your new, self-assured appearance

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Coffee Bean Roasters - Which Brand Should I Choose?

Do you know that the more bitter the coffee tastes, the longer ago the coffee beans had been roasted? Instead of drinking burnt-tasting coffee, you can save both money and time by roasting your own coffee beans. The beauty of roasting your own coffee beans by means of a coffee bean roaster is that you can control the degree of roast that is applied to the coffee beans; thereby you can control the taste of the coffee you brew yourself.

Once coffee beans are roasted they become more susceptible to loss of flavor and aroma. Even when they're vacuum packed, freshly roasted coffee beans worsen over time, therefore can you imagine when you see them sitting in bins for days on end? Well, it happens more frequently than you think. That's why streetwise coffee bar owners will roast their green coffee beans in small batches throughout the day to preserve that rich aroma and flavor you pay a premium for.

If you're a coffee lover, you'll be pleased to know how fast and simple it is to roast your own special batch at home. There's a favorite saying among coffee lovers, that life's too short for bad coffee. Truer words were never spoken, especially after you've experienced the flavor of coffee prepared from freshly roasted gourmet coffee beans.

Although you can certainly roast coffee beans using just an old fashioned crank style popcorn popper, it can take a while and produce uneven roasting. A speedier and greater option is to use a home coffee roasting machine. Two of the most popular types for home use are the radiant heat drum roaster and the fluid bed roaster.

Most people will be happy to get started with the fluid bed roaster. They are simplified and easy to use and to clean and will work as if it were a hot air popcorn popper. Using heated air, the beans are circularized within a roasting chamber for steady and quick roasting. Most fluid bed coffee bean roasters have a glass roasting chamber that you can watch the beans as they roast and check to see if they are roasted to your liking.

For those who enjoy a more hands-on professional coffee roasting experience, the radiant heat drum roaster may be a better selection. The quality of the freshly roasted bean using a drum coffee bean roaster equals that of the professional roaster. Be aware though, that many machines of this type can emit a lot of smoke while roasting, so special ventilation might be required.

Coffee bean roasters are available in many variations and range in price from under $100 to nearly $1,000, all depending on the sum of beans that you want to roast at any given time. You can find coffee bean roasters in online retail sites and stores all around the country.

Please visit http://moredetailswith.com/premiumcoffee/general/techniques-to-brew-best-tasting-coffee to find out more about How to Brew Best Tasting Coffee. It's full of fun and you will be abundantly rewarded with the rich aroma and rich after-taste of the world's best coffee.

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Grow Organic Herbal Teas at Home

Growing Herbs Will Result in a Choice Organic Herbal Tea!

Growing herbs for tea is becoming very popular. Organic herbal teas are easy to grow at home. Many grow herbs to add flavor for cooking, while others grow herbs to improve or promote good health. Whatever your reason, herbs added to a cup of tea or brewed alone makes a refreshing and flavorful drink. Picking herbs for your choice organic tea from the garden is always an adventure for the senses.

I love being able to go into the garden to decide what I might enjoy as my tea today. Seeing my herb garden brings me such pleasure. As I bend down, the scent of the herbs is in the air. As I pick the herbs for my tea, the scent becomes stronger and the oil from the plants stays on my hands as I wash the leaves to prepare my tea.

It is important when using fresh herbs for tea that you take time to rub the leaves to release their fragrant oils.

The aroma of my brewed tea fills the house as I allow my tea to steep. Yes, it is a simple pleasure I enjoy often.

I grow many herbs in my garden. Some of them I keep in planters to bring indoors during the fall and winter months. I do take time and dry many of my herbs for future use for cooking as well as for tea. This way I have my home grown tea all year round.

When making a cup of tea with fresh herbs, you use about the equivalent of one tablespoon for each cup of tea you are brewing. When you use your dried herbs, you use about one teaspoon for each cup of tea you are brewing. Allow each to steep about three to five minutes before removing the herbs.

Growing herbs is easy and you do not need a lot of space to do it. A window sill and a sunny spot is a perfect place to grow your favorite herbs. I do grow several pots of my favorite herbs so that I never run out!

More grow organic herbal teas at home. Growing herbs will result in a choice organic tea.

Here are a few herbs that are great as a stand alone tea or as an addition to already brewed tea:

Mint is one of my favorite herbs. This is a hardy plant that will take over your garden, so I always plant it in pots to keep it under control. There are so many varieties of mint today I have a hard time choosing which to grow. Peppermint, spearmint, orange mint, lemon mint and even chocolate mint are just a few of the choices! I always grow spearmint and every year I get adventurous and try another variation. I have not been disappointed by any of my choices. I always enjoy green tea plus any mint for a great glass of ice tea.

Chamomile is a must for any tea gardener. This is an herb that you use the flowers instead of the leaves to make tea. Its apple like flavor and scent has been brewed for centuries to calm and promote relaxation. It is also a tea that has properties that soothe the throat and enhances the immune system.

Lavender is something grows too large to be put on a windowsill. It is a very aromatic herb that promotes sleep and relives headaches. Lavender has a sweet, floral taste that goes well with mint for a flavorful cup of tea. This is another tea that is made with the flowers of the plant.

Lemon balm has a unique lemon with a touch of mint flavor. For centuries many drank lemon balm tea to enhance and promote longevity. Today many drink lemon balm tea to treat colds and flu and to lower blood pressure. It is said that it is also known to aid indigestion. Lemon balm is another herb that goes well with mint.

Growing Herbs at home is fun and inexpensive. It is easy to grow organic herbal teas that result in a choice organic teas right from the garden! It doesn't get any better than this.

Connie Bednar has been a tea enthusiast all her life. She enjoys sharing information about loose leaf tea and so her web site http://www.your-cup-of-tea.com was born. Learn more about herbal teas here on her website Take the time to sign up for "Tea Note Speaker" her newsletter while you are there and take advantage of her complimentary tea e-course.

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The History of Tea: Health and Healing Properties

For more than 4000 years now, tea has been a faithful staple in many cultures and countries around the world. Used as a sustaining liquid for those suffering from infectious disease, there are many believers who have always asserted that tea holds powerful healing properties.

In some cases, they believe that tea can actually cure ailments and sickness. New emerging studies are elevating these assumptions from myth to scientific reality, providing significant evidence that tea is indeed a source of health and contains legitimate healing properties.

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, second only to water, and in many parts of the world, green and black teas are mass produced from the plant Camilla Sinensis. Because of the way the beverage is brewed, it is also one of the safest beverages made on the planet. This is because it is made with boiling water until it is sterile. It is this process that eradicates just about every type of bacteria or virus commonly found in water.

For centuries, tea has not only helped promote health, it also has served as a as a social outlet (tea time), battlefield sedative (the British for years served their wounded tea on the battle field as a way to calm them), and has played a major role in at least one revolution (the Boston Tea Party).

Pirates used to raid tea ships and bounties were put on these pirates’ heads, sometimes even surpassing the bounties placed on pirates that raided gold and silver ships. Rumor has it that this beverage was so popular in England and the colonies that during the American War for Independence, tea was still served in many of the thirteen colonies under a collection of aliases.

Throughout this time, however, tea was also believed to possess qualities that promoted good health and it was believed that tea could help a sick or injured person heal. For centuries, this was merely attributable to antidotal experience, with no scientific foundation on which to base those beliefs. Recently, however, detailed research done by an array of colleges, universities, and research centers have focused on teas positive properties.

Japan and China initially carried out the lion-share of this research, which primarily focused on their tea-of-choice: green tea. Europe and the United States, though, have begun to get in on the act, focusing on green and black tea and the results have been nothing short of astounding.

Not only have many of the alleged healthful properties been certified, researchers have also identified other, previously unknown qualities of tea that have proven that the beverage possesses qualities that can fight cancer, ward off tumors, and prevent the introduction of free radicals into the body.

This results of these tests indicated that because teas possess a high level of the antioxidant tea polyphenols, it is a great disease fighter. Research has shown that not only can tea fight cancer and ward off tumors and other defects; it also is can reduce the risk of heart disease.

As researchers have discovered these properties, they also have been able to map out the chemical composition of tea and pinpoint what they believe are the critical properties of this near wonder-drug.

These findings have allowed researchers to begin to understand what makes tea so effective in healing and promoting health. The most productive tests have come in the form of multi-disciplinary approaches, which consider data from epidemiology and field studies, laboratory tests in animals and historical accounts that are compared to current testing results.

Researchers have tested tea against many different ailments and the results have shown that it is one of the most effective methods that a person can employ to ensure that they are able to adequately fight against any of these sicknesses. The jury, however, is still out, as tea’s potential is only just now beginning to be understood.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit http://www.goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

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Important Health Benefits of Taking Green Tea Supplements

The Chinese have been drinking green tea for its health benefits for thousands of years and it's easy to see why. It packs a punch when it comes to preventing aging and disease. The best way to enjoy the benefits green tea. Here are 5 of the most important health benefits of green tea.

1. If you take a green tea supplement every day, you will greatly reduce your risk of getting cancer. The catechins prevent cancers of the stomach, breast, colon, and kidney and are beneficial for treating solid tumor cancers.

It is thought that green tea's cancer-fighting benefits come from its ability to prevent new blood vessel growth in tumors and inhibit tumor cell proliferation.

2. It is very helpful in any weight loss program because they speed up the metabolism of fat and calories. It also works as a mild appetite suppressant for some.

3. Green tea improves your cognitive performance thanks to the mild dose of caffeine it contains. By taking a supplement every day, you will notice that you can think much more clearly.

4. It will help prevent skin aging due to exposure to free radicals because of the powerful antioxidants they contain. It also protects your skin from harmful UV-A rays.

5. You can take it to prevent digestive problems like diarrhea, Crohn's disease, and vomiting.

6. Drink it or take a supplement in order to prevent Parkinson's disease.

7. It prevents the formation of blood clots, lowers your LDL cholesterol level, lowers your blood pressure, and protects you against heart disease.

This list of benefits of green tea is only the tip of the iceberg. There are far more health benefits. In order to enjoy these benefits to the maximum as well as other benefits in disease and aging prevention, you should take a it that contains many more ingredients than just green tea.

Why take only a pill when you can take a supplement that combines green tea with many other anti-aging ingredients? For example, black cumin, alfalfa, biotin, folic acid, and calcium, to name a few other ingredients will provide far more health benefits.

Moreover, a supplement that contains all of these ingredients working in synergy together will have enhanced effectiveness. So what is stopping you from looking for green tea supplements. With the right combination of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and more, you will be able to put off aging and disease for years to come.

I have been an educator for 20 years. I am also an ailment and herbal expert.
Click Here: http://www.best-supplements.info

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