Coffee, whether you like it strong, milky, filtered, with foam, without foam (the list goes on…), is the nation’s favourite drink after water with approximately 70 million cups of the stuff being drunk every day (give or take the odd espresso downed on a bluey Monday).
Scientists are not certain whether drinking coffee is truly beneficial for you but some studies show it does have an effect on your mental and physical performance. Research shows it can help relieve asthma symptoms and protect liver health while other studies have found that it’s useful in improving your memory and thinking skills - but only when combined with a healthy diet.
For the average coffee enthusiast, nothing separates you and the dozens of shops available - you've got to get your fix. These days, it seems unlikely to walk through a high street that isn't lined with coffee shops, and perhaps even less likely to resist the urge to grab a cheeky cappuccino as you pass them. In fact, the consumer retail spend on coffee was around a whopping £730 million last year. However, for those whose coffee addiction is borderline obsessive (and expensive), making your own homemade brew is getting more appealing as resources for doing so are improving.
If you’re attempting to make coffee at home then you’re going to want it to taste good. BRITA coffee ambassadors and owners of DunneFrankowski, Victor and Rob, suggest that you choose coffee beans that are freshly roasted from independent coffee shops. Also, if you’re a fan of the Americano, take care with the water you use. BRITA filtered water promises to allow the aromas of coffee to develop to their fullest extent, ensuring you’ll have a good cuppa.
From North America to the Arabian Peninsula, coffee beans are being sourced daily so we can enjoy a massive variety of coffees. There’s the indulgent mocha (the most calorific!), the milky latte (high in protein), the slightly lighter cappuccino (hardest to make properly) and the strong Americano (which has double the caffeine of a regular mug and the least calorific). With all these options, you can be blinded by what exactly goes in the cup. Adding caramel syrup to your macchiato? Yep, say hello to an added 160 calories!
One way of controlling what goes into your coffee is to brew your own cup of Joe yourself. There are several ways to do it, each method producing different results. Shops tend to use the standard drip machine that makes coffee the way most of us prefer. There’s the fancier method (not really!) called the French press, which essentially involves throwing some beans into a pitcher and steeping it with hot water. Then there’s the method for the bleary-eyed in the morning, chuck a spoonful of the instant stuff into a mug of hot water for fast results. If you’re willing to experiment then you’ve got to try the Chemex method. Aside of patience, it also involves carefully hand-pouring hot water over coffee grounds that sit in a paper filter. You’ll end up with coffee that has a much smoother and flavourful taste.
So, next time you get the all too familiar urge for coffee, have a go at brewing it yourself. You’ll be saving a fortune and be surprised at how easy it is to make.
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