If you’re looking for an espresso machine then you’re either a coffee lover or you know someone who is. You can already impress your friends with your lattes and the depth and colour of your crema, well now it’s time to impress them with your knowledge of coffee trivia.
Of course you know that coffee contains caffeine, but did you also know:
What has caffeine in it?
- coffee, tea and chocolate, where it occurs naturally
- more than 60 plants contain caffeine in their leaves, seeds and fruits
- animals can’t stand the bitter taste and it’s the plant’s protection mechanism to avoid being eaten
- you can use cold, strong Lapsang Souchong tea to repel possums in your garden
- cola, energy drinks and alco-pops, where it is added because it has a stimulant effect
- over-the-counter medications like painkillers and cold and flu remedies
How long does the effect last?
- caffeine is metabolised by your liver and passes through your body within two to 10 hours
- smokers metabolise caffeine more quickly than non-smokers
- pregnant women take longer to metabolise it
- oral contraceptives slow the rate of caffeine metabolism
Compare the caffeine content
Espresso 40-90 mg / 30 ml shot
Drip coffee 75-125 mg / 250 ml cup
Instant coffee 20-40 mg / 250 ml cup
Tea 10-50 mg / 250 ml cup
Energy drink 80 mg / 250 ml can
Cola drink 49 mg / 375 ml can
For more about espresso machines, not all trivia, visit http://espressomachinecenter.com
I found a recipe for a low-fat, low joule dessert that’s embarrassingly simple to make. It’s an Espresso Sorbetto and the ingredients are espresso coffee, low fat milk and a little sugar. The recipe is at http://www.republicacoffee.com.au
The bonus is that the Republica brand of coffee is 100% Fair Trade Coffee. They guarantee that every single bean they use is Fair Trade certified, which means that the coffee farmers get a fair price for their crop and their labour. Coffee is a valuable and much traded commodity - just look on the Commodities Exchange or the Futures Exchange. Chocolate comes into the same category, so it may reassure you that you can absolve some of your guilt for indulging in these simple pleasures by buying Fair Trade. Republica’s motto is, “Doesn’t that leave a good taste in your mouth!” (TM).
I found the coffee in my local supermarket. The price compares with top of the range brands, so I’ll be doing a taste comparison over the next few days.
Their website is well worth a visit http://www.republicacoffee.com.au