Worried about the affect of your Starbucks habit on your health? Relax and sip away -- the latest research out of the Netherlands (and hey, who drinks more coffee?) reports that those who drink two to four cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of heart disease than those who drink less than two or more than four cups. So now that you can slurp your java guilt-free, here are the best ways to buy, store, and make it.
Look for a label that guarantees fair-trade, which means coffee producers and growers are being paid fairly, with a focus on environmental standards. Visit TransFairUSA.org to find local businesses that sell fair trade coffee. Shopping at the grocery store? Folgers has a fair trade option (or you could just stop at Starbucks on your way home).
Buy whole beans and grind only the amount you need right before you brew. Starbucks (they know a little something about coffee) advises storing the beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place -- but not in the freezer (it’ll lose it’s flavor)!
Coffee beans come in a range of colors from light to dark, and with the sort of descriptive words you’re used to seeing with wine: fruity, chocolate, crisp, tart, smooth. Just describe your preferences and ask the barista at you local coffee shop to give you a recommendation.
A 1-pound bag of coffee will get you about 64 5-ounce cups of java. Sound like a lot? Well, maybe -- but a pounder will actually just last you two weeks if you and your partner drink two cups a day each (not so crazy).
Want to impress your guests the next time you serve them a cup of java? Decorate the foam with these coffee stencils from Etsy.com, $10 each. Place over foam-topped coffee drinks, sprinkle with cocoa and lift! It's that easy!
-- The Nest Editors
Dec 08, 2010
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