Archive for July, 2010
What an Office Coffee Service Provides
If you?re considering hiring an office
coffee service to provide coffee and
beverages for your office or just
beginning to investigate the options
provided by an office coffee service,
you?ll find that office coffee services
provide far more than just coffee. When
your business partners with a company
that provides office coffee service,
you?ll be able to choose from a wide
variety of services and items ranging
from coffee makers to vending machines,
equipment and supplies for your coffee
or break room, coffee and other
beverages and even snacks. Here?s a
quick tour of what you might expect a
typical office coffee service to provide
for your office or place of business.
Coffee Makers
The typical office break room has a
coffee maker that is meant for home use.
Unless you?ve only got a couple of
people drinking coffee over the course
of the day, you?ll find yourself
replacing that coffee maker far more
often than you would at home.
Professional office coffee services
generally will offer a wide choice of
coffee makers to suit the way your
office drinks coffee. Your choice of
coffee maker will vary from provider to
provider, but most offer several choices
that include standard drip coffee
makers, espresso machines, single serve
coffee machines, semi and fully
automatic coffee makers and even vending
machines.
These days, the most common coffee maker
choices are single-serve coffee systems
like Keurig, Flavia or Senseo. Single
serve coffee makers cut down on
maintenance and clean-up by brewing one
cup of coffee at a time using a
self-contained coffee ?capsule? or cup.
Some of these are connected directly to
the plumbing so that even filling the
water receptacle is a simple matter of
turning a tap. Single serve coffee
systems offer a number of advantages
over coffee makers that brew by the pot.
Perhaps the biggest advantage is that
each employee or client can make a
different kind of coffee without having
to brew up a full pot. If your secretary
loves her Rainforest Hazelnut, the rest
of the office isn?t stuck drinking up
the rest of the pot.
The cost of the coffee machine will
often depend upon two factors: the type
of machine and the volume of coffee that
you order from the coffee service each
month. Many coffee service companies
provide a standard coffee machine for
free as long as you continue to order
your coffee and other supplies through
them. Often, however, you can continue
to rent the machine for a small monthly
fee even if you buy your own coffee to
use in the machine.
Coffee
In addition to the coffee machine,
coffee services also deliver coffee to
your office on a pre-determined
schedule. If you?ve chosen a pour-over
pot or drip machine, the coffee will
usually be packaged in pre-measured
one-pot pouches. If you?ve chosen a
single-serve coffee system, you?ll be
able to order coffee in single serving
coffee pods (K-cups, T-cups or other pod
types depending on the coffee brewer
supplied by the company). In either
case, you?ll usually find that having
coffee available to your employees in
pre-measured pouches cuts down on waste
and reduces the amount of coffee that?s
used per cup.
Other Beverages
In addition to coffee, many coffee
services also carry tea and hot
chocolate, and some also provide soups
that can be made with hot water. In
fact, if you?re renting a single serve
coffee system like the Keurig from your
office coffee service, you?ll probably
be able to order their entire range of
beverages through your service provider.
Snacks for the Break Room
Some coffee service companies also offer
a range of snacks for your office break
room. The snacks offered by your coffee
service may include bags of chips and
pretzels as well as individually
packaged bagels, doughnuts, croissants
and muffins. The companies that provide
snacks may also provide other
individually packaged items like jams
and jellies, butter pats, coffee
creamers and cream cheese. Many offices
find that providing these in sanitary
individual packages cuts down on waste
and is more economical than buying them
at the supermarket.
Supplies and Equipment
What happens if your coffee carafe
shatters or your machine needs
servicing? Office coffee services
provide all service for your coffee
machine, including replacement parts and
repair. In most cases, if your coffee
machine malfunctions the coffee service
will provide you with a replacement for
it if it can?t be repaired in place. You
can usually set up a service contract
with your provider and let them take
care of regular maintenance like
cleaning, de-scaling and replacing
filters and other parts on a regular
schedule.
When choosing an office coffee service,
be sure that you ask to see their full
catalog of supplies and services.
Compare all costs of using the coffee
service with the costs of providing a
similar level of coffee service on your
own to help you decide if a coffee
service is the best option for your
office.
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer and
blogger who writes about the office
environment and ways to improve
productivity such as utilizing an office
coffee service.
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If you?re considering hiring an office coffee service to
provide coffee and beverages for your office or just
beginning to investigate the options provided by an office
coffee service, you?ll find that office coffee services
provide far more than just coffee. When your business
partners with a company that provides office coffee service,
you?ll be able to choose from a wide variety of services.
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Varieties Of Many Kinds Of Coffee
Buying coffee may not be that difficult
if there are only two choices on the
shelves. But what happens when you have
more than ten kinds of coffee to choose
from? A little difficult, yes, but still
manageable. However, what happens when
you have as many as 30 varieties lined
up on the shelf, which coffee would you
choose? A little bit crazy I bet.
This, however, is the reality of things.
In a coffee specialty shop you can find
more than 30 different kinds of coffee,
more brands that you have ever seen some
of which you’ve never heard of and more
unique flavors and combinations than any
coffee shop could ever provide.
Whenever you buy coffee you get to see a
lot of French, Italian, Viennese, and
Continental names on the packaging.
Usually, these brands are made from
darker coffees and don’t really mean
that the beans themselves came from
these regions.
But instead of the location where they
were planted and harvested, these coffee
names are dependent on the actual length
of time the beans were roasted. For
example, Italian roasts are generally
darker in color since they have been
roasted longer than the Viennese coffee,
and so on.
If European names refer to the length of
being roasted, non-European names refer
to the origin of the coffee bean. So if
you see a coffee named Mexican roast,
then the beans came from Mexico.
There are other names on coffee labels.
One of the more exclusive ones is the
Estate named brands. Estate labeled
coffees are distinct in a way that the
coffee has been grown, harvested and
processed in a single farm or estate.
Estate coffee growers pride themselves
of having their coffees pure.
They never mixed their own estate coffee
varieties with other coffees the grew
and were harvested in other regions.
Probably, one of the most known and
trusted estate grown coffee is the
Wallensford Blue Mountain brand, which
is grown exclusively in Jamaica.
We’ve talked about names referring to
roasts and place of origin, now let’s
take a look at the various flavored
coffee names. Generally, these kinds of
coffees are less expensive but are
really good nonetheless. Flavored coffee
names are the ones that have the words
cr?me, chocolate, vanilla, or any nut or
fruit names attached to the word
“coffee.”
Unlike most of the pure coffees which
are roasted black, flavored coffees are
roasted medium brown. The flavor
themselves are added into the coffee in
liquid form.
Blends, on the other hand, are a mix of
two or more coffees. The main
consideration and certainly the key
feature of blends is that the coffees
that are mixed together should
complement each other.
The aroma, taste, and flavor should
never be distinct but at the same time
harmonious. Just like estate coffees,
there are several well known house
blends that have trusted coffee
combinations.
There are also various organic coffees
and other commercial brand names that
have their own distinct flavors. Just
remember to choose calmly and don’t get
overwhelmed by the number of varieties
out there.
Buying coffee may not be that difficult if there are only
two choices on the shelves. But what happens when you have
more than ten kinds of coffee to choose from? A little
difficult, yes, but still manageable. However, what happens
when you have as many as 30 varieties lined up on the shelf,
which coffee would you choose? A little bit crazy I bet.
Technorati Tags : coffee coffees names estate
The Top Coffee Producers by Region
Whether it is from Starbucks, an
Aeropress, or the vending machine down
the hall, the beans that make your cup
of coffee are likely to have come from
just a handful of countries. However,
the importance of the process by which
the beans have been grown, and by whom,
have only recently been contemplated by
the average westerner in recent years
through the rise of fair trade
initiatives. What follows is a
comprehensive list of the top coffee
producers by region.
Brazil in South America is the largest
coffee producer in the world at
17,000,000 tonnes in 2008. Alongside
its other major agricultural exports,
such as soybeans, rice, and beef, the
government has recently implemented The
Land Reform Program in an aim to
generate two million jobs. In recent
years, the devastating encroachment of
the agriculture industry on the Amazon
rainforest has led to criticism on the
countrys green policy. Subsequently,
the government have since implemented an
Environmental Crimes Law. Interestingly
the country only ranks 19th in terms of
average coffee consumption per person.
Vietnam is now a big producer of Robusta
coffee beans producing over 15,000,000
tonnes of green coffee in 2008. Since a
succession of government implemented
land reform measures, Vietnams prolific
agricultural industry (started and still
upheld by rice production), has also
become the largest producer of cashew
nuts with Coffee as its third biggest
agricultural export. Unlike rice, wet
paddy fields are not needed for growing
coffee beans and, at least in terms of
methane production, coffee production is
less harmful to the environment.
Indonesia is the third largest exporter
of coffee, the largest producer of
washed Arabica coffee and the fourth
biggest green bean producer in the
world. Unlike the aforementioned
countries, the agriculture sector makes
up significantly less (14 percent) of
the republics overall economy, despite
making up for almost half of the
countrys employment. Aside from
coffee, Indonesias biggest imports are
rice, tea, and palm oil which has
suffered significant ecological
controversy in the last few years.
Further significant coffee-producing
areas include Columbia, Mexico, and
Ethiopia which has emerged in recent
years as a prime location for growing.
Ethiopias rise has caused concern
amongst some commentators who have
highlighted that the amount of water
that is needed for coffee production
might be best used elsewhere, especially
in a country which is so famously short
of rain.
Whether it is from Starbucks, an Aeropress, or the vending
machine down the hall, the beans that make your cup of
coffee are likely to have come from just a handful of
countries. However, the importance of the process by which
the beans have been grown, and by whom, have only recently
been contemplated by the average westerner in recent years
through the rise of fair trade initiatives. What follows is
a comprehensive list of the top coffee producers by region.
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Why Various People Like Coffee Hot
Have you ever had the feeling that you
can’t start your day without something,
a feeling that no matter what you do
things aren’t really going your way?
Is it the same feeling you get when you
aren’t able to have your coffee in the
morning before you leave for work or
school or anywhere for that matter? If
your answer is “YES,” then it is
certified: you my friend are a coffee
addict!
But don’t you worry young coffee junkie,
for you are not alone. You are but a
speckle in the vast ocean of coffee
addicts all around the world. They too
have been called to be forever in the
hunt of the ultimate coffee experience.
Like you and me, these people have been
inflicted by a taste so good, so
unforgettable that living without can
mean fate worse than death. To be
addicted to coffee is to never get away
from the taste, the smell, and the
full-bodied flavor of caffeine.
A different kind of coffee
Traditionalist, purist, and coffee
enthusiasts all around the world have
become more and more demanding over the
recent years. These people have begun
seeking other forms of enjoyment that
they can get from their usual cup of
coffee.
That was the driving force behind the
revolutionary leap that the brewing of
coffee made. Since time immemorial, man
has been serving coffee hot. Few people
would actually drink coffee that has
been blown over by the passing breeze.
Hot coffee was the standard of coffee
drinking everywhere.
Because of man’s insatiability for many
things (coffee included), he constantly
experiments and researches for different
things that might make his existence
more meaningful and as some would have
it, exciting. Not far from this
influence is the way coffee is served.
Before as mentioned coffee was always
hot, cold coffee was considered an
insult to the coffee itself and people
took pride in their brew. Nowadays,
coffee can be seen sold to hundreds if
not thousands by the day in tumblers
that are filled with beads of
condensation. Nowadays, coffee is best
served cold.
Eventhough the new standard in coffee
drinking has been changed one thing
still remains the same, people still
have a hard time starting their day
without coffee. People still have a hard
time relaxing after a hard days work.
Some of the standards may change, people
may change, but some things will always
be constant no matter what. People may
put ice, people may put spices but
coffee will always be coffee and to
change that will be more than
impossible. So coffee addicts need not
be afraid for they will have coffee
forever.
Have you ever had the feeling that you can’t start your day
without something, a feeling that no matter what you do
things aren’t really going your way?
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The Green Coffee Bean
Most people drink coffee without knowing
much about it. It is the taste that they
get use to and then decide what they
like. Coffee comes made from the seeds
that are roasted from the coffee plant.
These seeds are commonly known as ‘Green
Coffee Beans’. They are actually a
berry. The ‘green coffee beans’ that are
collected from the coffee plantations
are sent to special places where they
are roasted, ground, and then finely
crushed to make coffee powder.
Depending on the quality of the coffee
bean will then depend on how it is
packaged and where it is sent to. The
green coffee bean must be picked
normally by hand from the coffee
plantations. This is done by laborers
who get paid by the bucketfuls. Since
coffee beans are a type of drupe, with
fruit flesh directly wrapping the coffee
bean, they first gather the coffee beans
and then the flesh of the coffee bean
must be promptly removed by soaking,
scouring and rubbing the bean. The
de-fruited coffee bean is then cleaned
with water which removes the sticking
fruit and additional sugars. It is only
then left ready for the drying process.
The green coffee beans are then spread
over a large concrete or rock plane,
where they are dried by air and
sunlight.
Coffee beans are given a categorization
of the beans. This is done by color and
size. Discolored, decayed and damaged
beans are removed at this point and
thrown away.
The process of going from the Coffee
Berry to the dry green coffee bean can
be relatively long and may even involve
some fermentation.Once this has been
completed the green coffee beans should
be stored in some sort of container that
will allow it to breathe and not impart
another flavor to the beans: burlap
bags, paper bags, etc. Plastic
containers are never used for obvious
reasons. The coffee beans are stored at
room temperature and out of direct
light. They may be kept for a long
period of time. Because of their light
weight they are easy to ship abroad.
There are polyphenols in green coffee
beans which act to help reduce free
oxygen radicals in the body. The bean
extract is sometimes standardized to
more than 50%PRCTG% chlorogenic acid.
Coffee is a drink loved by millions, and
the green coffee bean is the start of
the production line. There are many ways
to produce the coffee, and depending
what you do with the green coffee bean
and where it comes from will determine
the taste and the outcome of the coffee.
The Roasting Process. Depending on how
log the coffee beans are exposed to the
sun will depend on what the flavour or
strength will be. The bean contains a
wide variety of chemical compounds
including proteins, fats, sugars,
dextrin, cellulose, caffeine, and
organic acids.
Some of these compounds volatise,
oxidize, or decompose as part of the
roasting process.The roasting process is
very important in producing an aromatic
cup of coffee. When roasted, the green
coffee bean expands to nearly twice its
initial size, changing in color and
density.
At this point in the roasting process,
the coffee beans will start cracking,
quite like popping popcorn. The bean
also expels moisture, and, upon reaching
400 degrees Fahrenheit, the color
changes to yellow and then to a light
‘cinnamon’ brown, and oil is released
from its interior.
This oil gives coffee its distinct
flavor. The greater the amount of oil
released, the stronger the flavor. The
coffee beans will crack during the
roasting process, which guides roasters
as to how to gauge the progression of
the roast. The bean will then continue
to expel more oil while darkening its
color, until such time it is removed
from the heat. The final product can be
crushed into savoury coffee powder.
Papua New Guinea is just one region that
grows the coffee berry. This is mainly
grown in the Highland regions rich
volcanic soils between the altitudes of
4,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level.
Just this fact alone will make the
coffee taste different from other areas
of growth. It is believed that every
factor that comes into play has a
bearing on the outcome of the coffee
bean. The altitude, the soil, the length
of time it is left unpicked, all
contribute to the production.
Papua New Guinea coffee is well regarded
by consumers for its uniqueness,
consistency and special flavor
characteristics. They export
approximately 2%PRCTG% of the annual world
green coffee bean production.
Papua New Guinea coffee beans are highly
sought, as they produce a distinct
floral and citric flavor and nutty body,
and are frequently used to blend with
other coffees to produce unique gourmet
coffees. Take a look at this website
which specialises in the green coffee
bean from Papa New Guinea. Visit Coffee
Pacifica.
Brazil – continues to be the largest
coffee exporter, although the green
coffee market has recently been flooded
with large amount of Robusta beans from
Vietnam. Robusta coffees, which were
traded in London at a cheaper price
compared to New York’s Arabica, are the
choice of large industrial clients
consisting of multinational roasters and
instant coffee producers; they favor
these coffees because of the less
expensive price. A rare and costly
variety of Robusta is the Indonesian
Kopi Luwak and the Philippine Kape
Alamid. Owing to the indirect pressure
exerted by the World Bank to the French
government, experts believe that the
influx of cheap green coffee resulted
from the crisis in pricing that started
in 2001, and continues to the present.
Robusta is the cheap stuff. It packs
lots of caffeine jolt, but offers only
one-dimensional, front-of-mouth flavour.
Much of it goes for instant, but a
surprising amount becomes the filler in
blends. Most industrial espresso
roasters say it gives a better crema, or
head, but this is rot – robusta is just
a way to keep costs down and drinkers’
nerves jangled. Vietnam is the major
robusta exporter, and has flooded the
market with cheap beans. Most “espresso
roasts” now include them, their blunt
flavour hidden by roasting beans almost
to the point of incineration.
Arabica beans have finer, more complex
flavours and are less
highly-caffeinated. As with wine grapes,
they include many sub-varieties and
variations in terroir, and different
skills in picking, de-fruiting, drying,
sorting, ageing, roasting and packing
the beans offer a coffee lover endless
opportunities for subtlety and surprise.
I haven’t found an instant coffee I
like, so won’t be mentioning one.
Where To Go For A Coffee In London. Dont
just use Starbucks or Costa Coffee.
There are plenty of hotels dotted around
London that have coffee afternoons. Try
one of htese and be pleasantly
surprised.
If you are in Central London then I
would recommend a visit to Connaught
Square, commonly known as ‘Connaught
Village’ just off the Edgware Road. It
is a 2 minute walk from Marble Arch tube
station, and 200 metres from the bottom
end of Hyde Park. There is a small
coffee shop on the corner of Connaught
Square called Markus Coffee. It has
recently been refurbished by the owner,
who has been blending and producing his
magnificent coffee for over 25 years.
Roasting takes place every day and the
fresh aromatic smell is amazing. It is
the best coffee in London. Well worth a
visit.
Most people drink coffee without knowing much about it. It
is the taste that they get use to and then decide what they
like. Coffee comes made from the seeds that are roasted from
the coffee plant. These seeds are commonly known as ‘Green
Coffee Beans’. They are actually a berry. The ‘green coffee
beans’ that are collected from the coffee plantations are
sent to special places where they are roasted, ground, and
then finely crushed to make coffee powder.
Technorati Tags : coffee beans green roasting
Natural Cure for Breast Cancer with
Coffee Enemas
I learned about coffee enemas when
searching for a natural treatment for
breast cancer. After careful
consideration of all my options,
including chemotherapy and radiation, I
chose the Gerson Therapy, a natural
treatment for cancer and other
degenerative diseases.
At first I was hesitant about the use of
coffee enemas as part of the therapy,
but faced with a life threatening
disease I was willing to try this
strange sounding procedure. Much to my
surprise I found it to be an easy and
refreshing treatment that I actually
enjoyed. I immediately felt lighter,
happier and more limber.
Organic coffee is a powerful agent for
detoxifying. When taken as an enema it
purifies the liver and its stored
negative emotions, like worry, anger and
fear. It gives great relief for both
body and mind while fighting cancer.
According to the Gerson Therapy, the
caffeine in coffee administered as an
enema detoxifies the liver. The coffee
enema is retained for about 10 minutes.
All of the body’s blood passes through
the liver every three minutes. As this
vital fluid passes through the
caffeinated liver, the blood serum is
detoxified.
Coffee enemas flush toxic bile from the
liver which further affects the body’s
enzymatic catalyst, known as glutathion
S-transferase (GST). The GST is
increased in quantity by 700 percent by
a coffee enema?an excellent
physiological effect, because the GST
enzyme destroys free radicals.
Discovered by Dr. Max Gerson while
serving as a medic in World War I, the
coffee enema was found to relieve pain
and accelerate healing in wounded
soldiers. It later became a part of The
Gerson Therapy, a natural regime he
developed for healing cancer.
The coffee enema, combined with the
Gerson Therapy diet of fresh organic
juices, vegetarian foods and
supplements, has proved to be an
effective method for combatting breast
cancer. Flooding the body with nutrition
while eliminating toxins boosts the
body’s cancer fighting ability and
allows it to heal naturally. Within just
a few months, my tests confirmed that
the cancer was in remission. Not only
did I avoid the terrible side effects of
chemotherapy and radiation, but I
learned to take control of my health and
rebuild my body to be strong and
resilient. It’s not easy to step out of
the box of traditional cancer treatment
and try an alternative therapy. It
requires great strength, optimism and
trust in the body’s natural healing
power.
Since undergoing the Gerson Therapy five
years ago, I have been enjoying radiant
health and strength. I still do coffee
enemas a couple of times a month as a
preventative measure and to keep my
liver strong and healthy.
Friends often ask me if they can do
coffee enemas for various health
complaints, and the answer is yes! It’s
a great cleanse that will help improve
digestion, complexion, allergies,
immunity, arthritis, and many
degenerative diseases. I have scribbled
out the recipe for people many times on
the back of a napkin or envelope. Now I
have finally created a blog to share and
discuss the procedure, recipe and
benefits.
I also recommend that if you are
seriously ill, contact the Gerson
Institute and undergo the full treatment
for your disease?whether as an
alternative to conventional medicine, or
as a supplement to help purify the
system after chemotherapy.
As a breast cancer survivor, I encourage
anyone faced with this disease to
research their alternatives for natural
treatment and not to overlook the
healing wonders of the body?and of
coffee enemas!
Marie Michelle is a breast cancer
survivor who used coffee enemas and the
Gerson Therapy for healing cancer. Her
dedication to the treatment proved
successful in regaining her health and
resilience to disease. As an advocate of
the healing benefits of coffee enemas,
she presents useful information,
instructions and the recipe on her blog:
Coffee Enema Recipe, Gerson Institute
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At first a strange sounding procedure, coffee enemas prove
to be effective as part of a
natural regime for fighting cancer. Discovered by Dr. Max
Gerson while serving as a
medic in World War I, the coffee enema was found to relieve
pain and accelerate healing. The author, a breast cancer
survivor describes her success with using of coffee enemas
and their benefits for the liver and healing cancer and
degenerative diseases.
Technorati Tags : coffee cancer enemas gerson
Gourmet Coffee Baskets – Perfect Idea
for the Coffee Lover
Do you know someone that CRAVES gourmet
coffee but is not easy to buy for? Well,
ordering gourmet coffee baskets on the
internet is fast and easy. The coffee
suggestions are never-ending. Just find
out what gourmet coffee they enjoy and
you are all set!
Or…if you want to “personalize” the
gift, and make handcrafted gourmet
coffee baskets those are phenomenal
presents too. Want to know more?
Picking gourmet coffee baskets on the
internet is effortless. What you need to
do is find out the kind of gourmet
coffee your “giftee” prefers and you
order a gift with that type of coffee in
your basket.
However, if you want to organize a
basket that has a more “personal flavor”
then designing
gourmet coffee baskets by hand may be
for you.
You need to select a basket that is not
too roomy. You want your basket to have
the image of the “goodies” bubbling over
from the basket. Next, choose elements
that your gourmet coffee devotee will
enjoy. Here are a couple of tips:
insulated coffee mugs, biscotti,
chocolate, a coffee bean grinder. These
are just a few items that you can
consider in your gourmet coffee basket
arrangement, in addition to rich coffee.
Make sure you put filler paper in the
underside of the basket, this will add
height to your items. Next, start
placing the items in your basket. HAVE
FUN. Show your personality. This is
where you can be personal. You want your
friend or family member to know the gift
was from you, right?
Double-sided tape does a great job when
situating items in the basket and keeps
items from moving around.
Be sure to put a pretty bow or tie a
ribbon on your basket.
Gourmet coffee baskets are unique gifts.
Remember to have fun with your
arrangements. Gift-giving should always
be done with great satisfaction for the
person who is receiving the gift.
Gourmet coffee baskets can either be purchased online or
handmade designed at home. Creative tips are offered in this
article.
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Tips for Choosing the Best Coffee
Service for Your Business
For many individuals, coffee is a big
part the day. The same can be true for
many offices as well. Quality coffee and
a reputable coffee service can really
enhance a work environment. Depending on
the amount of employees or the layout of
the office itself, certain coffee
services may be better than others.
There is nothing like the aroma of
freshly brewed ground coffee to lift the
senses and breathe new life into a
stagnant body.
Why a coffee service provider is a good
choice
A smile will instantly appear on your
dial and a revitalised person will
emerge after the first sip of the
beloved brew. Coffee has been known to
have this effect on coffee lovers and
general consumers alike. It is the most
widely consumed beverage in offices all
over the world. Considering that
Americans consume close to 400 million
cups of coffee per day and the Italians
14 billion espressos per year (and
increasing?) it is not hard to believe
that the brew has become a huge part of
the office routine. Having a fresh,
decent cup of coffee readily available
at any minute of the day does wonders
for the morale of the staff members.
Office managers should feel more
confident that their staff can meet
their goals if their favorite brew is at
hand. It has been known that coffee
drinkers tend to be more productive than
non drinkers. Research has shown that
they also have longer working stamina
than their non drinking colleagues.
Hiring a coffee service provider is a
good choice as it will save the company
time and money. Staff members will no
longer have to leave the office for a
quick sip and waste precious working
time.
Not all company policies are the same
though and coffee breaks at many of
these companies usually mean a cup of
old coffee. Coffee service providers
usually offer a vast selection of
coffees as well as other beverages and
snacks on a daily basis. This means
fresh coffee any time, all the time. The
only other snag that remains is for the
manager to select a reliable and
reputable coffee service provider that
will deliver the goods.
Hints and tips for selecting your coffee
vendor
Choose a vendor that will be able to
satisfy all your needs in terms of
affordable prices, good quality products
and excellent sales service. This
usually means having to shop around as
coffee service providers tend to differ
in their service offerings. Get quotes
from various vendors to compare prices
and products. Watch out for specifics
such as how long the vendor has been in
operation and valid client references as
you are looking towards a longstanding
and profitable business relationship. A
refreshing, excellent brew is the main
objective, so it would be a good idea to
sample all the coffees available before
deciding. Include all the office staff
members in the tasting process. In this
manner you will know exactly which
beverages are preferred and by which
company as well as the type of brewing
equipment you will be using.
One of the most important issues to look
for beside the variety of coffees they
stock is how quickly they respond to
problems. The level of customer service
that the company provides is very
important as well. Emergencies tend to
occur at times when you least expect it
and a prompt service delivery eliminates
unnecessary stress. Deliveries that are
done regularly and on time are a
requirement. Also check if they offer an
online service as well as easy access to
your personal account. You will be able
to keep an eye on the account if a
log-in and password is provided.
Another issue to clear is to enquire if
goods that are damaged or ruined may be
returned or replaced and if
cancellations or changes of orders are
readily accepted. Notifications of any
price changes should also be done well
in advance.
Other beverages and products to consider
There are many coffee vendors that offer
food packages as well. These food
packages can be ordered on a daily basis
for staff members as well as the
occasional conference or office party.
Catering is done according to the number
of staff members or conference
attendants. The use of vending machines
to dispense certain products comes
highly recommended. Vending machines
come in various types and can stock
sodas, juices and water as well as hot
beverages, snacks and sandwiches. There
are machines available that can stock
gourmet foods as well as confections.
Frozen goodies are also an option.
Vending machines should be checked and
refilled on a daily basis. Sandwiches,
gourmet foods and confections must be
supplied fresh and old stock removed on
a timely basis as well.
Quality coffee and a reputable coffee service can really
enhance a work environment. Depending on the amount of
employees or the layout of the office itself, certain coffee
services may be better than others. There is nothing like
the aroma of freshly brewed ground coffee to lift the senses
and breathe new life into a stagnant body.
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The Different Types of Coffee
Second to water in popularity, coffee is
consumed by billions of people
throughout the world. Statistics have
shown that about 400 billion cups are
consumed annually and that children and
adults have been taking it for several
good reasons.
Coffee is a popular beverage served in
two ways: hot or with ice. It is
naturally prepared from the roasted
seeds of a coffee plant, and these seeds
are known as ?coffee beans?. The beans
originate from an evergreen tree which
has grown and has been cultivated in a
number of subtropical areas around the
world, including Latin America, the
Caribbean Islands, Africa, Arabian
Peninsula, Indonesia and other regions
in Southeast Asia.
Being cultivated and produced in a
number of countries, coffee comes in
varieties. Each variety has its
distinctive quality and differs
according to flavor, acidity, amount of
caffeine, and mouth feel. All of these
characteristics are highly dependent on
the environment where the coffee plants
are grown, as well as on the way they
are processed and produced.
There are three major varietals of
coffee: the C. Robusta, C. Arabica, and
the Blended types. Below are short
descriptions for each type. Read on.
C. Robusta ? Known scientifically as
coffee canephora, the Robusta variety
naturally contains 40 to 50 percent of
caffeine and is cultivated in some major
areas in the world where the second
variety, C. Arabica, will not thrive.
This type has a bitter taste and has
little flavor. Its aroma is deemed as
something similar to that of brunt
rubber or wet cardboard. And, one of
the very pricey and unusual subtype of
this species is the Indonesian Kopi
Luwak and the Kape Alamid, which is
known and highly valued in the
Philippines.
C. Arabica ? Noted to have originated
from the Arabian Peninsula, the Coffee
Arabica is the older type of coffee
known to man. It is thought to be
indigenous to Ethiopia, and is widely
known for its richer flavor and taste.
Some of the well-known subtypes of C.
Arabica are Colombian, Colombian milds,
Costa Rican Tarrazu, Guatemala, Hawaiian
Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Ethiopian
Harrar, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Sulawesi
Toraja Kalossi, Tanzania Peaberry,
Sumatra Mandheling, Sumatra Lintong,
Java, and Kenya AA.
Blends ? As the name implies, this
coffee variety is a combination of both
C. Arabica and C. Robusta. Blends are
generally considered mainly to create a
sense of balance and complexity. With
this idea, a number of blends are
available nowadays and one of the oldest
is the Mocha Java, which is but a
combination of coffee beans belonging to
the same name. This blend is noted for
its chocolate flavor, leading to the
blending of the known Caf? Mocha.
Several other varieties of coffee exist
nowadays. All of these varieties are
prepared from the blends, which are
mixed with other less expensive
varieties to provide a new taste and
flavor. The Jamaica Blue Mountain and
the Hawaiian Kona are but two of the
most prominent examples of these recent
coffee blends.
Please check out ArticleMash.com for
useful tips and info about Food and
Drink and Coffee.
Second to water in popularity, coffee is consumed by
billions of people throughout the world. Statistics have
shown that about 400 billion cups are consumed annually and
that children and adults have been taking it for several
good reasons.
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Coffee: Stress Reliever? Not!
When people usually take a break from a
long day of work, they usually head for
the pantry to reach for a cup of coffee.
Many a coffee drinker believe that
coffee is one of the best stress
reliever around. But unfortunately, the
opposite is true.
Caffeine, which coffee has a lot of, is
a stimulant and not a relaxant. It helps
increase one’s work performance, but it
can also heighten stress and anxiety.
Caffeine has been proven to increase
stress hormones like cortisol and
neurotransmitters like norepinephrine in
the body. It is these stress hormones
that give us a sense of alertness, not
to mention an increased heart rate and
elevated blood pressure.
When stress hormones and brain chemicals
are released, concentration is enhanced,
strength and agility improved, and
reaction times become snappier. This is
mainly because the circulation is
diverted to the extremities, thus
allowing for heightened response and
concentration.
But when you combine a sedentary
lifestyle with a daily consumption of
more than 3 cups of coffee a day, you
keep your stress hormones level
constantly elevated. And when this
happens, the memory and concentration
enhancing effects of coffee is not
sustained because feelings of anxiety
and tension are now increasing. At the
same time, one’s fine motor coordination
gets impaired. Constant intake of
caffeine through coffee will
significantly increase cortisol and
norepinephrine production, triggering
the body’s stress response.
If you’re under the impression that
habitual coffee drinking will help you
develop a tolerance to caffeine and its
effects, well you’re wrong. The body
does not become immune to the caffeine,
nor will the increase in stress hormone
production be dampened.
Coffee may be your comfort food when
you’re stressed or feeling anxious, but
know that if you continuously chug down
on this caffeine-rich beverage, you’re
only going to make your stress and
anxiety worse. With this in mind, it is
best to keep your coffee consumption in
moderation.
Mark Walters is a part-time writer and a
part-time researcher. He is currently
self-studying various Far Eastern
languages and is an avid fiction reader.
He is currently writing articles
oriented towards consumers of
pharmaceutical products.
internetpharmacy is a reputable online
drug store and offers an array of health
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drugs.
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A lot of people believe that coffee helps them relax from
stress and anxiety. But the truth is, it does the opposite.
Caffeine in the coffee, which works as a stimulant,
increases stress hormone production, heightening the body’s
stress response.
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