Multnomah County commissioners in Portland Oregon have joined New York, San Francisco and Seattle's King County and other cities making restaurants and coffee shops post calories and other health information on their menu boards.
This means calorie counts on menus or signboards near each item for easy reference. This way people can choose or not to know how many calories are in a particular food or drink.
The question I have: Do you really want to know how many calories are in a grande Café Mocha (300 with the whipped cream, or 260 without) or 500 calories in one slice of Meat pizza?
Eating healthy is important I know, but I’m not sure I’m ready for it being in my face. I know how to Google and I have a calorie book to look up when the mood strikes. So maybe I should give up the cappucino and go for espresso instead?
Anyone for Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar-Free Syrup-only 90 calories?
Not the usual grind,
A tip of the mug to Alexander Galanakis for the use of the photo
Filed under cappucino, coffee, espresso by The Coffee Guy
I smiled when I read the latest coffee study to come in. Researchers in Sydney at the Swimburne University of Technology used a Optalert.
The device worn like eyeglasses measures drowsiness by length of eye blinking and how fast the eyes close when blinking.
The researchers tested 18-29 year-olds for drowsiness. The age group was picked because of their high rate of auto accidents while drowsy.
The study wanted to prove or disprove the theory coffee could keep people from falling asleep while driving an auto. The group was divided in half with one group given a capsule of caffeine equal to two cups of coffee while the second group was given a placebo.
Both groups were tested using the Optalert. Those receiving the caffeine maintained alertness for about three hours with increased reaction time. Reaction time is what decreases so dramatically when we get tired. So drinking coffee, espresso or other caffeinated drink to avoid getting drowsy while driving works.
I understand the need for scientific validation as previous studies were not consistent in their results. But anyone who has ventured near University at exams would have drawn the same conclusion.
Not the usual grind,
Tip of the mug to the Times of India for the heads up on this one and for the use of the photo to Jean Scheijen
Filed under coffee, coffee news by The Coffee Guy
For those of us who stop at a local shop for our morning or afternoon "To Go" cup of coffee or espresso or whatever you choose to order, there's a whole lot of cups being used and thrown away. I found a site with some great suggestions. My thanks to the Planet Green folks over at Discovery.com for the following list of tips.
- The local brew
Seek out the coffee and tea that have traveled the least distance to reach you and also aim at supporting local, independent farms, cafés, and roasters.
- Mug Shots
Go ahead, find that perfect mug and make the investment. Not only is a reusable mug more pleasurable to sip out of than a paper cup, but it will replace an untold number of disposable cups, plastic sippy tops, “java jackets,” and other disposable paraphernalia. If you've got a thing for paper cups and Greek art, try a more durable "We Are Happy to Serve You", the handy-work of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill. Make a quick tally of how many disposable coffee or tea cups you use in a month…yeah, it’s probably a lot.
- Organic
Coffee and tea that bear organic certification are more eco-friendly because they are grown and processed without toxic chemicals, are cultivated and harvested in ways that protect sensitive ecosystems, and spare workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides. Shade grown coffee is another important category that preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms, also letting beans mature more slowly and creating richer flavors.
- Fair Trade
Not only does certified fair trade coffee and tea help ensure living wages and safe working conditions for farmers, but TransFair and Rainforest Alliance both include rigorous environmental standards in their certification criteria.
- Home brew
The local café is great. It’s got your friends, good food, free wireless. But if you think you can be greener in your own kitchen, give it a try. When you do it at home you know where the beans and leaves are coming from and also where they go when they’re spent. Plus, you can’t forget your mug, you can choose organic milk, and never toss out another paper sugar packet. Try a bit of quick math on the cost savings of making your morning cup-o-joe at home.
- Loosen up
Tea bags and coffee filters can be useful but are mostly unnecessary. Great coffee can be made at home with a reusable filter or a stovetop espresso maker. A quality tea infuser can last a lifetime and replace an untold number of (questionably compostable) tea bags. If you do use filters and bags, look for biodegradable and unbleached ones.
- Milk and sugar
Most people put one thing or another in their hot beverage of choice. Don’t foul up your organic, fair trade, bird friendly, solar roasted brew with chemical and hormone-laden milk and sugar from a little paper packet. If you don’t do the cow thing, look for organic rice, soy, or almond milk to yin up your yang. In the US, TransFair also certifies sugar, so even your sugar can be fair trade. (Maple syrup in coffee is another well-kept secret.)
- "Press" the issue
If the local coffee shop you love doesn’t carry coffee and tea that meet your standards, start asking politely. Starbucks has a universal policy under which they will brew a French press of fair trade coffee for anyone who asks.
- Compost the roast
Tea leaves and especially coffee grounds make outstanding compost. Coffee’s high nitrogen content has made it a fertilizer of choice since days of yore. Composting leaves and grounds helps keep organic waste out of landfills, makes great soil, and keeps waste baskets dry. If you don’t have a heap to toss it on, just spread coffee grounds on the top of your plants’ soil.
- Gift the good stuff
Organic coffee and tea make superb gifts for friends and coworkers, as well as effective peace offerings for estranged family members and ex-lovers. It’s also a great way to get people appreciating the many benefits of a “greener” coffee or tea habit.
Again my thanks to the people over at Planet green
Not the usual grind,
A tip of the mug to photographers Evangelos Vlasopoulos for the coffee cup with beans and to
Ali Farid for the use of the photos
Multnomah County commissioners in Portland Oregon have joined New York, San Francisco and Seattle's King County and other cities making restaurants and coffee shops post calories and other health information on their menu boards.
