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

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

Top Green Coffee & Tea Tips

Sumatra is one of the islands in Indonesia is the sixth largest island in the world. Long an ideal place for growing coffee it has had coffee growers using organic methods for many years. Some time ago Forestrade an organization which markets organic foodstuffs gathered together the organic coffee growers in the northern part of Sumatra.

Forestrade helped the growers develop standards so their organic coffee beans would be widely accepted throughout the world. The northern area is also known as Gayoland or Mandheling after the tribes who lived in the area. The Sumatra Gayoland Coffee brand has become well know for their specialty coffee.

Gayoland coffee has a sweet almost fruit like flavor. But its boldness will let it be a great finish to a grilled steak or venison.

If you are drinking a full bodied red, then this coffee will finish the meal with style. It's bold yet smooth and its flavor won't get lost. Pair with a great cigar to finish the evening.

Hand roasted by Finger Lakes Coffee in Upstate New York, Sumatra Gayoland Coffee is sure to please.

Not the usual grind,

Did you know:

• Coffee was used as a murder weapon in New York. A man poisoned his soon to be ex-wife's coffee with cyanide.
• If you are female and drink 3 or more cups of coffee a day, you could be shrinking your breast size. (I didn't make this one up. It's a real study done in Sweden at Lund University.)  Better news from that study, if you have a certain variation of a gene (50% of women have it) then coffee can reduce the risk of breast cancer by as much as 2/3. Seems coffee counteracts the hormone effects on the breast tissue.
  • Limit the amount of coffee you drink if you're pregnant. If you have two or more cups a day, the odds are higher you'll have a low birthweight baby.
  • Starbuck's is giving away coffee if you vote. Honor system. But the state of California considers it be be a bribe since food can be an influencer of voting. California evidently took a donut shop to task 20 years ago.
  • Jeremy Clarkson in the UK TImes Online is convinced coffee drinking countries are staying on top. He despairs of the UK tea drinkers saying,
    

  " Because when you stop and think about it, how many French or Italian banks have gone bust? And while we  wobble, Spain’s Santander bank is stalking the globe like one of the country’s gigantic trawlers, sucking up the broken minnows.  This is because they are all coffee drinkers. They wake up, have an espresso; then, invigorated, they go to work quite literally full of beans.  We, on the other hand, expect to be able to operate on a stomach full of wet leaves. Tea, in actual fact, caused our banking crisis.

  • McDonalds in the Ozarks (Missouri to the rest of us) is offering free coffee to those making donations to the Ozarks Food Harvest food bank. Bring a non perishable item and you'll receive a small regular or gourmet coffee of your choice.
  • If you happen to be up in Maine, not Down Maine on the coast drop by the University of Maine.  The University of Maine at Orono holds an International Coffee Hour every Friday at 4 p.m. in Memorial Union's North Dining Room. This past week they celebrated Guy Fawkes Day(which is actually November 3rd.) Hosted by the International Students Association, you'll meet some people from different cultures and have some coffee as well.
  • From Gillian Hurst Down Under at the CourierMail.au here's a recipe for espresso granita.

  To make your own all you need is 350ml of strong espresso (not instant coffee), about a tablespoon of sugar and 250ml of whipping cream whipped together with a few teaspoons of vanilla sugar. Simply dissolve the sugar into the coffee and place the sweetened coffee into ice-cube trays and freeze. When frozen place the cubes into a food processor and blend.Return to the freezer until required. Serve with the lightly whipped Chantilly cream.

  That's all the news for today. I'm expecting my Sumatra Gayoland Coffee today. Will let you know how it brews.

  Not the usual grind,

• 

Tip of the mug to Woodsy for the use of the photo

Visiting the Gilkatho site I again remembered the great espresso I had experienced with Jura Capresso machines. The machines are well-designed and touch button easy to operate. Jura offers everything from the Jura Capresso mini s Espresso Machine to the Jura-Capresso IMPRESSA Z6 Coffee/Espresso Machine When you are ready for espresso made to perfection then Jura is the choice for you.

As the weather heats up, this cool and creamy coffee beverage is a great way to chill out! (Down Under they're wanting to chill out, while up here we're looking for ways to warm up!)

- Double espresso (40ml)
- 1 to 1 sugar ratio (bring to a boil and then let cool
- Crushed hazelnuts
- Fresh juice from two passion fruits.
- 50ml cold cream
- crushed ice
- 2 tsp honey

- Champagne glass
- Two shakers

Start by dipping the rum of the glass into the sugar water, and then into the hazelnuts. Mix the double shot, passion fruit juice and crushed ice together in a shaker. Let stand briefly and then pour the contents into the glass. Place honey, cream and crushed ice in a separate shaker. Shake briefly and then pour slowly into the glass.

This is on my list of recipes to try. For now I'll just put a log on the fire and find a special someone to cozy up.

Tip of the mug to Gilkatho for the recipe Cool Passion.

You know I enjoy finding information and tips about coffee. This news tip was sent to me by  JavaBoy.  It seems when someone holds a warm drink in their hand (Coffee anyone?) their response to another person is much more likely to be favorable.

This seems to be a follow up to the psychology section at University where baby monkeys received a heated cloth as a mother substitute. The warmth of the cloth translated into emotional warmth or closeness. Didn't seem to matter whether the outside temperature was hot or cold. The feeling of connection still was there.

It seems people connect the physical sensation of warmth to the emotional evaluation of a relationship. This connection of warmth to social relationships was established through several studies conducted in the early 1940's.

The takeaway from this study in Science? If you want someone to consider you in a favorable light, offer them a cup of hot coffee.  So if you're having a first date, you may want to go for coffee instead of drinks.

If you want to slow down a relationship or making a quick decision, then have an iced beverage.  (Ice coffee, anyone?)

Not the usual grind,

Thanks to JavaBoy for the heads up, the use of the photo from Martin Boulanger and the details of the study  from BBC

This is probably part of the upheaval and uncertainty of the financial markets. And that's not just across the pond. For many of us it means we're not stopping at the local coffee shop on our way to the office.

Smart shoppers are finding ways to still have their coffee every day and keep their budgets in trim as well.

I'm having a great time playing with the recipes over at Gourmet Sleuth.  Jillian loved her Carmel Macchiato.

I just wanted to share another with you. For a gathering of friends try iced coffee Constantine. It's a perfect drink for those autumn days. The cardamon and cinnamon just fit the crisp mornings and warm afternoons.  I'm planning on serving it this weekend. Have some friends coming over for an evening of cards. Enjoy!

Starbucks Iced Constantine Coffee
These are copycat recipes and not the actual propriety recipe that is property of Starbucks.

I N G R E D I E N T S
2/3 cup ground dark roast coffee
4 cinnamon sticks, crushed or broken into small pieces
6 cups water
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
2/3 cup honey
Ice cubes
Half-and-half or milk

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Mix together the coffee and cinnamon sticks. Using the coffee-cinnamon mixture and the water, brew coffee by your customary brewing method. Add the cardamom and honey to the hot coffee and stir until the honey dissolves. Cover and chill.

To serve, fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour about 2/3 cup chilled coffee into each glass. Pass the half-and-half or milk.

Serves 8.

Not the usual grind,

A tip of the mug to The Press Association for the heads up and dj eyewater for the use of the photo

And to the folks at Gourmet Sleuth many thanks.

I found this website called Gourmet Sleuth. The person must be a chemist as he or she breaks down recipes so a person can recreate all the drinks and recipes at home.

And the recipes are right on-at least the coffee ones.  So I got Jillian the ingredients for her favorite coffee drink including Starbucks Vanilla Syrup and Carmel Sauce, added some illy  my favorite Italian espresso and took it over to her house.   I also added the recipe in the package.

Jillian was thrilled and so am I.  I'm not cooking dinner tonight, Jillian is.

Here's the recipe from Gourmet Sleuth.

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

Serves: 1

I N G R E D I E N T S
2 tablespoons Starbucks' Vanilla Syrup
1/2 cup fresh brewed espresso
8 ounces steamed milk
3 to 4 tablespoons Starbucks' Caramel Sauce

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Add vanilla syrup to 16oz glass.  Add steamed milk and caramel sauce and stir well.

Not the usual grind,

Tip of the mug to the Gourmet Sleuth

But this week the news wire brought new meaning to coffee taste. It seems a woman in Iowa had a bat flying in her house but wasn't overly concerned. I don't know about you but a bat inside my house is one too many for me.

The woman went to sleep and next morning made her morning coffee and headed out to work. That night when she returned home she cleaned out the coffee maker. Seems the bat had settled down for a nap in the preset filter. I suppose coffee grounds can make a comfy bed. The bat was cooked, she ended up having rabies shots. Tip: If you see a bat in your house show them the door.

But according to Michael Pollick bats and coffee have a connection. Bats like to live in caves near the coffee fields. The bats eat the insects which normally eat the coffee berries so the bats help out and limit the amount of pesticides needed. The bat poop enriches the soil and fertilizes the plants. A win-win for all.

So in this month of October with Halloween and the autumn season, keep an eye out for bats in your coffee.

Not the usual grind,

A tip of the mug to Cindy Hadish, Lynne Lancaster for the bat graphic and Michael Pollick for the heads up on bats.