Ways to Enjoy Coffee More Than Ever
These days 70% of Americans drink coffee every day and coffee fans are always on the lookout for new brews and coffee experiences. Worldwide, coffee is a $100 billion business with an estimated 500 billion cups of coffee drank every day. Whether you are downing a quick espresso to boost your energy in the morning, or sipping a latte after a ladies’ lunch, coffee is an integral part of modern life.
With so much love and demand for coffee, let's look at five ways to enjoy it more than ever.
1. Fresh! Fresh! Fresh!
As with most things in life, when it comes to coffee, the fresher the better! It is not always easy to detect if your beans are past their best, but if they are lacking in flavor and aroma, it is a good sign that they are not as fresh as they could be. The coffee enthusiasts at CoffeeDino.com believe that whilst dates on bags should serve as a decent guide to whether your beans are fresh or not, choosing locally roasted beans will make sure you are drinking your coffee at its absolute best. Private, independent roasters will roast beans in much smaller quantities than big coffee companies and so their beans will be much fresher when they get to you. Make sure you store your coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry area to maintain their freshness.
2. Think about the Best Times to Enjoy Coffee
We all have that friend who has been to Venice and tells us that cappuccino is a morning drink, or another who insists on an after dinner espresso at 11.30pm, but there are actually specific times that are better than others to drink coffee. It is all to do with cortisol, a hormone produced by our bodies in times of stress or anxiety and that acts as a natural alert system. As coffee can cause extra cortisol release, it is best to avoid drinking coffee during times when our cortisol levels are naturally at their highest, particularly if you are going through a particularly stressful time or have anxiety issues. Times to avoid coffee consumption are 8am-9am, 12pm-1pm, and 5.30-6.30pm.
3. Make Sure you Balance Coffee Consumption with Water Consumption
Not drinking enough water is an issue for everybody, not just coffee drinkers, but it is particularly important for people who do drink a lot of coffee to balance coffee and water consumption. The caffeine found in coffee and soda causes an increase in visits to the bathroom and may make us sweat more, which means we lose a lot of water from our bodies. It is vital to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are a big coffee drinker. Dehydration can cause headaches, dizziness and tiredness, so if you want to keep enjoying coffee throughout the day, maintain your water intake too.
4. Small Frequent Cups to Get the Most Out of Your Coffee
Whilst many of us need that first big mug in the morning to wake us up and kick start our day, the benefits of caffeine are actually more potent if you consume small cups regularly throughout the day. Although it may be tempting to indulge in one huge mug in the morning, you may not be getting the most out of your caffeine kick. Some scientists recommend that it is better to drink a small cup of coffee every couple of hours to reap all the benefits that caffeine provides. This will help to keep you mentally sharp, focused and energetic.
5. Drink Coffee Before Naps
It might sound crazy, but studies have shown that drinking a small amount of coffee before a thirty minutes nap will actually supercharge the effects of the nap. It will take about this amount of time for the effects of the caffeine to kick in, so when you wake up, you will be both refreshed and energized. This can be very advantageous if you work two jobs and like to get a little shut eye between them, or if you need a little rest between the gym and picking the kids up from school.
Coffee is such an integral part of our lives and for many people it is the fuel that keeps them going. With coffee consumption showing no signs of slowing down, let’s get the absolute most out of every cup. With these simple tips, every coffee drinker can continue to reap the wonderful benefits of coffee, no matter their brew of choice.
