Coffee is Good for You

Coffee is Good for You

Few people can imagine starting their day without a welcoming cup of coffee. The aroma, flavor, and comforting warmth are a friendly way to greet the morning. However, in addition to the enjoyment and the pick-up jolt, there are several additional advantages to that cup of coffee.

Boosts Metabolism

If you love coffee and drink it regularly, you may be pleased to know coffee has several health benefits. For starters, it helps boost the metabolism which helps in keeping weight off. One cup of black coffee contains only 1 to 2 calories depending on the size of your cup. It’s only after sugar and other sweeteners are added the calorie count starts to pile up! For example, A Venti Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks has 600 calories! Believe it or not, that is actually more than a McDonald’s Big Mac. So while coffee itself is a great “skinny” drink, beware of adding additional sugars and sweeteners.

Contains Nutrients

Coffee contains 21 essential nutrients including several B Vitamins, Manganese, and Potassium. Additionally, coffee has high levels of antioxidants. In fact, in the typical American diet coffee offers the highest source of antioxidants. In the brain, caffeine has the effect of increasing neurotransmitters that improve memory, mood, reaction times, energy levels and cognitive function.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

In several studies data shows coffee can help prevent several diseases and conditions. For example, in 18 different studies spanning over 450,000 people, results show coffee can reduce the risk of developing type II diabetes by as much as 50%! Other studies have shown coffee drinkers have a 65% lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Other studies have shown that caffeine has a direct effect in preventing Parkinson’s. Those studies have shown results ranging from 32%-60% lower risk. While there are currently no cures for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s, these studies more than indicate coffee can reduce the risk of contracting these neurodegenerative diseases in the first place.

Promotes a Healthy Liver

The liver is a busy organ in the human body responsible for carrying out a multitude of functions. There are several diseases that can attack the liver such as hepatitis and fatty liver disease, weakening and damaging this vital organ. Several of these diseases can result in cirrhosis in which the liver’s healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue. People who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day have an 80% lower risk of developing cirrhosis.

While this article highlights many health benefits of coffee, it is by no means an exhaustive list. That being said, it should be clear that there are many healthy reasons to drink coffee in addition to that welcoming pick-up in the morning.

How to Properly Store Your Coffee

How to Properly Store Your Coffee

Few things in life are as welcoming in the morning as a fresh cup of aromatic coffee. There is just something about the smell of it brewing and the taste of that first cup that really helps get the day off to the right start. That is why coffee enthusiasts have long debated about the best way to store coffee to preserve its freshness. Yes, freshness matters. How close you are to the roasting date is very important when it comes to coffee. For more on that see our article, “How Fresh is Your Coffee?”.

The four biggest enemies of coffee are air, moisture, heat, and light. Each of those elements will age your coffee at an accelerated pace, robbing the coffee of its full, rich flavor. That said, the best way to store coffee is in an opaque air-tight container, away from heat, light, and moisture. While we are immensely proud of the design and artwork of our American Patriot Coffee bags, for long-term storage the bag coffee comes in is not the best option. That is true of all coffee. Instead, purchase an airtight container to which you can transfer the coffee after opening the bag.

Where you store that airtight container also matters. Since heat and light are also enemies of your coffee’s flavor, be sure to keep it away from a sunny spot on the kitchen counter as well as the cupboard above the stove. The best way is to store coffee is to keep it at room temperature in a relatively dark place. Choose a countertop or cupboard as far away from heat as possible. As stated earlier the best container is an opaque one that doesn’t let in light.

Since heat is an enemy of coffee, many have chosen to store their coffee in the refrigerator or freezer. Those locations are not recommended since coffee is also harmed by moisture. Storing the coffee in a location that is too cool, can cause moisture to condensate inside your container, and ruin your coffee. Coffee is also hygroscopic (today’s bonus word). What that means is your coffee readily absorbs moisture and is prone to absorb all the odors and flavors in the surrounding air. We all know the refrigerator is a prime place for the existence of various smells and flavors. Between the onions, garlic, and last night’s leftovers, the last place you want to store coffee is in the refrigerator! Some have instead opted for the freezer, and while there is much debate about the wisdom of that practice, our advice is to not do it. Freezing the coffee adversely affects the natural oils in the coffee. Additionally, the coffee must thaw completely before brewing.  Best practice, keep out of the fridge and freezer!

If you store your coffee in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture, you will be able to enjoy your favorite roast for as long as is possible. How long does coffee retain it’s optimum freshness? See that article we mentioned above!

Keep an eye out for new articles to help you become a coffee expert!

HOW FRESH IS YOUR COFFEE?

HOW FRESH IS YOUR COFFEE?

Many factors affect how good or bad coffee tastes. When you brew up a batch it matters how close the coffee is to it’s roasting date. While all beans vary, most coffee is at it’s peak flavor between 5 days and 35 days after roasting. You must let coffee rest after roasting to eliminate the build-up of carbon dioxide from the roasting process. If you wait too long after roasting to brew coffee, then you will lose many of the aromatic flavors and the coffee will just be stale. We strive to make sure you receive your coffee during it’s peak flavor!

After 35 days the flavors and aromas in the beans start to fade. This is why coffee supplied to business offices by large services often has no taste, or just tastes lousy. The same may apply to coffee purchased at grocery chains. Unless they are roasting their own coffee, they offer coffee roasted by other companies. The coffee is shipped to warehouses where they may sit for a week or two before trucks then pick them up and deliver them to local stores. The delivery time from the warehouse to the store could be a few days to a week. Then, who knows how long it then sits in the storerooms at the local grocery store before being placed on the shelf for you to buy? By the time you get your coffee home from the store, it could already be past its peak flavor. You may only have a few days to a week left until the coffee has lost most of it’s flavor. Have you ever purchased coffee from the grocery store that is the same brand as one of your favorite coffee shops? Ever wonder why it just doesn’t taste the same? While the coffee shops may have fancier coffee machines than you have in your kitchen, the most important factor is the age of the coffee itself.

When you order from American Patriot Coffee Company, you will receive your coffee much closer to it’s roasting date, guaranteeing a more flavorful and aromatic cup of coffee!

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