Tuesday, October 30, 2012

COFFEE & EXERCISE


We often drink coffee to give us our morning jolt of caffeine and energy for the day. So how effective is drinking coffee right before a big workout? Does it make you work harder? Can it help or hinder certain exercises? Lisa Ng, of C the Coffee Blog, asked April Saunders and Michelle Saraiva, registered dieticians with GetRealGurls Nutrition a few questions regarding the link between the two:

How does drinking coffee before exercise affect the body?
Caffeine found in coffee can stimulate your nervous system, which enhances alertness, awareness, wakefulness, endurance, productivity, and motivation. Caffeine can also cause increased blood pressure and heart rate. Studies show that it may also help decrease your feelings of tiredness or exertion while working out for long periods of time.

Can coffee improve my workout?
A few studies have shown that it may help to increase physical endurance (i.e. long distance running) and can help you feel more alert/less tired during your workout. More research needs to be done, however, for us to confidently recommend coffee as something to help improve workouts (currently research shows it can improve performance by about 4-6%).

Is it possible to have too much coffee before exercising?
Research has shown that 2-10 mg/kg body weight of caffeine a day is what worked. To put this into perspective, someone who weighs 130 lbs (59 kg) would need about 120 mg of caffeine, or one cup of coffee on the lower end, to experience some sort of workout-boosting effect.
However, too much caffeine can lead for certain people to certain side effects like anxiety, jitteriness, rapid heartbeat, gastrointestinal distress and insomnia. If you are going to use coffee to enhance your performance, make sure you use it all throughout training and not just the day of the big race!

What about staying hydrated?
We all know that hydrating properly, especially when working out, is a must. You may have heard that coffee is a diuretic (something that causes the body to lose water). However, new evidence shows that coffee, when used in moderation, does not cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.

Is there an optimal time to drink coffee before a workout?
The optimal window seems to be about one hour before you exercise. This will give the caffeine time to enter your system prior to your workout.
So there you have it! Drinking a cup of coffee at least one hour before working out is ideal, and it is best to do so in moderation to avoid any caffeine-related side effects. Coffee is most likely to increase your long-term physical endurance.

The Kona Cowboy Coffee Company can get your exercise regimen going with our three brands of gourmet coffees.  You’ll get a real kick start with PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee, grown on Hawaiian volcanoes and roasted in the Rocky Mountains, the one with no bitter aftertaste and no acidity.  CAFÉ PINON de Nuevo Mexico is the Southwest’s favorite with pinion nuts and a perfect way to relax after exercise.  And our MOKA-JAVA is a medium dark roasted blend of Indonesian and Ethiopian coffees that will knock your athletic socks off!  We also make COWBOY ACTION COFFEE, the Official Coffee of the Single Action Shooting Society! 

The purpose of this blog is to unite Kona coffee lovers and perhaps learn a little about coffee and all the benefits of coffee at the same time.  Join up, become a member, comment and have fun!  You can find the Kona Coffee Fiends group on Facebook and we’d appreciate it if Facebook users would “LIKE” the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kona-Cowboy-Coffee-Company/222070817858553.  Just copy and paste to your browser.  You can also find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/jackshuster.  And on the web at www.KonaCowboyCoffee.com to order your gourmet coffee and coffee products.

Look for the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s Cowboy Coffee Saloon in New Mexico at the Ruidoso Evening Lions Gun Show, November 3-4 and at the Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee, November 9-11 at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

You know you’re a coffee fiend when the nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse!  So enjoy your coffee, make it Kona, and remember, Kona is the home of the Hawaiian cowboy…and we had cowboys in Kona before there were cowboys in Texas!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

UMMM, ELEPHANT DUNG COFFEE


I just read in daily Coffee News from Roast magazine that an upscale resort company in Thailand, Anantara, is selling coffee harvested from the natural waste of elephants for upwards of $50 a cup.  NO, keep reading, as a coffee fiend you should know that.

The coffee supplants Kopi Luwak (palm civet) coffee as the world’s most expensive.  Anantara has produced approximately 50 kilograms of the coffee, with a retail price of approximately $1,100 per kilogram, at its resort locations in South Male, Baa Atolls and Thailand.  Anantara is calling the coffee, Thai-grown arabica beans hand-picked from the dung of elephants, Black Ivory.  Here’s what the company said in an announcement of the product:  

Research indicates that during digestion, the enzymes of the elephant break down coffee protein.  Since protein is one of the main factors responsible for bitterness in coffee, less protein means almost no bitterness.

The process begins with selecting the best Thai Arabica beans that have been picked from an altitude of 1,500 meters.  Once deposited by the elephant, the individual beans are handpicked by mahouts (elephant trainer and caregiver) and their wives and sundried.  Now there is a career in coffee that I hadn’t anticipated!

Of course, with such a labor-intensive production process, the company says it is naturally taking the utmost care in brewing, using a siphon method. It should be noted that the beans are being roasted to a full city.

In order to demonstrate freshness and to enhance diners’ senses, the coffee is ground by hand at the table and brewed using technology developed in 1840 in Austria.  This balancing siphon is not only a beautiful machine, but also widely recognized as the best way to brew coffee.  The consistent 93° Celsius temperature and contact time between water and bean result in a very clean and flavorful taste.  The four minute brewing process is visually enticing and leaves a lasting impression.  I’ll bet!

Please note:  The Kona Cowboy Coffee Company will not add Elephant Dung Coffee to our three brands of gourmet coffees.  You’ll just have to be content with PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee, grown on Hawaiian volcanoes and roasted in the Rocky Mountains, the one with no bitter aftertaste, no acidity and no elephants.  CAFÉ PINON de Nuevo Mexico is the Southwest’s favorite with pinion nuts and without elephants.  And our MOKA-JAVA is a medium dark roasted blend of Indonesian and Ethiopian coffees that will knock your socks off…without elephants even though you’ll probably find them in both Ethiopia and Indonesia!  We also make COWBOY ACTION COFFEE, the Official Coffee of the Single Action Shooting Society!  But we don’t shoot elephants.

The purpose of this blog is to unite Kona coffee lovers and perhaps learn a little about coffee and all the benefits of coffee at the same time.  Join up, become a member, comment and have fun!  You can find the Kona Coffee Fiends group on Facebook and we’d appreciate it if Facebook users would “LIKE” the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kona-Cowboy-Coffee-Company/222070817858553.  Just copy and paste to your browser.  You can also find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/jackshuster.  And on the web at www.KonaCowboyCoffee.com to order your gourmet coffee and coffee products.

Look for the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s Cowboy Coffee Saloon in New Mexico at the Ruidoso Evening Lions Gun Show, November 3-4 and at the Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee, November 9-11 at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

You know you’re a coffee fiend when you chew on other people's fingernails!  So enjoy your coffee, make it Kona, and remember, Kona is the home of the Hawaiian cowboy…and we had cowboys in Kona before there were cowboys in Texas!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

TRY THIS COFFEE DRINK AT HOME


Got two questions for you, coffee fiend.  What is the best coffee drink on the coffee menu at your favorite coffee shop?   Have you ever tried to duplicate it at home?  I know, lots of coffee shops have different specialties so answering a question like this will depend on a few factors such as the coffee bar, the barista, the coffee and many other factors. I found in a post on Coffee Cup News a brief description of the top 20 coffee drinks and what makes them good.  You might find yours here and with the ingredients listed, you might try it at home.

Top 18 Coffee Menu Drinks from Coffee Cup News are…

 

Espresso – Finely ground coffee with hot water poured through the coffee at under pressure.
Americano – Hot water and espresso
Drip Coffee – Ground coffee with hot water poured through a paper or metal filter.  This is how most folks brew coffee.
Pour Over – Ground coffee, hot water poured through a paper or metal filter by hand.
French Press – Coarse ground coffee fully immersed in hot water for 4 minutes.
Cafe Mocha – Dark or milk chocolate, espresso, steamed milk and whipped cream with chocolate on top.

White Mocha – White chocolate, espresso, steamed milk and whipped cream on top.
Latte – Steamed milk and espresso shots.

Vanilla Latte (Flavored Latte) – Steamed milk, espresso and vanilla syrup (or other syrup).
Espresso Macchiato – Espresso shots with milk/foam on top.
Espresso Con Panna – Espresso topped with whipped cream.
Blended Coffee Drink – Coffee or Espresso, milk, syrup of choice and iced all blended together (whipped cream and sauce on top optional).
Cappuccino – Extra foamy steamed milk, espresso.
Iced Espresso Drinks – Espresso, milk, syrup of choice and whipped cream optional.   And, uh, ice.
Caramel Macchiato – Steamed milk, espresso, vanilla syrup and caramel sauce.

Cinnamon Dolce Latte – Steamed milk, espresso, cinnamon dolce syrup, whipped cream and cinnamon dolce sprinkles.

Turtle Mocha – Chocolate, steamed milk, espresso, caramel, whipped cream and Snickers bits.  No turtles are harmed in the making of this drink.

Berry Mocha – Chocolate, steamed milk, espresso, berry syrup, whipped cream and chocolate chips.

Did we forget to include your favorite drink in the above list?  Let us know what it is.
You can be sure that whatever coffee drink you make will be the very best when you use the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s major brands.  PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee, grown on Hawaiian volcanoes and roasted in the Rocky Mountains, is the one with no bitter aftertaste and no acidity.  CAFÉ PINON de Nuevo Mexico is the Southwest’s favorite with pinion nuts.  And our new MOKA-JAVA is a medium dark roasted blend of Indonesian and Ethiopian coffees that will knock your socks off!  We also make COWBOY ACTION COFFEE, the Official Coffee of the Single Action Shooting Society!

The purpose of this blog is to unite Kona coffee lovers and perhaps learn a little about coffee and all the benefits of coffee at the same time.  Join up, become a member, comment and have fun!  You can find the Kona Coffee Fiends group on Facebook and we’d appreciate it if Facebook users would “LIKE” the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kona-Cowboy-Coffee-Company/222070817858553.  Just copy and paste to your browser.  You can also find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/jackshuster.  And on the web at www.KonaCowboyCoffee.com to order your gourmet coffee and coffee products.

Look for the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s Cowboy Coffee Saloon in New Mexico at the Ruidoso Oktoberfest, October 19-20 at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

You know you’re a coffee fiend when your eyes stay open when you sneeze!  So enjoy your coffee, make it Kona, and remember, Kona is the home of the Hawaiian cowboy…and we had cowboys in Kona before there were cowboys in Texas!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

WHAT EXACTLY IS COFFEE?


It’s a term we coffee drinkers use all the time to describe our favorite beverage.  And to carry it to the ultimate description, we turn to Lindsey Goodwin, an About.com Guide.  To begin, the coffee plant is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is a tropical shrub or tree that originated in Africa and is currently produced in many of the world's hotter climates, including South America, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii and parts of Asia. While the C. arabica species produces better coffee, the C. canephora species (which is frequently referred to as "Robusta coffee") is more common. The coffee seed, or "coffee bean," comes from the coffee berry, or "coffee cherry."

Coffees made by your beloved Kona Cowboy Coffee Company include PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee…an estate grown Kona Coffee from the western side of Mauna Loa volcano on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i.  Our CAFÉ PINON de Nuevo Mexico is made from a blend of Central American coffees fused with Pinion, or Pine Nuts.  Our newest MOKA-JAVA is a full-bodied blend of Ethiopian and Indonesian.  So, you see, we have the best available from Africa, Central America, Hawaii and Asian Pacific.  And it is all the best Arabica, too!

Definition: "Coffee" generally refers to a beverage made by the infusion, decoction or percolation of the roasted, ground seeds of the coffee plant* (genus Coffea, and usually C. arabica or C. canephora / C. robusta). Coffee is prized for its aroma and flavor, and is noted for the fact that it naturally contains varying levels of caffeine. In coffee cupping, traits of coffee like “acidity” and “mouth feel” are also noted.

In business or culinary terminology, "coffee" may also refer to coffee seeds (commonly called "coffee beans") in their wet, dry, raw, roasted, whole, ground / crushed or dehydrated state. (Used or unused ground coffee is typically referred to as "coffee grounds." Dehydrated coffee is used to prepare instant coffee.)

In coffeehouses, cafes and restaurants, the word "coffee" may also refer to a single cup of coffee, as in, "I'd like a coffee with milk, please."

In social situations, "coffee" may refer to a casual gathering or meeting, as in, "Let's grab a coffee [and chat]."

In design and the arts, "coffee" may refer to a dark brown color. Similarly, "espresso" may be used to refer to an even darker brown color.
Now you know far more than you thought you did, right?
The purpose of this blog is to unite Kona coffee lovers and perhaps learn a little about coffee and all the benefits of coffee at the same time.  Join up, become a member, comment and have fun!  You can find the Kona Coffee Fiends group on Facebook and we’d appreciate it if Facebook users would “LIKE” the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kona-Cowboy-Coffee-Company/222070817858553.  Just copy and paste to your browser.  You can also find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/jackshuster.  And on the web at www.KonaCowboyCoffee.com to order your gourmet coffee and coffee products.

Look for the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s Cowboy Coffee Saloon in New Mexico at the world-famous Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, October 12-14 at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and at the Ruidoso Oktoberfest, October 19-20 at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

You know you’re a coffee fiend when you're the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don't even work there!  So enjoy your coffee, make it Kona, and remember, Kona is the home of the Hawaiian cowboy…and we had cowboys in Kona before there were cowboys in Texas!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST COFFEE EVER!


Finally got home from the Midwest and got the old computer up and running after a remarkable crash.  The Sparta, IL experience was great!  Found the Top 10 Coffee Tips from Coffee Cup News and thought I’d pass them along.  If you implement this list of coffee tips into your daily coffee making routine you will get the best tasting cup of coffee you have ever had!

Tip 1: Whole Bean

The best place to start with the beans. When you go to the grocery store pre ground may sound easier but once coffee is ground it loses 90% of its flavor in the first 20 minutes. Starting with whole-bean increases the coffee’s ability to hold on to its flavor by well over 14,000%. Yes that is a real number, crazy huh?  We suggest you start with PANIOLA 1090% Kona Cowboy Coffee in regular or dark, espresso roast.

Tip 2: Fresh Ground

Now that you have started with whole-bean Kona it’s time to grind fresh! When we say fresh ground we mean fresh.  Don’t start grinding the coffee until right before brew time, making it the last step you take before you brew.  Otherwise every second the coffee sits in its ground form it is exposed to oxygen which is the biggest flavor destroyer of coffee.

Tip 3: Burr Grinder

A blade grinder is the most common way to grind coffee at home. The problem is a blade grind doesn’t provide for a consistent grind. A burr grinder grades the beans all to the same size. This allows the water to saturate the coffee evenly providing for a more even, smooth and true cup of coffee.

Tip 4: Filtered Water

Filtered water is one of the most important tips in brewing the best coffee ever. Any impurities in the water will affect the flavor of the finished cup. Since coffee is 98 % water it will be obvious if the water wasn’t filtered.  We buy bottled drinking water in gallon jugs from the big box store.  Our municipal water hasn’t been right since the Little Bear fire!

Tip 5: Air Tight Storage

Like I mentioned earlier oxygen is the biggest destroyer of coffee’s awesome flavor. The longer it stays in direct contact with it the more flavor breaks down. Using an air tight storage container will help preserve the coffee’s flavor.

 

Bonus Coffee Tip

You’ve heard us say it before and we’ll say it again…do not store coffee in the freezer or fridge.  Taking it out results in condensation and you’ve got to keep your coffee…and your gunpowder…dry.

Tip 6: No Sugar

If you have to add sugar to your coffee it’s because the coffee isn’t good. So before you put sugar in your coffee give the coffee a sip. If what you’re tasting is good, don’t add sugar. Sugar covers your taste buds and prevents you from enjoying the true flavor.  If your coffee tastes bad get a different whole-bean coffee next time.  Switch to PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee (shameless plug)  If you like your coffee sweet…well…add cream and sugar.

Tip 7: Try New Things

The only way to really know what you like is to try new coffees. This is something many coffee aficianados practice religiously.  You might and find some really amazing coffees!  Such as PANIOLA 100% Kona Cowboy Coffee.

Tip 8: Clean Coffee Maker

Calcium deposits will ruin the flavor of your coffee. This happens over time as you brew coffee and using unfiltered water only makes it worse. Decalcifying with vinegar works wonders doing it at least once a month.

Tip 9: Water Temperature

When you brew coffee the perfect water temperature is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure the proper extraction of the flavor from the coffee.  Don’t test it with your finger.

Bonus Tip

Proportion of coffee to water is equally important. I recommend starting with a ratio of 6oz of water to a tablespoon of coffee and adjusting to taste.

Tip 10: Coffee Diary

Keeping a coffee diary might sound like the final coffee fiend step but it’s really helpful in tracking how to brew the best tasting cup of coffee ever in the future. When you track things like proportions, grind setting, water temperature and brew style it really helps give you a clear indication of what to do next time to get that perfect cup.

How do YOU brew your perfect cup of coffee?

The purpose of this blog is to unite Kona coffee lovers and perhaps learn a little about coffee and all the benefits of coffee at the same time.  Join up, become a member, comment and have fun!  You can find the Kona Coffee Fiends group on Facebook and we’d appreciate it if Facebook users would “LIKE” the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company page at  www.facebook.com/pages/Kona-Cowboy-Coffee-Company/222070817858553.  Just copy and paste to your browser.  You can also find us on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/#!/jackshuster.  And on the web at www.KonaCowboyCoffee.com to order your gourmet coffee and coffee products.

Look for the Kona Cowboy Coffee Company’s Cowboy Coffee Saloon at the Ruidoso Oktoberfest, October 12-13 at the Ruidoso (NM) Convention Center.

You know you’re a coffee fiend when you lick your coffeepot clean!  So enjoy your coffee, make it Kona, and remember, Kona is the home of the Hawaiian cowboy…and we had cowboys in Kona before there were cowboys in Texas!