genesis

let us end with the beginning: coffee came to our world as a drink of affluence. it was, as it is now, a symbol, and was used as a soothing treat in company, and an item to share. accordingly, its consumption began in the middle east, and spread from that point, the middle-east acting as the naval of the coffee world. like tea, it was quickly seen in palaces, and was used as a political gesture (*coffee was banned in Ottoman Turkey because it was believed to insite rebellion). coffee's otherworldly properties came to be known and loved across the globe, but can always be traced back to rural middle-eastern farmers. as the saying goes "Ethiopian shepherds discovered coffee when they realized their goats began to dance." --Michelle Ramadan

dilbert

supply and demand

in other news, popular demand for coffee has increased significant as Brazilian merchants are suffering a slight decrease in espresso production. Brazil has the primary market for these sales and shows that in the past three days alone, the contract value of coffee has risen a total of 11%. this is supply and demand at work: a reduced accessiblilty of the product calls for higher demand and payment from companies like Starbucks, who are forcasted to do rather well in the coming weeks.

even the smallest coffee fans are aware of the Starbucks frenzy; it began in Seattle in the 1970's, and since has become one of the largest companies in the industry. even Starbucks had to have began somewhere, and that somewhere is said to lie in their Pike Place Roast. when meanderind through a Starbucks coffee shop, it is often enlightening to take each of the espresso bean flavors and smell them heartily for their essence. it always seems like the Pike Place Roast is on the top shelf, with a small sign next to it as a tribute. it tells that the Pike Place Roast was the company's first product, and drew customers in with its smoothe and a result of the finest blending available. it rests in a humble package, with a black design bearing the Pike Place Market sign. ahh, the flavor calls...

coffee's partners

to some, coffee is an acquired taste. some prefer it's flavor bold and brash, while others like is soft and consistent. in that respect, it is related to wine. one must be willing to love wine to actually love wine. coffee is the same. similarly, it is known that specific flavors compliment specific drinks. while wine is typically seen accompanied by cheese and bread, coffee has a wide variety of partners. chocolate and coffee have always been lovers, hence the term "mocha", but it also matches well with bistro flavors; a sandwich, or a wrap, a salad or breaded treat (like a muffin, cookie, or scone) are frequents favorites that add art to the flavor.

caffeine and disease

a study by a group of scientists at Nayoga University has recently found that the consumption of caffeine can reduce the risk of getting type II diabetes. the disease, becoming more and more frequent as the years continue, now affect about six million of the US population. the study was performed upon lab rats, and revealed that rats given caffeine, as compared to mere water, showed an increase in insulin sensitivity, meaning that the body's natural medication is more effective. additionally, caffeine has shown to decrease a likelyhood to acquire Parkinson's disease and Colon cancer.

espressionism

while exploring the world wide web, i stumbled upon, perhaps, one of the most original art forms that has been documented. by its fans, it is called "espressionism", and is essentially painting with coffee. the artist, a Miss Karen, has been at her charge in painting since she was 14. in the years afterwards, she found herself immersed in baristas and rural coffee shops. as her career developed, spontaneous inspiration prompted her to dip her paintbrush in her beverage. take a look.

staple

an economically concious person knows a trend when they see one. it has come to the public's attention that carrying a coffee cup, whether Starbucks or otherwise, has developed into a status item. just like fashion and technology, having a beverage at hand works to imply affluence, though most coffee joints are not very costly. the standard drink is in a paper or styrofoam cup, not particularly distinct. many times, drinks are sought only for their label.

some more, please?

agreeably, coffee is refreshing. it is the warm comfort people seek, whether this is at break, when they arrive home, or when they finish an activity. though the drink is rumored to have its unpleasant effects, it's always nice to eye the positive. positive effects of caffine, after much study on behalf of the International Coffee Organization, caffine is firstly proven to, of course, increase alertness by increasing one's reaction time. this is because the drug narrows attention focus, thereby allowing someone to focus more intensely. further, as a result, information processing is also increased. currently under research is the theory that coffee improves the mood...

caffine: the most commenly used drug in the world

according to Peter Rogers, professor in the department of experimental psychology, at the University of Bristol, England, caffine, in a neurological sense, acts upon the central nervous system, affecting the neurotransmitters in the neurons that produce adenosine. adenosine affects the blood pressure, alertness, anxiety response, and sleepiness of the body. after experimenting on a select group of people with specific, controlled amount of caffine content, it was found that those given a caffine placebo (who had been accustomed to much higher doses in their daily routine) suffered an acute withdrawl: participants began to experience increased anxiety, sudden headaches, and some developed a "caffine hangover". Please view the study.

world's largest coffee mug

though the traditional serving of a hot beverage is a 12 oz. china cup, some people are never satisfied. thus began the world tour of the world's largest cup of coffee in December 2007. the cup held 3,604 liters of coffee (about 952 US gallons), created by Vinacafe Bien Hoa, Vietnam's #1 producer of coffee. the cup is composed of stainless steel, having a diameter of 2.33 meters, and a height of 1.53 meters, and provided over 30,000 cups of hot steamy brew to all who witnessed the unveiling.

McGuiness World Records

not-so-coordinated

some of us are not the most coordinated in our daily lives, but it never ceases to make us laugh when we hear about people dramatically tripping over their own feet, or running awkwardly into a stop sign mid-sentence. for some people, these accidents can almost be planned...like my mom, who had a habit of spilling her coffee on her lap at least four times a week during her morning commute. in recent news, in an attempt to rescue her beverage from the roof of her car, a woman ran over herself earlier this morning. accordingly, the woman stepped on her brakes and stepped out of the car, unbeknownst to her that the vehical was headed in reverse; this left her severly injured. lesson leared: conciousness keeps people more awake than coffee.

Vocabulary

to truly demonstrate a liking for something, you must know how to call for it. over the years, coffee's name has evolved; the once "cup 'o' joe" has acquired it's own nomenclature. it has developed so much that Starbucks essentially has its own language. derived from Italian, as it is rumored that the best coffee comes from dear Italia, the "coffee-shop dialect" takes some practice, and often seems like it would do best to offer costumers a pocket-sized translation guide. here's a selection of what it may include, from quicksilverweb.net. take a look.

thirsty?

"there's too much blood in the caffine system!"

sometimes, coffee just makes the world go 'round. it's one of those flavors, like chocolate or bacon that are extremely particular because they can't be satisfied by anything else. on some mornings, it's just a beverage to keep your hands warm on your way out the door, and on other days, it is that miracle remedy that opens your eyes when you'd rather be asleep. according to E-imports.com, people in the United States drink about 3.1 cups of coffee a day, and the international consumption of the beverage is dominated by Finland, also one of the leaders in dental hygene. who'da thought?