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Drinking Coffee, Decaf or Not, Has Health Benefits

Leta Shy — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:51:01 PDT

The benefits and risks of coffee are often debated, but a new study has found that coffee drinkers may be better off sticking to that cup of joe: in fact, having two cups of coffee a day may just help you live longer - even if it's decaf.

The latest coffee study followed 400,000 healthy older men and women and is the largest study to ever look at the benefits and risks of coffee. Of the study group, 42,000 did not drink any coffee, about 15,000 drank more than six cups a day, and the remaining study participants averaged two to three cups. After following the group for almost two decades, researchers found that those who drank coffee lived longer than those who didn't; men who drank two to three cups of coffee were 10 percent less likely to die at any age, and women who drank the same amount were 13 percent less likely to die at any age. The biggest risk reduction was seen in women who drank four to five cups a day.

The findings aren't a reason to force yourself to drink coffee; after all, the benefits are small, and too much caffeine can make you feel wired, anxious, or irritable, and may increase your risk of heart conditions. But the good news is that the study didn't find any differences between drinking decaf and regular coffee, so if you're a coffee fan but hate that wired feeling you get when you drink too much, have a cup of decaf in the afternoon - it just may help you live longer. (And if you don't like coffee, there's always green tea!)

4 Coffee Break Tips to Boost Your Energy (It's Not Just About Caffeine!)

Self — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:15:34 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Are the words "coffee break" kind of an oxymoron to you? Probably so if you are just guzzling your grande while you are still at your desk and barely even looking up from your work. While it's true that caffeine can provide you with a jolt of energy, taking an actual break to enjoy your coffee could be the key to getting a better energy buzz from your cup of joe.

The folks at Gevalia introduced me to the idea of fika, the traditional Swedish coffee break that Swedes take two times per day to enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack. Self has reported that taking a true coffee break can leave you feeling happier and more sociable. I thought the idea sounded interesting and I gave it a try for myself and found that I felt more energized from the combination of stepping away from my work and drinking the coffee than I normally do from just downing my java on the go. Read on for some ways you can enjoy a fika of your own.

Try This Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe at Home

Susannah Chen — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:31:42 PDT

Even though warmer weather is on the horizon, we're still faced with chilly Spring mornings. What better way to warm up than with a comforting spiced coffee drink? You'd be surprised to find out just how simple the hot beverage is to prepare at home. Watch the video to find out how to make it!

Why Does the Cost of Iced Coffee Keep Increasing?

Business Insider — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:15:42 PDT

Why on earth does your iced coffee keep getting more expensive? Business Insider shares the reason for the rising cost.

If you've ever wondered why your iced coffee costs more each year, Kurt Soller at New York Magazine's Grub Street has finally gotten to the bottom of it.

Adding ice to regular coffee may seem simple on its face, but a lot more is factored into the costs than the price of the beans.

Here's Soller's breakdown:

1. Many coffee shops skip the easy add-ice method and use a special cold brew, which involves pulverizing coffee beans with water and diluting it, ultimately requiring twice as much ground coffee.

2. The price of the clear plastic cups or compostable cups used for the drinks depends on the corn and petroleum markets because of their material. Overall, those cups can cost twice as much as the regular paper cups used for hot brews.

3. The increased use of straws and napkins increase the coffee's paper costs by about 20 percent, one coffee shop owner told Soller.

4. And lastly, the ice machine itself costs about an extra $12 per day.

In the end, shops wind up charging at least $3 per cup to meet their demands and turn a profit.

Now's a good chance to knock your caffeine addiction and save yourself an extra $20 per week, but if that's a little too extreme, here's another option: try signing up for a rewards card at your favorite coffee shop.

Check out these smart Business Insider stories:

The Best Alternatives to Paying For Cable

Focus on Quality Brands That Hold Up Over Time

Thirteen Things You Can Stop Wasting Money On

This Is the Most Expensive Drink You Can Possibly Get at Starbucks

Source: Flickr User Marco Arment

Get Creative With Your Cup of Coffee

Camilla Salem — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:40:29 PDT

Your morning cup of coffee may be sacred, but every once in a while, it's good to shake things up and get creative. Cream and sugar are always going to be there for you, so why not try something new? Spice up your coffee (or spike it up) with interesting additions and mix-ins.

Try adding spices to the coffee grounds before brewing. Cinnamon and nutmeg are common additions. If you're looking for a more intense experience, sprinkle a little bit of cayenne pepper in the grounds to give your coffee a spicy kick.
Add a cardamom pod to your hot pot of coffee to give it a distinct flavor, as is often done with Turkish coffee. Alternatively, you can use ground cardamom in the grounds as suggested above.
Use different milks. Cream is always going to be there, but you may be surprised by how almond milk and coconut milk can transform a cup of joe.
Those fancy syrups aren't just for baristas. You can play around with flavoring in your home-brewed coffee by adding a few drops of your favorite syrup.
Whipped cream isn't exclusive to hot chocolate. In fact, I actually prefer it on coffee. It acts as the cream and the sugar, yet it's so much more fun!
Have fun mixing your favorite liqueurs into your coffee. Try Baileys, Amaretto, Frangelico, Godiva, rum, brandy . . . The list goes on and on!

How do you take your coffee?

Coffee Break: A Look Into the World of Coffeemakers

Camilla Salem — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:29:36 PDT

A good cup of joe signifies the start of a new day, a well-deserved break, the end of a great meal, and so much more. Coffee is most definitely an important component in many cultures. With that comes an abundance of different types of coffeemakers. If you've ever been curious about the functionality of these different brewers, you've come to the right place. Click through to learn about coffeemakers in every shape and size.

Single-Serving Coffeemakers: Friend or Foe?

Camilla Salem — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:57:56 PST

The days of measuring out coffee grounds into a paper filter may be coming to an end, especially now that Starbucks is hopping on the single-serving coffeemaker bandwagon. While there are many conveniences of dropping a coffee pod into a machine and simply pressing a button, some of the romance associated with the morning cup of coffee has gone by the wayside. That said, we love our office Keurig. To take a look at some of the pros and cons of these high-tech java-makers and to share your opinion, just keep reading.

Coffee For Kids: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:33:43 PST

Caffeine fiends are well-versed in the language of cappuccinos, Frappuccinos, mochaccinos . . . but babyccinos?! According to The Brooklyn Paper, our coffee-obsessed culture is cultivating new followers who haven't even graduated from sippy cups. The pint-size beverages consist of either decaf cappuccino or frothy steamed milk and foam.

The trend started in Australia about a decade ago, but has only become popular in Brooklyn within the past few months. While many baristas dread concocting the drinks, arguing that they interrupt the flow of production, waste milk, and can be dangerously hot for tiny tongues, doctors say that a small amount of caffeine on an occasional basis won't do any damage (a decaf shot of espresso contains less caffeine than a soda). We want to hear what you think - have you heard of this trend?

Want to Age Better? Swap Your Morning Cup of Coffee For Green Tea

Leta Shy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:05:42 PST

We all know that green tea has many benefits - eye health, sunburn protection, and disease prevention, to name a few. Now, a new study can add another possible benefit to that list: green tea may help you remain functional as you age.

The Japanese study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked 14,000 adults 65 years old or older for three years and found that those people who drank at least five cups a day of green tea were about a third less likely to have functional disabilities than those who drank little or no green tea. Even those who only drank two to four cups of green tea a day also experienced a benefit as they aged. "Functional disabilities" were defined as the inability to do basic daily activities or necessities, like bathing or dressing, so the more green tea you drink the more likely you are to be able to stay independent when you're older. The study did find that those who drank green tea tended to have healthier lifestyles overall, but the researchers said a positive effect still existed when diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits were accounted for.

Five cups may sound like a lot, but it's actually a lot less than you think. So, how much tea should you actually be drinking to reap this benefit and possibly remain independent as you age? Read on after the break.

Leonardo DiCaprio Breaks Into the Coffee Biz

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:04:17 PST

Have a hard time getting up in the morning? Well, you've got more than just coffee to look forward to. Thanks to a new line of coffees, the best part of waking up could be Leonardo DiCaprio in your cup.

Today, The Great Gatsby actor announced he's partnering with La Colombe Torrefaction to produce a new coffee line, Lyon. Its entire net profile will benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to promote sustainability for the planet. "Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever," DiCaprio said in a statement. "I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants."

Starting today, the coffee will appear online and on shelves in Williams-Sonoma stores across the country, as well as select Whole Foods Markets. Will you try one of Leo's new coffees?