According to a recent press release from Reuters, coffee may prevent endometrial cancer.
The endometrium is a lining of the uterus so, as you might have deduced, this is a type of cancer that affects only women. Out of the cancers that women tend to get, endometrial cancer is one of the most common.
According to the study cited in this article, every cup of coffee that is consumed per day, seems to decrease a woman’s chances of developing this cancer by about 10% (two cups = about 20% less chance, etc) . These were the findings of a study done by Swiss researchers, who tracked thousands of coffee-drinking and non-coffee drinking women.
Of note is the fact that this study was limited to on particular population and no mention is made about how these women were taking their coffee. For example, they they drink it with milk, sugar, cream, or soy? Lattes or drip-brewed coffee?
It’s an interesting possibility in any case, especially in addition to all the other health benefits that seem to pop up in relation to drinking coffee.
Courtesy of AMICO, you can now keep our cup of coffee or tea warm without having to use a microwave (or any other old-fashioned technology).
How it works: The solar panel sits on top of your coffee mug. You have to push down the little green (plastic) sprout coming out to power it on. Electricity is stored in a lithium battery, which is built into the little gadget.
The solar powered warmer can boil a cup of liquid a few times in a the period of a day, and has an automatic shut off switch for when the liquid reaches boiling point.
I’m not too sure how comfortable I would be putting a battery right on top of something I’m going to drink, but it’s a clever idea in any case.
Starbucks is now selling their new Instant Coffee, called “Via,” in their regular stores. They are also marketing the new, more convenient coffee by doing “Taste Challenges” in each store.
What is the Taste Challenge? It is involves tasting unmarked samples of regular coffee alongside Via and then (the challenge) you have to guess which is which.
I took the challenge… and I guessed right! I felt like a real coffee connoisseur for a few minutes.
In this case, they were serving iced Via alongside iced coffee. I suspect that tasting the two coffees in a chilled form did not work in Via’s favor since super hot temperatures can throw off the taste buds, making it more difficult to discern the differences between different coffees.
In any case, I have to admin that Via is not that bad at all. According to the barista I spoke with, it is not made from freeze-dried coffee (as is the case with typical instant coffee). Via is actually regular, roasted coffee beans micro ground to dissolve (mostly) in water. This is a clever idea, though I could still tell the difference (well enough to guess right during the aforementioned taste challenge). I’m thinking that not going through a regular brewing process throws off the taste a bit. Still, it’s pretty good.
Drop by a Starbucks sometime soon if you want to get some free samples too!
Here is an environmental Youtube video by the World Wildlife Fund that uses a latte to illustrate how much water we use all the time without realizing it.
The wife and I hit up Einstein Bros this morning to take advantage of their dependably good breakfast food and and coffee.
I would have liked to try their Autumn Roast coffee (chestnut flavor? yum!) but there was only half a cup left in the heating unit, so I mixed that with half a cup of their House blend (smooth and nutty), which I always enjoy. The product of this unlikely marriage was nuts, literally… almost overpowering almond and chestnut flavors.
I also tried a mushroom and spinach omelet wrapped in a tortilla that ended up being a mistake (don’t care for those healthy wheat tortillas).
Still, it’s hard not to like Einsteins Bros, with their homemade bagels and sweets and fresh-squeezed orange juice. And what about that bottomless coffee? I do love that.
I could see myself setting up a shop for hours and hours in an Einsteins Bros one of these days if I ever get a laptop with WiFi.
