Around the World Drip Coffee Sampler

As you’re enjoying the last rays of summer, consider that in a few years you could be lathering on the coffee to prevent skin cancer. Findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science suggests that chemicals commonly found in coffee have the ability to absorb UV radiation when applied directly to the skin. Researchers at Rutgers University genetically engineered mice to suppress the same enzyme that caffeine does in humans and have found that they were slower to develop skin cancer. Because of its ability to suppress ATR, the enzyme responsible for turning damaged skin cells cancerous, scientists have suggested that caffeine could be added to sunscreens to boost protection levels.

In a strange twist, caffeine molecules may also help you develop a nice tan in addition to protecting your skin from tumors and cancer. Caffeine has actually been shown to stimulate pigment cells, urging them to produce more color. So, a safer tan may not be too far on the horizon.

If you're tired of the same old drinks, break out of the rut with a creative latte. This month's recipe is perfect for the adventurous latte lovers out there.

Ingredients
- 3 shots of espresso
- 6 oz of milk
- ½ oz of Monin Dark Chocolate Syrup
- ½ oz of Monin Caramel Syrup
- ¼ oz of Monin Hazelnut Syrup
- Ice

Preparation
In a tall 16oz glass, combine the espresso, syrup and milk. Stir the contents and add ice. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, may the luck...and drinks, of the Irish be with you. Given the upcoming festivities, now is as good a time as any to take a look at the history of one of the most (in)famous, drinks in the world—the Irish Coffee.

In true Celtic fashion, think Leprechauns and pots of gold, the origins of the Irish Coffee begins with a local folklore...Legend has it that the drink was invented in a cafe at the now-defunct Foynes Airport. In 1943, on a particularly nasty winter evening, a flight bound for Botwood, Newfoundland made the critical decision to return to Foynes after several hours in the air. Consider that 1943 was during WWII and commercial air travel was really in its infancy—think well-heeled men and women on a flying-boat voyage. The circumstances of the diverted flight were trying at best and left passengers a little bit more than peeved.

Upon making the decision to head back to Foynes, the captain reportedly sent a Morse-code message to the control tower, alerting ground operations personnel of the impending return. At the terminal, preparations were made to welcome back the crew and passengers. I know, you're skeptical already; but keep in mind, this was the 1940s...flying was a glitzy affair.

Back to the regularly scheduled story...Head chef Joe Sheridan of the airport restaurant was hastily asked to make something to warm the passengers and lift their spirits. He decided to...well...add a little spirit to their drinks. After all what could keep you warmer and happier than a hot coffee and some good old Irish whiskey? As the night progressed and everybody had been served, one of the passengers approached Sheridan to thank him for the hospitality. Making small talk, the passenger asked if Brazilian coffee had been used to prepare the drink...To which Sheridan responded "No, that was Irish Coffee." The rest is history.

From that night forward, Irish Coffee was served to all passengers going through Foynes Airport. The tradition continues to this day; dignitaries arriving at Shannon Airport are still welcomed with a warm cup of Irish Coffee. Want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style? Try this authentic Irish Coffee Recipe:

Joe Sheridan's Original Irish Coffee

• 30ml Irish Whiskey
• Freshly brewed coffee
• 2 teaspooons of  sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh whipping cream or double cream

Preparation
Preheat an Irish Coffee Mug using hot water. Try our Stout, Classic or Pedestal version of the mug. Pour freshly brewed coffee into the mug; add sugar and whiskey. Top with cream.

Aside from cost savings, which can be substantial, have you considered how much time you could free up when you own a home espresso machine? In my previous blog, “The Hidden Cost of Not Owning Your Own Espresso Machine,” I did the calculations and was shocked to find that the average person spends 52 hrs a year waiting for their morning beverage. The solution is clear; an espresso machine will let you skip those long lines.

I have researched the benefits of owning a machine, in terms of potential time savings. One of the machines I experimented with was the popular Gaggia Platinum Vision. Here is what I found:

First, you must, obviously, turn the machine on and wait for it to heat up before making an espresso. Including the short rinse cycle, the Gaggia Vision will be ready to brew within 1 minute and 20 seconds. The brewing process, itself, lasts a mere 45 seconds. Finally, with the Gaggia Milk Island, steaming and frothing milk can be accomplished in 1 minute and 34 seconds. (14 seconds to produce steam and an additional minute and 20 seconds before the steaming is complete.).

As you can see, from beginning to end, it only takes 3 minutes and 57 seconds to make a drink. In less than 4 minutes, you can go from a cold machine to a hot beverage, not bad. It would take you longer than that to even get to a coffee shop! (My tests with other Jura and Gaggia super automatic espresso machines yielded very similar results.).

For comparison’s sake, I also tested a few popular semi-automatic machines including the Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia. Although they did require slightly more time to make a beverage, I was still quite happy with the outcomes.

Including initial heat up time, the Classic only needed 5 minutes to brew espresso and steam milk for a latte or cappuccino. The Silvia has a larger boiler (12oz); so it needs a little extra time for the boiler to warm up. Miss Silvia requires about 8 minutes and 30 seconds, from start to finish, to make a cappuccino.

Consider the boiler type when you’re trying to determine machine warm-up speed. Machines that have just a single boiler and one heating element will be among the slowest to heat up. After extracting a shot of espresso, these machines will require a little time to achieve the proper steam temperature.

Models with a single boiler and two heating elements will be a bit quicker to warm up. These machines often have rapid steam features or technology. For example, the Gaggia Vision that I tested uses rapid steam technology; it only needed 14 seconds to make the switch from brewing to steaming.

Machines with either a heat-exchange boiler, or two separate boilers, offer the best performance. With these units, there is often no wait time, at all, between brewing an espresso and steaming milk.

There are also other factors that will influence the speed of a machine such as: the size of the boiler and heating elements, as well as the unit’s power supply. The staff, at Whole Latte Love, has spent a lot of time testing the different espresso machines on our site, the results of these tests are available for your review on the Compare-O-Matic. If you require additional assistance, feel free to give us a call!

Do yourself a favor and consider the alternatives. Given your home brewing options, there is no reason to waste time waiting in those long coffee-shop lines! .

Darren Ruffell.

Sales Department .