Many people start their day with a hot cup of coffee. The United States is the largest consumer of coffee, consuming about 400 million cups each day. How do you take yours?
Everything but the coffee : learning about America from Starbucks
Bryant Simon.
Berkeley : University of California Press, c2009.
Everything but the Coffeecasts a fresh eye on the world's most famous coffee company, looking beyond baristas, movie cameos, and Paul McCartney CDs to understand what Starbucks can tell us about America. Bryant Simon visited hundreds of Starbucks around the world to ask, Why did Starbucks take hold so quickly with consumers? What did it seem to provide over and above a decent cup of coffee? Why at the moment of Starbucks' profit-generating peak did the company lose its way, leaving observers baffled about how it might regain its customers and its cultural significance?Everything but the Coffeeprobes the company's psychological, emotional, political, and sociological power to discover how Starbucks' explosive success and rapid deflation exemplify American culture at this historical moment. Most importantly, it shows that Starbucks speaks to a deeply felt American need for predictability and class standing, community and authenticity, revealing that Starbucks' appeal lies not in the product it sells but in the easily consumed identity it offers.
Counter culture : the American coffee shop waitress
Candacy A. Taylor.
Ithaca : ILR Press, 2009.
A must-have for anyone who loves diners and coffee shops. Taylor travels more than 26,000 miles throughout the United States collecting stories of lifer waitresses. Their compelling stories are complemented by Taylor's striking color photographs of them at work.
Coffee : more than 65 delicious & healthy recipes
Avner Laskin ; photography by Danya Weiner.
New York : Sterling ; Lewes : GMC Distribution [distributor], 2009.
There's nothing like a fresh cup of coffee to start your morning off right. And now you can enjoy the robust, satisfying taste of coffee all day long. In this beautifully photographed book, Avner Laskin shares more than 65 recipes that range from delicious hot and cold beverages to sumptuous baked goods and desserts. Warm up over a cup of creamy cappuccino, chat over cafe mochas with Kahlua(R), or indulge in a frozen macchiato. Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth with luscious coffee-infused versions of chocolate chip cookies, tiramisu, creme brulee, and custard parfait. - Discover how to brew the best cup of coffee - Enjoy mouthwatering breakfast treats and luscious coffee-inflected desserts
Coffee love : 50 ways to drink your java
Daniel Young.
Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, c2009.
For coffee lovers, this is a dream book--50 recipes from around the world, plus evocative text about the love of coffee, cafes, and coffee bars, with a beautiful four-color package and impulse-purchase price. * 50 easy-to-follow recipes, from basics like Espresso and Cappuccino, to delectable dessert drinks such as Greek-style Frappe and Coffee Ice Cream Soda. * 4-color recipe and lifestyle photos throughout, including photos of coffeehouses and coffee culture from around the world.
Coffee is prepared from the roasted seeds (beans) of the one of several species of coffee plant. One of these species Coffea arabica is considered by many to produce the best coffee of the commercially grown coffee species.
Interestingly, coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia where it was growing wild. Currently, coffee plants are cultivated in many parts of the world including Java, Sumatra, India, Arabia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Mexico, Central and South America. Brazil is the top world producer of coffee beans.There are over 100 types of coffees sold worldwide by coffee producers.
The niche of marketing flavored coffees has increased coffee consumption. The rich aroma added by cinnamon, French vanilla, or chocolate cream creates a pleasing atmosphere when sipping a nice, hot, brewed cup of flavored coffee.
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Caffeine Comparative (mg)
1c brewed coffee 100
1 shot expresso 80-100
1c instant coffee 70
1c decaffeinated coffee 1-5
1c tea 40
1 can caffeinated soda 38-45
1c cocoa 5 |
Many coffee lovers enjoy it because coffee contains caffeine, a substance that acts as a stimulant on the nervous system. Some people prefer to drink a decaffinated coffee in order to drink coffee and not have it as a stimulant. The benefits and hazards of all types of coffee continue to be debated.
Ask people 'how do you take yours?' and you will get many different answers.
- Some like their coffee from lightly roasted coffee beans; other coffee drinkers want theirs roasted medium or dark. Espresso drinkers look forward to the darkest roasts.
- The degree of roasting is not the only difference. Do you like your coffee hot or cold; dripped, perculated, or instant?Do you want it without anything in it; or do you ask for milk, cream, sugar, or one of the many flavors that are now added to coffee?
- And don't forget the coffee fans of latte or cappuccino. The blending of expresso coffee and steamed milk help create a delicious and soothing blend to enjoy.
Whatever your preference, coffee lovers abound in busy cafes or coffeehouses around the world. The conversations found here are likely to be as stimulating as the coffee.
More about coffee
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff
