Do you love coffee? Imagine the thrill of brewing your own perfect coffee right in the comfort of your own home. Well its possible – by following these simple tips when searching for your coffee machine. I will help you choose not only the best machine for your needs but also one you will be happy with for many years to come.

1. What type of Coffee do you like to drink?

The first step is to identify your favourite coffee – shouldn’t be too hard? Why? Because you need your new coffee machine to make this type of coffee well enough so you will enjoy it each and every day. Try to see the coffee machine actually working – ask for a demo. The end result of making a coffee is a rich golden crema – the basis of all coffee recipes – you should see this. It looks like rich dripping honey as the coffee extracts from the group head.

2. Machine Pressure

You need adequate pressure to extract the coffee from the beans you would like to use. This helps produce the rich golden cream you so desperately need. Quality machines have at least 15 bars of pressure – don’t even look at any machine with less than this as you won’t be happy with the quality of the final product. Your machine should be able to to extract enough flavour for true espresso. This is a big selling point with machines and will be easy to find in the list of benefits for each type.

3. Do I need an Automatic or Manual Machine?

This ultimately comes down to how much control over the coffee making process you require. Some manual machines at the cheaper end are excellent, however you will have more “work” to do when brewing. Fully automatic machines cost much more but do everything for you and still make a fantastic coffee – at a price. Perhaps a semi-automatic machine is the way to go as you can control such elements as “milk frothing” and the “coffee grind” while still have the machine control extraction time and temperature. Price will have a lot of influence on your decision as there is a wide range of prices between Fully manual to Fully automatic – work out how much you want to spend and check out what is available in that price range and go from there.

4. Hot Water is vital.

When making several coffees, cheaper machines will give up – water needs to be heated and while using the steam wand and group head you deplete the water boiler and then have to refill – can be painful (not literally) and annoying. Dual boilers are fantastic but can be expensive or look for a machine with “thermoblock” technology which reheats the water quickly and more efficiently.

5. The Best Grinder you can afford.

You can buy pre-ground coffee beans which are vacuum sealed – ok but not great – air makes the coffee go stale fairly quickly. Ideally you should buy a grinder – cost between $100 to $300. Some coffee machines have built in grinders which are great – however make sure you can adjust the grind therefore affecting or perfecting your extraction times and crema. The coffee grind is an extremely important step and only buy a coffee machine with a built in grinder if you know you can control this element of your coffee making.

6. Cleaning and Maintenance.

Coffee Machines must to be cleaned and maintained. Some machines offer automatic cleaning and descaling which makes life easy. Group heads and frothing wands become clogged with coffee grounds and stale milk thus affecting rubber seals and wand pressure. Consider purchasing coffee cleaning powder or your machines suggested cleaner at time of purchase to keep your machine in tip top condition.

Considering the number of home coffee machine brands that are available on the market the suggestions and tips provided in this article with help you start your search for the ideal machine for your home or office.

Coffee is enjoyed globally and is widely accepted as among the most popular beverages in the world today. In the United States alone 400 million cups are consumed daily. Espressos are immensely popular in Europe and around 14 billion cups per year are consumed in Italy alone.

These are staggering amounts, especially if you consider that the statistics of only 2 countries have been mentioned. Individuals from all walks of life love coffee, and office workers are no exception. Cups and mugs of this heavenly brew provide workers across the globe with the necessary boost and refreshing taste to get their morning off on the right foot.

In today’s world of cell phones, email, text messaging and instant messaging, workers have become accustomed to working through many distractions. Most positions in a modern day offices involve a great deal of multi-tasking. Working on your computer, participating in conference calls and managing others are a sample of the multiple tasks that are expected out of today’s workforce. Many offices have gone out of their way to bring in specific services such as dry cleaners and day-care facilities to provide convenience, reduce stress and encourage their workers to focus on their jobs.

A coffee service is another of these services which offices have leveraged in order to improve the work environment. Workers, who frequently consume coffee and tea, no longer have to worry about getting coffee throughout the day. Many office coffee services also offer water service and food service as well. Workers can rest assured knowing that these services will be available to them on a daily basis.

Online Coffee Services Can Save your Business Money

Companies that supply tea or coffee to their staff members or clients are generally unaware of the hidden costs involved in the process. These costs include the time and money spent to shop for supplies as well as the time it takes for your accountant to record the yearly expenses. Businesses that do not have a coffee service or even a break room have to contend with staff members leaving the office to go to the nearest coffee shop for their favourite cup of coffee.

This often leads to loss of production and a backlog of work. Making use of an efficient and reliable coffee service provider will put an end to all unnecessary expenses and time wasting activities. Staff members would no longer have to leave the premises, no more shopping for supplies. Besides all these advantages, coffee vendors offer a variety of quality coffees and teas to choose from as well as a range of bottled waters, sodas, snacks and sandwiches.

Management and staff members can now enjoy their coffee at their desks while continuing with the job at hand. Freshly brewed coffee has an aromatic scent that will revive any soul that is about to die of boredom or fatigue, especially so if the coffee is supplied by the employer free of charge! In many cases, a happy worker is a productive worker and if it takes a delicious cup of coffee to do the trick then an online coffee service provider is a great solution.

Service Offered by Coffee Vendors

There are many coffee vendors that provide coffee machines free of charge. The company only has to order a certain amount from the vendors to be granted this free service. The vendor then undertakes to keep in stock all the requirements needed by the various companies. Faulty equipment is immediately replaced or repaired. Many office coffee services have 24 hour service available to troubleshoot any problems that may arise, and non-scheduled deliveries if the office in question suddenly runs out of a particular item.

Water filters are also changed on a regular basis and machine temperature checked. Coffee service providers also offer a free service trial and if it is not to your satisfaction, it can be returned without any obligatory charges.

Ordering online is quick, easy and efficient. One of the first requirements of the company is to open an account with the service provider. An account or customer number is required each time an order is placed. Order forms will ask for the company’s name, manager’s name, e-mail address and street address of the company. The customer number must also be provided.

The order form provides lists of all the available coffees and quantities that can be ordered. The orders can be in one cup quantities or in cases. The vast selection of teas and iced teas can also be ordered in boxed quantities. Cocoas, which include a wide variety of hot chocolate flavors, are in boxed quantities as well. Sugar, cream cups and lids will also be found on the list. Delivery options are made available as well. Order confirmation is usually done by phone.

Coffee makers aren’t just to make coffee anymore. There are so many different types of coffee makers on the market that do so many different things that coffee lovers might find themselves owning several of them. Here are some of the different types of coffee makers out there that you might find you need for your coffee habit:

Roasters or Brewers: There are some coffee lovers that prefer a dark, bitter coffee and want to buy those beans that they can roast themselves and then brew their favorite cups. But, without the right equipment, you cannot do this. There are some coffee makers out that will actually offer you the chance to roast your own coffee beans and then brew them to your liking.

Espresso Machines: Espresso machines are becoming more and more popular and affordable. These coffee makers make a hot steamy cup of espresso by using high heat and pressure. They make a delicious hot, dark cup of coffee but are served in smaller cups since it is so rich.

Electric Coffee Makers: These are normally only seen in restaurants and coffee houses, but they are starting to become smaller and get into more and more houses. These coffee makers are great in the fact that they do everything to create your perfect cup of joe in a small amount of time – even before you get up. They will automatically grind up and brew coffee beans so that you can enjoy fine gourmet coffee without paying a high price for it.

Cappuccino Machines: Love a good cup of cappuccino, but do not love paying for it at the coffee shop? These home coffee makers that create a yummy cup of cappuccino offer a small machine that will fit on your counter top, yet still give you the big taste that you love and crave. You no longer have to pay those high prices for a cappuccino when you can easily enjoy one at home.

Grinders: While not technically coffee makers, grinders are becoming an essential part of making gourmet coffee at home. You can find all sorts of different grinders, from little to big, so that you can grind up the perfect amount of coffee for your day. You will find many different kinds of grinders, from automatic to hand-cranked so that you can enjoy the perfect amount of grinding for your coffee tastes.

Automatic Coffee Makers: Many people already own these and enjoy automatic cups of coffee when they wake up or throughout the day. While there are varying levels of automatic coffee makers, you can easily find the right one for you and your budget so that you don’t even have to worry about creating your coffee first thing in the morning and worry about getting around for your day.

There are also so many great specialized coffee makers that you can find online to create your perfect cup of coffee and still be easy on your budget. With all of the different types, it does not matter how picky you are or how you like your coffee.

When creating decaffeinated coffee the European process involves having the beans soaked in water and washing the beans with methylene chloride. The treated beans are then dried and roasted. Gourmet coffee beans from this plant are usually harvested from this tree three times a year for 30 years.

Gourmet coffee made from the beans of this plant tastes great and holds a premium position in the market. Gourmet coffees from Arabica coffee beans boast of a finer aroma, richer flavor, and more body than those made from Robusta beans. The Robusta beans on the other hand, are known for their disease-resistance properties and are more popularly used in commercial blends.

People enjoy the taste of the sophisticated beans used in the making of this delightful gourmet drink. When purchasing coffee beans from different areas they all go through the same type of process. Beans are picked, dried, and sorted pretty much the same way.

The coffee and tea market has become so popular that the exports of some countries are coffee and tea alone, we spend more than $20 billion a year on coffee, that is a lot of coffee. No seems to disagree that a cup of gourmet coffee is definitely better than and average blend of coffee.

Gourmet flavored coffee lovers just don’t seem to get enough from their coffee desire. Gourmet flavored coffee is becoming very popular and many people are like the different flavors that have been coming out in the market place.

If you would like to appreciate a cup of gourmet coffee, take some time to taste other coffees and compare, make sure you use the fresh beans to compare them equally. There are gourmet flavored coffees that are caffeinated and those that are decaffeinated. Some of the newest gourmet flavored coffee includes vanilla, macadamia, and even peanut butter.

Gourmet coffees come in so many different flavors like Toasted Almond, French Vanilla, and Hazelnut. If you want to try something a little out of the ordinary then you can try one of the flavored varieties. When preparing coffee it should be prepared from the bean that is fresh, instead of having the bean ground for you take the time to do it when you want to drink the coffee.

Usually you need a machine to do this and espresso really brings about the right flavour of the coffee beans. Espresso is black coffee and requires a stream of steam which is passed over the coffee beans.

Gourmet espresso beans make excellent gifts for all occasions, especially if your recipient is a certified coffee lover. When brewing an espresso this method needs the least amount of time to prepare but need the beans ground very fine to get the taste just right. You can find espresso machines at any wholesale store or online and you can purchase the gourmet beans at any specialty store or online

There are many coffee shops that have popped up and they seem like they are on every street corner and they sell coffee beans, you can also find these gourmet beans in supermarkets or specialty shops.

If you are like so many other Americans, then you probably are addicted to your daily coffee run. However, you truly need to put some thought into your purchases because buying a five dollar cappuccino on a daily bases can really add up! That is why so many people have started to purchase their own quality home espresso machines, which can be an investment, but are worth it when you do the math. However, if you still do want to swing by Starbucks from time to time, then you need to be smart in the way that you order to save yourself some money.

First of all, focus on a simple order. If you order one of the featured drinks on the huge billboard, it may cost you anywhere upwards of six dollars because it is a specialized drink that has many different components. If you are purchasing a fancy coffee shop drink, then it will be much more expensive than your average cup of Joe. If you purchase a regular cup of coffee, it will cost almost half what a fancy cappuccino would, so it is best to keep that in mind. It is also great to know that a regular 8 ounce cup of Joe does have more caffeine content than a shot of espresso by itself, so that is what you need to look for if you are trying to stay energized throughout your day.

If you want something a little different than coffee, it would be good to choose a café au lait, which is a drink with coffee and steamed milk. This simple drink will also cost about 30% less than a regular latte. Along those lines, make sure that you are avoiding adding any extras to your coffee drink. Once you start to add flavor shots, extra espresso shots, or even soy milk, it will increase the price of your coffee drink by up to a dollar. You can always use the free sugar or sugar substitutes available to you if you want to sweeten your drink.

Make sure that you focus on ordering a medium-sized drink instead of a large. A medium-size coffee drink will have the same amount of espresso or coffee as the largest size, but it will cost less because less milk is added. It is also important to use any type of customer rewards perks that your local coffee shop offers you. If you are going to an independent coffee house, they will often times give you a punch card that will enable you to buy a certain number of drinks to get one free.

Lastly, consider taking all of the money that you are spending on your daily coffee drink to invest it in a premium home coffee and espresso machine. The advantages to doing this are huge because it will save money in the long run, and you also will be able to become your own professional barista to make custom cappuccino and latte creations! So worth it…

A great day begins with a cup of freshly roasted coffee. And that you get from an excellent coffee pod. Pods or coffee pods or espresso pods are a simple way to get a perfect espresso and with excellent results. But for the beginners let’s answer a simple question first i.e. what are coffee pods? Coffee pods are freshly roasted coffee, ground perfect, tampered to the correct pressure and then encapsulated in a paper. It is the beginning of a rich experience of the way you drink coffee.

The original pod was first designed by Illy caffe around 10 years ago. It wa the year 1996 when Illy opened its idea to the coffee industry to bring a standard pod size to the market. Many coffee machine makers now offer adaptors with their machines to accept pods. By using pods in your machine not only can you guarantee perfect results, there is no mess and pods help to look after your machine. In fact used pods can even be used as fertilizer for your garden as well. That is why a rich coffee taste is always benefiting.

If you are an espresso connoisseur by heart you can find a great relief with the coffee pods. As an espresso lover you understand that there are many ways of preparation where the espresso can get wrong, the grind, the measurement, freshness, the roast, tampering, temperature, water pressure are some areas which one has to watch out to make that special cup of coffee.

Now if you wonder what the best kind of coffee pod is, the answer is the home made one. Don’t be shocked, it is true to the last drop of espresso. You can actually make the coffee pods of your freshly roasted coffee beans. Although it is nit that easy but it is sheer fun and little adventure to make a coffee pod in your kitchen itself. What you need is your favorite freshly roasted coffee beans perfectly grounded to fine powder, a sheet of filter paper and some kitchen tools. The first step to get a home made coffee pod is to get the correct measuring scoop for the size of the pod. Take the coffee style filter paper sheet and put it in the scoop. The next step is to find a glass bottle or something similar which can be used to pressure the paper in that scoop. If you have found the right size of glass jar (in most cases you will) center the filter around the jar and do it by putting the combination back in the scoop leaving a cup shaped filter paper in the scoop. Add one scoop, or about 2 teaspoons of your favorite ground coffee to this paper-filter-cup more or less to taste. The typical coffee scoops that come with makers hold about 7 grams of coffee which is just about right. Give the cup a slight shake to evenly spread the grounds across the bottom of the filter, and then use your finger to gently fold over the extra filter material, completely covering the ground coffee. For a really well-formed pod, you can place the jar into the scoop one last time and press down really hard with the palm of your hand.

At last your favorite coffee pod is now ready to be put into the espresso machine to enjoy that rich taste of coffee. And who said coffee is not about fun.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the differences between the traditional espresso machine and the fully automatic bean to cup coffee machine. Both types of coffee machine have their advantages and disadvantages and by giving these factors due consideration it should help you decide which type is best for your business.

There are other types of coffee machine available too, such as the filter coffee machine, pod machine or instant coffee machine, but these are not considered in this article as they cannot produce ‘proper’ speciality coffee drinks such as latte, espresso, ristretto etc.

The basis of all luxury speciality coffee drinks is the espresso which both our systems produce. This is made by passing hot water under pressure through a wad of ground coffee, to produce a short, strong and concentrated coffee liquor. When the espresso shot is blended with foamed or steamed milk then most popular types of specialty coffee drinks such as cappuccino, latte, macchiato can be made.

Both the traditional espresso machine and the bean to cup machine are able to produce espresso shots and foamed milk.

Firstly we will consider overall drink quality. Here the traditional espresso machine comes out on top. This is assuming that the operator (barista) is well trained and both types of equipment are clean and well-maintained.

An espresso based drink produced on a traditional espresso machine and prepared by a top barista is the best you can get! Coffee beverages made from a bean to cup machine are very good, but don’t quite make it to the standard set by a traditional system.

Secondly when considering the consistency of the final beverage the bean to cup machine would usually win. The quality of drink from a traditional espresso machine depends on the barista and his frame of mind at the time and so can vary greatly. Bean to cup machines however produce the same drink at the push of a button and are not dependent on the operator.

Thirdly, ease of use. Here again the fully automatic bean to cup machine comes out on top as most drinks are prepared by the push of a button. To prepare and serve a quality beverage from a traditional espresso machine is a skilled art and takes considerable practise to master.

Fourthly to consider is ‘theatre’ or ambience of the drink preparation. Whilst a bean to cup machine is purely a functional device to produce a quality beverage, the traditional espresso machine adds that special magic to the whole coffee experience. Customers can enjoy the overall coffee experience as they watch the skilled barista at work.

Honours are even then on the main four criteria, so the choice is yours. Decide which are the most important factors in your particular case before contacting your local coffee machine supplier.

Enjoy.

POUR THE COFFEE SLOWLY

The Essentials of Making Great Coffee

1. Use high-quality coffee, preferably recently roasted and ground just before serving.
2. Always use the correct grind for the method. If your coffee is too bitter and muddy, the grind is too fine; if the brew lacks flavor, the grind is too coarse.
3. Always use freshly drawn cold water.
4. Never guess amounts. Use the correct proportion of coffee and water (two level tablespoons per six ounces cold water for regular-strength coffee), preferably measuring both. I f coffee is too strong or weak, change grind and/or blend, not proportion of coffee to water.
5. Make sure the coffee maker is scrupulously clean and thoroughly rinsed. Coffee quickly picks up off-flavors during the brewing process.
6. For best results, always brew at least three-fourths of the coffee maker’s capacity. Most large coffee makers do not make one or two cups satisfactorily.
7. Never guess when timing. Use the clock.
8. Remove the grounds from the brew as soon as the brew cycle is completed to prevent bitterness. Also for that reason, never rewet grounds.
9. Serve coffee immediately after brewing. (With drip methods, stir the brew before serving.) Coffee is at its best when just brewed.
10. If coffee must be kept warm, try to hold it at 180 degrees to 190 degrees farenheight. Brewed coffee stays palatable for twenty minutes, drink able for one hour maximum. The longer it is held, the less desirable it becomes.
11. Never reheat cooled coffee; it breaks down in flavor. Never allow the brew to boil; its flavor turns bitter.

Coffee 101:

    Q. What’s the difference between specialty coffee and why does it cost more than regular coffee?
A. Specialty coffee is a different species of coffee called Arabica. Arabica beans are picked and processed by hand, then freshly roasted to ensure consistent top quality. As a result of the special care and time required to harvest and process Arabica beans, the coffee is more expensive than the lower quality commercial beans. Commercial-grade coffee is usually machine picked and processed, and made from lower grades of coffee called Robusta.

Q. What’s the difference between French Roast and regular coffee?
A. French Roast is a particular style of dark roasting that results in a dark , oily bean. French Roast is stronger and more flavorful than regular coffee.

Q. Which coffees have the least amount of caffeine?
A. Dark roast have less caffeine than light roast. That’s because as coffee beans are heated at high temperatures, the caffeine evaporates. The longer the beans are roasted, the less caffeine they have (although the difference in caffeine content between roast is relatively slight). I f you want to cut down on your caffeine consumption but don’t like the taste of decaffeinated coffee, try a dark brew. Or try a split shot espresso drink or a half decaf/half regular brewed coffee. NOTE: Arabica beans contain approximately half the caffeine of the lower-grade commercial coffees made from Robusta beans.

Q. Is drinking decaffeinated coffee harmful to your health?
A. There is no proven health risk associated with drinking decaf coffee. Methylene chloride, the chemical used to decaffeinate coffee, vaporizes at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Since temperatures in the roaster reach in excess of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes, it is safe to assume that any residue burns off during this process. If you’re still concerned, you can order a Swiss Water Process decaf, which is not treated with any chemicals.

Q. Is coffee fattening?
A. Coffee is 98% water and therefore has virtually no calories. Calories and fat come from the sugar and milk you add.

Q. How is coffee harvested and processed?
A. Coffee trees produce fruit known as coffee cherries. Inside the sweet, gummy pulp of each cherry are two flat, green coffee beans that lay against each other. Once the coffee cherries have been picked, the outer hull of the fruit must be removed to get to the beans. There are two methods used to extract the beans: the wet method and the dry method. The wet method requires a large supply of fresh water. A machine strips away the outer layers of skin and cherry, leaving the beans enclosed in a sticky inner pulp. The beans then are soaked for 24 to 72 hours in fermentation tanks to remove any remaining pulp. Coffees processed through the dry method generally have lower acidity and deeper, more complex flavors.

Q. How is coffee roasted?
A. Roasting is a fine art, requiring a delicate hand, split-second timing and an ability to judge when the coffee bean is at its peak of flavor. First, the roaster drops the green beans into a drum filled with hot air, causing the temperature inside the drum to drop. Then the roaster heats the beans until the water in the beans begins to steam, making the beans swell and audibly pop. The heat causes complex polysaccharides to break down into starches and then sugars, which caramelize. Aromatic oils within the beans boil to the surface, giving them an oily appearance. The expansion of oils causes a second audible “crack”. Along the way, the beans darken from their original green to a rich chestnut brown. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Roasts are classified as light, medium, dark and darkest. Despite the current vogue for dark roast, they are not necessarily better. Some single origins are better suited to a light or medium roast.

Plain coffee is fast becoming a thing of the past. Its now quite simple to whip up a gourmet hot beverage for guest, family, or just for yourself. Nowadays there are a number of coffee clubs and circles in which coffee drinking has become somewhat of a social club. These social clubs meet in the community or on the Internet.

Where did the good old days go where you could get just a regular, good cup of coffee all across America.

Its all because there is a big craze over coffee these days. People are almost worshipping the coffee bean now. People get a thrill out of ordering and buying special coffees from specialty stores. They really like grinding their own coffee beans. They like visiting places such as Costa Rica and bringing back their special blends. And coffee tasting seems to be about as popular as wine tasting.

They even have furniture and home interior designs with a coffee theme. This would make great gifts for the coffee buff.

Coffee got its beginnings around 900 A.D. where it was at first used as a stimulant. It was also at times used as a wine and a medicine. It does not look like anything is much different today.

There are not many products such as coffee that have continued as is for hundreds of years. And yet people are still scrutinizing and getting creative with it today and probably will be for years to come.

What is also interesting is that coffee is second to oil in dollar volume as a world commodity.

Did you know that there is two times more caffeine in a pound of tea than in the same amount of roasted coffee. This may be good news for those of you who hate the taste of decaffeinated coffee however wait just one moment. A pound of tea will make about 160 cups whereas a pound of coffee will usually make about 40 cups. This means that a cup of tea has about 14th the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

The content of caffeine in coffee decreases as it is grown at higher altitudes. If you want less caffeine in your coffee, grow it higher. Gourmet coffees are typically grown at higher altitudes so they have less caffeine than their grocery store counterparts.

There are many different types of coffee beans and way too many to describe in this article. Here are just a few of them:

You have Latte, Espresso, LowFat, Organic, Cal, Decaf, HalfDecaf, Black Forest, Cappuccino, Cafe au Lait, Alpine which has brown sugar, Arabian lightly spiced and without filter, Cafe con Miel Spanish for coffee with honey, and Cafe de Olla a sweet coffee made with chocolate.

And you really should attend a coffee tasting at least once. You will get to experience how making and brewing gourmet coffee is slowly becoming a form of art. What is fun about the coffee tasting is that you could get a chance to taste two dozen or more different blends. You may even leave to start your journey as a coffee connoisseur. Any way you look at it, the tasting experience will be fun if you like coffee.

All hail, ye women of coffee! Yes, I’m talking to you — you late-night freelancers, you hard-studying (or hard-partying) Texas A & M students, you business executives! You, yoga master, sneaking delicious cups of bitter decadence. (I know you’re out there)! You, mother of five who laughs at doctors’ orders to get her “eight hours”! Haha! Yes, it is our time to shine. A new study, published in this month’s edition of Neurology, states that women who drink three or more cups of coffee a day in old age are more likely to have a sharper mind.

“Excuse me,” you ask, “you mean I’ve been trying to quit for nothing?” Well, no, not exactly. French researcher Karen Ritchie, lead author of the study and research director at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, doesn’t advocate picking up the addiction or drinking with wanton abandon. Her studies of over 7,000 men and women do confirm, however, an association with higher mental acuity and women who consume three or more cups of coffee or tea every day.

No one’s sure why coffee doesn’t seem to affect men this way. “It may be that men and women metabolize caffeine differently or that there is a hormonal interaction,” said Ritchie.

For residents of Texas, three cups a day may be an easy quota to fill. The iced, black, caffeinated variety of tea is fairly commonplace, as are, of course, good ol’ cups of joe. Coffee and tea shops abound in cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, making access even to gourmet selections easy — with or without the home version of that really great espresso machine. And with better health in old age, so comes better health insurance rates, a real problem in a state where twenty-five percent of its total population — and twenty-seven percent of its young adult population — is uninsured.

Ritchie followed her subjects, whose average age was seventy-four, over four years and documented coffee and tea intake through interviews. Mental acuity was then measured by widely accepted tests of visual skills and verbal recall. Her team also recorded information on education, income, depression, and alcohol and tobacco use. After controlling for variables, women over the age of sixty-five who drank three or more cups of coffee or tea a day were found to be “one-third as likely to have a significant decline in verbal skills” than those who consumed only one cup or less per day. Women over the age of eighty-five who drank similar quantities were seventy percent less likely to suffer these deficits.

Though there were not enough cases to link the results with possible effects on Alzheimer’s disease, the findings could prove, to say the least, significant. A seventy percent decrease in likelihood of symptoms is almost astronomical in statistical terms, and the study is making international headlines. According to the National Institute on Aging, more than 4.5 million people in America alone suffer from Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to grow to as high as 16 million by 2050.

Currently, there is no cure, no known cause, and few medications for a disease that is set to devastate the healthcare and health insurance industries. Even drug companies like Wyeth, which has twenty-three separate projects going to find effective medications for Alzheimer’s, warn that it will be at least a decade before significant improvements are made in treatment options.

Dealing with the extreme memory loss, mental confusion, incontinence, irrational behavior, disturbed sleep patterns, and aggression that often accompany the condition is overwhelming in itself for millions of caretakers, family members, and healthcare workers. The financial burden can be just as taxing, with costs adding up to $100 billion a year for the nation, $1 billion of that going directly to medications that may or may not alleviate symptoms and do nothing to actually halt the disease process itself.

It’s frightening for young, sharp minds to think of ourselves as old, frail, incontinent, and mentally vacant — even if the possibility is decades away. Could a simple thing like coffee really be a part of staving off dementia? What if — what if — a few doses of caffeine, combined with common sense and good health practices, could really keep the active women of today acute and formidable in later years? In that case, don’t feel so bad for a few cups of delicious, fragrant indulgence, yoga master. You may, after all, just be saving your sanity.

Being aware of the latest health studies is an important part of taking care of yourself. Minding your health will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet.