A good coffee cup can outlast generations of coffee makers, coffee shops, and even the famous coffee brands we’ve all come to know and love. If you’ve been looking for an extra special gift for that special someone who has everything, just take a look at the many ways that you can personalize one of these extra special gifts.

Personalizing Your Mugs

There are so many ways that you can personalize a coffee cup that the choices are virtually limitless. One of the more popular ways is to have a favorite photo printed onto the cup. This can be a family photo, photo of the kids, or any other photo you know has special meaning for the recipient. The photos are printed onto the coffee cup using a special digital process, and then glazed over to protect the surface.

Another popular way to personalize a coffee cup for a friend or loved one is to write your own verse and have it printed on a cup. Just imagine what a smile it would bring to your mother’s face as she had her morning coffee while reading a special poem or letter written by you! Can you imagine a more special gift?

Of course, if you’re not into writing, or you don’t have access to special photos, there are still many generic choices available that you can choose from. These mugs are quite popular if you just want to get your boss, employee, or a coworker a coffee cup as a small gift of appreciation. These generic coffee cups come with many lovely verses to suit most any occasion, and are even less expensive than those you personalize with your own information.

As you can see, a personalized coffee cup can make a great gift for any friend, family member, or just anyone else you know who’s hard to buy for. A great gift that will last for years, why not go out and make your next gift a personalized coffee cup today?

Apple Coffee Cake

This apple coffee cake recipe is very easy to make and ideal if you don’t often bake. There are no fancy baking techniques when you make this coffee cake recipe. First cream a half cup of butter with one and a half cups of sugar. You can use a hand mixer or good old fashioned elbow grease and beat it all up till it is pale and smooth. Then add two eggs and one cup of milk and blend it till everything is mixed together.

In a separate bowl sift together three cups of all purpose flour, a teaspoon of salt and three teaspoons of baking powder. Stir this flour mixture into the batter and then stir in a half cup of apples. It is best to use a tart apple such as Granny Smiths or any other type of cooking apple. Red apples or very sweet apples will not work with this coffee cake recipe. Pour the mixture into a greased and lined 9 by 13 inch pan.

In a bowl mix together a half cup each of flour and sugar, adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and a little bit of nutmeg. Once this has been mixed together use a box grater to grate a quarter cup of butter into the mixture. This may sound odd but this really helps. Mix the butter in with the other ingredients until it sort of holds together then spread onto the cake batter. Bake the cake for 30 minutes at 350 F.

The resulting cake is delicious and moist and perfect with coffee. The topping is perfect because of the grated butter that will still hold some of its shape. If you are really health conscious and want to make the topping a little healthier, you can substitute the flour for oatmeal. The texture will be a little different but it will be just as delicious. If you want to add more apple flavor, you can put more apple chunks on the top of the cake before you put on the topping. Either way, this is a great coffee cake recipe that you can adapt to your tastes.

Recipes Brought To America

The idea of a coffee cake, which in the early years was simply consuming some sweet types of cakes while sipping on a cup of coffee, probably began in Europe during the seventeenth century. Historians have come up with this hypothesis because countries in Europe were well known for serving sweet yeast breads and when coffee arrived on the scene they made a great combination in the morning. Historians have noted that the Germans, the Scandinavians as well as the Dutch immigrants brought with them their various recipes for the tasty pastry and therefore introduced coffee cake to America.

It is believed that the early versions of coffee cake resembled bread more than they resembled cake. They were basically made from flour, some eggs, yeast, some sugar, nuts, various dried fruits as well as sweet spices. Over the years coffee cake evolved in America and it began to feature cheese, yogurt, various sugared fruits and a variety of creamy types of filling.

German And Holland Communities

The German as well as the Holland communities were prominent in New York, Delaware and in New Jersey and were well known for their coffee cakes in the colonial days. Their recipes are very similar to the recipes for the pastry that are used today. The Scandinavians were advocates of the coffee break and they desired something sweet with their coffee and thus contributed to the evolution of their tasty cake. The Scandinavians were just as proud of their abilities to produce the tasty cake and other varieties of pastries as the people who emigrated from Central Europe to America.

In the book Listening to America, the author claims that in the year 1879 coffee cake became a well known term in America. Historians have gone through old cook books and have concluded that recipes for coffee cake were being published for everyday American homemakers during the late eighteen hundreds. There are numerous varieties of this type of cake and a couple of the popular varieties are the streusel version and the crumb cake and streusel variation.

Types

There are basically four different varieties of coffee beans sold today. Coffea Arabica is by far the most popular, and accounts for roughly 75% of the coffee currently sold. Also available are Coffea Robusta, Coffea Liberica, and Coffea Excelsa, which are grown mostly in areas where Coffea Arabica cannot be cultivated.

Where Do They Come From?

Did you know that coffee beans aren’t really beans at all? They’re actually the seed from the fruit produced by the Coffea bush. The Coffea bush is a small, evergreen bush much like the juniper (which is used to produce gin); which produces a small fruit known as the coffee berry or cherry.

The fruit itself is actually inedible, and is often used as fertilizer in the growing of new bushes. But the seed inside (well, two actually) is what we refer to as coffee beans. The seeds are green when raw, and actually remain that way until they are roasted to produce the flavor we associate with coffee.

The seeds are dried and processed, then roasted to varying degrees to achieve the desired flavor and strength. While coffee beans are typically sold already roasted for maximum flavor, consumers can still buy green coffee beans and roast them at home. The amount of roasting that coffee beans will undergo depends on the strength of the brew desired.

Mild roasting produces a very light “coffee” flavor, and actually allows the flavor of the coffee beans to come through; whereas roasting for longer periods of time produces richer and more bitter brews, and the coffee beans actually lose their original flavor. The processed beans are then packaged in airtight bags and containers, and are shipped to stores around the world.

As you can see, the coffee beans you so love must go through a long process before they reach your kitchen cupboard. If you are among the millions who love this amazingly rich beverage, now that you know where coffee beans actually come from you can have a whole new appreciation for your favorite drink.

Coffee addiction symptoms are much like those of any other recreational drug use. From sleeplessness to nausea, those who are experiencing caffeine withdrawals often find themselves suffering form shakes and other symptoms normally thought of as reserved for drub abusers going through the detoxification process.

Signs To Look Out For

Perhaps you’re wondering if you could be suffering from a coffee addiction. The best way to tell is to first answer this question: approximately how many cups of coffee do you drink each day; and would you be willing to give it up? If you answer in the negative, or if you drink more than just a couple of cups of coffee per day, then chances are you are suffering from this addiction and don’t even know it.

One of the most telling signs of a coffee addiction is if you get headaches if you go a day without your coffee. Many people who suffer from an addiction to caffeine report headaches, nausea, fatigue, and other such symptoms when they go without their coffee; often within just twelve hours of their last cup of coffee.

Breaking The Addiction

An addiction to coffee can be just as difficult, if not more, than many of the other addictions that commonly plague people in the world today. One of the first things that you must do when trying to break a coffee addiction is to find a few people who will support you in your decision, and stand behind you whenever you need help. This can be your friends, family members, or even people from a support group (yes, there are support groups for those suffering from coffee addiction).

Once you have found people who will support you in your decision to break free from your coffee addiction, you will need to learn to replace the coffee with a healthier alternative. Orange juice has been proven to aid in the withdrawal process; and many people have reported that drinking a few glasses of orange juice every morning for the first several weeks after quitting coffee almost completely resolves the headaches and shakiness that usually accompanies the withdrawal process.

Other than water, coffee and tea are the most popular drinks in the world. Come to think of it both coffee & tea consist mostly of water. But why would anyone want to drink coffee or tea instead of just water?

Some claim they drink it because they like the taste. The truth is that people from around the world drink coffee and tea because it makes them feel good, gives them energy, and helps them go to the bathroom.

History Of The Two Drinks

Tea was discovered over 5,000 years ago in China. Its popularity quickly spread to Japan and then into Buddhism after the monks discovered that tea helped them to concentrate concentration attributes during religious ceremonies.

Coffee was approved by the Muslims in the early 1500s. They could now drink coffee in place of wine. In the early 1600s, Pope Clement baptized coffee over objections from some, who felt the Muslim drink was evil. Again, the church okayed it; now all Catholics could drink it.

The caffeine in coffee & tea fuels workers everywhere. Take away the coffee & tea in the world and nothing would get done.

Positive Medical Effects

Drink three or four cups of coffee or tea a day and it has been reported that you will greatly reduce your chances of prostate cancer, and that green tea will reduce your chances of getting cancer.

All of a sudden, coffee & tea are viewed as daily medication or a vitamin. The sharpening effect on your senses that coffee and tea have make it seem like a health food.

Negative Effects

Both coffee & tea can stain and turn your teeth brown. If you drink either in excess, it might have a negative effect.

At least coffee & tea don’t have corn syrup in them. Running a close second to coffee and tea as the world’s most popular drink is soda pop. The number one reason Americans have the highest rate of diabetes in the world is because of the high number of soft drinks that our population consumes.

Milk

A lot of people around the world use milk in their coffee or their tea. Even this tradition is changing, with the Vegans, who don’t use dairy products taking over the world. We could see the use of soy milk, rice milk, and other dairy substitutes showing up soon in coffee & tea.

What Makes It Special

Caribou Coffee sells many different gourmet products, including ready-made coffee and coffee beans, various loose-leaf teas, blended drinks, cold coffee drinks, and even clothing and accessories. They even have a line of flavored lattes and non-coffee smoothies which have become wildly popular.

One of the greatest claims to fame that Caribou Coffee can make is that they beat out more than 40 other coffee brands for flavor and composition. They were ranked number one in national taste tests, beating out Starbucks coffee, which came in at number two.

Aside from the amazing flavor of Caribou Coffee, the corporation has made a huge impact on the environment by partnering up with Rainforest Alliance, in an effort to produce eco-friendly coffee. This alliance has received mixed reviews from the press; but Caribou Coffee remains dedicated to keeping their business practices environmentally friendly. They are also the first coffee company to become a volunteer sponsor of the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Producer Support Fund. The fund was established to help members who don’t have the funds to attend association events.

Controversy

In more recent times, Caribou Coffee has been at the center of much controversy as one of its largest stockholders is the First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain. This caused many to protest the sales of Caribou Coffee after 9/11, and caused a major rift among investors, as Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi was the bank’s Chairman of the Board. The controversy subsided slightly when al-Qaradawi stepped down that same year.

Despite the minor setbacks that Caribou Coffee experienced because of its investors, the fact remains that it produces some of the world’s finest coffees and teas. If you or someone you love is a coffee lover, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with a Caribou Coffee gift.

From prepackaged coffees and teas, to shirts and bags, there’s something for everyone at Caribou Coffee. Stop by their website and take a look at the many different products available for you and your friends. You’re sure to find something that will make everyone happy!

Braun KF510 – BK Aroma Deluxe

This model makes ten cups of coffee and is designed with a built in Brita water filter which improves the taste of your coffee by removing unwanted contaminants as well as chlorine and it also stops calcification from occurring. The unit is provided with a mark situated on the top portion of the water tank which gives you an indication when it is time to replace the water filter. This Braun coffee maker was built with a fast brewing process which captures the flavor from the ground coffee.

The model is designed with a filter basket that swings out for easy removal and filling. The model also has a convenient pause capability which allows you to pour a cup of coffee during the brewing process. It was designed with a large size power button which is rather easy to locate. It comes with an attractive carafe which is designed to provide you a solid grip. This Braun coffee maker is provided with a one year warranty.

Braun KF590 Impressions Programmable Coffee Maker

This model provides ten cups of coffee and has the convenience of being programmable. If you desire, you can wake up in the morning and take in the aroma of the coffee brewing. This Braun coffee maker is designed with a twenty four hour timer which allows you to set the automatic brewing in advance and it was also designed to automatically shut down from twenty minutes up to four hours after the brewing process has been completed. With the convenient pause feature you have the opportunity to remove the carafe and poor yourself a cup of coffee during the brewing process.

This Braun coffee maker has a marker situated on the top of the water tank which serves as a convenient water level indicator. This model comes with an attractive carafe made from glass and has a non-slip handle which makes it easy to pour a cup of coffee. The unit was made with parts that are dishwasher safe which makes clean up quite easy to perform.

The model is also provided with a Brita water filter which removes substances that can hurt the flavor of the water you use to make your coffee. This model comes with a one year warranty.

The drink has become synonymous with attempting to wake up when the night before was filled with little or restless sleep. It is also black coffee that many attribute to their functionality the day following a night of the heavy consumption of alcohol. The strength of the brew, determined by the time the hot water spends mixing with the grounds, is a matter of individual taste, but the perception of strong black coffee being a way stay awake has been a long-held belief.

From the early days of putting coffee grounds directly into the water and bringing it to a boil to today’s automatic coffee makers that control the brewing time and temperature, black coffee remains one of the longest lasting formulas in the food chain. Despite all the efforts to brew the perfect cup of coffee, individual taste may prevent that from happening on a massive scale.

Anything More Than Grounds Turns Water Into Soup

For true coffee lovers, adding milk, sugar or flavors to their black coffee is nothing more than trying to create a coffee-based soup. Flavored hot water that contains more than the basic amount of coffee grounds is seen as attempt to create a new food item. After all, is the claim, soup is hot flavored water and they prefer their coffee remain as hot water flavored with nothing more than coffee grounds.

While black coffee has a reputation as being able to help people remain alert when tired, the caffeine in the coffee is not diluted by the addition of other products. In fact, some believe that caffeine’s bitter flavor is overcome by flavorings and make it more palatable in order for them to benefit from the stimulating affects of the caffeine.

The majority of black coffee drinkers would never think of drinking it after setting in a cup long enough to reach room temperature, but there is a growing market for iced coffee, often served without additional flavorings or sweeteners.

Remember the days when you drank instant coffee or generic coffee from the supermarket? It was probably all right with lots of cream and sugar, or you didn’t really pay attention because you just needed to drink it to wake up and get on with your day. Artisan coffee doesn’t rely on sweeteners to make it taste good. Artisan coffee is coffee that tastes good right from the beginning. The beans that go into artisan coffee are selected because they produce the best tasting coffee.

The Process

The process of making artisan coffee starts right from the growing. You will find that many artisan coffees are organic and boast bird friendly status as well as being fair trade. Artisan coffee is often a very environmentally friendly product. This accounts for the higher price of artisan coffee. Organic beans do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides a major concern when you think about the effect of these chemicals on your health in the long term.

Bird friendly coffee also requires less chemicals in the growing process and also means that coffee is grown in a way that supports migratory birds who badly need habitat occupied by coffee farms. Fair trade coffee also assures the consumer that the farmers who grow the coffee are getting a fair price for their produce.

The Taste

Artisan coffee is tasted and tested by trained professionals who can detect the subtle nuances in coffee that separates good coffee from great coffee. The production of artisan coffee also focuses on quality, not quantity. You’ll be able to see the big difference in artisan coffee and the coffee served in big coffee chain stores. There is just no comparing the two, as most chain stores water down their coffee to suit everyone’s tastes.

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