Tag: coffee beans

5 homemade beauty products using coffee beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

Get creative with your skin care routine and start using coffee beans to brighten up your complexion, make your hair more shiny and reduce under eye shadows.

1. Coffee bean hair shine
Before you shampoo your hair, massage in a handful of ground coffee beans to your wet hair, rinse and wash your hair as usual. Surprisingly, the coffee beans work by removing any build up of products and will leave your hair feeling irresistibly smooth, soft and silky. However, if you have bleached or blonde hair, the coffee beans could temporarily darken the tone so be careful.

2. Exfoliating scrub with coffee beans
Forget expensive body scrubs – gather together your coffee bean supplies and make your own skin exfoliator with ground coffee beans, sugar and olive oil (or a base oil of your choice). You can then experiment and use different essential oils if you don’t want your skin to smell of coffee beans.

3. Chocolate coffee face mask
Many skin care products use caffeine as a main ingredient as coffee beans are great for your skin. Use ground coffee beans mixed with cocoa, honey and yoghurt to create a yummy coffee bean face mask. Leave the mixture on your face for 10 minutes, wash and pat dry.

4. Coffee beans for cellulite
Use ground coffee beans mixed with warm water and olive oil, then apply generously to your cellulite and wrap up with cling film. Leave the mixture on your skin for 10-15 minutes and wash off. If this seems too messy, you could just make the coffee exfoliating scrub and use some cellulite cream that contains caffeine.

5. Coffee beans for tired eyes
Mix ground coffee beans, honey, aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil together and then apply the mixture generously to the delicate area around your eyes. When used regularly, you should see the bags under your eyes start to brighten and the puffiness reduced.

Get rid of cellulite with coffee beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

It has been known for some time that beauty products containing coffee beans might help to reduce cellulite. However, a new product called Slimming Coffee Cream, created by Cinq Mondes has brought coffee beans and cellulite to the fore once again.

So, how do coffee beans help to reduce cellulite?

Products such as the Cinq Mondes Slimming Cream work by draining the toxins that cause fatty deposits. The caffeine basically breaks down the fat cells under your skin, helping to reverse the orange peel effect.

Coffee beans also contain xanthines – a substance found naturally in the human body. Xanthines basically help to increase fat breakdown resulting in smoother, healthier looking skin.

The key apparently to using products that contain caffeine is to use the product early in the morning, late at night or at times when you’re not about to eat. These products work best when your insulin levels are low.

What causes cellulite in the first place?

Although the causes of cellulite are not fully understood yet, the most common causes are:

  • Hormones — Some researchers believe that oestrogen, insulin and thyroid hormones can cause cellulite.
  • Diet — Eating food high in fat, carbohydrates and salt could be a contributing factor. Also, not enough fiber in your diet could cause more cellulite to develop.
  • Lifestyle — Smokers, people who don’t exercise enough and people who site down for long periods of time may have an increased risk of developing excess cellulite.
  • Clothes — Tight underwear or clothing that limits your blood flow could also increase your chances of developing cellulite.

 

Other than coffee beans and caffeine, how else can cellulite be removed?

There’s a lot of information out there about coffee beans and caffeine breaking down fat; but there are other methods to reduce the orange peel effect. Birch oil is a common favourite; fake tan will visually make your cellulite look better; and FitFlops are special shoes designed to tone and shape your legs.

Massaging and scrubbing areas where you have cellulite could also make a huge difference. You could even make your own body lotion and exfoliating cellulite busting products with sugar and ground coffee beans mixed in with a base moisturiser or shower gel.

Coffee beans may prevent depression

Posted on by Sara Walker

Coffee beans

A few years ago, scientists from Harvard Medical School researched the relationship between coffee beans and depression in women. You can read the full report published by the Jama Network here.

From 1996 to 2006 50,739 US women who were free from depressive symptoms at baseline recorded the amount of coffee they consumed on a daily basis through regular questionaires.

The results showed that after 2006 when the experiment ended only 2,600 women showed symptoms of depression at some point during the experiment; however, these women tended to be low coffee drinkers or they didn’t drink any coffee at all.

At the other end of the scale, the women who consumed more coffee beans – between two to three cups of coffee a day – decreased their risk of getting depression by as much as 15%. Participants who had as much as four cups or more of coffee a day decreased their risk of getting depression by as much as 20%.

Although researchers aren’t entirely sure why coffee beans might help to prevent depression, it is thought that caffeine enhances your mood by altering the chemical pathways in your brain.

With no solid evidence, the results, however, could just be a coincidence. Perhaps people who are on the verge of getting depression don’t drink much coffee as it can disturb sleep – one of the side effects of depression.

Some researchers, however, believe the results make sense and tie in with previous research that focused on the relationship between caffeine and suicide. It’s thought that caffeine works by blocking adenosine which according to Professor Bertil Fredholm in a BBC report, works by producing a similar efffect to increasing dopamine production.

So, although the results aren’t set in stone, drinking coffee regularly might decrease your chances of developing depression. It would be interesting to see if coffee beans could also help to make depression more bearable in people who have the illness.

3 delicious iced coffee recipes

Posted on by Sara Walker

Today, I had my first iced coffee of the year – a delicious mix of espresso, milk, ice and sugar. However, as I was drinking I found myself feeling a little frustrated that all the sugar had gone straight to the bottom of the cup, so I had to keep stirring with my straw. Next time I think I’ll just abandon sugar completely and get creative with my iced coffees.

If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, try some of these yummy iced coffee recipes.

1. Nutella Iced Coffee

Ingredients: freshly ground coffee beans, Nutella, vanilla essence, milk or condensed milk, cream, and ice

For the Nutella iced coffee you can either use instant coffee or freshly ground coffee beans depending on your preference. The next step is to make a regular cup of coffee, pour it into a blender, add a tablespoon of Nutella, a few drops of vanilla essence and ice. Blend for a while, chill, squirt cream over the top, drink and enjoy.

2. Amaretto Iced Coffee

Ingredients: freshly ground coffee beans, Amaretto flavoured coffee syrup (follow the link to buy from Wholesale Coffee Company), milk, cream and ice.

Follow the above instructions to make yummy amaretto iced coffee. We also sell other coffee flavoured syrups such as Irish Cream, White Chocolate and Ginger. Get creative and start experimenting.

3. Blackcurrant Tea Iced Coffee

Ingredients: brewed blackcurrant tea, one espresso shot made from freshly ground coffee beans, and honey or agave syrup (if you’ve got a sweet tooth).

Pour all the ingredients into a blend and whizz until smooth. This one might sound a bit strange, but freshly brewed coffee beans often have notes of blackcurrant – the blackcurrant tea, therefore, helps to emphasise the natural flavours. You can serve it as an iced coffee cocktail with fresh blackcurrants on top.

Watch this video from delish.com How to make Iced Coffee

It’s time for the third wave of coffee – taste your coffee beans like your wine

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee heart

What is the third wave of coffee?

Rather than coffee beans being a commodity like wheat, there’s a fast growing movement aiming to make coffee beans a niche market like chocolate, tea and wine.

Features of the third wave include direct trade, single-origin (as opposed to coffee blends), light roasts, better quality coffee beans and latte art.

But what really distinguishes the third wave of coffee (or the speciality coffee) is that the production process is fair (even more fair than fair-trade). Quality control is exceptional; coffee roasters and coffee growers have good direct relationships; and it means that coffee farmers get to take a cut of the retail profits.

What are the first and second waves of coffee?

Maxwell House has been singled out as the face of the first wave – good quality, consistent and convenient coffee in a can. For the second wave, think Starbucks and the rise of the coffee culture which incorporates the above, plus romance, sophistication and sociability.

It’s not as if the third wave will replace the second – you don’t walk into a bar and demand to taste all the wines. But, similar to wine, there will be more options to taste and you’ll be able to read the stories behind the coffee beans.

With third wave coffee you’ll know, specifically, where your coffee beans came from, who picked the cherries and who roasted them to the delicious golden brown colour associated with third wave brews.

In some respects, the third wave is about bringing coffee back to its roots. Starbucks invented the flat white, skinny, soy latte, Frappuccino… coffees, whereas the third wave/ speciality coffee is all about the unique flavour of different types of coffee beans.

The third wave isn’t a gimmick – it’s about realising that there’s more to your cup of coffee than the coffee machine or the barista that served it to you.

Buy delicious wholesale coffee beans here

For more information about Third Wave coffee check out Third-wave coffee: Hold the Wi-fi. Extra flavour

Come to London Coffee Festival: 25-28 April 2013

Posted on by Sara Walker

The London Coffee Festival

Tea may well be our national drink, but coffee is catching up – it’s now the drink of choice for many us throughout the UK. So, what better way to celebrate your love for coffee beans and stock up on your coffee bean supplies than at the London Coffee Festival?

The London Coffee Festival is your chance to celebrate London’s thriving coffee culture and will consist of coffee tasting sessions, barista demonstrations, gourmet food stalls, live entertainment and more. The festival is expected to attract over 15,000 coffee lovers, baristas and coffee shop owners from around the UK.

Highlights include:

True Artisan Café

Here you’ll be able to sample coffee beans made from some of the best roasters in the UK, and drink coffee made by top baristas, in this pop-up coffee shop.

L’accademia Di Cimbali

The MUMAC Museum Milan will be featuring over 200 unique coffee machines and over 15,000 archive documents all about coffee. You’ll get the chance to learn more about the history of coffee, coffee machines and coffee supplies from 1912-2012.

UK Barista Championships

Over the weekend, baristas will be battling it out to win the title of UK Barista Champion. All participating baristas have to make 12 coffees in front of a panel of judges. You can watch the show this Sunday at 1pm.

The Lab Programme

Take part in interactive workshops, talks and debates about ethical issues and coffee growing. You can also find out how to open up your own coffee shop, learn more about the rich history of coffee, or just sit back with a brew and relax.

Hyde Park Music Band Stand

The Hyde Park zone will start on Friday with the Espresso Martini Launch Party followed by some phenomenal performances from some of London’s best acoustic musicians and entertainers.

Shoreditch Food Zone

When you start to get peckish, head over to the Shoreditch Zone to sample a variety of gourmet foods, tasty street treats and different types of yummy coffee beans.

For more information see The London Coffee Festival

The rise of the suspended coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

suspended coffee

Italy was the first country to introduce the idea of a ‘suspended coffee’. The idea has since spread to Bulgaria and hopefully will take off in the UK.

What is a suspended coffee?

Rather than giving money to homeless people on the streets or those struggling financially, you can now buy people suspended coffees or sandwiches at coffee shops participating in the scheme.

So, when you’re buying your morning cup of coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans, you can buy another one for someone else. Your purchase is tallied on a board, so when someone is in need of food or a drink, they can come in and claim their free coffee or sandwich.

With coffee shops, outlets and coffee machines dotted about all over our high streets, I’d like to think this idea will take off throughout the UK. Coffee 7 near Forest Gate station in London is taking part in the scheme and Costa Coffee has been inundated with requests to introduce suspended coffee.

So, will the idea spread? It’s popular in Italy and now Bulgaria, but what about the UK? There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work. After all, many people want to help those who are struggling financially but don’t want the money to go on drugs or cigarettes.

I sometimes buy hot drinks for homeless people; however, if you’re in a rush, buying a suspended coffee when you’re buying a drink for yourself anyway is a brilliant idea and will probably encourage more people to give. I think the idea of suspended coffee could be a positive move forwards to a more giving, empathetic society.

It’s a scheme that will hopefully bring out the best in human nature. What have the coffee shops got to lose? It’s a win-win situation for everyone. And who knows where it might lead – imagine suspended clothing, computers or even holidays.

You can find out more about Suspended Coffee and read hear warming stories by visiting the suspended coffee Facebook page.

How to make the perfect cup of coffee in a cafetière

Posted on by Sara Walker

latte art

Once you’ve stocked up on your coffee bean supplies and you’ve got yourself a decent cafetière (French Press), how do you make the perfect coffee with freshly ground coffee beans? Wholesale Coffee Company explains how.

Before you begin

Before you spoon in the ground coffee beans, preheat your cafetière with hot water.

Which coffee beans should I use?

We recommend coarse to medium ground coffee beans for coffee brewed in a cafetière; however, by all means, experiment and see which flavours you like best. Check with your coffee supplier to find out which coffee beans are the most suitable for use with a cafetière.

How much coffee do I need?

As a guide, aim for two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee beans for every cup of coffee.

Making the perfect cup of coffee in five steps

Once you have your coffee beans and you’ve prepared your cafetière, you’re now ready to start making coffee.

1. First place your ground coffee in the cafetière with a small amount of hot water – just enough to wet the coffee beans in the cafetière. It’s a good idea to leave the boiled water standing for about 30 seconds before you pour it in.

2. You can then pour the rest of the water into the cafetière. You’ll notice that the darker your brew, the more froth there will be on the top.

3. After a few moments, you can add more water if necessary, then place the plunger and the cafetière lid on top; however, don’t push the plunger down just yet.

4. After four minutes, you can then push the plunger down slowly.

5. You’re now ready to drink your coffee. Drink it black, white or add some flavoured syrups. Enjoy.

Buy coffee beans online

Buy flavoured syrups for coffee online

Fancy a coffee break in Columbia?

Posted on by Sara Walker

560x235_coffee_plantation

If you love coffee, why not visit one of the World’s greatest coffee suppliers – Columbia – home to top quality, Arabica coffee beans, lush coffee plantations, paradise beaches, and picturesque towns.

Until recently, Columbia was one of the South American countries that wasn’t as popular with tourists. People went backpacking round Peru, Brazil and Venezuela, but Columbia remained relatively untouched.  However, once the Columbian government started to crack down on crime and put the annual $1.6bn of aid money to good use, the tourists have started to take an interest.

Columbia is after all a major producer of coffee beans – the industry plays a big part in the Columbian economy and cultural identity. As a result, there is now such a thing as coffee holiday breaks in Columbia’s coffee region, located around the lush green Central Cordillera branch of the Andes.

Columbian coffee holidays

Holy Monkey Travel organises coffee tours which involve staying in a traditional coffee plantation house with stunning views over the valley and coffee plantations. During the tour you’ll get the chance to experience how coffee beans are grown and how the green coffee beans in the plantations are transformed into delicious cups of fresh coffee.

On top of this, you will get to have a tour of the region’s top sites including Cocora Valley which is supposed to be home to the World’s most magnificent trees; you can sample home cooked Columbian cuisine; visit picturesque Columbian villages, and of course, drink lots of delicious coffee made from fresh Columbian coffee beans.

So, if you love coffee, culture and beautiful countryside, a coffee holiday in Columbia could be just what you’re looking for. There’s also the added bonus of going somewhere that hasn’t been destroyed by excess tourism.

For more information, you can visit the Holy Monkey Coffee Break page to read more about the tour.

Image source: holymonkeytravel.com

Pod coffee machines increase in popularity

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee machines

From commercial coffee machines to barista perfected brews, there are now dozens of ways to make a great cup of coffee. However, there’s now a new way to make coffee using a coffee pod machine.

Over the last year they’ve steadily been rising in popularity – by as much as 45.1% from the previous year according to the Guardian.

Despite the fact that the coffee isn’t supposed to taste as nice as a freshly made brew and pod coffee machines are currently bad for the environment, Michelin-starred restaurants and individuals have been snapping them up for their kitchens.

So, if the coffee isn’t supposed to be that great and they’re bad for the environment, what’s the appeal? The answer seems to be efficiency, in the same way that ready-made meals are quick to make. You just pop one of the coffee pods into the coffee machine and you have coffee several minutes later – just like putting a ready-made meal in the microwave.

Although pod coffee machines are quite expensive compared to using your own fresh coffee beans, many restaurants find it cheaper as they don’t have to hire baristas. Currently, 30% of top UK restaurants have coffee pod machines in their kitchens, including the restaurant of legendary chef, Heston Blumenthal.

So, is this all just a new fad or the future of how we consume coffee? It seems like the real success behind pod coffee machines is not necessarily the product – which does look very chic – but the marketing, branding and advertising. With George Clooney behind some of the Nespresso ads, and the selling of an irresistibly sophisticated lifestyle, it’s obvious why the pods are doing so well.

But are these coffee machines sustainable? Currently, no, because the individual coffee pods are made from plastic and aluminium. Realistically, the plastic should be recyclable but currently most coffee pods cannot be recycled properly in the UK. With some brands such as Tassimo T-Discs, there aren’t enough designated places in the UK where the pods can be disposed of properly.

However, I’m sure with time there will be a more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of the pods. At least, I hope so. It would certainly make these chocolate box like pods of coffee even more appealing.