Tag: coffee beans

Green coffee beans for weight loss – FAQs

Posted on by Sara Walker

green coffee beansEarlier this year Wholesale Coffee Company reported that green coffee beans were being used to help people lose weight and burn fat more quickly.

In a recent press release written by Overallhealth.org, it seems that green coffee beans have been increasing in popularity over the last three months – ever since they were featured on the Dr Oz show in the US.

Although, consuming green coffee beans for weight loss is a relatively new idea and further research would need to be conducted to see the long term implications, this is what we know so far about green coffee beans.

Green coffee beans for weight loss – FAQs

What are green coffee beans?

All coffee beans are green before they are roasted.  When you take green coffee beans to lose weight they come in the form of a supplement such as pure green coffee bean extract. The ingredient that helps with weight loss is called chlorogenic acid – it’s strong in green beans but not the roasted kind.

Why is the chlorogenic acid in green beans used for weight loss?

Chlorogenic acid works by stopping the liver from releasing glucose into your blood stream and reducing the amount of new fat cells that are produced. Green coffee beans are also high in anti-oxidants which are also used to help reduce the number of fat cells in your body.

What are the side effects of using green coffee beans for weight loss?

Currently, there have been no reports of any negative side effects; however, if you are sensitive to caffeine, you may experience similar effects to drinking a cup of coffee.

How much caffeine is in green coffee bean extract?

Although, naturally, green coffee beans contain less caffeine than roasted coffee beans, green coffee extract which is used for weight loss, contains approximately the same amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee.

How do you take green coffee beans for weight loss?

Rather than eating raw green coffee beans, you can buy green coffee extract which comes in the form of a capsule.

You can learn more about green coffee beans here

Coffee beans and green tea may lower your chances of getting cardiovascular disease

Posted on by Sara Walker

Coffee beansWholesale Coffee Company discovers new research conducted in Japan indicating that  coffee beans and green tea may reduce your chances of getting cardiovascular disease.

The healing properties of coffee beans have been recognised for years with some studies suggesting that regular coffee consumption can lower your risk of cancer, regulate blood pressure and even get rid of cellulite when massaged into the skin.

More recently, however, Japanese researchers have discovered that drinking coffee and green tea regularly might reduce your risk of getting stroke or cardiovascular disease by as much as 20%. This is the first study of its kind involving as many as 82, 369 Japanese adults aged between 45 and 66.

Participants were followed over a period of 13 years. The results suggest that participants who consumed at least one cup of coffee a day lowered their risk of having a stroke by as much as 20%. The same results were found in the participants who consumed four cups of green tea a day.

Why does research suggest coffee beans may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease?

Victoria J. Burley, A senior lecturer at the University of Leeds, suggested that both coffee beans and green tea leaves have anti-inflammatory properties which could explain the results. Anti-inflammatory properties in food and drink are thought to lower the risk of getting a cardiovascular disease. Coffee beans are also high in antioxidants which could also explain the positive results.

The NHS, made the point that we should be cautious of such findings. The study, after all, was conducted in Japan with only Japanese people. However, cultural, genetic and environmental factors were not taken into consideration.

Nevertheless, it’s certainly an interesting study; however, more research is needed to give a conclusive answer. If for example, you consume more coffee beans than what’s required for the average cup of coffee, would the results be different?

Is it possible to become immune to the healing effects of coffee of green tea? If coffee beans and green tea can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, what other unknown health benefits are there?

Commercial coffee machines from the future

Posted on by Sara Walker

commercial-coffee-machinesAt some point in the future, you could see the commercial coffee machines in your office get an upgrade.

Forget waiting around in queues for your morning coffee because the future could bring us Wi-Fi tablet controlled, commercial coffee machines.

Although Wi-Fi coffee machines aren’t currently available on the market, Qualcomm did present one at the 2013 Mobile World Congress. Could this be a taster of what’s to come?

The design basically functions as a regular coffee machine apart from the fact that it’s powered with one of Qualcomm’s Atheros 4100 chips.

If the coffee machine existed, users would be able to order their coffee using a simple hand held tablet. So, rather than physically pressing buttons on a large machine, you’d be able to have so much more control over how your coffee is made.

Using the tablet, you’d be able to choose your preferred coffee beans as well as the strength, size and brewing time. Then once your drink is ready, your tablet will inform you – presumably with some sort of alarm system – when your drink is ready.

At present, there are no plans to manufacture commercial coffee machines with Wi-Fi; however, it certainly sounds like it might take off at some point.

It does make me wonder though – what happens if someone orders their coffee and then forgets to pick it up from the machine or other priorities somehow prevent you from collecting your cup?

Will the machine get confused and overloaded like a factory production line working on the highest speed? I’m sure this has already been thought of though.

So, what does the future hold for all our electrical appliances? If commercial coffee machines can have Wi-Fi, what about other vending machines or our everyday household items?

Will we become a nation of super lazy people or could this be the beginning of a brand new technological revolution with products designed to make us as efficient and productive as we possibly can be?

 Image: Coffee Beans to cup coffee machine

Love fresh tea, quality coffee beans and cute cats? Visit Britain’s first cat cafe

Posted on by Sara Walker

cat cafe
Wholesale Coffee Company is excited to announce that in just a couple of months, Britain’s very first cat cafe will open in London.

Not only will you be able to buy good quality coffee beans, and drink tasty tea and cakes, you’ll also be able to play with cats.

Once the café is open, there will be between 10 and 15 cats that will roam freely around the café for you to stroke, cuddle and play with while you relax.

Cat lover and entrepreneur, Lauren Pears is the brains behind Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. After her idea was featured in the Independent, she managed to collect donations from the public totalling £100,000.

The idea may be unique here, but in Japan cat cafes have been popular for years.  The reason being – in Tokyo, many estate agents ban pets, so visiting a cat café is a good compromise.

Some sociologists have also come to the conclusion that cats can provide comfort in societies with an ageing population and fewer children.

Although, many of us in Britain are allowed to keep pets in our homes, some estate agents aren’t happy accommodating cats. Many young people also find it hard to commit financially. So, seeing as we’re a nation of cat lovers, I’m sure Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium will be a huge success.

So, where will all the cats come from? They will be rescue cats from the Mayhew Animal Home located in north-west London in Kensal Green.

Some critics have argued that the cats would be better off in a home with a solid family rather than a changing group of people; however, surely not all cats find good homes straight away, and they’d be far better off in the cat café than a rescue centre.

Pears responded to the criticism by saying that she was going to recruit volunteers who would be able to look after the cats during the night.

Would you drink your coffee in a toilet?

Posted on by Sara Walker

attendantWhen did coffee machines, coffee beans and err…toilets mix so well together? Apparently only a few weeks ago when the Attendant Café in central London opened.

I’ve seen some pretty innovative uses of space in the past – shipping containers converted into homes, disused tunnels used for art exhibitions and an old train that was turned into a café. But, the Attendant Café took it one step further.

The owners rather creatively, turned public toilet in a disused Victorian underground station, into a rather trendy, chic looking café.

However, it’s not just about the toilet gimmick, the Attendant also serves a variety of top quality coffee beans sourced from all over the world and  uses only the best coffee machines and roasters – so you can expect nothing less than great coffee.

You can also buy fresh gourmet sandwiches, soup, salad and a variety of delicious cakes and other yummy sweet treats.

From the outside, black signs with ‘The Attendant’ written in gold decorate the ornate iron archway leading down into the café. Despite the fact that it used to be a toilet, it’s become an iconic building in its own right and dates back to 1890.

Once upon a time, the sickly stench of urine might have wafted up the staircase, but now all you can smell is the comforting aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and good quality food.

The toilet may have gone, but some of the original details remain. The urinals have been re-purposed and the original Victorian tiling is still part of the interior. Other details include lampshades that have been positioned underneath an old cistern and the tiling adorning the entrance.

Overall, I reckon they’ve done an excellent job – I don’t think I’ve ever seen urinals look so beautiful. Thumbs up for the Attendant Café.

How to bake a 2 minute microwave cake in a cup with coffee beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

Cake baking doesn’t have to be a time consuming activity or something reserved only for microwave cake with coffee beansspecial occasions. Follow the Wholesale Coffee Company guide to baking a microwave cake in a cup using freshly ground coffee beans.

Sometimes it’s nice to just treat yourself. Plus, the great thing about this recipe is it only takes a couple of minutes to make. And you don’t need to faff around with the scales!

Ingredients

  • Half an egg
  • 2 tbsp self-raising flour
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • Ground coffee beans
  • 1 tbsp butter

Optional Ingredients

  • Cream
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Chocolate

 

Instructions

  1. Mix a large table spoon of butter with an equal amount of brown sugar in a small mixing bowl until smooth.
  2. Crack half an egg into the mixture and then sieve in the self-raising flour until the mixture is smooth.
  3. You can now add some freshly ground coffee beans, plus double cream, vanilla extract and cinnamon as optional extras
  4. It’s now time to spoon your mixture into a suitable, microwave proof cup. Make sure you don’t fill it to the top or your cake will rise over the cup.
  5. Finally, place your cup in the microwave and cook for an initial one minute. You can then check the mixture with a fork to see if it’s ready. If the mixture is still runny, put the cake back in and keep cooking.
  6. You’re now ready to indulge and eat your cake. If you’re feeling in a sweet mood, drizzle dark melted chocolate over the top, sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy your cake.

 

Microwave cake baking tips with coffee beans

When you’re baking, weighing all the ingredients out can be time consuming, which is why I’ve suggested you use table spoons to measure your ingredients.

The general rule for a basic sponge cake is to make sure all the base ingredients – butter, eggs and sugar are equally proportioned. You can then add a touch more flour. For a heavier recipe, add more egg and vice versa for a Victoria sponge cake.

When you’re baking in the microwave, you could make about 10 different cakes in the time it usually takes to make one in the oven. Try experimenting with measurements and different types of coffee beans to see what you like best.

Love coffee beans? Become a barista

Posted on by Sara Walker

baristaWho wants to operate the coffee machines at Costa?

It was recently reported that a new
Costa coffee shop in Nottingham was inundated with applications – 1,701 to be specific – for eight new barista roles.

The amount of applications came as a surprise, especially as some applicants had as much as 15 years’ experience in retail. Did all these people just have a love for coffee beans? Were they all desperate for a job? Or is there something quite appealing about the barista label?

Barista after all has no stigma attached – not that there’s a stigma attached with sales assistant, bar person or café worker; it’s just that barista sounds more sophisticated. It has an attractive edge. Even in Hollywood, actors playing baristas are often portrayed as cool, calm and really attractive.

Barista has become more than just a job title – it’s become a sub culture with its own dress code, magazine (Barista Magazine) and attitude; there’s even a World Barista Championship. How many other job roles have all this?

But is this just an illusion? Would the newly appointed baristas in the Costa coffee shop in Nottingham feel part of this culture or has the role of the barista simply been glamorised? Barista after all, means bartender in Italian.

Other than the culture, there has to be more to it. There’s no denying that being a barista in a busy coffee shop must be hard work and stressful at times; however, perhaps other things make up for it – working with lovely people, nice lighting and the smell of freshly ground coffee beans.

Or perhaps – going back to the second paragraph of questions, people just need jobs and Costa would have received the same amount of applications regardless of the initial advert.

Despite times being tough – job wise – I do think there’s something we can learn from the barista culture. Rather than stigmatising certain job roles, we should be looking to create  – not necessarily sub cultures for every individual job title – but creating nice atmospheres and a lovely working environment with a sense of community could be a start.

How to Roast Your own Coffee Beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee roasting timesRoasting your own coffee beans isn’t as hard as you might think. Although you can splash out on coffee roasting equipment, if you’ve got a reasonably well stocked kitchen, all you’ll need is the following:

Coffee Bean Roasting Equipment

  • An oven
  • An oven tray with holes in it
  • A metal colander
  • Some green coffee beans.

Some people might suggest using a heat gun or a popcorn popper, but for your first attempt I’d start with the oven.

So, how do you roast your own coffee beans? Follow the Wholesale Coffee Company step by step process for easy oven roasting.

1. Pre-heat your oven to at least 200 degrees celsius – 250 should be sufficient. You should then make sure your kitchen is well ventilated as coffee roasting will produce some smoke.

2. Place your green coffee beans on a metal baking tray with tiny holes in it. You might want to do a test batch first. Alternatively, keep some of your favourite coffee beans to hand so you can roast your own coffee beans to a similar shade.

For more information about coffee bean colours and roasting times visit Sweet Maria’s Coffee Library. You’ll be able to see pictures of coffee beans going through the roasting process and find out the difference between a Vienna Light Roast and Full City Roast.

3. Throughout the roasting process you should hear clicking/ cracking sounds which is normal. After about 15-20 minutes check on the beans and remove them from the oven if they look ready.

4. Remove your freshly roasted coffee beans from the tray and place them in a metal colander to cool.

5. Finally, once they’re cool (some people wait 24 hours before using them) they’re ready to consume. Make yourself a delicious cup of homemade coffee, sit back and relax.

For added flavour check out Wholesale Coffee Company’s yummy syrups. Choose from over 10 different flavours including Irish Cream, White Chocolate and Amaretto.

Image Source: www.sweetmarias.com

Tiramisu – the coffee lover’s dessert

Posted on by Sara Walker

TiramisuTiramisu, or Italian trifle, is the perfect pud for an adult dinner party – it’s light, creamy and gives that all-important coffee kick. It’s also quick and easy to assemble, and requires no cooking. Try these miniature versions for a variation on the traditional theme.

You’ll need (serves 4):

  • 100ml/3½fl oz of strong espresso coffee, preferably made freshly from ground, roasted coffee beans
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons of coffee liquer – try Kahlua or Tia Maria
  • 4 boudoir (sponge finger) biscuits, available in most large supermarkets or delicatessens
  • 2 large or 3 small egg whites
  • 250g/9oz mascarpone cheese
  • 2 tablespoons icing sugar
  • 2 – tablespoons of sherry, or other strong sweet wine
  • Cocoa powder, chocolate shavings and chocolate-covered coffee beans, to decorate

What to do

Make up the fresh coffee in your usual way, and let it cool completely. Mix in the coffee liqueur. Break each sponge finger into small pieces, and divide them between four small glass bowls, or shallow stemmed cocktail glasses. Pour the coffee mixture over the bicuits, making sure there are no dry bits left sticking out – push the biscuits down with a spoon if necessary until they’re completely submerged.

Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until they form soft peaks. Test that the eggs are sufficiently whisked by tipping the bowl slightly; the whisked mixture shouldn’t move.

In a separate bowl, beat together the mascarpone, icing sugar and sherry until completely smooth and blended. Use a metal spoon to fold the egg whites into the cheese mixture, taking care to keep as much volume as possible.

Spoon the mixture over the biscuits, one spoonful at a time so that it falls in attractive swirls. Chill the bowls for half an hour in the refrigerator, then dust with cocoa and top with chocolate shavings. Add a chocolate-covered coffee bean to the top of each dessert, and serve.

 

 

Tempting coffee cake toppings

Posted on by Sara Walker

icingWhile coffee makes a great baking ingredient, adding flavour to many cake recipes, it works equally well as a cake topping. Use one of these ideas to quickly jazz up any plain cake, such as Victoria, Genoise or chocolate sponge, Madeira cake, plain muffins or cupcakes.

 

Coffee glacé icing

You’ll need:

  • 100g/4oz icing sugar, sieved
  • 15ml spoon/1 tablespoon strong black coffee, made from freshly-ground coffee beans

Mix the sugar and coffee together until thoroughly combined, then spread over the top of the cake. For a variation, add two teaspoons of cocoa powder to the mix along with a few drops of extra coffee.

Coffee buttercream

You’ll need:

  • 125g/4½oz butter, softened
  • 200g/7oz icing sugar, sieved
  • 50ml/2fl oz strong black coffee, as above

Beat the butter and icing sugar together until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. Add in the coffee, and mix until thoroughly combined. Spread over the cake, and use a fork to draw decorative swirls.

Coffee frosting

Frosting is a U.S. version of buttercream, but tends to be even richer and sweeter.

  • You’ll need:
  • 3 teaspoons instant coffee
  • 125g/4½ oz butter, softened
  • 175g/7 oz icing sugar, sieved
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons single cream

Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then add in the remaining ingredients. Beat until thoroughly combined, and spread over the cake.

Coffee sauce

This easy, syrupy sauce is great poured over ice-cream. To revive dry cake, make holes all over the top with a skewer and pour the warm sauce over.

You’ll need:

  • 50g/2 oz butter
  • 4 tablespoons golden syrup
  • 50g/2 oz cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons strong black coffee, made from freshly-ground coffee beans.

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently until the butter’s melted, stirring constantly until combined. The sauce will keep for up to week once refrigerated.