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Perhaps you're an individual who looks forward to that first cup of coffee in the morning. You might be someone who loves to enjoy that iced cup of coffee in the afternoon. Regardless of the time, you already know that coffee isn't a beverage you're willing to give up. Still, you know that it's wise to make it a beverage that's as healthy as possible.

Plant-Based Creamers

When a beverage tastes great a certain way, it can be hard for some people to adjust. However, if you're a person who suffers from lactose intolerance, you'll have to make concessions. Thankfully, there are tons of plant-based alternatives for the person who needs to steer clear of dairy-based creamers and cow's milk. From caramel-infused oat milk creamers to vegan hot cocoa, there are plenty of dairy-free options to enjoy while being mindful of the taste.

Portion Control

While coffee provides its fair share of health benefits, it can be damaging when it's consumed in excess. If you suffer from anxiety, too much caffeine can exacerbate your symptoms. In order to eliminate this issue, use portion control to your advantage. If you don't want to pull out the measuring spoons to measure your instant coffee, incorporate a really convenient option like K Cups in order to ensure you're receiving a specific measurement every single time you brew a cup of coffee.

Sugar-Free Sweeteners

For many people, the major compromise with coffee involves sugar. The recommended daily amount of sugar for most adults is 24 grams of sugar. After a person adds syrup, creamer and whipped cream to their morning latte, they've consumed double that amount at the start of the day. In order to preserve your health and keep your blood sugar stable, consider sugar-free sweeteners. Read the sugar content on the labels of the boxes so that you know how much sugar you're actually consuming.

Spices and Complementary Flavors

To enhance the flavor of your coffee and increase the sophistication of your palette, consider adding flavors and spices to your morning brew. Incorporating spices like cinnamon, cardamom and ginger can add warmth that's akin to a rich chai latte. Cayenne pepper can add spice. A few drops of vanilla extract or maple extract can add another layer of incredible flavor.

As you get older, it becomes increasingly important to take good care of your body. The healthy habits you create will only benefit you when you look at the bigger picture. Sure, it might take some time for your tastebuds to get used to certain flavors. Still, it's worth the effort to become creative as you find the best ways to make a healthy cup of coffee for your health and enjoyment.

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Cafés and diners have an uncanny ability to make you want to sit down and stay a while. The smell of the coffee brewing and the delicious food served at these establishments definitely help to create a welcoming environment. If you want to capture that same feeling for your own kitchen, there are a few additions you can purchase for your kitchen to make it feel like your favorite diner or coffee shop.

Espresso Machine

The desire for gourmet coffee can prove to be quite an expensive habit. Fortunately, you can turn your kitchen into your own personal café by purchasing an espresso machine. You simply have to purchase the correct ingredients from your local grocery store and the espresso machine will craft gourmet cups of latte and cappuccino at a fraction of the cost.

Fancy Cookware

Every cook knows that the key to delicious food is to use the proper cookware. If you want to create meals with exceptional taste, copper cookware should be your one and only cookware option. Not only is something like a copper saucepan naturally antibacterial, but it is also a fantastic conductor of heat. This means that your food will cook more evenly, and you will have better cooking precision to braise and brown food without the risk of overcooking.

Toaster Oven

One of the best things about a café is the lingering smell of delicious pastries and sandwiches being cooked for hungry customers. You can easily recreate the wonderful scents and delicious tastes of café pastries and sandwiches by purchasing your own toaster oven. A toaster oven will allow you to toast sandwiches and warm pastries to go with your steaming cup of espresso while remaining in the comfort of your own home.

Air Fryer

Nothing makes you feel like you’re back in your hometown diner like the smell of fried food. Unfortunately, fried foods are notoriously unhealthy. This is due to the abundant amount of oil or lard required to fry the food. Modern invention has granted a boon to those who adore fried diner food by creating an air fryer. An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that uses the circulation of heat to fry food without the addition of oil. French fries, fried chicken, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets can now be fried in an air fryer to give you that genuine hometown diner experience with less fat and calories.

While on your journey to turn your kitchen into your favorite coffee shop, don’t forget about lighting. You can create the perfect café atmosphere through gentle lighting.

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31139467683?profile=originalA nice cup of coffee is how many people get each day started. You might enjoy the flavor additions that you can add or the burst of energy given by the caffeine to get you through the day. Instead of boring coffee, spice up each cup by making cafe-style brews that will make you think you’ve left home to grab your favorite treat.

The Right Equipment

Before brewing your coffee, you need to invest in the right kind of equipment. Get a scale to measure the beans or the coffee grounds that you use so that you get just the right amount of flavor in each cup or pot. If you want to use whole beans, then invest in a grinder so that you don’t have to take them somewhere to grind them. Get a mug or a cup that can hold both hot and cold coffees depending on what you like to drink.

Brewing

The way that you brew coffee can make a difference in the flavors that you taste. A coffee pot that you put on the stove often tends to deliver stronger flavors and a darker coffee. Drip pots tend to get the flavor spread evenly, but it can be hard to get the strong flavors that you might enjoy from your coffee because of the larger amount of water that is in the pot. Use filtered water when brewing to get a clean taste, especially if you have hard water that contains a lot of chemicals.

All in the Coffee

It’s sometimes better to get whole coffee beans, from a respectable coffee supplier, instead of grounds because they hold their flavor better. You can order a variety of coffee bean flavors online, giving you an opportunity to try something new each week or each month. When you store the beans that you get, make sure the container is airtight to keep the beans fresh and flavorful.

Additions

Choose your additions carefully when making cafe-style coffee. Liquid creamers are often better than powdered creamers when you’re looking for a flavor to pair with the flavor that comes from the coffee beans that are used. Spices are better to use than creamers if you want a pure flavor, such as cinnamon.

When you’re ready to make a cup of coffee in the morning or as a treat in the evening, make sure your supplies are in order. Use the freshest ingredients possible as well as those that have the purest flavor. Examine the equipment that is used as well, cleaning the pots used to brew at least every other day so that the oils don’t settle on the bottom of the container.

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Image Source: Pexels

If you like coffee at any time during the day or evening, then consider making a coffee bar in the home. Entertaining guests, especially in the winter months, is fun when you can offer warm beverages in many flavors as you want to include a variety of creamers and coffee blends in your bar. As you’re designing your bar, there are a few fun things that you can include as well as a few functional items that you want to make sure you have for the family and anyone who might come over who enjoys coffee.

Decorations

The decorations that you use should blend with the rest of the room. A benefit is that the coffee bar doesn't have to go in the kitchen. It could be placed in a living room, a den or anywhere else where you enjoy coffee. Create a menu on a chalkboard that details the kind of coffee that you have. Add a few coffee mugs and other decorations that would make you think that you're in a coffee shop, such as a book or two or a chair nearby with comfortable pillows. You want to create a space that's relaxing. It should be somewhere you can make a cup of coffee, espresso, hot chocolate or another drink that will soothe the body and soul at any time of the day or year.

Gather Your Supplies

One of the things that you're going to need is a coffee maker. The appliance should be a size that accommodates the amount of coffee that you drink or that you serve when entertaining. A Keurig machine is a good investment because you can use K-Cups, like those offered by 11th Street Coffee, with the machine. These small cups come in many flavors, such as donut blends, Italian roast and even a few name brands that you would normally get in large packages. Other supplies that you'll need are mugs, stirrers, sugar and any other kinds of flavorings that you want to include in your coffee.

Offer Extras

Aside from coffee, you want to have something else to enjoy. Set up a tray of cookies or other sweet treats in the morning. Another idea would be to set up a stand with various kinds of fruit. This would be a different way to get the morning started if you don't want to eat a large breakfast. Muffins are another item that you might want to have sitting on the bar.

A coffee bar in the home is something that will likely have everyone talking. Decorate with items that blend with the theme. Think about the people who might come to the home and drink with you as you want to have enough beverages to offer.

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Heart Of A Roaster/ Farmer

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Today I Would Like To Celebrate That Same Awareness. The Farmers Still Need Your Support Every Day, To Ensure That The Communities In Which They Live Thrive. They're Not Looking For Handouts, Or HYPE Programs Of Supporting Them. Farmers Look For And Depend On Authentic Connections And Rely On Fair, Even More Than Fair Solutions That Provide Lasting Sustainability. This Allows Them To Feel Proud Of The Products They Produce And Not Look Like The World Is Doing Them A Favor by Buying Their Products. It Really Is Mutuality. Simply Put,We Give Farmers What They Need And They Can Support Their Own Communities. I Will Say On A Side Note,"We The People" Have Our Own Problems In Our Own Communities. It's Hard To Speak Of Awareness And Not Touch Home. Any Reader That Would Like To Make A Difference, And is Unsure Where To Start, I Work With Several Companies And Individuals. It's Really The Small Steps We Take That Matter. Every BODY Chips In.

Anyone Wishing To Read On My Postings A Year Ago Today Feel Free To Read Them. I Would Also Like To Say The Past Is The Past. My Wounds Of The Situations Have Healed, And I'm Still Advocating For Farmers, For Veterans, And For Artists Alike. My Movement Towards Improvement. I Was Hesitant To Repost This Link Due To The Emotions Attached To My Poetry As Well As The Post. I Also Feel It's Fair And Valid For Me To Let My Readers And New Supporters Know Where I Have Been And Where We Are Headed. There Is Much Work To Be Done Everyday.
Today I Would Like To Thank All Of My Supporters, And Basically Give A 1Year Update. Last Year This Time, I Only Owned A PAN, With A Plan. Thanks To All Of Your Support, And A Little Determination. My Roasting Capacity Has Tripled. Keep In Mind, I'm Still A Nano Roaster. I Just Am Able To Provide More Now With A Little Less Manual Labor. One Of My Biggest Issues With PAN Roasting And Its Demands Was Trying To Provide A Product And Be Cost Effective, Which I Addressed In My Last Posting. I'm Still Paying More Than Bigger Roasters, But That's To Be Expected Given My Capacity And Current Clients. On A Health Note,  I Have Bursitis In My Shoulder As Well As Neck And Back Injuries Sustained From My Military Service That Naturally Prevent Me From Over Doing It In The PAN. I Do My Best To Not Talk About My Personal Pains Because I Know And Have Seen Others Who Are Less Fortunate. Today It Brings Me Great JOY To Be Able To Thank You All For Everything. As I Said Before, This Is Only The Beginning. BODY Is On The Move, Thanks To You!! I Appreciate Each And Everyone Of You. May GOD Bless And Keep You. Till Next Time Sips Up |_|B   
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Heart Of A Roaster/ Farmer

31139455687?profile=original

Today I Would Like To Celebrate That Same Awareness. The Farmers Still Need Your Support Every Day, To Ensure That The Communities In Which They Live Thrive. They're Not Looking For Handouts, Or HYPE Programs Of Supporting Them. Farmers Look For And Depend On Authentic Connections And Rely On Fair, Even More Than Fair Solutions That Provide Lasting Sustainability. This Allows Them To Feel Proud Of The Products They Produce And Not Look Like The World Is Doing Them A Favor by Buying Their Products. It Really Is Mutuality. Simply Put,We Give Farmers What They Need And They Can Support Their Own Communities. I Will Say On A Side Note,"We The People" Have Our Own Problems In Our Own Communities. It's Hard To Speak Of Awareness And Not Touch Home. Any Reader That Would Like To Make A Difference, And is Unsure Where To Start, I Work With Several Companies And Individuals. It's Really The Small Steps We Take That Matter. Every BODY Chips In.

Anyone Wishing To Read On My Postings A Year Ago Today Feel Free To Read Them. I Would Also Like To Say The Past Is The Past. My Wounds Of The Situations Have Healed, And I'm Still Advocating For Farmers, For Veterans, And For Artists Alike. My Movement Towards Improvement. I Was Hesitant To Repost This Link Due To The Emotions Attached To My Poetry As Well As The Post. I Also Feel It's Fair And Valid For Me To Let My Readers And New Supporters Know Where I Have Been And Where We Are Headed. There Is Much Work To Be Done Everyday.
Today I Would Like To Thank All Of My Supporters, And Basically Give A 1Year Update. Last Year This Time, I Only Owned A PAN, With A Plan. Thanks To All Of Your Support, And A Little Determination. My Roasting Capacity Has Tripled. Keep In Mind, I'm Still A Nano Roaster. I Just Am Able To Provide More Now With A Little Less Manual Labor. One Of My Biggest Issues With PAN Roasting And Its Demands Was Trying To Provide A Product And Be Cost Effective, Which I Addressed In My Last Posting. I'm Still Paying More Than Bigger Roasters, But That's To Be Expected Given My Capacity And Current Clients. On A Health Note,  I Have Bursitis In My Shoulder As Well As Neck And Back Injuries Sustained From My Military Service That Naturally Prevent Me From Over Doing It In The PAN. I Do My Best To Not Talk About My Personal Pains Because I Know And Have Seen Others Who Are Less Fortunate. Today It Brings Me Great JOY To Be Able To Thank You All For Everything. As I Said Before, This Is Only The Beginning. BODY Is On The Move, Thanks To You!! I Appreciate Each And Everyone Of You. May GOD Bless And Keep You. Till Next Time Sips Up |_|B   
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Featured Donor: Sweet Maria's

Over the past few years, interest in home coffee roasting has grown exponentially and Sweet Maria’s, based in Oakland, CA, has played a central role in the movement.Their website offers advice on how to choose a home roaster, detailed roasting instructions, photos of beans at each roasting stage and forums for discussing all things coffee. They also sell supplies and equipment, and green coffee to get eager home roasters started.Sweet Maria's Dog CalendarThis holiday season, Sweet Maria’s produced “The Unofficial 2010 Dogs of Coffee Calendar,” which was sold to benefit Coffee Kids and five other charities. The calendar has 15 full-color photographs of dogs from various coffee-producing regions. Co-owner Thompson Owen took the photographs during his travels around the world in search of coffee.“Maybe he misses our dogs, West Oakland mutts of the first degree, or maybe dogs tend to be a friendly presence. Whatever the reason, over time, Tom has amassed quite a collection of photographs of dogs at coffee origins,” said Maria Troy, co-owner of Sweet Maria’s.The unique calendar is available for purchase on Sweet Maria’s Web site.For over ten years, Sweet Maria’s has supported Coffee Kids through various fundraisers and they strive to educate their customers and online followers about our work. Their site is consistently one of the top referrer’s to the Coffee Kids Web site.
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An intrepid band of home roasters has put together "Kick it up for Coffee Kids," an online auction to benefit Coffee Kids. The group is offering over $3,000 worth of items throughout the month of May.Items include: five home roasters, a top-flight Zass 580, top-shelf specialty greens, industry magazine subscriptions, logo and design work by Dillanos, a gorgeous shop sign to be personalized, coffee preps (Yamas, Chemex, Bodum, Bunn) and lots more. Forty separate items will be auctioned off throughout the month of May.Visit http://homeroasters.org for details and to place your bids.Special thanks to all of our friends at homeroasters.org and all of the businesses, organizations and individuals who have donated items and their time to make this auction possible.
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Win Your Own Home Roaster!

Coffee Kids recently had a Sonofresco Table Top Roaster donated by Elan Organic Coffee for a drawing/fundraiser at the SCAA Expo. The roaster, valued at $3,500, is easy-to-use and appropriate for small cafes and home roasting enthusiasts, and has a two-pound roasting capacity.sonofresco_roaster.jpgThe drawing will be held at the Coffee Kids Reception on Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m. at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Expo in Room 302A of the Georgia World Congress Center. Tickets for the drawing are available for a suggested donation of $25 (five entries for a donation of $100) and participants need not be present to win. Winner pays shipping on the roaster. Please visit Coffee Kids Donate page and enter SCAA in the ‘memorial/gift’ field.All proceeds from the drawing will benefit Coffee Kids’ efforts to help coffee-farming families improve their quality of life.You can also donate over the phone by calling 505-820-1443.
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