Why Chicory is Important to Make a Perfect Cup of Filter Coffee

Every South Indian filter coffee lover knows that chicory forms an integral part of a good filter coffee brew. How did this ingredient become a part of our favourite cuppa? Let us find out.

What is Chicory?

Chicory is a flowering plant and is actually quite a beauty to look at. It produces light-blue colored flowers and its leaves look like a shrub. It grows to a medium height. However, what is of interest to coffee-lovers actually lies below the ground. The root of this plant is what is used in coffee brews.

The root is ground and roasted to be brewed along with the coffee powder. This is prevalent not only in case of the South Indian filter coffee but in many other places in the world as well.

How did Chicory Become a Part of your Cuppa?

Chicory leaves have been part of salads and other dishes in world cuisine. However, the use of chicory in coffee brews is an interesting concept.

The exact origin of the practice of mixing chicory with coffee is not well documented. The addition of chicory is said to have been related to the fact that coffee is not locally available to a lot of countries and thus there has been instances of coffee scarcity in many places of the world due to strained relations with other countries or simply logistic difficulties. This made the price of coffee rise. As it became more expensive, additives that could be added to coffee were searched. This led to the practice of adding chicory that could pump up the coffee volume in a cup. Chicory has a similar flavour to coffee and is thus a great way to stretch limited coffee supplies.

It is also said that Napolean’s Continental Blockade in France led to serious coffee shortages in the country and this led to large scale mixing of chicory with limited coffee supplies. Even after the crisis ended, the practice was carried on, though not at such a large extent.

The Chicory Effect 

• Taste

Roasted chicory root has a dark, deep flavour with bitter and sweet notes. Yes, you guessed it. It is similar in taste to coffee although it does not taste 100% like coffee. Chicory does not contain caffeine even though it tastes similar to coffee.

• Thickness

Roasted chicory powder is slightly thicker than coffee powder. This is one of the major plus-points of chicory when it is a part of filter coffee. The thicker chicory powder will make the hot water stay longer with the coffee grounds and hence aid in more absorption of coffee flavour into the decoction.

• ·        Quality

The quality of South Indian filter coffee decoction is definitely better when the powder has an addition of chicory powder. The resultant decoction is thicker, fuller and has more of flavour and color.

The Right Amount of Chicory

There are different rations of filter coffee powder and chicory that people of India prefer. Most popular ones are 70:30 or 60:40 ratios of coffee and chicory. Try out different blends to see which ratio suits your taste!

Cup & Chemistry: A Rundown on Coffee Composition and Its Implications on the Body

Among beverages, coffee’s popularity is definitely undisputed. Coffee-lovers swear by the amazing effect that coffee has on their mental state and their energy. However, what is there inside the cuppa that creates this magic? Let us find out.

The Chemistry of Coffee

The main chemical component of coffee is caffeine. Caffeine is chemically called trimethylxanthine and is also known as theine, mateine or methyltheobromine among other names. It is a naturally produced chemical that occurs in certain plants such as coffee beans, cacao beans, tea, etc. However, out of all plants, coffee has the most concentrated amounts of caffeine.

Caffeine is actually a chemical that is produced as a survival mechanism in coffee plants to ward off insects and pests with the bitter taste. When caffeine is isolated using purification methods, it becomes a white crystalline powder that is extremely bitter. In fact, one teaspoon of such purified caffeine can turn lethal if consumed.

If we dive further into the chemical structure of caffeine, we can see that the structure of caffeine is very similar to adenosine. Adenosine is a chemical produced by our body to keep track of our energy levels and signal the brain to shut down when the energy levels drop. Since caffeine has a similar structure, it acts as a substitute to adenosine and blocks the actual effects of adenosine. In this way, it helps to keep tiredness at bay and keep you feeling energized for a longer time.

Effects of Coffee on the Body

·       Enhances Alertness

Our brain tells our body what to do by sending messages to various organs through neurotransmitters in the body. When caffeine enters this system, it blocks the receptors in the brain from receiving adenosine (as we discussed in the previous sub-section). Since adenosine is mainly responsible for regulating sleepiness, the blocking of this will enable all other neurotransmitters to work without slowing down and hence give us an active and alert feeling.

·      Increase in Energy

As a continuation of the previous point, once adenosine is blocked, neurotransmitters that will otherwise be subdued by adenosine become free. This results in more firing of neurons, which in turn activate the pituitary gland. The activated pituitary gland reacts by releasing hormones that activate the adrenal gland. Finally, this causes the release of adrenaline, which creates an upsurge in energy.

·       Improvement in Mood

Dopamine is called the “feel-good” chemical because it is the chemical that gives us a feeling of happiness. While it is always present in the brain, certain activities create elevated levels of dopamine. Although coffee does not really increase the levels of dopamine in the body, it slows down the absorption of the chemical. This leads to a feeling of happiness for a short while after drinking coffee.

·       Effect on Other Organs

When coffee enters the digestive system, its acidic nature increases the amount of acidity in the stomach. This might cause acid reflux when coffee is consumed with other acidic food or in large quantities. Coffee also induces gall bladder contractions which can be painful if a person is suffering from gall bladder stones. Also, coffee is a mild diuretic that will increase the frequency of urination for a while.

What are the Signs of Trouble When Drinking Coffee?

Coffee has a lot of benefits when consumed in moderation. In fact, it is said to delay the occurrence of Parkinson’s and certain types of diabetes. The safe limit to consume coffee for your health is one or two cups per day where the total amount of caffeine consumed is less than 100 mg.

Consuming large amounts of coffee can be harmful to health and cause high blood pressure, aggravate heart conditions or cause acid reflux. Pregnant women are also advised to limit consumption as caffeine can pass through the placenta.

One more thing to note is that coffee that is damaged by mold is harmful to health. So, it is better to buy coffee from trusted brands that tell you where your coffee is grown and how it is processed in safe conditions.

Therefore, the benefits of coffee turn into ill-effects when the number of coffee consumption tips to the other side. In moderation, coffee can make you feel great while giving you that jolt of energy. So, be mindful of the quality and quantity of coffee that you drink and have an awesome coffee experience!

Why Coffee Machine is Indispensable for any Office

For every employee, the workplace is nothing less than a second home. As a house becomes ‘home’ with the addition of things that people love, the office becomes a perfect second-home when the employees really feel comfortable and have access to all that they need to have a productive work environment.

Apart from the actual machines and other things that an office needs, a coffee-machine is one important part of any office. Why? Simply because there is a large population of coffee lovers in our country and it is likely that the employees in your office are a part of this club too. Making sure that they get the right coffee can be a great way to put them at ease and contribute to their productivity. How? Read on to know exactly why a coffee vending machine is required in every office and how it benefits the employees as well as the bosses.

Good coffee is a great boost to productivity

The main ingredient in coffee is caffeine and this has been proven to reduce drowsiness and improve mental alertness when taken in certain doses. This is great news for any employer as it makes sure that the employees remain fresh and energetic with a filter coffee machine in the office. Also, different people react to coffee in different ways and if your employees are already coffee-lovers then it is likely that they enjoy the benefits of coffee and get into a pleasant mood after a cuppa.

Employees may need coffee as per personal schedule

It is true that you can get coffee for your employees even without having a coffee machine in your office. You can arrange for coffee to be delivered during break-time. However, there is a good chance that each employee will require coffee at a different time. In such a case, having an office coffee machine will give them the advantage of consuming coffee whenever they want it as opposed to being forced to drink it at the same time every day.

Employees will be able to enjoy the brew that they love

People who love coffee know that there is not just one type of coffee. There are a variety of brews and each person may have a different preference. Some people my love an espresso while some swear by a cup of filter coffee. The brew makes a lot of difference because people’s taste buds get accustomed to a particular taste and only that particular type of coffee can really appeal to them.

So, as per the preferences of your employees, you can set up a coffee machine that provides specific brews. You can take a poll and decide which the best commercial coffee machine to buy is and what the most-loved brews are.

Great coffee equals great office

Let’s face it. When employees love their workplace, they will definitely work with more passion and enthusiasm. And, great coffee is one major factor that will tilt the scales in the favour of the workplace when it comes to being a favorite of the employees. Just as they post everything that they love on social media, your employees will be posting about the great coffee machine at office soon and that will confirm the fact that your employees love their workplace indeed.

5 Mistakes Everyone Makes when Brewing Coffee!

Coffee brewing is an art. The process of brewing coffee is as relaxing as drinking it itself. However, there are certain nuances that need to be taken care of in order to obtain great coffee every time that you brew it. These nuances can go a long way in determining the quality of the resultant coffee no matter how small or ignorable they seem.

So, let us take a look at some of the common mistakes that people make when they brew coffee.

Wrong kind of grind

Grinding the coffee beans is one of the most basic steps of coffee brewing that we have to do in the right way. Two main things to consider for getting the grinding done right are the size of the grounds and the shelf-life of the ground powder. The size of the grounds will determine the quality of your coffee and better grounds result in better coffee. When the coffee beans are ground too coarsely, the flavour of coffee doesn’t come out and when they are ground too finely, then the coffee gets a bitter taste.

As far as the shelf-life is considered, coffee powder will start to turn rancid in a few weeks due to oxidisation and this makes it imperative to use freshly ground coffee powder for a better cup of coffee. Make sure to get fresh coffee powder every two weeks for best results. Also, it is best to store in air-tight and dry containers to retain maximum freshness.

Incorrect water temperature

The next step in the brewing process is to get the water ready for the brewing process. The water has to be brought to a rolling boil and allowed to cool for a seconds before it is ready to be poured into the coffee filter. Pouring boiling water directly after removing from heat will absorb the oils from the filter coffee powder along with the flavour and this will result in reduced quality and an acidic taste.

Bad water quality there

The purity of water that is used for the brewing process is another aspect that will make a difference to the quality of coffee. Using pure, treated water that is not flavoured or unfiltered will make sure that the coffee that you drink will have the full flavoured coffee and nothing else. Otherwise, the minerals and contaminants in water will give a different taste to the coffee.

Wrong ratio of coffee-to-water

The next step is where you add the water to the coffee grounds and brew the coffee. For this, around 2 tablespoons of coffee powder are used to get around 5 ounces of coffee. Adding more water will result in runny and tasteless coffee while adding too little of water will give you very thick coffee that cannot be consumed with ease.

Incorrect equipment

Brewing coffee calls for appropriate equipment that is made of the right materials. Also, it is important that the equipment is cleaned properly after every use without any residue. This equipment and apparatus should be maintained in the right way to brew amazing coffee each time.