Forget about Starbucks and all the coffee chains you’ll find in just about every corner of every city. I’m talking about the little shops that no one else in the world might know about, but that locals swear on. If you have a coffee shop in mind, you might want to enter your fave shop for the “KRUPS Best Brew Awards 2012″.

The awards is KRUPS way of honoring the best coffee shops throughout New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. Those who want to have a say on who wins only need to go to KRUPS USA Facebook page to be able to cast your vote. Note that voting will be limited to coffee shops on their list (from last year’s awards), but you still get to do a write up on your fave coffee shop in case it isn’t on the list.

Voting started yesterday and is only open till February 24, so you’d better start spreading the word if you’re rooting for a shop.

The best baristas also get a nod from KRUPS as they accept entries for a seat on the “KRUPS Coffee Council”, who with the rest of the Coffee Council members will get to help KRUPS out year round during regional events and promotions, media opportunities, new product demonstrations and more. If you want to be a coffee council entrant, you must submit a “video of yourself (3 minutes or less), in which you describe who you are as a person and as a barista, explain why you would be the best barista in your area to sit on the KRUPS Coffee Council, and demonstrate your knowledge and skill in preparing one coffee or espresso-based beverage.”

Image via KrupsUSA

Customizing your Twitter background need not be complicated. In fact, you can easily change your background, even have it automatically changed daily, by using a service called InstaBG. InstaBG makes use of Instagram photos to generate Twitter backgrounds that you can use to liven up your own Twitter account. To get free Twitter backgrounds from InstaBG all you need to do is log in to the website using your TwitterID, tweak the options, preview your background image, and click on “Set this image to Twitter” to see the changes on your Twitter page.

InstaBG-generated collage using “coffee” as tag

InstaBG-generated collage using “caffeine” as tag

What’s even better is that you can choose the theme/tags of the Instagram photos that will be used as part of your Twitter background, just like the caffeine and coffee photos I used to come up with collage above. You can also choose the background color, tile size, and spacing between photos.

So why settle for a boring Twitter page when you can liven things up with a coffee-themed background?

Twitter backgrounds generated using InstaBG

Obviously, brewing a fresh pot of coffee will entail a bit more effort on your part. You have to grind up the beans, scoop them into the coffee maker, and wait for the delicious freshly brewed coffee to drip, but if you think about it the time it takes for you to do all that is just about the same time it will take you to wait for your coffee in line at Starbucks during the morning rush hour. What’s even better about just having your coffee at home, is that you can spend your waiting time taking a shower or doing some other chore.

If you like drinking your coffee while on the go, there’s no excuse either because you can always just pour your coffee in a thermos and drink it at leisure. Another advantage to doing this is that you end up helping the environment since less disposable cups are used.

Last but not least, making your own coffee means having the liberty to always make it your own way. Sure Starbucks and most coffee shops are great at providing choices, even letting you give very specific instructions, but it still means having to pay extra for some things. And yeah, if you like one of Starbucks’ and other coffee shops’ particular blend, you can always buy them in packs, still saving you some money when you prepare them at home.

Photo via Kamlau.com

There are so many hangover cures that have been debunked by science over the years, but coffee remains to be one of the most widely accepted hangover cures. Sure there has been studies explaining why coffee doesn’t really help anyone with a hangover. Some even say that it can make a hangover worse. Two of the main reasons cited for this is that it can make a person more tired after the caffeine boost wears off, and can make a person even more dehydrated since it is a diuretic.

Well the ever fickle science community (or at least researchers of this particular study) finally agree to what we coffee lovers have known all along, the combination of coffee and aspirin is really perfect as a hangover cure…at least if you are a rat. According to Professor Michael Oshinsky, of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, rats who were given doses of caffeine and anti-inflammatories responded well to the treatment and were relieved of the headaches. The headaches, which were induced by making the rats drink ethanol (a pure form of alcohol), is similar to the migraines we experience after having a drink too many.

So while the scientists get stuck debating on whether they coffee will cure a hangover or not, I will just have my coffee maker and a bottle of aspirin on hand day after New Year.

Photo via Fooyoh

The good news is that if you don’t like waste and want your cup of coffee to do more good than just perk you up,  you can actually reuse those coffee grounds instead of throwing them away. Some great ideas for used coffee grounds include:

Ant repellent – Air dry the used coffee grounds and sprinkle them in areas where ants frequent. You’ll immediately notice that ants will avoid the areas where the coffee grounds are sprinkled. If you have an ant mound on your yard though, prepare to sacrifice an entire pot of coffee because the use coffee grounds won’t be enough to do the trick.

Hand deodorizer – Some smells are nearly impossible to get rid of with just soap and water. If you get smelly hands from handling food items like fish and garlic, wash the smell away by rubbing your hands with used coffee grounds instead of soap before rinsing with water.

Organic fertilizer – Mix used coffee grounds with the compost you make from your kitchen waste. The coffee grounds will instantly boost your compost’s nutrient level, since it is rich in Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Magnesium, and Copper.

Image via Missouri Organic

In storing your coffee, you need to take into account the reasons that affect coffee’s freshness AND flavour. Coffee loses freshness easily when exposed to air, so this means always going for an air-tight container. Coffee also absorbs moisture easily, so this means no storing it in damp places like your freezer or fridge. Aside from absorbing moisture, it also absorbs the flavours of other food near it, again this means making sure that you get an air-tight container.

For soluble coffee (think Nescafe and Taster’s Choice), the above tips are enough to address their storage needs, since they have a very long shelf-life anyway. This means that the air-tight glass containers they come in are good enough, as long as you remember to keep the lid on tight.

When it comes to ground coffee though, you have to be extra careful about storage. Ground coffee loses flavour and spoils the fastest, which means that you should always keep it in air-tight containers that won’t let light pass through. The reason for this is that the coffee interacts with sunlight, making it lose flavour. The best containers in this case are air-tight non-reactive cans. Even if you do store ground coffee properly though, you can expect them to spoil in a week or two (if not days). So never ever try to store ground coffee in bulk.

You can store coffee beans in greater bulk than ground coffee, but again you have to make sure that they are stored away from the light. At the least, make sure your air-tight containers are stored in a cabinet or in the pantry where it is cool, dark, and dry. Do not open the container every day, but take a small amount and transfer it to a smaller coffee can to decrease the number of times you expose the stored coffee beans to the air.

If you follow the above advice, you can ensure that your coffee will give the full-bodied flavour every cup should give.

Fairmont and Main Script Coffee Storage Jar Courtesy of Coffee-Maker.org.uk

I’m not talking about giving away money out of my own pockets, nor will I give get-rich-quick formulas that do not really work. Instead, I’ll be giving you some tips on how to promote your own blog and hopefully make some money while you sitting in the comfort of your own home blogging away and sipping on a cup of coffee in the wee hours of the morning.

Most likely you are not new to the idea of blog monetization, but if you are it simple means making money from your blog. You can do this several ways including selling stuff on your blog, asking for donations, offering paid subscription, becoming an affiliate site, and of course, the ever present ads. No matter what monetization tactic you use the one common thing they share is the need for a good sized traffic on your blog for you to make a significant amount of money.

The problem with this is that people won’t come to your blog without any effort on your part. They need to learn of your blog one way or another if you want them to come. The good news is that there are easy ways to promote your blog.

One way you can promote your blog without breaking a sweat is by submitting your blog details on web directories like Blog Search Engine. Not all web directories work the same way, with most providing you nothing more than a listing on the directory. The thing I like about Blog Search Engine is that it provides a review for your blog aside from the link for their basic package which costs only $14.99. Signing up for package upgrades will earn you even more links from their blog network, make you’re the featured blog, and place a banner ad of your blog on their homepage.

While I recommend their services though, I urge you to use other blog promotion strategies to get more traffic in your site quickly.

Stimulants and ADHD. As you probably know, most common ADHD treatments are stimulants – usually in the form of amphetamine and methylphenidate. That is because stimulants actually have a calming effect on children with ADHD. Therefore, it seems to make sense that caffeine might be useful for treating the symptoms of ADHD. Also, it is probably safe to say that most parents would prefer to give their children caffeine over amphetamines.

Dosage. The general claim is that 100 mg of caffeine has the same effect as 5 mg of Ritalin – only with fewer side effects. That means the helpful caffeine benefits may be achieved with as little as two soda drinks.

Variety. You don’t necessarily have to feed your children coffee, either, or load them up with sugar-based beverages. Many parents are opting to give their ADHD children caffeine pills like Vivarin to help them maintain focus and behavioral discipline.

Warnings. Caffeine effects heart rate and blood pressure, and can elevate anxiety, tension, irritability, nervousness, insomnia and more. In children, all of these effects are compounded because of their small stature. Therefore, it is important that you express extreme caution when administering caffeine to children with ADHD, especially if they are already on a stimulant medication. Always consult your doctor before trying any sort of home remedy.

What the medical community has to say. Doctors are coming forward to stress to parents that, as of yet, significant studies have not been administered to prove the safety and efficacy of using caffeine as an alternative or supplementary ADHD treatment. Until there is more information and support from the medical community, it is a good idea to only proceed with such treatment under a doctor’s close supervision.

As a parent, it is understandable that you want to do everything within your power to treat your child’s ADHD. Even more, the thought of replacing a synthetic chemical like amphetamine with a naturally occurring substance like caffeine can be very tempting. Just make sure you do your research and consult your physician before testing the caffeine theory on your ADHD child.

Parker Crumbly loves coffee and is a huge advocate of alternative treatments for childhood conditions, including ADHD. He gladly gives his daughter a cup of coffee each morning and even her teacher can tell if she has not had one. When not researching ADHD, Parker can be found referring friends to groups like Adecco USA recruitment agency to help others find work.

Tiramisu. The next time you are out at your favorite Italian restaurant, you simply must try this classic coffee-laden desert. Featuring coffee soaked lady fingers, a sweet, creamy bed of mascarpone cheese, and chocolate shavings, this luxurious treat will change the way you see coffee forever . . . and may even haunt you in your dreams. Yes, it is that good.

Coffee bean candy. Pick up a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans at any coffee shop and snack on these tiny treats on the go. There’s nothing quite like that coffee bean crunch nestled in a firm-but-soft layer of white, milk or dark chocolate. What’s more, coffee bean candy can make a great ice cream or brownie topping, or cookie filler, if you really want to indulge.

Coffee flavored ice cream. This simple classic is a great way to cool those summer days and still get your coffee fix. Try any of the variety of store bought coffee flavored varieties for an easy and delicious coffee experience.

Coffee Liqueur. Chances are you’ve heard of Kahlua, the most well-known of the coffee liqueurs, but are you aware of the great variety of yummy coffee-flavored beverages you can make with a coffee liqueur? Look it up online. You’ll be amazed at what you can create . . . and you’ll have a whole new arsenal of party drinks to serve at your next coffee lovers gathering.

Coffee cheesecake. What do you get when you cross a favorite classic desert with a favorite beverage? Heaven, of course.

As you can see, there is no shortage of coffee flavored treats to entice the taste buds. If you are a coffee lover (and how could you not be?), then you owe it to yourself to experience each of these delicious indulgences at least once (or twice . . . or much, much more).

Patria Bigger loves coffee and cooking and loves combining the two even more. She’s a finance writer who specializes in bankruptcy processes, the things that happen 30 days after a filing, and issues concerning the final discharge.

The benefits of a coffee enema. The caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine in coffee are the ingredients that make coffee enemas so effective. These substances combine to stimulate relaxation of the anus’ smooth muscles and dilate the bile ducts and small blood vessels of the anus in order to clear the body’s toxins out from the intestines and usher them out via the colon. Coffee is also very useful for stimulating the liver to release toxins – even more so than traditional enemas.

History of the coffee enema. Natural and holistic health practitioners have been administering and recommending coffee enemas for years. Coffee enemas were introduced in 1917, but they were brought into the public eye about seventy years ago by Dr. Max Gerson, who made it part of his “Gerson Therapy” program.

Coffee enema how-to. You can purchase an enema kit from any pharmacy in order to perform an in-home coffee enema. Just be sure to use distilled water and organic coffee. Prepare the coffee with a French Press, using a bleached and organic coffee filter, and then allow the coffee to cool for about an hour – until it is room temperature. Pour the coffee into the enema bag and follow the directions that came with the enema kit.

Warnings. There are some things to keep in mind when considering doing your own coffee enema. First off, never used flavored, sweetened, or café au lait coffee blends for the enema procedure. It is important that you understand most medical professionals would advise against administering a coffee enema without the supervision of a physician. Coffee enemas should only be done as part of a total health program that addresses physical, spiritual, emotional and nutritional wellness. Additionally, pregnant women should not attempt coffee enemas, under any circumstance.

If you are looking for a way to detoxify your system and increase your overall well-being, then you may want to consider coffee enemas. Just use coffee enemas responsibly – do your research and know exactly what you are getting yourself into so that you don’t end up visiting gov site for cash for emergency medical care – because your health is a serious matter, not something to experiment with.