Vietnamese coffee has long been known to coffeeholics, but I have to admit that it was (probably IS) not my favorite kind. Still, I couldn’t contain my glee at the fact that coffee could be bought everywhere for very cheap. Saigon has tons of coffee shops – much like the ones you see in other cities, except that they normally have tables and chairs on the footpath. I suppose it’s the French influence, and I love it!

There are cheaper alternatives – the sidewalk vendors with their little carts. They have their own mini tables and even littler stools. For half a dollar, you can get a cup of Vietnamese coffee – iced or hot!

Needless to say, I started my day with several small cups of coffee at the hotel. They brew their coffee in a more modern way, using a drip machine. As the day went on, I would go walking around the city, with at least 3 coffee stops. I normally like my coffee hot, but the heat and humidity in Saigon forced me to change my habit.

Coffee lovers who are looking for more than their usual dose of caffeine should drop by Saigon. You might not want to leave.

…and that’s what this FREE Coffee Recipe E-book will allow you to do! I stumbled upon the freebie at Coffee Fair:

Our site sponsor is Boca Java… gourmet coffee delivered right to your front door. Feel free to check out their large coffee selection at: www.bocajava.com.

For your safety our e-book has been virus scanned and checked and is completely safe and clean. There are also no irritating ads in it and there’s nothing in there you to buy either. Just good ol’ delicious coffee recipes!

I have already clicked and downloaded. What are you waiting for???

Emilio Lavazza may not have been the founder of the company, but he is undoubtedly the person behind its expansion. He engaged in various activities that propelled the Lavazza name to great heights, both locally and internationally. I suppose that many of us should thank him for introducing their brand to the rest of the world.

For those of you who may not be that familiar with the name, here is a short teaser from their web site:

Spreading the aroma and quality of Italian espresso around the world has always been our main aim.

That is the reason why we strive for excellence and innovation, drawing strength from our experience established over more than a century of activity, since the early 1900’s, when Luigi Lavazza first invented the concept of the blend, the art of mixing coffee of different origins to obtain a harmonious and tasty product.

Today Lavazza is the leader when it comes to quality and is the symbol of Italian espresso and Italian identity worldwide.

Ask any Italian friend about them and you’ll probably get an earful (positive or negative, depending on who you ask). In any case, whether you know the brand or not, it is but right to pay homage to someone who played a huge role in the world of coffee. Farewell, Signore Lavazza.

The manufacturer is called Cycleina and they specialize in all sorts of organic soap. I have actually used a lot of their other varieties (flavors, if you will) but nothing has made me more satisfied than their Batangas coffee one. The soap bar is square shaped and not too thick. The best thing about it is that it has coffee grounds incorporated into the bar. The result is silky smooth skin because the grounds serve as a gentle exfoliant!

Seriously, I do not even have to use my loofah anymore when I use this soap when taking a shower. I am not so sure about its effectiveness as a facial soap – I am a bit iffy about using it as I am particular when it comes to facial products – but I do not see any serious problems with it. My bar is now gone, and I need to stock up. Oh, the best thing about it is it’s so cheap! Less than 2 dollars for one bar of sheer happiness! I wish they made lotions in the same variety. That would complete the bath set, wouldn’t it?

I recently heard about a company called Fruitology. Yeah, it sounds fruity and made me crack a smile when I first read the name, but in case you’re interested, they have recently launched a line of coffee fruit energy shots. Fruitology is actually a company known for its line of beverages and supplements – the distinguishing feature of which is “wholesomeness.”

Anyhow, their new line is called Energy Shot. The “secret ingredient” is KonaRed Coffee Fruit. This ingredient is supposed to give you the boost that you need to get through a tough day. In additional to the boost, you get fruity flavors that are supposed to refresh you. More from the press release:

In keeping with Fruitology’s promise to deliver unique, healthy-lifestyle products, each Coffee Fruit Energy Shot is “all natural” and preservative free with a fantastic gourmet flavor and added nutritional benefits such as 100% Daily Allowance of Vitamin C per shot. With its incredible nutritional properties, anti-oxidant power, and energy value, the addition of the coffee fruit also reinforces Fruitology’s mission to enhance the well-being of people around the world.

I’d still take my good old brewed coffee any day, but I’d be more than willing to give this a try. The products are supposed to be out in March. For more information, visit Fruitology’s web site.

I did try the coffee and I think that if I had continued to drink it on a regular basis, I would have shed some pounds. However, I can’t get rid of the habit of going straight to the espresso machine the moment I get out of bed. As a result, I keep forgetting to drink the slimming coffee.

What’s this coffee all about anyway? It seems that I have been hearing a lot about it but I am not really sure what it is. After all, everything is in Chinese! All I can say is that it doesn’t really taste like coffee – at least not the coffee that I drink. Even if you put only half a cup of water, the resulting mixture is a very pale brown and the flavor is very very strange.

I did notice that I lost my appetite when I drank the coffee – maybe that’s how it makes you lose weight. I also felt that I needed to drink lots of water all throughout the day because I had this dry feeling in my mouth. You know how you feel after walking under the blazing sun for hours? It’s similar to that but not exactly the same.

Now I really am curious as to what’s in these slimming coffees. Anyone know?

The title of the article is “Increased caffeine consumption is associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis.” What’s hepatic fibrosis anyway? Hepatic means something to do with the liver and I think fibrosis means scarring. This is linked to hepatitis and other liver problems. Details of the study:

One hundred and seventy seven patients were studied over a six-month period. The group was comprised of close to half male and female, with 112 chronic hepatitis sufferers. The participants consumed 308 mg of caffeine a day, the same as 2.25 cups of coffee.

I was just thinking that maybe the reason my liver is OK is that I drink more coffee than that!

Another study focuses on prostate cancer. Natural News shares:

In December 2009, research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference showed that coffee reduced the risk of prostate cancer because of its effect on blood sugar, insulin and glucose metabolism. The research was collected from over 50,000 men, from 1986 to 2006. Men who drank the most coffee had a 60 percent lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer, compared to the men who drank no coffee.

I am definitely not a man but for you guys out there, drink up! Your coffee addiction just might save you from an unpleasant inspection by the doctor.

Ingredients:
¼ pound unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup fat-free sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon zest
½ cup best quality cherry preserves

Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch square cake pans.
2. In a large mixer bowl, beat butter with sugar until well combined. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add sour cream and mix thoroughly.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
4. Blend in the vanilla and lemon zest thoroughly. Then stir in the cherry preserves, so the batter is streaky, not pink. Spread batter in pans and bake 20-30 minutes (15-20 minutes for muffins), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Makes 2 cakes or 18-24 muffins

There are two other special reasons to look forward to The Event. These are the United States Barista Championship (USBC) and the Roasters Guild Coffees of the Year Competition. These two contests are traditionally held during the annual symposium and draw a lot of attention. The first contest, USBC, will feature the best baristas from all over the United States. They will be preparing and serving 12 orders. More than having the distinction of being the best of the best, the winner of the contest will be representing the country in the 2010 World Barista Championship which will be held in London this June. The second contest focuses on various coffee products hailing from all over the world. Judges will be sampling and tasting the coffee based on their fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste, and body. Naturally, the winner will hold a prestigious position in the world of coffee.

There will also be seminars, workshops, trainings, and exhibits at The Event. For those who want to learn to become baristas, this is the place to be in April. For more information, visit the web site of The Event.

On another note, have you ever heard of Haitian Bleu coffee? This is actually a relatively new blend of coffee, which was introduced in 1995. Proponents describe this blend as smooth and medium bodied, with a hint of sweetness to it – perfect for an easy weekend morning (or afternoon!), don’t you think?

Even before the earthquake hit Haiti, the country has been suffering from all sorts of problems, poverty being one of them. As such, those who patronized Haitian Bleu coffee were not only satisfying their own cravings but also helping out one of the most disadvantaged nations in the Western world. Today, with what has happened to Haiti, one might be hard pressed to find the coffee beans in the market. It doesn’t mean that in the future, no Haitian Bleu will be found though. And if we all do our little part in helping the country rebuild, this coffee blend will surely find its way back.