Friday, January 15, 2016

Coffee Love

Bold, velvety, rich, light, decadent...hmmm. Oh yes, I heart coffee.

Clearly, this isn't a blog about coffee, but I sure do love that black elixir in the mornings.  The start to my day wouldn't feel right without that first sip. Senza coffee, I feel off all day and struggle to wake up; it's just plain horrible. I've gone plenty of days without coffee (try first trimester first pregnancy) and it's not fun.

Let's just say coffee has always been a constant presence in my life. At about age 10, I knew how to brew proper espresso on the stove top. My sisters and I became little baristas for family members and friends. With questions of "Would you like sugar with your espresso? Long or short?" Don't forget those teeny tiny perfect espresso spoons. Un caffe is essentially part of who I am and plays a dynamic role in our family. One thing you may not know about me yet is that I am a first generation Italian American-precisely a Sicilian American. The mere fact that almost all members of my family own a espresso machine is probably not the norm. (I'll post more about how true Italians take their coffee in the future. Oh yes, and the adventures of being raised in the states with very strong Italian traditions/roots.)

In reality, coffee is serious business and a non-negotiable to many coffee lovers. Just ask them!  As clearly seen by all the Starbucks and coffee shops around, it is also an integral part of the American lifestyle. I personally love the atmosphere in coffee shops. Who doesn't love to people watch, read a book, or write that paper without being completely bored or feeling alone?  The sound of coffee beans grinding and the different aromas are simply divine. The upside for us coffee lovers are the health benefits. Moderate amounts of caffeine have been linked to increased energy and focus (obviously), but also a decreased chance of Alzheimer's and dementia. Seems like a win-win to me!

Here's a great link from authority nutrition:
http://authoritynutrition.com/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee/


Here's to you and your cup of coffee!




And just for fun!

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