Cinnamon coffee is a fairly common hot drink, available to people everywhere today: Europe, Asia, North and South America. Its benefits and harms, however, are not known to many, so almost no one thinks about the rules and restrictions regarding use.
Meanwhile, the correct inclusion of a drink in the menu could help those losing weight accelerate weight loss, make the diet tastier and more attractive. Interestingly, cinnamon is considered the first spice to be used in combination with coffee. This drink was served to representatives of the upper classes back in Ancient Egypt.
The recipe was actively used by the people of China, and it was also known to the Greeks. It later became part of Roman cooking. There is information that the drink also existed on the territory of Ancient Rus'.
Cinnamon was one of the spices brought from Byzantium. It got its name from its brown color.
As mentioned earlier, the hot drink was available exclusively to the upper classes. This is due to the high cost of spices, and not everyone could afford cinnamon. Since the 17th century In connection with the implementation of colonial policy, active production of spices and their widespread distribution began.
As a result, the cost of previously elite goods began to decline, and they began to penetrate into the homes of ordinary people. From this moment on, the spread of cinnamon coffee begins.
Calorie content, BJU, GI
The energy value of the drink varies and depends on what ingredients were used in the preparation process and in what quantity. Some recipes use only black coffee, cream or milk and a little cinnamon to make the product. This option has the lowest calorie content, which is approximately 25–30 kcal per 100 ml cup.
Most of the fat in the drink comes from the cream. Moreover, their amount is approximately 2 g, which is equal to 2.8% of the daily value. In second place are carbohydrates - 1.2 g (0.9%), followed by proteins - 0.6 g (0.7%).
Coffee with cinnamon, the benefits and harms of which are determined by their composition, may additionally contain sugar. In this case, the calorie content will increase with each spoon. Drink with 1.5 tsp. sugar contains approximately 40 kcal per cup. Along with the calorie content, the number of carbohydrates also increases, amounting to 6 g per serving. Fats and proteins remain virtually unchanged - 2 and 1 g, respectively.
Thus, both options can be consumed during the diet, but in order to reduce the percentage of carbohydrates, it is recommended to stick to the first one. It is lower in calories and contains more beneficial properties than its sweeter alternative.
The glycemic index of the drink is 45–70.
The indicator is influenced by many factors. First of all, the type of coffee used matters. The soluble version will always have a higher index than the natural one. You can reduce or, conversely, increase GI with the help of milk: the lower its fat content, the better.
A drink with cream will have the highest performance. In addition, it is not recommended to use sugar as it further increases the glycemic index.
How to add cinnamon to coffee?
There are no strict rules for adding cinnamon to coffee. Each person does it the way he likes best. You can add small pieces while preparing the drink, then strain it. It is allowed to use powder and whole sticks. The latter are used as decoration and are also used to mix the drink. The powder is most often added to ready-made coffee, but it can be used at the brewing stage.
The taste of the drink depends on the type of cinnamon. The original product is the bark of the Cinnamomum tree. This cinnamon is sold in rolled sticks. They prefer not to grind it into powder in advance, because after grinding the product loses its properties faster.
Original cinnamon is more expensive and is sold mainly in eco-stores. It is difficult to find on sale. The bark is fragile and thin, easily crushed. The smell is weak, the taste is sweet.
Most often found in stores is cassia, which is also called Chinese cinnamon. It has a red-brown color. The sticks are dense and hard and difficult to crush. It is often sold already ground. Cassia is more aromatic, but less sweet. In large quantities, such cinnamon has a negative effect on health due to the presence of coumarin in the composition. The substance produces a hypnotic effect and, with regular abuse, provokes the development of kidney and liver diseases. For this reason, it is not recommended to exceed the dosages indicated in the recipes.
Beneficial features
Coffee is viewed ambiguously, because today they talk more about its harm than its benefits. Meanwhile, the drink can also have a beneficial effect on the body.
First of all, its use has a positive effect on mood. Just the smell of coffee in the brain begins to actively produce dopamine, a hormone responsible for a person’s experience of pleasure. Thanks to the drink, overall well-being improves, a feeling of vivacity appears, and a desire to act.
Not only the body is activated, but also the mind. Caffeine affects thought processes, speeding them up and allowing you to better assimilate new information. The drink blocks reactions occurring in the nervous system, which allows you to relieve fatigue, get rid of headaches and restore clarity of consciousness.
An interesting study was conducted by American scientists who, after analyzing the effect of coffee on the human body, came to the following conclusions:
- People who drink the drink reduce the likelihood of developing malignant tumors by about 2–20%. They are less likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and mammary glands, rectum, and prostate gland.
- Regular consumption of caffeine helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. The risk of problems with the circulatory system is reduced by 5%.
- Coffee drinkers are more likely to reach old age and live a long life.
- People who drink the drink are less likely to suffer from diabetes. The risk is approximately 30% less.
- Caffeine prevents the development of Parkinson's disease, which affects the brain.
Coffee with cinnamon, the benefits and harms of which largely depend on the composition and quality of the ingredients, helps strengthen the immune system. This is one of the properties of the spice, which is often used in the treatment of colds.
In addition, cinnamon increases the benefits of caffeine for the brain. It helps to concentrate on a specific task, enhances performance, and increases the level of attentiveness. The spice has a beneficial effect on visual memory.
The drink is a mixture of two powerful antioxidants, which only increases their effect. Both coffee and cinnamon fight the spread of free radicals, which cause premature skin aging, the appearance of wrinkles, and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Products help keep the body in good shape.
Benefits of the drink
The drink is best consumed on cold winter evenings, after a hard day at work, or in case of minor ailments; it will especially please you in good and warm company. However, this cocktail has a number of features. It stimulates the activity of the central nervous system , constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. Cognac, like any alcohol, dilates blood vessels and lowers it in the first 30 minutes after consumption, then the opposite effect occurs. It is better to drink no more than one cup per day, in the first half of the day. The drink is useful for strong, healthy people because:
- Stimulates the central nervous system and invigorates the body.
- Increases concentration and improves performance.
- Increases blood pressure, which is good for hypotensive patients.
- Reduces stress and depression.
- Promotes recovery from colds.
- Helps with headaches and toothaches.
- Improves the process of falling asleep.
Harm and contraindications
At the same time, there are several disadvantages of the drink, which often frighten people and discourage them from consuming the product. Indeed, coffee is not always exclusively beneficial and can be harmful, but it manifests itself mainly when a person drinks too much.
In reasonable quantities, the drink does not pose a health threat. If you remember in moderation, it can be consumed calmly. The first thing people don't like about coffee is its effect on the absorption of vitamins and minerals. One cup can stop the absorption of calcium for at least 3 hours, which is why all foods rich in it lose their benefits.
Caffeine not only blocks the mineral, but also actively leaches it from bones and teeth, making them brittle and increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis. In addition, it does not allow iron, zinc and potassium to be fully absorbed.
Frequent coffee consumption increases the risk of deficiency of B vitamins and niacin.
When dieting, you should be especially careful when introducing the drink into your diet, since in excessive amounts it leads to disruption of metabolism and the functioning of the thyroid gland. This is a direct path to the destruction of your figure and the development of obesity. You should give up caffeine if you don’t see results after a long diet.
As already mentioned, the drink improves mood, but this effect only appears when it is consumed infrequently. When a person becomes addicted to coffee and drinks it constantly, he begins to act in the opposite direction. So, instead of vigor and improvement in overall well-being, there is a feeling of fatigue, apathy, and anxiety.
If you do not stop consuming caffeine in time, unpleasant symptoms can develop into depression - a severe mental disorder that requires medical intervention.
Tea with milk
Benefit
- In recent years, scientists are increasingly saying that milk, although a healthy product, is quite difficult to digest. Tea makes the process of milk absorption easier.
- There are a number of studies proving that tea with milk is good for the stomach; it is sometimes even recommended for people with ulcers and gastritis outside the period of exacerbation.
- Tea with milk can help with colds: the combination of animal proteins and other beneficial components contained in milk, as well as tea antioxidants, strengthens the body's protective functions and gives strength.
- Adding milk makes the tea taste softer and reduces caffeine levels. Thus, the tea acquires “soothing” properties. It is good to drink weak tea with milk before bed: it is not as invigorating as pure tea, and milk also contains substances that help you fall asleep quickly.
- Green tea with milk perfectly quenches thirst and restores mineral balance in the body better than pure tea.
- According to a number of studies, tea with milk reduces the level of oxalates in the body - oxalic acid salts, which, if mineral metabolism is disrupted, can be deposited into oxalate stones in the kidneys.
Gourmet cinnamon coffee
This recipe is a classic version of a hot drink that has been known to the world for centuries. Only natural ingredients are used in the cooking process. If you want to treat yourself to real coffee, it is recommended to choose only high-quality products.
Composition of ingredients
In order to make a tasty and aromatic drink, in addition to water, you only need two ingredients - coffee and cinnamon. If desired, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar.
Coffee with cinnamon, the benefits and harms of which are largely determined by the quality of the ingredients, must be brewed exclusively from beans. Arabica is best suited for this recipe. The good thing about this type is that it does not contain as much caffeine as its related robusta and has a milder taste.
Depending on the chosen variety, you can get a drink with notes of vanilla, honey, and caramel. Also, during cooking, a thick, fluffy foam is formed, which gives not only an aesthetic appearance, but also a pleasant taste.
If Arabica is not available, you can use Robusta, but in this case the coffee will be much stronger. This species has a nutty or chocolate flavor and is often bitter.
When choosing coffee in a store, you should pay attention to those products that are packaged in a bag with a valve or an aluminum can. This packaging does not allow air to penetrate inside, all the qualities of the grains, their aroma and taste, are preserved. It is important that the packaging is hermetically sealed and undamaged.
You should not choose a product that is stored on a store shelf in a paper bag. This type of packaging cannot be called reliable, since it easily allows air to pass through, which, in turn, spoils the taste. The product should also not be stored in polyethylene. This is due to the ability of the material to transmit sunlight.
Cinnamon is also not as simple as it might initially seem. Today, Indonesian cassia, which is thicker and darker in color than the original spice, is often sold under its guise. For the drink, it is better to choose spices produced in Ceylon.
Real cinnamon is thin, crumbles easily, and has a light brown color. It has a delicate, soft, slightly sweet aroma. It is best to buy the spice in the form of sticks and grind them yourself, since in the store it is easy to confuse ground cinnamon with cassia.
Step-by-step cooking process
In order to make a classic, natural version of the drink, you must adhere to the recipe described below:
- Ground grains are used for preparation. It is important to either immediately purchase them in this form, or grind them yourself using a coffee grinder.
- It is necessary to prepare the Turk. 1 tsp is poured alternately onto its bottom. ground Arabica, 0.5 tsp. cinnamon and just a little granulated sugar - about 1/3 tsp. The amount of ingredients is calculated for one serving. It can be changed depending on the required volume of the drink or your own preferences.
- Next, the Turk is placed on medium heat and warmed up a little.
- When the mass at the bottom becomes warm and begins to melt, you need to add 125 ml of water.
- Bring the liquid in the Turk to a boil. It is important to monitor the process so that the foam does not go beyond the boundaries of the dishes.
- When the coffee boils, one part of it is poured into a cup. The other remains in the Turk, which is still standing on the fire. You need to wait until the liquid boils and only then pour it into a cup.
The result is an aromatic drink with a rich taste and lush foam. The calorie content of one small cup is low - only about 35 kcal. This recipe perfectly helps to increase the level of vigor in the body, improve your mood and get you ready for work.
What can I add?
Coffee with cinnamon, the benefits and harms of which are determined mainly by its composition, can be diversified by adding a few additional ingredients.
More information about which products can complement a hot drink well is shown in the table below:
Product | Properties | Taste of the finished drink |
cocoa powder | has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, reduces the risk of diabetes, helps to calm down and relieve stress | spicy, with chocolate notes |
whipped cream | lift your mood, have a positive effect on thought processes, normalize sleep (but are very high in calories, should not be abused) | creamy, airy, tender |
nutmeg | helps normalize metabolism, strengthens gums, relieves pain in the head and joints | slightly sweet, spicy |
marshmallow | strengthens joints, has a beneficial effect on hair and nails, improves the functioning of the nervous system (but they contain a lot of sugar, should not be abused) | sweet, airy |
carnation | has an antiseptic effect, helps cleanse the body, relieves stress | bitter, spicy, hot (if you use petioles) or tender, pleasant (if you use caps) |
How to serve a dish
The drink is served hot, immediately after cooking. Coffee is poured into cups intended for it with a volume of up to 300 ml.
You can decorate it with a cinnamon stick. If you don’t have one, crushed spice will do and sprinkle the surface of the drink. Coffee with marshmallows will also look interesting, but it is important to remember that sweets increase calorie content.
Rules of use
Many people do not know how to drink coffee with cognac so as not to harm their health. Simple but effective rules will help you avoid negative consequences and have a positive effect:
- Use the cocktail only with the correct proportions of the main ingredients. Increased concentrations of alcohol and caffeine cause an influx of adrenaline and cause irreparable damage to the liver and heart. The correct proportion of coffee to skate is 3:1.
- Only natural grains are used. Prepare the drink in a Turk and pour it into a hot cup.
- The cognac is cooled in advance.
- In the traditional French version, drinks are consumed in alternating sips. Sudden changes in temperature, hot coffee and chilled cognac, have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels.
- It should not be used if you have low or high blood pressure.
There are 2 options for drinking the drink:
- It is most often called classic or French. It is used in European countries. The components are poured into different glasses.
- Mix the ingredients correctly in one container, strictly observing the proportions.
To make the taste of the drink more refined and eliminate bitterness, it is better to use brown sugar instead of regular sugar.
Coffee with cinnamon and cream
This is a slightly higher calorie option, but it has a more delicate taste. The drink will be a great addition to breakfast, helping to cheer you up and lift your spirits.
Composition of ingredients
To make the drink you will need ground coffee beans (preferably Arabica), chopped cinnamon and cream with a fat content of 10%. You can add sugar if desired.
All ingredients must be fresh. It is better to choose Ceylon cinnamon rather than Indonesian. Instant coffee will not give the desired taste and is not recommended.
Step-by-step cooking process
To prepare the drink, you must use the following recipe:
- Ground grains (1–2 tsp, depending on the required degree of strength) and cinnamon (0.5 tsp) are poured into the Turk. Place the dishes on medium heat and wait until the mass begins to melt.
- Next, you need to pour water into the Turk (1 cup in volume). The liquid is heated until foam rises.
- After this, the fire is turned off. When the foam drops, the Turk is heated again. This needs to be done 3 times, but you cannot bring the coffee to a boil.
- The drink is poured into a cup. The cream must be whipped by hand and spread evenly on top.
The calorie content of the drink is 40 kcal per 100 ml.
What can I add?
Coffee with cinnamon itself is delicious and nutritious. Its benefits and harms and taste can be influenced by adding other spices, for example, ginger, black pepper, vanilla.
Sweets can be added with whipped cream or marshmallows. It is important, however, to use them in reasonable quantities and infrequently, as they have a negative impact on the figure.
How to serve a dish
The drink is consumed hot, without cooling after boiling. The top is additionally sprinkled with cinnamon or other spices. It is recommended to use marshmallows as a sweet decoration. As they dissolve, they form a white, sweet film that enhances the creamy taste.
Variety of drink names
Coffee with cognac is over a hundred years old . Various alcoholic drinks, the most popular in a given country, were added to it: with whiskey - “Irish style”, with gin - “English style”, with Amaretto liqueur - “Italian style”. But as a result of all the experiments, we came to the conclusion that the best combination is coffee with cognac, where each drink does not drown out, but subtly emphasizes the taste advantages of the other. It was supplemented with a variety of ingredients and acquired all sorts of names: French coffee - cognac was drunk separately, often with chocolate. African – with cocoa and cinnamon. Viennese - with cloves and citrus zest. Bavarian - with milk and egg yolk. summer ladies' - with ice cream.
The most common classic recipe: a teaspoon of ground coffee beans is poured into 200 ml of water and brought to a boil in a Turkish pot. Then the dishes are quickly removed from the heat and left for several minutes. Finally, 50 ml of alcohol is added to the coffee. Sugar can be added separately to the drink. You can prepare a variety of cocktails using this method.
To get a softer, creamier taste, you can add cognac, milk or cream to the coffee, 10 and 20 ml, respectively.
Menu for diet
The following daily diet is good for weight loss:
- Breakfast: omelet with ham and a cup of coffee with cinnamon.
- Lunch: a portion of soup with meatballs and a piece of bran bread.
- Afternoon snack: cheesecakes.
- Dinner: a portion of baked lean fish and 1 tbsp. kefir
Using these dishes, a person eats only about 1000–1100 kcal per day.
Alternatively, you can select the following menu:
- Breakfast: a serving of cottage cheese with 2% fat content and 1 tbsp. kefir
- Lunch: fish soup.
- Afternoon snack: bread with butter and pieces of lightly salted salmon, a cup of coffee with cinnamon and cream.
- Dinner: meatloaf and 1 tbsp. liquid yogurt without additives.
Cinnamon coffee can also be made from instant beans. It's inexpensive and simple: just add water to the product, add cream and sprinkle with spices. However, it is important to remember that the ratio of benefit and harm in the drink will differ from the natural one. It will also be somewhat inferior in taste. However, in a situation where ground grains are not at hand, this option can come to the rescue.
Author: Olga Eizen