Coffee is the most popular drink made from roasted and ground beans, and is where most people start their day. But few people know how to drink coffee correctly in order to get the maximum benefits and pleasure.
The subtleties of tasting include the following nuances:
- The strongly brewed drink is poured only into small cups made of fine porcelain.
- Cappuccino is poured into earthenware cups with a volume of 150 ml.
- It is more convenient to drink coffee with milk or whipped cream from standard tea cups.
- Various spices are added to the drink, saturating it with a deeper taste and giving it a unique aroma: ground ginger or a piece of grated root, cardamom, the grains of which can simply be flattened with a spoon, cloves. According to the recipe, coffee prepared in the oriental style should not be stirred vigorously so that sediment does not rise from the bottom of the dish. Therefore, in many countries, when setting a table, a spoon is not served. Sugar is poured into the cup first or is absent altogether.
- Black coffee goes well with high-quality sweet liqueur or cognac. Alcohol can be added directly to the cup, or it can be drunk separately in small sips, alternating with the drink. Biscuits, rich muffins and low-calorie cakes are a pleasant addition to the coffee ceremony; lemon can be added if desired.
- A drink made from coffee beans is usually drunk slowly and with pleasure.
- It is not recommended to drink on an empty stomach, as heartburn may occur, which later develops into an ulcer.
Following these recommendations for proper coffee consumption will allow you to fully enjoy your favorite drink without harm to your health.
Excursion into history
A little historical information will reveal the reasons for the need to drink water together with a coffee drink. The intuition of our ancestors living in warm countries told them about the importance of cooling the body and replenishing it with moisture. It is believed that the inhabitants of Ancient Greece discovered the secret of maintaining water balance. Noticing that after drinking coffee they were thirsty, they poured water into a small container to quench their thirst.
Later, this method took root in Turkey. Turks have been drinking water for a long time, but eastern people, unlike Europeans, are more sensitive to coffee-containing drinks. Firstly, they do not consume it immediately after eating in order to enjoy the aroma. Secondly, they don’t wash down every sip with cold water, so that the coffee taste lasts as long as possible.
“The inhabitants of Arabia drink cold liquid only between meals and the beginning of the coffee ceremony. They slowly finish a small cup with an intricate oriental pattern. Washing down with water is considered only a need to get rid of the unfortunate bitter-burnt aftertaste, and even then only after finishing the meal.”
The people of Europe took up the baton of drinking life-giving moisture together with brewed and ground coffee beans. Nowadays, it’s rare for anyone to ask in surprise why water is served with coffee. A tall glass of mineral water with or without gas is quite common.
Plus for health
The habit of drinking coffee with water allows you to not only enjoy each cup of your favorite drink to the fullest, but also brings benefits. Each serving of this natural drink contains caffeine and theobromine. Caffeine has an invigorating effect that is felt immediately after entering the human body and lasts up to 25 minutes; it dilates the blood vessels of the heart, brain and kidneys. Theobromine begins to act later, when the effect of caffeine has already worn off and can have a soporific effect. A few sips of water after coffee can neutralize the effects of theobromine.
In addition, it is believed that:
- a portion of clean water allows you to reduce the mass fraction of caffeine, thus preventing high blood pressure;
- A sip of water will help protect your teeth from the characteristic yellowish plaque.
How to drink espresso correctly?
It's no secret that espresso is an integral part of many coffee drinks. Many people do not like it when various additives are added to it, but prefer to enjoy its bright, rich aroma in its pure form. Many people who are not familiar with the culture of consumption of this coffee drink have a question: how to drink espresso correctly?
The volume of espresso is 30 ml, it has a pronounced, rich taste. Drink espresso in small sips, enjoying the taste and aroma. To re-experience the taste of coffee, drink a small amount of water after each sip. After this procedure, a person’s taste buds are again ready to perceive the unique coffee aroma.
In self-respecting coffee shops, you can see how a glass of ordinary water is served with a glass of coffee. Thanks to this, you can distinguish professionals in their field from amateurs who do not know how espresso is served and how to drink espresso.
Tea etiquette
There are rules of etiquette that must be followed during the tea ceremony. How to set the table, pour tea, hold a cup - all this and many other knowledge is necessary for a well-mannered person so as not to lose face during tea drinking.
One of the most important rules is that you can only pour tea at the table, approaching each guest from the right side. Tea drinking etiquette requires that tea leaves and boiling water be served not separately, but in a large teapot, pre-mixed in a 1:2 ratio.
Table setting
Teaware should be from one set, preferably porcelain. According to etiquette, on the table during tea drinking are: cups and saucers, a teapot, a sugar bowl, a strainer, a milk jug, teaspoons, and a cover for the teapot. The tablecloth should be white.
Treats for tea are laid out on small plates. You can serve milk with the drink. According to the rules of etiquette, it must be poured before tea.
You can read more about table setting at this link.
How is the tea ceremony performed?
Tea is prepared in the presence of guests. The hostess can offer guests a choice of several types of drink. You should not walk around guests with a kettle of boiling water in your hands.
Each tea party participant receives his own cup from the hands of the hostess of the house. Tea should be poured so that the level of the drink does not reach the edge by about 1 cm. First, lemon is added to tea, and only then sugar. It is poured from the sugar bowl with a common spoon so that it does not fall into the drink.
How to properly hold a bowl and saucer
According to the rules of etiquette, cups with handles are supposed to be held by the handle with the thumb and forefinger, without leaving the little finger. If there is no handle, then in order not to spill hot tea on yourself, the thumb should be placed at the six o’clock position, the middle and index fingers at the twelve o’clock position.
Mugs of tea should not be kept in a canopy. It is not customary to lift a tea saucer with a cup. This can only be done to top up the tea. And the spoon must be removed from the cup. Drinking tea with a spoon is bad manners.
If during tea drinking a guest sits not at the table, but, for example, in a chair, then he should take the tea cup in his right hand, the saucer in his left.
How to drink tea correctly
According to etiquette, it is customary to drink tea silently, without sipping, in small sips. While drinking it, they look into the cup.
If the drink is too hot, you need to wait until it cools down. You cannot drink from a spoon or pour it into a saucer. This traditional Russian ritual of tea drinking does not allow this to happen according to modern etiquette standards.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc3d0YRD8bI
The rules and prohibitions of the tea ceremony
In order not to violate the rules of good manners during tea drinking, you need to know the basic prohibitions and mistakes of etiquette. What should you not do at the table?
Do not stir the sugar by tapping it on the bowl. You should not lick the spoon. It is carefully placed on the edge of the saucer. Etiquette dictates not to drink tea in one gulp and not to blow on the drink in order to cool it. The sight of greasy traces of treats on teaware is unpleasant
Therefore, you must eat cakes or pastries carefully so as not to leave marks along the edge of the cup. Lemon served with tea should not be eaten.
Treats for tea
The cake should not be cut on the eve of tea party. This is done after all the guests have gathered at the table.
- Sweets are served in a box.
- Jam or honey is offered in special vases with high legs.
- Etiquette dictates that milk or cream should be served only in milk jugs and creamers.
- Before serving, cut the lemon and place it on a plate, near which there should be a fork with two prongs.
You can read about how to eat desserts correctly and beautifully.
Why is it important to drink coffee?
Based on historical examples based on human intuition, it becomes clear why water is served with coffee. There are other reasons based on recent research that confirm ancient observations. Let's list them in order:
- Caffeine has an interesting effect on the human body. It constricts blood vessels throughout the human body, except the kidneys. In the kidneys, the vessels dilate and this helps remove fluid from the body. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, so you should definitely drink water in combination with caffeine. It is important to maintain the necessary moisture balance in the body and prevent overheating.
- Coffee lovers drink half a glass of water after eating in order to experience all the delights of freshly brewed ground beans. This method increases the sensitivity of taste buds and helps them “work” with greater accuracy to determine their favorite aroma and taste.
- People suffering from high blood pressure or other vascular diseases should be careful about the effects of caffeine. Drinking cool liquid will reduce pressure surges and normalize the heartbeat.
- Dentists say that the additional moisture seems to wash away the dark plaque on the teeth without giving it time to absorb. It is recommended to wash off the deposits after each sip of coffee.
- Prolongation of the invigorating effect and neutralization of the soporific effect.
Recent scientific research has shown another reason for adding water to espresso coffee and its other varieties. Scientists have found that the upper shell of the grain contains a large amount of caffeine, which excites the nervous system. The inner main part of the coffee bean contains theobromine, which has a soporific effect on humans. Drinking more will prolong the effects of the energizing caffeine and counteract the calming effects of theobromine. In other words, the two components of the grains, when they enter the body, smoothly and measuredly affect the human condition under the beneficial influence of water. Therefore, the fifth reason is based on a scientific discovery.
On a note! The freeze-dried or instant drink is made mainly from the inner part of the grain. The upper shell is almost absent. Accordingly, it contains a large amount of theobromine, which is best washed down.
In any case, doctors strongly recommend drinking a glass of water 20 minutes after the coffee ceremony. This is a classic method for those who are unsure about the proper hydration method.
Useful or harmful
Drinking hot water is good for health, namely, the following positive processes begin to occur in the body:
- the gastrointestinal tract system starts working;
- excess weight is reduced;
- the body gets rid of waste and toxins;
- bad breath goes away;
- Fatigue and headache disappear;
- heartburn and nausea go away;
- skin condition improves, acne disappears;
- bile does not stagnate in the stomach;
- pressure returns to normal;
- hemoglobin levels are normalized;
- metabolism and digestive system function return to normal;
- the acid-base balance is restored;
- the process of cell renewal begins;
- pain in women during menstruation goes away;
- the recovery process for acute respiratory viral infections is accelerated, elevated body temperature decreases;
- digestive processes are normalized;
- blood circulation improves.
Improvements begin to occur within the first week of taking hot water. Visible changes are especially noticeable, such as improved skin condition and loss of excess weight.
However, in some cases, too hot water can have a negative effect and harm the body.
The risks may be the following:
- burns of the mucous membranes of organs such as the larynx, esophagus and stomach;
- deterioration of the gums and tooth enamel;
- increased blood pressure due to hypertension.
This is why it is important to monitor the temperature and prevent it from getting too hot.
Why is water supplied?
The overall picture becomes clearer and it becomes clear why an additional glass of water is served. To fully assimilate the information, let’s summarize all the reasons into one list:
- Remove the bitter aftertaste from eating strong and heavily fried varieties;
- Balance the effects of caffeine and theobromine on the human vascular system;
- Do not take risks for those with high blood pressure;
- Avoid overheating in hot weather;
- Replenish the lack of life-giving moisture in the circulatory system;
- Increase the sensitivity of taste buds;
- Extend the aftertaste of a well-brewed invigorating drink;
- Neutralize the influence of third-party tastes, spices and odors.
Composition and temperature of the supplied liquid
Don't be at a loss if the bartender or waiter asks you about your preferences for water served with coffee. The fact is that it can even be mineral water with or without the addition of gas. Fans of bottled, flowing or spring water can inquire about the availability of their favorite water in the establishment, or take a bottle with them. The choice of liquid depends entirely on your own preferences.
Is it acceptable from the tap?
According to the sanitary standards established in our country (SanPiN No. 2.1.4.1074-01), tap water must be suitable for consumption.
However, drinking it is still not recommended due to the poor quality of the pipelines and the presence of specific impurities that can be harmful to health.
Against the formation of scale or corrosion, various chemical elements and mixtures are added to tap water, such as polyphosphates, sodium silicates and Siliphos. In addition, lead ions are sometimes found in water.
Long-term consumption of water with this composition negatively affects the nervous system, memory is impaired, blood pressure increases, and the risk of developing cancer cells increases.
What rules should you follow?
Having come to the conclusion that you still need to drink coffee with water, apply some simple rules. The condition of your tooth enamel depends on their compliance. Firstly, do not drink mineral water that is too cold, so that the enamel does not crack due to temperature changes. The average temperature should not be below 10°C. Secondly, drink water in small sips, as if rinsing your mouth. This technique is perfect for those who often get colds in their throats.
Gourmets prefer to quench their thirst on a hot day with the presence of sourness. They ask the waiters to bring water with a slice of lime or regular lemon. Sorting rules require filling 2/3 of a glass with high sides with water.
Low carb smoothies
Smoothies are known as "health foods," but most contain slightly less sugar than juices, especially those containing only sugary fruits.
To make a truly nutritious low-carb smoothie, use a combination of these ingredients:
- High-quality fats - egg yolks, avocados, nut or seed oils, MCT oil powder and/or coconut oil.
- Yogurt – Unsweetened full-fat yogurt, coconut yogurt, or nut milk yogurt.
- Keto-friendly liquids - full-fat milk, unsweetened milk replacers, etc.
- Leafy greens such as spinach or kale; berries such as blueberries or raspberries.
- Protein Powder - Whey Protein, Egg White Protein, Vegan Protein, Collagen Peptides, etc.
- Sweeteners and other flavors - powdered or liquid stevia (or other keto sweetener), vanilla extract, almond extract, etc.
