Coffee
I would like to write this article about the various ways in which I use coffee in my life.
Coffee is a powerful drug and if you use it well it has the potential to significantly improve your life and performance.
I use coffee as a physical and mental stimulant.
Let’s first explore a few ways in which I make coffee.
The first and easiest which is a quick wake-me-up kind of coffee is the instant kind. It’s worth investing in a good brand of coffee versus the regular Nescafe instant coffee. The difference in taste is tremendous and if you will have one cup on a regular basis might as well let it be of good quality. I prefer the Davidoff coffee because it has got this smooth luxurious taste to it. Also, the Davidoff brand makes me feel like I am indulging in something special.
If you haven’t tried drinking black coffee then it’s a must-try. Initially, the bitterness feels like a punishment but sip it a little bit and you will appreciate the actual flavour of coffee. I believe milk makes our coffee bland. I have my black coffee without sugar
The second type of coffee I make is when I feel like being indulgent in calories. This is whipped coffee. How do you make it? It’s simple. Two teaspoons of instant coffee, two teaspoons of sugar and two teaspoons of hot water. Now whip all of this up for two minutes with a spoon in a cup like you would whip your eggs. The sugar in this mixture gives the coffee a fluffiness. Next, add milk and hot water and you get this rich coffee. If you feel especially indulgent then add a teaspoon of unsalted butter and you will get this creamy, rich delicious coffee that is certainly going to lift your mood and spirit.
The third type of coffee I make is using a French press. You would need grounded coffee bean powder for this coffee. How do you make it?
First take some coffee beans and grind them in a grinder to get a coarse powder. Store this powder in an airtight jar. Next, heat your water and pour half a cup of water into your French press jar. Add 1–2 two teaspoons of coffee powder. Then add another half a cup of hot water to the coffee powder and let the coffee simmer in this hot water mixture for 1–2 minutes. Experiment here, see what flavour comes out with the different amount of time you let the ground coffee stand for. Next, push the sieve in the French press slowly down to collect the coffee bean residue on the way down. Pour it out into your cup. I would recommend using a see-through glass cup because there is beauty in seeing the various different shades of brown/black that the coffee gets poured out in. Enjoy your delicious cup of the French press coffee.
What is different between a French press cup and a regular instant cup? A few things, firstly, the flavour of French press varies based on many factors, the type of coffee beans you use, how long you cook it in the water, and how hot the water is. There’s a lot of room to experiment and try out what you prefer. This makes the coffee-tasting experience a lot more exciting as well. Secondly, in my brief experience of working with French press, there is this earthen taste to French press coffee as compared to the tartness of the instant coffee. Instant is not bad — it is predictable, it is easy, and doesn’t require any thinking but to enjoy your cup truly you must try French press coffee that you make yourself.
Now when do I have my coffee? Most people have it right after breakfast as a wake-me-up drug. I would say it's too much of a shot for your body right away. Have your breakfast and let your body get the calories it needs in the morning. Once you get to work, have the coffee an hour or so in. You will be looking forward to getting your work kickstarted because you will have that cup of coffee to look forward to second you will get this boost around 10–11 am, a time when we could really use that extra pump once the day has kicked off. You will find yourself extremely alert and energetic for the next couple of hours until lunchtime.
The second time to have a cup of coffee would be an hour or 30 minutes before working out. Since I work out in the evening I usually have a cup right before this time. It’s a cup of black coffee for me at this time which I enjoy and then get ready for my workout. This shot of caffeine gets the muscles quickly warmed up and increases your willpower to deliver a strong workout as well.
While I am sure coffee has its issues — dependence, and heartburn but for me the benefits outweigh the costs immensely. It’s one of my indulgences that I look forward to every day and I like to read about and try different ways of making it. I hope that by reading this article, the next time you have your cup of coffee you’re more mindful about the flavour, and how it was made and hence can savour this delicious drink even more than you normally would.
