Caffeine Trivia 1.30.14

Famous Coffee Drinker in Pop Culture: Juan Valdez

This fictional character has become a coffee icon as well an icon of Columbia. First introduced in 1959, Juan Valdez (and his mule) have become frequently mimicked and parodied in pop culture.

During the U.S. Advertising Week in 2005, Juan beat out Ronald MacDonald, the Geico Gecko, the Double Mint Twins, and the Energizer Bunny to be named the most important advertising icon in America. That is some stiff competition for this mustached coffee man.

Caffeine Trivia 1.29.14

The Six Most Famous Coffee Drinkers in Pop Culture?

Friends: Joey, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, and Phoebe.

It’s hard to say but it seems like every character in the show enjoyed coffee to some extent. There aren’t many – if any – episodes that don’t have at least one scene at the Central Perk with one of the characters enjoying a warm cup of coffee.

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COFFEE MYTH TO AVOID:

 Adding very hot milk. The sugar contained in the milk will caramelize and alter the coffee taste. Ideally, milk should be heated at low temperature or steam heated in your espresso maker.

Caffeine Trivia 01.27.14

COFFEE MYTH TO AVOID:

Adding more coffee to your usual preparation. Contrary to popular belief, this does not make for stronger, tastier coffee — just more bitter. Instead, switch to a new coffee blend or grind.

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Tip of the day:

If you want your coffee to stay hot longer, heat your coffee cup or mug with hot water and remove the water just before pouring in your coffee. This will keep your coffee much hotter a lot longer.

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COFFEE MYTH TO AVOID:

Storing coffee in your freezer. Whether ground or whole bean, store your coffee in a cool place, but avoid the freezer as it generally hastens flavor loss.

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Famous Coffee Drinker:  Bach (1685-1750)

Most know of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sacred liturgical music, but how many have heard of his ode to coffee? Bach, in the throes of the coffee mania that was sweeping all of Europe, composed in 1732 a coffee cantata based on a satirical text he commissioned from the poet Picander.

Source: spresso.com

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Famous Coffee Drinker:  Voltaire (1694-1778)

The learned Voltaire was known for his perspicuity, sarcastic wit and his passion for coffee. Brillat-Savarin credited the beverage for the remarkable clarity in Voltaire’s writings. An incorrigible lover of coffee and Parisian coffee houses, the writer and philosopher was a regular at the Le Procope café and helped convert the establishment into one of the most popular literary meeting grounds in Paris. To those who implored him to reduce his coffee intake, he replied: “I’ve been drinking coffee for over 50 years. That it is poison, I am convinced, but its ill effects have yet to have any bearing on my health.”

Source: spresso.com

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Famous Coffee Drinker:  Louis XV (1710-1774)

The reign of Louis XV is fondly remembered for giving rise to aristocratic cuisine. The cuisine itself was on the path to refinement, and the noble men and women of the king’s court were known to partake of the actual cooking. Louis XV went as far as to grow his own crop of coffee beans in greenhouses on the Versailles Palace grounds. He handpicked the beans, roasted and ground them. He derived the greatest pleasure from making his entrance in a salon with coffee pot in hand, ready to pour for his guests. Needless to say, when a certain Madame du Barry exclaimed “Hey, la France, your coffee’s lousy,” she was not addressing the king, but rather, a steward by the name of La France!

Source: spresso.com

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In 2008, Elvis researcher Adam Victor came out with The Elvis Encyclopedia. It could very well be the definitive Elvis research book. So how did Elvis take his coffee? According to the book (p 172 Food):

At breakfast time he drank orange juice and coffee (served with half & half and as a concession to his diet, Sweet ‘n’ Low).