Drinking Coffee All the Time

So it’s been a hot summer---apparently the hottest summer on record for planet Earth. Without delving into the slowly unfolding (potential) tragedy behind that simple statement, let’s shift topics and talk about coffee.   Specifically, let’s address the topic of drinking hot drinks (preferably coffee of course) on hot days.  I like it hot, she likes it cold. It's all good, because it's caffeinated coffee! First question : During summer (or whenever it’s very warm out), does it make sense to always drink iced coffee rather than a standard hot cup of joe?  And ... Is it bad to drink hot coffee on a hot day? Can it hurt you?  Also ... Is iced coffee always the answer for cooling off (assuming of course that one wants to drink coffee instead of water, which is also a healthy option) on a hot day? These questions have finally been answered by a Canadian scientist, Dr. Ollie Jay, at the University of Ottawa’s School of Human Kinetics.   When it comes t

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S. in terms of physical size, but it has a big history. Not only was it the first state to declare independence from the British in 1776, but it was the first state to make coffee the official state drink---specifically ‘coffee milk,’ which combines sweetened coffee syrup with milk. The only other state that has proclaimed coffee as its official state drink is Washington State. However, Washington passed its resolution in 2016, while coffee milk has been the official state drink in Rhode Island since 1993. After spending a lovely weekend in Providence, Rhode Island, we stopped at Whole Foods en route to Massachusetts for vacation. Of course, I needed coffee for the 1.5-hour ride to Falmouth, but when I went to the coffee section, there were no people serving coffee. Instead there was a very inviting configuration of Franke machines offering up dairy-based and soy-based coffee, lattes, cortados, cappuccinos, flat whiles, mochas

In mid-August, morning temps are surprisingly moderate in Oak Bluffs, in Martha’s Vineyard---though later in the day heavy heat drives people to the beach in droves.   In the morning, however, people are driven to find morning coffee.   Only then can the day begin. This morning, I was not satisfied with Keurig coffee. I needed someone to hand me a hot brew (very hot preferably).  As I walked up Circuit Ave, I was too much in dire need of coffee to properly appreciate the charming bungalows, gabled roofs, and cedar-shingled homes.  In fact, I went to the very first café I saw, Toccopuro, located at 45 Circuit Avenue. Toccopuro is a café for coffee-lovers.   There is drip coffee, cold brew, espresso-based drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. The interior is a peaceful seafoam green, with high-beam, wall-mounted shelves strewn with shells, and aquamarine espresso equipment on the counter. While indoor space is limited, there is some outdoor seating. My drip coffee wa

It's official: Asbury Park, NJ, is a destination for music lovers, boardwalk devotees, those who enjoy amazing mural art---and intrepid coffee drinkers like myself. Today was simply one of those epic early-August Sunday beach days in Asbury. Warm sun prevailed, but there were periods of overcast breeziness; people were sparkling with contentment. And the water was absolutely perfect.  For me, a day in Asbury Park would not be complete without a trip to the Asbury Park Roastery . This small coffee roasting company, which has been around since 2007, has 2 locations---and they are both continually trafficked by coffee-lovers all summer long.  The flagship location is downtown at 803 Second Avenue, and the boardwalk location is 1300 Ocean Avenue in the Grand Arcade of Convention Hall. They specialize in selling freshly roasted coffee, mainly fair trade and organic, to both retail and wholesale customers. They also offer loose-leaf teas and various vegan and non-vegan pastries.