Posted on 06/19/2002 2:01:41 AM PDT by 2Trievers
OSLO (Reuters) - Shaken, not stirred...with an espresso and dash of lime.
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Armed with their steam wands, bar tenders from over 30 nations have been twirling, shaking and stirring for three days behind their espresso machines in Norway at the World Barista Championships.
Barista is Italian for bar tender.
They had 15 minutes each to prepare the perfect espresso, cappuccino and their own signature drink for an international panel of judges.
"We were really nervous...it's our first time in the competition," said Amir Greenberg, owner of Ilan's, a chain of eight coffee shops based in Tel Aviv.
Israel's contestant Gil Shachar whipped up a "Bubbling Tovi," named after one of his energetic waitresses: a frappuccino-type drink made with Irish cream syrup, sparkling water, ice and of course an espresso coffee.
Tone Elin Liavaag of the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe, who organized the competition, told Reuters that each barista had been selected via national heats -- but only six of them went through to Sunday's final.
Baristas have undergone rigorous training to cook up some of the best lattes on offer.
Liabaag said espressos and cappuccinos are judged on technique, taste and presentation, while the signature drinks, which have to be espresso-based and none alcoholic, test the barista's passion and creativity.
Italy's Luigi Lupi, who has been serving up coffee for over 20 years in his bar, Caffeteria Porta Veneto, spent several hours etching flowers into hollowed-out rock melons to hold his Paradiso drink -- which contained mint and almond syrup, cream and coffee.
Emma Markland-Webster of New Zealand and the only woman finalist, suspended 18-carat gold in gelatin to create a glittering signature espresso.
"Gold has always been heavily sought after and, like a good espresso, is hard to find," she told an enthusiastic audience.
Making an espresso may look easy, but it takes much skill, training and a top-quality coffee.
Paul Meikle-Janney of consultancy Coffee.community, said even the texture of the coffee grind can significantly affect the final outcome.
"They are the king or queen of the espresso machine...they are to coffee what a sommelier is to wine," Meikle-Janney said.
Something like 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another every single day. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams (mg.) of caffeine every day, making it America's most popular drug by far. The caffeine comes in from things like coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, etc.
Have you ever wondered what it is that makes caffeine so popular? What does this drug do that causes its use to be so widespread? If you have ever wondered about the caffeine you consume, then this edition of How Stuff Works will enlighten you! It may also change, at least slightly, the way you think about this drug in your own life.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is known medically as trimethylxanthine, and the chemical formula is C8H10N4O2 (see this page for an image of the molecular structure). When isolated in pure form, caffeine is a white crystalline powder that tastes very bitter. The chief source of pure caffeine is the process of decaffeinating coffee and tea.
Medically, caffeine is useful as a cardiac stimulant and also as a mild diuretic (it increases urine production). Recreationally, it is used to provide a "boost of energy" or a feeling of heightened alertness. It's often used to stay awake longer - college students and drivers use it to stay awake late into the night. Many people feel as though they "cannot function" in the morning without a cup of coffee to provide caffeine and the boost it gives them.
Caffeine is an addictive drug. Among its many actions, it operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine and heroin use to stimulate the brain. On a spectrum, caffeine's effects are more mild than amphetamines, cocaine and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities. If you feel like you cannot function without it and must consume it every day, then you are addicted to caffeine.
May I have another pot, Please? ... Ur, make that a cup!
It is a normal coffee, but it's not ordinary. It's quality par-excellence. Try it---you'll love it!
Sissy coffee is for cowboys and Bikers that ride "SideSaddle"
Its expensive and hard to find, but it is addictive when brewed right (clean coffee maker, one roasted eggshell mixed in with the grounds).
Well, I always preferred Luzianne, myself, but Community is a VERY close second.
"Coffee--pure as an angel, sweet as love, black as sin, and hot as hell". (Talleyrand)
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