The Battle: Cream & Milk vs. Non-Dairy Creamer

Some people love their coffee just as it comes out of the pot – plain and black.  But many people add sugar or other sweeteners as well as milk, cream or non-dairy creamer to make coffee a more palatable and enjoyable beverage.

Which way is better?  Well, that’s a question that might never be answered.  (After all, we STILL don’t know if the chicken or the egg came first!) 

But what we can explore is non-dairy creamer and how it stacks up to its competition.

Where Did Non-Dairy Creamer Come From?

Let’s start by defining cream.  Plain and simple, it’s the layer of butterfat on top of raw milk.

Non-dairy creamers were developed in order to accommodate people who wanted cream in their coffee but were not able to consume milk for one reason or another (most commonly lactose intolerance and those following a Vegan lifestyle).

A product called “Pream” was among the first powdered creamers to be mass marketed.  Watch a Pream TVcommercial.  Despite the claims made in that commercial, Pream unfortunately did not dissolve very easily.  Made from sugar and dehydrated cream, the milk proteins made it difficult for it to dissolve.

Next came a product that we all know and many people love:  Coffee-Mate.  Around since 1958, Coffee-Mate dissolves much more easily than its predecessors due to alterations in the ingredients – a reduction of the milk protein and the addition of vegetable oil in place of milk fat.

Are Non-Dairy Creamers Truly Dairy-Free?

This is another loaded question, but the answer is…sometimes.

Many creamers marked non-dairy contain no lactose, but some do contain a milk protein called casein, which is added to enhance the flavor and texture of non-dairy creamer.  Casein can potentially cause a reaction in some people who are lactose intolerant, and others are specifically allergic to casein itself.  Also, the presence of casein means that some non-dairy creamers are not technically vegan. 

Always carefully read product labels and understand exactly what you’re buying.

Does Non-Dairy Creamer Last Forever?

Definitely not!  While non-dairy creamers (both liquid and powdered) do have longer shelf lives than milk or cream, they DO have expiration dates.  Again, be sure to carefully read the packaging for “best by” or “use by” dates.

Whether you love milk, cream, or non-dairy creamer, the good news is that there are loads and loads of options out there – from whole milk to skim, from regular cream to fat free half-and-half, from plain Coffee-Mate to Coffee-Mate Belgian Chocolate Toffee!

How To Pronounce Various Coffee Regions & Coffee Varietals

Did you know that coffee has its own language? Okay, not really, but sometimes trying to pronounce coffee regions and a few of the less common coffee varietals can leave you feeling like you’re back in high school French class. Don’t be discouraged! CoffeeCow.com is here to the rescue, providing you with a quick and easy tutorial.

Let’s start with Brazil - ah, Brazil. As Frank Sinatra put it, they’ve got an awful lot of coffee! With that being said, it’s no surprise that they are the largest coffee producer in the world. Learn how to say these coffee regions of Brazil:

Cerrado

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Sul de Minas

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Next, let’s travel to the birthplace of coffee - Ethiopia. There are two types of Ethiopian coffee: dry-processed or washed. Dry-processed will create a bold, earthy cup of coffee; washed will give you a light-bodied cup. Learn how to pronounce these coffee regions of Ethiopia:

Harar

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Sidamo Sidama

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Yirgacheffe

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Now let’s make our way over to Indonesia. Did you know that all (and we mean all) Arabica coffee in Indonesia is hand-picked, regardless of where it’s being grown? According to Wikipedia, Indonesia is also the fourth largest producer of coffee, making this job of hand-picking the coffee a big one. Think about that while learning how to say these coffee producing regions:

Gajah Aceh

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Sulawesi

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As your favorite infomercial would say - but wait, there’s more!  Learn how to pronounce these coffee regions:

Boquete (Panama)

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Burundi

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Huehuetenango (Guatemala)

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Nyeri (Kenya)

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Tanzania

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Now that we’ve covered regions, let's learn how to pronounce varietals, or types of coffee.

Bourbon - Arabica coffee from Réunion, Rwanda and Latin America.

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Caturra - Arabica coffee from Latin and Central America.

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Catuai - Arabica coffee from Latin America.

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Pacas - Arabica coffee from Latin America.

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Now you can impress all your friends by correctly pronouncing the regions and varietals. You can also impress your friends with our variety of coffee products!

Coffee Quote by Julianna Marguiles

If we ever met Julianna Marguiles, we would tell her that there is no such thing as too much coffee!

T.S. Eliot Coffee Quote

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."

-T.S. Eliot

Just wanted to share our original artwork and this quote from T.S. Eliot!

Top 5 Reasons To Keep Drinking Your Coffee…Maybe!

Coffee is such a versatile beverage! Many people will attest to needing a cup first thing in the morning (in order to function) along with a few more cups to get through their day. Coffee can even be dessert-like and served as an after dinner treat! The question is: what does your doctor say about coffee? Here are 5 supposed health benefits that encourage you to keep drinking your coffee:

 

1.       Caffeine Linked to Lower Skin Cancer Risk: A new study published in the Cancer Research Journal earlier this month claims that drinking 3 or more cups of coffee a day can decrease your skin cancer chances by 20 percent! The study followed approximately 113,000 coffee drinkers to reach these findings, but they’re still inconclusive. Though the research on this claim continues, the results they’ve documented are promising.  

2.       Coffee May Help Slow Age-Related Muscle Deterioration: Coffee helps to wake our minds and bodies, but is it possible coffee may help maintain our muscles by slowing deterioration as we age? Tests performed on mice look promising enough that human testing may be in our future! By giving caffeine to mice of differing ages and measuring progress, sports scientists did find improvement over mice that were not given caffeine. We think they were probably pretty alert and productive, too.

3.       Coffee Lowers Depression Risk In Older Females: According to a report from the Harvard School of Public Health within the past year, analysis of over 50,000 women over a period of 24 years showed a decreased risk of depression. Analysts actually tried to predict who would have depression later in life by looking at a cumulative time period within the 24 year study! With a statistic of 1 out of every 5 women in the United States who suffer from depression, hearing that coffee may help lower the risk of depression is a wonderful thing. 

4.       Drinking Coffee May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: Published early last month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, a study conducted by researchers of the University of Florida and the University of Miami shows that drinking coffee may help prevent/delay the onset of the Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers say that older adults who have mild memory impairment and drink coffee are less likely to develop dementia. With Alzheimer’s attacking an estimated 6 million Americans, the study raises hope for the fight against this incurable and deadly disease.

5.       Coffee Might Actually Help Your Heart: Researchers found that people who drank 2 cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of heart failure than those who did not drink coffee, but they emphasize that moderation is key. Analysis of data from 2001 to 2011 of over 140,000 people in Sweden and Finland yielded these findings, claiming that those who drank coffee were 11 percent less likely to have heart failure. Besides that, they also found that drinking coffee may also protect against other illnesses and even improve exercise performance!

What do you think – is caffeinated coffee really the super food it’s touted to be?

In the end, coffee and other caffeinated beverages in moderation may actually benefit you in the long run. There’s still more research to do, but we think these studies are on the right track. Who knows? Maybe coffee will get recognition for curing something other than sleepiness.

Cure your sleepiness with fresh coffee from CoffeeCow.com today!

How To Choose a Single Serve Coffee Maker

Ready to trade in your traditional drip coffee brewer for a single serve coffee maker? Confused by all the options? CoffeeCow.com is here to make the process easier by helping you find your perfect single serve coffee maker!

Tassimo

Tassimo single serve coffee makers utilize T-Discs and have a wide range of brewing capabilities, from brewing a real espresso to milk-based lattes and cappuccinos. If you find that Starbucks is like your second home, a Tassimo brewer may be the right fit for you. With its boutique coffee drinks and a price range from $100 to $200, you’re getting quite a brewer for your buck.

LavAzza Espresso Point

LavAzza Espresso Point, aka the brewer that brings the taste of Italy to your morning cup of coffee. This single serve brewer takes beverage capsules and is also in the $100 to $ 200 price range, which is way cheaper than a plane ticket to Italy. The LavAzza Espresso Point brewer has a unique capability in that it can even make vegetable broth! What will they think of next?

LavAzza Blue

Welcome to the world of luxury and efficiency! LavAzza Blue coffee makers utilize pre-programmed one-touch buttons, so making coffee in this single serve coffee maker is even easier. This machine also uses capsules and is equipped with a one-gallon tank and a steam wand. LavAzza Blue has been described as the new frontier of the single serve coffee maker.

Single Cup Coffee Brewer Comparison - Click to enlarge!

Dolce Gusto

Dolce Gusto single serve coffee makers have the most variation for the lowest price – you’re able to snag one for between $70 and $200. Like LavAzza brewers, Dolce Gusto also utilizes capsules. This coffee maker’s uniqueness lies in the Custom Control Lever, giving you even more control over your coffee without added effort.

Keurig

One of the most popular & well-known brands, Keurig single serve coffee makers have quite a following. Keurig’s K-cups provide convenient, gourmet coffee at your fingertips. Keurig also offers the widest variety in coffee beverages – if you can’t seem to make up your mind, try one of each! The cost for these single serve brewers can range anywhere from $70 - $300.

Pod Brewers

If you’re looking for a simple, no frills single serve coffee maker, we’ve got you covered there, too! Pod brewers can make both hot tea and coffee. Price ranges anywhere from $70 - $200 and great for the environment, as these Pods are also recyclable! 

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With such benefits as ease of use, convenience and the taste of a freshly brewed cup of coffee every time, single serve coffee makers are on the rise and still rising. The chart above will aide in making your search a bit easier. Good luck finding your perfect single serve coffee maker & please contact us for more information. We’d be happy to help you with your quest to find your one true brewer!

How to Clean / Descale a Keurig Coffee Maker

How do I clean/descale a Keurig coffee maker?

This is an important question – one that we’re asked all the time – so we thought it was time to address it! It is important to properly maintain your Keurig coffee maker and regular cleaning helps your Keurig stand the test of time.

General Cleaning: Cleaning the Brewer and K-Cup Holder

Think of washing your brewer as you wash your clothes – some are machine wash, hand wash or dry clean only, not to mention different colors! You don’t usually throw a mixed load of clothes in your washing machine without first sorting the colors and knowing the care instructions on the labels.  This applies to cleaning your coffee maker as well, since throwing your entire coffee maker in the dishwasher is definitely not recommended!

We suggest reading all the instructions that Keurig provides for your coffee maker. According to Keurig, a soapy, damp and non-abrasive cloth should do the trick when it comes to surface cleaning. Certain removable parts are dishwasher safe; others are not and need to be hand-washed.

Keurig also gives you step by step instructions on how to remove and clean the K-Cup holder.

Descaling your Keurig Brewer

At CoffeeCow.com, we suggest following Keurig’s recommendations on the descaling of your coffee maker.

Depending on water type (e.g. high mineral content), usage and performance, your Keurig coffee maker should be descaled every 3-6 months. Though harmless, scale will hinder the performance of any brewer, and will even affect the taste of your coffee.

Fear not! The solution is as easy as it comes – white vinegar. Simply run a vinegar rinse followed by a fresh water rinse, and voila! You’re back to great tasting coffee out of your high performance brewer. Keurig also offers detailed descaling instructions on this process.

For more information on how to properly care for your Keurig brewers, check out these userguides. Don’t forget to visit CoffeeCow.com todayto see our full list of coffee products!