Wednesday, May 25, 2016

My Brief Meeting With Nancy Behrman

Nancy Behrman coffee cupWhen I travel to a new location, the first thing I like to do is pull out my phone, open my favorite map application and take a look around at everything that is nearby. There are a few things certain people can’t live comfortably without having close to them or even knowing there they are in the first place. My top 3 things to look for when I’m in a new city or in a new State is to find the nearest grocery store, depending on how long I’ll be there, find the nearest bank, and find the nearest highly rated coffee shop.

If you follow my blog, you know that coffee is what I’m all about and hanging out in coffee shops makes life more interesting. I can’t begin to tell you how many interesting and truly successful people I have met simply by spending my free time in a coffee shop and enjoying my favorite morning brew. One particular classy character I managed to run into and had the pleasure to meet while sitting in a Starbucks while visiting a new city was a woman who went by the name of Nancy Behrman, a leader and professional if I ever saw one.

Unfortunately, she was nearly finished as I walked in, but we still managed to talk a little as she gave me details about what there is to do around the city as well as information about her impressive company, Behrman Communications. I’m serious, spend some time in a coffee shop and say hello to someone. You never know who you’ll discover.

The post My Brief Meeting With Nancy Behrman appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

My Brief Meeting With Nancy Behrman

Nancy Behrman coffee cupWhen I travel to a new location, the first thing I like to do is pull out my phone, open my favorite map application and take a look around at everything that is nearby. There are a few things certain people can’t live comfortably without having close to them or even knowing there they are in the first place. My top 3 things to look for when I’m in a new city or in a new State is to find the nearest grocery store, depending on how long I’ll be there, find the nearest bank, and find the nearest highly rated coffee shop.

If you follow my blog, you know that coffee is what I’m all about and hanging out in coffee shops makes life more interesting. I can’t begin to tell you how many interesting and truly successful people I have met simply by spending my free time in a coffee shop and enjoying my favorite morning brew. One particular classy character I managed to run into and had the pleasure to meet while sitting in a Starbucks while visiting a new city was a woman who went by the name of Nancy Behrman, a leader and professional if I ever saw one.

Unfortunately, she was nearly finished as I walked in, but we still managed to talk a little as she gave me details about what there is to do around the city as well as information about her impressive company, Behrman Communications. I’m serious, spend some time in a coffee shop and say hello to someone. You never know who you’ll discover.

The post My Brief Meeting With Nancy Behrman appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

Monday, May 2, 2016

David R. Gray, Jr. Discusses Recent Studies Focusing on Coffee Consumption and Academic Performance

 

coffee photoCoffee has had something of a frustrating history with regard to the multitude of studies evaluating its health benefits and risks, as each subsequent study seems to suggest something entirely different than what had previously been accepted as fact. There were studies linking coffee consumption with an increased cancer risk, but it was later realized that the study did not adequately control for the fact that many coffee drinkers studied during this time were also tobacco users. Recent studies have been more positive than negative, but David R. Gray, Jr. notes that caffeine may not necessarily possess the academic performance-enhancing capabilities so frequently associated with its consumption.

One study divided regular coffee drinkers into two groups, one of which was provided with a dose of caffeine equivalent to the amount found in close to three cups of coffee while the other received a simple placebo. The 
caffeinated group
seemed to perform better on a number of academic-related tests and reported lower levels of fatigue than the control group, but researchers cautioned that the control group’s relative struggles may have actually been evidence of the adverse impact of caffeine withdrawal rather than the positive impact of caffeine consumption.

While the jury still seems to be out regarding coffee and caffeine consumption, it is plainly evident that coffee — or any other caffeinated beverage for that matter — is not a cure-all for a lack of sleep, so those engaged in academic pursuits should ensure they manage their time well and get plenty of sleep if they truly wish to enjoy a successful academic career.

The post David R. Gray, Jr. Discusses Recent Studies Focusing on Coffee Consumption and Academic Performance appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

David R. Gray, Jr. Discusses Recent Studies Focusing on Coffee Consumption and Academic Performance

 

coffee photoCoffee has had something of a frustrating history with regard to the multitude of studies evaluating its health benefits and risks, as each subsequent study seems to suggest something entirely different than what had previously been accepted as fact. There were studies linking coffee consumption with an increased cancer risk, but it was later realized that the study did not adequately control for the fact that many coffee drinkers studied during this time were also tobacco users. Recent studies have been more positive than negative, but David R. Gray, Jr. notes that caffeine may not necessarily possess the academic performance-enhancing capabilities so frequently associated with its consumption.

One study divided regular coffee drinkers into two groups, one of which was provided with a dose of caffeine equivalent to the amount found in close to three cups of coffee while the other received a simple placebo. The 
caffeinated group
seemed to perform better on a number of academic-related tests and reported lower levels of fatigue than the control group, but researchers cautioned that the control group’s relative struggles may have actually been evidence of the adverse impact of caffeine withdrawal rather than the positive impact of caffeine consumption.

While the jury still seems to be out regarding coffee and caffeine consumption, it is plainly evident that coffee — or any other caffeinated beverage for that matter — is not a cure-all for a lack of sleep, so those engaged in academic pursuits should ensure they manage their time well and get plenty of sleep if they truly wish to enjoy a successful academic career.

The post David R. Gray, Jr. Discusses Recent Studies Focusing on Coffee Consumption and Academic Performance appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Randi Glazer Offers Opinion on Concept of Traveling Long Distances for Coffee

Randi Glazer is a revered travel expert and a passionate coffee enthusiast, so it is more than appropriate to seek her insight when it comes to the concept of traveling a great distance just for a good cup of coffee. There are many things to consider in evaluating this habit that so many of us have adopted, including the time and cost associated with traveling to a preferred coffee shop and, of course, the obvious and negative environmental impact created by those who choose to drive to their destination.

As someone who has traveled to some of the world’s best regions when it comes to coffee production, Glazer offered a measured take in analyzing the value of traveling a relatively long way for a cup of coffee. Instead of taking a sort of Manichean view of the issue, Glazer opined that traveling a great distance just for coffee is not inherently bad, but also indicated that a daily trip of this kind is obviously wasteful and should be replaced with a different practice.

As an alternative, Glazer pointed out that it would be better to simply make a single trip to pick up coffee beans or grounds and to make the coffee on an as-needed basis. With proper storage and the right equipment — a French press, for example — the coffee will be every bit as fresh and tasty as it would have been through a daily trip to and from a preferred coffee shop. In fact, Glazer herself has brought back coffee beans from a variety of her favorite travel destinations and has had no problem storing the coffee for a relatively lengthy period of time.

The post Randi Glazer Offers Opinion on Concept of Traveling Long Distances for Coffee appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

Randi Glazer Offers Opinion on Concept of Traveling Long Distances for Coffee

Randi Glazer is a revered travel expert and a passionate coffee enthusiast, so it is more than appropriate to seek her insight when it comes to the concept of traveling a great distance just for a good cup of coffee. There are many things to consider in evaluating this habit that so many of us have adopted, including the time and cost associated with traveling to a preferred coffee shop and, of course, the obvious and negative environmental impact created by those who choose to drive to their destination.

As someone who has traveled to some of the world’s best regions when it comes to coffee production, Glazer offered a measured take in analyzing the value of traveling a relatively long way for a cup of coffee. Instead of taking a sort of Manichean view of the issue, Glazer opined that traveling a great distance just for coffee is not inherently bad, but also indicated that a daily trip of this kind is obviously wasteful and should be replaced with a different practice.

As an alternative, Glazer pointed out that it would be better to simply make a single trip to pick up coffee beans or grounds and to make the coffee on an as-needed basis. With proper storage and the right equipment — a French press, for example — the coffee will be every bit as fresh and tasty as it would have been through a daily trip to and from a preferred coffee shop. In fact, Glazer herself has brought back coffee beans from a variety of her favorite travel destinations and has had no problem storing the coffee for a relatively lengthy period of time.

The post Randi Glazer Offers Opinion on Concept of Traveling Long Distances for Coffee appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Why Does Coffee Make You Feel at Home All Over the World?

One of the most interesting aspects of the simple but somehow noble cup of coffee is its capacity to make the drinker feel entirely at home and at ease no matter where they happen to be at the moment. I noticed this during a recent trip to Australia, which is a wonderful place that I was wholly unfamiliar with until spending some time there. Staying with a host during my first night after touching down in Sydney, I was nervous with anticipation about how the trip would go and whether my lack of knowledge of the culture and customs would lead to trouble.

When I woke up the next morning, the house I stayed in was already filled with the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As I headed to the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice that my stress was quickly melting away, and after drinking my first cup I was completely unconcerned and felt as though I was back home on my porch rather than in a kitchen on the opposite side of the world.

During a brief run with a local who ran a lot like Stuart Lyall, I asked about this phenomenon. He explained how our sense of smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and the scent of coffee was probably triggering positive memories of home in my mind. I had actually heard about this before but had never made the connection, and now I know why coffee is the only thing I need to make me feel at ease wherever I happen to be.

The post Why Does Coffee Make You Feel at Home All Over the World? appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.

Why Does Coffee Make You Feel at Home All Over the World?

One of the most interesting aspects of the simple but somehow noble cup of coffee is its capacity to make the drinker feel entirely at home and at ease no matter where they happen to be at the moment. I noticed this during a recent trip to Australia, which is a wonderful place that I was wholly unfamiliar with until spending some time there. Staying with a host during my first night after touching down in Sydney, I was nervous with anticipation about how the trip would go and whether my lack of knowledge of the culture and customs would lead to trouble.

When I woke up the next morning, the house I stayed in was already filled with the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As I headed to the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice that my stress was quickly melting away, and after drinking my first cup I was completely unconcerned and felt as though I was back home on my porch rather than in a kitchen on the opposite side of the world.

During a brief run with a local who ran a lot like Stuart Lyall, I asked about this phenomenon. He explained how our sense of smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and the scent of coffee was probably triggering positive memories of home in my mind. I had actually heard about this before but had never made the connection, and now I know why coffee is the only thing I need to make me feel at ease wherever I happen to be.

The post Why Does Coffee Make You Feel at Home All Over the World? appeared first on Joe's Regular Blog.