Coffee Conundrum

         I am a complete coffee freak and I mean that in the best way possible. It started as a comfort thing. My mother always drank black coffee and I began drinking it while filming America’s Next Top Model in New York. It somehow made me feel closer to home and it’s been that way ever since. I don’t drink it for the caffeine, but I can drink a whole pot and then some depending on my mood! Regardless of why you drink it, I have a few helpful tips that I’ve picked up on making it the most satisfying part of your morning!
       Many people suffer from a little irritation from their morning coffee. You don’t want your day to begin with tummy troubles, but you also don’t want to cut coffee out of the routine. The good news is that dark-roasted coffee contains a chemical called N-methylpyridium that actually reduces irritating stomach acid. A dark roast can contain twice as much as a light roast so to keep your stomach still, try switching to a French roast or even an espresso. The best choice for irritable tummies is actually a decaffeinated dark-roast, but if you need that caffeine kick, try simply switching to a dark-roast fist.
        Now that you have you caffeine consumption under control, you might want to mix it up a little. Like I said, I only drink black coffee, but that doesn’t mean that I want bland coffee. A trick that I have been doing for years is adding a dash of cinnamon to my coffee grounds before brewing them. It really picks up on the rich flavors in any roast. You can also add other fun spices like orange zest or fresh nutmeg. You don’t have to do it every morning, but it will certainly add a little pizzaz to your morning and keep you from getting in a rut with your daily grind.
        Everyone has a different take on brewing the best cup. From drip machines to French press, I find it hard to brew a bad cup. Nevertheless, you should still know a thing or two about your grinds. Grinding your own coffee is the best way to get the freshest cup. Grinders are pretty inexpensive, but they do take a little more effort in the morning. You can also control the grind size with your own grinder. I recommend a grinder if you, like me, want to switch up the way you brew sometimes. A French press requires a coarse ground coffee because anything smaller will end up in your cup and that is not a good feeling. Espresso requires a fine grind and drip makers take medium sized grounds.
        Despite what you have heard about coffee possibly being bad for you, it is actually packed with the same nutritionally rich compounds that you get from tea, wine, and chocolate. Studies even show a relation in coffee drinking being able to ward off mental decline, certain cancers, and high blood pressure. While I do recommend switching to decaf after lunch, I say raise your cup of Joe in joy and toast to a bold, rich life. Here’s to living like a SuperModel!