believe it or not, every time you kick your shoes off and treat yourself to your favourite cup of coffee, you are taking part in a cherished ritual that has stood the test of time for more than 500 years.

The English word, coffee, is originated from the Turkish word kahve, which in turn comes from the Arabic, qahweh al-bunn, meaning wine of the bean.

There are many theories about when people started drinking coffee. The Ethiopians believed that coffee was discovered when a herder found his goats dancing after munching on coffee cherries. however, the earliest credible evidence we have of coffee drinking dated back to the 15th Century, when certain religious men in Yemen enjoyed coffee for its stimulating properties.

The Arabs guarded the secret of coffee zealously, but eventually coffee plants found their way into the hands of Dutch colonists, who proceeded to cultivate and export coffee beans to other countries.

Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. People in different countries enjoy this delicious beverage in different ways. Here, coffee is a part of our daily lives, as many of us find time for a cup of coffee whether at work, at home or even at play!

despite the enduring popularity of coffee, there are people who choose not to drink coffee because they believed that it can cause ill effects. going by scientific evidence, there is little cause for concern as experts suggest that moderate consumption of coffee (three to five cups daily) is safe for adults. What’s inside a cup of coffee?

Many people know that coffee is a rich source of caffeine. When consumed in moderation, caffeine can act as a stimulant, helping us to stay alert during the times when we are feeling sleepy or lethargic. Caffeine brings about this effect due to the similarity of its molecular structure to a compound in our body called adenosine.

normally, adenosine binds to the receptors in our brain to cause us to feel sleepy. Caffeine can also bind to these same receptors. Through this action, caffeine prevents adenosine from triggering our body’s sleepiness reaction.

This is why a cup of coffee not only helps us stay productive at work, but it can also help avoid unwanted consequences of sleepiness at the work place, such as nodding off at an important meeting or worse still, workplace accidents! For those of us who feel lethargic while traveling on the road, it is good practice to stop at a petrol station for a short nap. have a cup of coffee afterward to get you all freshened up to hit the road again!

besides caffeine, coffee is also rich in antioxidants called chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Many studies have been conducted to investigate if chlorogenic acid can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and so far the results are promising. Caffeic acid on the other hand, is known as a carcinogenic inhibitor, and in vitro studies (under laboratory conditions) are being carried out to investigate its potential in reducing the risk of cancer in our body. Research into the potential protective effects of coffee antioxidants continues. by Nutrition Society of Malaysia with Nestlé Nescafé. The information is for educational purposes only and not to  be considered as medical advice.

ADVERTORIAL: The essence of coffee

It is because this 6 cup coffee maker is not well known, that is the reason why people are not recommending? Well, I can assure you that this is definitely not the reason, this is a coffee machine that is very well known.

If most of the folks that are giving feedback on coffee brewers are having the mindset similar to mine, then it would be a case of not taking this machine seriously. Well, to start with, this maker does not even look like it can really works, it look so cute but, it has to be cute, because this is the hello kitty brewer.

Now you would have to agree with me that this is one machine that is on par, if not better known than your usual Bunn or Senseo. and if you agreed with me on this, then you would also be nodding your head agreeing that this fellow looks more like a toy than a coffee machine. and, it is after trying it out, that I think this fellow needs some positive feedback as it has been grossly misunderstood this is not only a good looking 6 cup coffee maker, it brews pretty good coffee too

For people that have been reading my articles on coffee machines, I usually award high marks for brewers that are good looking, and of course, this hello kitty machine would definitely score high with its pretty pink theme and matching kitty mascot. and using a removable filter basket, its primary value add is the saving on filter paper and of course most environmentalist would agreed that this is a green machine by not wasting paper.

Its set-up is similar to that of a very basic drip filter brewer, and with the right temperature, soft water and well maintained machine (especially the filter basket), this machine does as good a coffee as any other machine.

What surprises me is the attention to details that the Sanrio folks invested into this coffee machine, that it even comes with a anti-drip feature. this is a value add, I think only higher priced machines would have. I always like things that are easily measured and this hello kitty coffee brewer has a water tank that comes with easy to read water marking that would satisfy this area.

Of course, belonging to the drip filter genre, this machine also comes with a warmer plate. while, warmer plate is not my personal favorite, as I do think they are useful in keeping coffee fresh, I see it essential in this instance. Just imagine how weird or out of place a pink hello kitty theme would like, with a thermal carafe. So, the usual carafe would have to be in place to ensure that the integrity of the pink look and feel is maintained.

So, should you get this coffee maker? Well, retailing at just $40, personally, I think this is the perfect gift for ladies especially those that loves these cute stuff. Of course, they also must like to brew coffee. then, it would make a great gift for this group of folks.

A Good 6 Cup Coffee Maker No One Would Recommend