SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE

MORNING COFFEE

I'm willing to bet that most of you have at least one cup of coffee in the morning.  If so, say "good morning" because this post is for you, and it comes just in time for relaxing with your favorite cup of coffee on Sunday morning.  Read on and you will be enlightened about what kind of coffee to drink, what the best coffee makers are, what to wear while drinking your coffee, and why coffee might just better for you than you thought!  The bonus is a recipe for a dark chocolate mocha to enjoy!

My favorite coffee comes from Sylvester & Co.  I first discovered this coffee in Savannah, GA.  You can buy it in the store if you live in Savannah or in limited Whole Foods Stores, or you can order directly from the website.  It makes the whole house smell like heaven!

The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker is my preference for making regular drip coffee.  It grinds and brews directly into a coffee cup, travel mug or the 12 cup carafe. 

 For cappuccino or espresso, The Nepresso Evoluo Espresso Maker is my choice.  The Nespresso capsulest make it a breeze to have a cappuccino or espresso at the touch of a button.

For cappuccino, steam your milk with the Breville Milk Cafe Electric Frother.  It's also great for hot chocolate!

Look stylish while drinking your morning coffee and relaxing in the paper in this Cosabella Pajama Set.  Could it get any more comfy than this?

or this cute outfit from Joie!

Here are 10 reasons to keep drinking that cup of coffee in the morning!

According to the Huffington Post, Americans drink 2.1 coffee drinks per day, and it turns out that coffee is healthier than we might have thought.  Here are 10 reasons to keep drinking coffee.

Coffee may make you more intelligent.  Caffeine improves reaction time, vigilance, attention, logical reasoning and most of the complex functions you associate with intelligence.

Drinking coffee could help keep your brain healthier for longer.  According to a University of South Florida study if seems that people over 65 who had higher blood levels of caffeine developed Alzheimer's disease two to four years later than others with lower caffeine.

Coffee could reduce your chances of getting skin cancer if you're a woman.  Apparently, women who drink three or more cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop skin cancer.

Coffee can make you a better athlete.  An article in the New York Times states that "a cup of coffee before a workout jolts athletic performance".

Coffee could reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.   An American Chemical Society study found that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day reduce their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 50 percent.

Coffee consumption has been linked to lower levels of suicide.  The Harvard School of Public Health determined that drinking between two and four cups of coffee can reduce the risk of suicide by 50 percent.  Coffee evidently acts as an anti depressant.

Coffee is great for your liver, especially if you drink alcohol.  Those who drink at least one cup of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to develop liver cirrhosis.  Also studies have shown that coffee can help prevent people from developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The smell of coffee could make you less stressed.  People exposed to coffee aromas experience changes in brain proteins tied to stress.

Coffee could lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.  ScienceDaily reported that drinking coffee may help people with Parkinson's disease control their movement.

Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anything else.  While fruits and vegetables have tons of antioxidants, the body seems to absorb the most from coffee.

BICERIN

Here is a recipe for a traditional hot drink native to Turin, Italy, called Bicerin, made of espresso, drinking chocolate and whole milk served layered in a small rounded glass.  It's important to use a clear glass; you need to be able to see all three layers.

Warm one cup whole milk in a medium saucepan with 3 ounces of chopped semisweet chocolate.  Whisk the mixture until it begins to boil, then let it boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly (the chocolate mixture will foam up a bit). 

Afterward, remove it from the heat and set aside.  Make a small pot of very strong coffee, or good espresso.

Fill the bottom third of a clear, heat-proof glass with the warm chocolate mixture.  Pour in some coffee or espresso.  (If you want to help it create a definite layer, pour it over the back of a spoon, into the glass.)

Top with a swirl of sweetened, freshly whipped cream.  Enjoy!

DARK CHOCOLATE MOCHA

16 ounces of brewed coffee

1/2 cup half and half

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

whipped cream

Brew coffee in coffee maker.

Whisk together milk, sugar, dark cocoa and vanilla in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 - 7 minutes whisking occasionally.  Don't let it come to a boil.  Pour hot mixture into 2 coffee mugs.  Divide brewed coffee between both mugs.  Enjoy!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!