Beverages

Drinking Coffee Before Your Workout – Why it’s Recommended

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Do you have a regular workout routine that you follow? If so, is there some particular food or beverage you consume just prior to your workout? We ask because it turns out that coffee might be the perfect pre-workout beverage thanks to the properties of caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant and, to some extent, a psychoactive drug. It is certainly not as powerful as other psychoactive substances, but caffeine still stimulates the brain and body in several ways. That could turn out to be a particularly good thing where exercise is concerned.

Benefits of Pre-Workout Coffee

Numerous studies looking into the effects of caffeine on the body suggest that drinking coffee before your workout could help you make the most of your exercise time. Here are just a few of the potential benefits of a pre-workout coffee, compliments of the Very Well Fit website:

Caffeine helps burn fat during exercise
Caffeine boosts metabolism
Caffeine boosts performance during exercise
Caffeine improves mental focus
Caffeine reduces muscle pain.

All of these properties of caffeine are believed to enhance the benefits of working out regularly. As always, the ideal scenario involves drinking your coffee black. Once you start adding sugar, creamer, and syrup to your morning cup, you might very well be negating some of the benefits of drinking the coffee to begin with.

Coffee and Working Memory

Another thing to consider is that daily exercise leads to the release of certain brain chemicals that are believed to improve what is known as working memory. Working memory is that which allows us to store and recall certain kinds of information linked to language and perception.

Another study shows that a cup of coffee is equivalent to 20 minutes of moderate exercise in terms of its benefits to the brain. It stands to reason that combining regular exercise with coffee would be even better for the brain than either one alone. So in essence, a cup of coffee before you work out only enhances the benefits of exercise for improving working memory.

That same study shows that coffee drinkers do better than their non-coffee drinking counterparts on memory tests. Moreover, the disparity between coffee drinkers and nondrinkers mirrors the disparity between people who exercise and those who do not. All of this seems to suggest that combining regular exercise with a pre-workout coffee is particularly good for working memory.

Another Reason to Love Coffee

The more we learn about the health benefits of coffee, the more we appreciate what is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. Knowing that a pre-workout coffee can improve performance is just another reason to love it.

Galaxie Coffee has been serving the greater New York area with office coffee service for many years. We would be happy to serve your workplace as well. Contact us to learn more about our coffees, juices, bottled water, and break room supplies. We even provide coffee and water equipment along with janitorial supplies.

3 Things Coffee and Chocolate Have in Common

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To some people, coffee and chocolate exist on planes higher than any other food or beverage. You might be a chocolate and coffee connoisseur yourself. If so, you know there is a lot to love about both. From our perspective, we are fascinated by the fact that coffee and chocolate have so much in common.

This post will discuss just three of those things. As you read, we do hope you will keep in mind that Galaxie Coffee takes extraordinary pride in providing our customers with the highest quality coffees, juices, and other beverages. We can set you up with some exceptionally fine coffee regardless of your tastes.

1. Both Have Long Histories

The first thing is the fact that coffee and chocolate both have long histories. Chocolate’s history goes back much further, perhaps as far back as 1700 BC. We know that chocolate was big in South America among the Aztecs and Mayans. But the earliest archaeological evidence of chocolate dates back to the Mokaya people.

As for coffee, legend suggests that Ethiopian goat herders discovered it somewhere around 200 A.D. The legend may or may not be true. The first known use of coffee as a beverage though dates back to 15th century Africa. Though coffee’s history is not nearly as long as chocolate’s, it is still significant.

2. Both Thrive in Warm Climates

Though it is technically possible to grow coffee and cacao anywhere, they prefer warmer climates. Both grow exceptionally well in the rich soils of tropical regions, making certain areas of Africa, Asia, and the Americas ideal for growing. Some of the best environments for producing cacao trees are also famous for their coffee. From Mexico on down to Ecuador, geographic and climactic conditions are ideal for growing.

3. Both Offer Complex Flavors

Finally, coffee and chocolate share similarities in the complexities of their flavors. Where coffee is concerned, flavor complexity is generally the result of roasting and combining multiple beans to create unique profiles. Chocolate’s flavor is derived from the chosen beans and their fermentation.

Just as there are expert wine tasters whose tongues are capable of identifying even the most subtle notes, there are also experts able to identify all of the flavor complexities of coffee and chocolate. You may not have such a discerning palate, but you do know that both coffee and chocolate are delicious.

No Better Combination

Coffee and chocolate do have quite a bit in common. In light of that, we can think of no better combination. We encourage you to take some time to enjoy a delicious piece of chocolate alongside your favorite cold or hot brew. Pamper yourself in the luxury that is these two delectable treats.

In the meantime, we also encourage you to contact us to learn more about our office coffee and water service. We take great pride in offering our customers high quality products that meet their discriminating tastes. Best of all, we bring the coffee right to you.

How to Celebrate National Coffee Day

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September 29 is National Coffee Day in the United States. It is not a national paid holiday on par with Memorial Day and Labor Day, but we can work on that. In the meantime, we owe it to ourselves to make the most of National Coffee Day – both at home and at the office.

We can think of no better way to celebrate the day than bringing office coffee service into the workplace. Galaxie Coffee is here to help you with that. Whether you have never had coffee service before or you are looking to replace your current provider, let us talk.

While we wait for your call, here are some creative ways to celebrate National Coffee Day 2019:

Try a New Coffee

We will start small for those of you celebrating your first National Coffee Day this year. For you, the easiest way to celebrate is to just try a new coffee. Let’s say you normally drink only hot brewed coffee, and you only drink it black. You might want to try a delicious cold brew with just a hint of cream. You will discover it is an entirely different taste experience.

Take a Friend to a Coffee Shop

September 29 is a Sunday this year. That means most of us will not be working. Why not take advantage of the day off and spend some time with a friend at a local coffee shop? There may be no better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than investing in a friendly conversation over a hot cup. It will be time well spent.

Go in Search of a Great Deal

Many of the other holidays we celebrate involve shopping of some sort. You can apply the same thing to National Coffee Day by searching around town for the best coffee deals you can find. Make a game of it. Challenge your friends or coworkers to see who can come up with the best deal. Whoever wins gets to share his or her find with the rest of the group.

Go on a Coffee Crawl

There are food crawls and pub crawls, so why not a coffee crawl? Spend the day visiting as many cafés, bistros, and restaurants you can in search of that perfect cup of java. If you are feeling especially festive, try writing a short review of each establishment you visit. You can then share those reviews with your friends and family members.

Buy a Cup for Someone Special

Another fantastic way to celebrate National Coffee Date is to buy a cup of coffee for someone special. It’s amazing how just one little act of kindness can mean so much, even when that act is wrapped in a paper coffee cup. You could make a real difference in someone’s life just by showing you care enough to buy them a coffee.

There are endless other ways to celebrate National Coffee Day. In the meantime, let us talk about getting Galaxie Coffee service up and running at your office.

Does Cold Brew Offer the Same Health Benefits?

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Cold brew coffee is all the rage these days. It is a favorite among younger coffee drinkers looking to change things up from what their parents and grandparents did. And in the summer, nothing is quite as refreshing as a delicious cup of cold brew.

Two questions we want to pose in this post are as follows: does cold brew offer the same benefits as hot brew coffee? And if not, is it worth skipping the cold brew in order to get the maximum benefit from hot coffee?

Cold Brew Basics

Let us start with some basics before we get to answering the questions. First and foremost, cold brew is not the same thing as iced coffee. Iced coffee is brewed hot. It is then chilled in the refrigerator or poured directly into a cup and chilled with ice cubes.

Cold brew is brewed with cold or room temperature water. Brewing typically takes 12 to 14 hours and results in a less acidic coffee with a more balanced flavor.

The Health Benefits Question

Moving on to the health benefits of coffee, studies have already established that drinking moderate amounts of hot coffee may reduce the risk of a number of diseases including heart disease, liver disease, and type II diabetes. Researchers think the benefits are primarily derived from antioxidants and caffeine.

A recently released study shows that cold brew does not contain the same volume of antioxidants. In fact, the difference can be as much as 50% in some cases. Caffeine content in cold brew is also not as high. Why? Because caffeine is soluble in water. You extract more caffeine with hot water than you do using cold water.

The study suggests that the health benefits of cold brew should be fewer because both antioxidants and caffeine occur at lower volumes. However, bear in mind the study did not track cold brew drinkers and their health. All it did was measure acid, antioxidant, and caffeine levels.

What to Do with It

Let us close this post by discussing whether or not you should forgo cold brew. In short, it is entirely up to you. Bear in mind that all of the studies demonstrating the health benefits of coffee are epidemiological studies. In other words, they show links between coffee consumption and reduced risk for certain diseases. But links do not establish causation.

If you are sold on the health benefits of coffee to the extent that you want to maximize every cup, foregoing cold brew might be in your best interests. But if you enjoy the balanced, less acidic taste of cold brew enough to settle for fewer antioxidants and less caffeine, keep drinking it.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we have both. We are more than happy to stock your break room in any way you like. We carry traditional hot brewed coffees, cold brews, teas, juices, and bottled water. Feel free to check out the Products section of our website to see our complete inventory.

How Different Coffees Vary in Their Caffeine Content

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If your daily diet includes foods and beverages with caffeine, you are not alone. Government data shows that 95% of U.S. adults consume caffeine daily, most of which comes from coffee. What is most fascinating is that different kinds of coffees have varying levels of caffeine.

The U.S. FDA says a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee offers anywhere from 80 to 100 mg of caffeine. Compare that to green or black tea with 30 to 50 mg. Soft drinks offer less caffeine but energy drinks contain substantially more.

Given that this post is all about coffee, here are some of the different coffee types and the estimated amounts of caffeine each contains:

Hot Brew

Hot brew coffee is coffee that is brewed in a conventional drip brewer or over the stove on a percolator. The ground coffee is kept separate from the brew by way of a metal or paper filter. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 95 mg of caffeine.

Cold Brew

Cold brew coffee is the latest big thing on the coffee scene. Cold brew is made by steeping ground coffee in cold or room temperature water. As such, cold brew is not the same thing as iced coffee. As far as its caffeine content is concerned, an 8-ounce cup contains between 100 and 157 mg of caffeine.

Espresso

Espresso is the extra strong brew normally associated with Italian cafés. It is made by steaming finely ground coffee under pressure. Due to its high caffeine content, espresso is normally served in 1-ounce shots with approximately 63 mg of the buzz-inducing substance.

Decaffeinated Coffee

Many people assume that decaffeinated coffee has absolutely no caffeine in it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It is not really possible to completely remove caffeine from coffee and still have a usable product. So instead, coffee makers reduce caffeine content as best they can without ruining the coffee’s flavor profile. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 2 mg.

Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is a powdered coffee beverage that is made by freeze drying or spray-drying liquid coffee. It is reconstituted by adding water or milk. A typical 8-ounce cup contains about 63 mg of caffeine, which is just over two thirds of what you would expect to find in regular, hot brewed coffee.

Roasting and Preparation Methods Matter

If you haven’t caught on thus far, roasting and preparation methods matter in terms of caffeine content. For example, the high caffeine content in espresso is less about the coffee beans and more about the fact that it is prepared using high-pressure steam and finely ground coffee. Steam extracts more caffeine to begin with; its abilities are enhanced by the coffee’s finer grind.

Galaxie Coffee carries a complete variety of coffee beverages ranging from standard drip coffees to cold brews. We would be more than happy to set up regular delivery service to your office that includes a variety of hot and cold beverages, breakroom supplies, and janitorial supplies.

The Evolution of Office Coffee in America

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Having coffee in the office is a normal part of work life in America. In fact, long before coffee houses became a thing in this country, groups of workers were chipping in at the office to make sure there was a regular supply of coffee on hand. Today, not having coffee in the office is rare.

The question is, how did we get here? That depends on who you ask. Historians generally agree on how coffee made it to the Americas and what made it popular here. But what took coffee into the office remains a matter of debate.

Coffee Replaces Tea

Tea was the preferred hot beverage from the birth of the colonies right up until the start of the Revolutionary War. From the end of the revolution through the Civil War, coffee’s popularity grew in the U.S. By the mid-1860s, smart business owners whose coffee sales were limited to families and small coffee houses started looking for bigger and better sales avenues.

Some started selling to cowboys out west while others tapped into California’s mining market. Still, having coffee in the office didn’t quite catch on. The office environment was still quite limited back then, and offices were not large buildings with hundreds of employees. They were one- and two-room spaces occupied by family-run businesses.

Then came the industrial era and two world wars. That is when large-scale employment and the offices that came with it began to flourish. It is when office coffee finally came into its own.

From Instant to Drip Brew

History is pretty clear on the evolution of coffee up through the start of the industrial era. This is where it gets a bit fuzzy. As best we can tell, office coffee became a thing in the years following World War II. That makes sense, given the big push toward industry and manufacturing. But office coffee in those days was instant coffee.

It was not until Starbucks came onto the scene in the 1970s that coffee providers realized they could install brewing equipment in customer offices to offer them the same high-quality technologically advanced equipment experience they got at the coffee house. Once the equipment started flowing, so did the coffee.

By the late 70s and early 80s, instant coffee in the office had been mostly replaced by drip brew. Coffee service providers like Galaxie Coffee started popping up all over the country. Advancements in technology led to better brewers, better coffees, and eventually the coffee pods we are also familiar with today.

Office Coffee is Still Evolving

It would be foolish for us to assume that office coffee is done evolving. It isn’t, and never will be. Our industry continues to innovate and change. We continually search for better beverages and more technologically advanced equipment.

If you are interested in learning about coffee service for your office, feel free to reach out to us. Galaxie Coffee is proud to serve the greater New York area with the finest beverages and best equipment in the industry.

Coffee and Alcohol: A Match Made in Heaven?

by • Alcoholic Beverage, Beverages, Coffee, Hot Beverage • Tags: , , , • 0 Comments

We have entered that strange time of year when it is hard to decide between a hot cup of coffee and a cold beer. You love both; so much so that you cannot decide between one or the other. Why not have both. But together in the same beverage? Yes, you can.

You could make the case that coffee and alcohol are a match made in heaven. One gives you the kick of caffeine along with an aroma that is unmatched by any other beverage. The other gives you the deep, rich flavor of barley and hops combined in a perfect pairing. Together… well, watch out!

The Coffee Beer Revolution

The marriage between craft beer and coffee wasn’t on anyone’s radar 10 years ago. It is now. Go to any major city and dig around until you find a craft brewery. Chances are you will find an artisan coffee shop somewhere within reasonable proximity. You might even find the two establishments swapping beverages.

There are two ways to make a coffee beer. The first is to add ground coffee directly to a beer batch during the fermenting process. This gives the beer a very dark and robust flavor that really allows the coffee to do magical things. Different coffees can be used to achieve different flavors.

The other option is to add cold brew coffee to finished beer. This creates a more subtle taste that still allows the beer flavor to dominate the show. On the positive side, cold brew is not nearly as acidic as drip brew, so it doesn’t drastically alter the taste of beer.

Introducing the New Coffee Cocktails

Coffee cocktail drinks date back to the Irish coffees and white Russians of the 1950s and 60s. However, there is a new coffee cocktail scene emerging in the nation’s biggest cultural centers. Right here in New York for example, coffee cocktails are the hottest thing at upscale bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.

Talented mixologists are combining traditional coffee and espresso with alcoholic beverages like brandy, vodka, angostura bitters, hazelnut liqueur, and even absinthe. Some of these drinks will knock your socks off – and then some. They are the perfect way to finish off a great meal or prepare for the first round of hors d’oeuvres.

Not Just for Breakfast Anymore

We are not serving coffee beer or coffee cocktails here at Galaxie Coffee. No, we will stick with nonalcoholic beverages including the best coffees, teas, juices, and bottled water. In the meantime, remember that coffee is not just for breakfast anymore. It is appropriate anytime of the day and in a variety of forms – from classic drip brew to cold brew and coffee beers and cocktails.

Galaxie Coffee is proud to be an office coffee service leader throughout the greater New York area. Please contact us for more information about setting up service for your workplace. We supply both the beverages and equipment to make your office a happier, more delicious place to work.

What is the Best Time to Drink Your Coffee?

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We would be willing to wager that most of our customers utilizing traditional hot brew coffee machines get a fresh pot of coffee going first thing in the morning. Our single cup customers begin seeing the coffee capsules flying as soon as staff members start arriving for the day. With that said, here is a question: what is the best time of day to drink your coffee?

As strange as it sounds, the question is not random. It has been suggested drinking coffee first thing in the morning may not be the wisest choice if you are hoping to realize the maximum benefits from your beverage of choice. Waiting a few hours might be better.

Coffee, Caffeine, and Cortisol

Many studies have been done explaining the health benefits of drinking coffee. Some research indicates that getting the greatest health benefits out of coffee is likely influenced by the time of day you consume. Apparently, coffee consumption is best when cortisol levels in the body are low. The lower the cortisol, the better coffee is for you. The interesting thing is that the body starts producing cortisol the minute you wake up.

90 Minutes to Peak

It takes roughly 90 minutes from the time you wake up for cortisol levels to peak. So if you wake at 6:30, your body will peak somewhere between 8 and 9 a.m. Your body will then hit another peak somewhere between noon and 1 p.m., and then again between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., making each of these times perfect for that cup of office coffee.

The point here is that perhaps it is better to wait until after cortisol levels peak before having that first cup in the morning. Researchers suggest that consuming earlier not only reduces the benefits of coffee but could also make you more tired at the same time.

Great Coffee Any Time of Day

Thankfully, there is no right or wrong time to drink coffee. Even better is the fact that there are great coffees for any time of day. Start your workday with a great cup of hot brew as you plot and plan for the next eight hours. Grab a cold brew at lunch to complement the great sandwich you brought from home. Avoid ‘leaded’ in the afternoon so as to not keep yourself up at night, choosing a delicious decaf coffee instead.

We have them all here at Galaxie Coffee. Our product list includes dozens of different coffees for traditional equipment and the newest single-serve brewers. Along with great coffee, we also provide our customers the finest teas, juices, and bottled waters.

It looks like first thing in the morning is not the best time to drink coffee if you want to maximize its health benefits. Even so, any time of day is appropriate to enjoy a good cup of coffee just for what it is.

3 Interesting Facts About Paper Coffee Cups

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The paper coffee cup has almost all but replaced foam cups in many parts of the country. In New York City, a law passed in 2015 banned the use of foam food containers within city limits. Elsewhere, local and state leaders have taken steps to reduce the use of foam products by encouraging businesses to switch to alternatives.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are big fans of paper coffee cups. Our customers are too. In light of all that the paper coffee cup has done to reduce the amount of foam going into landfills, we thought it might be interesting to discuss three facts about paper coffee cups a lot of people don’t know.

1. They used to be sealed with clay or wax

Paper drinking cups have been around for quite a while. In fact, their roots can be traced back to the early 1900s and high rates of infection among schoolchildren and train station passengers who used community cups. The obvious need to put an end to those infections gave us single-use paper cups.

The first single-use paper cup was developed at the turn of the 20th century. Its success led to the Dixie cup’s introduction in 1908. Back then, paper cups were sealed with clay in order to make them waterproof.

Unfortunately, clay distorted the flavor of the beverage being consumed. It also caused problems with condensation on the exterior, leading manufacturers to transition to wax. Wax solved the flavor problem quite nicely. However, it didn’t do much for the condensation problem. So manufacturers kept looking for a better sealant.

2. They are now sealed with PE

Manufacturers eventually hit on the idea of sealing paper cups with a thin layer of polyethylene (PE). Because polyethylene is a plastic, it makes the inside of the cup waterproof and prevents significant condensation on the exterior. PE also holds up better than both wax and clay against hot liquids. Indeed, polyethylene paved the way for paper coffee cups that were unheard of before it was introduced.

As a side note, a new sealant was introduced in Finland in 2017. It is fully compostable and decomposes much more quickly than polyethylene. It also does not contaminate the recycling stream so there is no problem throwing paper coffee cups coated with this sealant in with other recyclable products.

3. They are often made with recycled paper

Finally, single-use paper coffee cups are often made from recycled paper. Manufacturers prefer virgin paper for any cup with a surface that comes in direct contact with food or liquid, but that’s not an issue for coffee cups sealed with polyethylene. That makes recycled paper a more attractive option.

Paper coffee cups are just one of the many products we provide customer throughout the greater New York area. For a complete list of our products and services, give us a call. One of our customer service representatives would be more than happy to discuss your office coffee needs with you.

5 Regions Whose Coffee You Should Try in 2019

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If you have ever heard someone speaking about the flavor notes of coffee and thought that person was just being snooty, think again. Snootiness may have been part of the equation, but coffees from different regions of the world do taste quite different from each other.

To this end, we encourage you to sample some brews from various regions around the world. If you can get beyond traditional American coffee, you realize that there is an entire range of subtleties and flavor notes that define what is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. To get you started, here are five regions whose coffees we recommend you try this year:

1. East Africa

The two most prolific coffee producers in East Africa are Ethiopia and Kenya. History suggests that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, though that has never been conclusively proven. At any rate, Ethiopian coffee tends to be bold, full flavored, and rich with earthy notes. Kenyan coffee, by contrast, tends to be sharp and fruity. It also has a very rich aroma that sets it apart from other African coffees.

2. Central America

Guatemalan coffee is the most recognized coffee from Central America. Its rich, distinctive flavor comes from the volcanic soil the region is known for. Guatemalan coffee is deep and complex with a somewhat spicy flavor. If you are looking for something with medium body and more balance, try coffee from Costa Rica. A combination of regional weather and processing practices give this coffee a distinct flavor.

3. South America

Colombia and Brazil are two popular sources of South American coffees. In fact, Colombian coffee is considered in some circles as the standard by which all others are judged. Both regions are known for medium-bodied coffee with good balance and low acidity.

4. Asia

Though we do not normally associate Asia with high quality coffee, some exceptionally good coffees come from Indonesia and Vietnam. Indonesian coffees tend to be aged over time, resulting in medium body and low acid content. Coffee from Vietnam is mild, slightly acidic, and well-balanced. It is a frequent choice for blending.

5. Hawaii

Although Hawaii is a state rather than a region, no list of this sort would be complete without recommending Kona coffee. Kona is a uniquely Hawaiian coffee grown on the slopes of an active volcano. Hawaii’s climate provides natural cloud cover during the afternoon hours and just enough rain on a daily basis to create a rich, delicious flavor unlike anything else.

Needless to say that the regions listed in this post only scratch the surface. There are dozens of countries around the world where dedicated growers are producing some excellent beans. Just remember that processing, roasting, and blending all affect the overall taste of a cup of coffee.

If you would like more information about bringing coffee service to your office, feel free to contact us at your leisure. Galaxie Coffee is proud to serve the tri-state area with a fine selection of coffees, teas, and other beverage choices.

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