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A woman has filed suit against McDonald’s Corp., saying she was burned by hot coffee that spilled on her at one of the fast-food chain’s Los Angeles restaurants.
L.A. woman sues McDonald's over hot coffee, 20 years after huge verdict
Brazil Arabica Coffee Crop to Drop; Robusta Output Rises
By Gerson Freitas Jr. and Mario Sergio Lima Jan 9, 2014 9:22 PM GMT+0800
Coffee growers in top producer Brazil are forecast to harvest less of the arabica variety used in Starbucks Corp. and Nestle SA’s Nespresso blends after slumping prices led to reduced investment in crop additives and planting.
Producers will reap between 35.1 million and 37.5 million 60-kilogram (132-pound) bags of the mild-tasting variety this year, down from 38.3 million last year, even as most trees enter the higher-yielding half of a two-year cycle, the government said in a report today. This will be the first time since 2005 that arabica production will fall in a higher-yielding year.
Growers are reducing spending on their crops after a 48 percent slump in New York-traded arabica futures in three years, the second-worst performance among commodities, reduced income. The government’s report undermined confidence Brazil would have a record harvest, crop researcher Safras & Mercado’s Gil Barabach said.
“Numbers came below expectations and add a certain level of uncertainty to the market,” Barabach, a coffee analyst at Safras in Ponta Grossa, Brazil, said by telephone. “Everyone was very confident in a bumper crop.”
Arabica coffee contracts for March delivery rose as much as 0.3 percent to $1.213 a pound after the Brazilian report, paring earlier losses.
Output of robusta beans, mostly used in instant coffee, will rise to between 11.5 million and 12.6 million bags from 10.9 million, boosted by higher yields and a planting expansion in top robusta-producing state Espirito Santo, the government’s Conab agency said.
Below Expectations
Brazil’s total coffee output will be between 46.5 million and 50.2 million bags, according to Conab. Barabach said the market was initially expecting total output of as much as 60 million bags.
Excess rain in the top arabica-producing state of Minas Gerais may also pare output, Conab said. Concern the showers may hurt crops led coffee futures to rise in past days.
Brazilian coffee growers usually start harvesting in April.
Source:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-09/brazil-arabica-coffee-crop-to-drop-robusta-output-rises.html
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Receives Outperform Rating from Zacks (GMCR)
Posted by Zach Kirkland on Jan 9th, 2014
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ:GMCR)‘s stock had its “outperform” rating restated by Zacks in a research note issued on Thursday, AmericanBankingNews.com reports. They currently have a $97.00 target price on the stock. Zacks‘ price target would suggest a potential upside of 20.36% from the company’s current price.
Zacks‘ analyst wrote, “Green Mountain’s fourth-quarter 2013 adjusted earnings of $0.89 per share beat both the year-ago quarter levels and the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 56% and 20.3%, respectively. The earnings upswing was on the back of solid top-line growth and operational efficiencies. Net sales rose 22.0% year over year and beat Zacks Estimate by 4.2% backed by sales growth of Keurig Brewers, single serve packs (K-cups) and Keurig related accessories. We remain impressed with the company’s recent strategic distribution agreements with major beverage companies to bring more popular brands into its K-cups and Vue packs portion cup business. We are also encouraged with stabilizing coffee prices and the company’s cost reduction initiatives. Moreover, the company is upgrading its Keurig brewing technology, after the patents expired in 2012. It has also launched many affordable Keurig models to attract customers, thus, reducing competitive risk. Hence, we rate the stock as Outperform. “
A number of other firms have also recently commented on GMCR. Analysts at Jefferson Research downgraded shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note to investors on Friday, January 3rd. Separately, analysts at Williams Capital raised their price target on shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters from $98.00 to $106.00 in a research note to investors on Thursday, December 5th. They now have an “outperform” rating on the stock. Finally, analysts at Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note to investors on Thursday, November 21st. They now have a $80.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $65.50. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $90.08.
In other Green Mountain Coffee Roasters news, Director David Moran sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.61, for a total value of $2,984,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,114 shares in the company, valued at approximately $456,166. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.
Shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ:GMCR) traded down 0.84% during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $79.91. The stock had a trading volume of 1,558,176 shares. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has a 1-year low of $38.73 and a 1-year high of $89.66. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $72.52 and its 200-day moving average is $73.64. The company has a market cap of $11.909 billion and a P/E ratio of 25.50.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ:GMCR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 20th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $1.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $966.27 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.64 earnings per share. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’s revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters will post $3.80 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently announced a special dividend, which is scheduled for Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 15th.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ:GMCR) is engaged in the specialty coffee and coffee maker businesses.
To view Zacks’ full report, visit www.zacks.com
Source:
http://www.wkrb13.com/markets/247270/green-mountain-coffee-roasters-receives-outperform-rating-from-zacks-gmcr/
A FEW CUPS OF BLACK COFFEE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
Posted on December 9, 2013January 2, 2014 by Sarah
Coffee lovers, here are some good news for all of you. Apparently the dark, aromatic libation that beckons you to drink every morning does contain numerous natural chemical compounds that can make you healthier. But hold the sugar, milk, creamer or those other stuff you usually add into your cup. Coffee is actually better on its own.
For young people, drinking coffee might help boost your brain power. We all aware coffee causes us to feel awake and energetic since it curbs adenosine from binding with the neuroreceptors. Instead, it stimulates the brain to increase neuronal firing and release of other neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, improving your memory and general cognitive function. Overtime, not only it protects but may preserve your cognitive potential as you grow older and reduce risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and even stroke.
Black Coffee also stimulates the central nervous system to increase metabolism, oxidation of fatty acids and mobilizing fatty acids from fatty tissues and therefore, increases physical stamina. Anybody who wanted to prolong their workout session and even to shed off some pound, a cup coffee might boost your exercise time 30 percent long, while chugging some brew during the workout can delay fatigue by up to 60 percent. Next time before you pack some sugar laden energy drink, try brewing some extra coffee to take with you to the gym or along that challenging trail.
Diabetes is among rampant diseases that plague majority of population today. And drinking coffee might help protect you from falling into the statistic of diabetes sufferer, especially type 2 diabetes. Imbibing a few cups of coffee per day apparently increases sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) that may improve body’s tolerance to glucose by boosting metabolism or improving its tolerance to insulin.
Coffee can also protect your heart in a number of ways. The irresistible brew contains a few cardiovascular protection constituents such as potassium, soluble fiber and polyphenols. Filtered coffee for example has shown its ability to curb Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from rising unlike unfiltered coffee. The filter deters two diterpenes, cafestol and kahweol that are present in the coffee grind from passing through into the drink. As long as you are non-cigarette smoker, drinking two to four cups per day reduces your chance from developing the dreaded number one killer disease by 20 percent, while enjoying up to six cups per day increase the number up to 33 percent, any more than that, the percentage remains the same. One thing remains certain, moderation is the key. Although Voltaire did down more than 50 cups daily for inspiration, our body actually needs around two to six cups to get the most of the benefits.
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Source:
http://news.joyamaze.com/a-few-cups-of-black-coffee-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/
Coffee drops on expectations of big Brazil crop
By Jack Scoville January 8, 2014
COFFEE (NYBOT:KCH14)
General Comments: Futures were lower as Ecom refuted the Volcafe production estimate released on Monday and said that Brazil will indeed have a very big production this year. Reuters said that offers of coffee from Vietnam had increased and this was viewed as another reason to sell futures in London and New York. There was little interest noted by producers or roasters in any trading in Latin America. Central American differentials are turning firmer now as northern South America offers are much harder to find, and higher differentials are getting paid at least in a small way. Weather is reported to be good in all areas.
Overnight News: Certified stocks are lower today and are about 2.701 million bags. The ICO composite price is now 110.03 ct/lb. Brazil will get dry conditions. Temperatures will average near to above normal. Colombia should get scattered showers, and Central America and Mexico should get mostly dry weather. Temperatures should average near to above normal.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are up with objectives of 121.00, 122.00, and 125.00 March. Support is at 115.00, 113.00, and 112.00 March, and resistance is at 122.00, 124.00 and 125.00 March. Trends in London are mixed. Support is at 1670, 1660, and 1600 March, and resistance is at 1730, 1740, and 1760 March. Trends in Sao Paulo are mixed to up with objectives of 151.00 March. Support is at 142.00, 138.00, and 136.00 March, and resistance is at 149.00, 151.00, and 155.00 March.
COTTON (NYBOT:CTH14)
General Comments: Futures closed higher after Calcot said that Chinese production could drop by as much as 20% in the coming year. It said that the government there will most likely buy no Cotton for the reserve program and that imports for the next crop year could drop by 45% as the government there seeks to get out of the supply management of the market. Instead, the government will move to payments to producers to support production. Traders think USDA can show reduced production this year and perhaps reduced planted area potential for the coming year in the reports Friday. Reduced production from the crop last year is very possible given that USDA showed good yields in the production reports this fall despite some very stressful weather seen over the Summer in Texas and over to the Southeast. The US economy is improving slowly and should support increases in demand over time as people start to buy clothes again. Brazil conditions are reported to be very good in Bahia.
Overnight News: The Delta and Southeast will see precipitation late in the week and a dry weekend. Temperatures will average much below normal today, then will trend to near to above normal by the end of the week. Texas will see dry conditions. Temperatures will average near to above normal. The USDA spot price is 81.16 ct/lb. today. ICE said that certified Cotton stocks are now 0.037 million bales, from 0.036 million yesterday.
Chart Trends: Trends in Cotton are mixed. Support is at 83.80, 82.70, and 82.50 March, with resistance of 85.30, 85.50, and 86.00 March.
FCOJ (NYBOT:OJH14)
General Comments: Futures closed lower as the worst of the cold weather moved away from Florida. Temperatures were cold enough to put some frost on the crops, and about 15% of the Florida crop could have been hit. Some minor yield loss is possible, but the juice could turn out to be better quality in these areas as cold stress often can improve the fruit. It did not get cold enough to do any significant damage. But, Florida already has small production prospects. The greening disease has affected crops in a big way and could cause reduced production for the next few years. Growing and harvest conditions in the state of Florida remain mostly good despite the cold weather. Irrigation water is available and is being used. Harvest is very active, but fruit sizes are reported to be small. Brazil is seeing near normal temperatures and scattered showers.
Overnight News: Florida weather forecasts call for mostly dry conditions. Temperatures will trend to above normal.
Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are mixed to up with objectives of 144.00 and 149.00 March. Support is at 139.00, 137.00, and 135.50 March, with resistance at 144.00, 145.00, and 147.00 March.
SUGAR (NYBOT:SBH14)
General Comments: Futures were a little lower in moderate volume trading. It was mostly a consolidation trade gain as the news is quiet. The New York market seems to have found a short term trading range between 1600 and 1650 March and is now at the lower end of that range. The primary focus of the market remains big supplies. Thai offers are stable as the harvest is very active there and differentials have been steady to lower. India was very active earlier but seems quieter now and there are some reports of production losses there. Brazil is offering less now that the harvest season is over. Demand might be getting better, but still have not been able to change the trend much. Weather conditions in key production areas around the world are rated as mostly good.
Overnight News: Brazil could see dry weather and near to above normal temperatures.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to down with objectives of 1570 March. Support is at 1590, 1580, and 1550 March, and resistance is at 1620, 1635, and 1650 March. Trends in London are mixed to down with objectives of 436.00 and 427.00 March. Support is at 436.00, 432.00, and 429.00 March, and resistance is at 445.00, 450.00, and 454.00 March.
COCOA (NYBOT:CCH14)
General Comments: Futures closed lower in New York and in London. Charts show that trends are mostly down for the short term as arrivals in Ivory Coast and Ghana purchases remain strong, but the market has held recent lows and is trying to form a base for the next move. Industry will probably be more active in buying now that the New Year has started. Index funds could do some selling through the end of the week as Cocoa has been one of the stronger performers in the past year and the funds might need to sell a little to help balance portfolios. The overall fundamental picture should support generally strong prices as the supply situation should be tight on strong demand for the longer term. Ideas are that demand can remain above production for at least the next couple of years. Much of the increased demand should come from Asia. A good midcrop production is expected in the spring from Africa as weather now is good for the mid-crop development. Asian growing conditions are reported to be good.
Overnight News: Mostly dry conditions are expected in West Africa. Temperatures will average mostly above normal. Malaysia and Indonesia should see scattered showers. Temperatures should average near to above normal. Brazil will get dry conditions and near normal temperatures. ICE certified stocks are lower today at 3.528 million bags.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to down with objectives of 2600 and 2450 March. Support is at 2630, 2580, and 2570 March, with resistance at 2730, 2740, and 2765 March. Trends in London are mixed to down with objectives of 1650 March. Support is at 1680, 1660, and 1640 March, with resistance at 1730, 1750, and 1765 March.
‘Black Coffee’: Brewing positive messages in a gentle romance
By MARY HOULIHAN For Sun-Times Media January 9, 2014 4:04PM
‘Black Coffee,” a mild romantic comedy/drama written and directed by Englewood-born Mark Harris, begins on a very bad day for its central character, Robert (Darrin Dewitt Henson). He’s fired from his job at a house painting company while also being dumped by his girlfriend of two years, dimwitted Mita (Erica Hubbard), who goes where the money is — into the arms of his former boss.
In practically the next scene, Robert meets the woman he’s meant to be with, but there are many rom-com (and dramatic) hoops to jump through before that relationship gains any momentum. From their first meet-cute they have an easy chemistry.
Morgan (Gabrielle Dennis) is a lawyer trying to establish her own firm while also putting distance between herself and ex-husband Hill (Lamman Rucker), who still wants to “work things out.” But after some semi-flirting, Morgan is intrigued and hires Robert to paint her new offices.
Morgan talks like an independent woman who knows where she is going and what she wants, so it’s just odd that she allows Hill to have so much say in her life. And why Robert would put up with the self-involved Mita for so long also defies logic.
Injections of humor from Christian Keyes as slick salesman Julian, Richard Gallion as bookstore owner Duke and Hubbard as the aforementioned ex give the film some needed life.
Whether it was meant to or not, “Black Coffee” rests easily within the category of faith-based films, where it should find an audience. There’s nothing objectionable here; even the innocent first kiss doesn’t come until around the one-hour mark. The positive messages involving characters searching for love and purpose in life are well thought out, but presented in a way that is just too genial and even-handed. No one ever gets really angry or passionate, and the result is a film that sometimes feels stilted.
But in the end, there’s nothing wrong with an overly positive outlook on relationships, and Harris has a nice hand with bits of dialogue that do ring true. In one particularly effective scene, Robert and Morgan talk about what they are looking for in a partner. It’s a truthful moment as they verbally pace around each other and open up about the things that really matter. By this scene alone, you know they are going to live happily every after.
Source:
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/24822611-421/black-coffee-brewing-positive-messages-in-a-gentle-romance.html
Coffee and culture: Artisan cafes pour over Grand Rapids
LAUREN F. CARLSON | THURSDAY, JANUARY 09, 2014
In Grand Rapids, artisan coffee culture is exploding. As evidenced by the success of veteran shops like MadCapand newcomers such as The Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge, coffee drinkers are finding a home in a variety of shop environments with a vast array of roasting and drinking selection. Though some may imagine each shop elbowing for room in the local marketplace, owners and staff members argue that the friendly competition allows for expanded growth and a continued perfecting of the craft. Just as the increasing number of local breweries serves the particular taste of each beer aficionado, so does each new café offer a unique product, space and environment to the friendly marketplace.
“There’s definitely room for all of us,” says Rowster New American CoffeeGeneral Manager and Director of Coffee Justin DeWaard. DeWaard, who delights in Grand Rapids coffee shops that “riff off each other’s energy,” enjoys the unique perspective and offerings of each café. Rowster, which opened in July 2010 in its Wealthy Street Corridor location, has positioned itself as a hip tasting bar with a concentration on roasting.
“We literally just do coffee,” says DeWaard, and he adds that they offer patrons “the nerdier side of coffee.” In this way, they focus on a confidence in the brew and a lack of the ancillary items of a common coffee shop. Thus, the design lines are clean, the menu is minimal, and no syrups are offered on the premises. Instead, highly trained baristas may offer you sweet, homemade almond milk beneath an artfully crafted foam swirl latte.
The owners also tout their variety of pour over options, including V60 and Clever, and encourage patrons to be “inspired,” “educated” and “enabled.” As an extension of this philosophy, the owners Stephen Curtis and Kurt Stauffer launched Regular Coffee, Rowster’s “anti-brand” in May of 2012. Regular, a monthly subscription service that continues to grow steadily, offers customers freshly roasted coffee delivered to their doorstep. With Regular Coffee, “you don’t need the barista,” claims DeWaard, as the high quality beans are made accessible at a regular price (about half of Rowster’s usual rate) for home brewing.
In agreement with DeWaard's appreciation for each unique product, Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters founder and Grand Rapids native Craig A. Patterson suggests that this variety allows for a shared customer base. “Nobody has anybody exclusively around town,” says Patterson, who founded the wholesale-only roaster in 2007. This “good mix of people,” including hipster millennials, devoted retirees, families and GR tourists, can be found at his special “Saturday Experience.” Though purely a roasting space in an off-the-beaten-path southwest side warehouse during the week, Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters opens itself up to the public on Saturdays to allow customers to sample the fare and request small batches (12 lbs. or less) of freshly roasted beans while they wait (about a short 20 minutes).
The majority of Patterson’s time is spent supplying independently owned, non-franchised shops, restaurants, churches and local businesses. He uniquely caters to those seeking lower temperature, small batch roasts, which allow Patterson to customize each order. A lifelong coffee drinker, Patterson’s mission is “to educate.” “We are trying to turn people away from the chains, one customer at a time,” he says.
With a shared mission of educating the masses about good coffee, owners of The Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge Steve Wiltjer and Kevin Wallace seek to welcome Starbucks and Biggby drinkers to their doorstep. Though they invest in perfecting their coffee, they also see the need to remain accessible to coffee drinkers in the middle ground.
“For us, it was really important that we scale that back just enough that people can access it,” says Rachel Bush, wife of Wiltjer and occasional Lantern barista. Lantern, a cozy, unexpectedly spacious coffee lounge at the corner of Commerce and Oakes, reflects the market’s need for a comfortable “safe” atmosphere for coffee drinkers of all tastes. Lantern opened in April 2013 to an enthusiastic and diverse group of patrons, including downtown professionals and students of the neighboring Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Douglas J. Aveda Institute. Stumbling upon the location by chance, Wiltjer and Bush initially thought that the space was much too large for the small shop they had envisioned. However, they soon found that the space contributed to their mission: a good cup of coffee with a welcoming atmosphere.
The coffee bar serves brews from Bay City’s Populace Coffee, founded in 2010, and also holds a rotating roaster spot for variety. With a passion for Grand Rapids, Wiltjer and Wallace also source their baked goods from local GR Bageland Bartertown Diner, thus offering a further window into the variety of budding food retailers in the city. “If you’re going to be a local business, support local business,” says Bush. This relative newcomer’s perspective on the bustling Grand Rapids coffee scene? “We can use more coffee in GR for sure,” says Bush. “We really love that GR is becoming a coffee place.”
While most agree that MadCap founders Trevor Corlett and Ryan Knapp helped lay the groundwork for a strong appreciation of artisan coffee in Grand Rapids, many shops and roasters declare that the steadily growing marketplace has room for more and different coffee experiences. With a variety of roasting styles, pouring techniques and methods of retail and storefront, Grand Rapids residents continue to learn about, enjoy and consume hand-delivered, hand-roasted and hand-poured coffee and espresso, on cozy couches or behind highly polished bars, from downtown to Eastown, in a warehouse or strolling down Monroe Center. “[It’s] fun to have camaraderie in the area,” says DeWaard, which certainly expresses the friendly competition felt in a coffee marketplace that continues to grow while surprising and delighting thirsty Grand Rapids residents.
Lauren F. Carlson is a freelance writer and editor, Aquinas alumna, and Grand Rapids native. Her work can be found at www.emptyframecreative.com, and she can be reached [email protected] for story tips and feedback. Photography by Adam Bird
Coffee DOESN'T dehydrate us: A few cups a day are 'as hydrating as water'
Diuretic effect of caffeine is balanced by the amount of water in the drink
Previous beliefs about coffee dehydrating people came from 1928 research
As a result, the researchers are now calling for health advice to be updated to reflect their findings
By FIONA MACRAE SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
PUBLISHED: 22:31 GMT, 9 January 2014 | UPDATED: 22:31 GMT, 9 January 2014
The idea that drinking coffee dehydrates us is a myth, scientists said last night.
They said that while we may find it hard to believe, a few cups of coffee a day is as hydrating as water.
The Birmingham University researchers called for health advice to be updated to reflect their findings.
Sports scientist Sophie Killer said that the idea that coffee dehydrates stems from research done on samples of caffeine over 80 years ago.
However, caffeine and the many other compounds in coffee interact with each other and so the 1928 study isn’t necessarily relevant to daily life.
Miss Killer said: ‘It is estimated that 1.6billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day, thus it is of interest to know whether coffee contributes to the daily fluid requirement or whether it causes low-level chronic dehydration.’
To find out, the researcher asked 50 healthy men to drink either four mugs of water or coffee a day for three days and then switch.
The men ate the same food during the two parts of the study and were banned from vigorous exercise and alcohol.
Tests of blood and urine samples showed the men were just as well hydrated when they drank coffee and when they had water.
They also passed the same amount of urine, the journal PLOS ONE reports.
The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women should drink about 2.8 pints of fluid and men should drink about 3.5 pints of fluid per day.
However, some experts say that coffee doesn’t count towards this. Others advise that every cup of coffee or tea drunk is matched with a glass of water to protect against dehydration.
But Miss Killer said that her industry-funded study shows that coffee doesn’t dehydrate – at least when consumed in moderate amounts.
She said: ‘It is a common belief that coffee consumption can lead to dehydration and should be avoided, or reduced, in order to maintain a healthy fluid balance.
‘The advice provided in the public health domain regarding coffee intake and hydration status should be updated to reflect these findings.’
Dr Frankie Phillips, of the British Dietetic Association, said a small, strong coffee such as an espresso might dehydrate.
However, any diuretic effect of caffeine in a normal cup of coffee is more than balanced by the amount of water in the drink – leading to hydration.
She added that a couple of cups of coffee in the morning could ‘add something useful’ to someone’s day.
Tea drinkers can also take heart, with a similar, earlier, study concluding that it also does not bother the bladder more than plain water.
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2536625/Coffee-DOESNT-dehydrate-A-cups-day-hydrating-water.html
Coffee exports may increase on demand rebound from Europe
Gathering steam: (From left) Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board of India; J.S. Deepak, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and Anil Bhandari, President, India Coffee Trust, addressing a press conference, in New Delhi, on Thursday. — Kamal Narang
Coffee exports are likely to cross 3 lakh tonne mark in the 2013—14 fiscal buoyed by stable global price trend, says Coffee Board.
Shipments up 37% since October; re-exports too rise
NEW DELHI, JAN 9: The pick-up in coffee exports since October will help shipments in the current fiscal exceed last year’s levels, says the Coffee Board. Coffee exports in 2012-13 stood at 2.98 lakh tonnes.
“Exports have picked up since October and we expect total shipment in the current financial year to cross last year’s levels,” said Coffee Board Chairman Jawaid Akhtar.
He was speaking to reporters after announcing the launch of the fifth edition of the India International Coffee Festival to be held in Bangalore during January 21-25.
The stability in prices witnessed in recent months coupled with the rebound in demand from traditional buyers in Europe is seen aiding exports.
Since October, coffee exports are up 37 per cent at around 66,264 tonnes against last year’s 48,346 tonnes in the same period.
However, since April shipments in the current fiscal are up 6 per cent at 2.22 lakh tonnes against 2.09 lakh tonnes in corresponding last year.
“Exports of value-added and instant coffees have risen sharply in recent years, resulting in higher margins and realisations,” said J.S. Deepak, Additional Secretary, Commerce Ministry.
Re-export of coffee has also picked up and is likely to exceed last year’s level of 90,000 tonnes in 2013-14. Akhtar said domestic consumption continues to rise at 5-6 per cent annually, driven by both in-home and out-of-home consumption.
Domestic consumption is estimated at around 1.2 lakh tonnes. The rising popularity of chains such as Café Coffee Day, Barista Lavazza and Costa Coffee among the younger generation has made coffee drinking more fashionable.
Anil Bhandari, Chairman of the India Coffee Trust, said the coffee festival is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates, including from overseas. Every alternate edition of the bi-annual event would be organised in the producing region, mainly Bangalore, Bhandari said.
The previous edition of the coffee fest was held in Delhi in 2012.
(This article was published on January 9, 2014)
Source:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/coffee-exports-may-cross-3-lakh-tonnes-board/article5558048.ece
Morning “Food Addiction” Freakouts, Brought to You by Starbucks
When the New York City soda ban was announced, among its most fervent partisans was MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski. She notably threw a fit when Judge Milton Tingling struck it down. This week, we found out why.
Chasing this year’s well of food-related publishing cash, namely screaming from some New York park bench that food is being made “addictive,” she’s written a book titled Obsessedblaming the food industry for life’s problems. Echoing a political attack ad, she insinuates that food companies are waging war on women by making foods that are, um, easy to prepare, convenient to buy, and pleasing to the taste buds. (Or perhaps companies are simply giving people what they want.) Despite research from Cambridge University finding that “criteria for substance dependence translate poorly to food-related behaviours,” Mika claims that this means all sorts of regulations and lawsuits are needed to punish food makers.
In an interview, Mika points to the fact that she ate Nutella while sleep-walking. Far from making Nutella addictive, this highlights the side effect of a drug she was taking. As it turns out, sleepwalking, sleep-eating, and, scarily, even sleep-driving are reported side effects of the prescription sleep aid Ambien that Brzezinski said she was taking. Oh, and cases of Ambien dependence (i.e. addiction) are frequently reported in the medical literature.
So the food industry is innocent of at least one of Mika’s anecdotal charges. But there’s even more cash behind Mika’s sob stories. When the New York soda ban was announced, some noticed that Mika praised the ban on one hand and appeared to guzzle large quantities of Starbucks coffee (all glory to the latte loophole and Rich People’s Big Gulps) with the other. She did this because Starbucks is the main sponsor of Mika’s show.
No Starbucks cash would mean no show, and no show means Mika would have no soapbox from which to sell books. So obviously some sugary beverage choices are more equal than others, even if they have roughly equal calories. (A Starbucks 20-oz soy caramel macchiato has 300 calories, while a 20-oz regular cola has around 250.) Last time we checked, women drink lattes too.
Of course, in the world of diet police trying to restrict your food choices, taking sugar money in one hand while cashing in on bashing sugar is simply par for the hypocritical course. Whether it’s New York Times commentatorMark Bittman, who wants us all to be vegans before dinner while he finishes his two-egg breakfast; Kelly Brownell, who demands fat taxes while he is himself extremely rotund; or the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which sues food companies for doing something similar to what it also does, many food cops are known hypocrites. That Mika is among them isn’t surprising at all.
Source: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/2013/05/morning-food-addiction-freakouts-brought-to-you-by-starbucks/
Today's Holiday Recipe from Our Files: Coffee Punch
By Judy Walker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune on December 23, 2013 at 7:48 AM, updated December 23, 2013 at 7:56 AM
Rita Lapara prepares her renowned Coffee Punch in 2004. (The NOLA.com/Times-Picayune archive)
This 2004 Recipe from Our Files is one of a few coffee punches I have run across in southern Louisiana. This one was shared by Rita Lapara in 2004, who developed her own recipe and was asked to prepare it often at teas and parties. It is made with chicory coffee, and you can use it as a dessert.
The keys to the recipe: Don't stint on the half-and-half; use pure vanilla; and the brewed coffee must be very strong. The Uptown resident called it a "detour from run of the mill eggnog."
Coffee Punch
Makes about 25 servings
10 cups freshly-brewed strong coffee, preferably not decaffeinated, preferably made with 1/2 cup regular-grind CDM Coffee and Chicory to 10 cups water
1 cup sugar (or the equivalent of sugar substitute)
3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (can be low-fat or low-calorie)
1 quart chocolate ice cream
2 quarts half-and-half
1/2 gallon 2-percent milk
1 (12-ounce) container light or regular Cool Whip, thawed
To the freshly brewed coffee, add sugar and vanilla, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and refrigerate until very cold. (This can be done a day ahead.)
About 30 minutes before serving time, remove both ice creams from freezer to soften slightly. Fifteen minutes before serving, place chilled coffee in a large punch bowl. Add half-and-half and milk to bowl, stirring lightly. Add small scoops of both ice creams, using all of both. Add dollops of Cool Whip, mixing them in slightly. Serve immediately.
Lapara says the punch will hold up a good hour in the punch bowl at cool room temperature; don't add ice to the punch or it will get watered down.
Source: http://www.nola.com/food/index.ssf/2013/12/todays_holiday_recipe_from_our.html
Two Burmese Coffee Creamers Get Green Light From Consumer Protection Group
By KYAW HSU MON / THE IRRAWADDY| Monday, December 23, 2013 |
RANGOON — After raising concerns about the possibility of harmful ingredients being added to instant creamers and coffee mixes widely available in Burma, a consumer advocacy group says test results for two popular brands have come back clean.
The Consumer Protection Association (CPA) announced last month that it suspected some brands contained an inedible by-product of palm oil production. The ingredient, which it believed was being imported from China, would save costs on production but could be harmful to health if ingested over time, the advocacy group warned, adding that it planned to conduct tests to determine which products, if any, were unsafe.
The group, which is Burma’s only consumer rights group, originally planned to send samples to a laboratory in Thailand for testing. So far it has sent two brands—both locally produced, with ingredients sourced from China—to a laboratory in Malaysia.
“We sent two local brands, Premier and Pep creamers, to the lab. Now we have the results. We did not find any dangerous ingredients in the creamers,” said Soe Kalayar Htike, general secretary of the CPA, told The Irrawaddy on Monday.
She said that although a number of Chinese creamer brands are also available in Burma, and could potentially contain the harmful ingredient, the group has not yet sent any of these for testing because it has been busy applying for official registration from the government.
Many civil society organizations in the country are currently attempting to register as the government transitions from military rule to a more democratic system.
The CPA also has not yet tested any three-in-one coffee mixes of coffee, sugar and creamer. It plans to test Chinese creamers early next year, Soe Kalayar Htike said.
Earlier this year, the CPA claimed that urea-based fertilizer was being widely used in the production of fish paste, a staple of the Burmese diet. It sent three samples of locally sold fish paste to Burma’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), part of the Health Ministry.
The FDA found that one of the samples continued too much urea as well as ammonia. Both are unstable compounds that usually dissolve and should not pose serious health risks, according to FDA director general Dr. Myint Han. But he added that it was difficult to rule out health problems from ingesting the chemicals in the long term.
The CPA is also currently testing a local chicken powder used for curry and a local brand of peanut oil. “We will announce these results later, as we are busy registering our association,” Soe Kalayar Htike said.
Source: http://www.irrawaddy.org/business/two-burmese-coffee-creamers-get-green-light-consumer-protection-group.html
Source: http://i1.wp.com/jdmoyer.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/pros-and-cons-of-coffee-consumption-infographic.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000
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