When it comes to my coffee, I expect a great many things: great flavor, aroma, and crema—all at the right temp. Most importantly, I've come to rely on that jolt of energy that comes with a good espresso. But, coffee can only do so much right?

Evidently, according to Nestle, I should be asking much more of my java. Jumping on the nutria-cosmetics (aka ingestible beauty products) train, the company has launched its Nescafe Body Partner Collagen line. Targeted towards women, the instant coffee comes in small sachets containing skimmed milk and, get this, 200 grams of collagen. The concoction is currently being sold in Singapore along with the rest of the Body Partner line including soy and high-calcium premixed coffee blends.

This isn't the first time collagen has been introduced into a grocery store staple. In 2006 Eiwa, a Japanese sweet maker, unveiled a marshmallow made with 3,000mg of collagen—which the company claimed offered the same benefits as filler injections. However, health experts question the effectiveness of ingesting collagen. There isn't much scientific evidence to support the notion that consuming the substance would improve the appearance aging skin.

What do you think? Any chance you'd give this Nescafe line a try if it made it to your local grocery store?

Tho
Writing Department

I usually take regional feuds about as seriously as a Sunday morning comic strip. North or South, Tupac or Biggie...If you ask me it all boils down to personal taste. But, that's not to say that geographic preferences don't exist. With that in mind, let's talk coffee!

Leave it to Italy, traditionally recognized as the Godfather of Espresso, to spawn a lasting distinction between regional roasts. Southern Italy is said to be home to the kind of blend that most people usually associate with espresso—dark, oily beans with a bit of a kick to them. As you can imagine, the Northern Italian style is the complete opposite—consisting of lighter roasts and sweeter nuisances. Does that mean when in Rome, you'd be exposed to both styles and end up with a medium roast?

In the States, some have noted that coffee preferences vary by coast. According to Corby Kummer's book, The Joy of Coffee, the East Coast--heavily influenced by Schapira's Coffee & Tea and The Coffee Connection, tends to prefer a lighter roast with just a little bit of sheen on the beans and low levels of acidity. While the West Coast, home to Starbucks' headquarters, usually opts for a darker roast with a more robust flavor.

These generalizations are the product of industry research. However, I haven't noticed much of a difference in my travels. And when you brew at home, you can have whatever roast your heart desires, no matter where in the world you happen to be!

Do you have a favorite roast? We'd love to hear about it!

Tho
Writing Department

I'm known around the office as the Coffee Queen. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm crazy about my coffee and will most times see me with a cup in hand. Trust me when I say that if I don't get my morning latte, my mid day cappuccino, and my "right before I pick up the kids" espresso, I'll go crazy. I know... I've got a serious problem. But, it's not just the fact that I'm drinking the caffeinated beverages and allowing them to soak into my system to keep me going, I actually love the taste. A good quality flavor and aroma are very important to me. With that said, I recently had the privilege of testing out the Keurig B70 coffee machine. I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical for a couple of reasons. I had read reviews of the machine and the quality of the coffee that it produced. I had heard that it was more for people addicted to caffeine, and not so much for those addicted to the delicious taste of a great cup of coffee. I was wrong! Not only did I get to get to choose from a plethora of flavors of coffee, but the K-Cup capsules that are used also come in a variety of teas and hot chocolate. And let's face it, with the weather here in New York getting cooler and cooler, who doesn't love an instant cup of hot chocolate? The machine brewed me a cup of delicious coffee in seconds. It came out hot and there was absolutely no clean up!! All I had to do was remove the capsule and throw it in the garbage. I am in love. If you get the chance check this machine out— it is great for the holidays and entertaining. If someone wants decaf, great. If they want French vanilla, great. Take my word for it, this is the best instant brew coffee machine I have ever used.

Kris
Sales Department

I'm sure you've heard of the term "coffee breath." People who drink a lot of coffee and reek of coffee are normally known to have coffee breath; but that's not necessarily a bad thing, if the people around you happen to enjoy the smell of coffee. Everybody thinks that coffee causes bad breath and it's often true, because coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, becomes potent when mixed with milk, and can ferment into smelly substances. Similar to some juices, coffee also contains a lot of acid. If you're unable to function without your daily dose of caffeine, you could try tea or a low-acid coffee such as Café La Semeuse Classique—which can noticeably eliminate harsh coffee breath smells.

If you're really concerned about smelly breath, you might want to consider loading up on gum, mint, or mouthwash to take away from the potent taste in your mouth. Maybe even try carrying a toothbrush and some toothpaste with you; I hear it also helps take care of tartar as well!

Brian
Sales Department

Antilock brakes, XM radio, and a coffeemaker. For years now, car and espresso machine manufacturers have toyed with the idea of merging the two passions--creating a coffeemaker that could become standard automotive equipment. Audi even tested a concept car, the Roadjet, featuring a fully functioning, single-serve WMF espresso machine built into the armrest. And, it wasn't so long ago that a Nepresso InCar Single Serve Coffee Machine Concept took home the top prize at the manufacturer's annual Design Contest. The InCar was designed to fit into the center console of a vehicle and used existing Lungo capsules to deliver beverages on the road.

It appears there may be a market for mobile coffee. A factoid on wholelattelove.com featured coffee enthusiast Dan Haller's tricked out Audi A6, with a Jura Capresso 1500 mounted to the back seat. (What is up with the Audi-espresso combo?) Why is it taking so long to make the automotive-coffeemaker marriage a reality? Please, don't make our graphic designer strap her Tassimo to a car seat!

Tho
Writing Department