How to perk up your life

Manila is brewing with fresh news about this latest hottie: the Nescafe Dolce Gusto line of single-serve coffee machines and exclusive coffee capsules. And the best part is, this hottie is not hard to get.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto boasts an easy-to-use system in which you simply POP in a capsule, LOCK in the lever and launch to hot mode, wait for your coffee to DROP in seconds. That’s how easy it will be to make a cup of Cappuccino, Mocha, Vanilla Latte Macchiato, Chococino or plain strong coffee (Café Lunggo) right in your own kitchen (office, clinic, dorm room, etc.)

“Do you like coffee, Tita Joanne?” Nestle’s Jiggy Cruz asked me recently. It was as if he had asked me if I loved my family.

“Can’t live without coffee, Jiggy!” I answered him. It’s the one thing I look forward to most at breakfast. To me, the smell of coffee alone is as uplifting as good news. It triggers my happy hormones.

Jinno Rufino, Jiggy Aquino Cruz and Boyet Sison.

According to an article in Health.com carried by CNN, recent research suggests that the “devil’s brew” (people say it’s dark as the devil but as sweet as an angel) has many good qualities: Coffee drinkers may be at lower risk of liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.

And in 2009, two coffee studies suggested additional benefits: “Coffee-drinking men seemed to have a lower risk of advanced or lethal prostate cancer than other men, and middle-aged people who drank moderate amounts of coffee  three to five cups a day  had the lowest risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life compared to less (or more) frequent drinkers.” Remember, moderation is key.

As for women, a 2008 study cited by the article found that women who drank coffee regularly  up to six cups a day (I think this is too much, though!)  were less likely to die of various causes during the study than their non-coffee-drinking counterparts. Because consumption of decaf coffee showed similar results, researchers don’t think it’s just the caffeine at work.

Kris Aquino says she has about two mugs of coffee every day. My gynecologist Rebecca Singson has two cups every day. Johnny Litton, who just turned 75, has as about eight cups a day.

A colleague also remarked that when a woman is feeling the blues, she should turn to the blacks (or browns, if you like it with cream), “Uminom lang siya ng kape, okay na.”

Kris Aquino.

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Coffee contains antioxidants, healthy compounds that we once only associated with fruits and vegetables. Having them in coffee allows coffee lovers to have our cake, and eat it, too. Why?

While the study points out that certain foods like berries and tomatoes have more antioxidants, most people consume more coffee than berries daily  get the point?

According to Health.com, a 2005 study found that Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anywhere else. More than half of adults drink coffee daily, and the average coffee drinker downs about three cups each day. Some 146 billion cups are consumed in the US each year, nearly three times more than tea.

And from the Harvard Health letter, some more revelations to perk you up: “Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag.”

“Coffee might have anti-cancer properties. Last year, researchers found that coffee drinkers were 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer than nondrinkers. A few studies have found ties to lower rates of colon, breast and rectal cancers.

“Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as light drinkers or nondrinkers. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar. A coffee habit may also increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help keep diabetes at bay.”

Doctors, however, offer a word of caution to those who have heart conditions and insomnia about their coffee intake. It also stains the teeth.

Still and all, I strongly believe that coffee, aside from my obsession with washing my hands, is the formula that has kept me out of the sickbed for years now. I hardly ever catch the flu (I have yet to take a flu shot), have few bouts with cough and colds, and I am not even a regular vitamin taker. But that’s just me.

Nestle Philippines Coffee Business executive manager Christophe Stern.

So dear Jiggy, yes, I love coffee. Can’t live without it.

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Some health advocates also believe those who drink coffee have a lifestyle that promotes good health. They take time out to enjoy life, because no one ever takes coffee in a gulp. A cup makes you pause, sit back, and de-stress, unless you’re beating a deadline.

Coffee enthusiasts can now finally experience the Nescafe brand’s promise of rediscovering coffee.

Those who attended the launch at the Ayala Museum of the Nescafe Dolce Gusto line of single-serve coffee machines and exclusive coffee capsules saw a brew of innovation, style and convenience in these stand-alone, space-saving powerhouse machines.

In seconds, and in the comfort of your personal space, you can have the luxury and ease of enjoying espresso-based coffee concoctions that you would normally get in coffee shops.

The capsules are sealed airtight for maximum freshness and contain only the highest quality ingredients like roast and ground 100 percent Arabica coffee, whole milk and, yes, even rich chocolate!

As any coffee enthusiast knows, strong pressure is the key in extracting the full flavor and aroma of coffee. It’s also needed to create the foamy froth and rich crèma that add dimensions of flavor to any concoction.

Host Tim Tayag presents the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Circolo single-serve coffee machine.

Owners of the Nescafe Dolce Gusto line can have the convenience of choosing from a variety of flavors. They can go for Caffé Lungo, a long smooth cup of intense of coffee, for a boost of energy. There’s Cappuccino, a little kick with lots of froth. Life’s too short to dwell on problems; laugh it off with a cup of Mocha, rich coffee with a delightful chocolate twist.   Engage challenges head-on with verve and style with a cup of Vanilla Latte Macchiato, deliciously stylish coffee with a hint of vanilla. There’s also the ultimate reward in a cup of Chococino, devilishly creamy hot chocolate.

Life isn’t perfect but it sure has its perks.

(With the holidays just around the corner, the Nescafe Dolce Gusto will make wonderful gifts. They are available in SM Supermarkets and Hypermarts (Makati, Mall of Asia, Megamall A&B, Pasig Tiendesitas and The Block in North Edsa); and soon also available in other leading supermarkets in Metro Manila.)

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])