Coffee Connections

What is Decaf Coffee?  According to  Eating Well ,  decaf coffee has all the health benefits of coffee with the removal of higher caffeine levels which may benefit some coffee drinkers.  Although this sounds like a way to consume this beverage to those who have side effects from caffeine, the jury is out. Recently there have been articles about the methods used to process decaf coffee.   While I am not a frequent decaf drinker this has made me a bit alarmed and as a coffee promoter I feel it is important to share these concerns. There are three main ways to remove the caffiene. Recent studies have raised concern,  According to multiple sources  including a report by CNN   the majority of decaf coffee is made by European Method where the beans are soaked in a chemical called Methelyne Chloride  . This has been banned by the EPA and OSHA as a hazardous chemical linked to liver and other cancers.  Once the beans are soaked and stripped...

One of the greatest ways to explore a new city is to visit a local coffee shop.  A new one called Fellini Coffee just opened around the corner from my daughter in New York on 8th near 23rd and I passed it enroute to her apartment last night.   Having picqued my interest I made this my first stop before exploring the city today.  It is a rainy day and I thus decided to sit inside,   Fellini Coffee  is the type of venue one would picture visiting while in Europe.  It has cute round tables and a vibrant decor of old movie posters and French artwork.  Like the coffee houses I dreamt of and mentioned in an early chapter in my book, this is one that inspires writing.  To keep one flowing Fellini turns into a local bar scene at night.   Fellini does not serve drip coffee and is more a place to sip a cappuccino and enjoy the surroundings or watch the passersby.  I had a great conversation with my server who I learned is also a writer and have ma...