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Sometimes I feel as though I go to coffee shops in order to have the opportunity to order my "cawfee" using my thickest New Jersey accent and watch the horror slowly creep over the barista's face. Even though this scene played out provides my initial good time, I stay for the coffee, and sometimes, the atmosphere that a coffee shop provides. My, how my idea of fun has changed over the years.
In all seriousness, though, I believe that the current "coffee culture" stems, at least in part, from our belief that we need to "treat" ourselves. We have come to the realization that we all need a bit of luxury in our lives. And the truth is, we probably do . whether we're supermoms, superdads, boardroom executives, or are all three of those people wrapped into one. In exchange for about $4 and 5 minutes of our time, we get to be pampered. We order a specialty cup of java, made exactly to our specifications, and it might be the only thing that goes right in our day.
But where does coffee come from? What is the reason for our current fascination with coffee? Where can we go in the Valley for a great cup of coffee? Read on for some more information on "Joe", your best friend and mine. |
The History of Coffee
According to an old legend, an Arabian goatherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula . Kaldi soon determined that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria and after trying the cherries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. The stimulating effect was then exploited by monks at a local monastery to stay awake during extended hours of prayer and distributed to other monasteries around the world. And so, coffee was born.
Though the legend is quite entertaining, recent botanical evidence indicates that "Coffea Arabica" originated on the plateaus of central Ethiopia and some how must have been brought to Yemen where it was cultivated since the 6 th century. Upon introduction of the first coffee houses in Cairo and Mecca , coffee became a passion rather than just a stimulant.
The coffee plant is a woody perennial evergreen that belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Two main species are cultivated today. "Coffea Arabica" known as Arabica coffee accounts for 75-80 percent of the world's production. Coffee Canephora, known as robust coffee, is more resilient plant then the Arabica shrubs, but produces an inferior tasting beverage. The coffee plant can grow to heights of 10 meters if not pruned, but producing countries maintain coffee at three meters for ease of picking.
Coffee . the New Health Food?
What drug can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer, in addition to lifting your mood, treating headaches, and lowering your risk of cavities? Coffee, the mega-popular but much maligned beverage has made recent headlines for the part it plays in all of the above. And the very good news is that it seems to be the more you drink, the better. |
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At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to 25 percent reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80 percent drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones. Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University 's Institute for Coffee Studies.
Some of coffee's reported benefits are a direct result of its higher caffeine content, others seem to be as a result of other antioxidants and minerals, such as magnesium.
Remember when your parents told you that coffee was off limits because it would "stunt your growth"? Well, today, no studies show that that coffee in reasonable amounts is in any way harmful to children. In fact, coffee-drinking children are reported to do better on academic tests than their non-coffee drinking peers. Though, this may be because they're more alert and awake than their counterparts. |
So, you may not have to feel as guilty about making that coffee run in the morning and sharing with your children on the way home!
Coffee Resources One of the best resources in Arizona on coffee and coffeehouses is the website www.arizonacoffee.com. The website focuses mainly on reviews of the coffeehouses in Arizona and the specialty drinks to be found in them. Chris Tingom, owners and creator of the website, gives comprehensive reviews of menus, atmosphere, and coffee quality, focusing mainly on independent coffee shops.
Tingom's company, Tornado (www.tornadodesign.com) is responsible for a number of different websites, including another culinary review-related website (www.arizonareviews.com).
"I want for my site to be the 'definitive resource' on coffee for Arizona residents," intimated Tingom. He named "Lux Coffeebar" (4404 North Central Ave. Ste. 1; 602-266-6469) and "Mama Java's" (3619 East Indian School Road; 602-840-JAVA) as two of the "trendiest places in town" and Romancing the Bean (Scottsdale Pavillions; 480-951-3063 and 80 East Rio Salado, Tempe; 480-921-4088), and Cup Z (11615 N. 136 th St., Scottsdale, just north of Shea, both with multiple locations, as places to keep your eye on. But of all the coffeehouse Tingom has frequented his favorite is "La Grande Orange." He calls their "Spanish Latte" the best specialty drink in town.
Tingom explains that, at least in his opinion, coffee quality rates number one in importance on the rating scale, then atmosphere. He also notes on his website, whether a coffeehouse has Wi-Fi (access to the internet) and whether or not it's free. "It's an important factor to me, and to many others who frequent coffeehouses," explains Tingom.*
Coffee Hot Spot
David and Anita Anderson, originally from the Midwest , had no clue that the family business would one day be coffee. When they were living back East in Washington D.C. , they simply enjoyed their specialty coffee, like any other self-respecting city dwellers.
The Andersons moved to Cave Creek and opened up their coffee shop six years ago, The Cave Creek Coffee Company. The coffee shop could best be described as "eclectic." There are four rooms that snake around the building, each with its own character. Warm, inviting colors, unique pieces of art, and a cozy atmosphere draws customers from near and far.
As business took off, they made the pivotal move of roasting their own beans. Their son, Dustin, became the "Master Roaster" and has been perfecting his craft for the past five years. They now produce more than 1000 pounds of beans per week, and distribute to grocery stores, restaurants, and independent coffee shops throughout the Valley.
But what matters most to the customer is his morning (or evening) cup of coffee. And when it comes to serving a great cup of joe, the Cave Creek Coffee Company really delivers. They are known for serving great espresso, and their specialty coffees and lattes are out of this world. One "must try" is their Mexcian Hot Chocolate. "After a large conglomerate corporation paved the way for smaller, independent coffeehouses, people were willing to pay a premium price for specialty coffee," explained Anita.
Two years after opening the coffee shop, Anita left her corporate job to open up the wine bar. She quickly built that side of the business into a high profile bar that serves many delectable sandwiches, pizzas, and salads, including the "Tornado" (turkey breast with cream cheese and a cranberry walnut sauce served on grilled foccacia bread), and the "Palamino" (Pastrami, pepper jack cheese, roasted raspberry Chipotle sauce served on tomato-basil foccacia bread), a 5-Cheese Chive pizza pie, and Mediterranean pizza pie, and a Smoked Duck salad (Organic field greens, smoked duck breast, Fuji apples, pinion, pistachio, and sweet pecans tossed in a creamy cardamom dressing.) The Spicy Mango and Chicken (Fresh mango, greens, pulled roasted chicken, shaved red onion, avocado, and raspberries tossed in a habanero mango dressing) is their most popular dish, and numerous regulars and Valley food critics have sung it's praises. The wine bar has been included in Phoenix Magazine's "Best of Phoenix" for the past three years. They will be celebrating the fourth anniversary of the wine bar's opening on February 14, 2006.
As if quality coffee and wine so close to home wasn't enough, the Cave Creek Coffee Company and Wine Bar also serves up free, live entertainment in the evenings. On Mondays and Fridays, Chris, a Flamenco guitarist performs, Bill, an acoustic guitarist, plays on Tuesdays, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Talia, a singer, songwriter, piano playing 14-year-old prodigy performs.
Next time you're looking for a cozy coffee-drinking experience, to sample a new wine or dish, or to sit back and enjoy some live entertainment, give the Cave Creek Coffee Company and Wine Bar a try - you'll become a devoted regular!
Info> Cave Creek Coffee Company: 480-225-5493; www.cavecreekcoffee.com
* Every coffeehouse mentioned in this article offers Wi-Fi access, and all access is free, except for Romancing the Bean which has just started charging a nominal fee. |
