Category Archive 'Coffee'

09 Sep 2016

Two Cups Might Kill You

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adelaideasskicker

The Advertiser:

Adelaide [Australia]’s strongest coffee has caffeine levels so high, it comes with a health warning.

Christies Beach cafe Viscous Coffee is serving up the “Asskicker” iced coffee, which contains five grams of caffeine — about 80 times the amount of a single shot coffee — and half the dose considered to be lethal.

Owner Steve Benington said the caffeine fix was designed to be consumed gradually over three to four hours, and provides 12 to 18 hours of “sustained up-time”.

“Some people love it and some are broken by it but it’s all in the name of fun,” Mr Benington said.

A single espresso has about 60mg of caffeine, while a standard filter coffee has around 150mg, depending on how it’s brewed.

The Asskicker is a complex concoction made of quad espresso (four shots), four 48-hour brewed cold drip ice cubes, 120ml of 10-day brewed cold drip and is finished with four more 48-hour brewed cold drip ice cubes.

“Each cold drip ice cube is approximately equivalent of a bit more than two shots of espresso in caffeine,” he said.

Mr Benington said the aptly-named Asskicker was originally developed for an emergency department nurse with a need to be kept awake and alert for an unexpected overnight shift.

“I offer custom caffeine levels tailored to personal requirements,” he said.

“She consumed her drink over two days and it kept her up for almost three days — I toned it down a little after that and the Asskicker was born.”

The coffee’s health warning applies for people with heart or blood pressure issues, Mr Benington said.

03 Dec 2013

Navy Guys Treasure Grotty Coffee Cups

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Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, receives a presentation Tennessee coffee cup from a Third Class Quartermaster on the bridge of USS Picking (DD-685), circa 1955-1961.

Anybody who has had dealings with rust pickers and paint chippers knows that, absent serious intervention, they tend to sit around on their butts all day, bitching and moaning, and drinking endless quantities of battery-acid-strong coffee. I never realized, though, that they never washed their cups.

Naval Historical Foundation explains that they have a tradition concerning crusty coffee cups.

[It] was my first experience with “Navy coffee.” It was hot and strong. Very strong. The thickness of it closely resembled crude oil. It tasted both wonderful and terrible at the same time. Your mind can trick you into believing anything. When a supreme pot of joe is brewed, many of the volunteers would call it “Signal Bridge Coffee,” recalling the nostalgia of long nights and many cups consumed.

After that first morning of coffee, I went to the break room to wash my cup and let it dry for the next day’s angry fix. As I washed out my cup, I felt the sting of glaring eyes from behind my back. I’m sure whoever it was, they could sense my hesitation. I turned around to see GMC Dana Martin, the museum’s active duty OIC. He had a puzzled, concerned look on his face. Chief Martin was grizzled and salty. He was by far one of the saltiest sailors I have ever met. He grabbled my arm washing the cup. My hesitation grew to fear. He leaned in close and told me to “never wash it again,” staring back down at my cup and back to me. I looked at him, puzzled with fascination and disbelief. Although I drink my coffee black, my mind struggled to find reason in the practice.

“I don’t understand,” I told him. ”I need to clean my cup.” I was merely doing what I was taught. Bills should be paid on time. Five minutes early is five minutes late. Coffee mugs should be washed out after use. Simple, right? Wrong. I held my breath and found out just how wrong I really was.

He leaned in again, this time more relaxed (and less confrontational). “I know you are just starting out here, but I want to let you in on a little secret.” He was almost whispering. ”If you intend to stay here at the museum, you can impress the Navy guys with your mug.” He went on to explain to me the significance of an unwashed or “seasoned” coffee mug, particularly in the Navy Chief community. ”And keep it as tarry black as possible,” he added. ”Sometimes it’s the only way you can drink this swill. But you will grow to love it and depend on the taste.” I would never think I would believe him. Boy, was I wrong.

Old coffee in a cup signifies seniority and stature in the military, particularly on deployment. As one blogger noted, “You may not be able to embrace your loved ones while you are gone, but at least you can still taste the same coffee you drank the day you left.”


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