POO COFFEE EXTRAVAGANZA....

REUTERS- Kopi Luwak, made in Indonesia from coffee beans excreted by native civet cats, is reputedly the world's rarest and most expensive coffee, extracted by hand from the animals' forest droppings. Civet cats, considered a delicacy in China, are linked to the SARS respiratory virus that emerged in the south of that country in 2002 and spread globally. When roasted, the resulting beans sell for around $1,000 a kilogram ($450 a pound) and brew into an earthy, syrupy, coffee experts as one of the world's finest. Australia's first civet cat brew has only just gone on sale in Queensland state, selling for a $50 a cup at the Heritage Tea Rooms, west of Townsville. "Everyone calls it cat poo coffee," cafe owner Michelle Sharpe told the Australian Associated Press.

COFFEE GAINS POPULARITY IN CHINA

According to an article by the Bureau Report, coffee consumption is gaining popularity against tea and so is coffee production. Official data showed Chinese coffee exports jumped 40.8 percent to 6,484 tons during the first quarter of this year, with more than 4,000 tons headed for Germany and Japan. It imported 4,642 tons in the first quarter, down 5.7 percent year-on-year. "When we began a coffee business here in 1998, our monthly sales were about 10 kilos. Now our sales are calculated in tons," said Zhou Zhihua, a coffee trader based in Yunnan's provincial capital, Kunmin. However, industry officials say Chinese production is still too small for some roasters to pay much attention, especially as growing domestic demand is absorbing a large chunk of it.

EURO CAFE PICS....

EURO BREAD & CAFE, Fort Laudedale.

In downtown Fort Lauderdale I found this traditional and urban French café and bakery. French bread with prosiutto, mini butter croissants and delicious and creamy espresso are the top sellers in Euro Bakery and Café. They offer a wide variety of baked goods, sandwiches, gourmet salads, teas and coffee drinks. The local is spacious, well decorated and cozy. Euro Bakery and Café is just one block north of Broward Blvd and 3rd Ave. They have an awesome breakfast special for only $2.50.

COFFEE STATISTICS

• Among coffee drinkers the average consumption in the United States is 3.1 cups of coffee per day.
• Currently there are approximately 12,000 coffee shops across the country.
• About 52 percent of Americans drink coffee everyday.
• There are a100 million daily coffee drinkers in United States.
• About 30 million drink specialty coffee. (latte, café mocha, espresso)
• The average price for regular coffee is $1.38.
• The average price for an espresso-based drink is $2.45.
• Men drink as much coffee as women.
• The preferred time of day for coffee is at breakfast with 65 percent of preference.

MACY'S WILL NOW SERVE COFFEE.......

Macy's plans to introduce its own brand of gourmet fast food and restaurants by the famous chefs Wolfgang Puck and Todd English to Florida stores; as a part of a national expansion project.

Macy's Taste Bars will offer a menu of signature soups, salads, sandwiches, as well as Macy's brand gelato and coffee. The good news is that this plan will include the location at the Town Center mall in Boca Raton.

In addition, Macy's will open a Wolfgang Puck Express at a Broward County store and a café by Todd English called Fig's at a Palm Beach County store. The new Macy's business adventure will be opening in different stores this year.

Coffee May Boost Female Sex Drive

A study by Southwestern University found that caffeine increased the libido in female rats. Scientist gave the 100 female rats a moderate dose of caffeine right before a mating season. The females rats took less time when returning to males after sex for another season. However, scientists think that this behavior would not be repeated in humans. In humans it could enhance the sexual experience but only among non-habitual consumers. A spokesman for the British Coffee Association said, "humans would have to drink 10 cups of coffee in one go to get the same effect and that is not the normal consumption level". Although this could be truth and thousands of important discoveries have been done thru mammal (rats specially) experiments; it is pretty funny to be compared to a female rat.

Coffee at Mc Donalds??? I'm loving it!!!

I recently discover the wonderful coffee they have at Mc Donalds. I was once rushing to get to class and I needed a coffee so bad that I gave Mc Donalds a shot. I order myself a small coffee just because I doubted on the quality and I did not want to waste any coffee. To my surprise the coffee was delicious, smooth and bold at the same time. Now, every now and then if I am in a rush and I see a Mc Donalds around I won't hesitate to stop and get me a delicioso coffee!!!

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE-PICS....

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE-BOCA RATON, FL.

Right off Federal highway just a few miles south from Linton Rd, I found Neighborhood Coffee. Another great place to chill, study and chit chat with friends and have some good coffee.

The decoration really stands out. Wooden floors with cool Persian rugs give this coffee house a very interesting feeling. The place is huge; it has at least 5 different areas with comfortable leather and microfiber sofas.

It has a 32 inches plasma TV on the main salon. However, the TV can be a little annoying for people that are trying to read or study; but perfect to catch the news in the morning. Neighborhood Coffee is always packed in the mornings, especially since they open earlier than any coffee shop around.

So, if you are in the neighborhood you can stop by and get a delicious white mocha and a glazed (Krispy Kreme) doughnut for less than five dollars.

GOOD POINTS...

* FREE WIRELESS INTERNET
* PATIO AREA
* PLASMA TV
* LOTS AND LOTS OF SOFAS
* OPEN AT 6:30 A.M.

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE

6020 NORTH FEDERAL HWY, BOCA RATON