1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

Coffee. 137 the cylinder, with the coffee, while roasting, will be found an improvement. If coffee is insufficiently roasted, it will have little flavour, will lie heavy on the stomach, and probably produce nausea and vomiting. If too much roasted, it becomes acrid, and acquires a disagreeable burnt taste. Properly roasted coffee should have a chocolate brown colour, and look bright and oily. It should be kept air-tight, as it loses its aroma by exposure. In a medical point of view, coffee will be found to act as an aperient if a glass of cold water be taken immediately before partaking of it. Strong coffee is a powerful stimulant and cordial. In cases of faintness or exhaustion from labour or sick- ness, coffee is one of the most cordial restoratives we have, promoting digestion and exhilarating the spirits. It allays hunger to a certain extent, and imparts a feeling of comfort to mostpersons; with some, however, coffee is heavy and difficult of digestion. Difference of temperament produces different effects on coffee-drinkers; but, generally speaking, a prudent use of this beneficial beverage makes it a valuable article of diet: it is also reputed to be an excellent safeguard against gout and gravel. The esteemed properties of coffee are mainly due to