Update: Google Illy or Lavazza (two Italian Infrared Roasted
coffees), then your city and it will show you where to get a hot, brewed
infrared roasted espresso or cappuccino. Terrific if you're on the go
and no time to brew infrared roasted coffee at home. There seems to be
someplace close to ensure smooth, non-acidic coffee. Had one this
afternoon on cold winter day.
If you're like me, as time goes on, coffee, even from local coffee shops
gave me 3 day heartburn even with cream. So I gave it up thinking it
was just too acidic.Coffee was such a comforting taste and smell but the
smell was going to have to be enough. The pain wasn't worth it.
Then, while in Denmark, visiting relatives, I was offered coffee that I
felt if I refused would be seen as rude, so I got ready for some
heartburn. But it never came. Two more mornings with coffee and again,
no heartburn and the smooth taste just black, no cream. Since my Danish
is bad to awful, my aunt's friend who spoke excellent English, cleared
up the mystery. "You Americans, you burn your coffee beans, we heat them
so they're smooth and not bitter." This would explain why so many
Europeans drink many shots of espresso with no "acidic issues" in the
stomach.
Makes sense now. Coffee beans are plants and alkaline in raw form. Only when they are "burnt" do they become acidic. Recent research from Japan points to Infrared Roasted/Low Acid Coffee’s Healthy Benefits concluded that over cooking or over roasting coffee beans increases the acid levels
of coffee which may lead to heart burn and stomach upset.(Yep, been there, done that) Over cooking
the coffee bean also cooks out the amazing antioxidant nutrients and
adds health damaging radicals to the coffee bean.
Infrared roasting leads to lower acidity levels, an
evenly roasted bean, and completely eliminates a burnt or bitter coffee
taste. .
Now here's the rub, Infrared roasted coffee only comprises 2% of the roasted coffees in America.
Since the Infrared coffee roasters are small batch roasters, only passionate roasters prepared for lower profit margins.
My favorite domestic beans are either Buna Bean in Ennis, Texas or Toomer's Coffee
in Auburn, Alabama off their websites. If you're into the convenience
of canned coffee drinks, Illy Issimo is Infrared roaster that are now
made in Denmark actually. Some grocery stores carry Illy Issimo in big
32 ounce plastic bottle, but these are made in the US and are not
infrared roasted coffee (as I discovered after 3 days of heartburn).
If you're in Europe, most roasters are infrared which is a point of
pride of many restaurants with their particular blends for outstanding
smooth coffee taste and health benefits. And there's always those silver
cans of Illys no matter where you travel, even on the trains.
Wishing you smooth travels in your wellness journey...
