Coffee, like any fine art, has a beauty and complexity that evolves over time over time. Presentations change, recipes change, roasting methods change, crops of coffee bean cherries change. With this evolution comes a wealth of new experiences and flavors for coffee lovers to experience. Oranges and Christmas have been paired for ages, so in this recipe we combine our single origin Kopi Luwak with orange zest to bring you all kinds of festive goodness.
Citrus and coffee, does it really work?
Citrus and coffee can be an amazing combination. Citrus is a note you’ll see in single origin coffees, where a particular set of beans and soil express themselves more clearly to the palate, expressing aromas as would a fine wine. Citrus, a little sweetness, and coffee can make a beautiful combination, similar to that of citrus and dark chocolate. Using this as a base, it’s also possible to embellish these base flavors with creams, spices and other elements. Replace “coffee” with a single-origin Kopi Luwak, and we are talking rarified levels of exquisite delight.
Another serendipitous positive you get from the combination coffee and orange zest is a wealth of health benefits—given you don’t indulge in cream and white sugar or other processed ingredients.
The execution could not be easier:
- Grate some fresh orange zest.
- Mix with grounds and brew with coffee (put through expresso if that’s your method).
- Add remaining ingredients, EG, freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon bark, sweeteners, steamed milks or others.
Everyone’s got their own preference, but many note than cinnamon pairs well with orange. There are nearly countless possible embellishments considering all the spices, milks, essences and others you might consider. Citrus Kopi Luwak creamsicle anyone?
Did someone say orange zest coffee health benefits?
An indulgence needn’t be all sin. In fact, a Kopi Luwak coffee with orange zest packs an impressively healthy punch. Let’s enumerate the benefits:
Kopi Luwak health benefits
In 2013, researchers from Osaka University and the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute collaborated to create a team which was tasked with studying the health benefits of 21 different strains of coffee, including kopi luwak as well as synthetic kopi luwak, and blends combining kopi luwak with regular beans. Among their findings:
- Kopi Luwak is rich in malic acid. Malic acid is an organic compound all living organisms produce. Malic acid appears to increase energy as well as tolerance to strenuous exercise and muscle pain.
- Kopi Luwak has greater citric acid contents than any other coffee. Counterintuitively, citric acid makes the body more alkaline. The body functions optimally when it is slightly alkaline, and is dysfunctional when it becomes acidic. This is why the alkaline diet has such proponents as billionaire success coach Tony Robbins—who advises adding lemon to your water every morning.
- Kopi Luwak has a greater inositol content than any other coffee. Inositol is a natural alcohol produced by our kidneys. It’s essential in building cell membranes and supports neurotransmitter strength. Inositol has been show to reverse depression, reduce anxiety, help with OCD and reverse polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Researchers working on the study noted that inositol “is capable of restoring spontaneous ovulation and improving fertility in women with PCOS.”
- Kopi Luwak is loaded with anti-oxidants. In fact, it’s got even more antioxidants than a cup of Acai berries, which are a known super food.
- Coffee boosts your mood. We all know how grumpy we can be before our morning coffee. And we’re talking about more than just a hang-over cure. A study from the National Institute of Health found people who drank coffee daily were around 10% less likely to get depressed than non-coffee drinkers.
Orange zest health benefits
You might not think it, but the lowly peel of orange is packed with benefits!
- It reduces blood pressure and Cholesterol. Orange peels, are full of cholesterol-killing flavonoids. Studies by Elzbieta Kurowska, Ph.D., vice president of research at KGK Synergize in Ontario, Canada, indicate that polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) in orange peels are more likely to lower cholesterol than many prescription drugs.
- Peels have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. So much so that they perform comparatively to the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin. This is, again, thanks to flavonoids like hesperidin and polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), as well as other phytochemicals.
- Peels suppress histamines and sneezes. Orange peel prevents allergy-provoking histamine from being released, thus preventing those sneezes and runny noses.
- Peels improve oral health. Benefits of peels for oral health include whitening teeth and reducing sensitivity. Citrus is also a natural breath freshener.
- They boost immune systems. Peels come packed with vitamin C and A. They boost your immune system to keep virus and bacteria at bay, and your defenses strong.
- PMF’s may help fight cancer. PMF’s role in fighting cancer is not yet fully proven, more rigorous study is required. However, preliminary results are promising. Researchers who participated in a study published in BioMed Research International indicated PMFs showed great promise. “Due to their broad range of pharmacological properties, citrus flavonoids have gained increased attention. Accumulative in vitro and in vivo studies indicate protective effects of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) against the occurrence of cancer. PMFs inhibit carcinogenesis by mechanisms like blocking the metastasis cascade, inhibition of cancer cell mobility in circulatory systems, proapoptosis, and antiangiogenesis.”
- PMFs may fight cancer in other ways. Polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) from citrus fruits may significantly inhibited cell proliferation and modulated cancer stemness and self-renewal ability.
- Orange peels are full of fiber. Peels are packed with fiber and non-soluble polysaccharides,. You know how invaluable those can be when you’re blocked up!
Now that you know the benefits, you can sip on a decadent cup of your own Kopi Luwak orange zest recipe with the assurance it isn’t just a boost to your mood and a delight to the senses, it’s even a boon your health!
Disclaimer
This information does not constitute medical advice and it should not be relied upon as such. Consult with your doctor before modifying your regular medical regime. Our websites content is provided as a service; all content is solely for informational purpose only. We do not represent in any manner whatsoever that the content of our website contains the opinions of a healthcare professional