Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spanish Politics- The Spanish PM has visited Cataluña but has opted not to meet with the regional president. A slight? Sr Sanchez has warned that the crisis is not yet over. As if this was necessary.
- The deputy PM has demanded that said Catalan president should 'stop telling impossible lies'. Something Madrid never does, of course. But, to be fair, she's also criticised right wing parties.
- This is one (partial) Catalan view of things.
- And this is an article by someone who thinks that the trial verdicts were 'coherent and consistent'. I wasn't surprised to find that he writes for the right-wing ABC newspaper.
- Wolf Street reports that: Ahead of a new general election, the Spanish government has launched its first bailout of the country’s tourism industry. The amount is still relatively small, compared to the bailouts the banks received, but the precedent it sets is huge. When it comes to using public funds to help out non-financial companies in distress, such as well-connected ones in the construction industry, the Spanish government has plenty of form. If the recent downturn in the tourism industry deepens, the amount of funds used to support companies in the tourism industry could mushroom very quickly. Is this permitted by the EU? If not, will this make any difference? And if there's a fine from Brussels in a few years' time, will Madrid ever pay it? Probably not, No and No.
- Here's a fascinating guide to Spain from the Franco era. Well worth a read, as it's full of laughs.
- The rain in Spain . . . It doesn't only fall on Galicia.
- No huge surprise that the looming Brexit is driving British residents out of the Andalucian woodwork. Much to the pleasure, no doubt, of local town halls, as the numbers determine cash obtained from the central government.
- We've had reports that German and French train companies will 'soon' be competing with Renfe but here's one Spanish company that now won't be.
- We have a new ethno-archeological park, in Salcedo.
- Here's what looks like a good idea on how to get shut of the caricature of a man who shames his country and its people. And, even if it isn't, it's pretty funny.
- Ffart, as you'll know, has backtracked on his plans to hold the next G7 meeting in one of his facilities. Naturally, he characterises the tsunami of criticism as 'hysterical and insane'. Or something like that. Needless to say, it was the reaction within the Republican Party, not that among Democrats and the media, which caused the reversal. He couldn't care less about the latter. A bit of blue on the grey horizon?
- The increased and wholly unreasonable demands of the extreme trans activists are usually met with fear and instant capitulation. We are told that terms such as “pregnant women” and “breastfeeding” are now transphobic. It is not enough to accept trans women for who they are, but rather we are now bullied into saying that they are "real women". But they are not. And trans men are still, however much this pains them to admit it, natal females. That means, in the immortal words of Alice Cooper: ‘Only Women Bleed’. . . . If this craziness goes any further, women will not be allowed to name ourselves as such, for fear that we will be branded bigots. We will be required to call ourselves 'cisgender', and refer to trans women merely as ‘women’. Women’s rights are not only being eliminated, but the right to be a woman, is being extended to men. This Orwellian madness has to stop.
- That shyster-in-chief, one of Ffart's 'spiritual advisers' . . . . As untethered from reality as it is possible to be.
- Word of the Day: Espeleólogo: Caver; Potholer; Speleologist.
- This is all you need to know about coffee:-
Your daily caffeine fix has surprising health benefits — but how you drink it makes a difference. Peta Bee asks the experts what we should be ordering
Our thirst for coffee has increased massively over the past decade. We drink about 95 million cups a day in the UK, about 25 million more since 2008, according to the British Coffee Association. There are nearly as many ways to drink it, from milky latte to nitrogen brew.
“The coffee bean is a good thing, a natural thing,” says Ian Marber, a nutrition therapist. “It contains 500 plant components and lots of beneficial antioxidants, and has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies that encouragingly show it can be beneficial in our diet.” There are some nasties, including acrylamide, which is used to make plastic and in large amounts can damage the nervous system, but studies have shown that beneficial coffee compounds tend to offset its effects.
The good news keeps coming. Although last week pregnant women were told to avoid coffee to minimise the chance of losing their baby — particularly during the first eight weeks of pregnancy — most recent studies have been positive. Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that coffee helped to fight obesity by stimulating the body’s calorie-burning brown fat stores into action. It was reported to protect against gallstones in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Surprisingly, a cup before bed makes no difference to quality of sleep, according to a study led by Florida Atlantic University.
Not every cup from the bewildering array of options is brewed equally, however, and the amount of good they do can vary. Here’s a taster:
ESPRESSO
Made by shooting boiling water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
Contains no protein and 5-10 calories per cup. A study published in the Scientific Reports journal by researchers at the University of Nottingham last year showed that a caffeine shot can trigger the activity of brown adipose tissue, a special type of fat that burns calories, and can help with weight loss. A double espresso (or doppio) provides the kind of kick that can be useful before exercise. Neil Clarke, an associate professor in the school of life sciences at Coventry University, says a single or double espresso taken before a workout can increase your resting metabolic rate, helping you to burn more calories at rest. It can also prompt the breakdown of fat. “If you take a coffee before exercise and don’t overeat, studies have shown that caffeine intake might promote weight, BMI and body fat reduction,” he says.
LATTE
Steamed milk and a single shot of coffee with a bit of foam. The UK’s favourite form of coffee.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
Calories for a latte with full-fat cow’s milk vary from 140 to 360. You can save some calories by switching to milk alternatives (a small coconut milk latte contains about 80 calories and with oat milk about 130), but you will also lose valuable minerals including iodine, a trace mineral that’s important for healthy thyroid function and fertility.
AMERICANO
An espresso with hot water.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
This is a good choice if you want a caffeine kick with minimal calories. There are only 2-5 calories in a standard cup and 15-20 in the larger mugs you find in some café chains. Like any coffee, it is rich in powerful antioxidants such as hydrocinnamic acids and polyphenols that have been linked to the prevention of cancer and other diseases. A 2010 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that coffee had higher antioxidant levels than red grapes, plums, raspberries, cherries and some types of blueberry.
[In the UK, you'll always be asked, illogically, if you want milk with this essentially black coffee option, turning it into what used to be called ' awhite coffee' but which seems now to be called 'a flat white'. Progress.]
CAPPUCCINO
A shot of espresso and a shot of steamed milk topped with frothed, foamy milk.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
A small, full-fat cappuccino contains about 80 calories and a large about 250. There is protein in the milk, but skip the chocolate powder on top to save 15 calories.
FILTER AND CAFETIÈRE
Prepared by pouring hot water over ground coffee beans in a filter or cafetière jug.
Average caffeine per cup 95mg
The good news for you is that served black it contains 5-10 calories per cup. The bad news for the environment is that it takes more beans to make, according to research at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
MOCHA
A latte or cappuccino with added chocolate powder or syrup — a hot chocolate and coffee fusion.
Average caffeine per cup 85mg
Little better for you than a hot chocolate, this highly sweetened drink contains a minimum of 65 calories and about 6.3g of sugar but up to 350 calories and 30g of the sweet stuff in a large serving. Opt for a white chocolate mocha and the sugar shock is even greater, with up to 60g of sugar and a ghastly 500 calories per cup. Topping with whipped cream adds 80-120 calories to your drink.
FLAT WHITE
This is now our third-favourite way of drinking coffee. It uses the less frothy steamed milk from the bottom of the jug poured over a shot of espresso.
Average caffeine per cup 150mg
A standard flat white typically contains 105 calories.
MACCHIATO
What it is A shot of espresso topped with foamed milk. Similar to a cappuccino, but stronger and without the added layer of milk.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
A regular version contains anything from 80-230 calories. Beware switching to a caramel macchiato: the added syrup can bump the calorie count to 300. Typically syrup shots add 70 sugary calories. Avoid.
RISTRETTO
An espresso shot prepared with the usual amount of coffee, but half the water. It results in a more concentrated and darker shot.
Average caffeine per cup 80mg
Contains 10-20 calories. An average Americano or filter coffee is approximately 98.75 per cent water and 1.25% diluted plant compounds. “Generally coffee can be helpful in terms of fluid intake and hydration,” Marber says. “But not if you opt for this variety.”
INSTANT
Made from freeze-dried or spray-dried coffee.
Average caffeine per cup 30-90mg
A study at Coventry University showed that that consuming about a dessert spoon of coffee granules dissolved in water 60 minutes before exercise could help people to exercise harder for longer. Instant coffee could also be best for the environment. When Alf Hill, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Bath’s centre for sustainable chemical technologies, analysed the impact of different coffee forms on the planet, in conjunction with Colonna & Small’s coffee shop in Bath, he found that instant came out top.
COLD BREW
Made by steeping coffee grounds in room-temperature or cold water for up to 24 hours to produce a concentrated coffee essence that is then diluted with water. It is the hipster coffee of choice. Costa added a strawberry cold brew to its menu in the summer.
Average caffeine per cup 180mg-200mg
There is little evidence for claims that it is less acidic and thus kinder on the digestive system than normal coffee. The calorie content is low at about 5-10 per cup unless you opt for a flavoured brew, which is often sweetened. These varieties rise to 80-90 calories per cup.
PODS AND CAPSULES
One third of UK households own an espresso pod or capsule machine. There are two basic types — those that use metal or plastic capsules that are covered with a foil seal that is pierced by the machine so that heated water can be forced through. Then there are ESE (easy serving espresso) pods, such as those that use Illy or Lavazza coffee, in which the pre-portioned serving of coffee is wrapped in paper filter like a teabag, and placed inside the machine.
Average caffeine per cup 60-80mg
There are potential health benefits from using some pods. Two chemicals in coffee beans — cafestol and kahweol — have been shown to raise levels of damaging LDL cholesterol in the blood. They are present in any coffee that hasn’t been filtered including espresso, moka pot and cafetière coffee, but the tea bag-type pods contain filters that remove them, making them a better choice. Some metal or plastic capsules are lined with filter paper, but it serves only to prevent the grounds from entering the cup and not to filter chemicals.
MOKA POT
A stove-top coffee maker that brews by passing boiling water pressurised by steam through ground coffee. It produces strong, concentrated coffee.
Average caffeine per cup 110mg
Many moka pots are made from aluminium and there have been concerns about leeching of aluminium from them as a health risk. However, a 2017 study in the journal Environmental Sciences Europe found the risk to be minimal (and much lower than aluminium water bottles) provided moka pots were not put in the dishwasher, which increases the release of the metal.
ARE YOU DRINKING SUPER-COFFEE?
The wellness brigade’s search for healthy coffee has resulted in several niche caffeine trends:
CBD coffee
Coffee infused with the cannabis derivative CBD (cannabidiol) oil has become the caffeine hit of 2019. Studies have shown that CBD binds to serotonin receptors in the brain, lowering anxiety and boosting mood, and it also has an anti-inflammatory action. Whether it works when added to coffee is, as yet, unproven.
Vitamin Coffee
This box delivery subscription service (a 14-day supply for £5.95; vitamincoffee.co.uk) uses three blends of roasted beans mixed with vitamins for a specific health boost. With the defence coffee you get vitamins A and D; with the energy version there’s added caffeine and B vitamins; and the complete powder provides a range of 14 vitamins and minerals for all-round health.
Nitro coffee
Nitrogen — a colourless and odourless gas — is added to coffee to produce a slighty foamy and frothy nitro brew. The gas is said to trick the tongue into thinking it’s tasting something sweeter than regular coffee. It’s said to be less acidic and harsh on the gut, although there is little proof that is the case.
Collagen coffee
A trend that started among beauty bloggers, it involves stirring flavourless collagen powder into your coffee and is said to provide a boost for skin and prevent wrinkles. More likely it will help creaking joints, but you would need to drink a lot to make a difference.
Bulletproof coffee
Made by whisking organic butter and coconut oil into your regular double espresso, it has spiralled in popularity thanks to claims that it will do everything from minimising caffeine jitters to boosting brain power and suppressing your appetite. Scientists are yet to be convinced. And it can add up to 400 calories per cup.
Mushroom latte
Made by mixing mushrooms or mushroom powder (try Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee; £10.98 from amazon.co.uk) with almond or cashew milk, raw coconut sugar and maca powder, then heated in a pan and blended until frothy. Mushrooms do have health benefits, including immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, but you’d be better off eating them. The drink is an acquired taste.
Turmeric latte
Looks like a latte, but is nothing of the sort. Instead it is derived from cold-pressed turmeric juice (made by steeping the root in water) added to almond, coconut, cashew or cow’s milk. Turmeric has a unique range of compounds and essential oils that are linked to purported health benefits, but there’s not much of it in a latte. Too much turmeric will stain your teeth.
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