Does Coffee Stain Teeth? Not Anymore! Say Goodbye to Stains with this One Item!

ripped yellow paper showing woman's nose and lips

Does Coffee Stain Teeth? Simply, yes. Also Wine stains your teeth. Sometimes it feels like fun stains your teeth.

We here at Blackheart’s Coffee love…well…coffee! But we don’t want brown stained teeth. And we’re betting that neither do you, right?

So just how do you minimise coffee stains on teeth? Or better, how to get rid of coffee stains on teeth entirely!

We’ve been doing some research and here’s what we’ve come up with. Get ready for pearly whites!

Save the World and Save Your Teeth

Did you know that over 250 million plastic toothbrushes are chucked out each year? In the UK alone. Isn’t that frightening? They don’t break down guys, they stay out there in landfills and oceans on washing up on beaches…for millennia.

This is so simple, it’s a no-brainer.

Get yourself a bamboo toothbrush with charcoal infused bristles.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste of charcoal.

Why is this good for your teeth?

Charcoal absorbs harmful bacteria as well as the acids that cling to your teeth and stain them. Pulling these microparticles away from your enamel without damaging the enamel itself, can help whiten teeth and clean them on a deeper level than your average toothbrush.

Charcoal also helps to neutralise and remove the particles that cause bad breath keeping your fresh as a daisy without the need for flavoured toothpastes.

Pretty good eh?

And you don’t even need to worry about all that bacteria staying on your toothbrush. The charcoal destroys the bacteria and is clean to use again later.

We love BambooDent but there are so many amazing bamboo toothbrushes with charcoal infusion that it’s hard to know which to go for.

BambooDent (compostable bamboo handle) looks cool and feels great.

The TEVRA Bamboo toothbrush comes in a family pack which is great value and has a pretty design.

To get even more charcoal benefits, you can use activated charcoal toothpaste too. Don’t worry, it won’t take you long to adjust to such a strange coloured toothpaste! PROCOAL Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder

Want to read more about how to be an environmentally-friendly coffee drinker? Read our breakdown of coffee shops versus coffee machines!

Italian Coffee Machines Are the Best

5 Italian Coffee Machines That Will Change Your Life

Life is better with Italian coffee

Sometimes you have to go back to the heart of the matter to really get to the good stuff and where’s the heart of coffee? ITALY!

If you’re ready to invest in a true Italian coffee machine, chances are you’re a little overwhelmed with the choice.

Which one is the best?
Who lives up to their price?
Which one offers you real value for money?

If you want a true Italian espresso machine then read on. I’ve dug around to find the affordable, the beautiful and the downright perfect.

Why Italian Espresso Machines?

Italian design is usually fairly traditional. However, popular global brands that are also Italian, like illy and Lavazza, are changing that as they are starting to sell modern looking machines.

Some of the greatest Italian coffee machine makers produce works of art, very expensive machines that are a once in a lifetime purchase and that should outlive you.

These companies still believe that things should be made as well as possible and be built to last.

That’s why Italian coffee machines are often the best in the world.

The 5 Best Italian Coffee Machines

#1 Gaggia Coffee Machines

Gaggia is a Milanese coffee company that started over a hundred years ago and is stronger than ever today. It has a huge range of stunning coffee machines that really belong in classic cafes and art museums. But they also produce a great range of domestic, modern espresso machines.

Gaggia sells everything from small manual machines and amazing automatic espresso machines to huge, commercial classically designed Italian espresso machines. This company knows quality and never compromises.

With such a choice of machines for every budget and desire, Gaggia truly do make some of the best Italian espresso machines out there.

Why?

Because it’s super affordable, simple and yet comes with all of Gaggia’s expert manufacturing. This machine puts you up there with the coffee experts.

This outstanding machine produces some of the best coffee that it’s even possible to make at home. But more than that, it’s built to last with the best materials and workmanship.

#2 La Cimbali Coffee Machines

This is another Italian coffee company who started in Milan a century ago and produce some of the finest Italian espresso machines.

La Cimbali (http://cimbaliuk.com) are all about tradition and classic styling but their espresso machines are still top of the range with modern technology.

Professional, commercial coffee machines simply don’t get better than this. If you’re a café in the process of looking for a new machine, this will be an investment your bank will forgive you for.

La Cimbali only really make machines for commercial use but they’re a great company to put your coffee loving customers in the hands of.

With junior machines for small scale production or enormous machines for the busiest coffee shops in Europe, La Cimbali have your needs covered. The produce one of the best Italian espresso machines for business in the world.

Love the look of the Cimbali range but just want a small home coffee machine? Check out this De’Longhi instead.

#3 Elektra Coffee Machines

So you not only want the best Italian espresso machine but you also want the absolute coolest looking machine in the world?

No problem, Elektra has got you covered. Since 1947 the genius behind Elektra has been working and creating and perfecting and the company produce the most beautiful Italian espresso machines in the world.

They produce two main ranges, the Bar Division range for commercial use and the Casa Division for home use. The commercial machines have grinders that are second to none but let’s focus on the domestic machines.

The Nivola W compact home Italian espresso machine is simply stunning and has super high specs too.

Easy to use with excellent pressure and a milk frothing arm, you can make the most delicious espressos and cappuccinos quickly and simply.

If you’re looking for the best Italian espresso machine for your home then it’s right here!

The Elektra’s can be pricey so we’ve got a fantastic budget option for you if you can’t get enough of the style.

#4 Lavazza Coffee Machines

This Italian company born out of Torino has effortlessly blended its traditional history and heritage with the modern world. While retaining its expertise, Lavazza have created affordable home espresso machines. They use ground coffee as well as easy to use coffee pods.

Unlike most pod machines, the Lavazza range has room for up to 12 coffee pods at a time. You don’t even have to empty the pod area after each coffee.

At family friendly prices, Lavazza have yet to disappoint with any of their products. They sell the best Italian espresso maker for the coffee lover on a budget; the AEG A Modo Mio Favola Lavazza Espresso Coffee Machine.

Want to try our favourite Lavazza ground coffee? Get yourself this bargain pack of Lavazza Crema e Gusto

#5 illy Italian Espresso Machines

Just like Lavazza, illy have carved out a global name for themselves although they remained a truly Italian company. With traditional designs using modern technology, illy have a wonderful range of pod coffee machines. They also have beautiful home Italian espresso machines.

Their Iperespresso range of espresso machines are made by Francis Francis. They come complete with milk frothing attachments, hot water and steam facilities as well as simple user interfaces.

They use specific illy capsules that come in a small but delicious range of depths and flavours.

If you’re not a fan of traditional looking Italian espresso machines then that’s not a problem. As I said, illy have merged seamlessly into the modern world and produce a highly modern espresso machine too….

illy produce some of the best Italian espresso machines for the home. Their coffee is delicious and always high quality too.

illy are specialists in coffee, rather than coffee machines. They commission the best brands in the world to make Italian style espresso machines. These are designed exclusively for illy coffee. Even Gaggia make one for them!

And of course, you have to try the excellent illy coffee, start off with this illy classic collection

Thanks for Reading

I hope you feel like you know a lot more about Italian coffee machines now and the kind of machine you’d like. If you’re after reliable craftsmanship and eternal style, the Italians really do produce the best machines for your home. More about Gaggia Coffee Machines here- www.gaggia.com

If these machines aren’t quite what you’re looking for, why not check out our most popular machines on the De’Longhi Bean-to-cup buying guide here!

Want to Live Longer? Drink Coffee!

How Drinking Coffee is Saving Your Life

Did you know that coffee isn’t just delicious, it’s also actively working to prevent disease, increase your likelihood of staying safe on the roads and improving your lifespan?

According to the British Coffee Association, around 2 billion cups of coffee are drunk around the world every day. 2 billion! In the UK alone the numbers of cups consumed per day is estimated to be around 70 million.

So clearly, we’re big coffee drinkers. But is coffee good for us? Is it just a useful pick-me-up or is there something more beneficial to it?

With around 70% of British adult coffee drinkers consuming instant coffee and around 48% drinking filtered coffee, shouldn’t we know about the health differences in these two methods?

Is Fresh Coffee better for us than Instant Coffee?

We coffee lovers know that filtered coffee tastes considerably yummier than instant, but are we benefiting in other ways?

We’re drinking so much coffee these days and giving so much money to the coffee industry players that if you ask me, it’s essential we know more about the health implications, and benefits, of coffee. Because when you really look into it…is coffee more than a delicious beverage?

Could your daily coffee actually be saving your life?

Five Quick Facts About Coffee Health Benefits:

Coffee is actually hydrating, not dehydrating, as many people believe. Coffee is actually no more of a diuretic than water!
Drinking coffee around 30 minutes before exercise increases performance, sometimes considerably.
Moderate coffee consumption is actually associated with a lower risk of type-2 diabetes, and those who already have type-2 diabetes can also enjoy it safely.
Moderate coffee consumption (4 to 5 cups a day) is not associated with heart problems or disease and isn’t shown to raise cholesterol or blood pressure.
Research has shown that coffee consumption could actually lower your risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In fact, a study has shown a significant decrease in the risk of developing these terrible diseases.

Coffee and the Body

It’s not just busting coffee myths like dehydration and heart health though, coffee actually has positive effects on almost every part of the body. The coffee industry is huge and as a result, lots of money is put into medical and scientific research of the health implications and benefits of coffee.

This is great news for us!

Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of coffee on different parts of the body, in no particular order:

#1 Liver

Liver disease is a serious problem in the west and affects around 6% of the EU population. However, recent research has shown that drinking coffee can actually slow the progression of liver diseases such as cirrhosis, fatty liver diseases and hepatitis B and C.

#2 Heart

A lot of research relating to coffee consumption and heart disease has been done in the last few decades and so far studies show that moderate coffee drinking does not raise the risk of heart disease. Cutting out coffee consumption is not shown to lessen the risk of heart disease and instead, dietary recommendations such as lowering sodium intake and increasing exercise are far more highly recommended.

#3 Mind

Coffee is excellent for raising alertness and is actually recommended to drivers suffering from fatigue. Coffee improves the performance and concentration not only of drivers, but also of night shift workers (without compromising their ability to sleep later on), athletes and even those recovering from the common cold.

#4 Bones

While there were suspicions for a while that caffeine intake could increase the loss of bone density and lead to osteoporosis, recent research has actually shown this to be unfounded. In fact, as many British people consume milk with their coffee, a healthy coffee habit could improve the intake of calcium, which is crucial for strong and healthy bones.

#5 Intestines

The intestines, or gut, are one of the most complex parts of the body and new research is coming out all the time. Coffee consumption is not related to gastrointestinal conditions however and even those suffering with gut problems such as IBS or Crohn’s Disease can drink coffee moderately without any issues.

#6 Pregnancy

Many people believe that pregnant women must avoid caffeine but actually this isn’t true. While it’s definitely advised that they should limit their caffeine intake, it’s agreed by the Royal College of Midwives and the Food Standards Agency that pregnant women should just restrict their caffeine to 200mg or less.

This means pregnant women can safely drink one or two cups of coffee a day. A standard instant coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine and a filter coffee has around 140mg.

Coffee and Weight Loss

It’s not just general health that’s improved when you consume a moderate amount of coffee per day. While coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of many diseases and even help protect against some, it can also aid in weight loss.

Studies have shown that caffeine can increase the metabolic rate, thus improving fat burn and weight loss.

Good news eh?

This, combined with the performance increase you get in the hour or two after consuming a cup of coffee, means that exercise and weight loss are even further improved.

Caffeine consumption allows fatty tissue to be broken down more easily as it increases adrenaline, which causes these tissues to be broken down faster for fuel.

This is why having a coffee before exercise improves your ability to burn fat and use that fuel. This effect is lessened in the long term though, as your body adjusts to the caffeine level.

If you really want to make the most of caffeine as a weight loss aid, perhaps try limiting your caffeinated coffee consumption to just before exercise and drink other drinks when not exercising.

How much is a moderate amount of coffee?

The health benefits of coffee are numerous. Not only does it aid performance, concentration and protect against disease, it also contains many vital minerals and vitamins.

But this is all based on a moderate amount. As with anything, excess can cause problems.

What’s a moderate amount of coffee?

It’s generally agreed that 400mg* of caffeine is a healthy and moderate amount per day. That amounts to around 4 to 5 cups of coffee, depending on the type of coffee you drink.

Remember though that other drinks also contain caffeine, such as tea and cola. If you drink a range of caffeinated drinks throughout the day, take them all into account when totalling your caffeine intake.

Want to check out more info on the health benefits of coffee? Check out the British Coffee Association’s website and coffeeandhealth.org

*Pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine intake to 200mg or less.

If you want to enjoy a great espresso based coffee in your own home, then we recommend you check out the De’Longhi ESAM 4200 Bean to Cup Machine as an affordable place to start – See our full review here. And all of the Bean to Cup Machine Reviews here.

The Best Gifts for Coffee Drinkers in 2020

Stuck for present gift ideas for the coffee lover in your family? A special occasion is always tricky as we sit around wondering what on earth to buy our friends and family.

But not this year. If you’re buying birthday gifts for people who love coffee, we’ve got you covered.

5 Awesome Gifts for Coffee Lovers!

#1 Grow Your Own Coffee Plant

Did you know that’s it’s proven that being around plants makes you calmer and happier? Going for a walk in the park quickly reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. But we spend a lot of time inside, at our desks or in our homes. Bring the greens inside!

This Grow Your Own coffee plant not only brings green, living calm into the house, it’s also a really fun way to see where coffee comes from. It’s a total bargain too, and will outlast the Christmas hangover!

Get thiswonderful gift now and make someone’s life happier and brighter.

#2 The Little Book of Coffee Tips

Making coffee is an art form and a good understanding is key to making the perfect expresso or flat white. When you’re stood in the supermarket though, faced with shelves of Kenyan, Colombian, Ethiopian…how are you supposed to know where to start?

Any coffee lover will appreciate this nifty little book of coffee tips. It describes the differences in coffees, how to make the perfect one, how to store your coffee and the best way to use different coffee makers.

The Little Book of Coffee Tips!

#3 Mini Electric Milk Frother

Just because someone doesn’t have an automatic coffee machine, it doesn’t mean they can’t have a great froth on their cappuccino! This handy mini milk frother is quick and easy to use and a great stocking filler for a coffee lover this Christmas!

What’s more, it’s a great all-round kitchen friend as it can be used for whisking eggs, pancake batter, cream or anything that needs whisking! Handheld and battery operated, introduce coffee-house frothing ability this Christmas 2017. Who knows, they might even make you a latte with it!

Buy the mini milk frother today!

#4 Organic Coffee Taster Pack

It’s so easy to pop to the supermarket to get your coffee but there are much better coffees on the market in the UK. Finding the best coffee for your tastes can take a while, so why not buy your coffee loving friend a taster pack from The Grind House?

This delicious taster pack come with three different packs of coffee beans, are tasty and unique in their own way. This is a really outstanding stocking filler and if they love the coffee, they’ll know which are their favourites so they can reorder full packs in the future!

Buy Organic Coffee Beans and give the gift of new tastes this Christmas.

#5 Amaretti

Nothing completes a cup of coffee more than an Amaretti biscuit and these lemon Amaretti add a little extra zing. This is a classic Italian Amaretti that is traditionally eaten with coffee and any coffee connoisseur will appreciate. In fact, they’ll probably want to open them straight away!

Packaged in a beautiful traditional tin, this makes for a really great stocking filler when paired with a bag of coffee or the taster pack above. If you want a bigger and more satisfying bag of Amaretti, try the Bonomi bag of Amaretti instead.

Affordable Gifts for Coffee Lovers are always going to be gratefully received! And we’re confident that any coffee lover will adore these. Got any other gift ideas for coffee obsessives? Let us know in the comments!

De’Longhi Dinamica vs. Eletta

Dinamica vs Eletta – what’s going on here?

The Dinamica range is very similar to the Eletta range. In fact, the Dinamica is essentially an updated Eletta.

So what’s the difference?

Essentially? The menu and buttons.

That’s it.

Seriously?

Yup, there’s not even much of a price difference between models.

The menu screen on the new Dinamica range is superior to the Eletta although both have similar functions.

Both allow personalisation, a range of coffees and changing the aroma, grind settings etc.

So which one should I buy?

Want automatic milk frothing for delicious lattes and one-touch coffees?

We recommend the new Dinamica 350.55 in black or silver.

It looks good, the menu buttons are easier and more modern than the Eletta’s and it’s just straight up cool.

It’s a little more expensive than the comparable Eletta, but not so much that you’d want the older model.

Want manual milk frothing but with all the same options?

The De’Longhi Eletta ECAM 44.620 is a total bargain for this and we highly recommend it.

However, if you have the money to spend, the Dinamica version is really nice. That’s the

Dinamica ECAM 350.35

. Check out our Dinamica 350.35 review!

Dinamica vs Eletta Summary

Really you cant go wrong with eithger the De’longhi Dinamica or the Eleta, bot will procude similar coffees, but the Dinamica range is slightly newer. As always remember to use a good quality coffee bean in your machine for the best results. You will also need to play with the ginder settings on the Dinamica to get a good, fine, grind for a smooth espresso.

We hope this clears up any confusion around these two ranges. De’Longhi are notorious for releasing new coffee machines but now actually explaining the differences. For further De’Longhi information, check out our De’Longhi Comparison Guide.

Do you own one of these? Or are you buying one? Let us know in the comments!

4 Cups of Coffee a Day Increases Lifespan

We all love coffee here at Blackhearts but is coffee good for you? Actually, coffee helps you live longer!

Well, the news is in guys. It’s officially true: four cups of coffee a day can dramatically cut your chances of an early death.

Whaaaat?

A huge study has just published its findings and they’re pretty impressive.

Studying almost 20,000 men and women, Spanish scientists discovered that those who drank coffee regularly had significantly lower mortality rate. That means, simply, they didn’t die as quickly from all causes.

As reported in The Telegraph,

‘And those drinking four cups had a 64 per cent lower death risk, compared with those who never or rarely consumed coffee.’

The reasoning for this could be something to do with the antioxidants in coffee. We’ve long known that tea is packed full of these little guys, but actually coffee is too. Antioxidants fight free radicals which are a damaging result of everything from pollution and UV to the oxygen we breathe!

Antioxidants help prevent numerous illness and disease, so consuming lots of them through diet and coffee could be one of the explanations to coffee’s miraculous attributes.

Is it true? Coffee helps you live longer?

The 10-year study followed the lives and dietary habits of the 20,000 participants with over 300 people dying during the research decade. Scientists found that those who drank coffee often were less likely to die and even more so if they were older.

The study is set to continue, with the participants being tracked into the future but this breakthrough study is impressive. The study leaders recommend drinking coffee every day and say that their findings are backed up by other studies as well.

Our Top 3 Best Selling Coffee Machines!

Worried about drinking so much caffeine? No need, the study leaders suggest that it’s the antioxidants within coffee that are responsible for the decreased mortality risk and there’s little difference in the amount of antioxidants between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.