Coffee And Your Handwriting
German scientists from the University of Regenburgh's Department of Experimental Psychology found evidence to suggest that the caffeine content in coffee could improve handwriting. Researchers gave subjects 3.0mg and 4.5mg of caffeine as well as placebo pills. They found that the group that was given the highest dose, the equivalence of 2-3 shots of espresso, showed marked improvement in handwriting speed and fluidity. The findings suggest that psychomotor skills may benefit from a bit of caffeine. If you're scribbling chicken scratch, as opposed to readable notes, maybe you should take time out for a coffee break.

Coffee Bikes
Putting new spin on the tradition of coffee on wheels, three Brooklyn residents have taken to the street with custom bicycle coffee stands. The cafés on bikes, named Kickstand Coffee, consist of rolling carts hitched to the back of bicycles, which can be unfolded and linked together to create a 9-foot bar.

Breaking News: Coffee Trumps Nap
Have a job that requires you to be efficient and accurate? Believe it or not, you’ll benefit more from a cup of Joe than you would catching a few Z’s. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers found that caffeine increased alertness in shift workers better than powernaps. After a bit of coffee, the shift workers who participated in the study performed better on memory, perception, reasoning, and attention-related tests. Better acuity means reduced workplace accidents and injuries. All the more reason for workplaces to offer free coffee as an employee perk!

Coffee Cup Island for the Green Java Lover
A few years ago, Amsterdam's Studio Noach set out to build floating homes made of recycled polystyrene—commonly found in hamburger clamshells, packing materials, and coffee cups. Today, the green dream has grown...into a full-fledged island! Proving that one person's trash is another's treasure, Studio Noach co-founder Michel Kreuger envisions a future that includes water-based dwellings made of recycled waste.

The concept reshapes polycarbonate materials into productive space featuring rolling hills and, astonishingly, live greenery! Dubbed "Floating Gardens/SpaWellness Amsterdam," the island is capable of sustaining plants without soil, due to its close proximity to nutrient-rich water. This sustainable island is being developed for a lake location and has the potential to change the way we look at disposable coffee cups.

Heart Health
Contrary to conventional wisdom, consuming coffee may be good for your heart. According to findings, presented at the American Heart Association's 50th Annual Conference, people who consumed one to three cups a day reduced their risk of being hospitalized for cardiac dysrhythmia by 7%; drinking four or more cups a day lowers risks by nearly 18%.

The study followed more than 130,000 people and found similar risk reduction associated with drinking coffee among a number of groups including: men, women, Caucasians, and African Americans. Time to warm up the espresso machine and drink to good health!

Coffee Could Lower Risk of Endometrial Cancer
Women who drink two, or more, cups of regular (caffeinated) coffee may be decreasing their risk for endometrial cancer, according to a study from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Endometrial cancer affects cells lining the uterus. In a study of over 60,000 Swedish women, the coffee-drinking ladies decreased their risk of developing endometrial cancer by an average of 10% with each cup they consumed, beyond two cups a day. Overweight women seemed to benefit the most from coffee consumption, with a reported 12% decrease. While additional research is needed, the findings may give women incentive to raise a cup of coffee or two.

Busting the Myths: Coffee & Health
We've all heard the quiet whispers and those rumors regarding coffee through the grapevine. It's time to examine two popular health-related coffee myths and determine, once and for all, what's fact and what's fiction....

Red Bull has more caffeine than coffee
Sound the buzzer, this one's completely false! While Red Bull relies on clever marketing to brand itself as the top energy drink, it only delivers about 80 milligrams of caffeine per eight-ounce can, that's about 20 milligrams short of an average cup of coffee. If you need a morning pick-me-up you may be better off turning to your espresso machine rather than the fridge.

Coffee Causes Heart Disease
Most people assume that since coffee is a stimulant, it could lead to coronary disease. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Regular coffee consumption could actually lower your risk of developing heart disease by as much as 25 percent, according to a study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine