Article Coffee Tip

Oomph is the intricate inner feeling of that touch of power, unexplained yet real, that comes with the drinking of coffee


I had been a long term tea drinker
preferring tea to any other beverage for years
until one day
I had a new assistant. I was working as a dealer representative for stocks and shares at that time
and that means in a really stressful environment
being in the trading room all the time. So taking some time off to catch a cuppa and to be back to trading and watching the trading screens for the best prices was the perfect break anyone could hope for.

My new assistant was a young lady in her mid twenties
and it was interesting to see her prepare her drink.

No
she wasn't a tea drinker like me. Instead
she was a coffee fan
perhaps even an addict to coffee
you may say. On her first day at work
she took out of her handbag three packs of instant coffee 3 in 1 - namely instant coffee
sugar and non-dairy creamer
and then proceeded to empty the three packs into one cup
adding hot water
making a strong coffee. She wasn't through yet
because she also opened another pack of chocolate powder and sprinkled the chocolate powder on to her hot coffee
creating a tremendous aromatic smell that pervaded the trading room.

That was some "oomph" in her coffee.

After a period of three months
I found I was suddenly drinking coffee myself and wasn't a pure tea drinker anymore. It was a subtle conversion process
and soon I found I really need that coffee in the afternoon trading session.

Now
looking back
I have learnt a lot of techniques to add more "oomph" to my cup of coffee.

One way is to enhance the taste with some special add-on ingredients.

My most popular add-on ingredient is powdered ginseng. Ginseng is the traditional chinese herb which is a root
and american ginseng is preferred to korean or chinese ginseng. This herb makes one alert when taken
and is normally taken to strengthen one's immune system or body. You can get the ginseng powder from the Natural Herb Store or in the form of capsules that you can empty into a cuppa when you need the "oomph".

Be reminded that the ginseng root powder carries a somewhat bitter taste. So don't equate quantity with more "oomph". You just add sufficient to give you the enhanced aroma and the "oomph" you need.

Another way is to add the "tongkat ali" root powder
which may be slightly harder to obtain. This root is from an original plant in Malaysia and is a well researched herbal root with aphrodiasic features. The aborigines of the tropical jungles of Malaysia use this to enhance their "maniless" and this they prove by having big families. Commercially
you can get a bottle of this Tongkat Ali powder under the brand name "Power Root" throughout the world. Just add a small pinch and you will find the difference in your taste and feel the subsequent well-being.

Now you can have that extra edge and "oomph" when you next take your coffee
irregardless whether it is an espresso or a latte.