High-Tech Mug Keeps Coffee Just Right

Chicago coffee maker nixes 20-ounce drinks, for flavor's sake

(NEWSER) - One purveyor of fine coffee is drawing a line in the sand: Come Aug. 1, Chicago brewer and distributor Intelligentsia will phase out its 20-ounce option—or venti, per Starbucks lingo, the Chicago Tribune reports. Brewing such a large cup dilutes the proportions necessary for maximum flavor, Intelligentsia's CEO says, resulting in a "a watered-down, Big Gulpish version.” More»

$300-a-pot brews not uncommon as Americans get back to their roots

(NEWSER) - Cappuccinos are commonplace, but new gourmands get their caffeine fix from tea. After falling out of favor during the Revolutionary War, tea is experiencing a comeback in the US; sales have tripled since 1990 and gourmet tea can cost thousands per pound. Portfolio pours a cupful of tips for would-be drinkers:

1. Beware the bag: Bagged teas are usually considered lower-quality.

Java-lovers' treat plucked from droppings of animals who gorge on beans

(NEWSER) - Move over, Starbucks. Hyper coffee connoisseurs are coughing up $600 for a pound of the world's priciest coffee, a blend plucked from the droppings of a civet, a small Indonesian mammal that forages for fresh coffee beans. Fans describe the taste of kopi luwak as earthy, with a note of rich, dark chocolate, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

Go for decaf: other chemicals in coffee give health a jolt

(NEWSER) - Scientists have long championed coffee's health benefits, but a series of recent studies is waking them up to the fact that caffeine has nothing to do with it. Regular consumption of coffee or tea can provide protection against cancer, diabetes and heart disease, but researchers say other chemicals are responsible. More»

Why are outer layers losing heat more quickly than previously thought?

(NEWSER) - Earth's core, located 1,800 miles below us, has always been mysterious—and new research sheds light on the fascinating processes that go on down there, while simultaneously adding to the mystery. The New York Times takes a look at new findings in a piece that also summarizes what's already known about the core, a ball of iron about the size of Mars that contributes to Earth's geography, seismic activity, and magnetic field. One new study finds that the iron in the core's outer layers is actually losing heat through conduction two to three times faster than previously thought, which could mean any number of things. More»