[reblogged from flickr]

  Many of our modern hair dyes contain some rather unsavoury ingredients.  They may do a good job of dying your hair, but they can also be the cause of rashes or other skin irritations in many people. 

   Hundreds of people are looking online everyday for natural hair dye recipes.  Some of these are more effective than others and it is often a case of trial and error.  However, none of them are made up from nasty chemicals. 

   Here is a really simple recipe for staining and conditioning your hair.  It will give extra vibrancy and can be used on any hair colour.  However, it will also help to deepen the colour if your hair is brown or brunette.

Mix these ingredients together –

2 tbsp of ground coffee

1 cup of cold brewed coffee

  Apply this to your hair and repeat with the same mixture between ten and fifteen times.

  After the last application, leave this mixture on your hair for 45 minutes and then rinse it off.

  Repeat this weekly for full effect. 

   Your hair should be lovely and soft and it will have a darker tint to it as well. 

  A really cheap and simple recipe that will not bring you out in lumps or bumps!

[reblogged from wordpress] 

  When you roast coffee beans, you are transforming them.  It is an almost magical process that has gone on for many hundreds of years.  It can become extremely technical and science will often play an important role.  Different roasting methods can produce a variety of flavours and aromas shrouding the whole business of coffee roasting in a cloak of mystery.

  Coffee roasting has sadly become far more industrialised over the years, but things may be starting to change.  Far more people are interested in natural processes these days and it is because of this that ‘home bean roasters’ are becoming a common household accessory. 

  Once upon a time, all bean-roasting was done by hand, either in ovens or over fires.  Because coffee is such a popular drink in so many countries, there are a huge variety of different roasting methods.  Each of these will create a beverage with a slightly different flavour and aroma. 

  It is a fascinating process and it can be a truly rewarding experience when you carry it out by yourself.

[reblogged from wordpress]

  Different people have different ideas when it comes to storing coffee beans.  Should you keep them in a cool, dark and dry place or is it better to put them in your refrigerator?

  Try using these tips to improve your coffee experience and to keep your beans fresh for as long as possible.

• Roasted beans will normally have a shelf life of two to four weeks if you store them in the right way.
• Try buying smaller amounts of coffee more frequently. If you buy your beans in bulk then they may well lose a lot of their flavour before you can use them all.
• To get the best flavour from your beans you should grind them just before you want a drink.
• If you have any unused coffee then always keep it in its original packaging.  Put this inside an airtight container and store it away from light and moisture at room temperature.
• Storing your beans away from other foodstuffs is vital as they are porous and will soak up moisture and any other odours.

[reblogged from propsunlimited]

   More and more of us are becoming increasingly fussy when it comes to coffee these days; and this is mainly due to us being so spoilt!  Wherever we are and whatever it is we are doing, there is always somewhere nearby that can provide us with a good quality brew. 

  It’s because of this that a lot of people are now buying commercial coffee machines for their homes.  They deliver a far superior coffee and will often have lots of extra features.  Many units will even allow you to brew two pots of coffee (perhaps a regular and a decaff) and keep them piping hot at the same time.  These machines are also easy to move from room to room, so they can soon be set up if you are expecting guests. 

  If you are a ‘serious’ coffee drinker or you often have a group of coffee-drinking friends round then these machines make a brilliant addition to your home.  You will have a regular supply of your favourite drink with all the flavour you would expect from an expensive coffee house!

What’s coffee without coffee machines? Better yet, what’s coffee bars and coffee places and offices without coffee machines?

Let us tell you a secret – there are a lot of UGLY coffee machines out there of which to make terrible over-filtered coffee with. And then there are the beautifully designed coffee machines, so gorgeous, you cant bear for it to be used.
So shiny. So brand new. So perfect.

This model you see here is called the S1 Vivaldi 11. It’s not just a machine. It’s a lovely instrument – instrumental in making good coffee.
Its made by the lovely folks at La Spaziale, those italian purveyors of coffee machines.

We recommend that you consider getting this commercial coffee machine now if you’ve got the moolah (or a small cafe).
Get the one in sexy white, so it matches with your ipod. And let us know so we’ll come down to buy a brew from you!