Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 24, 2022

11 

Mountain Views-News September 24, 2022 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 


COFFEE: HEALTHFUL OR DETRIMENTAL? 

[Nyerges is the author of a dozen 

books, including “Guide to Wild 

Foods and Useful Plants,” “How to 

Survive Anywhere,” “Extreme Sim


plicity,” and more. He has led ethno


botany expeditions since 1974. He 

can be reached at Box 41834, Eagle 
Rock, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.] 

"But isn't coffee bad for my health?"
Much has been said and written about the benefits 
vs. the detrimental effects of coffee. But what is the 
"bottom line"? Are there beneficial qualities? Does it 
harm me? Should it be abstained from? Is it OK to 
drink coffee in moderation? 
These and similar questions are not easily answered 
because, in the tests and statistical data, researchers 
and doctors do not use -- or attempt to define -- a 
consistent standard for what is meant by "coffee."
Coffee has also been accused of causing, or contributing 
to, cancer, heart diseases, hypertension, hepatitis, 
and cirrhosis of the liver. Dr. John Timson of the 
University of Manchester in England, while admitting 
that coffee is mildly addictive, states that, at present, 
there is no hard scientific evidence that links the use 
of coffee to any of the above-mentioned diseases.
Unfortunately, in virtually all studies done on the 
health effects of coffee, researchers indiscriminately 
lump all "coffees" together. But no two cups of coffee 
are alike. And it is not likely that any standard 
will ever be established for coffee research. Why? 
Because brewed coffee contains not only caffeine, 
but various acids, oils, and alcohols, the qualities of 
which vary depending on the way the coffee beans are 
handled from farm to cup. It is rare that any two cups 
of coffee are chemically identical! 

According to Dr. Neil Solomon, "Caffeine is a strong 
stimulant with drug-like properties and is considered 
to have an unfavorable effect on nutrient absorption." 

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has 
placed caffeine on their Generally-Recognized-As-
Safe list. Caffeine acts as a stimulant to the central 
nervous system. If used in excess, it contributes to 
nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, and 
heart palpitations. 

FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF 
"COFFEE" 

According to Timothy Hall, a teacher with the L.A. 
Unified School District who has given numerous lectures 
on coffee, there are at least 30 factors which affect 
the beverage called "a cup of coffee," all of which 
must be taken into account if one is to draw a useful 
conclusion about coffee's "good" or "bad" effects.
According to Timothy Hall, one cannot answer "Is 
coffee good for me?" until one has explored the following 
questions. In some cases, definitive answers 
to the following may be hard to come by, if not next 
to impossible. Some factors, however, are completely 
within our control. 

THE PLANT 

What is the type or variety of coffee plant? Of the 
two primary types of coffee -- arabica and robusta -- 
arabica is considered the better of the two. Where and 
how was it grown? How was it fertilized? 
The elevation, quality of soil, and the amount of water 
received during growing all affect the quality of the 
fruit. This is why coffee connoisseurs have individual 
preferences regarding the country of origin.
What was the quality of care in picking, cleaning, and 
storing the beans? 

ROASTING 

What was the method of roasting?
The depth of darkness of the brown in coffee color is 
due to the proportion of cresylic acid (cresol) present 
after the beans have been roasted. The darker the 
roast, the greater the tar content. 

GRINDING 

What was the grinding procedure? How hot did the 
beans get during the grinding process? Though not 
everyone will notice the difference, any grinder which 
grinds at a high temperature can result in the loss of 
aromatic oils. One solution is to grind with a hand 
mill. Another solution (when using an electric mill) 
is to only grind enough for a few cups at a time, since 
prolonged grinding may result in excessive heat. How 
much time elapsed between grinding and brew¬ing? 
Remember: if you smell it, you're losing it. If you don't 
plan to use your grinds immediately, then put them in 
a covered container and place in the refrigerator.
How was the coffee handled and stored between the 
grinding and brewing? 

WATER 

How much coffee grounds are used in relation to water? 
Obviously, a cup of coffee made with one scoop 
of grounds is vastly different than one made with 6 
scoops of grounds. A person with stomach disorders 
with have difficulty with the stronger brew.
What is the quality of the water? (After all, the primary 
constituent of "a cup of coffee" is water.) 

TEMPERATURE 

What was the temperature of the coffee grounds, and 
the temperature of the water, when you began brew?
What were the temperatures when you finished 
brewing?
Fusel oil, released into the water whenever coffee 
grounds are boiled, causes bitterness; however, fusel 
oil is NOT released into water at less than boiling 
temperatures. 

CLEANLINESS 

What was the level of cleanliness of the coffee maker? 
Old coffee stains are a combination of "dirt" and oxidized 
insoluble fats. When fat oxidizes, it becomes 
rancid. Rancid fat "flavors" all coffee that is brewed 
in coffee pots that have not been scrubbed spotless. 

PREPARATION 

What type of coffee maker was used (vacuum, drip, 
percolator)? (Space doesn't permit us to review every 
coffee-maker on the market however, so let the buyer 
beware.) 

Did I brew the grounds using the percolation, infusion, 
or decoction method? Infusion refers to adding 
the grounds to the water and letting them steep. 
A camper might do this. Decoction refers to actually 
cooking the grounds -- even boiling -- to make 
a strong brew. Though this might be acceptable in a 

prison camp when one is trying to extend the available 
grounds as far as possible, it is the least desirable 
choice. Percolation -- pouring the hot water through 
the grounds -- is the best option.
What type of materials did I use in the making of the 
beverage? Stainless steel, glass, aluminum, porcelain, 
and plastic all affect the quality (and the flavor) of the 
finished product. 

ADDITIVES 

What have I added to the finished product? Sugar? 
Salt? Egg? Vanilla? Cinnamon? Chocolate? Honey? 
Sweet-'n-Low? Saccharin? Cream? Milk? Powdered 
milk? Half and half? Cloves? Cardamon? Coffee-
mate? Brandy? 

INSTANT COFFEE 

Was the coffee instant? 
Instants are made two ways: spray dry or freeze dry. 
Both are begun as a very concentrated brew made 
with coffee grounds and superheated water. In the 
spray dry method, the concentrated brew is sprayed 
into a chamber where hot, dry air is pumped. The 
air removed the moisture, leaving bubble-shaped particles 
behind; the particles are then ground into powder. 
In the freeze-dry method, the concentrated brew 
is first frozen, and is then introduced into a vacuum 
chamber which removed the moisture, leaving a solid 
mass; the mass is then reduced to granules.
Instants vary due to the varying strengths of the initial 
concentrated brew, and differences in drying 
methods (temperature, etc.). Though the quality of 
instants may vary, most coffee-lovers will only drink 
instant when the circumstances dictate simplicity, or 
if nothing else is available. A detailed comparison of 
the quality of instant coffees was done by Consumer 
Reports magazine, a copy of which may be obtained 
by writing to the magazine. 

DECAFFEINATED 

Is the coffee decaffeinated? 
The chemical formerly used to remove the caffeine 
was trichloroethylene (found to cause liver cancer in 
laboratory mice). Currently, methylene chloride is 
used, a chemical under study by the National Cancer 
Institute. A non-chemical method of decaffeination 
that has been gaining is popularity is the steam 
method. 

SERVING 

What type of cup is the coffee served in? How long 
after brewing is the coffee served? What do I use as a 
stirring device?
How many cups do I drink at one sitting? 

Of the factors under our control, the quality of our 
thinking (as we brew the coffee) has a direct effect on 
the finished product. Also, the way in which we drink 
the beverage has an effect (i.e., slow thought¬ful sips 
vs. hurried gulps).
Hall asserts that in his tests, the quality of one's thinking 
has proven to be the most important factor. States 
Hall, "If you brew your coffee with precise intent, you 
can alchemically transmute those com¬mon grounds 
into a veritable elixir." 

AN EXPERIMENT IN ALCHEMY 

Here are a few guidelines if you'd like to begin alchemically 
changing "a cuppa coffee" to "wonderful 
elixir." This is the procedure that Timothy Hall 
was taught by his mentor, R. E. White of WTI in the 
mid-1970s. 
Begin with meticulously clean utensils. Stainless 
steel, French porcelain, glass, or copper are preferred; 
softer metals (e.g., aluminum) should not be used.
First, measure the needed amount of water (spring 
water is better than the chlorine and fluoride-laden 
city tap water) and set on the stove to boil.
Next, prepare your filter. An ideal filter is a simple 
cloth bag sewed into a cone, using the densest cotton 
flannel. These are reusable indefinitely -- far superior 
to commercial paper filters. The bag is suspended 
over your cup, or a second pot; the coffee grounds are 
measured into the bag (a fine grind works best).
Another ideal system is a French ceramic pot with a 
ceramic cone that fits into the top, and a gold-plated 
reusable filter. You measure your grounds into the 
filter. 
When the water has boiled, stand squarely and 
strongly on both legs; breathe deeply; then, slowly 
pour the water in a clockwise circular motion over the 
grounds. While pouring, visualize and fell the energy 
of Love flowing from your heart, down your arm, and 
into the beverage. We call this “chi,” and much has 
been written about this “chi’ energy in books on Chinese 
healing and martial arts. You may need to "imagine" 
the feeling at first, but with practice you will find 
it easy. It sometimes feels like a mild electric shock. 
If you wish to add anything to the resultant beverage, 
try raw honey and raw cream. 

One of the main problems with extensive coffee ingestion 
is that it either removes or destroys the B-vitamins 
from the body, resulting in a slowly cumulative 
degeneration of the sheaths of the body's nerve fibres. 
This is what causes the "nervousness" with heavy coffee-
drinkers. Honey, cream, and B-vitamins added to 
the diet, help to offset any harmful effects.
When the above process is done thoughtfully and lovingly, 
the process is somewhat analogous to the Japanese 
tea ceremony. And it CAN result in a truly fine 
elixir. 
Please try this method of "elixir-making" in your own 
Alchemical Chamber (aka "kitchen") and let us know 
your results. 

So is coffee “good” or “bad”? As always, it depends 
on the way you interact with it. 

Coffee says: "As you care for me, and as you treat my 
fruits, so shall I be able to provide sustenance to you, 
my dear humans. Ignore me, and I have nothing, or 
little, to offer but "cheap thrills" of your lower aspects 
of autonomic nervous system." 

Coffee also says: "Compromise and/or adulterate me 
and you'll not only have something of little value, but 
your choice to exploit/adulterate me will change my 
potential beneficence into an exploitation/adulteration 
of your own body and brain." 

As is nearly always the case with such matter of 
“health,” ALL is choice, Choice, and CHOICE, and 
consequence of choice. 


Want a KONA? Or a CUPPA JOE? 

Meet two of our 5 
“Coffee Clatch Kittens,” 
JOE & KONA. 
They’re only 8 weeks 
old and are totally 
scrumptious! Our 
website’s “Very 
Young” page has 

pictures of all the siblings—2 boys and 3 girls: 
Joe, Mr. Peets, Kona, Latte, and Mocha. Please 
choose 2 unless you already have a playful 
young fe-line at home. We are taking applications 
now for delivery in October. They will 
already come spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, 
vaxed, tested healthy, and more! That’s big savings 
for you! Get the process started to meet 
them by submitting the application at www.
lifelineforpets.org/cat-adoption-application-revised.html. Can’t adopt? Please 
share with someone who can. We want these babies in their forever homes asap. 
Thank you! 


Pet of the Week

 You know you’re in for a barrel of laughs with a dognamed Mischief! This handsome two-year-old labmix was voted Most Popular Dog while out with ourmobile adoption team. He met a ton of admirers at theWiggle Waggle Walk, and basked in all the attention 
from kids, other dogs, and everyone who visited.

 He has a lovable and affectionate personality and isknown to crawl into your lap for snuggles and kisses.
Mischief also knows some basic commands alreadyand is happy to show them off for the right treat (ortoy). He is eager to please, so further training with himshould be a breeze.

 He is a very active guy, so if you’re looking for arunning or hiking buddy, or maybe a dog to do agility,
Mischief is your man!

 
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip,
and age-appropriate vaccines.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA AnimalHospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are availableevery Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 

FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

How Technology Can Help Dealwith The Technicalities of Death 

Although it happens to everyone and is a natural part of 

the lifecycle, very few among us are properly prepared 

for death—whether our own or the death of a loved one. 
That needs to change. 

According to Census figures, the pandemic caused the U.S. death rate to spike by 
nearly 20% between 2019 and 2020, the largest increase in American mortality in 
100 years. Now, more than two years and 1 million deaths later, it's clearer than 
ever that death is an inevitable part of all our lives. 

Yet, the massive loss of life suffered over the last few years has forced so many of 
us to face death, grieve, and deal with all the other issues which arise when we lose 
someone we love dearly. In fact, all the issues often get jumbled together which actually 
prolongs the grieving process when someone dies. As such, lawyers should 
implement systems designed to help families navigate the logistical and emotional 
challenges -not just the legal issues - following the death of a loved one. 

Probate and trust lawyers, too often in the past, have hyper-focused on document 
preparation and court procedures at the expense of everything else, rather than 
using the documents and courts as a means to an end: supporting clients to get 
through all the challenges of death, so their loved one’s legacy doesn’t get lost in 
the shuffle, but keeps its rightful, prominent place in the family’s thoughts and 
lives. 

Part of my firm’s mission has always been to embrace the incredibly important 
human side of what we do rather than to focus exclusively on document preparation. 
The relationships we develop with clients are about taking care of their most 
cherished relationships. And those relationships are what estate law is really all 
about and what needs to be honored after someone dies. 

But as anyone who has personally dealt with loss knows, when a loved one dies, 
those left behind face major challenges, not only emotionally, but financially and 
legally as well. So, successfully navigating those more technical challenges becomes 
a necessary part of honoring that relationship. 

A Digital Assistant for Grieving FamiliesThat’s why my firm is currently developing digital tools which offer step-by-step 
instructions detailing all the administrative, legal, and financial tasks you need 
to manage and finalize a loved one’s affairs and settle their estate. To help clients 
prioritize their work and keep things moving forward, our digital tools include an 
app complete with checklists, deadlines, and reminders. 

In addition to the technology, we’ll also continue to offer human-centered support 
from our legal team, who can be contacted via the app. A Case Manager supports 
clients by answering questions, helping to locate services and providers, and even 
handling certain tasks for clients if needed, such as applying for an estate tax ID 
number, contacting beneficiaries when necessary, and helping file court petitions. 

We are excited about continuing to harness cutting edge technology to assist in 
providing ever deeper service and support to our clients. Our app launches with 
a probate tool this week, to help those stuck navigating the court system after the 
death of someone they loved. And we’re developing app tools for trust administration/
settlement and estate planning - which will all launch before the end of 
the year. 

Digital tech can absolutely assist someone dealing with the aftermath of the death 
of a loved one. So don’t be afraid to incorporate digital tech in your estate planning 
or estate administration processes. If implemented with thought and purpose, 
it will not only lighten the legal burden of the death of someone you love, 
but also lessen the emotional toll and grief you carry, allowing you to successfully 
accomplish your legal and fi-

Marc Garlett, Esq. 

nancial tasks while also keeping 

Cali Law Family Legacy 

the human side of the life you 

Matters 

are honoring at the forefront of www.caliLaw.com 
the process. 626.355.4000 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com