NESCAFÉ AZERA Americano Instant Coffee Tin, 100 g (Pack of 6)

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If you take the un-ground coffee route, you'll need to find the perfect coffee grinder and a source of premium coffee beans, or the experience won't measure up. Nobody should pay more than they have to for coffee products. Whether you need a new supply of Arabica beans, a glitzy Tassimo coffee maker, or a gift box crammed with rich coffee syrups, saving money is always an option. But how can you find the best coffee offers around?

When you shop for coffee, you'll almost certainly see products on offer from Indonesia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil – the list goes on. So what does this actually mean? Do coffees differ markedly in taste between growing locations? As you probably know, a molecule called caffeine lies at the heart of coffee's sorcery. Caffeine is actually a bit of an imposter. It works by emulating the action of a naturally occurring hormone called adenosine, which usually tells the brain to slow down as people prepare for sleep. Cold Brew – A slightly more offbeat coffee making solution, cold brew or iced coffee has an avid following among hipsters and real caffeine heads. Generally stronger than a usual cup, cold brew can be extremely refreshing on summer days (not something piping hot macchiatos can claim). The downside is that making cold brew requires “steeping” grounds for 20 hours or more, so some preparation is needed. But the good news is that specialist cold brew makers are available from brands like Cusinart and Primula, making the process much easier (and less messy). When you've found a supplier that you love, the next coffee-related question is how to actually make a cup of coffee that really gets the job done. There are a few things to consider here. For example, how time-consuming do you want coffee making to be? Do you have 15-20 minutes to spare every morning as you wait for coffee to drip through, or do you need a caffeine shot right now? Do you want to grind beans or rely on pre-ground coffee? Let's try to clear up these issues by running through the most popular ways to make a delicious cup of coffee. These days, many people aren't content to enjoy the taste of pure coffee. Instead, they have started to emulate the American practice of supplementing coffees with rich syrup concoctions, resulting in seductive aromas and tastes.

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But is coffee good for you? Well, the jury's out on that question. Some say that caffeine protects against cancer, Parkinson's disease, dementia, liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, and even depression. That's a complete reversal from older theories, which saw coffee as a risk factor, in conditions like heart disease. Nowadays, scientists seem to be leaning towards viewing coffee as a health-promoting drink, and certainly not a health threat. French Presses – Again, a pretty low tech solution, French Presses or cafetière feature single chambers of varying sizes. Coffee is places at the bottom, hot water is added, and a (usually spring loaded) filter is pressed downwards to extract oils from the coffee. The liquid above the filter should be free of grounds, and ready to drink. John Lewis and Sainsbury's make some fine French presses, usually at very affordable prices.

Coffee Plant Growing Kits – OK, so you're not likely to recreate the terraced hillsides of Colombia in your greenhouse or bedroom window sill, but it's still fun to see how coffee plants grow. Companies like Not on the High Street offer coffee growing kits, with terracotta pots and seeds. In the 18th and 19th centuries, new forms of coffee were discovered and traded, and production grew worldwide, as coffee cultivation spread away from its Arabian roots. Prices dropped as a result, putting coffee consumption within reach of the working classes. If you're reading this, there's a good chance that you rely on a cup or two of coffee to make it through the morning. British people consume vast amounts of coffee every day. According to some estimates, we down 95 million cups every day, and not all of them hit the spot in the way they should. Naturally, the “terroir” (influence of soil and environment) will have an effect on the finished product. However, this is an area where inexperienced drinkers can easily fall for marketing pitches instead of following their senses. To the untrained consumer, coffees vary very little in their basic tastes, no matter where they are produced. However, some argue that this isn't the best way to savour the real taste of the coffee itself. According to these experts, the taste of coffee is bound up inside the whole bean, and when you grind that bean, some of the taste is lost. Give it a try for yourself. Those with sensitive palates may well notice the difference, and choose to grind coffee for themselves as a result.

Blends – Sometimes, retailers offer Robusta and Arabica blends. This isn't usually to improve the taste. Historically, vendors have adulterated Arabica products with Robusta to lower their costs and boost profits. So these products aren't usually premium options. However, tastes differ and some people may prefer the bitterness and rawness of Robusta blends over the almost sweet properties of Arabica beans.

Coffee itself remains a mystery to some people. All most of care about is the energy boost that a strong-brewed cup of coffee provides, or the smooth taste of a barista-made flat white. But there's plenty of complex chemistry at work in every bean. At the same time, the body detects caffeine as a potential danger, which multiplies its effects. As the body responds to the threat, it produces adrenaline, which increases your heart rate, and primes the body for action. In modern life, that translates into a feeling of alertness and energy, which (hopefully) banishes our morning drowsiness for good.

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NESCAFÉ is the world's favourite coffee brand, enjoyed in over 180 countries worldwide. With over 80 years of experience in selecting, roasting and blending the very best coffee, it's no surprise that over 5,500 cups of Nescafé coffee are drunk every second! Syrup Gift Boxes – If your partner or loved one adores a dash of syrup in their daily latte, purchasing a gift box from a brand like Manon or Tate & Lyle will be the perfect gift. Who knows, they could find a totally new flavour that revolutionises their coffee drinking habits? For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. However, when you consume caffeine, the message provided is very different. While caffeine binds with adenosine receptors, it doesn't produce the same results. Instead, it actually tells the brain to speed up its activity, producing a rush of clarity and energy.