Iriss

The Finnish roaster collaborated with AI consultancy startup Elev to create an unusual combo of four beans I am really into (my friends might say somewhat obsessed with) coffee. Not just for the hits of caffeine that fuel our productivity-enthralled capitalist society, but also for the taste, as well as different styles of brewing (although my Swedish roots make me partial to a pour-over).  Sadly, I do not often get to write about it, as — even though coffee roasting and brewing rely on technological engineering — tech startups and coffee hardly ever intersect in the news. Enter Helsinki-based Kaffa Roastery, and its new blend of beans called AI-conic.  The blend for the coffee (which costs €12.90 for 250g and has roast level medium) was determined by feeding data on Kaffa Roastery’s coffee beans to an artificial intelligence model provided by local AI consultancy Elev.  Elev’s founder, Antti Merilehto, is a long-time consumer of Kaffa’s goods, and the collaboration reportedly came about as a way of testing if AI could be of assistance in such a traditionally artisanal sector as specialty coffee. And as a pretty good opportunity for publicity, one would imagine. Elev, which doesn’t develop its own models but optimises ChatGPT for companies and offers trainings on how to use Microsoft’s Copilot, says it enlisted AI first in the design of the process, then in how to select the beans. After that, Kaffa determined the roasting profile and “took it from there.” While I am delighted that there was still a human doing the actual roasting, as I very much appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into roasting coffee beans, I would not be at all surprised if we see AI-determined roasting profiles before long. Although, for most small-scale roasters, the enjoyment is surely in the nerdery and meticulous attention to detail it requires. “No human intervention” required The blend (skip this bit if you are a single-origin-only diehard) consists of four different kinds of beans. It is 40% Brazil, Fazenda Pinhal, 25% each of Colombia, San Lorenzo, and Guatemala, La Bolsa, as well as 10% of Ethiopia, Geruke.  Usually, blends are made from two or three beans. Although surprised at the model’s decision to use four different ones, following blind tasting, Kaffa’s roasters apparently determined that the blend was “perfect” and required no human intervention.  Kaffa showcased the AI-conic coffee blend at this past weekend’s Helsinki Coffee Festival at the Helsinki Cable Factory. “This (trial) was the first step in seeing how AI could help us in the future,” Kaffa’s founder and managing director Svante Hampf told the Associated Press during the festival. “I think AI has plenty to offer us in the long run. We are particularly impressed by the coffee taste descriptions it created.” The tasting note description dreamt up by AI for its AI-conic blend is “Juicy and dynamic. A well balanced blend of sweetness and ripe fruit.” Personally, I prefer a little bit more detail. But then again I am the editorial team’s designated coffee snob. In either case, Kaffa has peaked my interest. I will order a bag of AI-conic and update this article when I’ve sampled the brew.

This tuber is a specialty of a northern mountainous province with many health benefits. Ginseng or ginseng is a plant in the home garden, in the forest or in wet places. This is considered a famous specialty of Lao Cai province. On the outside, ginseng is quite similar to sweet potatoes. But when opened, they have a light yellow color, are succulent and smell a bit like ginseng. You can completely peel it and eat it raw for dessert, make salad, boil it, cook it in bone soup or squeeze it into juice. If you eat ground ginseng raw, you will feel the cool, sweet taste, more water, and more crunchiness than jicama. When cooking bone soup, the ground ginseng has an even more fragrant aroma, is sweet and watery, the tuber is slightly flexible or can be mixed into thin slices and mixed into salads, it is delicious when eaten in rolls. Not only does it have an attractive flavor, ground ginseng also contains many nutrients that provide good health benefits: Supports lowering blood sugar Ginseng root is rich in fructooligosaccharide (FOS for short) which helps the body not absorb simple sugars, reduces glucose content in the liver, increases the ability of insulin to work in the body, and supports the treatment of people with diabetes. . Supports the treatment of colon cancer FOS nutrients help regulate the bacterial system in the intestinal tract, thereby strengthening the immune system. The human intestinal system has a lot of bacteria. These bacteria provide some immunity and digestive support. After we use antibiotics, in addition to killing pathological bacteria, we also kill beneficial intestinal bacteria. Therefore, most of us will have digestive disorders after using antibiotics. Enhance cardiovascular health The fructooligosaccharides contained in ginseng can be converted into storage carbohydrates and polyphenols. These are all substances that help reduce the amount of sodium in the blood, overcome hypoglycemia, and prevent oxygen. Thanks to that, cardiovascular health is always in a stable state. Losing weight Ginseng has been shown to promote weight loss. Eating ground ginseng helps you feel full longer, thereby helping you consume less food and increase intestinal motility, speeding up the excretion process from the body. Because ginseng does not contain starch and is very low in calories, ground ginseng is a healthy weight loss food for women. Vegetables and tubers that help lower blood sugar: In addition to yam, you can absolutely use some of the following vegetables and fruits to help reduce blood sugar Bitter melon Research conducted by the Interdisciplinary Research Center, Department of Biotechnology, Malankara Catholic College (India) shows that polypeptide-p found in bitter melon has a function similar to insulin, an important hormone. Helps regulate blood sugar levels. However, diabetics should eat bitter melon in moderation and combine it with a balanced diet. At the same time, monitor blood sugar regularly to ensure your health condition is well controlled. Carrot Carrots are low in carbs and provide other health benefits for people with high blood sugar. 100 grams of carrots contain about 10 grams of carbohydrates. Carrots are also high in fiber, which is important for people with diabetes because it keeps us full longer and does not increase blood sugar levels. Cabbage Cabbage is rich in vitamin E, which can promote the formation and secretion of insulin in the body and regulate glucose metabolism. In addition, regular consumption of cabbage can also prevent complications of diabetes such as retinopathy and heart disease. Broccoli Broccoli, a cruciferous vegetable, can produce the compound sulforaphane. A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine claims this compound can reduce fasting blood sugar levels in people with blood sugar problems. Researchers say the magnitude of the effects is similar to that of metformin, a diabetes drug. Another analysis also found that broccoli improved insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells do not respond well to insulin and cannot easily absorb glucose from the blood. Sweet potatoes The flavonoids in sweet potato leaves can promote glucose absorption in peripheral tissues and enhance insulin secretion, reducing pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. In addition, quercetin activates β-cell regeneration in the pancreas, causing increased insulin secretion. As a result, cellular pathways related to insulin secretion will be stimulated, reducing insulin resistance, helping to fight diabetes. Sweet potato tops contain a substance similar to insulin, which is absent in older leaves. Therefore, people with diabetes can eat sweet potato leaves as a remedy to protect their health.

In addition to using soap to remove garlic smell from your hands, you can also use a few special tips below. You will easily find garlic in your family's kitchen. This is a familiar ingredient in dishes but it easily leaves a smell on your hands when preparing it. In particular, the smell of garlic is quite strong and "persistent" so it can make many people uncomfortable. With the methods below, you won't need to waste time to remove the garlic smell from your hands. Garlic is a familiar ingredient in dishes, but it easily leaves a smell on your hands when preparing it. The secret to removing garlic smell from your hands Combine salt and baking soda Baking soda and salt are ingredients that can be easily found and this combination will help you remove the garlic smell from your hands. First, you need to mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a little water to create a thick solution. Next, apply this mixture on your hands, rub evenly and rinse with water. Although it can effectively remove garlic odor, this method is not suitable for people with open wounds on their hands or thin hand skin. Use stainless steel Not everyone knows that stainless steel utensils such as spoons, chopsticks, bowls... stainless steel are quite effective in eliminating the odor of garlic. This is because when you cut garlic, the sulfur molecules in this ingredient will stick to the skin. You can take a stainless steel spoon and gently rub it between your fingers and palms so that the steel molecules bond with the sulfur molecules and change into another substance. Thanks to that, the garlic smell on your hands also "disappears". This is an extremely effective way to deodorize garlic, fast - compact - lightweight and without the use of chemicals. You can use stainless steel utensils to remove odors from garlic on your hands. Use toothpaste Toothpaste is an ingredient that you can easily find in your home. Therefore, right after cooking dishes with garlic, you can take a little toothpaste and apply a thin layer on your palms and fingers and massage gently. Then rinse thoroughly under running water. At that time, toothpaste will help you effectively eliminate garlic odor and give off a pleasant mint scent. Use coffee grounds Not only does it eliminate bad odors from garlic, coffee grounds also help you eliminate many other odors effectively. To do this, you just need to pour a little coffee grounds on your hands, rub your hands, fingertips, and between your fingers, then rinse with clean water. At that time, coffee grounds will act like an "exfoliant" so it can eliminate the bad odor of garlic and help your skin become smoother and brighter. Not only does it eliminate bad odors from garlic, coffee grounds also help you eliminate many other odors effectively. How to limit the smell of garlic on your hands To limit the unpleasant smell of garlic on your hands, you can do the following: - Use gloves when peeling garlic. - Before peeling garlic, soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes and then gently use chopsticks or your hands to let the outer layer peel off. Next, use chopsticks to pick the garlic into a separate bowl and prepare the dish. - Instead of peeling garlic, you can put this ingredient in the microwave and roast for about 20 seconds. When you're done, just put the garlic in a bowl and shake well so the outer layer can come off on its own.  

According to feng shui, only houses with good feng shui often have birds nesting - often found in houses in the suburbs and more rural areas. A house with birds nesting is a good sign According to feng shui, birds are like gifts from heaven - belonging to positive energy. When positive energy has entered the house, good luck will come, helping the homeowner prosper, have luck in people, money, material, happiness, prosperity... Therefore, when you see a house with birds building nests (including wasp nests), you should not destroy the nests or chase them away as you will lose luck. The ancients believed that the behavior of birds likes to nest in a cool, safe and energetic climate - which is also a good omen that the house is in balance with yin and yang and vitality, so "good land for birds to perch on". . Or signals that the house is about to have a new member, with growth and development of the homeowner. Birds flying into the house to nest are a good omen, don't chase them away. Birds coming into the house to nest bring good luck Ancient people said that birds represent faith and loyalty. Some birds represent eternal love, some birds bring good luck, but there are also some birds that should not be allowed to nest in the house. Here are some conclusions from the ancients about birds coming into the house to nest, bringing good luck: Sparrows nest in the house A gentle sparrow nesting in the house sings loudly - it is a good omen, the family is about to meet noble people to support them, and when they encounter disaster, they will be able to overcome it. Sparrows often nest in houses built with grass, wood, and tile roofs that are sturdy, stable, and have many gaps. Therefore, nesting by sparrows is an indirect way to prove that the family has a solid house, economic ability, and good housing feng shui. Sparrows also have the meaning of having many children and grandchildren - in the past, the elderly also brought sparrows home for them to live and build nests (called "new princes"). A house with sparrows (or guest birds flying in, dancing and chirping) is a sign of good news or guests coming to the house. Swallows nest in the house The swallow represents spring, is a blessing and brings a lot of fortune, a good sign... (but if the swallow leaves the nest unfinished, it may be threatened, or feel that something is wrong. good, especially the ancients believed that you need to be careful with firewood when you see a swallow's nest falling in the house). The swallow's characteristics of finding a place to nest are similar to the ancient people's criteria for choosing a house (quiet, safe...) so as not to be disturbed. Swallows like to nest on high eaves (in the past, rich houses had high gates, high walls, high eaves, rich people did not have to worry about food, clothes, or money, so they would quarrel less - consistent with the quiet nature of swallows). . The living room of a rich house is tall so there is a certain distance, safer for the swallow's nest. Starlings nest in the house Starlings are friendly and have clear songs, living in flocks and herds in rural areas. Starlings often spend a lot of effort to find a place to build their nest, so any place where a starling nests will often be a good omen and bring positive energy. Birds coming into the house to nest is a natural phenomenon, but it also signals that there is about to be good news in the house Birds should not be allowed to nest indoors According to folk beliefs and feng shui, besides birds that bring luck and good omens, there are some birds that nest in the house that bring bad luck such as owls, pig birds, magpies, hawks, and black crows. .. Or there are families who don't like the sound of too many birds singing, or the fact that birds pick up trash and bird droppings all over the house... so they want to chase them away - especially some birds that carry bad omens, so you have to be careful when chasing them away. Being pecked by a bird causes physical pain. Simple ways to repel birds without much impact on the bird's habitat: Spraying water into the nest is a way to chase away nuisance birds. Light a torch and follow the bird's path through the house to help the bird find another place to live. In cases where a bird brings bad omen, a bird flies into the house and dies immediately, or a white bird suddenly flies into the house, which is a sign of bad luck, or problems with love affairs or health. Folks often sprinkle salt on rice to ward off bad luck.