Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/31

Rh ficult; over-roasting ii should be carefully avoided. The common tin pot for boiling it should not be used for any thing else but coffee; and should be large enough to contain about double the quantity that is wanted, in order to prevent it boiling over. One ounce and a half of coffee is sufficient for a pint of water; if it proves too strong, it may easily be weakened to every body’s taste by pouring boiling water into their cups. To clarify it the sooner, a small quantity of isinglass, or a few hartshorn shavings, may be boiled with the coffee. At first the coffee will rise to the top of the pot; it should then be taken off the fire, and this should be repeated till the coffee falls to the bottom, and a huge clear bubble forms at the top: when this takes place, it is sufficiently boiled, and will settle very soon, particularly after it is poured into the coffee-pot in which it is to be served. To this last may be fitted a strainer of tin, or a small sack of fine bolting cloth sewed to a tin circle (Fig. 2.); all other stuffs, such as linen, cotton, flannel, &c. make bad filters for coffee. Molasses and brown sugar give to good coffee a very bad taste, and refined sugar should always be preferred. The cream or milk that is to be taken with coffee should invariably be scalded. Those who have not been accustomed to prepare it in this way, can scarcely be said to have drank good coffee. I am your humble servant,

It was observed may years since by Dr. Percival, in his Philosophical, Medical, and Experimental Essays, that coffee was used as a beverage with peculiar propriety by the Turks and Arabians, because it operates as an antidote to the narcotic effects of opium, to the use of which these nations are particularly addicted. He likewise states, that having understood from Sir John Pringle, that an ounce of the best coffee, ground soon after it is roasted, and made into one cup, and taken without milk or sugar, was the best abater of the paroxysm of the periodic asthma, he had recommended it with considerable success, directing this quantity to be repeated at the distance of about half an hour. It is observed, that Sir John Floyer, after the publication of his book upon asthma, had contrived, during the latter part of his life, to relieve himself from, or at least to live with tolerable comfort under that disorder, by the use of coffee.

A severe head-ache is soon relieved by taking about eighteen drops of laudanum, and drinking immediately afterwards three strong cups of coffee. In about half an hour the pain will abate, without inducing drowsiness or even an inclination to sleep.