With the UK consuming a staggering 70 million cups of coffee each and every day (Mintel Coffee UK 2008) there’s no doubt that we are indeed a nation of coffee enthusiasts. However whilst filter coffee has long since been known as the king of caffeine, delivering a more flavoursome taste, as a nation it seems that we remain dedicated instant coffee drinkers, with 74% of all UK adults drinking the stuff regularly, compared to 48% of us who drink fresh coffee regularly (Mintel Coffee UK 2012). Here we take a close look at the toss-up between instant and filter coffee and explain why it’s best to go fresh every time.

1. Instant coffee is usually high in toxic compounds

Many instant coffee brands can be high in acrylamide, which is a chemical that has (rather worryingly) been found to cause cancer and nerve damage in animals. In fact, so potentially damaging is this chemical that the European Union has recorded it as a category two Carcinogen and in California they display warning signs within coffee houses in relation to instant coffee’s acrylamide levels.

2. Instant coffee is seriously unnatural, as well as artificially manufactured

Instant coffee goes through a space age like manufacturing process to create the dry grains that you see before you in your coffee cup. This will involve either freeze drying or spray drying. What’s more instant coffee is also full of all manner of additives and preservatives to ensure a long sell-by date.

As a final point, instant coffee is usually lower in anti-oxidant compounds (which are thought to help our bodies get rid of toxins, as well as helping us in looking younger, for longer). This is despite coffee being naturally rich in anti-oxidant properties (you can thank that nasty manufacturing process for that!).

3. Fresh coffee is (almost) as fast, definitely cheaper and a whole lot more romantic

Gone are the days of waiting an age for the peculator and you can forget about having to resort to terrifying motorway service vending machines when on the move for a caffeine hit; today the Cafetière Travel Mug makes for a practical and compact answer for re-caffeinating on the go. The difference in brewing times is then barely a point to discuss.

Yet beyond this we turn to the issue of price. Taking the example of Nescafe Gold Blend instant coffee, for which you’d be forking out £0.09 per cup, by comparison, with Tesco Finest Colombian Supremo Fair Trade Coffee, you’d be able to enjoy fresh coffee and a cup price of just £0.092. That’s a tenth of the price (arguably for ten times the taste, too).

What’s more instant coffee really doesn’t compare when it comes to enjoying the caffeine experience – there’s simply nothing quite like brewing a Cafetière of coffee on a Sunday morning (and they look great upon the trays of breakfast in bed, too).

Take the plunge with good filter coffee on the go or at home and never again face the three instant coffee woes we’ve written about here – grab your 10% discount code to be redeemed upon Amazon. The code is Coffee10.

I am one of those people who like to have fun in life. I have fun in a number of ways and shopping is one of those activities I participate on a regular basis that I enjoy a lot. I also shop for musical instruments and accessories from time to time such as tone zone. Doing so allows me to be more music oriented and it allows me to accomplish things I would normally not be able to do.

You might think that the only people who use golf carts are those who spend a lot of time on a golf course. While courses often offer carts that players can rent for the day or a few hours, many people use these carts at home. If you live in the country, you might use one when checking your mail or taking a trip down the block. Carts are also great for those who own recreational vehicles and love traveling. Even if you have a golf cart dealership right down the street, you can save a significant amount of money when you shop for one online.

Know What You Want

Before looking for golf carts for sale online, make sure you know exactly what you need. Do you want an EZGO that is easy to drive and can handle paved roads with ease? If you live in a more rural area and need to drive your vehicle on dirt roads, you may find that an ATV is a better option. You’ll also want to look at the number of people the cart can handle. Some carts have front seating for just two, but others have additional seating for two or more passengers in the back.

Look at Cost of Ownership

When buying a new car, you often look at the cost of ownership. You should factor in the cost of ownership when shopping for a golf cart too. The cost of ownership includes everything that you will need to pay for in terms of that cart in the coming years. It includes maintenance like charging the battery and replacement parts too. You’ll also want to look into whether you will need insurance to cover that cart.

Buy Used

While you might start out looking for brand new models, it’s often helpful to look at used models too. You can often get a golf cart that is just a few years old for half the price of a new model. Some sellers offer their carts at low prices because it needs a simple repair. You can usually get Yamaha golf cart parts and make the repair yourself cheaply. A cart may just need some new tires, a new battery or some minor work on the engine. When shopping for a golf cart online, look for used models and know exactly what you want.