Hot Tea and Coffee Drinking Keeps Staph Infection at Bay

Summary
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is increasingly becoming resistant to methicillin, an antibiotic, is a major cause of severe and fatal infections in the U.S. More than 6,500 people died of infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 2005. Persistent harboring of bacteria in the body is known as carriage. The nose is a common site for carriage of MRSA. In the present study, the researchers examined the effect of drinking tea, coffee and other beverages on nasal MRSA carriage. It was found that those who consumed hot tea or coffee had a lower likelihood of being carriers of MRSA.

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Introduction
Many in vitro studies on tea and coffee as well as studies on the topical application of extracts of tea and coffee have shown that these have antibacterial properties. They have been found to be particularly effective against E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. So far, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the systemic antibacterial actions of tea and coffee. Owing to a steady increase in the incidence of MRSA-related infections, researchers are constantly looking for substances, especially plant extracts, which reduce the carriage of these bacteria and thus decrease the prevalence of MRSA-related infections. This study was carried out to find out whether an association exists between the consumption of tea and coffee and the nasal carriage of MRSA.

Methodology
* The data for the present study was collected from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which provided highly representative medical information on the non-hospitalized population of the US.
* Nasal carriage of MRSA was assessed in 5,555 participants by culturing the nasal samples in mannitol salt agar, and then assessing their sensitivity to methicillin by a standard diffusion technique.
* The participants were given questionnaires to assess the consumption of tea, coffee, and other beverages. They were particularly asked whether they consumed hot or cold beverages.
* Data regarding confounding factors such as age, sex, race, poverty status, recent antibiotic use, and health status were also collected.

Results
* Overall, 1.4 percent of the participants were nasal carriers of MRSA. About 48 percent of the participants consumed tea, while 61 percent participants consumed coffee.
* “Individuals who consumed hot tea had a slightly more than one-half reduction in the likelihood of MRSA nasal carriage relative to their counterparts who reported consuming no hot tea.” Similar findings were observed with the consumption of hot coffee as well. These findings remained the same even after considering all the confounding factors.
* Consumption of cold tea or cold coffee and other beverages did not reduce the nasal MRSA carriage.

Shortcomings/Next steps
In the present study, data was collected only once. Follow-up studies are necessary to confirm the antibacterial effects of tea and coffee. The researchers of the present study did not collect information on the timing of consumption of tea or coffee. Further studies are necessary to identify the components in tea and coffee, which are responsible for their antibacterial effects.

Conclusion
In 2005, more than 278,000 Americans suffered from MRSA infections. Nasal carriage is thought to be the primary source of infection in all these cases. The present study has shown that carriage is about 50 percent less in those who consume hot tea or coffee. Hence, consumption of hot tea and coffee is an easy, inexpensive and safe method to prevent infection from MRSA. Trigonelline and glyoxal present in coffee and tannic acid and catechin present in tea are probably responsible for the antibacterial activity of these beverages. The reason for the lack of antibacterial activity of cold tea/coffee in contrast to hot tea/coffee cannot be ascertained. However, the authors assume that the antimicrobial compounds in hot tea and coffee reach the nose in vapor form, which is not possible in cold tea and coffee. An earlier study has shown that consumption of tea reduces the duration of hospitalization of patients with MRSA-related pneumonia from 85 days to 51 days. The findings of the present study reinforce the results obtained from prior studies.

For More Information:
Tea and Coffee Consumption and MRSA Nasal Carriage
Publication Journal: Annals of Family Medicine, July 2011
By Eric M. Matheson, MD; Arch G. Mainous, PhD; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

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PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. Brings Stumptown Coffee to Chelsea and Your iPhone

Press Release Source: PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. On Tuesday June 21, 2011, 9:44 am EDT

NEW YORK, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. specialty espresso and tea bar opens across from the Chelsea Hotel. The cafe serves legendary Stumptown coffee (locally roasted in Red Hook, Brooklyn) and offers a large variety of organic teas. Customers are also offered pastries by Brooklyn-based Patisserie Colson, cookies by Downtown Cookie Co. and Mast Brothers chocolate bars. The cafe features emerging local artists.

Taking a purist approach to coffee, PORTS only brews by the cup via pour-over bar, French Press (before 11am) and 24-hour cold brew. "Hair Bender" is the signature house espresso blend. The tea menu features three iced selections and loose leaf options like the Nantou Oolong.

PORTS is one of a few New York businesses pioneering the Card Case app that allows customers to pay using their mobile phone. The app is by Square, the San Francisco-based company famous for equipping businesses with a credit card reader and POS system run on iPad.

Just a few weeks into opening, PORTS has built a strong following of regulars. "We couldn't have hoped for a better welcome from the neighborhood," said owner Nina Adams who founded the cafe with her husband Larry. "We love coffee and tea and are thrilled that our customers love our products and are willing to try new things with us."

The cafe places special emphasis on Direct Trade single origin coffees that are fully traceable to the source. Single origins are known for their complex bouquet of flavors characteristic to the region -- driven by elements like the soil, elevation and proximity to the equator.

"We are very excited to be working with PORTS," said Allen Yellent, Stumptown Account Manager. ?"In a short time they have established themselves as one of the premier coffee bars in the city, with a fantastic espresso program and a dedication to showcasing single origin coffees."

PORTS will introduce $1 specials on featured varieties and a tasting flight for $3. ?Whole beans of all coffees are also available for purchase. New York Times coffee critic Oliver Strand called PORTS "Stumptown done well."

PORTS is located at 251 West 23rd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues. Hours are 7 – 8 Mon-Fri, 8-7 Sat-Sun. For more information, visit www.portsnyc.com.

Media Contact: Nina Adams
917-239-3012, nina@portsnyc.com

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Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. to Present at 31st Annual Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference

{"s" : "peet","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc. On Friday June 3, 2011, 8:45 am EDT

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEET - News), the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the U.S., today announced that it will present at the 31st Annual Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference at 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the New York Palace in New York City.

Peet’s presentation will be broadcast live with audio on Peet’s website at http://investor.peets.com/events.cfm. To access the live webcast, please go to the website beforehand to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast can be accessed approximately three hours after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain on www.peets.com for 90 days after the scheduled conference.

ABOUT PEET’S COFFEE & TEA, INC.

Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., (PEET), is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet's Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet's is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., visit www.peets.com.

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Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. to Present at Baird 2011 Growth Stock Conference

Press Release Source: Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc. 13:45, Thursday 5 May 2011

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESSWIRE)--

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. , the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the U.S., today announced that it will present at the Robert W. Baird & Co. 2011 Growth Stock Conference at 11:15 a.m. CT on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.

Peet’s presentation will be broadcast live with audio and slides on Peet’s website at http://investor.peets.com/events.cfm. To access the live webcast, please go to the website beforehand to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast can be accessed approximately three hours after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain on www.peets.com for 90 days after the scheduled conference.

ABOUT PEET’S COFFEE & TEA, INC.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., , is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet’s Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet’s is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., visit www.peets.com.

Contact

Double Forte
Pamela Coddington, 415-848-8112 (Media)
pcoddington@double-forte.com
or
Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc.
Seanna Allen, 510-594-2196 (Investors)
investorrelations@peets.com

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Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

Press Release Source: Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc. 21:00, Tuesday 3 May 2011

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESSWIRE)--

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. today announced its first quarter results for the fiscal period ended April 3, 2011, which included 13 weeks.

In this release, the company:

Reports net revenue growth for the quarter of 9% Reports diluted earnings per share of $0.41, up 86% versus 2010 diluted earnings per share of $0.22 and up 58% versus 2010 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.26 Reaffirms 2011 full-year total net revenue growth in the 8% to 10% range Lowers full-year diluted earnings per share guidance by $0.10 to the $1.43 to $1.50 range, driven entirely by the significant rise in coffee costs during the last three months

Financial Highlights

For the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2011, net revenue increased 9% to $88.5 million from $81.2 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2010.

Net income for the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2011, was $5.5 million compared to $3.1 million for the corresponding 13-week period of fiscal 2010. Diluted earnings per share was $0.41 for the 13-week period of fiscal 2011 compared to $0.22 per share for the corresponding period of fiscal 2010, an increase of 86%.

Last year’s net income included $0.8 million ($0.5 million net of tax) of legal and related expenses the company incurred to comply with a subpoena it received from the Federal Trade Commission in connection with its anti-trust review of the proposed Green Mountain Coffee Roasters acquisition of Diedrich Coffee. Excluding this unusual item from last year’s results, diluted earnings per share increased 58% compared to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.26 for the corresponding period last year.

“We had a very good first quarter and the fundamentals of our business are strong,” said Patrick O’Dea, president and CEO of Peet’s Coffee & Tea. “We experienced good sales growth across all channels, with our grocery business growing the strongest at 22% this quarter. With excellent overall cost management, we translated this into a record first quarter operating margin of 9.8% and EPS growth of 58%. Looking forward, we have good momentum and plenty of new growth opportunities. While we expect to offset most of the year-over-year coffee cost increase we’re experiencing, we will continue to act in the long-term best interests of our business and not overreact to the recent run-up in world coffee prices.”

Consolidated Financial and Operating Summary

Retail net revenue increased 4% to $52.1 million for the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2011, from $50.1 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2010. The increase was solely attributable to sales growth in existing stores. The company ended the quarter with 193 stores, the same number of stores as the end of the first quarter in 2010.

Specialty net revenue increased 17% to $36.4 million for the 13 weeks ended April 3, 2011, compared to $31.1 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2010. Within specialty, the grocery business grew 22% over last year; the foodservice and office business grew 11%; and home delivery net revenue grew 4%.

Cost of sales and related occupancy expenses were 46.6% of total net revenue, compared to 46.2% for the corresponding period last year. The increase resulted from higher coffee costs and a mix shift towards the specialty business, which has a higher cost of sales, offset by the impact of price increases across all channels.

Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue decreased to 31.5% from 34.3% for the corresponding period last year due to a favorable mix shift to the specialty business, the impact of price increases across all channels, leveraging of retail overhead costs, and lower training expenses in retail stores.

In the corresponding period last year, the company incurred $0.8 million ($0.5 million net of tax) in legal and related fees to comply with a subpoena the company received from the Federal Trade Commission in connection with its anti-trust review of the proposed Green Mountain Coffee Roasters acquisition of Diedrich Coffee.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenue were 7.7% of net revenue, compared to 7.8% for the corresponding period last year. General and administrative expenses increased to $6.8 million, compared to $6.3 million for the corresponding period last year, primarily due to higher payroll-related costs and marketing expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expenses as a percentage of net revenue decreased to 4.4% of net sales compared to 4.8% for the corresponding period last year. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $3.9 million, consistent with the corresponding period last year.

The company ended the first quarter of 2011 with cash and cash equivalents plus investments of $43 million, compared to $49 million at year end 2010.

Fiscal 2011 Full-Year Outlook

The company has updated its full-year guidance as follows:

Reaffirms full-year total net revenue growth in the 8% to 10% range Lowers full-year diluted earnings per share guidance by $0.10 to the $1.43 to $1.50 range, driven entirely by the significant rise in coffee costs during the last three months

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. Q1 2011 Conference Call

Peet’s will discuss its first quarter 2011 earnings via conference call today, May 3, 2011. The teleconference call will begin at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET and can be accessed by calling 1-866-748-8653. The call will be simultaneously webcast on Peet’s website at www.peets.com.

A replay of the teleconference will be available from 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET on May 3, 2011 through 8:59 p.m. PT/11:59 p.m. ET on May 10, 2011, at 1-800-642-1687 or 1-706-645-9291, using access code 61472579. It will also be archived at http://investor.peets.com/medialist.cfm through May 3, 2012, at 8:59 p.m. PT/11:59 p.m. ET.

ABOUT PEET’S COFFEE & TEA, INC.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., , is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet’s Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet’s is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., visit www.peets.com.

This press release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to 2011 forecasted net revenue growth, 2011 forecasted earnings per diluted share, opportunities for new growth, and our ability to offset coffee price increases. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management, including financial and operational information, the company’s stock price volatility, and current competitive conditions. As a result, these statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, including the recent recession and its ongoing negative impact on consumer spending; the company’s ability to implement its business strategy, attract and retain customers, and obtain and expand its market presence in new geographic regions; the availability and cost of high-quality Arabica coffee beans; consumers’ tastes and preferences; complaints or claims by current, former or prospective employees or government agencies or other litigation; and competition in its market as well as other risk factors as described more fully in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2011. These factors may not be exhaustive. The company operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following reconciliation and non-GAAP financial information are provided to assist the reader with understanding the financial impact of the previously discussed unusual items. Management believes this information is relevant because the nature and magnitude of the charges do not reflect our on-going operating performance.

 

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