DNA Study: Better Coffee? BBC News Review

Can coffee be even more delicious? Scientists crack its genetic code.

This is News Review from BBC

Learning English where we help you understand news headlines in English.

I'm Neil.

And I'm Georgie. Make sure you watch to the end

to learn the vocabulary

you need to talk about this story.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel

so you can learn more English from news headlines. Now, the story.

Researchers in Italy have created a complete genetic map of Arabica

coffee. They say this will allow

us to create new flavours of one of the world's most popular drinks.

It could also lead to coffee plants that can cope with climate change.

You've been looking at the headlines, Georgie.

What's the vocabulary

people need to understand this story in English?

We have 'shines new light',

'buzz' and 'brews'.

This is News Review from BBC

Learning English.

Let's have a look at our first headline.

This one's from Daily Coffee News.

Study shines new light on the complex Arabica coffee genome.

So, this headline is about a new scientific study in Italy

into the coffee genome that's the DNA of coffee.

We're looking at the expression 'shines a new light'.

It contains 'shines'. Now, Georgie,

the sun shines and the lights in the studio are shining on us.

Can you tell us more?

Yes. Well, in a literal sense when something shines,

it gives out a bright light.

This lamp in the studio is shining a light on your big coffee stain

on your script Neil.

Yes, it's horrible and messy, isn't it?

OK, so light and the sun can shine. But in this headline,

it says that a study shines a light.

How does that work?

Well, here, like in lots of news headlines,

they are using the language, figuratively. 'To shine a light'

on something means to draw attention to something so that we focus on it.

Yep, and in this headline

it says 'shines a new light'. That just means that

obviously, there was some research before, but this is new research.

What else can we shine a light on?

Well Neil, you did your driving test recently, didn't you?

The good news is,

you passed the driving part,

but unfortunately you failed the written part.

This really shone a light on your laziness

when it comes to study.

Thanks, Georgie, for shining a light on my laziness.

Let's look at that again.

Let's have our next headline.

This one's from Nature Publishing Group.

  New buzz about coffee genes:

A more complete genome sequence of world's most popular variety.

So, this headline, like the last one, emphasises

that there's something new happening that people are interested in. The word

that we are looking at is 'buzz'.

It's a lovely word. It sounds like what it is.

It's the noise that bees make -

BUZZ. Yes.

That is one meaning. But here,

it's used metaphorically to mean,

there's excitement about this new coffee gene map.

It still reminds me of that sound -

buzz. There's a buzz of excitement.

Yes, and you have been looking at 'a buzz' -

that's a noun, but can it be used in other ways?

Yes, it is also an adjective. That word is 'buzzing' and it means excited.

I imagine that people are excited or buzzing about the possibility

of new coffee flavours.

It's also got a coffee-related, meaning as well.

When you drink too much coffee,

you are buzzing. It means you are very awake.

The coffee gives you a buzz.

Well, I'm buzzing to find out what our next headline's going to be.

But before that, let's get a recap.

Let's have our next headline.

This one's from the BBC.

New coffee genetic map promises better brews.

So, we know what this story is about.

We're looking this time at the word 'brews'.

Georgie, what is a brew?

Well, 'brew' or 'brews' as a noun, like it is in the headline,

is a cup of tea or coffee - in this case, coffee.

The new genetic map promises

better brews. There's a chance of better coffee in the future.

In British English especially,

it's very common to say 'I'm going to make a brew,

do you want one?' which is usually about tea.

Are you offering?

Actually, I prefer coffee.

No, Neil. That was just an example.

But when we finish this,

you can make me a brew.

OK. I'll make some coffee.

I've got some of those new delicious Arabica beans.

But this word 'brew'.

Is it used in any other ways?

Yes, brew is also a verb which has two meanings,

both involving making a drink. The most relevant for us here

is the process of making tea or coffee. To brew tea or coffee,

you mix them with hot water.

You can also brew beer.

Yes, but that's a different process.

Let's look at that again.

We've had 'shines a light' - draws attention to something.

  'Buzz' - an atmosphere of excitement

and 'brew' - a cup of tea

or coffee.

Now if you've enjoy this, we think you'll love this 6 Minute English box set all about coffee.

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Thank you for joining us and goodbye.

Bye.