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  • 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 genomethat'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 this 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 lights 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.

  • Yeah. 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're looking at is buzz. It's a lovely word.

  • It sounds like what it is. It's the noise that bees makebuzz.

  • Yes, that is one meaning, but here it's used metaphorically to mean that there's excitement about this new coffee gene map.

  • It still reminds me of that sound buzzthere's a buzz of excitement.

  • Yes, and you've been looking at a buzzthat's a noun. But can it be used in other ways?

  • Yes, it's 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 brewsthere'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 enjoyed this, we think you'll love this 6 Minute English book set all about coffee. Click here to watch.

  • Don't forget to click here to subscribe to our channel so you never miss another programme.

  • Thank you for joining us and goodbye.

  • Bye.

Can coffee be even more delicious?

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