A Guide to Gourmet Coffee
Article by Anthony Whittard
Even a Coffee Bean or San Francisco Coffee outlet frequenter won’t be able to master the art of appreciating real gourmet coffee unless they know the history and info about gourmet coffee. Oh, of course, you don’t have to an expert to enjoy and understand gourmet coffee, but knowing a miniscule amount will enhance enormously this wonderful beverage and a good deal more than the supermarket owner who sells coffee that is already losing some of its finer flavours and aroma. Your enhanced appreciation of the better taste that freshly ground coffee, aroma and positive heaven that gourmet coffee fans know gourmet coffee is uniquely capable of.
Gourmet coffee is nothing like wine. With wine, the longer you leave (some wine, anyway), the better the taste, the higher the quality and the pricier it is. But amidst gourmet coffee, freshness says a lot. If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted no further than 1 week before. And if you’re going to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, the one and only to buy is Arabica coffee.
It’s pretty hard to obtain freshly roasted coffee beans on the shelves of the local supermarket. Chances are, the coffee beans they present and you’re consuming today have been roasted at least 3 months ago. One way to counter such a problem is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them amid a home-coffee grinding machine as and when you need it. It’s really easy with the kind of machines available today, so, if you need to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, grind it when you need it.
Once you’ve purchased the gourmet coffee beans, don’t just leave them out there in room temperature. What you should do with gourmet coffee beans is to store them in an air-tight container in the fridge if you are planning to use it soon. However, if you’re going to keep it, put the gourmet coffee beans in an air-tight container and keep it in the freezer.
You need the best grinder for the better brew. Generally speaking, you can use about 2 tablespoons of gourmet coffee powder for 6 oz of water. Adjust the way you issue out your cup of gourmet coffee according to the way you like to drink your gourmet coffee.
With wine, the country in which the grapes are grown makes a difference. With gourmet coffee, not only does the country of origin for the gourmet coffee bean make a difference, the company that sells the gourmet coffee beans matters too. Buy only from reputable companies for gourmet coffee.
And one last thing about gourmet coffee is learn to enjoy it, develop the smell, love the taste, experiment with it and you’ll soon see the thing that is so special about gourmet coffee. If you’re hurrying off to do something in the morning, such as getting to work, forget about gourmet coffee! During the morning rush, just stick to instant coffee. Wait until you can sit down and really appreciate that superior experience with some quality time. After all, what is quality time if it is not sitting down having a heavenly cup of coffee?
I write Gourmet International for everyone who enjoys eating out (and drinking) in restaurants which you deem to be special – for whatever reason.
I started this site in August 2008 with the aim of bringing together your reviews of restaurants, bars, cafes, bistros, etc. which deserve to be mentioned for the quality of their fine food.
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Gourmet, Guide
National Coffee Day 2011
National Coffee Day
Albeit the fact that there are millions of coffee lovers across the globe, no one really dedicated a special day for this special and almost-considered-elixir-of-life beverage up until recently.
Have you ever heard of the National Coffee Day? It is somewhat a new celebration that falls on September 29 every year. There has been news in 2009 and 2010 that talked about National Coffee Day. It created a buzz in 2009 and has grown to be quite a celebration last year. As a matter of fact, the first citation of such occasion dated back in 2005 according to Google Hot Trends.
Some theories say that it was all started by big coffee chains as a means of promotion. I don’t know about you but I could care less, it’s interesting and fun anyway! To me, every day is National Coffee Day.
In honor of the occasion, many local and national coffee shops are giving away free and selling your cup of Joe for a cheaper price. In 2010, rumor had it that selected Dunkin’ Donuts gave away free drinks, and some regional coffee chains also gave away free drink coupons via Facebook. And yes, there’s even a Facebook event dedicated to the day!
But this year, it looks like the National Coffee Day is getting a tighter grip! More national coffee chains are picking up the idea of promoting their blends on this special day, but only while supplies last.
You can get a free medium coffee from 7 to 11 am at participating 7-Eleven stores. The said offer is applicable in both the U.S. and Canada, with exception to Quebec, even Wilson Farm c-stores are also joining. You can drop by the closest Krispy Kreme store or drive-thru anytime today for a free 12 oz cup of their new House Blend coffee, also good in both U.S. and Canada. Thornton’s is also offering any blend of Coffee and Cappuccino from 6AM to 2pm this day for free. Klatch Coffee will also be giving away 4 specialty coffee drinks at different times in all retail locations. With Café Kili, you can print their special flyer and bring it to them from 6:30am to 9pm to get your free cup.
Dunn Bros is selling their premium Organic Kenya Muiri Estate coffee for $1 until 10am today. Toilet Paper World, on the other hand, is offering free Solo Hot Cups to the first 15 customers who order $150 worth of purchase.
Today is so special there is even a lucky draw! Bailey Creamers is giving away a Keurig® Brewing System. First place winners will get a pair of limited edition BAILEYS Coffee Creamer glass mugs.
So don’t forget to take a coffee break or two today at a minimum or even without spending a single dime!
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: 7-Eleven, Cafe Kili, coffee, Dunkin Donuts, Dunn Bros, first, Klatch Coffee, Krispy Kreme, National Coffee Day, Wilson Farm, year
How To Choose The Best Coffee Maker
Article by Alice Morgan
You cannot get a perfect tasting cup of coffee each day without the best coffee maker for you. Finding the right coffee maker is a matter of planning for your needs ahead of time. You need to include such preferences into your coffee maker choice as how fast you need your coffee made. You may also need to decide if you want the water and coffee heated separately or at the same time. Also, you need to know if it is important for you to have a clock-set model that will make your coffee for you at a set time each day. And, don’t forget to measure the prospective coffee maker space on your kitchen counter to see what dimensions the coffee maker can be.
For some, a percolator is a nice choice for a coffee maker. For those who love their old-fashioned coffee and are not into any specialized coffees, a stovetop percolator or an electric percolator does everything they need. If you go with the stovetop version, be sure not to over-boil your coffee. Most people go with the electric percolator because it will sense when the coffee has brewed and switch over to warm mode.
Over the last several decades, the automatic drip coffee maker has been about the most popular. This is the kind where you just throw in the coffee bag and some water in the machine. The machine does the rest.
For many people these days, a coffee maker without a clock and timer function is just not worth having. People have grown to love waking up to the smell of fresh coffee each morning. All you have to remember to do is put in ingredients within the 24 hours before your wake-up coffee. The timed coffee maker will take care of the rest.
If none of these coffee makers do it for you, you are probably either a coffee aficionado, impatient, or you like specialized coffees. For the aficionado or the impatient, there are other coffee maker options such as a plunger pot, manual drip, microwave, or vacuum coffee maker. For those who like specialized blends, there are cappuccino makers and espresso makers. Nonetheless, there will always be one coffee maker that suits your taste and needs. Take your time to find that best coffee maker. It is worth it!
Are you looking for the Best Coffee Maker? Be sure to check out more about coffee makers around the world at http://www.bestcoffeemakers.org.
Alice Morgan is a coffee lover and currently runs a website to provide more information on different coffee makers around the world at http://www.bestcoffeemakers.org
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: BEST, Choose, coffee, Maker
Coffee on the Go
Article by Justin Smith
Whether at the office, out shopping or just snowed under work at home, there is no quicker pick me up than having a cup of coffee. The office coffee machine is the place where many of us find ourselves gravitating when creative thoughts seem to be drying up. The shot to the system administered by caffeine has benefits other than the ones usually spoken of.
Nowadays people work and play hard which gives their biological system little scope for having its defense mechanism in place. Carcinogens have a field day when operating on such a weakened system. However, there are research findings which are indicating that having coffee regularly may actually prove anti-carcinogenic. So next time you find yourself hovering around the office coffee machine don’t feel guilty. Tell yourself that you are not simply fighting tiredness, but are probably helping your body to fight cancer.
The office manager who needs to ensure that the personnel have one excuse less to leave the premises setting up an office coffee machine is a must. However, for the smaller organizations, working on a tight budget, acquiring used coffee machines make greater sense. Many of the used coffee machines on offer are actually in pretty good condition. Just make sure that you take a look at it physically and try it out to check functionality before closing the deal. Also check to see whether it is still in the warranty period.
Not just offices, but also the smaller shops which plan to set up a coffee machine can initially invest in used coffee machines instead of buying a brand new off the shelf model. Whether or not the shop owner is planning to diversify into the vending business, having a coffee on the premises makes sound sense. Customers can browse the products on offer and take their time to decide on what they want while sipping a cup of coffee. Whether the shop offers the coffee as a premium or as just another of their products depends on the marketing savvy and marketing strategy of the shop owner. Such a decision would naturally be moderated by the fact whether or not the shop sells premium/ very expensive products or moderately priced products.
Kenco vending offer office coffee machine, cappuccino coffee machine and other vending machine on best price.
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee
What Exactly is Gourmet Coffee?
Article by Bobby Black
Gourmet coffee is synonymous with high quality which is made using high authentic Arabica beans. If you already enjoy coffee, and wake up and brew a hot cup before beginning your day, then you will be extremely interested in gourmet coffee is becoming even more popular these days, despite the increasing caffeinated energy drinks and supplements that flood the stores.
The main difference between gourmet and regular is the quality of the beans used to create the coffee, as gourmet beans are considered to be of higher quality. What is gourmet depends highly on who is defining the coffee. To the most traditional of coffee enthusiasts, gourmet coffee needs to be made out of the best quality Arabica and needs to be drunk within 72 hours of its production as to not lose its flave, while to most of America, chain coffee stores available across the street is as “gourmet” as they come. Practically there is no definitive working definition of gourmet coffee, as it all depends on the individual.
One of the main concerns of classifying coffee as gourmet, is whether the company is just calling it gourmet as an advertising gimmick or if the coffee is truly gourmet quality. Some research is needed to tell the difference. One of the main ways to tell if the company is being truthful is how much information they provide the consumer. Do they tell you about the source of their beans, roasting procedure, or grounding procedure? If you find it difficult to find any of this information it is likely the coffee is not gourmet. Companies such as San Francisco Bay and Black Mountain Gold are some of the big names in the retail gourmet coffee business. The reputation of the company and if they reveal what type of bean they use are crucial factors in assessing whether the coffee is truly gourmet.
Bobby Black is a coffee enthusiast who writes funny and entertaining pieces on his gourmet coffee blog.
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Exactly, Gourmet
How To Find The Best Coffee Maker
Article by David Lathan
For people who can’t deal with just a cup every time, coffee makers providing many cups of coffee at a time are the ideal choice. This type is also just the thing for the persons who prefer the beverage freshly ground from coffee beans. They also permit you to be in command of the taste of the brewed coffee.
Searching for the best coffee makers? These days this is not much of a problem while the technology continues to advance, options aren’t in shortage. The quandary is how you are going to make the decision when it comes to selecting the correct coffee machine. In this aspect, there are different criteria which you have to ponder in order for you to discover the best coffee maker for your individual wants.
There are in addition coffee machines that come with bigger capacities. In searching for a coffee maker with a certain size you desire, you ought to think about the number of cups that will be consumed when you make coffee. In addition, you will be facing options on machines that either have programmable features, thermal carafes, automatic shut-offs and several other features.
As a start, you need to decide whether what you need is a coffer maker that serves a single cup or a coffee maker that produces more than a cup of the beverage at a time. This one is an essential factor that has a big part in identifying which brand and model among the plethora of selections would suit you best.
There are a lot of coffee machines existing in the market and they come in assorted price ranges. So, in determining the specifications and features you want in a coffee maker, at all times put into consideration the quantity of money you are willing to expend. Remember that it just isn’t a good notion to require lots of extremely sophisticated features when your resources are a little short. Rudimentary ones come in as low as to the best coffee makers to be had that can come as high as 0 and and beyond.
The single-serving coffee machine is an ideal option for those people, who in their daily life-style, need to prepare coffee in a method, which eliminates too many hassles, without the requirements of set up and cleanup time after use. One of the finest selections is the pod coffeemaker. In the marketplace, you can find a host of this coffee machine type which is by and large effective and fast.
From the two choices of coffee machines, there is an additional matter which you should be asking yourself: do you need it with more control or you are after convenience?|While you are doing the evaluation process of what coffee machine you want, never fail to remember the fact that price is an added relevant feature to be considered.
You need also to identify if you prefer a brew or grind type of coffee maker. Your selection will rely on the kind of taste of freshness of the coffee that you want. If you sort out all the aspects that are involved in picking the appropriate coffee maker for you, it will be less complicated for you to recognize which specifications will meet your desires and the model that suits you best.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: BEST, coffee, Find, Maker
Tips on Brewing Coffee
Article by Chuggin McCoffee
You have probably enjoyed many cups of coffee in your lifetime, but it is still important to have insider tips on brewing the best cup of Joe so that you can enjoy premium quality every time.
The first step to take is to make sure that you are always purchasing freshly roasted coffee beans! This is highly important, and not all coffee beans are equal. Furthermore, it is never advised to purchase pre-ground coffee beans from the supermarket because they are already 100% stale. It is important to purchase whole coffee beans that are freshly roasted from a local roaster or an Internet retailer that guarantees freshly roasted beans when they ship. If you purchase a bag of coffee beans that has been sitting on the shelf, then the odds are that they have already gone stale. Coffee beans are only fresh for up to 10 days after roasting, and they go stale 30 seconds after they are ground, which is why you need to grind your coffee beans directly before you brew. It is so easy to purchase a small grinder to freshly grind your beans before you brew, which will give you an even more premium flavor and taste.
When it comes to the amount of coffee grounds that you will be using, the rule of thumb is 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. This is something that can be used for a drip brew coffee maker, French Press, or other methods of brewing. It is also important to brew with fresh filtered water, which will make a dramatic difference in the flavor of your cup of Joe. If you are not brewing with filtered water, and instead are using tap water, then you risk filling your coffee machine full of minerals that can cause scale and buildup. Not only will this affect the life of your machine, but it will also negatively affect the taste of your coffee when you brew.
Last of all, make sure that you are taking the time to clean your coffee maker well to remove any buildup within the machine. There are specific products that you can use to clean your coffee maker, or you can even run white vinegar through the machine. The reason for this is that coffee beans are full of essential oils, which can build up a residue within the components of your coffee machine. This will begin to negatively affect the taste of your Java, and it will also affect how well your machine works. It is important to use some sort of product to remove oil buildup within the components of your coffee machine for a better taste in your brew.
As a last tip, if you are ever stuck drinking a bitter and poor tasting cup of Joe from your office or a diner, then you can add a little salt to the brew to cut out the bitterness. This is a last resort tip for a delicious tasting cup of coffee, but it works every time!
Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and Commercial Coffee Makers can be found at www.thecoffeebump.com.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: Brewing, coffee, Tips
Selecting the Correct Bean to Cup Coffee Machine for You
Article by Tom Bryan
With a bean to cup coffee machine, you can savor fresh ground, flawlessly brewed coffee each time you need it. Whether you own your own enterprise and wish to offer some thing unique for the customers or possibly desire a luxurious product to use in your residence, this can be the ultimate way for getting high quality quality java on demand.
All you have to do to help make this type of coffeemaker do the trick is choose the coffee beans of your choice and put them back into the appropriate holder around the machine. Starting the controls is frequently completed by push button operations that can be easy and quick. A short time later, your beans shall be ground along with your coffee seamlessly brewed and awaiting you or your clients.
The most significant concern most of us have when choosing bean to cup coffee machines are the dimensions. A lot of the devices are quite large, which is often a good or bad thing depending on the volume of room you’ll have to dedicate to this specific item.
If you have plenty of area to spare, consider purchasing an appliance which includes room in order to stack cups, creamer, along with other frequently needed condiments when making a mug of coffee. This will store everything in one location therefore it’s much easier and much quicker to grab a cup while on the move.
Without having a great deal of space or maybe wish to work it right into a populated room with other equipment, give consideration to one of the more efficient versions made for saving space. They will not provide that much room with regards to mugs and various condiments, nonetheless they will provide flawlessly ground and made coffee each time.
You could expect a coffee machine for this style to brew not less than hundred or so cups per day. Lots of larger models could easily double or triple this number. This is not announcing you will have to make this much gourmet coffee every single day, nevertheless it reveals just what a specialized strength machine is capable of doing.
In the event you own your own small business and wish to offer coffee for your customers or have it constantly hot and ready to serve for whenever a client could enter, then a larger sized unit which usually brews an abundance of servings a day could very well be exactly what you need.
For the purpose of home use or in a lighter use setting, you might get by with a scaled-down product that is only capable of brewing 100 or so cups a day. It is very important that you evaluate exactly how much coffee you may want and exactly how much you could potentially require in the future before starting shopping around. This can stop you from investing in a system which may be more than you actually need.
Price ranges for this sort of model will understandably run you higher than a small, simpler coffee machine. Any additional cost arises from the additional process of breaking down the coffee beans directly into ground form that can be used automatically for refreshing brewed coffee.
Despite the additional expense, some products may now be located at relatively good prices for businesses as well as homeowners who want a little more luxury within their environment. The ideal way to find a bean to cup coffee machine that fits your requirements would be to shop online to ascertain specifically what this reasonably limited market is now providing.
You can find out more about bean to cup coffee machines, and author Tom Bryan at www.coffeemachinesbeantocup.com
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Best Coffee Beans in the World
Article by David H. Urmann
Finding the best coffee beans in the world can be a very difficult task, with the various types of coffee beans available in the market. Some of the noted coffee beans include Arabica, Colombian Medellin and Sumatra among others.
There are different types of coffee beans. Due to the influx of its varieties, the reviews and suggestions from consumers have become helpful. Regardless of these feedbacks however, it is important to note that taste is a matter of individual preference.
There are those who prefer the stronger drinks, others the flavored ones. There are also those who prefer their coffee hot while others prefer it cold or chilled. There is sure to have one distinct taste of coffee that will delight your taste buds and match your personality. Along the shores of the beautiful Lake Victoria within Rift Valley in Kenya, coffee farmers nurture the best coffee beans producing coffee trees in the world. Graded as AA, these finest beans are usually sold during weekly auctions by Kenya’s esteemed Coffee Board.
It is noted that one factor why coffee plants produce the best coffee beans is due to the regional climate. This results to the distinctive and aromatic flavor seen in coffee cherries. If you want gourmet coffee, it is best to purchase Arabica coffee.
The edible beans of Arabica are reported to have the best aroma and most spirit. Robusta, on the other hand, offers an Earthier olfactory taste. It has fewer flavors because it possesses more caffeine content. As compared to other types, Arabica coffee has superior flavor, being more aromatic and richer. These plants actually grow finest along higher altitude places. They cannot grow and survive within low temperatures or frost. This makes Arabica beans harder to grow, requiring a lot of attention and care. It generally grows in very high altitudes such as 3,000 feet.
The Colombian Medellin coffee is another type which is slightly acidic, richer and full bodied. Others note it as syrupy and sweet. Competing countries for the supply of quality coffee in the international market are Brazil, Colombia, Uganda and Mexico. Although Colombia produces about 15%, Brazil takes over 20% of the worldwide production.
Moreover, a perfect blend of coffee from Indonesia, South and Central America are proven to be irresistible also. When it is medium roasted, the beans bring out a “nutty” sweetness. This is due to the fact that roasting makes the green beans lose its moisture, and it expands at 200oC. This will result to chemical reactions like color change and caramelization. The longer these coffee beans are roasted, the more oils are being extracted, and producing a bigger body.
With the roasting process, these coffee beans haul out their vibrant flavors. This happens as its fat and carbohydrate content gets transformed into aromatic oils.
The Sumatra coffee is another variant famous for its strong taste. It is suggested to drink this in small servings only.
Finding the best coffee doesn’t mean that you need to taste every type of coffee bean you come across with. Choosing the best coffee bean is not measured by the number of people who have found it appealing. Choosing the best coffee bean is dependent on your preference and taste.
For more information on Thermal Coffee Makers and Vacuum Coffee Makers please visit our website.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: beans, BEST, coffee, World
Finding High Quality Coffee Supplies
Article by Chris Hegi
It is amazing how much can be done with your money, if you just do it right. For business owners in the Seattle area, more and more good news is becoming available, concerning prices on supplies, and better ways to save your money. All you have to do is keep your eyes and ears open. If you are looking for some good coffee supplies in Seattle for your business, and are interested in saving some money, consider some of our following suggestions:
First of all, simply be aware that you can find coffee supplies in Seattle for cheaper than you think. If you can find a way to connect yourself with a good wholesale supplier that offers good quality products for a decent price, you will essentially be set for life, as long as things go well. The trick is, then, to find the dealer, and seal the deal.
Lots of times, when you are looking for ways to save money on items such as coffee supplies in Seattle businesses, a word-of-mouth recommendation can really get you started. It is possible that, if there is a dealer who offers a better price than many other businesses like it, the customers will keep their mouths shut about it, so as to maintain their monopoly on the best deal in town. However, if a good friend or reliable source can refer you to a company, you just might be able to get in on the deal yourself.
You can even look for coffee supply providers on the internet. By simply typing in a few keywords, and setting aside some time to look around, you can find a number of different options that can offer you a great deal on the things you are looking for. Just like with many other things, it will be a good idea to kind of look around before making a final decision. However great it may seem at first sight, it is never a bad idea to make some comparisons with competing businesses, and see if you can negotiate a deal that fits comfortably inside the limits of your budget.
Find out the good things and bad things about each company, so that you can know what to expect from the provider you will be working with. Knowing beforehand the kind of services you will receive will do much to sway your decision about working with providers of coffee supplies Seattle. By doing these kinds of things, you