Coffee Is a Luxurious Beverage With Health Benefits Enjoyed By All
Article by John Schmon
For the common man, the beverage known as coffee is like liquid gold. Sheik Abd-al-Kadir once wrote that coffee is “the common man’s gold, and like gold, it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility” That was written around four centuries ago, and those words ring as true today as they did back then. People would really be surprised by the number of varieties of coffee that are available today, the different varieties are almost like fine wines, each variety of coffee has its own unique prized characteristics. It is a little known fact that the coffee bean is actually a seed of small fruit that grows on trees in a very narrow tropical band around the equator. The coffee tree tends to thrive in this warm area near the equator at high altitudes, and it seems to only do really well in this perfect environment. In fact recent hotter than normal weather in this area near the equator, known at the “coffee belt”, along with drought, has caused a serious decline in coffee bean production. This warmer than normal weather and drought may be caused by global warming. This decline in coffee production has caused a serious increase in the cost of coffee, one that is likely to continue into the coming year. Despite the recent increase in the cost of coffee, coffee continues to remain one of life’s relatively affordable little luxuries.
Mainly there are two popular varieties of coffee, the arabica bean, and the robusta bean. Arabica bean is much more popular in the west, it is prized because its flavor is much less bitter than that of the robusta bean. The robusta bean tends to be somewhat more popular in Asia.
The roasting process is also very important in determining the flavor of coffee. The coffee bean is cultivated green, and anyone who has seen a coffee bean before it has been ground knows that that is generally not how it is sold to the consumer. The green coffee bean is roasted, which of course turns it the darker color that you see when you buy coffee beans from the supermarket. The darker roasts have a somewhat more bitter flavor, and unfortunately longer roasting also destroys some of the more beneficial natural compounds contained in coffee. Lighter roasts have a milder flavor, and also are healthier as the beneficial natural compounds are not destroyed.
Coffee is one of life’s great little pleasures, enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. We can only hope that weather will cooperate in the coffee belt where coffee is grown so that we can continue to enjoy this wonderful beverage.
John Schmon is an expert on best coffee makers and coffee maker reviews.
Gourmet Coffee – What Makes it So Special?
Article by Peter Halpin
Since it’s discovery, coffee has been one of the most popular drinks on the planet, primarily for it’s aromatic flavour and invigorating qualities.
Until recent times, coffee suppliers offered few alternatives other than your usual, short black, long black, latte, cappuccino, vienna and further choices among these. From mild Italian espresso to thick strong Turkish coffee, the only option for flavour was pretty much still coffee with milk and sugar.
But today’s coffee connoiseur has become far more sophisticated. Coffee now comes in almost any flavour, strength or combination to satisfy even the fussiest coffee lover. No longer are gourmet coffees only set aside for a rare treat, but an growing number of people keep gourmet coffees on their shelves for any occasion.
So What is Gourmet Coffee Anyway?
Gourmet coffee is simply ordinary coffee to which has been added compatible flavours that actually enrich its coffee aroma and taste. The basic coffee taste, texture, aroma and stimulant effect is still there, but with a hint of, let’s say, mint, caramel, bacon, vanilla, chocolate or any other tantalizing possibility. Add to that, the subtle variations in flavour and texture of coffee beans from selected areas of the planet with varying climates and elevation and you have the ideal combination for gourmet coffee.
This is what gives gourmet coffee its unique quality.
Most of us have at some time enjoyed that perfect cup of coffee with something to nibble. It may be choc-mint buscuits, cheesecake, nuts, savoury snacks, pizza or any other imaginable delight. With a gourmet coffee, you can feel like you’re enjoying both, without actually consuming the food.
Where Can I Buy Gourmet Coffee?
Gourmet coffee is on the shelves at most grocery stores but the most convenient way to access a wider selection, is to buy over the internet. Numerous gourmet coffee websites are waiting for you to order from their extensive range.
Gourmet coffee has become a sought after gift idea. They’re great for housewarming parties and are a very smart business gift. Many online suppliers, such as Boca Java, offer gift arrangements which include not only the coffee, but also accessories to add to the appeal.
The definition of gourmet is a fine food or drink that has been assessed by a recognized authority to be excellent. Today, the coffee industry is evolving like the wine industry, where experts put their credibility on the line to appraise quality. Bottom line is, if they say it’s good, it must be good. Gourmet coffee has earned its reputation.
One of the most expensive gourmet coffees, is Jamaican Blue Mountain, mainly because it is so rare due to the effect of hurricanes on the crops. Its beans are not only used for brewed coffee, but are also the flavor base for the famous Tia Maria coffee liqueur. Most online suppliers of any standing will include Jamaican Blue Mountain on their menu.
The term “gourmet coffee” not only refers to just the coffee beans themselves, but includes all of the aspects, activities, techniques and experience that produces that kind of coffee. From the selection of the beans, the masterful roast, adding unique flavour… to the final product. Gourmet coffee is the result of a complete and specialised process.
Anyone for coffee?
Peter enjoys great coffee. For further information about online gourmet coffee providers, visit http://bocajavareview.com
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Gourmet, makes, Special
Offices on a Budget Reward Employees with Gourmet Coffee
Article by Jenn Weesies
Your break room is a lot more than just a place for your staff to regroup and enjoy the beverages, snacks, and camaraderie. It can be a low-cost place to show your employees that you care, and to demonstrate that the human resource manager or office manager is being creative and innovative for the company.
According to a WorldatWork survey of 875 human resources professionals, the second most utilized tool in today’s world of flat-pay and extra hours are non-cash rewards and recognition. Anything that demonstrates to employees that management still cares about their personal well being is helping preserve office morale. Most employees understand that with the current financial state of some companies, cash rewards and annual bonuses are just not an option. However, it is in the best interest of employers to seek out other ways to keep a positive and caring attitude at work.
The break-room is an excellent arena to demonstrate that management still cares about employees despite their inability to provide cash bonuses. Improve the quality and variety of your coffee by upgrading to premium and gourmet coffee blends that your employees desire. These are now readily available, with same day shipment from an online coffee supplier. Gourmet coffee blends can be made in your office from Starbucks, Caribou and Green Mountain for far less than you think, thanks to online cheaper coffee distributers. You can have two whole pre-measured 64 ounce decanters of delicious Starbucks gourmet coffee in your office for your employees for what they would stand in line and pay for just one cup!
Imagine the low cost “boost” to your employees when they discover their favorite premium and gourmet coffee blends at their fingertips. Even if you don’t want to buy it regularly, you could make every Monday employee appreciation day with the gourmet coffee blends from Starbucks, Caribou and Green Mountain coffee. Maybe it’s a special month, achievement, or what have you; be creative with your recognition!
Premium blends in pre-measured packages like Folgers coffee and Maxwell House coffee are readily available from the online cheaper coffee providers if you don’t want to buy gourmet. Some even provide filters at no charge. You can save money and coffee preparation time with these pre-measured coffee blends.
Besides the “non-cash” morale boost by ordering online, you reduce your company’s liability risk by employees going off-site to pick up coffee for the office in their personal vehicles. You can order online from a cheaper coffee supplier and have the pre-measured coffee delivered right to your place of work. Orders are shipped same day to ensure that your break-room is always stocked. Easy credit card use helps you monitor and categorize expenses and prevent employees from having to use their personal funds to buy office coffee. No more having to keep track of receipts and issue petty cash reimbursements.
If you are looking for non-cash rewards and recognition for your staff then start in the break-room. Buying gourmet coffee like Starbucks, Caribou and Green Mountain as well as other premium blends like Folgers coffee and Maxwell House coffee shows employees that you care about their mood and their tastes. Even if your company is short on cash simple rewards like high quality gourmet coffee can go a long way. Save yourself the time, liability and money by ordering online from a cheaper coffee supplier.
With over 40 years of office coffee experience, we can stock your break-room with everything you need at wholesale prices. Orders are shipped the same day when they are placed by 11a EST. Live operators are available 9:30a to 5:30p EST. Please visit: http://cheapercoffee.com/ or call 888-779-3952
The Story Of The True Origin Of Coffee
Each and every cup of coffee produced whether it was brewed in a large coffee pot or in one of those adorable single serve coffee makers has come from beans that have their origins in Ethiopia. Legend has it an Ethiopian goat-herder circa 700 AD had problems with his goats not sleeping at night. The goats had apparently nibbled on the crimson fruit of a near-by shrub. Naturally no one can say whether this fable is true so while the bush may have originated in Ethiopia, the founding of coffee as a drink was not documented until many years later.
In accordance with one story from ancient books the discovery of the coffee bean is believed to be by a mystic named Omar. Omar was regarded for healing people via prayers and was the disciple of a Sheik. He had been cast out to a desert region and was residing in a cave, where he was starving at the time when he located some berries on a tree. They were bitter to eat so he tried to roast them to improve the taste but they became tough and difficult to chew. Subsequently Omar boiled them trying to soften the hard roasted beans and found that they produced a very nice aroma, and when he drank the now brown water that was used to boil the beans he felt revitalized.
After the tales of Omar’s discovery of a wonder drug reached Ethiopia, the mystic disciple was asked to come back from exile and was declared a saint. The mystic’s coffee brew had grown to be well known and was ultimately brought to the Arab world through Egypt where it flourished and continued to spread. The Arab world had embraced the coffee bean and the disciples brew Religious leaders would drink the brew created from coffee beans to aid them in staying awake during their prolonged hours of ceremonial prayers and physicians would study the invigorating characteristics of what we know as coffee.
Mecca was booming with coffee shops by the 15th century and the coffee seed and the mystic’s brew continued to unfold throughout the Arab world. The Arab coffee houses became so popular that they spread to Europe and by the mid 17th century coffee shops started to appear in countries as far as England. The disciples coffee brew swiftly became a popular beverage with scholars in England and Europe as it focused their minds and the coffee shops inevitably became assembly places for the learned. Coffee gradually found its way out of the coffee house and into libraries and laboratories, which helped spark the creation of one cup coffee brewers.
Coffee was not as successful when it eventually reached America as it was in Europe. During the Colonial period alcohol was more common than coffee to drink. It wasn’t until soon after the Revolution during the War of 1812 that coffee exponentially grew as a beverage in popularity. Now in the present coffee is as popular as ever, coffee houses are still intellectual meeting places and international chains such as Starbucks have mystified the world with tantalizing varieties of roasted coffee beans. Looking back at the humble beginning of the coffee bean, the exiled mystic Omar could never have imagined the impact that his discovery would have on the world centuries later.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee
Gourmet Coffee – The Facts
Gourmet Coffee – The Facts
Article by Mario OReilly
If you are really fed up with having the hum drum coffee all the time. Then it’s time to recompense yourself with something diverse and exciting. Why not spritz up your morning routine with a cup of exquisite “gourmet coffee”.
The dictionary definition has gourmet food down as this, “Gourmet food is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented.” If you want the maximum quality food you go to a star class restaurant, but if you want the premier quality coffee, this can be achieved by you at home. That gourmet meal is in all probability staying at the restaurant where you ate, unless you become friends with the chef and invite him over, but as for the cup of gourmet coffee you can make it where ever you desire.
Gourmet coffee is more expensive than the standard supermarket brands, but there is simply no comparison in the quality of the coffee. If you are wealthy then you could enjoy such gourmet coffee when ever you wanted, otherwise it would be a nice thing to keep for weekends or when ever you had special company over for a visit.
To make your own gourmet coffee, start with the coffee beans. Gourmet Coffee beans can be purchased in several forms, by the pound or by the kilo and so on and there are several varieties from which to choose. Some of the most admired gourmet coffee beans include Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain, and Sumatra types.
Coffee beans are similar to wine in that they name the coffee beans after the region of origin. In the world of wine you have the well-liked Sonoma wines which come from Sonoma Valley in California. In the world of coffee the equivalent would be Kona coffee beans which come from Kona, Hawaii.
Kona coffee beans are developed in rich volcanic soil and the placid tropical climate of the Kona coffee belt on the west side of Hawaii. It has a superbly full, rich and silky flavour with little or no bitter after taste. Be sure that you buy Kona coffee beans and not a Kona blend. A Kona blend can legally be labelled as Kona with as it consists of as little as 10% of actual Kona coffee bean.
The next thing you will need to do is grind your gourmet coffee beans. Ground coffee starts to lose it’s flavour once it has been grinded and exposed to the fresh air. So to keep the optimum freshness you will only grind what you need for that one gourmet cup of coffee. You will want to grind your coffee beans until they are extremely fine, but don’t pound them into dust. If the ground coffee is to fine the heat of your coffee machine with dry up all the oils of the coffee bean and it is this part that gives the gourmet coffee its exquisite flavour.
Another key element in good coffee making is to clean your coffee machine on a daily basis. A clean coffee machine makes a major distinction in the final taste of your coffee. At least once a month pour a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water into your coffee maker. Allow the mix to travel through the complete brewing process. Repeat the procedure again using only water this time to rinse out any junk or vinegar left inside. Do this until the smell of vinegar is no more.
Now your work is finished and it is time for the coffee machine to pull it’s weight. Use clean filtered water and fill the coffee maker to the desired level. Use about 6 ounces of water for every 2 heaping tablespoons of coffee. Turn it on and hang around while it brews. You will want to present to soak up the delightful aroma. Everyday coffee is perfect for everyday use. But every once in a while you should treat yourself to something special. And what better way to start a special than that with a special cup of coffee. Gourmet coffees can really jazz up your day.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Facts, Gourmet
The Gourmet Coffee Bean
Article by boake moore
Because of higher retail prices we now have a wide range of various Types of Gourmet coffee Beans in our every day lives, it can be more and more difficult to discern what you’re buying at the market. And that’s not surprising given the sheer numbers game. From what we know, there are more than 6,000 variations in the world, with at least 25 major types of gourmet coffee beans underneath that. When it comes down to it, though, the two most commercially important types of beans are Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica Types of Gourmet coffee Beans account for over 60% of gourmet coffee production worldwide. The Arabica plant is a large bush and is very susceptible to frost, disease, and pests. Because of this, its beans are more expensive. Arabica can be used in its pure form or used as the base for gourmet coffee blends with Robusta. Arabica has a delicate flavor and is used to add body to the gourmet coffee when used in blends.
The flavor of Arabica beans varies widely according to the region of the world where they are grown. Indonesian beans produce the richest, most full-bodied cup of gourmet coffee. Hailing from Java and Sumatra, the brew is a good dessert gourmet coffee and very suitable to flavoring with cream and sugar. Arabica beans grown in Central and South America offer moderate body and aroma. Most breakfast blends are made with American gourmet coffees, as are most flavored gourmet coffees.
By contrast, Robusta gourmet coffee accounts for almost 40% of world production. Robusta differs from Arabica in that it’s much easier to grow and is resistant to disease and weather and is therefore cheaper. However, this does not necessarily mean that a gourmet coffee blend with Robusta is lower quality than pure Arabica – gourmet coffee blends are designed to bring out the best in different flavors. Robusta has a strong flavor and is used to give ‘kick’ to gourmet coffee. Robusta doesn’t vary in flavor as widely as Arabica does. It was first discovered growing naturally in the area now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Growers in Africa produce a gourmet coffee of medium aroma and body. If you like very flavorful gourmet coffees, you will like those from Kenya and Tanzania. Now that you understand the basics of Gourmet coffee Beans, the question turns to which Types of Gourmet coffee Beans are right for you. It really depends on with what you’re planning to serve the gourmet coffee. If you’re serving with breakfast or a dessert of fruit and sorbet, beans from East Africa (particularly Kenya and Ethiopia) or Mexico will best complement the food.
If you’re going to offer your guests light desserts like cakes, cookies, or pie, the beans of Guatemala and Colombia will warm up the food with their slight acidic tendency. With rich desserts like truffles, trifles, and tiramisu, Indonesian Gourmet coffee Beans are full-bodied and smooth enough to perfectly offset the dessert.
Another key point to consider is how much gourmet coffee you’ll need. These high quality beans shouldn’t be bought in bulk and should instead be purchased so that you have just enough for your immediate need. They should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week or in the freezer for up to a month. To discover what beans are best for your daily cup of Joe, conduct a taste test. Brew several types of beans separately. Pour each in its own cup. Pick up each cup individually, smell the gourmet coffee, and then slowly sip and taste the gourmet coffees. Later, take a sip or two when it’s cooled, as many gourmet coffees change flavor as they cool.
One type of Arabica mean is a Kona bean, though some people mistakenly call it a third bean. Kona is extremely small commercially compared to Arabica and Robusta, but is extremely expensive and therefore important economically. Kona is really a Arabica bean grown in Hawaii.. Kona offers average bite and body but is in high demand worldwide because of its powerful aroma. These Gourmet coffee Beans are rarely blended with others because of their high desirability in and of themselves
Boake Moore is an IT solutions salesman by trade and also founded a non profit coffee company called Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee –http://www.missiongrounds.com/ourphilosophy.php – the church coffee. It donates all its profits and proceeds to helping orphans and impoverished children. Helping orphans, the church coffee – http://www.missiongrounds.com/ourchildren.php can be found at Krogers and many churches. And its also the finest Tarrazu coffee
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: Bean, coffee, Gourmet
The What, Where and Why of Gourmet Coffee
Nowadays, coffee drinkers all over the world have become more sophisticated in their taste. This is apparent in the steady following that gourmet coffee has gradually gained in recent years. People are starting to appreciate the high quality and taste of these special coffee mixes. Here is an overview of what all the gourmet coffee craze is about.
WHAT IS GOURMET COFFEE?
Gourmet basically means fine food or drink. These substances have been judged by experts in the field, and have been found to be exceptional compared to most. Gourmet coffee, in particular, is coffee with a unique flavor. Coffee beans used to create gourmet coffee typically come from selected places in the world. These places typically have the best elevation and climates for growing coffee, and have rich soil and special cultivation practices, allowing the production of coffee beans with distinct flavor. Various flavors, such as mint or vanilla, are then added to further enrich the taste and the aroma of the blend.
Although gourmet coffee usually denotes the finished product itself, the term gourmet coffee actually refers to the entire specialized process of manufacturing the finished product. This includes the selection of the beans, the roasting, the addition of flavors, until the final product is formed.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF GOURMET COFFEE?
There are numerous kinds of gourmet coffee available in the market. They are made in different flavors, including almond, French vanilla, amaretto, Swiss mocha, chocolate, vanilla, and mint, just to name the more common ones. Some gourmet coffees are caffeinated, while others are decaffeinated.
WHERE CAN YOU BUY GOURMET COFFEE?
Gourmet coffee is readily available from your local grocery store and cafe. However, the best place to find gourmet coffee is a coffee roaster, where you can literally choose from hundreds of different coffee blends and mixes. If you’re too busy to check out these local coffee stores, you can also opt to buy gourmet coffee online. There are a load of gourmet coffee websites that sell various kinds of gourmet coffee. The best part is they will deliver your order straight to your doorstep!
In general, gourmet coffee costs more than regular coffee. The price can range from around $50 to over $100. Remember, good quality is something you have to pay for!
When choosing a gourmet coffee blend, sample different types of roasts and flavors. Don’t forget to smell the coffee, as fresh gourmet coffee always has a tempting aroma. Allow the merchant to grind the gourmet coffee for you. Finally, match the coffee to the specific brewing method recommended to fully enjoy the distinctive flavor of your gourmet coffee.
About the Author
Katya Coen provides information on gourmet coffee beans for Gourmet Coffee Guide – your online guide to gourmet coffees!
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Gourmet
Tips For Selecting Quality Coffee Beans
Article by Harvey J. Sharp
Coffee is one of the most widely distributed commodities in the world, usually sitting #2 behind oil. It is the most consumed beverage in North America and the third most consumed beverage in most other parts of the world, behind water and tea. Considered a specialty product due to the delicate growing conditions that are needed by coffee farmers, coffee comes in a variety if different qualities, ranging from inexpensive (instant coffee blends) to expensive (pure beans, special roasts). Here is a breakdown of how to select quality coffee beans for your next cup of java.
Aroma
Arguably one of the most attractive qualities of coffee is that aroma that comes from the beans as well as the fresh grounds. Your first element that should guide you to buying beans is to choose a bean or bean blend that has a pleasing aroma. Don’t be afraid to stick your head in the bag and take a deep breath. Fresher roasts will have distinct aromatic notes that older roasts won’t. In fact, freshly roasted beans will have no trouble filling a room with its goodness. Tip; go for the beans that smell the best.
Storage
While not always possible, it is important to ask your coffee bean seller how the beans are stored. Beans generally stay fresh longer in cool, dark locations, such as a cellar or a windowless room. They should not be kept in the refrigerator or even in the freezer, as these two areas are too cold.
Look
Beans should always be examined before being purchased. Some beans are quite oily, while others are relatively dry. Purchasing oily beans, rather then dried ones generally means there will be slightly more acidity to the coffee after its roasted and the roast is likely a dark one.
Taste
Some stores will go the extra mile and allow you to try a sample of the coffee before making a purchase. You can always ask the employee to make you a small espresso and give it the true taste test to see if it measures up in the coffee mug . If the coffee is an espresso, let it sit for a minute first before consuming. The flavors will often balance within this period and give you a truer coffee flavor.
All these tips are meant as guidelines for your purchase. Ultimately, you should be asking the coffee store employee lots of questions and telling him or her what kind of coffee you enjoy. They’ll often be able to pair you with something of your liking.
About the Author
Harvey J. Sharp is an avid traveler and writer, who spends little time in the United States, preferring South America, India and parts of Asia. His interests are in art, design, photography and sculpture.
Best Coffee Machine Shopping – A Beginner’s Guide
Article by CoffeeWriter
Trying to find the best coffee machine is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Considering the variety of different coffeemakers out there, the entire experience can be more than a little overwhelming. Take time to focus on the big picture, before making any decision. There are six basic methods of making coffee. Select which method you’re going to use, then find a machine that fits.
Single Cup Coffee Machine – Not only do these appliances make coffee, they make a number of hot beverages including cappuccino, latte as well as tea and hot chocolate. Single cup coffee brewers require either a pod or capsule, one per cup. These pre-packaged ground beans come wrapped in their own filter. Produced by a number of companies, the pods are usually compatible among various brands and models. The capsules however, are not compatible. You need to buy both machine and capsules from the same company.
Drip Coffee Maker – Introduced in the early 1970s, the drip coffee maker quickly replaced the percolator as the most common way to brew coffee at home. They are economical to use and quite simple to operate. Place some ground coffee in the paper filter, pour water into the reservoir and turn on the machine. As water is heated to the correct temperature, it drips onto the grains in the filter and runs through to the glass carafe below. Be careful not to leave the coffee sitting on the hot plate for too long, as it can start to cook. One way around this problem is to use a thermally insulated carafe.
Combination Coffee Machine – The grind and brew coffee maker, also known as a combination coffee maker, is a step forward in coffee brewing. It is the integration of a coffee grinder with a drip coffeemaker. Because the beans are ground immediately prior to brewing, the coffee is very fresh. There is less potential mess to clean up since both grinder and brewer are one machine. Whole coffee beans are placed in a bean reservoir, whereupon the machine grinds the appropriate amount and dispenses it into the filter. From this point forward it operates exactly as a drip coffee machine. This type of coffee maker can be set up the night before to provide you with fresh coffee in the morning. One thing to consider is that these machines tend to be rather tall. You may find it difficult to place it on your kitchen counter, underneath the upper cabinet. So take measurements before you go shopping.
French Press – Coffee Maker The French Press Coffee Maker (or coffee plunger) could very well be one of the best coffee machines. It’s actually quite simple and some models are very aesthetic. The French Press is simply a glass beaker with a plunger and mesh filter on it. Put some coarse coffee grounds in the jar, mix in some hot water and let it steep for about three to four minutes. Then simply push the plunger down to separate the grounds from the coffee. Some people feel the flavor and essential oils are better captured because the grounds stay in direct contact with the water, and a fine mesh is used instead of a paper filter. However, because of the direct contact the coffee will become bitter fast if left to stand.
Vacuum Coffee Machine – A vacuum coffee maker is the machine with two chambers, where vapor pressure and vacuum work together to produce coffee. Admirers of this method of coffee making it feel that produces a much cleaner, crisper, richer and smoother coffee. With your you agree or not, one thing is true. This is a complicated and time consuming method of making coffee. These are not easy machines to keep clean, due to their convoluted shape. Perhaps that’s why it’s not a very popular way of making coffee.
Coffee Percolator – Prior to the 1970s, the percolator could be found in practically every coffee drinking home in North America. Whether it was a stove top or an electric model, everyone had one. They are called percolators because of the percolating action that occurs continuously. Cold water is poured into the bottom of the percolator where it warms up and moves to the top through a pipe. The water disperses onto the coffee grounds and gravity pulls it back down to the bottom of the machine. Here it heats up again and the cycle repeats. Once the coffee reaches boiling point the perking action stops and the coffee is ready to drink. These days, percolators are mostly used for larger crowds. It’s very rare to find one sized for regular home use.
Any method can produce great coffee. It’s not really a question of which one is better than the other. It’s about finding something that suits your taste and lifestyle. If you’re pressed for time, then a single cup coffee maker may be the way to go. But if you’re a fan of complexity and you have the time to learn, then perhaps a vacuum coffee maker would be more appropriate.
About the Author
Stephen Jeske is a freelance writer with a passion for coffee. A former partner in a 49-year-old family business, and a private investor for almost three decades, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Specialized Honors Music from York University.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: Beginner's, BEST, coffee, Guide, Machine, Shopping
Origins Of Quality Coffee For Your Kitchen
Article by Clinton Maxwell
Coffee requires very special climatic conditions to thrive, and it only grows in tropical areas with a steady supply of rain and sunshine. Even so, from its origins in Ethiopia, where most of the beans are still harvested from wild plants, coffee production has spread around the globe. The main producing areas are centered on the equator, in a slim band twenty five degrees to the north and south. Over seventy nations produce the beans, and the commercial value of coffee today is astonishing.
Almost a third of global production occurs in Brazil. Columbia is the second largest producer, although it is perhaps the better known for producing fine roasts. Coming in third is Indonesia, followed closely by Mexico, where a smaller bean produces a very distinctive taste. Although coffee beans can thrive at any altitude, the best quality beans are often produced in higher areas.
Brazilian coffee production is characterized by large, highly ordered plantations that provide work for thousands of workers. Coffee growing in Columbia, on the other hand, tends to be done at higher altitude, in smaller areas located in rugged mountainous terrain. Poor economic conditions mean that getting the beans from their point of origin to the processing plants often makes use of mules, or possibly jeeps for richer coffee farmers.
Although only a small amount of coffee is produced there, Hawaii has ideal conditions for coffee production. The plants flourish in the dark volcanic ash of the Mauna Loa volcano, where hot sun and regular showers ensure the perfect environment for producing high quality coffee.
Colonization of Indonesia by the Dutch in the seventeenth century introduced coffee plants to the country that is really a collection of thousands of small islands. The humid, balmy micro-climates of this area more than make up for the lack of high tech coffee producing equipment, and farms on three of the largest islands Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi produce most of the country’s exported coffee.
A challenge to Indonesia’s supremacy in that part of the world is Vietnam, who are beginning to produce a large volume of quality coffee after years of standing still economically. Initially Arabica trees were introduced to Vietnam by missionaries from France, but the main plant grown there now is Robusta.
Robusta is also produced in large quantities in Africa, particularly the Ivory Coast area. Africa is a relatively small coffee producer in terms of volume, but the quality of certain roasts, particularly a fruity blend from Kenya, cannot be rivaled. The overall flavor of African coffee comes from the large, dark beans produced there and makes these coffees stand out from South American or Asian brews.
So next time you go to the kitchen to make yourself a cup of coffee, take a moment to consider the origins of the coffee grinds in your espresso machines or coffee makers, and the sort of conditions that were necessary to bring you the perfect cup.
Concentrating on the area of coffee types, the writer writes articles normally for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com. His publications on expresso machines can be encountered on http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com and also other websites.
Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: coffee, Kitchen, Origins, quality