Emergency Housing Consortium and Barefoot Coffee Roasters partner to deliver sustainable support to end homelessness and build lives
SAN JOSE, CA July 1, 2004 -- Grinding homelessness to a halt is the aim of new partnership between Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC) and Barefoot Coffee Roasters. Through its Cause and Effect program, Barefoot Coffee Roasters will raise awareness and provide sustainable support for EHCs programs serving homeless adults, families, and youth.
For every pound of Casa Segura sold at retail, Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $1 to EHC. In addition to retail sales, EHC will receive $0.50 for each pound sold to wholesale customers. Casa Segura will debut at Day on the Meadow and the San Jose America Festival, two July 4th weekend events that also benefit Emergency Housing Consortium.
We are very excited about our new partnership with Barefoot Coffee Roasters, says Barry Del Buono, EHCs President and CEO. For EHC, this support is more than dollars in the door. Casa Segura will help to raise awareness about EHCs work and the issue of homelessness.
Casa Segura is a new blend created specifically to benefit EHC by Barefoot Coffee Roasters CEO Chief Espresso Officer Andy Newbom. Casa Segura is a beautifully bright and lively coffee with rich red wine highlights and sublime floral and cacao undertones. It is a rich and heady blend of a world class Central American coffee and an intense East African coffee. The flavor is rich and buttery yet features a bright and snappy intensity. While Barefoot Coffee Roasters provides sustainable support to the global community by purchasing coffee directly from farmers, the creation of this special blend highlights the companys commitment to bring that support to the local community.
All businesses have an obligation to support the community both locally and globally, says Andy Newbom, CEO of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. Coffee and community are intertwined. We want to give back to our communities and reach out to everyone regardless of their situation. What we love about Emergency Housing Consortium is their support for the entire community, not just a select few. EHC is a model cause for our Cause and Effect program and we are extremely excited about working hard to spread awareness about their valuable services and having some small hand in grinding homelessness to a halt.
Casa Segura is available for purchase at the July 3rd Day on the Meadow festival and the July 4th San Jose America Festival in downtown San Jose. To jump start the program, the donation an all purchases of Casa Segura made at these two events will be doubled to $2 per pound. It is also available at Barefoot Coffee Roasters located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara.
Restaurants, cafor other businesses interested in providing sustainable support for the homeless or any of the other Cause and Effect charitable support programs can contact Barefoot Coffee Roasters at 408-687-3692 for more information.
Emergency Housing Consortium is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation serving homeless and low-income individuals, families, and youth in Santa Clara County. At several locations throughout Silicon Valley, EHC offers shelter, housing and services, and assists clients in their efforts to regain independence. EHC is more than shelter. EHC rebuilds lives. For more information about EHC, please visit www.homelessness.org or call (408) 539-2100.
Barefoot Coffee Roasters is a full-service coffee and espresso bar and artisan wholesale coffee roaster located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara (at the corner of Lawrence Expressway near Bed, Bath and Beyond). All coffees are roasted fresh in the cafy skilled artisan roasters using old-world, small batch roasting techniques to coax the best flavor out of every coffee. Barefoot Coffee Roasters actively practices and promotes sustainability in both products and practices. Over 85% of Barefoot Coffee Roasters coffees are organic, shade grown and fair traded, resulting in not only better coffee but better living and working conditions for the farmers and their children for successive generations. The cafeatures computers for Internet access, as well as Wi-Fi Internet access, and serves high-quality coffees, teas, pastries, desserts and chocolates. Barefoot Coffees are served and enjoyed in many fine cafand restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is proud to be a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Roasters Guild and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America. For more information, please call (408) 248-4500 or simply drop by.
Monday, 14 May 2007
Barefoot Coffee Roasters Helps Grind Homelessness to a Halt
CoffeeNet Announces Grand Opening
The grand opening for CoffeeNet, a coffee shop in the metro Atlanta area, is scheduled for March 27, 2004. CoffeeNet is a coffee house featuring gourmet coffees, lattes, cappucinos, teas, desserts and business productivity services. Services include free internet, color copying, faxing, mailbox rental, and room rental.
Smyrna, GA March 1, 2004--COFFEENET ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2004.
Smyrna has a new coffeehouse in the neighborhood. To celebrate the opening on March 27, 2004, festivities will include free drip coffee, an appearance by Smyrnas mayor, balloons for kids, prize giveaways, and entertainment in the evening. There will also be a Guess the Number of Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans in the Jar contest. CoffeeNet is located at 3100 Highlands Parkway, near the intersection of South Cobb Drive and Highlands Parkway.
We are very excited to open our first store, says co-owner Gayle Link. Our goal here at CoffeeNet is to provide inspirational customer service in a comfortable atmosphere. CoffeeNet is committed to meeting the needs of our customers while using top quality ingredients. We also believe in fast, consistent drink preparation.
A coffee and technology fusion concept, CoffeeNet is a coffee shop that features fresh, gourmet coffee as well as a business productivity center. Patrons can surf the Internet for free or check email while sipping on a latte or eating a delicious piece of cake. You can bring in your own laptop or utilize CoffeeNets computers. On the menu are several coffee varieties, including fair trade, organic coffees, espresso-based beverages such as lattes and cappuccinos, flavored coffees, teas, smoothies and bakery items such as cookies, cakes, and muffins. In addition to surfing the Internet, customers can utilize many other services. They can make color copies, order business cards and stationary, use our mailbox services, work on a document in Microsoft Word or send a fax. CoffeeNet also has a large training room and two smaller rooms that can be used for meetings. Or, you can just sit back and relax while enjoying your coffee, says Link.
CoffeeNet is not your typical coffeehouse. Housed in a new shopping center on Highlands Parkway, right off of South Cobb Drive, the main dining room features warm, subdued lighting, tables and chairs, as well as other comfortable seating options. Towards the back of the shop are two rooms that offer privacy for patrons seeking to have a small private meeting, or perhaps lounge and read a book while enjoying a French roast. Behind those rooms are the main computer room and the large training room. The training room is the perfect size for many different types of events club meetings, Bible studies, seminars, lectures, classes, or even a bridal shower or tea or poetry reading. We really look forward to serving Smyrna and the metro Atlanta area and hosting events at our shop, says Link. The coffee and business productivity combination was a concept that came naturally to CoffeeNets owners, Gayle Link and P. Lei Yarber. CoffeeNets owners were known to drink coffee late into the evening, while working. But like many, they were also known to relax and chat over a cup of coffee as well. We hope that people will come here to work, but also to unwind, play and socialize.
CoffeeNet is privately held. Founded in 2003, CoffeeNet is a coffee and technology fusion concept in the metro Atlanta area. For more information about CoffeeNet, call 404-794-7744 or visit http://www.coffee-net.net/
Gourmet Coffee Popularity Soars, New Franchise Opportunities Created for Home Business Entrepreneurs
Over the past five years, the number of gourmet coffee drinkers has risen from 7 million to 27 million, an astounding gain. Espresso Italia, with its unique distributorship franchise program, has positioned itself to allow more small business people to take advantage of a coffee craze that shows no signs of abating.
Boynton Beach, FL June 21, 2004 -- According to recent market studies, more than 77% of American adults - roughly 161 million consumers - are daily coffee drinkers. Despite the near ubiquity of coffee as a staple in Americans' daily routines, only one in eight Americans has ever enjoyed a cappuccino or latte. These statistics hint at the vast untapped market for more "sophisticated" gourmet coffee drinks, while the 27 million self-identified gourmet coffee consumers indicates that a sizable market is already well established. In the space of just over three years, the Espresso Italia corporation, headquartered in Boynton Beach, Florida, has begun to play an increasingly important role in the burgeoning gourmet coffee industry.
The Specialty Coffee Association of America estimates that gourmet coffee represents $4.2 billion out of the $14 billion dollar coffee industry, and it's predicted that the gourmet sector will double in size over the next 5 years! Espresso Italia, which had annual revenues approaching $10 million in 2003, has been expanding and introducing new products to meet the rising demand for specialty coffee beverages. The company has grown dramatically, and now boasts over 1,000 distributors in 43 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
As gourmet coffee continues to break into the mainstream consumer audience, and the interest in working from home in a downsized corporate job market also grows, the timing of Espresso Italia's core concepts - inexpensive coffee distributorships for small business entrepreneurs, and free espresso machines for end users - starts to look more and more auspicious.
As President Shadd Vickery points out: "Our very attractive program allows our distributors to participate in the dynamic coffee industry. This immediate growth potential, coupled with the fact that the business is home-based, with locations supplied by us, adds to the appeal." Look for Espresso Italia to continue contributing to the trend of more accessible and sophisticated gourmet coffee arriving in your neighborhood in the months and years to come!
Brewing Hope: Bringing Fair Trade Coffee from Chiapas to Ann Arbor
Brewing Hope is a new project created by Ann Arbor residents and led by a group of University of Michigan students who want to create a direct relationship with farmers from Chiapas, Mexico. available along with the coffee.
Ann Arbor, MI July 3, 2004 -- Brewing Hope is a new project created by Ann Arbor residents and led by a group of University of Michigan students who want to create a direct relationship with farmers from Chiapas, Mexico. Their goal is to bring Fair Trade coffee directly from one cooperative in ChiapasYachilto local cafes and grocery stores in Ann Arbor, while educating consumers about the social and environmental benefits of fair trade coffee through educational pamphlets that will be available along with the coffee.
Brewing Hope has already been in contact with several Ann Arbor coffee shop owners who have expressed enthusiasm for this project. Brewing Hope has also partnered with Higher Grounds Trading Co., Michigans only 100% fair trade gourmet coffee company, because of the companys unique relationship with many fair trade farming co-ops in Chiapas. Higher Grounds will be contracting a local Ann Arbor roaster, Perk and Brew, to roast, package, and distribute the coffee. The first order of coffee from Yachil arrived in Ann Arbor on June 9th. From Aug. 15th to Aug. 23rd, Brewing Hope, in conjunction with Higher Grounds Trading Co., will lead a delegation of University of Michigan students to Chiapas. They will investigate the effects of the coffee crisis in Chiapas and the important role of fair trade and organic agriculture in providing Ann Arbors partner cooperative, Yachil, with liveable wages and a healthy environment.
The delegation will meet with the fair trade coffee co-op to request a formal partnership with the community of Santa Catarina, one of the central villages within Yachil Xojobal Chulchan (The New Light in the Sky) cooperative.
Marlowe Coolican, one of the students going on the delegation, says, Its exciting to be a part of a trip where I am actually going to take part in establishing a new relationship between my hometown and the community we are visiting. I always try to buy fair trade coffee in Ann Arbor, because I believe it is a good economic alternative, but actually being able to meet and live with the farmers who grow this coffee makes it even more personal.
The Yachil cooperative represents about 850 coffee producing families who have been outspoken in their goals of obtaining sustainability and peace. The cooperative, which produces gourmet fair trade and organically-grown coffee, has had difficulty selling at fair prices due to the global coffee crisis and instability in the region. Chiapas has been the scene of an on-going low intensity war waged against Mayan peoples striving for indigenous rights and autonomy. While the on-going threat of further violence remains, the coffee farmers are faced with the worst coffee crisis in history.
After spending nearly a year with Mayan coffee producers in Chiapas, Mexico, and witnessing firsthand the coffee crisis on small-scale coffee producers, Chris and Jody Treter returned to Michigan to form Higher Grounds Trading Co. The partnership between Brewing Hope and Higher Grounds Trading Co. serves to grow a market for Yachils coffee, which, in turn, gives the farmers control over their livelihoods.
Coffee prices on New York's Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange -- which provides the industry with its benchmark for beans -- currently hover around 50 cents a pound, down more than 80 percent from their peak in 1997 and about 30 cents below the cost of production. Over 2/3 of Mexicos coffee producers are indigenous campesinos holding less than 5 acres of land. These small farmers are the most vulnerable to the world market, and the hardest hit by the coffee crisis. At the same time as record lows occur in the price of coffee on the global market, conventional coffee companies are making record profits.
The fair trade certification system, used by Higher Grounds Trading Co. corrects market imbalances by guaranteeing at least US $1.26 per pound for small farmers' harvests, and encouraging organic and sustainable growing methods. With a fair and stable income, coffee growers can invest in their families' health care and education. The new Brewing Hope project in Ann Arbor hopes to go a step beyond fair trade certification by creating a direct relationship between two communities thousands of miles apart. Through activities such as the student delegation in August, and future reciprocal visits by Chiapas farmers to Ann Arbor, Higher Grounds and Brewing Hope put profit back into coffee producing communities in Chiapas while building awareness in Ann Arbor.
To learn more about the Yachil coffee in Ann Arbor, or being a part of this project by ordering the coffee, contact Chris Treter at 231-256-9667.
Mission: "Coffee for Our Troops"
Thousands of Pounds of Coffee Being Shipped to U.S. Troops in Iraq & Afghanistan
Sacramento, CA November 24, 2004 -- American troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) will soon be receiving a strong message of support from Sacramento.Hundreds of pounds of ground coffee are being shipped as part of the Coffee for Our Troops program. The program is a partnership between two Sacramento-based entities: non-profit Move America Forward (www.MoveAmericaForward.org) and premium coffee roaster, Cornerstone Coffee (www.CornerstoneCoffee.com).
The best part is the fact that each bag of ground coffee being shipped over is sponsored by an American who supports our troops. The bag of coffee is accompanied by a message of support that the individuals write themselves. Move America Forward then sends over the coffee (along with message of support) directly to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The brave men and women of our armed forces are making heroic sacrifices to fight terrorism overseas so that we dont face attack here at home. During this holiday season you cant help but think about the fact that our troops are in harms way, thousands of miles from family and friends. It is incumbent upon us to take steps to show them how much we appreciate them and all that they are doing, said Howard Kaloogian, Chairman of Move America Forward.
Cornerstone Coffee was chosen by Move America Forward to provide the coffee because of their unmatched quality and dedication to supporting our troops and the missions they are serving on.
We are so very grateful to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and we want them to know how many Americans support them. It is our honor and privilege to provide the coffee for this program, and our goal is to see to it that every unit that desires the highest quality coffee receives it, said Burke Hodge, president of Cornerstone Coffee.
Americans have already sponsored several hundred pounds of coffee. The coffee is first specially roasted at Cornerstone Coffees roasting facility. Then the coffee is packaged along with letters of support at Move America Forwards headquarters at 770 L Street Suite #950 in Downtown Sacramento. The packages are then taken to the downtown Sacramento Post Office facility at 801 I Street.
Individuals can sponsor their own bag of coffee to be shipped over to our troops. To participate, log on to www.MoveAmericaForward.org and follow the order instructions. For $11.95 a 12 ounce bag of premium ground coffee will be shipped to a U.S. serviceman or woman serving in Iraq or Afghanistan along with a note from the person placing the order. The individuals message, their name and their city and state will be printed out and affixed to the bag of coffee so the troops know who paid for the coffee and read their message of support.
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CoffeeSamples.com Launches and Targets Help For Coffee Suppliers
CoffeeSamples.com launches creating a service allowing coffee suppliers to connect directly with coffee connoisseurs worldwide. By connecting with the consumers the suppliers reach a larger clientele and can put their coffee in the homes of millions.
Irvine, CA November 30, 2004 -- CoffeeSamples.com launches creating a service allowing coffee suppliers to connect directly with coffee connoisseurs worldwide. By connecting with the consumers the suppliers reach a larger clientele and can put their coffee in the homes of millions. The program was created to inform coffee drinkers of new coffee choices and get them to make the switch from their repetitive drinking from inherited brand loyalties.
Most consumers are faced with few choices at supermarkets and are unaware of the quality of the products available. CoffeeSamples.com targets the small to medium sized suppliers that put gourmet coffee and quality as their focus in business.
"Coffee suppliers generally offer samples to let the consumers try new product lines and give them the opportunity to switch. CoffeeSamples.com takes the leg work out of searching the Internet for websites and puts all the samples in a centralized location with consumers reviews." says Nicholas Raba, co-founder of CoffeeSamples.com
To fill the cups of the coffee drinkers, CoffeeSamples.com is seeking coffee suppliers to offer free samples to the consumers. Offering samples to consumers allows the supplier to reach new customers and put their beans back in the life of prior drinkers and the opportunity to offer discounts, future samples, product information and fulfill the need for coffee drinkers to try gourmet coffee. CoffeeSamples.com interacts with the coffee sample recipients allowing the drinker to review the coffee they were sent for others looking for reviews of coffees.
Joining CoffeeSamples.com comes at no charge to either the consumer or suppliers.
The CoffeeSamples.com supplier program ( http://www.coffeesamples.com/supplier_signup.php ) is interactive and allows the supplier to fulfill the orders and update the consumers when the orders have shipped. Quantities of the samples can be limited and show the consumer when all samples are exhausted, at anytime the supplier can add additional quantities or new samples.
4 Tons of Coffee Shipped and More on the Way
The "Coffee for Our Troops" program started by Cornerstone Coffee Company and Move America Forward is making it's way through the ranks!
Sacramento, CA January 24, 2005 -- Coffee for Our Troops, a program created by Cornerstone Coffee Company and Move America Forward is currently seeking Corporate Sponsors.To date we have shipped more than 4 tons of coffee directly to our troops in the Middle East.
We are making impressive headway toward our goal to supply every troop in Afghanistan and Iraq a bag of fresh roasted coffee from home. I cant drink the stuff they are getting as part of their rations, I cant imagine they enjoy it either! said Burke Hodge, President of Cornerstone Coffee Company.
Now businesses both large and small can show their support by sponsoring cases of coffee to be sent. Each case will include a message from your company indicating your sponsorship and support as well as personalized messages from you and/or your staff on every bag.
We are getting many requests from troops who have heard about our program but have not yet received coffee. It is obvious that our program is making its way through the ranks said Siobhan Guiney, Executive Director of Move America Forward.
Coffee is in short supply as well as one of the most requested comfort items from home, not to mention the temperature has been between 20 30 degrees. What a message your sponsorship will send to our Men and Women fighting over there, Hodge said.
You can sponsor bags of coffee individually by visiting our website at www.CornerstoneCoffee.com or if you would like information on how to become a corporate or business sponsor, please contact Greg Heckle, V. P. of Operations at (916) 308-4148.
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Coffee Lovers Get Delicious New Fairtrade Choice
The launch of a new coffee roaster, Glo Coffee, brings a fresh range of speciality Fairtrade and Organic coffee options. Glo wholesales to coffee shops and retailers, but also provide a direct-to-consumer service through its www.glocoffee.com website, where coffee lovers can take advantage of the "roast-to-order" service and get the very freshest, tastiest coffee, guaranteed to be roasted within 48 hours of posting.
April 8, 2004 -- Glo Coffee today announced its public launch, and immediate availability of its fine range of freshly roasted coffees. Glo brings a deliciously tempting proposition for coffee drinkers through its commitment to coffee excellence and fair treatment of producers. Combining a high quality variety of coffee beans with a roast-to-order service, customers can purchase online at http://www.glocoffee.com and their orders will be dispatched within 48 hours of roasting. Additionally, all coffee made by Glo bears the Fairtrade Mark.
Wendy Holt, Managing Director and Founder of Glo Coffee explains:
"There are a number of factors to consider when trying to make the perfect cup, not least of which are: the quality of the beans; the roasting method; and the period of time that has passed since the coffee was roasted and ground. Glo uses the highest quality Arabica beans, which we roast for maximum taste. We always wait until an order has been placed before we roast: this ensures that when the coffee is received it is at its optimum, and will stay fresh longer."
Coffee supplied by Glo is packaged in air-tight bags containing a one-way valve: this allows it to be packaged immediately after roasting and will therefore be at its absolute freshest when it arrives. The range includes Single Origins, Glo Blends, and Espresso, with whole bean and multiple grind options. Most of the range is also certified Organic.
Describing Glo's relationship with the Fairtrade Foundation, Holt also stated:
"In establishing Glo, it became very clear to us that we had to source our products in a responsible way. Whilst there are various levels of fairness in the treatment of coffee farmers within our industry today, we believe that only coffee carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark has the independent guarantee that producers in developing countries are getting a better deal.
In addition to consumer sales, Glo supplies business customers, coffee shops, restaurants and retail food establishments, with special discounts available to charities, churches and not-for-profit organisations.
Glo Coffee is a member of the SCAE (Speciality Coffee Association of Europe), a trade association committed to quality and coffee excellence.
The Glo Coffee Lineup
The following coffees have immediate availability, with additional ranges being announced over the next couple of months:
Glo Colombian, Glo Sumatran Organic and Glo Sidamo Organic: Three single origin high quality Arabica coffees, each delivering the distinct flavours of their regions.
Glo Harmony Organic: The harmonic relationship between some African and Indonesian coffees is the inspiration for this blend, the best known being the classic Mocha-Java. Glo Harmony is roasted to the darker side of medium, creating an interesting and balanced cup.
Glo in the Dark:: A dark strong cup to give that wake me up feeling, or also great with a touch of cream for an after-dinner treat.
Glo Espresso: A softer aromatic choice for the espresso lover, creating a smooth cup.
Each Glo Coffee product is available in 227g and 1kg bags, with the choice of either whole beans or a selection of grind types. All carry the Fairtrade Mark.
About Fairtrade
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay above market prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their lot and have more control over their lives.
About the Fairtrade Mark
The Fairtrade Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK products as a guarantee that they have given their producers a better deal. The Mark is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation, a registered charity set up by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft Exchange and the World Development Movement. It shares internationally recognised Fairtrade standards with initiatives in 17 other countries, working together as Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO).
Barefoot Coffee Roasters and Global Blends Coffee Give Back to the Community
Barefoot Coffee Roasters increases availability of Cause and Effect coffees to the Peninsula to deliver sustainable support to local charities and causes
SAN JOSE, CA August 12, 2004 -- Coffee lovers and cause minded individuals can now support several great Bay Area causes by drinking coffee at Mountain Views Global Blends Coffee Company. Through its Cause and Effect program, Barefoot Coffee Roasters is raising awareness and providing sustainable support for local causes and charities such as Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC) and Ballet San Jose. And now peninsula residents can enjoy world class coffee and espresso drinks and support their community causes at the same time.For every pound of Casa Segura or Tanzania Ballerinaberry coffee sold at retail at Global Blends Coffee Company, Barefoot Coffee Roasters and Global Blends will combine to donate $1 to the respective cause. In addition to retail sales, Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $0.50 for each pound of these Cause and Effect coffees that Global Blends brews up in the cafor customers.
Casa Segura and Tanzania Ballerinaberry are available for purchase in whole bean by the pound as well as served on the bar as filter coffee at Global Blends Coffee Company at 650 Castro St in downtown Mountain View, CA. It is also available at Barefoot Coffee Roasters located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara.
The Cause and Effect program gives us an excellent opportunity to serve great coffee and help a cause at the same time, two of my favorite things to do. Grinned Patsy Price, owner of Global Blends Coffee Company. We always encourage our customers to think globally and caffeinate locally, Barefoot allows us to take that to the next level.
While Barefoot Coffee Roasters provides sustainable support to the global community by purchasing coffee directly from farmers and buying Fair Trade coffees, the creation of these special blends highlights the companys commitment to bring that support to the local community.
All of us have great intentions to support local causes and help our communities. says Andy Newbom, CEO of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. The Cause and Effect program raises awareness about some great programs in our local community and allows all of us to vote with our dollars and actually make positive change. Coffee and community are intertwined. Community leaders and visionaries like Patsy Price at Global Blends are the future of sustainable support for the community.
Eugene Lee, a happy Global Blends coffee fanatic and customer was please to be able to support great local causes. "It's good to know that I am drinking the best coffee in the area and I am happy to be playing a part in contributing to art in the community, by helping the Cause and Effect program."
Restaurants, cafor other businesses interested in providing sustainable support for the homeless, the arts or any of the other Cause and Effect charitable support programs can contact Barefoot Coffee Roasters at 408-687-3692 or e-mail protected from spam bots for more information.
Global Blends Coffee Company is a community oriented independent coffee shop located in downtown Mountain View at 650 Castro St. Combining old world craftsmanship and new world customer service and ambiance Global Blends is carving a niche for itself in the Bay Area Coffee scene. Global Blends supports the global coffee community by buying Fair Trade and farm direct coffee. Global Blends also supports the local community by participating in local fund raisers and community events. Global Blends is a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
Barefoot Coffee Roasters is a full-service coffee and espresso bar and artisan organic wholesale coffee roaster located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara (at the corner of Lawrence Expressway near Bed, Bath and Beyond). All coffees are roasted fresh in the cafy skilled artisan roasters using old-world, small batch roasting techniques to coax the best flavor out of every coffee. Barefoot Coffee Roasters actively practices and promotes sustainability in both products and practices. Over 85% of Barefoot Coffee Roasters coffees are organic, shade grown and fair traded, resulting in not only better coffee but better living and working conditions for the farmers and their children for successive generations. The cafeatures computers for Internet access, as well as Wi-Fi Internet access, and serves high-quality coffees, teas, pastries, desserts and chocolates. Barefoot Coffees are served and enjoyed in many fine cafand restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is proud to be a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Roasters Guild and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America. For more information, please call (408) 248-4500, visit www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com or simply drop by.
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Barefoot Coffee Roasters Helps Stomp Out the Coffee Crisis in Guatemala
arefoot Coffee Roasters in a unique partnership with Finca Vista Hermosa coffee farm in Guatemala is building a medical clinic for farm workers and their families.
Santa Clara, CA October 4, 2004 -- As the Coffee Crisis ravages many coffee producing countries it is a welcome change to hear some good news coming out of these coffee origin nations. Barefoot Coffee Roasters, as part of their Cause and Effect program, has developed a unique partnership to bring not only financial relief but medical relief as well to the hard working coffee farmers of Finca Vista Hermosa in Guatemala. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is donating money to fund the building of a medical clinic for the farm workers and their families. In addition to the cash donation Barefoot Coffee Roasters is also making the trek down to Guatemala with a group of Baristas, roasters and customers to actually help build the clinic early in 2005.
Finca Vista Hermosa was just awarded the Excellent Cup 2004 Award for Guatemalan coffees. The Cup of Excellence Award is a prestigious award given to those select world class coffees that a world-wide panel of expert coffee tasters have rated as being the absolute best in the entire country. Out of over 65,000 different coffees submitted and judged the Finca Vista Hermosa coffee was selected as a Cup of Excellence Award winner this July. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is the only coffee roaster in California to have this truly remarkable coffee. Barefoot offers this world class coffee both in their retail cafs well as to their cafnd restaurant wholesale customers.
For every pound of Vista Hermosa Guatemala coffee sold at retail Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $1 to the medical clinic fund. In addition to retail sales, Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $0.50 for each pound of this Cause and Effect coffee that wholesale customers purchase. Vista Hermosa Guatemala are available for purchase in whole bean by the pound as well as served on the bar as filter coffee at Barefoot Coffee Roasters located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara. And at many of their cafustomers throughout the Bay Area.
For years at the plantation we have been fortunate enough to host visiting groups of doctors to be able to offer medical attention not only to workers, but to anyone who shows up with a need. Said Edwin Maritinez, Finca Vista Hermosa coffee plantation.Until now we have swept a clean spot in the dirt and hung plastic tarp over ropes for walls to set up clinic. We need a more adequate structure and we are thrilled as a small family business to see customers volunteer to get their hands dirty getting involved with such a project at coffee origin. We are excited that Andy has taken the initiative with Barefoot Coffee Roasters to commit to paving the way for this project. This will facilitate meeting vital health needs for hundreds each year, giving them a healthier future. This is something you can not put a price on."
Vista Hermosa Guatemala is organically grown under native shade trees and tended by well trained farmers who take great pride in their finished product. Barefoot Coffee Roasters pays far more than Fair Trade prices for this remarkable coffee ensuring that farmers are paid fair wages and that the farm can invest back into their production.
While Barefoot Coffee Roasters provides sustainable support to the global community by purchasing coffee directly from farmers and buying Fair Trade coffees, the creation of these special blends highlights the companys commitment to bring that support to the local community.
There is only one true way to defeat the growing Coffee Crisis. says Andy Newbom, CEO of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. Purchasing world-class, specialty quality coffees directly from the farmers without the myriad middlemen ensures that all of the profits stays in their hands where it belongs. And for a world renowned grower like Finca Vista Hermosa with their ecologically sound growing practices, progressive and caring worker treatment and amazingly tasty coffee the future is starting to look bright.
Restaurants, cafor other businesses interested in providing sustainable support for coffee farmers, the homeless, the arts or any of the other Cause and Effect charitable support programs can contact Barefoot Coffee Roasters at 408-687-3692 or e-mail protected from spam bots for more information.
Finca Vista Hermosa is an award winning coffee plantation of three generations of dedicated coffee farmers in northwest Guatemala in the stunning highlands of the Huehuetenango region. The elevation is 4700-5600 feet and all of the land above the 5700 feet mark is native forest. This natural forest is completely wild nature preserve and home to the natural fresh water springs that feed the farm. The farm is covered in native shade trees that provide shelter and food for the birds, the perfect blend of sun and shade for the coffee trees and protects against soil erosion. Natural fertilizers rather than chemicals are tilled back into the soil to provide lush and healthy coffee trees that resist pests and disease. However it is our people that are our greatest asset. We provide them with medical and dental attention as well as regular training and supplies for them to continuously improve their hygiene which is the largest contributor to many health challenges they encounter. Finca Vista Hermosa supports schooling and continued education of the children of farm workers and does not employ underage laborers. There is a very strong family dynamic that certainly cannot be underestimated as younger kids play around their parents as they work and are able to spend the day with the family. This way every meal, every day is shared as a family.
Barefoot Coffee Roasters is a full-service coffee and espresso bar and artisan organic wholesale coffee roaster located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara (at the corner of Lawrence Expressway near Bed, Bath and Beyond). Barefoot Coffee Roasters was just voted the Best Coffee House in Silicon Valley by Metro Magazine. All coffees are roasted fresh in the cafy skilled artisan roasters using old-world, small batch roasting techniques to coax the best flavor out of every coffee. Barefoot Coffee Roasters actively practices and promotes sustainability in both products and practices. Over 85% of Barefoot Coffee Roasters coffees are organic, shade grown and fair traded, resulting in not only better coffee but better living and working conditions for the farmers and their children for successive generations. The cafeatures computers for Internet access, as well as Wi-Fi Internet access, and serves high-quality coffees, teas, pastries, desserts and chocolates. Barefoot Coffees are served and enjoyed in many fine cafand restaurants throughout the nation. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is proud to be a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Roasters Guild and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America. For more information, please call (408) 248-4500, visit www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com or simply drop by.
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Starbucks Iced Coffee Recipe Versus All Other Iced Coffee
By Sharon Price
- Are All Recipes The Same? If you like iced coffee then I expect as you are probably a serious coffee lover you love the starbucks iced coffee recipe. If you are reading this article then you have tasted and know what iced coffee is and you will certainly have tried a starbucks iced coffee recipe. But iced coffee is not what you are thinking it is. You do not make a cup of hot coffee and wait for it to cool down or chill it in the freezer to make a glass of iced coffee. You could not be more wrong! Yes of course iced coffee is a variety of a hot brewed coffee, but there is a method to make it, a method that is different from the way a hot coffee is brewed and the starbucks iced coffee recipe is just gorgeous.
Making Iced Coffee- Tips And Tricks
Hot coffees are hot-brewed, but if you want to make iced coffee the way it was made when it was started, then you have to cold-brew the coffee. Yes, you read that right – You do not need to heat coffee if you want to make an iced coffee. All you need is a special pot, cold water, and coarsely grounded coffee beans! Or if you prefer try the starbucks iced coffee recipe below and you can be the judge.
• Pour the cold water in the pot.
• Put in the coarsely grounded coffee beans.
Other Ideas for you to try:
• Put some of the coffee you’ve made in the freezer and make ice cubes out of it.
• Try adding a bit of sugar syrup and a little chocolate flavoring.
• Top off your iced coffee with a generous helping of whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a flake to really impress your friends- they will think you are an iced coffee expert or an employee of starbucks coffee house!
What will happen is that the cold water will extract the coffee flavors but will not extract the bitter compounds and the fatty oils that are present in the beans. This means that the iced coffee, which is made, will have less acid content than what it would have had if it were hot-brewed. Coffee made using this method was originally called iced coffee. This method was invented in 1962 by a chemical engineer, Todd Simpson, and his company is still around today (It’s called Toddy Products). If you choose to make iced coffee using the hot-brew method, then you must get the coffee into the refrigerator once it reaches room temperature. If you allow it to get colder than that, then it may lose its flavor.
Starbucks Iced Coffee Recipe:
Starbucks Frappuccino
• 2 shots (3 oz.) espresso
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 Tbls. pectin OR 1 tsp. pectin + 1 tsp. arrowroot
1. Stir sugar into espresso. Cool mixture.
2. Stir milk and pectin into espresso mixture until pectin is dissolved.
3. Fill a glass with ice and either serve mixture over ice, or pour glass contents into blender and blend for 30-45 seconds. Enjoy!
Following the History of Coffee
By Roland Jefferson
The following paragraphs summarize the work of the history of coffee experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of coffee history.
Of the drinks available to people today, few are as famous as coffee. Perhaps the best source of caffeine short of the new energy drinks being developed, coffee is popular in a variety of places, from the home to the office, from small coffeehouses to swanky restaurants.
The history of coffee can only be tracked a little more than a thousand years, a relatively short period of time compared to alcoholic beverages, which have been consumed since prehistory, and tea, which goes back to over a thousand years BC. Despite this, coffee has spread throughout the world as a popular beverage. A look at the history of coffee will help to show how it became so widespread.
African Origins
The history of coffee begins sometime around the 9th century, with its origins in Ethiopia as a beverage. The legend of coffee is that Ethiopian herders noticed that their goats were especially perky after eating the berries of a particular bush, and thus got the idea to consume it as a stimulant. The reality is that coffee probably had already been developed as a drink by the 9th century as a natural result of cultivation of plants. From Ethiopia, the drink spread to North Africa, including Egypt.
Middle Eastern Success
The introduction of coffee to Egypt make it accessible to ports with trade to the rest of the Middle East, where coffee became a popular drink by the 1500s. Shortly after its introduction, Muslim authorities placed a ban on the drink due to its stimulant properties. But much like prohibition in the United States, the ban on coffee didn’t last and was later rescinded. At this point in history, though, tight controls on such a commodity were in place. Though coffee in its roasted form began to be exported to Italy and other European Nations, unroasted seeds and plants were forbidden to be exported.
Colonization and Coffee
This tight control over the export of coffee plants didn’t last. This period of the history of coffee ended when Dutch traders smuggled coffee seeds out of the Middle East in the 1600s, where it was planted on the island of Java, which is still a major exporter of coffee today and also shares its name with a nickname for the drink. Interestingly enough, as coffee plants spread to other European colonies, another century into the history of coffee, in the 1700s, the plant was smuggled to Brazil, which is still the largest exporter of the drink.
Coffee in America
The history of coffee in the United States follows that of early wars. Introduced there in the 1700s, coffee’s popularity didn’t take off until the Revolutionary War, when tea was scarce and colonists turned to other drinks. The drink again gained in popularity during the war of 1812 for similar reasons.
But the time when the history of coffee developed to where it was an American fixture seems to be during the Civil War, when demand was high enough that it became cemented as a beverage in many American households. Through colonization and wars, the history of coffee seems to follow that of the history of people, and its widespread popularity throughout the world shows that it is truly an international sensation.
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of the history of coffee. Share your new understanding about the exciting history of coffee with others. They'll thank you for it.
Columbian Coffee Recipes
By Roland Jefferson
So what is Columbian coffee really all about? The following guide includes some delicious recipes about Columbian coffee--information you can use now!
Coffee is one of America's favorite beverages and becomes more popular as the years go by. So naturally you would be able to find different methods of preparing Columbian coffee. You can make all sorts of tasty treats with this aromatic drink. Below are some of the most popular recipes that are highly used today in some of the most popular coffee houses across the world. Now you can save money by making these Columbian coffee recipes come to life in your very own kitchen. Friends and family alike will be amazed at just how delicious your coffee treats taste.
100% Iced Columbian Coffee
Double strength Columbian coffee
Cracked Ice
4 tablespoons of sugar
Brew double strength Columbian coffee by simply adding 8 tablespoons of ground coffee to every 12 ounces of water. Fill your electric blender half way with your chilled Columbian coffee and add the cracked ice. Add the 4 tablespoons of sugar or sweetener and blend until you have a thick foamy coffee treat.
This recipe will give you approximately 4 servings, if you need more than that simply double or triple the recipe to suit your needs. This will became a fast favorite for the Columbian coffee lovers in your life.
Columbian Coffee Mousse
½ a cup of brewed 100% Columbian coffee
1 ¾ cups of milk
1 cup of heavy cream
1 package of unflavored gelatin
3 eggs; separated
¾ cup of brown sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coffee concentrates (1 cup ground to every 8 ounces of cold water)
Sprinkle the gelatin over a cup of cold water and let it soften while preparing the custard. Heat milk to its boiling point in a saucepan. Beat egg yolks using a wire whisk or electric mixer. Pour the hot milk over beaten egg yolks slowly, beating constantly with wire whisk. Return mixture to saucepan, add brown sugar, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until custard has thickened slightly, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and add gelatin to the hot custard and stir until dissolved. Add coffee concentrate, vanilla and almond extracts.
1. Transfer mixture to a bowl and refrigerate. Keep refrigerated and stir every five minutes until custard has thickened to the consistency of unbeaten egg whites, approximately 25-45 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whip the cream until it softens and refrigerate.
3. Beat egg whites until they are stiff but not dry. Fold coffee custard base into egg whites. Gently fold in whipped cream. Pour mixture into 8 individual custard cups and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until set.
When you have finished, you will have created a delicious surprise for all to enjoy.
These recipes are by no means exhaustive but just a few of some of the worlds most popular Columbian coffee recipes. With just a little creativity and imagination you can take these recipes on Columbian coffee and develop many more! Enjoy.
Gourmet Coffee - Make Your Own
By Tom Lykes
Looking for something different than your ordinary cup of coffee? You can make your own gourmet coffee, and you can be on your way with just a few ingredients.
There are two different ways to get this accomplished: by adding flavored syrups or by using natural ingredients. In the case of flavored syrups, there are a few general rules to bear in mind. Most flavored syrups are flavored with cane sugar which is generally sweeter that other flavorings that may be used such as fructose or corn syrup. Read the label contents and purchase according to your personal preference. Another thing to be aware of is that some syrups are preservative free. While the flavor may be more intense with these syrups, the shelf life will be shorter than other syrups that use preservatives.
Less is more in the case of flavored syrups- before you pour the coffee adding just a small amount of syrup to the bottom of the cup. More can always be added according to your personal taste. There are many syrups available: Almond, Vanilla and Hazelnut are some common ones, but then there are other interesting flavors such as Macadamia Nut , Crème de Banana, or Black Currant.
Adding natural flavorings is a great way to make your own flavored coffee without adding any extra calories. Adding a whole vanilla bean to your canister of coffee or adding a cinnamon stick can add a new dimension of flavor to your everyday cup of coffee. You could also add these flavorings in powdered form as well to your coffee before you brew if you didn’t want to flavor all of your coffee at once. Try adding a citrus peel such as lemon or orange for a different twist. Adding a bit of liqueur such as Irish Crème or Amaretto can be a wonderful surprise to your guests at the end of a wonderful meal.
These are just a few suggestions- get out there and experiment. Mix and match your flavors- try some caramel syrup with some vanilla flavored coffee. Almond syrup with a dash of Irish Crème added Cinnamon coffee with a twist of orange. The combinations and flavor variations are endless. Happy brewing!
The Best Coffee in the World
By Celia Namart
There's no questioning it, most of us have Coffee during mornings. Well this might have become a habit but then, the credit must still be given to the value of coffee to man.
Thanks to the goatherd who noticed his goats jumping after eating the coffee beans, coffee was born into earth. Nowadays, there are literally thousands of coffee variations to accommodate the various individual tastes of coffee drinkers worldwide.
The two main species of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta and the three most popular variations of coffee are Turkish coffee, Cappuccino and Espresso. To top these, it is good to mention that there are various types of roasts that give more accents to the taste of coffee beans. Among the most famous ones are Continental roast, French roast, Full City roast, Viennese roast, New England Roast, breakfast roast and American roast. From these emerged some of the best tasting coffees in the world.
Judging coffee can be very subjective. For some people, the bitter ones are the best coffees in the world, but to those who prefer it sweet and smooth, the tasty ones are better. Whatever line you stand on in this argument, for sure, you have your own preference of coffee which for you remains to be the best.
Both species of coffee beans, Robusta and Arabica, are grown in the equatorial regions. Robusta thrives best in lower regions while Arabica at the higher regions.
Robusta consists of 30% of all coffee production worldwide. It has a stronger flavor and is normally used as ingredients for instant coffee. It has a woody after taste and full body flavor.
Meanwhile, Arabica is considered to be the more superior breed than Robusta. It consists the 70% of all coffee production despite of having a lower yield per plant. It has relatively low caffeine content and has more acidic flavor with caramel aftertaste.
Both of these species are blended into various coffee products. More expensive blends have more Arabica content while cheaper blends normally have higher proportion of Robusta beans.
Turkish Coffee is made of Arabica beans and is characterized by very fine powder grind. Often, the aromatic spice cardamom is added for flavor enhancement. This coffee has 6 levels of sweetness which range from sweet down to black. Spoons are basically not needed when drinking this coffee since there is no sugar added into it.
Cappuccino, on the other hand, is a coffee with frothy cream and chocolate powder as toppings. The name came from the coffee brown robes that Capuchin monks wear.
Espresso Coffee is an Italian coffee that is made through forcing steam into the roasted coffee beans. The result is a strong black coffee. The brewing is done through an especially dedicated coffee brewer which works by pressurizing the beans to release flavor.
The most controversial coffee though is the most expensive. This is called the Kopi Luwak.
This coffee comes from cat shit. Yes, you heard it right. No one knows how this coffee came to be but the truth still remains to be the truth, the beans come from Luwak feces that were collected and brewed. The taste is said to be exotic and earthy with hints of caramel and chocolate flavor. Certainly not the best coffee in the world but apparently, people spend outrageous amounts of money just to have a cup of Kopi Luwak.
How to Make Best Gourmet Coffee at Home
By Adam Akelis
Making gourmet coffee at home is very simple; you only require learning a couple of things to go on with your process from an average cup to great. Following are few tips on making good gourmet coffee that you would enjoy the most.
Careful Storage
Protect your gourmet coffee from light, heat and other moisture substance. Move your coffee to an airtight container, or just keep it in a bag that is rolled tight. At higher elevations various factors come together in process of growing the best gourmet coffee. Store it in a cool and dark place or it is good to keep them in freezer as well for best preservation. The coffee bean full-grown at eminent altitudes is much stronger than those grown at lower elevations.
Grinding Coffee Beans
Grind your coffee only as much as you require just before brewing, otherwise it would oxidize and lose its flavor. It is suggested to burr the coffee grinder over a blade grinder as it has more consistency. Use the apt grind for your coffee maker. A medium grind is good for vacuum pot and a finer grind in case of a manual drip method.
Use Fresh Water
Your best gourmet coffee can be spoiled by bad water. Do not use distilled water as it makes a flat cup of coffee. You should use only fresh cold water. Filtered water is also suggested to use.
Measure
Using two level tablespoons of ground coffee powder for each six ounces of water is recommended. Adjust your particular taste according to the need and do not trust the calculation given on your drip coffee maker as they are normally wrong.
Brewing Method
Bad brewing methods may have a larger impact on the taste of coffee than does the quality of the beans. A good cup of gourmet coffee is brewed using the manual drip technique, a French press pot or may be a vacuum pot. Traditional electric drip coffee machines do a good job but select it carefully. Coffee could be kept warm on a burner for only 25 minutes before the flavor turns to bitter. Brewing coffee only for 5 minutes is good before you are ready to drink the same.
Important Considerations For Restaurant Coffee Machines
By Dean Forster
Beverages including coffee are one of the biggest money makers for any restaurant. It is important for any restaurant to have reliable and efficient equipment for their beverage service. There are many brands of restaurant coffee machines on the market and most of them are quality brands in the restaurant business.
When purchasing a restaurant coffee machine the buyer should look for the names that have always represented restaurant quality. Names such as Bunn have been in the restaurant coffee machine business for years and receive good reviews. With the purchase of any restaurant coffee machine the buyer should look for a good warranty or service contract. These machines are expensive and can prove costly if there are repairs and breakdowns which are not compensated for.
Other Needs In Restaurant Coffee Machines
Before buying the restaurant coffee machine an eating establishment needs to make an educated estimate regarding the amount of coffee being served on a daily basis. Coffee makers can come with several burners and even one or more warmers. This will enable the coffee cups to remain full with hot coffee and ensure happy customers. The buyer may want to make sure not to have too many burners as the restaurant staff may not make fresh pots of coffee as often as needed.
It is also important to look for ease of use. The restaurant staff does not have time during the meal time rush hours to play with a difficult restaurant coffee machine. We have more information on espresso machines at http://www.bestespressocoffeemachines.com . Everyone involved will appreciate being able to push a button or two to get a hot pot of coffee in just a couple minutes. Restaurant buyers need to take the time to find the best restaurant coffee machine to make their restaurant top of the line.
Automatic Espresso Machine - Where You Can Buy One
By Dean Forster
We all love having our espresso in the morning when we get up before we go to work, however most of us drive to our nearby coffee shop in order to get it, rather than making it at home, even though making it at home would save both time and effort.
The Automatic Espresso Machine
This is why there is the option of the automatic espresso machine. The automatic espresso machine is a great device that can be used to make all sorts of different espressos, and it is automatic which is really great because then you are able to set it and get ready to work while it is brewing, and not have to worry about it.
As well, you can generally find an automatic espresso machine for very cheap, and so thus it is even more worth it for you to go out and purchase one of these machines for yourself.
If you are interested in getting an automatic espresso machine for yourself, then there are many different places that you can go to get one, and the first place that you should go to is your local large retail center, such as Target or Walmart, for example.
The reason that this is the best idea is because at these sorts of locations you are bound to get the lowest possible price, which is, of course, what everyone wants however there are many other places that you can go to as well.
There are so many different types of espresso machines that you can choose from, and so regardless of what décor or decorations you have in your home, you are going to be able to find an espresso machine that suits it perfectly.
You can even have your espresso machine custom made, which is a fact that is rather surprising to a lot of people, and so if you want it in a specific or unique color, then all you really need to do is contact an espresso making company and let them know what you would like, and see if they are able to do it for you. You can find out more about all types of espresso coffee machines at http://www.bestespressocoffeemachines.com
However you are most likely going to have to spend a bit more money if you want to go this route, and so you are going to want to make sure that you realize this before you go ahead with the idea of having your espresso machine custom made.
How To Make Organic Free Trade Coffee
By Michael Baker
How to make organic free trade coffee? It is amazing to me how many people do not know how to make coffee. And seeing how this is the most drank morning beverage in the world, one would think it would fairly obvious to make. It is really based on ones tastes. Whether you like the coffee strong, per se, or light, will depend on either the number of scoops or amount of water.
Here is a quick ratio:
1. 1 cup of coffee is only 6 oz. (not the 8-12 oz like many people think).
2. Coffee grounds, per scoop, is measured in Tablespoons.
3. To get the full flavor of coffee (or strong as some call it), use 2 Tablespoons of coffee per 6 oz of water. So, for example, if you are making a full pot of coffee, which is about 10 cups of coffee, you would need 20 Tablespoons of coffee.
4. For the lighter side of coffee, either use 1 Tablespoon of coffee per 6 oz of water.
5. For stronger coffee, use 2 Tablespoons per cup, then make the pot of coffee, then add water to adjust the taste if it is too strong.
Also, if you use cream and sugar, this will greatly affect the strength of the coffee. I personally do not drink coffee with any cream of sugar. Straight black for me. I love the aroma, and then the taste of coffee, piping hot. I like mine at about 180 degrees.
For the best cup of coffee, you should buy organic free trade coffee as whole beans, and grind the beans right before you need them. When they are in the bean form, they preserve all of the freshness inside. Many coffee beans also have an oily exterior, which will also protect the flavor and freshness. Grinders can be bought for less than $10.00.
It is a trial method. The coffee will vary in taste according to the number of scoops, the type of coffee maker you have, if your water is filtered, and especially the type of coffee you buy. Just try out a few methods and you will soon learn how to make organic free trade coffee.
By Sharon Price
Purchasing a coffee cup is a great gift idea for all occasions. You may want to consider giving someone you care about a coffee cup. It makes a great gift because it is so unique and can be customized to accommodate every occasion. They can be purchased in a variety of shapes and sizes, in all sorts of colours and patterns, including slogans and logos that are bound to impress or get a laugh from the recipient of this excellent gift idea. Try giving a one to a loved one today and watch their face light up as they begin to enjoy a hot steaming cup of tea in their brand new specialty mug.
The coffee cup or mug could that would be bought for a birthday or anniversary could be printed with the date of their special day printed on it or the coffee cup could have Christmas designs embellished on it to make a unique Christmas gift. Giving a Christmas cup near the holidays is a great way to get people to feel that Christmas spirit year round as they drink from their gift cup. Another great way to give one of these gifts would be a christening gift as you could commemorate the occasion with a photograph of the child on the cup to give to the child when they are older.
There are also cups that represent local sports teams, organizations and charities. These make great gifts and can also be used to raise money for the sports fan or social club. You can choose a colourful and creative design featuring their favourite sports team’s logo and work from there to create an awesome gift experience.
Personalized cups: These types of coffee cups can be made personal to whatever extent you want to. They can have a photograph of someone or some special place printed on it or even a love poem or a picture of your pet. Imagine the exciting humour of drinking a cup of coffee from a coffee cup with your face on it!
Great Additions
Along with your coffee cup, there is a variety of coffee-related gifts you can consider giving. Easter is a good time to give a coffee cup as you can fill the cup with an egg or chocolates. You could also add coffee beans or tea in the mug as part of a package and string it together with a special bow. You can also give matching coffee equipment or other items that work well with the cup such as coffee makers or specialty coffee tools such as a grounds press that helps crush those beans into luscious ground coffee. The possibilities are endless in terms of giving a gift to the coffee lover in your family, so try it out with a basic coffee cup and work your way up. Your friends and family will be impressed at how thoughtful you can be!
By M. Xavier
Freshly brewed coffee is all the rage today and you have been bit by the bug. You enjoy your quick stop into the local coffee shop to order your special drink as you head to work in the morning. But what should you do on the weekends when you are staying around the house but still want that great cup of coffee without going out to get it.
The answer to this is as simple as purchasing a coffee grinder and a coffee pot to use on the weekends. You can purchase one in any coffee shop, retail store and in most hardware stores. The basic concept is simple-the blade style grinder uses a small, universal electrical motor to spin two metal blades at very high speeds. When in contact with the coffee beans, the blades chop and crush the beans into a fine grind. There are many different makes and models and the price can range from under $20 to over $200 depending on whether or not you want special features or a brand named machine.
You have decided to purchase your own coffee grinder, but what features should you need or want to have available. Some simple questions to consider are:
* How much do I want to spend?
* How loud is it when grinding?
* Is it easy to clean after each use?
* Will I have an opportunity to use the machine before I purchase it?
Keep all of these questions in mind when you go shopping. Once you start searching, you will find that there are very distinct differences between each and every type of coffee grinder. You know that the more costly the item, the better the quality of the machine-but, there is also the cost factor. You might want to ask yourself the following questions when it comes to the quality of your item.
* How much will I use this grinder?
* Will I only be grinding one style of coffee or varying the different types of coffee?
* Will I use it ever day or only on weekends?
* Will I use it for entertaining?
If you are just going to be a weekend user and not using it to constantly entertain, you may not want to invest a great deal of money. It might just be cheaper to purchase a lower priced coffee grinder that you can easily replace every year or so or as needed.
Now that you have your basic questions down, it is time to go out and start searching for your coffee grinder. You can check the stores or you can just go to the internet and order one and have it shipped to you-saving time and energy on your part.
It is now time to start enjoying freshly grounded and brewed coffee at home. Who knows, you might end up liking your homemade coffee more than what you were purchasing at the coffee shop. And, in the end, you might just save yourself hundreds of dollars a year if you make your coffee at home in the morning.
Homemade Coffee To Go
Many people patronize a particular coffee bar (aka global coffee chain) simply because of the convenience of being able to take out a cup of their favorite brew. But as in any food-to-go service, there is a tendency for quality to suffer no matter how much they assure you of the care they put into preparing their products. Realistically, when an establishment churns out hundreds or maybe even thousands of cups of their coffee in a day, how much quality can actually be preserved?
For people who find that coffee is an indispensable part of their daily life, think of the times you had to endure the overly bitter or overly diluted coffee that is being served in your office kitchen or cafeteria? Guess what? You do not have to suffer in silence! Your day at work has to be productive, not miserable. Here are a few ideas that have been gathered from personal experience:
1. The most obvious--BYOC--bring your own coffee. Invest in a thermos bottle, prepare your coffee at home and bring it with you to your workplace. This will assure you of a constant supply of your own preferred coffee throughout the day. You might even save an officemate's sanity by sharing your homebrew with them.
2. Even instant coffee tastes better than stale coffee. And just what is stale coffee? Bland, flat, like brown colored hot water--you've tasted that a hundred times before right?
For the price of three cups from a coffee bar, you can buy yourself a small bottle of instant coffee and tuck it away in your desk drawer. Some brands even come in sachets similar to those where teabags are stored and good for one serving each. Then there are the fancier ones which come in different flavors like French vanilla, orange, etc. A bottle or can of those can last several days.
3. Be your office barista and become a star. This may be a bit trickier because this requires a sensible boss but needless to say, the reward is greater.
Start by asking your officemates what types of coffee they would rather have than the usual flat coffee in the company kitchen. If the officemates do not know much about coffee, you can even educate them on the different types of gourmet coffee beans around. Once you have a concensus, ask the boss if it would be okay to bring a different type of coffee to serve in office. You can even suggest to the boss that this idea will enhance productivity. If the boss agrees, do not forget to ask to be reimbursed. And if the boss does not agree, you still have ideas 1 and 2 to fall back to.
In today's fast paced go-go-go world, convenience is a concept that stands out and sadly it is at the expense of quality. How many times have you wished that you could have just "brown bagged" your lunch instead of standing in a long line just to endure a soggy meal served in a plastic box? The same can be said for coffee especially if you find it an indispensible part of your daily life.
With so many brands, flavors, and roasts of gourmet coffee to choose from nowadays and how easy they are to brew at home, why settle for the usual flat coffee when you can have its sweet aroma swirling out of your cup or bottle everyday? Spoiling yourself with it may require a little sacrifice, a little adjustment in your life style but just consider the fulfillment and the savings, and you probably will not feel as miserable through the course of your day.
Caffeine - Can't Start My Day Until I've Had My Coffee
By J Paris
can’t start my day until I’ve had a coffee.
How many times have you voiced the sentiments above, or something very similar, and how many times have you heard somebody else agree with those sentiments?
Coffee is probably the most insidious drug in the world, with addicts numbering in the millions. Now, look at the title of this article again but, this time, substitute the word heroin for coffee, or cocaine, or amphetamine…
Get the picture? It may sound over-the-top but it’s the truth, coffee is a drug that stimulates the nervous system; in scientific terms, it is a psychoactive drug and is a frequent ingredient in painkillers, because it increases the absorption of drugs into the bloodstream. But, because we all ‘do coffee’ it is a socially acceptable drug.
Coffee’s true function in life is to protect the plant that produces it from attack by animals and insects. Mostly these creatures leave it alone because of the bitter taste, however, if they persist in their nibbling, the 200 acids and the caffeine contained in the plant fatally disrupt their nervous system. Still, we humans are clever and have learned to modify the taste of coffee by the addition of sugar and milk, although, of course, many people drink it ‘black, as it comes.’
What you should be aware of is the fact that coffee is the culprit in a number of health problems, including impaired digestion, sleep disturbances, malnutrition of calcium, magnesium and the B vitamins, depression, constipation, headaches, and reduction of adrenalin. Additionally, women suffer impaired health at lower intake levels of coffee compared to men.
On the positive side: drinking lots of coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes; it gives a temporary boost to circulation of blood in the brain, thus making us more alert for a short time; and its full of antioxidants – especially when fresh roasted.
The sensible approach to coffee, then, seems to be that one or two cups a day won’t do you any great harm. If you drink more than that, however, it might be a good idea to try to reduce your consumption, perhaps replacing those extra cups of coffee with herb teas, fruit juices, or good old water.
If you’ve ever experienced the atrocious headache that comes when you’ve missed a cup of coffee, you will realize that reducing your coffee intake should be done slowly. You may find it easier to reduce if you substitute green tea to start off with, as this contains caffeine, just less of it.
An even healthier way to reduce is by doing some exercise when your brain needs a boost, rather than reaching for the coffee. Exercise will result in increased blood flow to the brain and achieve exactly the same effect as coffee, while at the same time, toning up the flab!
Jason Paris, personal trainer and nutritionist, runs a website with business partner Lady Marie Stubbs - author of "Ahead of the Class." Their aim through the website http://www.female-fiftyplus-get-fit.com is to provide advice on weightloss, exercise and nutrition particularly for women.
Grow Coffee At Your Home
By Adam Akelis
To grow a coffee plant at home is a wonderful experience that would assist you in learning and appreciating the job involved in producing a good cup of coffee. Growing coffee at home is very easy. You need to take care of the plant especially during flowering or cherry development. Ideally you need to start with a freshly picked coffee cherry.
Harvesting Coffee Seeds
Based on the county where your coffee is being grown, the coffee beans can be further harvested as little or much in year depends on the county’s plant and accessible climate. Coffee plant flowers and fruit are purely dependent on the cycle of wet seasons. Growing coffee beans nearer to equator gives you more and more chance to harvest. The cherry is normally pulped by hand, washed with clean water, and fermented in a small container. The fermentation stage is now complete when the mucilage no longer clings to the coffee. Wash away the fermented mucilage with clean water.
Each year coffee is generally harvested during the dry season only, when the coffee cherries are extremely bright red, glossy and firm adequate to be harvested. These processes are called as careful picking, stripping and mechanical harvesting, respectively.
Germination
If coffee cherries are not readily accessible green coffee could also be bought from a home supplier, but it is vital that the bean is of a current crop and current shipment. The probable for germination would then go on for almost four months, but after this time the germination rate is numerous fold less and germination time is drastically longer. Fresh seeds need to be germinated in 2.5 months, but old seeds could as well take as long as 6 months.
Proper Care
The temperature in countries outside the Tropic belt is too unstable and too cold to permit the tree to grow. It is suggested watering the tree twice per week as full watering and a half watering. In a half watering, we can simply add some water to the soil and let it to drain. In a full watering add water with fertilizer and let it to drain. The key is to maintain the soil most, but well drained.
After two or three years flowering and probably cherries could be expected, but do not hope for high-quality coffee unless you are at a high altitude and are watching the conditions of the artificial microclimate carefully. Once the cherries are grown you could harvest, pulp, ferment, dry, roast, and have a drink of your own coffee production.
Adam Akelis is a professional copywriter who has a sound knowledge on coffee all time favorite drink. Not only Adam, there are lot of coffee lovers all over the world interested on coffee intake.
The Hawaiian Kona Coffee Mystique
by Simon Wu
Think Hawaii and basically you think vacation and paradise--sun, surf, beach, nature, luau, even honeymoon. For the coffee lover, Hawaii means real fancy coffee. Specifically, Hawaiian Kona coffee.
Hawaiian Kona coffee owes its aura of distinction to its history, tradition and Mother Nature. True Kona coffee are cultivated on the volcanic slopes of what is known as the Kona coffee belt. Combining the richness of the volcanic soil with the weather patterns of the Kona district and you have the perfect condition with which to grow this particular type of coffee bean. The result is one of the fanciest and premium coffees in the world.
The history and tradition of Kona coffee is unlike those of other coffee growing regions where the coffee shrub is indigenous and are cared for by their own people. Kona coffee can actually attribute its survival and existence to many different nationalities.
It was a Spaniard who planted the first coffee bean in the island of Oahu. Then, Kona coffee beans became a by-product of beans that were brought in from Brazil back in the nineteenth century by an Englishman. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the crash in world coffee prices almost drove the Hawaiian coffee farms into extinction. Owners leased parts of their farms to tenant farmers, majority of whom were Japanese immigrants. Later on, farm hands originating from the Philippines and Europe would contribute to the growth of this type of coffee. But even before the farms were leased, Hawaiians and Chinese largely made up the work force.
This brief historical account sets up the distinction that Kona coffee enjoys today. As a result of leasing out different parts of the original coffee farms, today's farms range anywhere from only two to five acres in size. Their small size may inhibit large scale production but the shrubs do receive more attention.
Being able to receive specialized care and its rarity are two main factors why Kona coffee commands a higher price. In fact, the specialized care that it receives includes hand picking each cherry from the coffee shrubs. This is in stark contrast to machine harvesting which is required in other kinds of large quantity farms. Hand picking each one gives the farmers a chance to examine up close the quality of the coffee cherries.
If your curiosity has so far been piqued and you are raring to buy your first bag of Kona coffee beans, here is a caveat--not all Kona coffee sold in the market are pure. When browsing the marketplace, you should be aware that there is "100% Kona coffee" as against "Kona blend". 100% Kona is quite self-explanatory. "Kona blend" is what you should be wary of.
There are vendors who mix Kona beans with common beans such as Robusta and the amount of Kona beans could be as little as one bean per pound. This is what is passed off as "Kona blend". Hawaii state law dictates that sellers of Kona blend should include 10% Kona beans. But outside of Hawaii, the amount of Kona beans could be significantly less.
Needless to say, there is also a disparity in pricing with 100% Kona being more expensive. If the price is objectionable, there is always the cheaper alternative--devoid of work ethic, culture, history, and tradition. But when you decide to go with the real thing, perhaps you can whisper a word of thanks to the generations of hard working farmers who have nurtured the 100% Kona coffee beans into the taste of paradise that it is today.
Monday, 23 April 2007
Coffee Stains and Your Car's Carpet
Quality floor mats, like the custom sized vinyl and carpet types we sell here on caraccessoires.com can guard against most splashes and sprays. When the coffee cup splatters, most of the liquid is caught by the mats. Sometimes the whole cup goes and run-off hits the edges.
Not to worry, there are tried and true methods of getting these very unattractive stains out of your car's carpet (and also out of your custom carpet floor mats as well).
Things you need:
White cloth (several)
Paper Towels
Mild liquid dishwashing detergent
Some cup lukewarm water
White vinegar
Spray bottle
The white cloth is needed because you don't want the dyes from colored cloths to seep out into your carpet when working this procedure. Also you may need more than one or two.
You are going to want to blot, which means no rubbing or scrubbing, because this type of stain spreads out fast when you get into the tempting vigorous scrubbing motions.
What to do:
Blot the area with a clean, white cloth to absorb all the liquid you can. Blot from the outside of the stain in to avoid spreading the stain.
Mix 1 teaspoon clear, mild liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup lukewarm water.
Sponge the area with the detergent solution. Blot again with a clean, white cloth.
Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup lukewarm water.
Sponge the area with the vinegar solution. Blot with a clean, white cloth.
Sponge the area with clean water. Blot with a clean, white cloth.
The white vinegar neutralizes the coffee and allows the stain to be lifted out of the carpet fibers with the blotting rag. It is a good idea to use a spray bottle (if you have one handy) to apply the vinegar solution.
Make sure you leave the car open after doing this to allow the liquid to evaporate and the smell of the vinegar to leave the car.
You may want to use something like Frebreeze or some other odor remover after you have let the carpet dry.
If you still have some discoloration from the coffee stain left after doing this procedure, then moisten (using a spray bottle) the tuffs of the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let that stand for about an hour. Then blot the area again with a white cloth. Repeat this as needed until your carpet is stain free.
You don't have to worry about rinsing the hydrogen peroxide out of the carpet; sunlight will change the solution to water in a matter of time. If it bothers you then put down a few layers of paper towel and weigh it down with a brick or something for a few minutes.
Avoid the splatters, splashes and other stains (such as grease and slush being tracked in) by getting a quality set of floor mats for your car, truck or SUV here on caraccessoires.com
We have quality, custom sized vinyl floor mats to fit over 4000 vehicles. These are not the cheap thin plastic versions that curl and warp on the first hot day, or send your heals slipping around while you are trying to drive. These are quality, slip resistant custom shaped heavy vinyl mats that last years and protect your carpet from all kinds of life hazards.
We also have custom designer floor mats, Rubber Floor Mats and Carpet Floor mats with vinyl binding (See the side menu for other options).
All of our floor mats are the highest quality available, insuring long life, protection of your car's interior and attractive custom designs that fit your car exactly as they should.
If you use the wide bottom type car mugs with the rubber sheet that "grips the dash" to keep it in one place, you might also consider getting a dash mat as well. That rubber grips a lot better on carpet than it does on vinyl/plastic. On top of that, the dash mats save your dash from heat, UV and other aging troubles.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Coffee Quality Is Important
A quality cup of coffee can depend on many factors, such as:
The time since the coffee beans were ground;
The time since the beans were roasted;
How clean the brewing equipment is;
The quality of the coffee bean being used;
The quality of the water being used.
Some Interesting Facts About Coffee
The quality of the coffee bean is the most important of these factors, if you are going to buy “good” coffee.
The very best bean will taste bad if any one of the other listed characteristics are out of place. Not all coffee beans are equal, but the other points listed above will even the field.
A lesser coffee that has been freshly roasted and ground is many times better than coffee that has been roasted and ground then left to get stale - no matter how good it was when it was fresh.
A can of coffee found in the supermarket often contains large amounts of robusta, low quality Arabica beans and past crop (old) beans. To make matters worse, there is no way for the major coffee companies that roast and ship all over the country to get you truly fresh coffee.
Once you have coffee that has been freshly roasted and ground, good water and brewing equipment free of oil residues from the last brew and the quality of the coffee beans makes a huge difference.
How To Tell Coffee Quality
Please note that a coffee can bought in the supermarket often contains a blend of Arabica and robusta beans, while most coffee houses sell only Arabica beans. Arabica beans are normally rich in flavor - while robusta beans have more caffeine, less flavor and are cheaper to make.
There is an exception to every rule, and the exception here is that some very good espresso coffees will have small amounts of the highest quality robusta beans available on the market. This should not, however, be taken as a guarantee that a coffee house will have any better coffee than the diner down the street.
If any of the previously discussed items, such as cleanliness or freshness, are not in order then even the very best coffee can be made to taste bad.
When you buy coffee, whether it be in a coffee house or in a supermarket, you want to get 100% Arabica - except for espresso blends, which may be a combination of both. Whether good quality robusta can improve the flavor of espresso is up for debate.
For absolute freshness when buying in a coffee house, it is better to buy popular blends that move fast - while buying in a supermarket, vacuum packaged containers with an expiration date are your best bet although all canned coffee will be stale to some extent.
It should be noted that in order to be able to vacuum pack coffee, industrial coffee producers actually let the coffee sit for a while before it is packed. As soon as coffee is roasted it starts to release CO2, in a process called outgassing. This can actually help to protect the bean from going stale. Unfortunately for the people vacuum packing coffee or putting coffee in tins, this also will inflate the bags. This outgassing is the reason that you may very well see one-way valves on coffee bags. These valves allow the CO2 to escape, while keeping oxygen from entering the bag.
Chances are fairly high that you will not get truly fresh coffee in a supermarket. This is an absolute fact if it is pre-ground. In a coffee house, look for a shop that roasts in-house and ask what was roasted that day. If the person behind the counter does not know, ask to talk to someone who does know. If no one knows, simply go somewhere else.
Additionally, it should be noted that coffee is at its very best after a few hours rest. This is one of those places where an expert in the field of coffee can advise you.
As a general rule of thumb, most coffees are improved with a rest time of about 12 to 24 hours. Some coffees, particularly those that are musty or earth coffees, actually mellow for the first two to three days - making a much longer rest better.
A final point to remember is that for best results, grind your own coffee. Buying fresh and then having it ground completely defeats the purpose. Ground coffee only lasts a few hours or one day at the very most.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Coffee Facts
Coffee is a well-liked drink prepared from the roasted seeds, generally, but mistakenly known as coffee beans, of the coffee plant. It is typically served hot but can also be served cold. A standard 7 fluid ounce mug of coffee contains 80-140 milligrams of caffeine.
Coffee, along with tea and water, is one of the most ingested beverages, amounting to about a third that of tap water. Coffee is the second most frequently traded product in the world calculated by financial volume. Trailing only unrefined oil and its products, as a resource of foreign trade to developing countries.
Coffee has its account as far back as the 9th century. It is believed to have originated in the moorland of Ethiopia and widened to the remainder of the world through Egypt and Europe.
The word coffee is derived from the Arabic word Qah'wa over Ottoman Turkish Kahve, which initially meant wine or other intoxicating liquors. In part, because of the Islamic prohibition on consuming wine.
Preparing and drinking coffee became a central social custom. The pick-me-up result of drinking coffee caused it to be prohibited amongst orthodox and conservative imams in Mecca in 1511 and in Cairo in 1532 by a theological court.
In Egypt, coffeehouses and warehouses containing coffee cherries were sacked. But the product's popularity, principally amongst intellectuals, led to the reversal of this verdict in 1524 by a command of the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Selim I.
In the 15th century, Muslims introduced coffee in Persia, Egypt, northern Africa and Turkey, where the first cafeteria, Kiva Han, opened in 1475 in Constantinople.
From the Muslim world, coffee moved to Europe, where it became well liked in the 17th century. Dutch traders were the first to begin large-scale import of coffee into Europe.
In 1538, L?onard Rauwolf, a German doctor, having returned from a ten-year journey in the Near East, was the first westerner to explain the drink: "A beverage as black as ink, helpful against several illnesses, chiefly those of the stomach. Its consumers drink it in the morning, quite honestly, in a porcelain mug that is passed about and from which each one drinks a cupful.
It is composed of water and the fruit from a bush called bunnu." These comments were noted by merchants, who were insightful to this type of information through knowledge in the trade of spices. English coffeehouses were centers of academic and business-related activity. Lloyds of London, the famed insurance company, was initially a coffeehouse.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com