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!
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Starbucks Iced Coffee Recipe Versus All Other Iced Coffee
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
Perfect Beans for Our Cappuccino Machines 9
How much do we really know about the coffee we drink every day? Where does the coffee used in our cappuccino machines come from? Next time you go into the kitchen to make a cappuccino take a look at the coffee packet and you might be surprised. The number of coffee producing coffees is growing rapidly, and the differences between the types of coffee according to their origin, can be astounding.
Coffee produced in Columbia is, of course, known worldwide. Although it is often used in mass produced supermarket coffees, there are a number of very fine Columbian grinds that should not be overlooked. One example is La Esperanza, grown at over six thousand feet in Tolima. Whilst the aroma of this particular coffee is likened to cherries, the taste contains an exquisite combination of chocolate and pipe tobacco tones.
Less well known are coffees from areas such as Hawaii. A particular favorite from this island is Kona, which comes in a variety of roasts from light to espresso. This particular coffee has a very low acidity which works beautifully with the powerful flavor of the dark espresso roast.
Continuing east on our coffee tour, we come to Africa, home to a number of superb coffee flavors. In Tanzania, should you be brave enough to attempt an ascent of Kilimanjaro, you would find the unusually shaped Peaberry coffee bean. The single oval bean results in a lighter coffee with a higher than average acidity.
Ethiopia is another crucial part of Africa's coffee history. A really unusual taste from the Yirgacheffe region mixes ginger and citrus peel to give an effect that is both sharp and chocolate like.
Our first taste of Asian coffee should probably be sampled in India. The coffee beans that result from the humid and rainy months of the Monsoon Malabar are swollen and golden in color, producing a distinctive flavor and aroma of apricots. Jumboor beans are another popular variety, which gives a raisin like flavor to the drink.
A lighter alternative can be found in Indonesia, where a sweet and flowery drink is made from beans in the Lake Toba region of Sumatra.
Another unusual location for coffee production is Jamaica, where the Peaberry, closely related to the African single bean of the same name, is made into a rich, intense drink with a sweet acidity and a range of floral tones.
Take a little time to find out what it is you like about your coffee and explore the possibilities available from the many coffee producing countries. You may find a perfect African cup that satisfies in the morning, an American roast for your coffee break and an Asian delicacy to follow your evening meal.Article Source: EzineArticles.com
coffee Good or bad for the blood presure
Caffeine, Good or Bad for the Blood Pressure?This is another one of those “is it or isn’t it” issues that probably by and large depends on a whole variety of associated issues but as it is one of the most regular of all of our queries I thought I would go ahead and try and provide some form of opinion.
Firstly from my own point of view, I have just started drinking Coffee again after an absence of about 15 years and thought that while I was undergoing a review of my medication for High Blood Pressure that I would see whether I could resume my on/off love affair with Caffeine.
To be honest the jury is still out as far as I am concerned in that yes there are the positives of being able to sit down every now and then with a hot cup of coffee and savour the rich and glorious aroma of freshly ground coffee but there is the down side also.
For my part this is now a recurrence of the headaches that made me give up drinking the stuff in the first place and then there is the caffeine “hit” that has now started to resemble a punch!
It is probably best to try and understand the chemistry behind Coffee and the human being before you start to make what comes remotely close to a definitive pronouncement of whether Coffee is good or bad for you.
How does Coffee manage to have this sort of effect that one minute has legions of aficionados claiming it to be the “nectar of the gods” and the next minute claiming it to be the “juice of the devil!”
The famous Native American hero, Chief Crazy Horse is widely acclaimed to have made the following statement about Coffee.
“If the Great Spirit has something better than coffee, he keeps it for himself.” Now it is a medical fact that Caffeine increases blood pressure. For those with normal blood pressure this is not a problem. For those with an already increased blood pressure then this can be an issue that causes further problems.
The whole situation is further complicated by the fact that Caffeine is such a widely available substance by which I mean that it is present in a great many different beverages and drinks and also in a wide variety of freely obtainable over the counter (OTC) medicines such as certain types of Painkillers, weight loss drugs and various cold remedies.
The other side issue with the consumption of Coffee is that coffee increases the excretion of calcium which in turn tends to compound the whole “High Blood Pressure Cycle” by further acting as another cause of increased Blood Pressure.
As far as Women are concerned, the Calcium loss can have a further side effect and this is especially the case with regards to Woman who already have issues with a calcium deficiency. Because Coffee acts as a diuretic as has been mentioned above this further loss of calcium is aggravated via increased excretion. For those who already suffer from Osteoporosis, studies have shown that the diuretic qualities of Coffee can be an issue.
And the conclusion to all of this?
I’m afraid it is the same with Coffee as with most things, there is a lot to be said of the old saying that “a little bit of what you fancy does you good” but in this case it really does mean a little.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Types Of Coffee Grinders
One of the things a coffee drinker can do to insure a great tasting coffee is to grind their own fresh beans. This was not always a simple process.
Long-ago in the days of yore, both the hammer and flat rock were needed to smash coffee beans. Even though the act of smashing was not all that difficult, it was time-consuming and there was a problem in getting a consistently even grind. These primitive tools were replaced by the roll grinder, still powered by hand.
There are two basic types of modern coffee grinders: those which have burrs and those which have blades. Which type of grinder you buy should depend upon the grinder’s intended use. Is it for espresso? for coffee? or both? If you want to grind very specific amounts you should consider getting a grinder with a doser.
On the other hand, a grinder without a doser is just the item to grind a larger amount of beans at a time.
The Burr Grinder is, without a doubt, the appliance to buy when accuracy and precision are important.
There are two types of burr grinders: one with conical burrs, the other with flat blades. Both varieties have a stationary burr, with the motor providing the power to spin the second burr. The coffee beans fall between the two burrs, thus getting ground.
There are settings that allow selection of a specific coarseness or fineness of the grind. Because of this, they are recommended for all types of grinds.
The Blade Grinder has a single blade closely resembling a propeller. Unfortunately, this type of grinder has no grind settings.
The grind becomes finer and finer as you continue to grind; it is very important to watch the machine in this phase or you might get coffee dust.
Blade grinders make the proper grind for drip coffee but don’t make specific enough grinds for espresso or coffee drinks that rely on exact grinds - blade grinders do not always grind consistently.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.co
Can Coffee Be Healthy
In North America 85% of the population drinks anywhere from 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily. No wonder that we are seeing growing health problems related to caffeine and acid intake.
For example the alarming growth in cardiovascular disease related in part to the increased heart rate and heightened blood pressure caused by caffeine, or the raised anxiety levels caused by Caffeine, which stimulates the production of stress hormones, which causes also muscular tension, indigestion and a decreased immune response.
The highly acidic nature of regular coffee can alter the specific pH balance in our body. A variety of health problems like arthritis and gastrointestinal issues can be caused by over acidity of our system, unbalanced pH and contributed to the consumption of regular, not to say “not healthy” coffee and the negative consequences of caffeine.
But would it help just to switch to decaffeinated “Coffee” or do we have to quit drinking coffee altogether? A company in Malaysia, Gano Excel, has developed a method to combine organically grown Ganoderma Lucidum, also known as Reishi, with a naturally grown, low caffeine Brazilian coffee.
This product has lower caffeine than decaffeinated coffee yet maintains the robust flavor and "boost" of fine coffee.
What gives this unique product it's healthful properties is the Ganoderma Lucidum, or Reishi. This mushroom, also known as the "King of Herbs, has been used for more than 4000 years in traditional Chinese medicine.
Clinical studies have shown that it is an immunoenhancer, that it can help reduce stress while maintaining energy levels. Amazingly, this coffee actually helps balance the body's pH level... in fact, Gano Excel coffee, when mixed with water, has the same pH as human blood.
Now, with real naturally-low-in-caffeine coffee as the delivery medium, coffee drinkers are able to enjoy the benefits of this Reishi, with their morning, afternoon and evening cup of coffee and enjoy both great flavor and better health and the same energy boost they expect from regular, caffeinated coffee.
Good bye jitters and sleepless nights, now you can get the “boost” the healthy way with great tasting Brazilian Arabica coffee blend and enriched with the “King of Herbs” called Ganoderma Lucidum.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Espresso Or Cappuccino The Secret To Great Coffee
No two professional coffee makers or baristas can come up with a cup of coffee that tastes the same. The reasons are legion. Here are a few answers to your unasked questions.
Strange as it may seem the quality of water can affect your brew. The fresher and hotter it is, the better. The temperature of water should reach 203? F / 95? C, which is near boiling point. If water is allowed to stand for too long, it tastes stale. Mildew could form as well. If the utensil used to store water is not clean, it could have a bearing on your cup of coffee. So could water that has been insufficiently filtered.
While selecting coffee beans, Arabica is a good choice.
The plantations are 3000 ft. above sea level and even higher. It doesn’t matter if the beans are from Brazil, Bogota or the many other areas where coffee is grown. The thing that matters is that the beans should be freshly roasted. Whether you do it yourself or get it a few days after roasting, the aroma should have a satisfying freshness. Over roasting could result in a burnt flavor!
Robusta does not have as pleasurable a flavor as Arabica does, as it contains more caffeine. This coffee plant thrives and is comparatively less prone to disease. The beverage is fine for a quick energy booster, but it is not used in the making of espresso coffee. The latter is a coffee to be enjoyed at leisure, sip by tasty sip.
Roasting plays an important part in the pleasure a cup of coffee affords. The beans are roasted to a dark French or Italian color and ground not with blades but burrs. Blades tend to chop the beans. Burr grinders, on the other hand, with pyramidal teeth fixed on two plates, work efficiently. The closer the plates, the finer the particles. Sand-like granules are preferred over powder or small gravel-like granules. Once the beans have been pulverized, the product should be put into airtight containers. Failure to do so immediately will lead to oxidation and the absorption of ‘alien’ odors.
It is imperative to buy a good machine. Do not invest in one where steam is necessary to build pressure. Go with a boiler or thermoblock to generate heat. A pressure pump that produces 9 bar or more is ideal. Above all, the machine should be well maintained.
The method is to pour clean, fresh water into the machine. Switch on the machine. Once the water gets heated, allow a cup to warm up the machine and to clean it of any residue. The heated water goes through the machine to the pump. Meanwhile, put in the roasted granules of coffee and press down till the packed coffee is springy to the touch. Make sure nothing spills out.
With the hopper firmly in place, put a cup under the spout from where the espresso will flow out. It takes just 5 seconds to get that piping hot cup of espresso and 20 seconds if a double is your requirement.
If cappuccino is your preference, heat a little organic milk (approx. half a cup) in the microwave oven for one and a half minutes. Beat it up till it becomes froth and float it on the espresso. You can have your choice of topping - chocolate may appeal to some, while others may prefer cinnamon or nutmeg. Those with a sweet tooth could add organic sugar.
Armed with this information, it shouldn’t be difficult to turn out a refreshingly, delicious cup of coffee. Espresso or cappuccino, the choice is yours!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Automatic Espresso coffee machine The Next Level In Caffinated Drinks
There are many people today that find that their coffee that once perked them up, now seems to have little or no effect. The problem is they have built up a considerable tolerance for their caffeine intake. They can try to quit for a while to offset this, however then they have less perk than ever.
Today caffeine addicts are everywhere. When they are without caffeine, they are like a dangerous snake feeling threatened. They are a force to reckon with to say the least. Quitting isn't an option here unless they are prepared for headaches, tiredness, and of course being quite temperamental.
Today there is another choice which is the automatic espresso machine! It produces stronger, more power packed, able to leap tall stacks of paper in a single bound, and 100% tasty caffeinated beverage. When all else fails, the automatic espresso coffee machine may be your best option! Do read on…
The Automatic Espresso Coffee Machine Will Defiantly Make Your Heart Race
If you really want to get your heart racing, you will find the automatic espresso coffee machine delivers you just what the doctor prescribed! If you need a great pick-me-up, you probably want to run off right now to an automatic espresso coffee machine. Your days will change dramatically; morning, noon, and night.
You may find your caffeine limit after all though and decide to drink less in the late hours, considering a side effect may indeed be insomnia. You really do need rest in addition to all your strong caffeinated days.
It's how your body regenerates. This is a balance many find after they have had their own automatic espresso coffee machine for a little while.
Of course espresso isn't limited to those that are full time coffee drinkers. An automatic machine is found in homes everywhere; some places they are used only a fraction of the time.
Once you have an automatic espresso coffee machine in your home; you will want to experiment with the many variants and flavours there are to choose from. The espresso shot is of course the coffee base of these drinks; however the machine will enable you to enhance the output they produce as well. The automatic nature of these machines will enable you much more.
The many choices you will have with your automatic espresso coffee machine include caf? latte, cappuccino, cortado, mocha, among many others. These involve additional ingredients such as milk, chocolate, syrups, hazelnut, mint, sugar, vanilla, frothy milk, cream, and the list goes on and on; all from the convenience of your automatic espresso coffee machine.
In the end your automatic espresso coffee machine will bring you that caffeine jolt you may have been looking for all of your life! Surprisingly you may also find a flavour that you can't replace in the process. But you will never know if you don't try, and get your own taste of the results of the automatic espresso coffee machine. You have to take the first step to the next level.
If you are thinking about purchasing a coffee machine then be sure to do your homework and shop around. Did you know that coffee machine rental is also an option. Article Source: www.EzineArticles.com
Enjoying Your Favorites With A Coffee And Latte Machine
For the hard and true coffee lovers among us there are few roads we would not travel for the perfect cup of coffee. We have our favorites - usually house specialties with a $5 price tag that cause lines at our nearby coffee houses.
And we travel there each and every day - sometimes several times a day - to pay for the privilege of a cup of liquid gold that will ready us for our day or get us through our afternoon or push us through our end of the day slump.
But what if we could have that special treat right in our own kitchens? That same coffee shop quality flavor at no cost to us and available any time we want it?
The truth is that when it comes to making our favorite blends at home, coffee lovers are more in luck than ever. The at-home coffee and latte machine has made it possible to enjoy all our favorites without ever leaving our homes.
Finding the perfect coffee and latte machine can take some research but can be well worth it. Start with reading any consumer reports you can find to let the research that's been done before work to your advantage. You can find out what specific brands have performed well for other consumers and those that you are best to avoid.
Beyond that you'll find a number of different models, styles, and colors. Pick your coffee and latte machine that has all the bells and whistles that you desire. After all, this purchase is meant to put you off the $5 coffee/latte habit. So it may be worth it to invest the money now as it will likely pay for itself in a short enough time.
The Internet can be a great place to look for a coffee and latte machine; online resources can allow you to shop around and take your time researching different makes and models.
Your coffee and latte machine can bring the local coffee house right into your kitchen. Choose wisely coffee lover! And you will be rewarded with a fabulous brew that's always literally at your fingertips.
For easy to understand, in depth information about espresso visit our ezGuide 2 espresso.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Gourmet Coffee - Variety and Choice 8
The words "Gourmet Coffee" are coming up in conversation more often these days. Is there any substance to it or is it just a term some elite coffee snobs have come up? What makes a coffee "gourmet" and who decides this? This article attempts to sift through the hype and give some straight facts.
As an adjective, gourmet is defined as: Referring to fine food. So, gourmet coffee is fine coffee, that doesn't help narrow it down much more. It may be stating the obvious, but what makes a coffee fine is its taste. There are five primary taste sensations; salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami (savory). Understanding how these sensations apply to coffee is not important to the majority of us.
What's important is our preference; what tastes good, bad and to what degree. People have huge variations in preference. A coffee you may love, I might hate. C'est la vie!
This variation in preference is where gourmet coffee fills a need. Gourmet coffee offers choice and variety.
These choices come in countless combinations of international coffee beans, varying degrees of roasting, flavoring and preparation.
International Coffee Beans
International coffee is probably the biggest factor in gourmet coffee; it's the starting point for variety and choice.
From a purest point of view the bean's original flavor should play a bigger role than artificially flavored coffees or specialty coffee drinks.
Coffee is international by nature, even though all the world's coffee beans are grown within 1000 miles of the equator - from the Tropic of Cancer in the north to the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. Two varieties make up nearly all of the beans; Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica contains less caffeine, it is the most popular and it grows between 1,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Robusta contains the most caffeine and grows at lower elevations.
South American, Central American and Caribbean coffee beans for the most part are lighter in body than other regions, a bit sweeter and slightly more acidic. These beans are often described as smooth and nutty. Central American varieties are not usually as sharp as the South American. African and Middle Eastern coffees often have a more medium body and what can be described as a wild and syrupy feel. African beans are strong, sharp and assertive.
The majority of the world's Robustas are grown along the African coast. Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Indonesian coffees are almost completely Arabicas. Characteristics include spicy, heavy body and low acidity.
Flavored Coffee
Flavored coffees become popular in the 1990s but can be traced back centuries ago to the Turks, who used a unique method of preparing coffee that is still popular in the area today. Spices like clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom were added to flavor the coffee. People typically have strong feelings towards flavored coffee; they love it or prefer to let the natural flavor of the bean to prevail.
Coffee is typically flavored by adding flavor oils to the beans after roasting and prior to grinding. Flavoring oils are combinations of natural and synthetic flavor chemicals which are created by flavor chemists. There are also liquid flavors which are added to coffee during preparation much like adding cream or sugar. Flavored coffees are generally classified into four categories:
" Spice based flavors - like cinnamon.
" Fruit based flavors - like coconut or raspberry.
" Chocolate based flavors - like chocolate mint.
" Nut based flavors - like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nut.
" Cremes - like Irish Creme or French Vanilla.
Specialty Drinks and Preparation
There seems to be a million ways to prepare coffee these days; Dark roast, light roast, espresso (and all its derivatives), regular coffee, with cream and sugar or simply black. Coffee preparation is a topic that's been the subject of many other articles. However, like all facets of gourmet coffee the theme of choice and variety applies.
Most of the fancy coffee drinks start with espresso, which is just coffee that is brewed a particular way. The beans are finely ground to an almost powder consistency then very hot water is forced through the grinds at high pressure. Some examples of Espresso based coffee drinks are Espresso Macchiato, Espresso Con Panna, Caffй Americano, Cappuccino, Caffй Lattй and Caffй Mocha. Specialty coffee drinks are becoming very popular but most people still drink regular coffee optionally adding different amounts of cream or sugar.
Summary
The bottom line is Gourmet Coffee offers today's selective coffee drinker choice. These choices come in the form of beans farmed around the world, flavored coffees and vast array of specialty drinks and preparation techniques.
Some people drink coffee only as a means to an end, to wake up! More and more people are starting to take notice of the flavor. People's taste evolve, many people start out drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar and overtime take less or even drink it black. With all the choices available, why not try something new for your next coffee
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Chris Brown is a regular contributor to the The-Best-Coffee-Maker.com and his favorite coffee is an Italian dark roast from a quaint local cafe that roasts its own beans. For information and resources about coffee makers and gourmet coffee visit The-Best-Coffee-Maker.com
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A Coffee Gift Idea
Are you tired of receiving the same kinds of gifts over and over again? One quotation says --- It is better to give than to receive. Now is the time for you make a difference. Go and pack a unique gift for someone very dear to you.
There are many ways by which you can stuff your gifts. Usually, gifts are packed in boxes, paper bags, paper or tinsel wrappers, pail, baskets while some just give it as it is. Don't you feel overwhelmed when someone gives you a present? I'm sure you'll be very thankful for that person, especially when you received the gift of your choice.
Some people give gifts during birthdays, Christmas, New Year, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, house blessing, graduation, baptismal and many others.
It has already been a custom, that people give gifts whenever there's an occasion. But is a special occasion really necessary, before you decide to give? It will cause someone to thank you if you give him/her a present in ordinary days. You can give to show someone your appreciation.
There are several ideas by which you can be creative in packing your gifts. Use your imaginations. Be inventive and artistic. For coffee lovers, a basket full of assorted coffee would be a good choice. You can mix and match roasted coffee with instant ones. You can also include cups and saucers and mugs too.
Coffee gift basket could be a pleasant gift for all occasions. It would be great for couples, as well as for small and large groups. Since break time is coffee time, this gift would surely promote sharing of thoughts and ideas during meetings and small gatherings.
Gift baskets are readily made and available for order and immediate purchase in coffee stores. However, you can do it yourself for a more artistic touch of your hand. In case, you don't have time doing so, the internet is there to accompany you to the well-known coffee basket dealers.
With a little research and some initiative you can get great coffee and arrange for it to be packed in a gift basket with other coffee related items, even some mugs or an espresso machine, and create a wonderful coffee gift basket. If you know the people who you are buying to coffee for you can take advantage of that and get them things you know they like, or things you think they will particularly enjoy.
Celia Namart an avid traveler has collected her thoughts and ideas during her many travels around the world. A recent discovery is the option of using coffee as a great gift idea, read about how to setup a great Coffee Gift Basket as a surprise for your friends and family.
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Origins of Coffee in Our Cappucino Makers
The global coffee industry has an incredibly high turnover, comparable to the oil industry in size. Whether we have a preference for espresso, latte, cappuccino or simple filtered coffee, over four hundred million cups are consumed daily throughout the world.
In the two thousand years since it was first discovered in Ethiopia, the varieties of coffee on offer have grown tremendously.
The two basic types of coffee are the Robusta and Arabica beans. Robusta is the stronger of the two, containing double the caffeine, while Arabica is used in superior coffees and was initially grown on the Arabian Peninsula.
Coffee beans themselves are split into two further categories. Green are the most widely used, while red are kept for fine coffees, having a lower acidity and higher level of aromatic oil.
Splitting the green and red beans during picking, largely done by hand, is an important skill. To ensure a good quality end product, the green and red beans should not be mixed together.
Once picked, the fruit around the bean is soaked off, and the beans are washed before being dried in the sun on large stone areas to reduce their water content. The beans must be sorted before being sent for processing. A significant number will be discarded if they are of inferior quality.
Some of the superior beans will be retained to be aged over a number of years, while the rest will be sent for immediate roasting.
The roasting process takes place at over four hundred degrees Fahrenheit, which releases oil from the beans, expanding them to double their original size and turning them brown. Different countries roast for varying lengths of time to produce the required taste.
Kenyan beans for example, are only lightly roasted to produce their special flavor.
For a few days after roasting, carbon dioxide gas is produced by the beans, so these need to be packed in permeable bags, or aired before shipping.
Various methods of grinding the roasted beans are yet another variable that can affect the final taste of the coffee. Burr grinders are most often used to produce uniform sized coffee grinds, whereas chopping the beans produces a variation in granule sizes. Unusually, Turkish coffees are beaten to a powdery consistency.
The ground coffee is then brewed by processes that include boiling, pressurizing, or steeping. Hot water is run through the grounds, and then filtered, or is forced through the grounds under high pressure. Coffee bags can be steeped in hot water in a similar fashion to tea bags, although this is not as common.
With the popularity of coffee ever increasing, and recent studies showing some health benefits to moderate coffee consumption, we are all likely to be hearing the hum of cappuccino makers for some time yet. Next time you take a cup, consider the long journey the beans have been through to get to your lips.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Fair Trade Coffee Is Great For All Coffee Types
Fair Trade Coffee is an organization that protects the laborers who work hard to bring you great coffee. Fair Trade Coffee is produced a bit differently from regular beans, but still ensures that the beans are of the highest caliber.
In the United States people drink a lot of coffee, from cappuccino to espresso. Most people couldn't face a day without their morning cup, but most people have no clue how coffee is made. Fair Trade Coffee helps bring information on this process to the many coffee drinkers in the U.S.
In the past many workers who toil to pick and plant the beans have been mistreated. Fair Trade Coffee is made on plantations that have a great record for worker's rights. The working conditions have to be safe and the employees are paid a fair wage for their work.
Fair Trade coffee focuses on social and economic justice for coffee producers, while also bringing high quality coffee products to the U.S. Those of use who are coffee types will enjoy knowing that their cappuccino consumption is helping others.
If the coffee is being produced under poor working conditions the organization will not certify the coffee beans.
Since so many workers suffer from poor conditions and inadequate pay, we should support Fair Trade Coffee by buying the coffee and still helps its workers. Fair Trade Coffee holds the highest standards to its certification process making sure we know what we are getting.
Next time you are sipping on your espresso make sure you know that your coffee didn't come from a "sweatshop in a field." This refers to the farmers who own plantations where their workers are mistreated. These farmers are paid poorly and mistreated.
You can find many Fair Trade Coffee suppliers that will fit the need of any coffee types! You can get order off the Fair Trade Coffee website or find some in a shop near you. You will feel good know you are doing what you can to help others!
Johnathan Bakers routinely writes long articles on information much like espresso and cappuccino. His writings on cappuccino and single cup coffee maker can be found on his web publications .
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Different Beans for Our Cappuccino Machines
So you need a cup of coffee to get you going in the morning, and you are probably quite happy to drink whatever brews the cappuccino machines in the office are dispensing. If it's hot, it smells like coffee and it gives you the necessary head rush to start your day, that's all you need.
So it may astonish you to realise exactly how many different types and origins of coffee there are out there. Some people devote their entire careers to coffee tasting to find the perfect mix of beans to create just the right taste.
These professional tasters are called cuppers and really know their coffee.
Centered on the equator, a band twenty five degrees to the north and south houses the seventy countries where coffee beans are grown. From South America and the Caribbean, to Africa and the Middle East, this strip around the centre of the globe provides just the right conditions for coffee plantations to thrive.
Each country, and sometimes each area within the same country, produces beans with their own special characteristics to produce distinctive flavors.
The two main divisions of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. Robusta is the more potent of the two, with double the amount of caffeine. The Arabica beans have more taste and a pleasing fragrance, making them suitable for superior quality blends.
The Arabica bean is split again into two categories. The higher quality Milds, are grown at over three thousand feet, the perfect altitude for coffee growth. Brazils, not surprisingly a product of Brazil, are grown in larger quantities, at lower altitudes, on the many large plantations of the area.
When seeking the perfect coffee, most people choose ready roasted beans, although it is possible to buy the soft, green beans and roast them yourself. There are a number of categories of roast, from the light or cinnamon roast, which is strong and acidic, to the dark or city roast, a less bitter sweeter category, often used for espresso. In between is the medium or American roast, the standard used for everyday drinking and extremely popular.
Two other varieties of European roast are the full bodied French roast, and the very dark Italian roast, used in speciality espressos. Both of these are dark roasts and so the resulting brews are less acidic and sweeter than your average cup. The longer roasting process allows the sugars in the bean to caramelize and much of the bitter caffeine to burn away.
So next time you reach for a cup of the strong stuff to wake you up in the morning, take a minute to find out what goes into your coffee makers. Maybe consider what you really want in a coffee and spend some time looking for your perfect roast.Johnathan Bakers's reports are found on different websites linked to coffee and coffee making. His comments on cappuccino machines are found on http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com
Coffee Houses Are The Centre Of Social Interaction
The coffee house or cafe tends to share some of the characteristics of both a bar and a restaurant. They are focused on serving coffee, tea, sandwiches, and other light snacks, such as muffins, desserts, soups and pastries.
The coffee house is more like a restaurant in some countries. They will serve tons of hot and cold foods with a steaming cup of coffee, together with the possible option of serving alcohol. In a Muslim cafe, you will be able to smoke your tobacco or pot through a hookah and drink your coffee.
The purpose of the coffee house does sometimes take on the purpose of the centre of society. You may visit the coffee house to meet up or gossip with your friends, do some works, read a book, entertain, or simply to just pass some time. The coffee house is one place that can be a great meeting ground.
You will find many things in the coffee house in the name of creativity. You may be able to do stand up or many coffee houses have readings or art displays; it can be a wonderful place for some much need inspiration.
You can visit in groups or go by yourself and fit right in. It can a great place to work in a relaxing environment on you laptop computer and sit for hours typing and drinking coffee. Most owners do not even mind if you just come in and sit. It is such a great place to get your ideas down on paper or to act out your most creative concoctions.
It is know that Arabic merchants, first found coffee, and the coffee shop originated in areas that surround Persia, such as Iran and Turkey. Today, you will have not problem in finding a coffee shop anywhere in the world.
In America, Starbucks is a well known chain. A Starbucks coffee shop is a place that allows you to use the internet, and sit all day writing a book or doing some work. It is the ultimate coffee shop; there are many enormous coffee shops in locations, such as Los Angeles and New York where artists tend to flock.
Coffee House can also make a great place to take your date to. Have you coffee and entertainment at the same time. You can also have a conversation without the need to talk loudly. When taking your date to a coffee house, you will surely have a laid back and unpredictable date. The cafe is such a great place to just hang out and relax.
Darren Lintern publishes articles, guides and reports, on many topics for http://www.kerrash.com For a wealth of information on Coffee, including Coffee Cake, Coffee Filters, Travel Coffee Mugs, visit our Coffee Information Guide
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