Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Espresso Coffee Grinders

Nearly all coffee connoisseurs will agree that the best way to ensure that you get a great cup of coffee each time is to use an espresso coffee grinder. Certainly when it comes to making a great cup of espresso coffee the only way to ensure that you get the best and most intense flavor from the beans you are using is to use one of the many different types of espresso coffee grinders prior to you making it.

Using a grinder helps to prevent the loss of some of the oil that provides the coffee with their flavor. If you were to drink ground coffee that has been open for sometime the intense flavor would be lost as the grounds have begun to the lose the oil. But using an espresso coffee grinder prevents this from happening.


Today there are two different types of coffee grinders a person can purchase which come with either burr or steel blades. Although the burr grinders are more expensive, the resulting cup of coffee you get from using these is much better than those which have steel blades.


The other reason why you should choose a burr grinder over a steel bladed one is that during the grinding process less heat is produced which results in the grounds being more flavorsome. Also these types of grinders allow a person to decide just how fine or coarse they want their coffee grounds to be. In fact there are some espresso coffee machines which are ideally suited for ensuring that you can make fantastic cups of espresso coffee each time you use them.

However the steel bladed ones often contain an electric motor and the way you get the right kind of fineness to your coffee grounds will depend on just how long you leave the machine on for during the grinding process. Unfortunately with this particular type of machine more heat is produced during the grinding process and so the actual grounds once produced have lost a lot of their flavor and aroma. Because this particular type of coffee grinder is much less expensive then this is why you will most often finding them being used in homes.

So if you are someone who wants to ensure that when it comes to getting the most flavor and aroma out of their coffee grounds, then they should really be looking at purchasing a burr grinder. This is certainly the most suitable type of all the espresso coffee grinders a person can purchase today.

Ricky Lim runs http://www.saecoespressomachine.net, a saeco espresso machine reviews site. Visit his site today for more reviews such as the Saeco Primea Touch Plus Espresso Machine Review.


Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Coffee Maker - Cleaning

Well it is if your morning cup of coffee is a matter of life and death and you have a filthy coffee maker. When was the last time you cleaned your coffee maker? Washing the pot is important but getting the internal components of a coffee maker clean is a task that shouldn’t be skipped. Did you even know that you were supposed to clean it? A clean coffee maker can be the difference between a good cup of coffee and a nasty cup of sludge.

A clean coffee maker really makes a big difference in how your coffee tastes. Left over coffee oils can accumulate inside your coffee maker and become rancid. And mineral deposits can form too, especially in areas with hard water. These deposits are called “scale”. There are two kinds of scale, lime scale and mineral scale and you don’t want either one. Scale can affect the heating unit and the water flow of your coffee maker and reduce it’s efficiency. How quickly scale forms depends on the quality of your drinking water. If you use bottled water to make your coffee, scale probably won’t form as fast but you still have to worry about accumulated coffee oils. Better to play it safe and clean your coffee maker regularly.

Cleaning your coffee maker is not a hard task to accomplice. At least once a month pour a mixture of half vinegar and half water into your coffee maker. It goes without saying that white vinegar should be used. Steer clear of the red wine or apple cider vinegar varieties. Run through the full brew process. You’re kitchen will probably have a nice salad smell while it’s brewing which you may even like. If you’re not a salad fan though, just remember that it’s a small price to pay for a good cup of coffee.

Repeat the process again using only water this time to rinse it out. Do this one more time if a vinegar smell is still present.

Another easy way to keep the coffee maker clean is to put a glass marble in the water chamber. All the mineral deposits that would usually accumulate inside the coffee maker will instead accumulate on the marble. Every once in a while just remove the marble, wash it and then place it back in the chamber. How much easier could that be?
The best solution would be to clean your coffee maker with vinegar monthly while also using the marble method. Change the marble once a week and you’re coffee maker will be in great shape.

If you have an old coffee maker and you aren’t happy with the taste of it’s brew, why not try cleaning it. A clean coffee maker will brew better tasting coffee.
Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more information about How To Clean A Coffee Maker and other coffee making tips, visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Tripodi

The Coffee Maker

Most people wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is fire up the old coffee maker. Most models today are very easy to use, all you need is a filter, some coffee, and running water.


Press the button and you can have a pot of steaming hot coffee in just a few minutes. Today, nearly every home has a coffee maker in the kitchen. The fact is, the coffee maker has become a must-have for the kitchen.


There are many variations on the coffee maker. The basic model is nothing special - it makes a cup of coffee and that's it. However, some advanced models offer much more. Many brands of coffee makers offer automatic shutoff mechanisms. That means that if you leave your coffee maker on for an extended period of time, or forget to turn it off before you leave the house, the machine will shut off automatically after a while. This automatic shutoff mechanism is designed to prevent the coffee maker from starting a fire if left for too long.

Then, there are the more advanced versions of the coffee maker that offer more features. Some advanced models sport timers, which are great for ensuring that you have a pot of steaming coffee before you even wake up in the morning. Set the timer the night before, prepare all of the ingredients, and when you wake up your coffee will already be made. You can shave ten to fifteen minutes off your morning just by having a timer on your coffee maker. People can now enjoy all the coffee they want in the comfort of their own homes. Most people probably thought that with more and more coffee shops opening up, coffee makers at home would probably disappear. However, even though coffee shops are springing up everywhere and are more popular than ever, it will probably be a long time before people throw out their coffee makers.

Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Coffee Blog For more great tips and advice on coffee, check out the The Coffee Blog



Types of Capresso Coffee Grinders

The Capresso Infinity burr coffee grinder is one of the premiere products from the Jura-Capresso company, which was formed by the merger of two coffee equipment manufacturing companies:

Swiss company Jura, which started in 1931, and Capresso, founded in 1994 in the United States. Jura-Capresso currently sells espresso machines, Capresso coffee grinders, and coffee makers, including an all-in-one machine known as an "automatic coffee center." Users can command the coffee center to brew a cup of coffee simply by pressing one button. The machine will also grind coffee beans immediately before brewing so that the grounds are incredibly fresh. If you already have a coffee maker but are interested in utilizing a Capresso grinder, there are several options for you to choose.

Before picking a coffee grinder that is most suitable for your needs, it is vital to understand the importance of owning a grinder and what it can do for you. Because coffee grounds lose a lot of their aroma and flavor when they are in contact with air, it is best to grind coffee beans right before you plan to use the grounds. That way, you can protect your grounds and create an awesome cup of coffee.

If you are thinking about purchasing a coffee grinder from Jura-Capresso, they have models in the three different types of grinders, which are burr, conical burr, and blade. Blade grinders are most common, least expensive, and are probably the types you have been familiar with in the past. Blade grinders grind coffee beans at a fast rate of speed and are best for use with a drip machine or percolator. Though blade grinders are an inexpensive option, on downside is that some of your coffee's flavor will be lost during the grinding process due to the "heat" that is created when such a high speed is used. Burr grinders work more slowly than blade grinders but operate faster than their sibling, conical burr grinders. Burr grinders can grind coffee very finely. Conical burr grinders are considered the "cream of the crop" in terms of coffee grinders. The burrs crush coffee beans into small pieces that are all exactly the same size. Conical burr grinders are the slowest type of grinder (which will safeguard your coffee's flavor) and grind the finest grounds, even finer than traditional burr grinders have the capability of doing. Since the grounds are so small, this type of grinder is recommended for use with espresso machines and also if you have oily coffee beans, because the grounds are less likely to clog your machine.

The Capresso Infinity coffee grinder, which is a conical burr grinder, is an excellent choice if you are considering buying a coffee grinder. The grinder's burrs are assembled by hand in

Switzerland, ensuring quality and ease of use. There are 16 total settings: four settings for each of the grinder's speeds, which are extra fine, fine, regular, and coarse. There is also a setting for pulse grinding. Both stainless steel and black models are available so that you can properly match your kitchen's aesthetic. Since the Infinity grinder operates at a very slow rate of speed, it is much less noisy than most other coffee grinders.

If you are seeking a traditional blade grinder that has the power and capacity to grind a very large volume of coffee, try the Capresso Cool Grind blade grinder. Its blade is made out of stainless steel, and it can grind 15 cups worth of coffee beans at one time. The Cool Grind also has a pulse setting.

Jura-Capresso sells a variety of products to suit a variety of needs and may be purchased online via several Internet retailers, including capresso.com.
Steve writes about Capresso coffee grinders and Lavazza coffee beans.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Turley

The 4 Most Popular Coffee Brewing Methods

Coffee Brewing Methods range from popular Espresso or French Press methods to lesser used methods like Turkish. Here we explore the four most popular Coffee Brewing Methods.



Let’s start with the Drip Filtration style.
Drip Filtration is probably the most popular method of all. The Drip Filtration machine works by spraying hot water across ground coffee that is held in a conical shaped filter. The hot water then slowly moves through the ground coffee. Once the water reaches the bottom of the conical filter, it drips into a container beneath it.


The most widely used conical filters are made of paper, while expensive stainless steel or gold conical filters are also available. Yes I did say gold. When buying paper filters, be sure to use oxygen bleached paper. Chemically treated papers may affect the taste of your coffee. Another point to be aware of with paper filters is that you may also have some of the flavorful coffee oils trapped by the paper filter. It is the oils that produce the rich crema when you make an espresso.



The grind is also important with Drip Filtration. If the grind is too fine, you may clog the pores of your filter. You can avoid this by using a course grind (read about grinding here).



Finally, if you do not expect to drink the full pot of coffee, either by yourself (all that caffeine....) or with friends, beware the constantly heated coffee. It loses its flavor and may even become bitter. And the golden rule....never reheat coffee.



One of the simplest of all Coffee Brewing Methods is the French Press or Plunger. This is probably the easiest way to make great coffee!



The French Press works by directly mixing ground coffee with near boiling water. The coffee flavors get drawn out into the water and then the press or plunger is depressed, separating the exhausted coffee grind from the brew. While the process has a similar taste to the Drip Filtration style, the French Press can extract more flavor from the coffee grind by extending the brewing time. But be careful. Manual infusion requires you to get your timing right. If you let the brewing process run too long you may end up with a bitter coffee. Conversely, if you brew too quickly you will have a weak tasting coffee.



One more point, use a course grind. You don't want fine ground coffee escaping through the metal filter and into the brew. A dusty cup of coffee is not an experience worth having.
Probably the most popular of the Coffee Brewing Methods in recent times is making an Espresso using a machine.



So how does an Espresso machine make a great cup of coffee? Super hot, pressurized water is forced through fine ground, tightly packed coffee. The pressurized infusion process ensures that the water stays in contact with the coffee grounds long enough to draw out much of the coffee ground flavor. The water then finds a path through the coffee grounds. And the coffee commences to pour into your cup. When the water finds a path through the coffee grind it is referred to as the 'shot being pulled' through the group.



The sign of a good espresso, using fresh coffee beans, is the richness of the crema. Crema is the hazelnut foam that sits on the surface of the coffee. This is produced by the pressurizing process and the oils of the coffee bean. Oils break down with time, and so a rich crema will be produced using fresh beans.



And if you didn't catch it when I started talking about Espresso, use a fine grind. Using a course grind allows the water to 'brush past' the grind rather than infuse with it. Using a course grind will still produce a good coffee, but it will taste more like a coffee produced using a Drip Filter coffee brewing method rather than true Espresso coffee.



The most Italian of all the Coffee Brewing Methods would have to be making Espresso coffee using a Moka Pot.



The Moka Pot style is also known as a Stovetop coffee pot. Moka pot's come in several sizes including 2, 4 or 6 cup capacities. The Moka Pot a simple 3 piece pot. The water reservoir is at the base, with a coffee basket in the middle and the brewed coffee ends up in the top.



The coffee brewing method is very simple. The pot is placed on a stove top which heats the water in the lower reservoir. As the water reaches boiling point, the steam rises and the water starts to push upward through the coffee grounds. This continues to travel up the central funnel and seeps into the top chamber where it comes to rest. The process finishes when the coffee stops moving into the top chamber. This should only take a few minutes to brew depending on the cup size of the Moka pot.



The grind should be a fine grind, similar or finer to that used in an Espresso machine. If you want to fill the coffee basket the way traditional Italian drinkers do, then heap the coffee grounds high in the coffee basket and screw the two pieces together. Don't worry about compacting the coffee. When the top half of the pot is screwed on, the grounds will be compacted by the filter screen. You should end up with a dry, compacted puck of coffee grounds at the end of brewing.



So there you have it. The four most popular Coffee Brewing Methods.
http://www.the-java-cafe.com/Coffee-Brewing-Methods.htmlhttp://www.the-java-cafe.com/




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Barista

How To Recognize The Best Flavored Coffee

Flavored coffee is becoming more and more popular every day, in spite of negative reactions of the classic amateurs of coffee. In this article we cover:
- What flavored coffee is
- Is it just fashion or a new market and taste habit?
- What are the key factors that influence the quality
- Tips to recognize if we are in front of a 'best flavored coffee' or not.


WHAT FLAVORED COFFEE IS?
In its simplest definition, flavored coffee is coffee with additional flavors added to the beans to give a specific taste, different than the classic organic taste offered by the coffee 'alone'. Flavored coffee is made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they have been roasted and before they have been ground.


JUST FASHION OR NEW TASTE HABIT?
You may like it or not, but flavored coffee is today synonymous with gourmet coffee. Flavoring coffee is not just a 'new fashion', and it is a very old habit as well. Flavored coffees have been used for centuries: Arabians began flavoring their coffees with cardamom hundreds of years ago; Africans experimented with citrus flavours; and South Americans enjoyed a hint of cinnamon in their cups.


Flavored coffee as we know it today began its development in the 60's, with the spread of flavored tea from Europe. But it was with the specialty coffee boom of the 1990s that the overall interest in exotic flavours increased so remarkably.


Flavored coffee is a controversial topic among roasters and retailers. Real coffee connoisseur do not like it at all. But business is business, and despite a sometimes less-than-enthusiastic reception, flavored coffees are continuing to penetrate deeper into the market, as a result of exposure from large coffee shops, restaurants, and retailers of all kinds.


Today we can choose from a wide array of flavored coffees, with attractive names like 'Amaretto', 'French Vanilla', 'Hazelnut', 'Chocolate Swiss', etc. Flavored coffee has therefore become a very trendy drink, so popular that according to some estimates one out of four Americans (25%) drinks a flavoured coffee at least twice a month!


KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE QUALITY
Three main factors influence the quality of the best flavoured coffee:
- the selection of coffee beans
- the quality of flavors
- the process used.


Coffee beans: the type of beans used to make flavored coffee greatly impacts the taste of the finished product. Arabica beans are most frequently used for creating the best flavored coffee, due to their low levels of acidity and bitterness.


Flavors: the coffee roaster must choose between 100% natural flavours, artificial or 'Nature Identical' flavorings. Although the flavor name on packages may be the same ('French Vanilla'), the product inside is of course very different.


The Process involves the appropriate amount of flavoring to be used, the chosen roast level, and how and when the flavours are applied. A more in depth view about how the best flavoured coffee is produced will be covered in another article, 'How Best Flavored Coffees Are Produced'.


HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE BEST FLAVORED COFFEE
To help you make the most of coffee flavorings, here are some final tips to help you buy only the best flavored coffee beans.


Be sure you are buying from a reputable coffee roaster, to ensure your beans and flavorings are of a high quality. Firstly, verify that coffee beans are high-quality. Secondly, checks if flavor is made with 100% natural ingredients.


Some roasters may be adding flavor to low-quality beans thinking that their low-quality will be disguised by the flavoring. About 75 percent of taste is experienced through the nose, so the aroma makes for much of the flavored coffee experience, but best flavored coffee should not overdo it: the flavor should complement your coffee, rather than overwhelm it. The ideal flavor should mask some of the harsh notes of the coffee yet not interfere with its aromatic characteristics.


The degree of roasting determines the depth of flavour: the darker the roast, the heavier the flavor. If flavoring is added to beans which have too mild a roast, the coffee lacks significant flavor characteristics, and a flat-tasting beverage results. If the roast is too dark, the added flavor is covered by the taste of the beans. For example, a Vanilla flavor can be lost on a French roast, because the robustness of the bean may overwhelm the sweet creamy tones of the flavor.
Finally, flavored coffee should be stored as closely as possible to room temperature.


CONCLUSIONS
Many black coffee drinkers dislike flavored coffees, because they cannot fully taste the 'native' coffee flavor. While according to estimators, flavoring coffee is just making coffee even more appealing, by adding complimentary flavors.


Many coffee aficionados turn up their nose at the thought of adding flavorings to their beloved black beverage. On the other way, the taste habits of those who like flavored coffee are not much different than the ones who say 'no, thanks' to flavored, but then drink their coffee with milk or sugar (or both...).


As a matter of fact, whether you are a connoisseur of black or a lover of flavored, best flavored coffee is here to stay.


For two simple reasons. Consumers like it. And coffee business professionals like it as well, since they have seen the opportunity to create new profitable market niches, with higher margins than the traditional coffee.


Since 1940s, Coffee'IT (http://www.CoffeeIT.com/Flavored-Coffee.html) is an Italian roaster of rare espresso and mocha coffees, marketed through importers, wholesalers, distributors, agents, and coffee professionals.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Tonacchera

Choosing the Right Type of Coffee Maker

Four major types of coffee maker exist in the world today. These coffee makers are listed as follows: the stove top, the vacuum, the drip and the French press. Making coffee with these different types of coffee makers usually depends on a whole lot of things which include the amount of coffee and the time you have available. If you have different types of coffee tastes these different types of coffee makers will help you make your particular brew of coffee at home.

Drip coffee makers
These sorts of coffee makers are usually the easiest coffee makers to find and they are the most common. They are usually quite simple in design and they are also quite efficient as well. The machine carries out most of the hard work; all you really have to do is add coffee that is freshly grounded and cold water as well to the mix. Using the drip coffee method is quite efficient because all it entails is you putting some cold water into the reservoir. The heating element will do the rest and heat the water for brewing. You can have your coffee ready in a very short time. Paper filters are usually used to hold any coffee grounds that are left over and make it easy to clean up. A drip coffee machine burner will ensure that the coffee remains hot for a long time after it has been brewed.

Vacuum style coffee makers
People have been using vacuum style coffee makers to make coffee very since the mid 1800’s. The coffee maker is made by creating two types of separate glass containers that are placed on top one another. All the brewing usually takes place in the topmost container. The lower section of the vacuum style coffee maker is usually filled with cold water. What is then done is that this water is heated up to a boiling point. A siphon can then be used to remove the hot water from the lower section of the vacuum style coffee maker. This passes through the grounds of coffee and into the top section. Coffee then moves back into the lower section while the grounds remain on top. This way coffee is instantly available when you remove the top section. Most people usually opt for the vacuum style brewing of coffee rather than choosing drip coffee brewing in order to avoid the taste of drip coffee paper filters.

Stovetop coffee makers
These types of coffee makers are usually styled similar to the vacuum style coffee maker. They consist of two separate stacked pits but in this case the grounds and cold water are usually kept together in the same container. When you’re using the stovetop the final brewed coffee will be in the second container. What the lower container holds is the water as well as the ground coffee and the filter basket. The lower container is usually heated properly which then forces the water past the grounds. The coffee then gets siphoned from the lower container to the top container. Because of the unique shape of this coffee maker it is usually preferred by people who like a unique look for their coffee makers. Stovetop coffee makers aren’t usually required for people who need to serve a large group of people. Another thing that should be noted when preparing the coffee is that the water shouldn’t boil. This usually leads to coffee that tastes bitter.

French Press coffee maker
The French press coffee maker was created in the 1930’s. This sort of coffee maker is usually created quite simply but produces thick and rich coffee. Using this coffee maker usually entails filling the container with a single tablespoon of coffee that is coarsely grounded as well as hot cup of water. You should then place a plunger handle into the pot. Placing this handle in the pot aids heat retention and after doing this you should slowly depress the plunger handle as well. The mesh of the plunger will then make sure that the grounds are pushed to the bottom of the canister; this separates the grounds from the coffee. After this is done then the coffee can be served directly from the canister. Any coffee that you brew should be served immediately because most of these canisters are made of glass and they lose their heat quickly. Stainless steel press pots can be bought for better heat retention but they are usually less popular than glass canisters.

Regardless of the type of coffee maker which you decide to use, it is essential that you take the time out to make sure that your coffee maker is cleaned out properly. All the different coffee makers listed here can make great coffee if you pay attention to the particular method of brewing required by each method. Any methods that suit you best should be the method you end up adopting to make your coffee.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for CaffeineZone.com, MyLowCarbPages.com, and HomemadeWine.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Williger

Cappuccino Makers - Making Quality Coffee

For over two thousand years of coffee's life now, a worldwide market of coffee bean processing has developed the output of which as a commodity is of dollar value that is surpassed by petroleum only.

While bean varieties number several dozens, there are only broadly two categories of the plants, the arabica that was first cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula and the other with almost double caffeine content is the robust.

Unlike wine, the coffee berry, cherry in colloquial term, is not in demand for its fruit, but for the bean inside precisely. To produce 400 million cups of coffee a day for consumption along the world that very bean is aged, roasted, ground and brewed skillfully.

Of the two major varieties of beans, green and red, the second one delivers finer coffee with higher aromatic oil and lower acid content in it. That is why in the life cycle of bean to shelf picking is a very important stage.

Generally the beans are hand picked, a few baskets a day by each laborer, and therefore the final product depends on the important skill of separating red and green beans.

Once picking is done, through mechanical rubbing and scouring the fruit is eliminated. Next, to clear any remaining flesh the beans are washed. Next to this, fermentation stage producing beans, the same pass through sun drying over large concrete or rock slabs till about 12% water content is left behind.

As 400-degree Fahrenheit roasting goes on, the beans expand to double their dry size and then crack while the interior oil is released changing the color from green to brown. The basic flavor differs from coffee to coffee due to this very oil and of course the coffee maker used to make the coffee.

Quite logically therefore a great variety of in-house techniques for roasting has developed. Take for instance the beans from Java and Kenya produce distinguishing flavors (e.g. cappuccino) since those are generally roasted lightly. Once roasting is over, the beans generate carbon dioxide for days together and to help the de-gassing process, the beans receive airing or in semi-permeable shipping bags their packaging is done.

The beans that come out after about a few weeks go next through grinding process, the achievement being variations in styles and distinctions. Sometimes to maintain consistency in granule size while the beans are crushed, burr grinders are applied. Otherwise the beans are cut to small pieces with the help of choppers though granule sizes remain less uniform.

Next this final outcome is brewed and the variety of styles and techniques is large enough and almost equal to the number of cappuccino makers there. Into one of the four categories of pressure, boiling, steeping and gravity, these fine differences come under.

When hot water is run all the way through the grounds and then settled or filtered, it is called boiling method. But when water that is a little less than boiling hot, is pumped all the way through the grounds at a high pressure, then it is known as pressure method like espresso. Hot water is dripped into coffee grounds and filters in gravity or the 'drip brew' technique. Similar to the tea bags process is the steeping method with the only difference is that the bags used here are much larger in size.

The collaborator Johnathan Bakers is particularly passionate about information similar to coffee. Recording his experience in detailed publications such as http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/, the author established his skill on issues similar to cappuccino makers.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnathan_H._Bakers

Cappuccino Makers - Coffee and Legends

The legendary cup of cappuccino seems like just a mere drink that brings up maybe a romantic gathering with some old boyfriend, but who would think that real romance and a massive industry would revolve around it. Coffee's warm, dark and aromatic fluid has drawn many a person into a coffeehouse, not just recently, but from its very early beginnings.
There are countless legends as to its origins, but the most historically reliable is 500 BC, from Ethiopia. Travelers were so intrigued with its stimulating properties that they transported it to the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. It was in Arabia that the mysteriously delicious drink would be named – coffee.

The commercialization, mass production and distribution of coffee were born in the Renaissance. It became known as the ‘heatherish liquid'. By the 1700's, in Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and Asia, coffee had infiltrated every level of society.

Even medicinal properties were attributed throughout history. Coffee could do miraculous things. Men's sperm could reach super speeds, swim longer and farther in liquid infused with coffee. This was thanks to caffeine. Harvard University did a major study for 20 years, and concluded that coffee could help diabetes. Some found a lowering of cirrhosis in the liver and a decrease in the severity of asthma.

There were many claims made about coffee's antioxidants. Coffee kept hearts far healthier, but the debate about that is still going on. Coffee is claimed to be a diuretic and helps you urinate more frequently. I personally do not agree with that one. However, other studies show coffee as the degenerator of the nervous system, and an insomnia drug. Apparently, it is supposed to make a good insecticide.

Whatever its attributes, good or bad, coffee is not going away. Coffee is second only to the oil industry as a commodity in dollar volume production. It is a major economic booster all round.
Coffee, the 'black gold' of the world stock markets is growing ever popular. Over 400 billion boiling cups of it are drunk each year. It is traded on all the major exchanges, including New York, London, Lima and Hong Kong. If you add to that the economic boom from what we buy in coffee daily – beans, roasters, grinders, cups and brewing machines.

The coffee business future is good. It continues to rise as a basic commodity and there are so many special retail prices going now. Special shops deal in just coffee in such variety of blends and types. If you want an espresso, then you can buy different grades of brewers and roaster, which were invented in 1901. Home coffee brewing allows for single, straight, double, and long shots. What about cappuccino, latte, or mocha? Every ingredient required can be accessed by a quick button push. Flavored blends are as numerous as wines and so easy to prepare. Add additional flavors caramel, fruit or vanilla. With flavors and money combined, it is not surprising that coffee is what legends are made of.

Focusing on news and information about coffee types, the columnist writes articles almost entirely for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/. You can see his contributions on cappuccino makers and coffee types at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnathan_K._Bakers

6 Delicious Coffee Recipes

Do you love coffee? Most of us do. In this article we will provide you with 6 recipes to enjoy your coffee a different way. We hope you enjoy it.


Irish Coffee
1 teapsoon of suger 1 jigger of Bushmills Irish Whiskey 2/3 cup of coffee or flavored Irish Creme coffee 1/4 cup of heavy cream, lightly whipped
Prehead the glass with hot water. Dump the water out and add the hot coffee with the teaspoon of suger and stir. Add the jigger of whiskey, and top with the whipping cream. Dark coffee's are best for this recipe.


Spiced Orange Coffee
1 teaspoon fresh, grated orange peel 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 5 whole cloves Regular amount of your usual coffee or try Swiss Chocolate Orange flavored coffee
Add the above ingredients together and brew as normal. Place a slice of orange at the bottom or your cup. Pour in coffee and add suger and cream to taste. Top with whipping cream and sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon if so desired.


Mint Cocoa Coffee
1 ounce of chocolate mint liquear Dash of shaved chocolate Whipping cream (optional) Regular coffee or try Dutch Chocolate Decaf flavored coffee
Brew your regular coffee, add the 1 ounce of liquear into your cup. Add some whipping cream if desired and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.


Coffee Milkshakes
1 pint of coffee ice cream 2 teaspoons finely ground coffee 1/2 cup light rum (optional) 4 to 6 scoops vanilla ice cream Instant coffee powder
Spoon coffee ice cream into blender. Add rum and finely ground coffee. Blend on high until creamy smooth. Pour into tall glasses, adding a scoop of the vanilla ice cream to each glass.

Sprinkle lightly with instant coffee powder.


Frosty Mochas
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee 1 pint of vanilla ice cream, softenend 6 tablespoons of chocolate syrup 1 cup prepared cold coffee
Blend hot coffee and chocolate syrup in blender. Blend until smooth. Cool the mixture to room temperature. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the softened ice cream and cold coffee. With a rotary beater, beat until smooth. Spoon into tall glasses and serve immediately.


Nogged Coffee
1 cup of coffee or try Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee 1 egg yoke 1/2 cup of cream Dash of nutmeg
Beat the suger and egg yoke together. Place cream in a saucepan and heat over low setting, do not burn. Wisk the egg mixture into the warmed cream, heat until hot. Add coffee to mugs and top with the cream mixture. Garnish the coffee with nutmeg.
About The Author


Feel free to use this article, please leave this resource box attached.
This article was created for Beans and Bears offering some of the finest coffee available.


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Writer: Merrie Schonbach http://www.merriesintent.com/ 7/03mailto:7/03merries@comcast.net
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Tips When Choosing A Best Coffee Maker

There are so many people all over the world who need a strong cup of coffee to jumpstart their day. If you are one of these millions of people, then you just might be hunting for that perfect coffee maker to add to your kitchen or pantry. But what exactly makes a particular coffee maker the right one for you? How do you distinguish one from the other efficiently? There are many things to consider here. The price is just one of these things. Thus, it is important to bear in mind certain tips when choosing a best coffee maker.

The first tip pertains to the size of the coffee maker. Look at your kitchen counter. How much available space can be allotted for your coffee maker? Getting a coffee maker that is just too big for your kitchen counter can be quite a hassle in the long run.

Secondly, you should also determine how many cups of coffee you usually fix in a single sitting. Do you fix just two cups for you and your partner? Or does your partner need more than one cup of coffee? The more cups of coffee produced, the bigger the coffee maker needed to produce this is. This is the general trend, that is.

Thirdly, you then have to determine the features you would need from your coffee maker. Would you prefer getting a coffee maker that has what is known as a self-cleaning pot? Or would you prefer to clean the pot of your coffee maker on your own? What about the grinder? Do you want a grinder that is built right into the system? Or are you satisfied with having a separate grinder? What about the coffee beverages you plan to make? Do you plan to make gourmet coffee with froth and foam, like lattes and cappuccinos? Or are you satisfied with just having the usual brewed coffee, or café Americano, or café au lait?

Another feature you have to keep in mind is the coffee maker's timer. Do you prefer a coffee maker that comes with a timer? Having this feature is helpful if you want a daily schedule for your maker's brewing time. This way, you can wake up to a fresh pot waiting for you very easily.
Keeping these tips when choosing a best coffee maker in mind can help you in the whole selection process. And once you do make a more educated decision, chances are, you will be more satisfied with the investment you make.

Are you looking for the Best Coffee Maker ? Find out about Espresso Coffee Maker and other brand name coffee makers from around the world.

Alice Morgan is a coffee lover and currently runs a website to provide more information on different coffee makers around the world at http://www.bestcoffeemakers.org


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Morgan

Top 12 Cup Coffee Bean Maker Models

Some of the top 12 cup coffee bean makers includes the Cuisinart Brew central DCC-1200. This coffee maker has some great features, such as auto shutoff, pause and serve, programmable timer and adjustable temperature hot plate. Though it was made for large-scale production at 12 cups it can also produce excellent small coffee batches.

The Braun Aroma Deluxe KF510 is an excellent 12-cup machine that does not have any additional bells or whistles. Customers think that the brewing time can be a little long but the coffee is excellent. This coffee maker is one of the best, particularly for the inexpensive price and it is very durable.

The Technivorm KB741 is certified by the Specialty coffee Association of America and is one of the a few auto drip 12-cup coffee makers with this certificate. This is one of the best of its kind as the water temperature is excellent for drip coffee at 200 degrees C. The coffee made with this machine is intense and flavorful and no one has anything bad to say about this coffee maker.

Another 12-cup coffee maker is the Newco OCS-8. Unlike many other auto drip coffee makers this does not have a hot plate so you do not have to worry about cooking your coffee. Instead of a glass carafe it uses a hotel style plastic thermal carafe that keep s the coffee at temperature without over cooking the coffee.

Some other popular 12 cup coffee makers that are popular include the Zojirushie Fresh Brew, Williams-Sonoma Cuisinart Brew Central 12 Cup thermal Carafe Coffeemaker, Mr. Coffee 12 cup coffee makers, Krups KT4065 Programmable 12 cup Stainless Steel Thermal coffee Maker and a 12 Cup Switch Coffeemaker from Sunbeam. There are excellent models at all price levels and you will be able to find a 12-cup coffee machine for your budget and household.

Hamilton Beach makes good 12 cup coffee makers such as the hamilton beach 49465 12 cup coffee maker and the hamilton beach d43012b 12 cup coffee maker.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Cooke

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Green Coffee Beans

While sipping coffee one lazy afternoon, have you ever thought about where coffee came from?
Green coffee beans are the source of all those types of coffee you are so fond of. Brazil continues to be the largest coffee exporter, although the green coffee market has recently been flooded with large amount of Robusta beans from Vietnam. Owing to the indirect pressure exerted by the World Bank to the French government, experts believe that the influx of cheap green coffee resulted from the crisis in pricing that started in 2001, and continues to the present.



Robusta coffees, which were traded in London at a cheaper price compared to New York's Arabica, are the choice of large industrial clients consisting of multinational roasters and instant coffee producers; they favor these coffees because of the less expensive price. A rare and costly variety of Robusta is the Indonesian Kopi Luwak and the Philippine Kape Alamid. Coffee beans are collected from the droppings of the Common Palm Civet, the digestive process that gives it a distinctive flavor.

When roasted, a green coffee bean expands to almost double its original size and changes in color and density. As the bean absorbs heat, its color changes first to yellow then to a light cinnamon brown. At this stage, the bean expels moisture, and, upon reaching 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it turns brown and oil is released from its interior. This oil gives coffee its distinct flavor. The greater the amount of oil released, the stronger the flavor. The coffee beans will crack during the roasting process, which guides roasters as to how to gauge the progression of the roast. The bean will then continue to expel more oil while darkening its color, until such time it is removed from the heat.

The price war continues, as the decline in the ingredient cost of green coffee paralleled the rise in popularity of thousands of specialty cafes selling their coffees at exorbitant prices.
Coffee Beans provides detailed information on Coffee Beans, Green Coffee Beans, Gourmet Coffee Beans, Coffee Bean Roasters and more. Coffee Beans is affiliated with Espresso Coffee Makers.








Coffee Makers and Coffee Grinders

From the regular drip coffee maker to the old fashioned coffee perker, and even the gourmet espresso machine, coffee makers and grinders are a common kitchen gadget. Many people around the world love a fresh cup of home brewed coffee, and they like to make it for their company or in the morning to go with breakfast. There are many ways to get the job done, and here are some of the most common.
In the majority of coffee makers, automatic drip machines, pre-ground coffee is placed in a paper or metal filter, which is over top a glass coffee pot . Cold water is poured in, the machine heats it up to boiling and it trickles through the coffee grounds, then into the pot. There are also single cup drip coffee makers which don't use electricity, and you just pour boiling water into the top. These coffee makers are pretty easy to find in any department store, and can make from four to ten cups at once depending on the model.
There are single serving coffee makers that use a measured packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. These are purchased in different flavors and varieties, ready to use. These are popular gadgets for houses that only need one cup of coffee made at once.
The coffee plunger, or French press, is another popular tool for making small amounts of coffee. It works by placing the coffee and hot water together, leaving it to brew for a few minutes, then pushing the plunger to the bottom to separate the grounds from the coffee. Since French presses don't use paper filters that would remove the oils and sediment with the grounds, French pressed coffee can be stronger and thicker than drip-brewed coffee.
Finally, there are espresso machines which produce a concentrated coffee 'shot' using hot water forced under high pressure through very fine grounds. A shot of espresso is thicker than regular coffee and has more sediment in it. Espresso is used in many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, and mochas. This is a much stronger drink than many are accustomed to, although some would say it is the only 'real' coffee.
If you want the full flavor and aroma from fresh ground coffee beans, you need a way to grind them at home. There are many different coffee grinders on the market, most having steel blades. As with many things, a little more money gets you a product that will perform better. For the real gourmet, a burr grinder is a step up from the steel bladed variety.
My favorite coffee maker came with a timer and a coffee grinder built into it. Every morning the preloaded coffee beans go into the grinder and grounds pour down into the filter. By the time I get up, coffee is ready. What a way to start the day. Bottoms up!
Tim Ebl loves to try out new kitchen gadgets. He always has his eye on different tools to help with food preparation in his home. For more kitchen gadget articles, check out Kitchen Gadgets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Ebl

Monday, July 20, 2009

Coffee Maker & Coffee Grinders

From the regular drip coffee maker to the old fashioned coffee perker, and even the gourmet espresso machine, coffee makers and grinders are a common kitchen gadget. Many people around the world love a fresh cup of home brewed coffee, and they like to make it for their company or in the morning to go with breakfast. There are many ways to get the job done, and here are some of the most common.

In the majority of coffee makers, automatic drip machines, pre-ground coffee is placed in a paper or metal filter, which is over top a glass coffee pot . Cold water is poured in, the machine heats it up to boiling and it trickles through the coffee grounds, then into the pot. There are also single cup drip coffee makers which don't use electricity, and you just pour boiling water into the top. These coffee makers are pretty easy to find in any department store, and can make from four to ten cups at once depending on the model.

There are single serving coffee makers that use a measured packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. These are purchased in different flavors and varieties, ready to use. These are popular gadgets for houses that only need one cup of coffee made at once.

The coffee plunger, or French press, is another popular tool for making small amounts of coffee. It works by placing the coffee and hot water together, leaving it to brew for a few minutes, then pushing the plunger to the bottom to separate the grounds from the coffee. Since French presses don't use paper filters that would remove the oils and sediment with the grounds, French pressed coffee can be stronger and thicker than drip-brewed coffee.

Finally, there are espresso machines which produce a concentrated coffee 'shot' using hot water forced under high pressure through very fine grounds. A shot of espresso is thicker than regular coffee and has more sediment in it. Espresso is used in many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, and mochas. This is a much stronger drink than many are accustomed to, although some would say it is the only 'real' coffee.

If you want the full flavor and aroma from fresh ground coffee beans, you need a way to grind them at home. There are many different coffee grinders on the market, most having steel blades. As with many things, a little more money gets you a product that will perform better. For the real gourmet, a burr grinder is a step up from the steel bladed variety.

My favorite coffee maker came with a timer and a coffee grinder built into it. Every morning the preloaded coffee beans go into the grinder and grounds pour down into the filter. By the time I get up, coffee is ready. What a way to start the day. Bottoms up!

Tim Ebl loves to try out new kitchen gadgets. He always has his eye on different tools to help with food preparation in his home. For more kitchen gadget articles, check out Kitchen Gadgets.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Ebl

Benefits of Organic Coffee Bean

As a result of the emergent changes in the coffee market, a number of classifications and uses of the coffee bean have lead to certain environmental standards. For instance, Organic coffee is now produced under very strict guidelines; it's grown without the addition of artificial pesticides compared to regular coffee bean cultivation which is grown with more pesticides than any other agricultural resources.

There are now importers and roasters who offer several varieties of organic coffees to socially responsible coffee drinkers. The cost may be substantial but, it's a small price to pay for consuming an eco-friendly product.

The main objective of Organic coffee product trade and farming is so that the country can experience a roasted seed that has undergone socially responsible cultivation through the use of healthy soil and recycling.

The evolution of Organic coffee products has aided in the stimulation of the environment's natural development of disease and pest control. Because much organic coffee is shade grown, large amounts of forest may be preserved.

Organic Coffee products can cost well over $40.00 for a 5lb bag but, the taste is insurmountable. Some of the most popular coffee houses around the globe are not only using Organic coffee products to expand their menu options but, they are providing for the individuals that may take an active role in the preservation of the environment.

You can find these high quality coffee products in specialty markets, coffeehouses, and local corner stores. The options, however, are now endless depending on how much you want to spend.

Some of the best Organic coffee sold in bulk is:
• South America - Bolivia Colonial Caranavi • Colombia Café Organico Mesa de los Santos • Pacific - Galapagos Island Estate • Central America - Central American Fair-Trade Beneficio Organic Coffee • South America - Peru Swiss Water • Asia - Sumatra "Gayo Mountain" Organic Coffee • Café Femenino Blend: Arbuckles • Moka Sumatra: Deans Beans • Organic Sumatran Reserve: Green Mountain

There are many more and you can find most of these products on Gevalia, Amazon, Coffee Outpost, The Nibble, and even auction sites like EBay.
These Organic alternatives make wonderful gifts for the holidays and you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting small coffee farmers and of course providing for the conservation of our planet.

Most receivers of these fine products will be aware that they are consuming Organic as opposed to conventional which is laced with pesticides. However, the majority of Organic coffee drinkers are socially aware and resist consuming conventional coffee because of the poverty stricken peoples that work in the fields to pick berries for the production of mass produced products.
Most conventional consumers drink regular coffee for the flavor and at the end of the day it will stay the same. As long as socially conscious people continue to purchase Organic coffee products the conservation of this earth will remain a constant and others will reap the benefits.
Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about organic coffee products, please visit My Organic Markets for current articles and discussions.

10 Coffee Beans Facts That May Surprise You

You may know about which coffee beans taste best and maybe even about roasting and grinding beans, but here are ten coffee beans facts, some of which you may have never heard before!

Colossal Coffee Beans - The largest coffee bean is the Nicaragua Maragogipe, a variety of the Arabica species. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait - With just the right amount of shade, sun, rain, and the right climate, coffee plants will begin producing coffee berries containing the "beans." Coffee Bean Not a Native of Costa Rica - The Spanish traveller, Navarro, introduced Cuban coffee to Costa Rica in 1779. Not Really "Beans" - Believe it or not, coffee beans are not really beans at all. They are not in the legume family, but rather they are the pits found inside of the coffee berries. Making the Grade - Coffee beans are graded in various ways. Columbian beans are graded from highest to lowest as: "Supremo" "Excelso", "Extra" and "Pasilla". Kenyan beans are graded with letter grades AA, AB, PB, C, E, TT, and T and the grades simply refer to the size, shape, and density of the coffee bean. For coffee beans, size does matter because larger coffee beans contain more of the oil that makes coffee so tasty. Costa Rican coffee beans are graded as Strictly Hard Bean, Good Hard Bean, Hard Bean, Medium Hard Bean, High Grown Atlantic, Medium Grown Atlantic, and Low Grown Atlantic, from highest to lowest, respectively, and these grades refer to the heights at which the beans were grown - Strictly Hard Bean, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the Costa Rica coffee crop is the top grade grown above 3,900 feet. Hand-Picked - Even to this day, most coffee is still picked by hand, and a coffee worker can pick from 100 to 200 pounds of coffee berries a day! An Acre of Coffee - How much coffee would you guess to get out of an acre of coffee plants? One acre typically yields about 10,000 pounds of coffee fruits or coffee cherries - which comes to around 2,000 pounds of coffee beans. Imported Coffee - As much as Americans adore coffee, no coffee is grown in the Continental U.S.; the only American places that produce coffee are Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Most Expensive Coffee - The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak, selling for between $100 and $600 USD per pound (2009) Also the Most Unusual Coffee - The most expensive coffee is also quite possibly the most unusual coffee in the world - since the coffee berries go through the digestive tract of the Kopi Luwak (a small cat-sized Indonesian animal), are then harvested from the animal's waste, and then the beans removed, cleaned (hopefully!), roasted, and sold.
That's right, believe it or not, it takes 3-5 years for a coffee plant to produce coffee, and only if the conditions are perfect; coffee beans aren't really beans at all; and the most expensive coffee comes from digested coffee gathered from animal feces!
Jennifer Hall enjoys spending her days in coffee shops writing articles and trying out different blends and offers tips and information on coffee beans for Coffee Beans 101 - the premier coffee bean site on the web!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Hall

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Organic Coffee Bean Promotes Better Health

Around the world organic coffee bean is the second most traded item in the world, coming in just behind crude oil (although a distant second we're sure). How ever as more and more people are paying attention to what they're drinking and eating, organic coffee is sneaking up in the market share race.


Organic coffee wasn't a real concern when coffee first gained people interest way back in 800 AD. It was a drink reserved for the wealthy and royalty, even in 1800's when Brazil claimed the honor of having the largest international coffee crop, still no one was concerned where or with what the beans were grown.


Fast forward to toady, and there are strict rules and regulations for how any food product can or cannot be grown. Especially if you're looking to grow an organic product. Organic coffee is primarily grown in mountainous areas, where insecticides and fertilizers can become part of the lower watershed once they're washed down the hills from heavy rainfalls.
Many companies today are providing organic coffee, each require certification and designation as per the Organic Food Production Act set fourth in 1990. This act outlines the requirements for growing organic coffee, as well as how their testing can be carried out and what they must do to hold onto their certification.
Growing Fields Must Be Certified Organic
Now it's not just the growing and handling that must be considered and certified organic when growing coffee. The ground that it grows in must also be free of any ingredients or non-organic substances for at least the last 3 years.
Because the act requires so many intricate modifications to the regular growing process, organic coffee will cost a little more then a non organic brand. Healthy conscious consumers are willing to pay the price for the better beans. AS most organic growers believe that growing the beans with only natural methods and no artificial chemicals helps keep the natural flavor.
Whether the taste is superior to a non-organic coffee is up to the coffee drinker, but there's no arguing that the organic growing process produces a healthier bean for us to make our favorite cup of joe from.
If you're interested in more information about organic coffee beans or are just a coffee lover visit our website on espresso and coffee.

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