Archive for November, 2008
Could there be anything better than a hot, fresh brewed cup of coffee? As you open that can of pre-ground Maxwell House Coffee, did you even know that coffee comes in different roasts? Did you know that you can roast your own coffee beans at home? If you think that the aroma of your fresh ground coffee beans can’t be beat, get a home coffee roaster, you’ll be in Java Heaven.
Roasting the coffee beans is what imparts flavor. Similar to the making of a fine wine or a hand rolled cigar, some consider the roasting of coffee beans as an art. Those that describe coffee use some of the same vocabulary they use to describe wine. Depending on the roast level chosen the beans take on different flavor characteristics. The lighter the coffee bean the less flavor it will have, the darker the coffee bean the stronger the flavor it will have.
There are generally four different categories of roast. A light roast (American) , a medium roast (Breakfast), a dark roast (French), and darkest roast (Italian or espresso). Each type of roast imparts a different appearance to the coffee beans.
When a coffee bean is roasted to an American roast the beans will have a very light color to them and they will appear dry. A medium roasted bean, or Breakfast roast will have a rich brown color and will be oily in appearance. A French roasted coffee bean will have a very oily appearance with the beans appearing very dark brown. The darkest roasted beans or Espresso beans will appear black.
Coffee roasting can easily be done in your home. Depending on the roast that you desire you can roast coffee in five to fifteen minutes. Green beans are available online from a number of sellers, as are coffee roasters. Choose different types of green coffees to sample. Drum roasters are very popular for use in the home. It’s best to consider purchasing a roaster as it will give you the most consistent finish to your beans. Some try to roast beans in frying pans, some use hot air popcorn poppers. While each of these techniques will work, as mentioned above they don’t give a consistent finish to all the beans and you will most likely be disappointed in the result.
Enjoy!
About the Author
Article courtesy of http://barnies-coffee.com
Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee!
Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.
No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From it’s earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!
As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee!
The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!
The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee makers were invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! Automatic espresso machines began their journey in the 1930’s.
By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.
BREWING TIPS
Everyone has their own way of personalizing coffee, but here are a few basic tips to get started:
Great brewed flavor begins with fresh coffee. When using whole bean coffee, try to grind immediately before brewing. Protect the freshness of whole bean and ground coffees by storing in an airtight container. (Our patented coffee canister is ideal for preserving freshness.)
Always start with fresh, cold water. Since brewed coffee is over 98% water, the quality of water affects flavor. Use bottled or filtered water if tap water is not high quality.
The proportion of coffee to water is very important. We recommend using two tablespoons for every six ounces of water to extract the full flavor of our coffees. If your brewed coffee tastes too strong, add small amounts of hot water to taste. Using too little coffee can result in over-extraction of the coffee and bitterness in the cup. Using a coffee scoop will ensure your accuracy.
Check the water temperature of your brewing equipment. Ideal brew temperature of water is 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit. When using a french press, or plunge pot, water should be heated in a kettle and poured just off-boil. Boiling water should never come in contact with the coffee grounds.
Coffee is best if served immediately after brewing, and will retain its peak flavor for up to 20 minutes on the warmer. We recommend you transfer your brewed coffee to a thermal carafe to hold for a longer period of time.
Don’t forget to take care of your equipment! A clean coffee brewer is critical to great tasting coffee. Periodically, use a mild detergent or baking soda to remove build-up, film and oil.
Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it’s comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you.
Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it’s ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice.
Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson’s and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson’s, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson’s disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee’s antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer’s due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.
§People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator.
§A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men.
§Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease.
The list goes on, and on…
Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic.
Although coffee is showing more favorable benefits in researcher’s eye, there are still people that although they love to drink coffee dread the indigestion, heartburn and upset stomach that regular coffee can cause, due to the high level of acid is some types of coffees. Some coffee merchants are figuring this out and finding new ways to promote a healthy blend. At Hotcoffeepress.com you can find a coffee blend appropriately named, “Mind Your Tummy Blend, ” that is a custom blend of the finest low acid coffee beans, perfect for those with sensitive stomachs and perfectly balanced for all. It is worth a try at $9.75 for a full one-pound bag if you would love to bring your morning coffee back in your life.
About the Author
Owner & Director of Hotcoffeepress.com, a website which sells gourmet coffee, cheesecake, accessories and more.
A wake up frosty? Sometimes I like a cold cup of coffee. Maybe the day is hot or I just want something cold with a pick me up. Here is the recipe for something like that.
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
- 1 scoop chocolate ice cream
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Put all ingredients into the blender and process until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Notes: Garnish with whipped cream and a little grated chocolate if desired.
Number of Servings: 2
It’s simple and it tastes great. I even tried it with coffee ice cream. Yum!!!
Let’s take a tutorial of the creation of coffee house coffee.
First you want to assess the aroma and taste of the coffee house coffee beans. This is known as cupping. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, trained cuppers evaluate the fragrance of the coffee house beans (which is how they smell after grinding), the aroma of the coffee house beans (which is how they smell after they have been in water), the taste, the nose (which are the vapors that are released), the aftertaste and the body (which is how the coffee house coffee feels in your mouth).
You’ll want to know how to properly brew the coffee. First make sure you have about 2% coffee and 98% water. The water you use should be of high quality. Also, make sure to have a well made filter. To perfect the flavor of your coffee, you have to match the size of the grind with the brewing time. What this means is larger grinds should have longer brewing times, and shorter grinds should have shorter brewing times.
There are two basic methods of brewing coffee house coffee in your home. The espresso method needs finely ground coffee. Because water is forced through, if the grinds are too large, your coffee will not come out right. Espresso coffee is used for lattés which are mixed with warm milk, cappuccino which is mixed with frothed milk, and Americano which is one shot of espresso with 2 shots of hot water.
The second method is infusion. There are many types of infusion methods. The most common is to use an automatic coffee drip machine. If you want to get the best results, use a permanent coffee filter instead of coffee filter paper.
Now let’s discuss some of the different coffee house blends that you can use in your home. Using single origin coffees, there are over 100 blends that you can use to get coffee house coffee.
Here are a few single origin coffees that are quite delicious.
Kenya Coffee - With hints of fruits and berries, some think this is the finest coffee blend you can buy.
Colombia Coffee - This coffee blend has a very sweet yet smooth taste. This is considered to be the finest of Central America.
Costa Rica Coffee - This blend has a hint of smoky flavor
Guatemala Coffee - This blend is a little spicy and it has a hint of chocolate
French Roast Coffee- This blend contains deeply roasted arabica beans
Mexican Coffee- Many prefer this blend as opposed to the Colombian or Kenyan blends.
The most famous blend of coffee is the Arabian Mocha Java. It is considered to be the world’s first coffee blend. It is a blend of Yemen Mocha and Java. It has chocolate overtones on top of rich and complex flavors.
Before you blend any coffee in your home, please consider what flavors you are blending, if you’re not careful, you will create an awful combination. Beginners should stick to pre-blended coffee that you can purchase from a coffee house and brew in your own home.
About the Author: Jerry Powell is the Owner of a Popular site Know as Gourmet911.com. As you can see from our name, we are here in the business to help you learn more about different kinds of Gourmet Food and Wines, from all around the world. http://www.gourmet911.com
I am sure that if you are a coffee enthusiast, you have heard this, but if not let me state it here. “Coffee is good for you!”
Recent research has shown that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet. Antioxidants, are nutrients that are responsible from protecting your body’s cells from being destroyed by toxins. This destruction has been linked to an increased risk of certain medical conditions, such as cancer, heart disease and others.
Antioxidants are found in the good stuff that our mothers made us eat when we were little, namely fruits & veggies. Amazingly, many of us didn’t listen and took up coffee instead because more Americans get their daily dose of antioxidants from coffee than from broccoli!
The top 10 list for the the source of antioxidants in the Americandiet were listed as follows:
1. Coffee 2. Black Tea 3. Bananas 4. Dried Beans 5. Corn 6. Red Wine 7. Beer 8. Apples 9. Tomatoes 10. Potatoes.
Research also showed that there was esentially no difference between the amount of antioxidants in regular versus decaf coffees.
Now this doesn’t mean that you should run out and consume mass amounts of coffee. Like everything in life, moderation is the key!
And by the way, you should still eat your fruits and veggies, just finish them off with a great cup of coffee!
I was surfing the web, as I like to do while drinking a cup of coffee, and I found this recipe. I cant wait to try it. So I thought I would share it with you.
Coffee Float (cold) 4 servings
-
2 1/2 cups strong coffee
- Sweeten coffee with sugar, and chill
- Mix coffee and cream
- Fill 4 glasses half full
- Add one scoop of ice cream to each glass
- Top with coke
2 teaspoons sugar
2/3 cup cream
4 scoops of coffee flavored ice cream
1 large bottle of Coke
The Hawaiian department of agriculture uses a grading system for it’s kona coffee that takes in several factors, such as size, shape, and even the number of defects the beans have. Before being graded, Kona coffee is hand picked, pulped, dried and hulled. Then the system divides them into six categories, Extra Fancy, Fancy, Number 1, Peabody, Select, and Prime.
The Extra Fancy is the largest and has the least flaws. Followed by Fancy, No. 1, Select, and then Prime. The final category is the Peabody kona coffee bean. The top of the crop. Which is a tiny fraction of the kona coffee crop. The Peabody bean is rounded and oblong in nature whereas the rest of beans are flat on one side and curved on the other, making the Peabody kona coffee bean somewhat harder to find. You will find the Peabody delivers a more concentrated flavor.
Hawaiian kona coffee is known throughout the world for its full-bodied flavor and wonderful pleasing aroma. The only true kona coffee is brought to us from the cool volcanic mountainous slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa. The coffee trees bloom after the dry winters of kona, and are harvested in the autumn.
Kona Coffee is sun dried, then personally roasted depending on preferred results and contrast in moisture of the beans. When you have roasting down to a fine art. Remember airtight containers are the best for keeping your kona coffee fresh, to enjoy down to your last cup.
About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-coffee-4me.com/
Since it’s first induction as the world’s most popular beverage, coffee has gone through many changes and upgrades. These improvements allow gourmet coffee drinkers the chance to choose between many different grades and flavors of the coffee. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or just need your morning pick me up, there’s nothing to tempt the palate quite like a hot mug of smooth gourmet coffee!
To fully appreciate a cup of hot gourmet flavored coffee, you should take a minute to inform yourself with the basics of gourmet coffee. The coffee bean is not really a bean; they are actually the seeds of a cherry that are found on a coffee tree. There are a couple of different ways to extract the seed; wet process and dry process. Each process will bring about the shared result of removing all of the fruit from the seed.
There are two types of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. Robusta coffee makes up the coffee that has the most caffeine, at the cheapest price. Arabica (a.k.a. gourmet) coffee is the best grade of coffee. It has50% of the caffeine of Robusta and has the best taste. Those that enjoy this type of coffee will also tell you that gourmet coffee has a much better smell and more desirable flavors than Robusta.
Gourmet coffee is available in many of your favorite flavors, including: almond, amaretto, Irish crème, French vanilla, Swiss mocha, vanilla, chocolate, mint, peppermint, pumpkin spice and just about anything else you can imagine! Basically, if there is any flavor that you are partial to, you will be able to find.
There are gourmet flavored coffees that are caffeinated and those that are decaffeinated. If you have a sensitive stomach, you can even find gourmet coffee that is low in acid, making it a little more gentle. Arabica coffee ranks very high among the Specialty Coffee Association of America, which pretty much sets the standards applied to all gourmet coffee drinks.
Many coffee making companies offer a gourmet style drink, including: Gevalia, Green Mountain, San Giorgio, San Francisco Bay, Kona and Javalution. The gourmet coffee beans are offered in a variety of different serving sizes. They are also offered at many different prices, depending on your personal preference. Though this type of coffee may be a bit more pricey than the Robusta, it’s the only choice for true coffee lovers!
About the Author: C V is a freelance writer, providing articles and information on all types of coffee products from coffee maker, coffee gift baskets, gourmet coffee, coffee mugs and more. http://www.coffee-makers-n-espresso-machines.com
You are currently browsing the A Blog of Coffee blog archives for November, 2008.