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Coffee Ice Cream: It's Cool!
If you haven't tried coffee ice cream, you have missed one of the most delicious and delightful uses to which this wondrous bean can be put. If you thought coffee was only a hot drink for perking yourself up, then you need to think again. Coffee is...
Gano Coffee - A Coffee Thats Good For You?
Coffee, in all sorts, could be a “pick me up drink ” or a “ real downer-down the shaft-drink” depending on how the person is affected by it. But, do you know that a single cup of coffee—aside from boosting your alertness, perking you up, and even...
Kenya Coffee History
In Kenya coffee production dates back several hundred years. Coffee was originally discovered in Ethiopia, Kenya’s neighbor to the north. Unfortunately, just as in other coffee growing regions of the world, the coffee trade in Kenya triggered heated...
Perfect Pot Coffee from Gabby Goodies
I had the pleasure of trying two flavors of Gabby Goodies Perfect Pot Coffee from Patty King (http://www.mygabbygoodies.biz/501). They are called perfect pots because the packages contain the perfect amount of coffee for one pot. Of course, you can...
“WOMEN…Wake Up, Smell and Drink Some Coffee…Fourteen ways to succeed through networking”
Feel like you need more contacts to expand or start your business and don’t know how to make those important connections? There’s an easy answer to your dilemma…drink coffee!!! No, not in your kitchen; but at the myriad networking opportunities...
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Coffee--Everything You Need to Know From Arabica to Zanzibar
With a gourmet cup of coffee costing almost as much as a luncheon sandwich these days, more and more people are making their coffee at home from an "old fashioned" drip coffee machine. Thanks to Starbucks and the other vendors out there, coffee from a can or a jar just doesn't work anymore. Coffee has become the second most valuable item of international trade, just behind petroleum. Worldwide, coffee lovers drink 2.25 billion cups a DAY! To satisfy that thirst, the world's coffee growers, each year, produce about 6 million tons of green coffee beans and ship them to thousands of coffee roasters around the globe. People who drink coffee range from those interested only in the caffeine "buzz," to the true aficionado, who, like wine connieseurs, are concerned with color, taste, quality and aroma.
Whether you order a cup a "joe", some hot "java" or a caffe macchiato, the primary ingredient remains the coffee bean. Coffee begins on a tree in a warm climate where rainfall is about 50 inches a year, the soil is well drained and preferably volcanic (this is why Hawaiian Kona coffee is so highly prized). The fruit of the coffee plant is called a "cherry" and is appropriately red in color. The heart of the cherry, generally two beans, is separated from the husk by hand and then air and sun dried. Separating the bean from its outer husk, called "hulling" is done either mechanically or by hand. These green beans, as they are now known, have a shelf life of about two years.
The mythical story on the discovery of coffee and its use by human beings, involves an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi. Kaldi watched in awe and amusement as his flock behaved very strangely each time they ate the bright red fruit from a special plant. He tried the berries and found himself suddenly alert and full of energy. The following day Kaldi reported his experience to a Muslim holy man at a nearby monastery who later gathered some berries which he found to have a bitter taste. Hoping to improve their flavor he roasted them in a fire, crushed them with a stone and boiled them in water. Almost immediately after trying his new concoction, his brain became more active and he was able to stay awake all night without being tired in the morning. News of this miracle berry drink spread rapidly throughout the Middle East and by the 16th century, European travelers were praising the
drink in their journals. The secret was out!
Most gourmet coffee is produced from Arabica beans which results in a coffee rich and full, providing an intense and fulfilling taste experience. Unlike Robusa coffee, which is considered inferior in taste, aroma and body, Arabica beans grow at higher elevations which means that they take longer to mature thus allowing the beans to produce more of the oils which give coffee its remarkable flavor. With tastes including caramel, chocolate, nutty, earthy, spicy or even floral, gourmet coffee has something for nearly every palate.
It is the roasting process, however, correctly described as both an art and a science, that is essential to the outcome of any coffee. Roasting gives coffee beans their characteristic dark color and intense aroma. The heat cracks the beans, releasing the rich oils hidden inside. Roast at a temperature that is too low, and the bean becomes sour. Roast at too high a temperature and the bean is burnt with a the taste of wood ash. The darker roasts produce the espressos, while the lighter roasts yield the more mellow morning coffees.
Grinding the coffee, another critical phase in preparing the "perfect" cup, should be done at the last possible moment, just before brewing. Utensils should be clean and the water cold and untreated. A good rule of thumb is a ratio of about one tablespoon of ground coffee to every six ounces of water. Of course individual tastes vary, so adjust accordingly.
The Internet is a tremendous source for the refined drinker of gourmet coffee. In addition to buying the world's greatest beans online, there is easy access to the miscellaneous accessories necessary to prepare the ideal beverage. Coffee can be both a food and a pleasure and with a little online help the perfect ingredients can be easily gathered.
P.S. In Italy, espresso is considered so essential to daily life that the price is regulated by the government.
About the Author
Larry Denton is a retired history having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises, an Internet business dedicated to providing information and resources on a variety of topics. For an urnful of information, history, tips and advice about coffee, or a unique coffee recipe visit http://www.CoffeeFolks.com
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| Starbucks Homepage |
| Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. The Company's other brands enhance the Starbucks ... |
| www.starbucks.com |
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| Coffee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. ... Coffee aficionados may even distinguish auctioned coffees by lot number. ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Peet's Coffee & Tea |
| Coffee, tea and brewing equipment, information and store locator. |
| www.peets.com |
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| Coffee Review :: The World's Leading Coffee Buying Guide |
| Coffee and coffee-related reviews done by Kenneth Davids and others. |
| www.coffeereview.com |
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| Coffee @ nationalgeographic.com |
| The history of coffee, descriptions of different varieties, map of coffee-producing countries and a discussion forum. |
| www.nationalgeographic.com |
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| Trojan Room Coffee Machine |
| The official site. Includes the final image of the machine being switched off, a non-technical biography, and an audio copy of a 1994 radio report. |
| www.cl.cam.ac.uk |
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| Espresso and Coffee Information from Coffee Universe |
| Linking the entire specialty coffee and espresso industry from coffee beans, coffee roasting to espresso machines. |
| coffeeuniverse.com |
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| CoffeeGeek - News, Reviews, Opinion and Community for Coffee and ... |
| Offers reviews of coffee appliances, news, and articles. |
| www.coffeegeek.com |
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| Coffee Break Arcade - Free Games |
| Play the best FREE games on the web. Select online games from 6 categories including Sports, Shooting, Racing, Classic, Casino and Cool. |
| www.coffeebreakarcade.com |
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| Too Much Coffee Man - Home |
| Online strips, merchandise, and multimedia. [Graphics intensive] |
| www.tmcm.com |
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| International Coffee Organization - News From The Executive Director |
| London-based intergovernmental body of coffee exporting and importing countries. Offers current industry news and legislative alerts; ... |
| www.ico.org |
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| Caribou Coffee — Gourmet Coffee Shops and Online Specialty Coffee ... |
| Caribou Coffee shops and online store feature gourmet coffee and gifts. |
| www.cariboucoffee.com |
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| Fair Trade Coffee |
| Fair Trade for coffee farmers means community development, health, education, ... Updated Action Pack for Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate Campaigns ... |
| www.globalexchange.org |
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| Gevalia.com - Gourmet Coffee & Tea Collections |
| Selections of fine coffees, flavorful teas, gifts and inspirations offered via direct automatic delivery or catalog order. |
| www.gevalia.com |
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| Dunkin' Donuts Coffee | Buy Coffee Beans Online |
| Coffee sold by the pound, regular delivery programs, gifts and accessories. |
| www.dunkindonuts.com |
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| Over The Coffee |
| Top Ten Coffee Producing Nations Brazil Colombia Indonesia Vietnam Mexico Ethiopia India Guatemala Cote d'Ivoire Uganda. |
| www.cappuccino.com |
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| INeedCoffee - Monthly Caffeination Information |
| This coffee brewer guide is meant to assist buyer to choose the ideal single cup ... I found coffee paradise. The best coffee city is Auckland, New Zealand. ... |
| www.ineedcoffee.com |
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| Coffee Forums Coffee Discussion about Espresso, Coffee Beans and ... |
| Offers discussion boards for enthusiasts to talk about topics such as beans, espresso, machines, and cafes. |
| www.coffeeforums.com |
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| Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: Organic, Fair Trade and Signature ... |
| Gourmet coffees and specialty coffee accessories and gifts. Shop online for Fair Trade and Organic coffee, single-cup coffee, decaf and flavored coffee, ... |
| www.greenmountaincoffee.com |
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| Equal Exchange: Fairly Traded Coffee, Tea & Chocolate |
| Dedicated to fair trade with small-scale coffee farmers in the developing world. |
| www.equalexchange.com |
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