The History Of Coffee

Coffee, the brew, that more than half the people around the world need to kick start the day.  Ever wondered about the origins of this humble but oh so important cup of joy and how it landed up on the shelf in your neighborhood store?  Did you also know that everyday there are about four hundred million cups of coffee consumed around the world?  It all began about two thousand years ago and today it has a market where the output as a commodity is a close second to petroleum in its dollar value.

Coffee by itself is broadly categorized into two main types -- the Arabia which started out on the Arabian Peninsula and the Robusta which has twice the amount of caffeine.  Apart from this there are at least a dozen bean varieties in existence today.  The beans are red or green in type and here the red is known for its higher aroma and lower acid content and it is this type that is used to make some of the finer coffees of the world.

The coffee berry or 'cherry' as it is called, is not of any value by itself but yes, the bean inside it, that's the one which has all the importance attached to it.  It is this bean that is aged, roasted, ground and then sent on for brewing.  The picking is done by laborers who pick a few baskets a day and they have to be skilled in separating the red from the green beans.  This has a very definite role to play in the final product.  The time of picking of this cherry is of the utmost importance as it has to be done when the berry goes from green to red.

Once picked, the fruit undergoes a process of being soaked, scoured and rubbed mechanically and the bean is then washed to ensure no flesh of the fruit remains.  The beans that are the result of this fermentation stage are then sun dried on large concrete or rock surfaces till their water content drops to about 12 percent.  This is followed by the sorting of the beans based on size and color.  After the polishing to remove any remaining skin they are then sent on for roasting or kept to age from three to eight years.  Roasting happens at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit where the beans expand to almost double their size, then crack and turn brown as the oil inside is secreted out.  This oil is where the difference in the basic flavor comes from.  Post the roasting, the beans are de-gassed which means that the beans produce a lot of carbon dioxide and this is removed by airing them out or packaging them in semi permeable bags for shipping.

At the roasting stage, a lot of in-house techniques have been developed which basically account for the difference in flavors.  So coffee in Kenya or Java will taste different from say some other country.  At the grinding level there are again a lot of differences in styles and the results of those styles.  The Turks pound the beans into a powdery consistency using a mortar and pestle and in some other places the 'burr' grinder crushes the beans to a regular sized granule and yet others chop the beans to a less homogeneous size using a chopper.

The final cup that you get is actually either boiled, which means hot water is poured and the grounds are allowed to settle or it is pressure-prepared, which refers to the espresso type where not quite boiled hot water is poured through the grounds at very high pressure or then the third way of percolating where hot water drips onto the grounds and is filtered or otherwise it is steeped like tea is, but the bags tend to be larger.

So there you have the journey of coffee from the plantation to your cup and with research coming up with the benefits of drinking coffee, let's raise a toast to the cup that cheers!

How To Choose An Automatic Coffee Maker

People who have gone out and purchased a coffee maker on price alone and thought the higher the price the better the machine would be, this is not the case, there are many systems out there that are very good and the price tag is not astronomical.  Ask yourself some questions where will the machine be permanently placed, how many people will be utilizing it, as well as how much space is available for the machine.  What kind of machine do you have at the moment?

Portable coffee makers are very adaptable allowing you to move it all around the kitchen and which makes it nice if you have guests or you reorganize your kitchen, make sure there is an outlet where you are moving it.  Many modern kitchens have every amenity imaginable;  they have the double ovens, the professional cook tops, refrigerators and microwaves it would be foolish to think that these modern kitchens would not have an automatic coffee maker.  Most modern kitchens today have professional coffee system built into the counter and they have water piped to them.

There are basically three styles of coffee makers to consider:  manual, semi automatic and totally automatic.  Many of today's coffee makers come with grinders built into the machine, there are also others that have a built in computer system that make all every task automated, your coffee can be ready to go in the morning it can re-warm your coffee, make 1 or many cups at a time.  There are so many coffee makers out their today, so no matter what coffee tastes you have you should be able to automatic coffee maker that fits your life style.

There are some basic features to look for when choosing a coffee maker and some luxury features that may give you a better tasting cup of coffee.  You can brew a pot at a time, rather than just a cup or two.  That first cup sets the mood for your entire day.  When you stop at the convenience store or at a local coffee shop for your morning cup of coffee have you ever wondered how your cup of coffee came about?  Whenever you want to have it, enough time should be set aside just to prepare a good cup of brewed coffee.

There are two types of filter systems cone shaped and basket type;  there are some differences between the two.  The basket type filter the coffee more evenly while the cone shape is more concentrated.  The grounds are placed in the filter and the dripping water extracts the flavor.

To get the best tasting coffee do not use heat directly from a hotplate or a heating element if possible.  A sealed or closed container slows the loss of essential aromas that influence coffee flavor.

Do You Have It? Coffee Bad Breath. Find Out More ... Now!

Bad breath would have to be the most common personal hygiene condition that all of us fail at one time or another.  Let's face it if a friend or someone in our family, or even a work colleague has it, we certainly take a step back out of their personal space quick smart ... don't we?

Of course it isn't news that a daily routine of brushing and flossing our teeth after we eat is an effective treatment against this type of offence.  However for some people like me who are constantly on the go, carrying out this simple mouth cleaning treatment throughout the day isn't always possible.  Personally I carry a little box of breath mints everywhere I go because in my role as a I work up pretty darn close and personal with the public.

Having a breath problem is not something I can afford to have when, as part of my job, I am leaning over people critiquing their work.

Maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene and grooming is of utmost importance if I am to set a positive example for the job seekers to follow as an effective means of increasing their chances of landing employment.  Like clean underwear a fresh breath is something we should never leave home without.

Some years back I went to visit a new dental clinic to have a tooth filled.  On the day I remember being horrified when the dentist accused me of being a smoker because the brown stains on my teeth were so bad.  Needless to say the poor fellow copped a mouthful as I told him in no uncertain terms that I had never dared to take up smoking.

Once he realised he had made a mistake in diagnosing what was causing my bad mouth he then went on to ask about my diet.  At the time I didn't understand why he seemed so interested in knowing what foods went into my mouth as I had already told him I didn't eat anything with sugar in it and that I used mouthwash twice a day to kill any bacteria.

When he didn't get anywhere with picking on my dietary habits he went on to quiz me about how many cups of coffee I was drinking a day.  Shamefully I confessed to indulging in six or more a day of my favorite brew.  ''Your breath must be really bad in the morning,'' he exclaimed.  Coffee he insisted was up there with garlic and onions as one of the major causes of halitosis which, just in case you didn't know, is the technical term for bad breath.

So, if your coffee drinking habits are at the higher end of the scale like mine, then be mindful that it may be causing you to have bad breath.

How To Make A Great Espresso

As with all baristas, I have my own method of making a great espresso.  To start with the water must be fresh.  Water can be affected by poor cleaning habits, mildew or filtering issues.  It has to be the correct temperature, which is around 203ºF (95ºC)

For the best quality coffee, I recommend Arabica which is produced in Bogota, Brazil or wherever it can be grown 3000ft above sea level.  You can use Robusta as a last resort but it is less flavorful and has more caffeine.  Whether you buy it roasted or you roast it your self, it must have that ''fresh'' smell when you open the container a few days after.

Use a burr to grind your coffee not a blade grinder.  Blade grinders chop the beans whereas the burr grinders have triangular teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them.  How fine the beans are ground depends on the distance between the two plates.  A sand grain is perfect but a powder is too fine and gravel too coarse.  Make sure to minimize the coffee's exposure because it absorbs any odor that happens to be in the air.

You will need a good machine.  A good espresso machine generates heat using a boiler or a thermablock and can pump pressure of 9 bar or higher.  The thermablock works by heating the water on its way to the pump, cheaper units rely on steam to create pressure.

The process

First, warm the machine by running fresh water through it with no coffee added.  This would also flush out the system.  Next add your coffee and pat it down.  The process is similar to packing a pipe, make sure it still has some spring without scattering the coffee grounds.  Place the hopper firmly into the machine and put out your cup.  Five seconds after the machine has started you should have coffee pouring into the espresso cup.  For a double shot it would take twenty seconds.

To make a cappuccino, heat half a cup of organic milk in the microwave until warm, froth it and add to the espresso.  Try nutmeg, cinnamon or chocolate for variety.  If you like your coffee sweet, add organic sugar to taste.

And there you have a good cup of coffee.  If you start with great quality ingredients and a clean machine, the coffee is easy enough to make.

How To Get Your Hands On The Best Espresso Coffee Of All.

To get to the great flavour of Espresso that is enjoyed the world over it all starts with a top quality bean.

When you settle back with an espresso coffee in hand, naturally you want to be drinking the best.  For that to happen, the quality of the coffee bean needs to be at its peak.  I am sure it is common knowledge that the biggest percentage of all commercial coffee is grown in nice neat rows on large coffee plantations around the world.  But if you are in the know you will soon come to realise that all coffee is not equal.  Its flavour depends very much on where and how it is grown.

The search for better flavored Espresso Coffee has spanned several centuries.

But for those who are just out to have their first bleary-eyed cup for the day, most will not be concerned as to whether they are drinking shade grown espresso coffee or not.  However once they wake up a bit it might be quite astonishing to find out that there are over 800 active substances in one cup of coffee with each and every one of them impacting on the flavor.

That's why Arabian coffee tastes different from Columbian coffeee, which in turn tastes different to Kona coffee.  Despite where it is grown espresso coffee always has a full, dark flavour which makes it unique.  For gourmet coffee drinks such as the cappuccino and latte, espresso is always the base, so it has to have that strong depth of flavor to meld in with the other ingredients like milk and sugar.

With shade-grown coffee trees the berries mature more slowly than on those grown out in the open sun.  What this means is the crop is smaller in volume and comes on later, but the flavor is richer and mellower.  These two attributes combine to produce the perfect bean for making espresso coffee.  It is a fact that sun-ripened cherries can be bitter and sharp compared to shade-grown cherries.

Besides the fact that shade-grown coffee tastes better, there are some highly significant environmental reasons to choose this type of coffee over others.  You see, most of the land cleared for coffee plantations was originally tropical forest.

Another good reason to seek out shade grown espresso coffee is that it's usually organically grown.  It is just one small but deliberate way you can do your bit for the future of our world while enjoying a cup of espresso.

So if you want to take your espresso making to new heights, then like me you should switch to buying only organic espresso coffee beans.  The experience will be well worth the effort to be rewarded with the best cup of koffee your money can buy.  In addition you will gain the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the environment as well as a host of well deserving Columbian farmers to manage their land in a sustainable manner and provide for their families.

What a great reason to enjoy a good cup of espresso!

Flavored Coffee ... Some Great Ideas For Your Next Dinner Party.

On almost any occasion flavored coffee can be a delightful compliment to any meal.  As someone who hosts many dinner parties for both business and pleasure, it has been my experience that coffee is really at its best when paired with anything sweet.  This perfect pairing lets the relative bitterness of the coffee counter the sweetness of the dessert leaving the palate with a well-balanced finish.

Flavored coffee is nothing new but it has taken many years for it to gain mainstream acceptance to where it now sits in a prominent position on our supermarket shelves and niche corner coffee shops in a host of variations.

In recent years flavored coffee has come into its own and become a trendy drink which often displaces the traditional end of dinner coffee.  Coffee connoisseurs are taking to these untraditional adventurous coffee types in droves with the possible combinations of texture and flavours being endless.  Now the average coffee drinker is faced with an abundant choice of flavors including vanilla, hazelnut, almond, macadamia raspberry, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, and coconut.  As you will notice, the majority of the flavorings verge on the sweet side.

Macadamia coffee is my all time favorite and so easy to match up with many desserts.  Another quite famous coffee-dessert pairings is delicious pumpkin pie with cinnamon flavored coffee.  If you haven't tried this combination before please do, I guarantee it will completely change your whole experience of eating dessert.  Some people even have it for breakfast.  The coffee enhances the pumpkin pie with the complimentary spice flavour of the cinnamon.

The exotic flavour of coconut with coffee is another way to create an entirely inspiring dessert.  This is only a snippet of the countless ideas that are out there for you to try.  No doubt flavored brews are not a passing fad.

With flavoured coffee increasing in popularity it isn't hard to imagine some of the blends actually replacing traditional toppings that usually go straight to our waistlines.  Wouldn't that be nice for those of us who are counting calories?  For example you will find vanilla flavored coffee is the perfect substitute for the usual fat rich frozen whipped toppings.

In this day and age if you look around there is an abundance of good quality flavored coffee blends available in flavors and styles that will suit almost every occasion and menu selection.  Even vending machines at airports, hospitals and company buildings are hopping on the band wagon and supplying the consumer demand for variety.

So go on and be a bit adventurous.  Try a flavored coffee today and you too will soon find out why it is such a taste sensation.

Enjoy!

Coffee Poses Both Risks And Benefits

Coffee and Your Health

The past decades have put a focus on the effects of coffee on your health.  Since people are consuming over 400 million cups of coffee per day all over the world, then it is natural that we want to know what effect this will have on our health.  Many in the health care industry had believed that coffee may be unhealthy for us, but now we know that this is probably not true.

Caffeine is found in all coffee beans and is a mild stimulant that can raise our blood pressure speed up our heart rate, and sometimes give us an irregular heartbeat.  These effects may sound serious, but are in reality very shortly lived.

There are actually more benefits seen linking coffee drinking and health than we knew about beforehand.

Coffee may stop the development of colon cancer with high levels of consumption.  You would have to drink four or more cups to see this effect.  You may have to trade in your single cup coffee maker to achieve this goal!

You may be able to see other benefits of coffee on your health without drinking this much.

For instance, coffee has certain antioxidants that are also found in wine that can help prevent cancer and heart disease.  The antioxidants found in coffee may be greater than those found in other fruits such as apples, tomatoes, or cranberries.  Another great reason to grab a cappuccino.

There have been Chinese studies that link a positive effect between coffee drinking and reducing the negative effects of Parkinson's disease.

There have been studies in the U.S. and in Scandinavia that link coffee to a reduction in the risk of type-2 diabetes.  Since the Scandinavians drink more coffee than anyone this is good news for them!

Coffee may also lower ones risk of getting kidney stones or gallstones.  Caffeine also aids us in digestion.  For asthmas sufferers caffeine can help with breathing and coffee also has theophylline which is a bronchodilator which helps as well.  Time to by your asthmatic friend a single cup coffee maker!

There are still of course some risks associated with coffee drinking such as reduced fertility for men.  For women calcium loss from high caffeine intake may cause weak bones.  Drinking lots of coffee can also cause incontinence in women.

Drinking lots of coffee can also give you a higher level of homocysteine which can lead to heart disease.  An increase in LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol has also been shown, but its hard to know whether this will lead to a heart attack or not.

Cafestol is found in coffee and also thought to increase cholesterol in European brews that boil the beans in water.  American coffee made through filtering or percolation is less likely to give this effect.

Weighing the benefits of coffee drinking shouldn't be hard.  If you drink coffee in a moderate amount you should see the benefits without the risks.  So indulge in your favorite cappuccino today!

Coffee Cupping Guide

Do you have to be a professional coffee taster to have all the fun from coffee?  The ''cuppers'' seem to have all of it, over and above their usual coffee buying, judging and writing reviews.  But you can also enjoy the flavors of Tanzanian Peaberry, Monsoon Mysore and the rest if you wish to.

Coffee is judged by the professional ''cupper'' through its many attributes, like smell, taste, flavor, body, acidity and several others.  You can also simulate a professional set up with some simple arrangements.

First, you must have an abundant supply of fresh, filtered water.  The best ground coffee can lose all the charm if made with ''stale'' or tainted water.  Water often absorbs smell from the air or may contain sulfur.  Sometimes mildew in water pipes can alter the taste of water.  Never use distilled water as it contains an excessive amount of softening salts.

Keep an array of small glasses, small bowls, measuring spoons handy on a tray.  And of course, you need the coffee.

Then keep boiled water ready.  You have to grind the coffee beans in a burr grinder.  Different settings of the mixer is needed for different trials of coffee.  Surprisingly, grinds make all the difference to the taste of coffee.

Then soak any kind of coffee for a few minutes.  You can filter the liquid or scoop out a little with a spoon to smell it.  Take a deep breath to let the smell sink in.  Then taste the liquid with your while tongue.  Don't drink it.  Roll it in your mouth then spit it out in a container.

What is your impression?  Did you find it woody or somewhat winey?  Did you think it to be acidic or smooth.  Was the aroma flowery or like pepper?  Coffee comes in a large variety of flavors and tastes.  Of course, it is grown in a large variety of soil, climates and preparation is equally diverse.

You can taste a wide range of coffee -- for example the Kenyan AA looks darker and is different from a cup of Colombian which is more floral.  The Yemen Mocha again is different and tastes and smells like wine.

Altering the grind and roast can make a lot of difference to the taste and smell of coffee.  Try from a rough to a smooth grind;  colors vary from light to dark;  tastes vary from American to Viennese.

Usually two tablespoons (10 grams) of coffee is needed for every six fluid ounces (180 ml ) of water.  The temperature of the water is around 200 F (93C).  Of course as you go on trying out different methods and tastes, you can adjust any of these basic profiles.

The other important attributes based on which coffee is adjudged are as follows:

• Acid -- a dry taste.  Prominent in Mexican coffee.  Milder in beans from Sumatra.  Here age and roast makes a bid difference.
• Aroma -- the steam or vapor gives out the smell, which can be fruity or herbal.  Kona coffee for instance has a floral smell.
• Bitter -- you can sense this taste by the back of your tongue.  It comes from the caffeine and other components.  For instance, robusta is more bitter than Arabica.
• Body -- how ''thick'' is the brew?  American roasted coffee is light when compared to the dark French coffee.
• Nuttiness -- this is the sign of a poor quality of coffee beans.  It is the result of aldehydes and ketones and tastes like roasted nuts.
• Sharpness -- this is the result of a mixture of acids and salts.  You can have a pronounced effect in the cheap robusta beans.

So go ahead and experiment with as many tastes, countries and smells as you like and soon you will become a self-styled coffee expert!

Are You Looking For Gourmet Coffee?

Taste

The perception of gourmet coffee is characteristically rich and luxurious.  But if you are a true coffee lover, fresh gourmet coffee has a flavor that can't be beat.  It's rich, full-bodied Taste is a daily necessity to millions of people.  But everyone's taste in coffee is uniquely there own.

Coffee perceptions great by themselves, but for an extra special flavor sensation, try gourmet flavored coffee.  Not all these flavors are everyone's "cup of tea", but the taste sensations of gourmet flavored coffee give you a new outlook on your cup of joe.  You can taste the sweet caramel just as you can smell the aroma of the freshly ground coffee nearby.

The differentiation may seem miniscule, but the gourmet coffee or tea you beverage will Taste completely divers.  More importantly, all the variances affect the flavor and aroma.  Many coffee drinkers are not aware of how gourmet coffee should taste since their senses have been desensitized with below-par coffees.

Beans

The gourmet coffee bean is considered to be among the finest coffee beans in the world.  Out of these varieties, fine gourmet coffee beans are obtained mainly from the species Coffee Arabica.  The gourmet coffee beans are offered in a variety of dissimilar serving sizes.

When brewing your own gourmet coffee blend in your kitchen, you have a choice of fresh ground coffee beans from fine Italian Espressos to the rare and exotic Indonesian Kopi Luwak.  You want the best cup of coffee you can get, right?  If so it pays to do some research and ask questions about what you're buying.

When doing your legwork for the perfect gourmet coffee, there are a number of things to be cautious about.  One thing you should know is whether the beans are fresh Arabian beans blended with stale French Roast.  Are the coffee beans roasted in house or locally, or are they shipped from across the country to sit on a shelf waiting for orders.  If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted less than 1 week before.

Quality

The dictionary defines gourmet nourishment like this, "Gourmet foodstuff is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented".  Commuters can consider making gourmet coffee beverages at home or the office before departing and enjoy it at home or work while spending quality time with the family and coworkers or take it along in a commuter coffee mug.  Gourmet coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

As a coffee aficionado, you know that there is some extra work to making excellent coffee than simply brewing it.  You need to choose the highest quality beans to get the highest quality coffee.  Today you can buy quality wholesale gourmet coffee and the right coffee machine to get the coffee you deserve.  In addition, only Arabic beans contain the high quality needed for gourmet coffee beans.  The quality of a coffee bean depends vastly on where and how that particular coffee bean is grown.

Grind

By grinding your own coffee beans, you'll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.  The best way to do this is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them with yur own grinding machine as you need it.  But be careful:  The type of coffee grind that you use is critical in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using.  Be sure to ask your coffee merchant which grind is best for you.

Try Cappuccino From Fair Trade Coffee Beans

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!

The Best Coffee Grinders Make The Best Coffee

When coffee beans are exposed to air they oxidize.  Since the coffee ground have a larger surface area than the bean and are not covered in a sheath like the bean, they will oxidize even faster.  If you grind your beans at home then they are exposed to air for less time and you get fresher grounds.  You can also grind only what you want to use right at that moment.

Grinding can also take more time and patience that buying beans that are already ground.  If you choose to take the time to grind your beans than you should choose amongst the best coffee grinders.

The burr, blade, and crusher are the three types of coffee grinders on the market.

The crusher is a device that mashes the beans and is and sort of mortar and pestle style grinder.  This gives a granule that is not as even as it could be and this style of grinder is not the best for your kitchen.

A blade grinder actually finely chops your beans with a spinning blade that makes the beans smaller and smaller until they are like a granule.  Sometimes the grains can be too big and not the same size.

When the grains are different sizes they can release different amounts of oils and they can also produce too much heat because of the speed of the blades.  This warmth can make the aroma lessen.

The best choice for coffee grinding is the burr grinder.  These grinders produce the best granules that are both consistent and small.  You can also adjust the size of the granule and the speed of your grinder when using the best burr grinder models.  It works by using plates and pyramid like teeth that grind up the beans.

By controlling the size of the granules you can get a better brew and the lower speed will keep over-warming from happening.

The best of the burr grinders is the conical burr because they give you greater control over the size and speed, although they can be noisy.  A good conical burr grinder goes at about 500 rpm, but some can go up to 10,000 or even higher rpm.  Getting a grain that is this fine is really important when it comes to certain kinds of coffee, such as a Turkish coffee.  Some of these allow you to adjust your granule size to a very fine degree.

The best burrs will offer a low noise level and will be easy to clean.  A brush to clean your burr is important and being able to remove the upper burrs is also critical.  The material of the burr will also influence how much extra static electricity is made.

Clear glass can be better to help you judge your ground beans and know when to stop the grinding.  A timer or auto-shutoff is also a great feature to help you control your grinding process.

Spend time on reviewing the various models to find the best one for your kitchen!

Find The Best Coffee Machine For Your Needs

Finding an automatic coffee maker that suits your needs can be trickey.  Automatic coffee makers can be used for regular coffee, espresso, or even lattes.  No matter what you like, you can find something to fit your coffee tastes.  You can even find automatic coffee makers that have grinders built right in and some can also timed so that your coffee is all ready for you as soon as you wake up!

If you take good care of your coffee machine it will last longer.  Always turn it off when you aren't using your machine so that it lasts longer.  The more coffee you drink the more often you will have to replace your machine.  You can also clean your machine by running water with one cup of vinegar through the machine.  This will help clean the interior of the it and keep your coffee tasting better.  After using the vinegar solution make sure you run water through it several times to get rid of any vinegar residue.

You can also save time in the morning by purchasing a coffee maker that has a timer on it.  You can make your coffee at night and then it will brew for you at whatever time you would like.  If you need to hit the road at 7 am, then set your coffee to brew at 6:30 and you'll be awake and alert by the time you hit the road.  You can also buy coffee makers that stop when you grab the pot.  So if you are in a real rush just pour your coffee even if the whole pot isn't ready yet.  Don't worry, the flow of the coffee will stop automatically for you!

Shop around to find the coffee maker that is best for you since they come in so many sizes and shapes.  If you are into home décor than find one that will suit your kitchen or personal tastes.  Some coffee machines make a single serving and others make tons of cups so get one that is suitable for all the coffee drinkers in your household.  You can also find something small and portable if you travel often and want your coffee machine with you where you go!

Purchasing Espresso Beans

A short guide to purchasing chocolate covered espresso beans wholesale

So you know you want to purchase chocolate covered espresso beans wholesale and going online will give you the best selection and the best prices.  The only thing is you aren't sure how to do this and keep your credit card safe.  Well, no problem this will show you how to get your product and keep your identity safe from thieves.  We've all heard bad stores about people who've had their bank accounts plundered and their identity stolen.  If you follow a few simple tips you can keep safe when shopping for espresso beans, coffee, or even an espresso maker!

Buying espresso beans or any other coffee product on the internet doesn't have to be as hard as you think, you just need to make sure you know what you are doing when you want to use your credit card to shop on the internet.

You need to always be sure of what you are purchasing.  Even though a web site says it has the best product on the market, make sure you read the description of the product carefully and study the photographs as well.  You want to pour over the fine print and see if there are any clues that might indicate that what you are about to order is not the same as what you are seeing online.  You need to keep in mind that if you think you are getting a great deal that seems to be too good to be true, than it probably is too good to be true!

You also need to take care with how you buy your products online.  Before you punch in a single number online you should carefully read the website and see all the options they accept for payment and how they will ship your brand new espresso maker or yummy espresso beans to you!  If your site asks you for private information like your Social Security number, driver's license number, or your bank account number then you should stay away.  No one should be asking you for this kind of information to buy espresso beans or an espresso maker.

Keeping excellent records of your online purchases can keep you safe too.  You will want to keep hard copies of all email correspondence, shipping information, and payment transactions.  Make sure you have all the details of your business dealings with the company to make sure you get what you paid for.

If you still don't feel safe ordering things online, then you can always use a trusted 1-800 number to order over the phone.  You could also request a wholesale catalog, the old fashioned way -- through the mail!

How To Make An Espresso?

Coffee drinks are the taste of many tongues.  Indeed coffee lovers need coffee anywhere and everywhere -- whether at home or at work or for that matter when out for shopping.  And espresso is among the best flavors of coffees.  The credit for their popularity goes much to their easy availability.  Yes, the cup of espresso is easy-to-make (via espresso machine) and too-delicious-to-drink.  You can have your favorite sip at a local coffee house.  But if you want a unique flavor, make it yourself.  So, wanna learn how to make an espresso?  It is too simple, just read on to learn!

Literally ''espresso'' is an extraction of coffee with high pressure from a special espresso machine.  You might need some special instructions if your type of espresso machine is different from the other types of machines.  But, the basics of making an espresso coffee are indeed the same.

Some foolproof instructions to go about

First of all, get a good quality espresso machine.  In case, you are a ''real'' coffee lover, look for the best espresso machine available in the market.  One feature to get in a quality espresso machine is to be sure that it has built-in grinder.  I presume you know that the finest grind of beans is the key to make a good coffee.

Take cold and clear water and pour it in your machine's water chamber.  You should make it sure that the boiler cap is secure.  Give one shot of espresso that is a propos one ounce.  To give a double shot, you should give two ounces.  In few machines you can also give as much as four shots in one go.

Then, place the basket of coffee in filter holder.  You can place a little pack in ground coffee.  The filter has a measure for the amount of espresso you are preparing.

Brush off the grounds if any on the top or sides of the filter.  Place the filter holder inside the espresso machine.

Keep the present glass carafe of your machine under the spout.  You should then turn on the machine.  The espresso machine will make the water warm to a proper temperature.  Force the water up to the coffee grounds.  You can use a cup, if the machine you have doesn't have a carafe.

The brewing of your espresso should take just 15 or 20 seconds.  As the coffee starts flowing in the cup, the foam starts forming on the top.  The foam has a brown color and is known as Crema.  As the foam takes an almost white color, your best tasting liquid is not flowing any longer.  It is time to stop now.  Remove the cup immediately.  Your hot cup of espresso coffee is now in your hands.

A few tips to get the best results

Select and roast the beans particularly for espresso.  The beans are available on most of the coffee specialty shops or grocery stores.

To get the best espresso, better buy an espresso grinder.  When grinding the beans for espresso, make it sure your grinding machine is efficient enough to give a fine grind.

Use filtered water or bottled spring water.  Do not use your tap water if it is hard.

Is Coffee Good Or Bad For You?

Did you know that coffee is the primary part of dietary antioxidants?  Now let's be clear:  that does not mean that your morning coffee is a substitute for fruits and vegetables.  But serious java drinkers will surely get a jolt from the news that coffee is a top resource of disease-fighting antioxidants.  Current analysis reveals that, taken in moderation, coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits.

Coffee is one of the few beverages that is consumed world-wide.  It is consumed in most countries of the world and coffee is the second most widely traded commodity in the world (behind petroleum) and one of the most widely consumed beverages.  It may be a world commodity that is second only to oil, but an excellent cup of coffee tastes a lot better than an excellent cup of petroleum.  And, in today's world of high fuel prices, a lot more fun to consume.

So, can we call coffee a health foodstuff?  Well, that may be stretching it!  Caffeine, which is the "guts" of the coffee, is one of the world's most widely used drugs, and it has been part of the human diet for centuries.

Caffeine is one heck of a stimulant and is the element that gives coffee and many other beverages their jolt.  It is definitely a central-nervous-system stimulant.  It acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system and both regular and decaf coffee can irritate the stomach.  Drinking caffeine in boundless amounts as coffee or tea (which may actually have more caffeine than coffee) over a short period of time has been shown to raise blood sugar.  So if you are prone to blood sugar issues, beware!  And, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, lower your current caffeine intake to less than 300 milligrams a day or three cups of coffee.  Or, to be safe, cut it out altogether.

But you should be able to look forward to a early-day cup for reasons beyond the caffeine rush.  The general conclusion is that moderate amounts of caffeine do not lead to arrhythmias and drinking a modest account of coffee should not increase your risk.  Check with your health professional to be sure, though.

So, is coffee injurious?  Surely you should be aware that some experts argue that coffee is bad for you.  And nobody is saying coffee is entirely benign.  But if you have reasonable health and enjoy drinking coffee, an excellent cup of coffee is worth it.  But remember, coffee is not for everyone.

Well, I must go.  I need to refill my cup of coffee.

History Of The Espresso

There is nothing great than sipping a hot cup of coffee in the chilly mornings.  It simply feels great having the espresso.  Yes, we are talking espresso, which is one of the most famous and preferred coffee types across the globe.  Well, since we started talking about espresso, why not take a brief sneak peek into its history and what exactly it is.  What do you say?

Basically espresso is a flavorful and strong coffee beverage prepared when hot water is forced under a high pressure and made to pass through finely ground coffee beans.  The color of the coffee is typically dark brown with brown/red colored foam on the top.  Espresso is commonly served in small portions.

Unlike other drip-brewed coffees, espresso is identified with its robust flavor and thick consistency.  Following its potency, straight espresso or espresso served without milk or sweetener is generally considered to be an acquired taste.  In the United States, this espresso is served in small amounts known as shots.  Many avid coffee fanatics even order single or double espressos along with a glass of water to void the taste.

Espresso was basically originated in Italy in the 20th century.  Indeed Espresso is an Italian word that means fast.  A gentleman named Luigi Bezzera made a coffee machine that had four divisions and a boiler in 1901.  He even got the machine patented.  This machine used to force boiling water and steam via coffee into the container or cup.  This very machine is regarded as the inception of espresso.

In 1903, Desiderio Pavoni purchased the patent from Luigi Bezzera and the Pavoni Compnay started developing coffee machines in 1905 which were based on Luigi's patent.  The machines produced by the company came to be known as the ''La Pavona'' and became famous immensely.  These machines even reached the America in 1927.

The flaws in these early machines soon came forward.  The boiling water and the steam that was forced via machine gave coffee a certain kind of burn flavor.  So, Cremonesi in 1938 built a piston pump that forced hot water rather than boiling water through the coffee.  Moreover, this design was also incorporated in Achille Gaggia's coffee bar.  During the World War II the Gaggia's small quantity of machines were destroyed by a bomb and any further developments of espresso machines got hindered.

As the war came to the end, Gaggia began manufacturing a viable piston pump.  As the machine used the spring lever, it was considered very innovative.  Following the use of the spring lever, the coffee could be pressurized which was entirely independent of the boiler.  These earlier machines used to employ the force of the boiler pressure to force water through the coffee.  The coffee that was produced from this machine characterized a Creama which became the hallmark of espresso coffee.  In true terms, this was a major inception of espresso machines.

Further in 1961, M Faema made an improvement in the Gaggia's machine.  Faema developed machine that consisted of an electric pump.  This pump used to force water through the coffee.  This machine underlined the inception of pump driven machines which paved way for the modern espresso machines.

Gourmet Coffee -- You Can't Resist The Second Cup

Could you ever resist the craving to have a second cup of that beautiful, strongly aromatic and lazily steaming cup of coffee?  Perhaps no one can do it.  A passionate Gourmet's delight, freshly brewed, thick and dark brown and irresistible coffee just brightens up your day like no other drink or anything else can do.

Why Is Gourmet Coffee So Special

One might be tempted to ask why gourmet coffee is so special.  Well, here is the answer.  For starters, gourmet coffee is always made by high quality fresh Arabica coffee beans which are always hand picked unlike other commercial coffees which are mostly machine graded.  Hand picking of coffee beans eliminate chances for dirt such as twigs, leaves etc to sneak in and spoil your coffee.

Secondly, gourmet coffee beans are specially treated with oils after roasting which enhances its flavor to no end.  The oil used for coffee bean treatment is a blend of many natural oils which do not have their adverse effect on the shelf life or stability of the ground powder unlike synthetic oils.  The oils are so mixed that their characteristic flavors neutralize each other.

You can have different tailor made roast for your gourmet coffee.  Deep roasted beans some what loose their natural aroma and this is why you feel the ''roasted flavor'' when drinking it.  Rather you would prefer a lighter roasting which retains its entire natural aroma.

Arabica coffee beans are ground to the exact perfection of fineness to get its best taste.  But generally a finer grind results in a full-bodied cup of coffee, but as many would like it, coarser grinds are preferred to make coffee with coarse filters.

Finer grinds are preferred by those who like espresso but true lovers of gourmet coffee will almost invariably go with the coarse ground coffee powder as boiled water takes its own sweet time to pull out the flavor completely, especially in drip type filters.

Arabica coffee beans are never stored in warehouses as they are dispatched quickly after harvesting.  It is the same story after roasting and grinding them, too.  The beans from Arabica trees are, by nature, tastier than Robusta, another cheaper variety.

To its credit, Robusta coffee bean offers you higher caffeine content along with that characteristic acidic taste.  Another little known fact is some marketers mix a small percentage of Robusta with gourmet coffee beans.

Coffee The Columbian Way

If you're a coffee drinker you have heard of, and probably tried, a cup of Columbian.  Bland, sometimes adequate, and sold everywhere.  But that's predominately coffee shop or grocery store coffee.  Would you criticize the fine food of a four star restaurant by comparing it to a cheap diner before you've tasted both?

Like any major producer, Columbia does generate a lot of average beans.  If you're willing to look a little deeper within that huge output you will find some great gems.

By contrast to Brazil, which dry-processes most of its coffee berries, almost all Columbian coffee is washed, which helps carry away impurities.  Done properly, it can still produce a flavorful, robust cup.

Soaked in cold water for 24 hours, the soaking initiates fermentation, which aids in producing a great aroma.  The beans are then washed in order to remove twigs, dirt and an outer layer of unpleasant material.

During the process, unacceptable beans are selected and discarded.  The beans are then dried on large open-air terraces and rotated frequently to provide even drying.  The result is a lower acid, smoother cup.

This has been going on since the early 1800s when coffee was first introduced into the country.  Today, Columbia is one of the largest producers in the world, providing 12% of the total.  The central region, along with Bogota and Bucaramanga in the eastern mountains produce almost the entire amount.

While much of that is simply ordinary, grocery store quality, the finest blends are the equal of any coffee anywhere.  The product from Buraramanga is heavy bodied, while coffee from Bogota is rich and low in acid.

Supremo from the state of Narino is another fine example of Columbian.  Providing an excellent cup when lightly roasted, it's perfect for a late afternoon drink when you want a rich cup, but don't want to be overwhelmed with acid and caffeine.

A line of 'Triple Seal' organic coffees from Columbia are becoming ever more popular.  Shaded Santos from eastern Columbia, gives a smooth, mellow cup of coffee.  Open a bag and you instantly smell a rich coffee aroma.

Though the actor who has portrayed 'Juan Valdez' for years in countless commercials is retiring, you can rest assured that Columbian coffee will still be offering some of the finest coffees anywhere.

What Is Fairtrade Food?

The Fairtrade Foundation exists to ensure that producers are guaranteed a minimum price for their goods irrespective of world prices.

This means that Fairtrade goods are often more expensive in the UK than those without the Fairtrade logo.  Although people are now arguing that supermarkets are fuelling their excessive profits by adding large mark-ups to these products.  This premium that the producer charges covers the basic food, housing, health and education needs of the local communities in countries such as India and Brazil.  The Foundation awards a consumer label, the Fairtrade Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade.  It is the only such certification in the UK.

Examples of products:

• Fairtrade coffee
• Fairtrade Tea
• Fairtrade Chocolate
• Fairtrade Bananas
• Fairtrade Honey
• Fairtrade Sugar
• Fairtrade Fruit Juice
• Fairtrade Wine and Snacks

The list of goods certified Fairtrade is growing daily as is the range of products available.  The co-op changed all their own brand chocolate to Fairtrade a few years ago and now all the other big supermarkets are beginning to move into the Fairtrade market.  Nestle have just released a Fairtrade brand.  There has been huge controversy over this as many people are asking how a company that is subject to a boycott can pertain to have Fairtrade and therefore ethical principles?

Why buy Fairtrade?

Millions of small farmers around the world cannot get enough money to feed their families, send their children to school or invest just a few pounds into their farm.  This is because people want to buy the cheapest goods possible and don't think about the people that working in poor condition and often receive less than £1 per day in wages.

Buying products that display the Fairtrade logo ensures that the producers of products such as tea, coffee and chocolate receive a decent income.  Rather than being hit by the ever-changing price of their product on the world market, or being fleeced by a middleman who takes a chunky share of the profits, producers in a Fair Trade scheme are guaranteed a decent, stable price for their produce.

By buying Fair trade products that buy direct from farmers at better prices, consumers are improving the lives of producers all over the world.  In Eithiopia, farmers can often get more then twice the price for their fair trade coffee then those that sell it on the open market.  This extra money enables the farmers to educate their children and to break the cycle of poverty.

Many people struggle to find a reason not to support Fairtrade.  Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers.  Fair trade is not about charity, it is about settling the imbalance which exists.

How do I know its Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade Mark when you shop and make the choice to support small farmers and workers in the developing world, and encourage your workplace to switch to Fairtrade tea and coffee.

The Incredible Effects Of Coffee On Male Fertility

Coffee contains an ingredient called caffeine, which makes the drink stimulating.  A shepherd first discovered the coffee bean's stimulating effect by observing how his goats became energetic and began hopping around when they ate the leaves and fruits of the coffee tree.  He tried the fruits himself and discovered that he felt happier, more alert and with more vivacity than before.  A monk of the region, which is present day Ethiopia, began to use an infusion of fruits to keep him awake during his prayers.

News of the effect of drinking coffee soon spread.  By the 16th century, coffee was being used in the east, with the beans being toasted in Persia.  Many people felt that the coffee was bad, and that the effects of the drink were against the laws of the Prophet Mohamed.  The drink soon got around these obstacles and even Arabian doctors were prescribing the drink to help with digestion, cheer for the spirit and to stay awake.

In Arabia, a new infusion of the coffee received the name of ''Kahwah'' or ''Cahue'', which means ''force''.  This new infusion became the classification ''Arabian Coffee''.

In 1675, the coffee was taken to Turkey and Italy, but because the coffee came from Arabia, it was forbidden to the Christians.  It was only allowed after Pope Clement VIII tried it.  Coffee soon reached Holland, and through the Dutch Maritime Commerce, soon spread itself to the New World, Guyana, Martinique, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Commercial establishments in Europe made full use of the new drink by coming up with ''Coffee Houses''.  Several became widely known, such as ''Virginia Coffee house'' in London and the ''Coffee of La Regence'' in Paris.  These were populated by famous names such as Rousseau, Voltaire, Richelieu and Diderot.

Coffee is making world headline news even now, hundreds of years later.  It turns out that coffee not only stimulates humans and animals, it stimulates male sperm, as well.  Brazilian urologist Dr. Fabio Pasqualotto coordinated a study that gained international recognition after he announced that men who drink at least one cup of coffee a day present greater movement of their sperm.  The sperm have more energy and are faster, therefore increasing the possibility of making a woman pregnant.  ''The caffeine can increase the use of energy of the sperm, as if it were a stimulant.  It is as if the spermatozoon took an energetic,'' Pasqualotto explained.

In his tests, the semen of 750 fertile men with active sexual lives was tested.  The coffee did not alter the number of sperm.  ''The only alteration observed was in its quality of movement, independently of the amount of coffee ingested daily,'' the urologist said.  Of the men who drank coffee, 67% of the sperm had the mobility to arrive at the ovule.  Of the men who did not drink coffee, only 54% had that mobility.  Testing is ongoing for men with fertility problems.