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.

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.

Coffee And Your Health

If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis.  This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee.  Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it.  At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame.

Here's a new question that you may have never asked yourself:  is coffee ever good for you?  The answer may surprise you.

Here is a statistic to ponder:  did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone?  In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year.  But consider this:  the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year.  That's a lot of coffee!

Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee.  Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed:  consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful.

But, since everyone's body is different, we all tolerate things differently.  In some people even the smallest amount of caffein can cause nervousness and irritebility.  Consider also that a person may consume caffein in other ways besides coffee.  And often without knowing about it.

A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health.  Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:

• Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
• Antibacterial ingredients
• Reduce the risk of developing gallstones
• Preserve mental accuity
• Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption)
• If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it
• Headache relief
• Reduce the risk of some types of cancer
• Improve physical endurance

This is not to say that there are not some serious negative results of drinking coffee.  It is nice to know, however, that a cup or two in the morning may not hurt you.  But how do you know for sure?  Be sure to talk to your health professional and get their advice on consuming coffee.  They (and you) know what conditions you may have that you need to be careful of when it comes to coffee.  Then do you research and, if appropriate, enjoy your coffee.

Cuisine Inspired By The Culture Of Mexico

Love Mexican foods?  You're not alone.  Mexico-inspired fare has been enjoyed by people around the globe for centuries.  But if you've worried that you're just not a good-enough cook to put together a dish reminiscent of warm, tropical Mexico, fear not.  Below are some quick dishes that anyone can put together.  Your guests (or family feasters) will definitely say, ''Ole!'' when they taste these tidbits.

Quick Enchiladas

What shouts ''Mexico'' more than a good enchilada?  You can make some very quickly with this fast recipe.  Though it's not exactly what you'd find in Mexico City, it'll sate the appetites of your ninos and ninas.

Ingredients:  broiled or grilled chicken (you can even get this pre-made and pre-cooked;  all you have to do is warm it up!);  shredded lettuce;  diced tomatoes;  diced onions;  low fat sour cream;  low fat Monterey jack cheese;  sliced black olives;  sliced green olives;  salsa (mild, medium, or spicy);  and numerous 10'' or 12'' flour burritos.

Directions:  Assemble your burritos by laying down a flour burrito, spreading the sour cream in the middle of it, then layering all the other items except for the cheese and salsa.  Wrap it up and put it on a baking sheet.  Continue making enchiladas until all burritos have been used.  Then, sprinkle salsa and cheese on top of the enchiladas.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese and warm them up.  Enjoy!

Mexico-inspired bean dip

This bean dip is quick to assemble and tastes amazing.  Serve it warm and watch it disappear.

Ingredients:  one can of low fat refried beans;  one small container of low fat sour cream;  one 8 ounce package of Monterey jack cheese;  one small jar of sliced black olives;  one jar of salsa (your favorite);  and low fat baked tortilla chips.

Directions:  In a casserole dish, layer the items as follows: beans, half the container of cheese, both jars of olives, sour cream, rest of cheese, and salsa.  Then, warm up the casserole for about 15 minutes (or until the cheese is melted) in a 350 degree oven.  Serve with chips.

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Ever gotten fed up with your tasteless tortilla chips?  Try these homemade versions on for size!  You won't have to travel to Mexico -- you can get them in your own kitchen.  And the folks who get to enjoy them will be happy to call you a talented senora, senora, or senorita.

Ingredients  -- one package of 12'' flour burritos;  olive oil;  Mexico spices (often, major spice makers will offer a blend of Mexico-inspired flavors);  low fat sour cream;  low fat (or homemade) guacamole;  and salsa (your choice).

Directions:  Using a pizza cutter, slice the burritos into quarters (thus, there will be four small ''triangles'' for each 12'' burrito).  Lay them out on a baking sheet (make sure they don't overlap).  Brush each triangle with olive oil, then lightly sprinkle with Mexico-inspired spices.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes until just browned.  Serve warm with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.