Coffee: Is It Getting Too Complicated?
by: Eileen Church
Plain coffee is fast becoming a thing of the past. It's now quite simple to whip up a gourmet hot beverage for guest, family, or just for yourself. Nowadays there are a number of coffee clubs and circles in which coffee drinking has become somewhat of a social club. These social clubs meet in the community or on the Internet.
Where did the good old days go where you could get just a regular, good cup of coffee all across America.
It's all because there is a big craze over coffee these days. People are almost worshipping the coffee bean now. People get a thrill out of ordering and buying special coffees from specialty stores. They really like grinding their own coffee beans. They like visiting places such as Costa Rica and bringing back their special blends. And "coffee tasting" seems to be about as popular as "wine tasting".
They even have furniture and home interior designs with a coffee theme. This would make great gifts for the coffee buff.
Coffee got its beginnings around 900 A.D. where it was at first used as a stimulant. It was also at times used as a wine and a medicine. It doesn't look like anything is much different today.
There are not many products such as coffee that have continued "as is" for hundreds of years. And yet people are still scrutinizing and getting creative with it today and probably will be for years to come.
What is also interesting is that coffee is second to oil in dollar volume as a world commodity.
Did you know that there is two times more caffeine in a pound of tea than in the same amount of roasted coffee? This may be good news for those of you who hate the taste of decaffeinated coffee however wait just one moment. A pound of tea will make about 160 cups whereas a pound of coffee will usually make about 40 cups. This means that a cup of tea has about 1/4th the caffeine of a cup of coffee.
The content of caffeine in coffee decreases as it is grown at higher altitudes. If you want less caffeine in your coffee, grow it higher. Gourmet coffees are typically grown at higher altitudes so they have less caffeine than their grocery store counterparts.
There are many different types of coffee beans and way too many to describe in this article. Here are just a few of them:
You have Latte, Espresso, Low-Fat, Organic, Cal, Decaf, Half-Decaf, Black Forest, Cappuccino, Cafe au Lait, Alpine which has brown sugar, Arabian (lightly spiced and without filter), Cafe con Miel (Spanish for coffee with honey), and Cafe de Olla (a sweet coffee made with chocolate).
And you really should attend a coffee tasting at least once. You will get to experience how making and brewing gourmet coffee is slowly becoming a form of art. What is fun about the coffee tasting is that you could get a chance to taste two dozen or more different blends. You may even leave to start your journey as a coffee connoisseur. Any way you look at it, the tasting experience will be fun if you like coffee.
About the author:
Eileen Church, webmistress for http://www.fmcoffee.com, loves to experiment with coffee of all kinds. Be sure to visit http://www.fmcoffee.comoften for great coffee resources.
Coffee Makers For Different Coffee Types
by: Peter Mason
There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, stumbling to the kitchen and finding your favourite coffee brewed and waiting for you. Of all the drinks in the world, coffee seems to have universal appeal. But if you have ever travelled you quickly discovered that one person’s coffee can be quite different from another’s.
A World Wide Business—Coffee Types
Coffee is grown on five different continents and dozens of countries around the world. There are coffee plantations in Columbia and much of South America. There are hundreds of plantations in Africa. The growing region expands to the east and west including the West Indies, Sumatra, and Java.
All of the coffee growing regions are in tropical zones within 30 degrees or so of the Equator. While all coffee grows in bean form, there are different types or varieties of coffee plants, hence the many different coffee types.
Roasting and Brewing
Although plant variety can affect the taste of coffee, the way it is handled following harvesting has a great deal to do with the flavour as well.
Some coffee beans are naturally roasted. These generally produce the darker and bitterer tasting coffees. The sun does the roasting and then the grinding and brewing take care of the rest of the flavourful attributes.
There are many different recipes for a great cup of coffee and variations on how they are served. The cooking methods require specific kitchen gadgetry to help make the best rated coffees.
From Coffee Makers to Cappuccino and Espresso
There are different types of cappuccino, espresso and coffee makers on the market. Each of these appliances is designed to make specific coffee types. Cappuccino is a rich, dark coffee whose recipe originated in Italy. It is a milder version of Espresso, but not as light as “city” coffee.
Espresso is made by high heat and pressure which produces a thicker and more potent cup of coffee.
This is usually served in much smaller cups and quantities because of how strong it is.
Electric machines are making their way from the restaurant into many home kitchens. The cleaning and care including the job to decalcify are made easier by the popularity of stainless steel appliances. There are coffee makers also that do all of the jobs of creating the perfect mug of coffee right on your counter top and even while you sleep. The grind and brew combination machines are the ideal way to get the freshest cup of coffee possible.
Decaf and coffee types that contain caffeine can be equally as appealing to the taste buds. An important fact to remember is that just because a coffee type taste strong, it does not necessarily contain more caffeine. On the other hand, a decaf cup of coffee will taste and smell just as good, but without the health concern of having too much caffeine. The process with all of the new recipes available at coffee shops, restaurants and even at home, it is possible for anyone to make the best rated coffee around. This includes caffeine and decaf varieties.
About the author:
Peter Mason publishes many news and information to the news section of http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.comWithin his publication Peter is publishing from coffee makers http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/coffee-makers.htmlto cappuccino machines and other areas in this field.
Fresh Gourmet Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It's rich, full-bodied taste is a daily necessity to millions of people. Of course, coffee is not only loved for its taste. The caffeine kick is needed by many to start the day. But if you are a true coffee lover, fresh gourmet coffee has a taste that can't be beat.
Luckily, it's easy to get a hit of fresh gourmet coffee almost everywhere. There are coffee shops on almost every street corner and quality coffee beans are sold in many specialty shops as well as supermarkets.
"Fresh" is the key to fresh gourmet coffee. Coffee simply does not improve with age -- it should be used within six months of production. Some of the large coffee distributors include old coffee beans in their mixes to reduce the cost. Needless to say, this practice also reduces the flavor.
Fresh gourmet coffee costs a bit more than regular supermarket coffee. That's because it's made from high quality Arabica coffee that has been hand-picked in processed. Commercial grade coffee is made from the cheaper Robusta coffee which has an inferior taste and texture than Arabica.
Commercial grade coffee is also machine picked and processed which means that foreign substances such as twigs and leaves find their way into the finished product. When you buy fresh gourmet coffee, you are assured of the quality and taste.
You have many choices when it comes to fresh gourmet coffee. Each coffee growing region produces a uniquely flavored coffee bean and the processing method to also determines the final taste of the coffee. The roasting method in particular determines the kind of coffee taste.
Fresh gourmet coffee should be ground just before brewing. You need a coffee grinder in your home if you want to the best tasting coffee possible. A good-quality coffee maker is also a necessity when making great tasting coffee.
Hans is author of the Coffee Specials and Gourmet Basket section at Steaks-Guide.com
Resisting the Coffee Sensation can be Hazardous to Your Health!
by: Ann Cafferty
By R.L. Fielding
Coffee consumption has rapidly increased in the U.S. in the past few years. Aside from its wonderful taste and the stimulating affect of caffeine, coffee’s rising popularity is now due in part to social factors as evidenced by coffeehouses springing up all over the country. Many Americans cannot get their day started without their first cup of coffee. The familiar morning routine that resonates in so many households across the country begins with the ringing of the alarm clock, and ends with that much anticipated cup of freshly brewed coffee. Coffee used to have a bad reputation, but recent research suggests that drinking moderate amounts of coffee provides a wide range of health benefits.
Health Benefits of Coffee
Ever thought that drinking your daily cup of coffee could actually improve your health? The tannins and antioxidants that appear naturally in coffee are well known to fight free radicals and other assaults on the body. From containing so many protective antioxidants to reducing the risk of asthma attacks, coffee may be the answer.
Antioxidants are chemical compounds that protect the body’s cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. They help support the immune system, and consequently, may lower the risk of both cancer and heart disease. It is believed that the caffeine in coffee helps to improve the blood circulation within the heart and arteries. One study shows that in a comparison among various food groups, coffee had 64% of the total antioxidant intake.
Coffee may also lower the risk of gallstones by 45% and cirrhosis of the liver by 80%. A recent study confirms the existence of an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and liver cirrhosis, although researchers have not determined which component in the coffee is responsible for producing the protective effect.
Another benefit of coffee is a 25% reduction in the onset of attacks among asthma sufferers. This chronic disease causes the airways to close up due to inflammation, resulting in coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. One of the compounds in coffee, called theophylline, acts as a bronchodilator, which lessens these dangerous symptoms. So asthma sufferers should make sure to always pack their coffee pods to be prepared in case of emergency.
Often find yourself with a headache lasting throughout the day? It could be caused by stress at work, unruly children, or not enough sleep. The caffeine in coffee has been known to help in treating those headaches. Forget about your typical painkillers; use the convenience of the K-cup coffee system to brew a single cup of fresh coffee and have relief in minutes.
Ideal Amount of Coffee
On average, doctors recommend drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day, which is considered to be a reasonable and moderate amount. Of course, people are all different, and some may choose to drink more and some may prefer to drink less, depending on their individual lifestyles, habits, and health issues.
An 8oz cup of coffee contains approximately 75mg of caffeine. Since excessive amounts of caffeine in coffee can be detrimental to your health, it is important not to exceed the recommended 300mg of caffeine a day. Using a K-cup coffee maker to brew one cup of coffee at a time is one of the best ways to monitor your coffee consumption.
Do Specialty or “Gourmet” Coffees Confer the Same Health Benefits as Regular Coffee?
The answer is yes. Most of the specialty drinks people order at Starbucks, such as cappuccinos, lattes, etc., has espresso as their foundation. Espresso is thought to be even better for your health than regular coffee. The reason may be as simple as the method of brewing. Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee that is produced when water is forced under high pressure over finely ground coffee. The best of the coffee’s ingredients is “expressed” out in a quick method. Many scientists believe this keeps the positive elements intact longer (i.e. the powerful antioxidants) and with more integrity to maximize the health benefits. A professor at the University of Munster noted that in comparison to regular coffee, espresso has 2-3 times the amount of cancer-fighting agents.
Espresso is notoriously difficult to brew, and many people never master the art of creating the perfect espresso shot. As a result, coffee pod machines, with their ability to deliver a high quality cup of coffee consistently, have expanded into the espresso market. Now coffee lovers can enjoy a great cup of espresso, with all its health benefits, with just a push of a button!
Who Should Avoid Coffee
Although coffee may be the way to go, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Some people with particular health conditions should avoid coffee. Women who are pregnant should be extremely careful with their intake of coffee and caffeine. High levels of caffeine can result in babies having a low birth weight or even miscarriage. Other common effects of pregnancy and coffee, caffeine to be specific, include delayed conception, prematurity, and sometimes even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The evidence regarding the affect of excessive consumption of coffee on the development of heart disease is inconclusive. But it still might be prudent for people who drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day to cut down, especially if they have high blood pressure or other risk factors for heart disease.
People with stomach ulcers should also try to avoid coffee. Coffee, tea, colas, and foods that contain caffeine seem to stimulate acid secretion in the stomach, aggravating the pain of an existing ulcer. So, anyone with a stomach ulcer should cut out coffee to help alleviate symptoms.
As anything else, the coffee experience has its benefits and its drawbacks. The key word here seems to be moderation. As long as you don’t over do it, you can continue to indulge in your favorite brew everyday for the rest of your life and live healthily ever after!
About Coffeecow
This article was provided by Coffeecow.com which goes to great lengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastest service, and the deepest discount prices you will find on one cup coffee makers, regular, decaf, and flavored coffee and tea, and a full line of coffee supplies. Developed by coffee professionals with over 35 years of experience in fulfilling any coffee service need, Coffeecow offers all the coffee conveniences for your home or office.
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About the author:
R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries. She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and enjoys rock climbing and ornamental gardening.