Coffee

Who doesn’t love a refreshing cup of coffee to start the morning? It can be a great way to warm up during a cold morning, give a needed energy boost early in the day, just be part of your usual morning routine, and – when consumed in moderation – has health benefits. The problem is for about ten percent of people the high acidity level makes it difficult for their stomachs to digest their morning cup. There are solutions available for making low acid coffee. Whether you buy beans that have been specially roasted to produce low acid coffee or if you are using a special brewing technique to reduce the acidity anyone can enjoy a morning coffee regardless of their stomach!

For people looking for a natural approach to low acid coffee, some coffee beans are roasted with mushroom extracts from Ganoderma or Reishi mushrooms to enhance the flavor and reduce the acidity to make the coffee easier on sensitive stomachs. The mushrooms and beans are steamed naturally to reduce the acidity without compromising the flavor of the coffee. This is an herbal roasting method that still leaves the same taste, aroma, and caffeine levels. These mushrooms have been used for thousands of years to improve mood, increase focus, and help detoxify the liver. Chemically altered beans can have the same effect on acidity levels but may have altered taste, aroma, and reduced caffeine.

Besides altering the beans or roasting them with mushroom extracts to lower the acidity, you can change the way you brew to get a more low acid coffee. The toddy maker, also known as Cold-Brew coffee maker, actually makes a cold coffee concentrate. A drip coffee maker involves putting coffee beans into a filter and having hot water pass through the filter slowly to extract the coffee flavors. A press style coffee maker involves steeping the coffee in hot water for several minutes before pressing the grounds to separate them from the coffee and pouring it off. On the other hand, a toddy maker uses concentrated coffee and adds it to hot water. You can store this concentrate in a refrigerator to make your coffee later. This cold brewing methods leads to a lower acidity level in the finished coffee, making this low acid coffee easier for people with sensitive stomachs.

Coffee has a wonderful flavor, can give you a good energy boost in morning, and even has many good qualities for your health. When consumed in moderation without adding unnecessary calories from too much cream or sugar it can be good for your heart, help reduce your risk of cancer, relieve pain, boost your mood, and even help prevent cavities. Even if you have a sensitive stomach you may want to consider having an occasional cup of low acid coffee. Just remember to look for low acid coffee beans or a ganoderma enriched instant coffee.

Just remember to look for low acid coffee beans or ganoderma enriched instant (ready brew) coffee. Remember that the acidity can be reduced artificially and naturally. Or you can try a cold brewing method for low acid coffee. Just look for beans that are specially marked as low acid coffee beans or a toddy maker and even people with sensitive stomachs can enjoy their morning java.

Phillip Bynes is a proud husband, father, licensed massage therapist, and Family First Entrepreneur. As an active member of the health and wellness community, he provides resources to people who absolutely love coffee and embrace an opportunity to replace that unhealthy cup of coffee with a low acid ganoderma enriched coffee that can provide substantial health benefits. Learn more at www.DrinkCoffee4Life.com.

Author: Phillip Bynes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Have you ever gone with a friend to the local coffee shop online to find out that there is no such thing as “just a cup of coffee” anymore? You stand there in awe and feeling rather out of place as your friend quickly fires off her order, something along the lines of “a grande, skinny, caramel macchiato with a double shot and equal, no whip”. If you felt like you were in a foreign country don’t despair. The lingo is easy to learn and yes you can order just a cup of coffee.

First things first, coffee shops have morphed into gourmet coffee shops. They now offer everything from coffee to lattes and iced cappuccinos. You can get Jamaican coffee, dark roasted, light roasted, chocolate and even pumpkin flavors when they are in season. Before you feel like you are in a foreign land and go running out the door take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with these common terms that gourmet coffee shops are most likely to use.

Gourmet Coffee Lingo

Acidity: The acidity level of a coffee is typically a general overall description of the coffee. Coffees with a high acidity level may be described as having a bright, dry flavor. Good quality coffees should have a higher acidity level; this comes from longer roasting periods.

Arabica Bean: The Arabica bean is the most common type of coffee bean found in gourmet coffees. These beans are of a higher quality than coffee you buy in cans at your local grocer. Arabica beans are rich and bold with a strong aroma.

Bitterness: A coffee’s bitterness factor has more to do with the water it is brewed with than the bean.

Blend: Blends are usually a mixture of coffee beans to create a balanced, unique flavor. Often Arabica beans will be blended with Robusta beans.

Body: The body of the coffee is how it feels when it rests on your tongue. A flavorful, aromatic coffee has more body than a weaker coffee. The body of a coffee is determined by the fat, protein and fiber content of the coffee.

Earthiness: A coffee that is described as earthy usually has a smooth, full body. They are generally from Indonesia and surrounding areas. This term does not imply an organic attribute.

Exotic: If used in a coffee shop it should be implying that there are spicy, herbal, fruity or floral undertones. Oftentimes coffee shops overuse this term in a marketing effort to entice customers.

Varietal: Refers to the region the coffee was grown in.

Espresso: A highly concentrated coffee beverage served in a 2-3 oz. portion. It should have a frothy top layer called the crema. You can sweeten this if you like; there is no right or wrong way to drink it. In drinks that are espresso based (cappuccinos and lattes) you can specify a single, double, triple or quad shot (1, 2, 3, or 4). This determines how much espresso is in your drink.

Cappuccino: Cappuccinos are lighter than coffee due to the amount of milk involved. This drink starts with a shot of espresso and is mixed with hot, steaming milk. The froth from the milk is then floated on top. Cappuccinos come in a variety of flavors.

Latte or Caffe Latte: These are very similar to cappuccinos except that they have more steamed milk than a cappuccino. It resembles an American coffee with a lot of milk more so than it does a cappuccino. Mocha Lattes are a very popular drink made with chocolate added to the latte. Other flavors are available.

Sizes: Depending on the gourmet coffee shop you are at, you may encounter different names for the size of beverage you order. Typically these are short (8 oz), Tall (12 oz) Grande (16 oz) and Venti (20 oz).

Skinny: Skinny drinks have no fat and no sugar, meaning that they are made with fat free milk if milk is involved and no sugar is added.

Ordering a coffee at the local gourmet coffee shop no longer has to be intimidating. Just walk right up and ask for your own double shot and get ready to for your own caffeine jolt. You should now know that your friend ordered a 16 oz. non-fat, sugar free, caramel flavored espresso with a bit of steamed milk with equal added and no whip cream. Gourmet coffee has never been easier or more fun.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on gourmet coffee for Coffee Online – your guide to coffee on the web!

Author: Sharon V Chapman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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