Coffee

Coffee consumption started in a corner of Ethiopia when a young herder discovered the “magical powers” that red beans from a tree had on his goats when they ate them. Monks from a nearby monastery brewed the first cup of coffee after some trial and error. Over time, consumption of this new beverage spread among the monasteries throughout Ethiopia and to neighboring mosques and Muslim regions where alcohol was not allowed.

Coffee was generally regarded as a luxurious stimulant and its fame spread beyond country borders. Coffee became known as a black beverage that inspired love and loyalty, healed the sick, comforted the exhausted, and allowed long nights of prayer and meditation. Coffee became in high demand from Ethiopia to the great port of Moka (also “Mocha”) on the Red Sea and then to the Gulf of Aden into Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. Coffee was cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula which explains why the name for the Arabica coffee became popularized.

Coffee continued to spread to Turkey and to the rest of the Ottoman Empire. It was in the Ottoman Empire where coffee was roasted on bonfires and became famous for its wonderful aroma and color. Coffee drinking became widespread and was adopted as a beverage of choice in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Europe.

It is interesting to note how mystery and claims of magical powers continued to surround coffee to the point that it became an almost sacred substance. Coffee could not be cultivated in Europe as a result of northern climates, temperatures and soil conditions unfavorable to the crop. As a result of being an import, coffee availability was rare and scarce. This happened so much that coffee became a symbol of luxury and the gift of choice for royalty. Without a doubt, this “prestige” made coffee very attractive to people in religious and political spheres of society.

Coffee consumption grew rapidly throughout Europe among nobles, artists, intellectuals, scholars and many more wealthy and powerful people. Coffee houses followed and coffee became synonymous with good service, hospitality and friendship. Coffee eventually made its way to Southeast Asia and to the Americas. Dutch, French and British merchants brought coffee to their plantations in Ceylon, Indonesia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and to many other countries along East Indies merchant routes. In short, coffee literally went around the world and has become at present the second most traded commodity in the world after petroleum.

When you think of it, that is indeed an awful lot of coffee for everyone! Drinking coffee is a fun and personal activity. Something you can do with friends or by yourself. Millions of people all over the world get their day “started” with a cup of coffee. The brew is served 24×7 just about everywhere you go. But coffee is so much more than just a beverage!

Coffee offers many health benefits and that is a great thing. Remember some of the “magical powers” that legends associated with coffee? Well, it turns out that there is much truth in such “magical powers.”

• Coffee has been the subject of research for decades. Consistently, the results show that coffee is more healthful than harmful. Such statement is based on research findings that take place daily on coffee, caffeine and health around the world in public and private organizations, laboratories, universities and other specialized facilities.
• How does coffee improve the health of your body? It’s the “magic’” in antioxidants and caffeine! Both of these substances have proven health and anti aging benefits.
• Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals.
• These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.

Coffee is a delicious and very versatile beverage. Hot or cold. There are more than 69 different flavors to choose from such as Chocolate Coffee; Nut and Crunch Coffee or Hazelnut coffee.

Let’s celebrate the wonders of coffee and get some of that “magic” in us, shall we? Recommendation: A delicious gourmet flavored coffee freshly roasted just for you!

Timothy (“Tim”) S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him “The Gourmet Coffee Guy.” He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author’s website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com Also visit: http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-lensography-TheGourmetCoffeeGuy

Copyright – Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Author: Timothy S. Collins
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee Beans

Coffee Beans are derived from coffee plants found in tropical and sub-tropical countries primarily in Central and South America, Africa, and Southern Asia. Though some might claim that coffee is the second largest traded commodity after oil, a more accurate statement as defined by the UNCTD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) is that coffee remains the second most valuable commodity exported by developing countries.

Depending on how statistics are interpreted, coffee could have annual industry value from as low as $22 billion to as high as $90 billion. What is indisputable is that coffee sustains a global workforce of well over 20 million and remains one of the most popular beverages in the world.

History of Coffee

The origin of coffee is ostensibly traced back to the 9th century. It was at this time in Ethiopia where a goat herder noticed heightened activity in one of his goats after it ate a few coffee beans from a coffee tree. Though an amusing story, a more accurate account dates back to the 15th century where monks in Yemen documented the stimulating effects of coffee.

Coffee Bean Types

The flavours, aromas and strength of coffee are determined by two primary types of coffee bean; Arabica and Robusta. Originally sourced from Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula, Arabica coffee is grown globally and accounts for an estimated two-thirds of coffee production. The flavour of Arabica is often characterized by a variety of sweet, fragrant, chocolaty and hazel notes. Robusta originally sourced from central and western Africa accounts for an estimated one-third of coffee production. Robusta derives its name from the fact that the tree is more robust than its Arabica counterpart. Robusta grows in a greater number of conditions, at a faster rate and requires less care than Arabica. Finally, Robusta contains twice the caffeine as found in Arabica and is sharper as well as more bitter in flavour.

Popular coffee will typically consist of either a 100% Arabica base or a combination of Arabica and Robusta with the higher percentage skewed toward Arabica and a lower one to Robusta. In the simplest terms, by varying the ratio of Arabica to Robusta, the end product with regards to flavour, aroma, strength and colour are impacted.

Roasting

The process of coffee roasting alters the entire cellular structure of the coffee bean transforming green coffee beans into the commonly recognized brown coffee bean. Depending on the degree of temperature and length of time, a coffee bean’s colour, taste, smell and size are altered which will in turn impact the flavour.

In applying heat to beans, moisture is lost creating a reaction called pyrolysis. Roasters listen for an audible crack to measure the stages in the bean development during roasting. It is here where starch is converted into sugar and protein is broken down. More importantly, this process causes the coffee bean to release caffeol – coffee oil – which produces the essence of the prized coffee drink.

Getting the roast right is a fine balance. By applying too much heat caffeol will burn. In not applying enough heat the caffeol will not be produced.

Flavoured Coffee

It may be considered a recent trend in the world of coffee, however adding flavours to coffee has been practiced for years. Consider that in the Middle East, coffee with cardamom has been a common tradition over hundreds of years. In Mexico, adding cinnamon to coffee has also been a common practice. The two methods of flavouring are to either add the flavour directly after roasting or to add syrup to a coffee that already has been prepared.

Andrew Greenwood is a member of the Fairfax Coffee Web Team. Fairfax have been in the coffee machine business since 1945 and are on hand to offer impartial advice on choosing the perfect coffee machine for you.

Author: Andrew J Greenwood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There are two basic types of coffee beans offered by wholesale coffee distributors, namely Arabica and Robusta. The two types of coffee are grown everywhere in the world, but true lovers of coffee tend to prefer Arabica beans to Robusta. Arabica beans produce a richly flavored coffee as well as the thickness which is the hallmark of a gourmet coffee. The finest coffees are usually grown at high altitudes in the tropics (the gourmet coffee plant needs cold but cannot tolerate frost), and Arabica coffee lends itself to high altitude conditions. On the other hand, Arabica beans are more difficult to grow, being more susceptible to diseases and producing smaller crops than Robusta, and therefore it is more expensive to produce than Robusta. Robusta coffee does not have as rich a flavor and thickness as Arabica coffee, but the Robusta plant is hardier and disease-resistant. Many companies mix the two types together to create their blends.

To produce the best coffee, the roasted beans from the wholesale coffee distributor must be ground properly. To preserve freshness, the grinding should not be done until the coffee is ready to be brewed. There are two principal types of coffee grinders on the market, namely blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade grinders come with a propeller like blade, and do not have special settings, hence does not grind the coffee uniformly. If you want a finer grind you have to grind your coffee for a considerably longer time period. Blade grinders are all right for drip coffee, but for espresso and other specialty coffees a burr grinder is needed. Burr grinders come in two types – flat burr and conical burr. The coffee beans are drawn between the burrs and crushed to a uniform size. Burr grinders have settings which allow you to create the exact grind you want. They are sine qua non for espresso and other specialty coffee grinds.

The different ways coffee can be brewed all require different grinds. Coarse grind is used in percolators and Neapolitans; and also in stovetop coffee pots to make espresso. Medium coarse grind is used in French press and other coffee makers which have stainless steel or gold filters. Medium grind is used by drip coffee makers. Fine grind is used in espresso machines. Extra fine grind is used in old-style espresso machines and in vacuum pots.

There are three main ways of serving coffee by the pound: café, espresso and latte. A latte is a mixture of espresso with steamed milk. Cappuccino, for example, usually is made of espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk. Café Breva is cappuccino made with half and half rather than whole milk. Frappe is made with ice cream rather than milk. Mocha is a type of latte or cappuccino which has chocolate syrup mixed in. Caffe Americano is made of one shot of espresso and six ounces or more of hot water. Espresso con Panna has whipped cream mixed in. Ristretto is an intensely-flavored type of espresso made by forcing less water than usual through the ground coffee. In Lungo, on the contrary, twice as much water as usual is forced through the ground coffee.

There is a lot to learn about coffee which wholesale coffee distributors [http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/roasting/ourofferings] never tell you. Enjoying coffee by the pound is both a science and an art. Knowing the different options available from your local wholesale coffee distributor is the first step to brewing perfect coffee every time.

Author: Alice Lane
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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As a coffee aficionado, you know that there is more to making excellent coffee than simply brewing coffee You need to choose the highest quality beans to get the highest quality coffee.You also know that choosing the best gourmet coffee beans means that you need to look beyond the brand name on the packet. You have learned that you have your own unique preference, and have learned to look for coffee that suites your individual taste.

Instead of simply choosing from the options that are placed in front of you at your nearest Starbucks coffee shop, you have learned to shop around, choosing coffee beans by variety (most likely arabica coffee) and origin. You no longer are tied to any one coffee roaster, although you have learned to recognize good coffee roasters from bad or excellent. You may even have developed your taste to the point where you select your favorite gourmet coffee beans by estate or plantation.

But to take your appreciation of gourmet coffee beans to the next level, you will need to better understand the process that leads us from the freshly picked coffee cherry to the final product, the green beans, ready to be shipped to coffee roasters for roasting.

When coffee is picked, it is not so much a bean as a fruit. Called a coffee cherry, this fruit has a bitter skin, sweet grape flavored flesh, and a coffee bean at its heart. It is this bean that the farmer must extract to sell, but the process is very delicate. The process of extracting the bean is called milling.

There are two different types of milling that a farmer can use. The first is dry milling. What this means is that the farmer dries out the coffee cherry to extract the dried bean. There are two ways he can do this, by machine or using the sun. Both of these methods are very tricky and require a lot of care to prevent the coffee from spoiling.

Machine drying carries a high risk of spoiling the bean’s natural flavor. In this state, the beans are like sponges, soaking up the flavor of anything in their environment. This can be a problem when the machine is smoky or in poor repair. The fuel used to run the machine is diesel, and often this flavor can find its way into the bean, spoiling the gourmet coffee beans and also contaminating them. Worse yet, some machines run on oil or even old tires!

Natural drying via the sun can produce some truly exquisite gourmet coffee beans, with unique flavors that are rarely experienced in the west. But this method of milling can only be performed when the weather is dry enough (think drought conditions).

Also, it is very important to select the cherries and pick out the poorer quality ones. However, some of the farmers use this method to dry their low quality beans as it is cheaper than using a machine, producing a very inferior coffee that is usually only sold to the domestic market. If you do want to buy sun milled coffee, you should go for the very high end product, as it is more likely to be from a high quality gourmet coffee beans from a good crop.

The other coffee milling process that can be used is wet milling. This process is more expensive, more complex, and routinely turns out better quality gourmet coffee beans. It involves seven stages, and used a lot of water. As a result, there are concerns that this method can pose an environmental risk, as pollutants are washed out into the water supply. However, there are ways to process the water to remove these contaminants and so save the environment. This is where choosing an organic coffee is important, as farmers are made to comply with environmental guidelines.

Once this milling process is finished, the premium coffee beans are green (more of a blue green, actually). Darker beans are discarded at this stage, as are whitish beans. By selecting these top quality coffee beans, it is possible to guarantee the highest quality roast coffee, which means that the ground coffee will be at its best. This process leads eventually to the final product, the cup of coffee that you will be drinking!

Malcolm Blake has written more information about gourmet coffee at http://www.coffeewebinfo.com. Come and find out more about making the best gourmet coffee.

Author: Malcolm Blake
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee beans are the seeds from the fruit on coffee plants and not actually a bean. There are a few ways to extract the beans. Whether using the wet or dry process of extracting seeds, the result is, the seed removed from the fruit.

Flavors of Gourmet Coffee

Arabica gourmet coffee is superior grade, has half the caffeine of Robusta coffee and a superior taste. It also has a far better smell. You can find almost any flavor of gourmet coffee such as:

o Almond

o Peppermint

o French vanilla

o Chocolate

o Pumpkin spice

o Chocolate mint

o Swiss mocha

o Vanilla

o Irish crème

o Amaretto

Gourmet coffee comes in caffeinated and decaffeinated. There is also gourmet coffee available for people with sensitive stomachs that are low in acid so a little more gentle. Arabica coffee ranks very high up amid the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

For anyone to appreciate a great cup of gourmet coffee, people need to know some helpful information on it. You do not need to be an expert to enjoy it but it does help you appreciate the taste more, if you know more than the corner store, which sells instant coffee. It will also help you appreciate the smell and taste that gourmet coffee lovers find wonderful.

Purchasing and Making Gourmet Coffee

Gourmet coffee should be fresh for the best flavor. Also, buy only beans roasted within the last week and 100% Arabica coffee. Local grocery stores or supermarkets are not the place to find freshly roasted coffee beans. Usually their beans are roasted up to three months earlier. Purchase a coffee grinding machine and purchase the whole coffee bean. Grind the beans when you need them.

Do not store the gourmet coffee beans at room temperature. They should always be stored in airtight containers and placed in the fridge if you are using them soon. For gourmet coffee you are keeping for a while, place the airtight container in the freezer. It will not hurt the coffee but will keep it fresh.

Make sure your coffee maker is clean because it makes a real difference in the taste of your coffee. Run water and vinegar through your coffee maker once a month. Make sure you run clean water through to remove all the vinegar and smell. When making gourmet coffee, use approximately two heaping tablespoons per six ounces of clean, filtered water. This gives you a starting point. Now adjust the amount of coffee until you have the strength you enjoy. Buy your gourmet coffee beans from reputable companies, as it does a difference.

Since the 1990′s, specialty gourmet coffee keeps getting more popular and is now one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Regular coffee is fine but gourmet coffee is fantastic and do not forget the flavored gourmet coffee. There is definitely something for everyone’s taste.

There are many types of coffee that you can enjoy. However, if you want to check it out, visit my website at Gourmet Coffee Machines

Author: Joseph Then
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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