Coffee

Aside from the finer points in roasting coffee beans, the extraction of the coffee flavor from the beans by way of brewing is the most important aspect of coffee-making. It is the final process right before we drink our coffee.

This is the one area where most of the connoisseurs have tried to concentrate their efforts in trying to improve the process throughout the ages. Today, we have several forms of coffee brewing techniques, both for commercial and home use.

Flavor extraction length
As a general rule, the length of extraction time is directly related to the grind coarseness.
The smaller the coffee particles, the shorter the extraction time.

French press coffee is the longest, with coffee and water contact lasting as long as four minutes. Espresso has the shortest contact time, about twenty-five seconds, and the coffee granules used are among the smallest.

If the coffee and water stay together for too long, other compounds start to leach and these will make the coffee bitter. On the other hand, if the granules are large, and the extraction time is short, the coffee will lack flavor because of under-extraction.

Drip brew
Most home brews nowadays are produced through the drip process. The technique is simple enough: hot water is poured over a medium-ground coffee within a filter and the water goes through the coffee grounds and drips into a holding container.

There are many variations on these drip brewers with different functions for home use, and also available in larger models for commercial use.

Auto-drip brewers
This machine makes brewing a very simple process. Water is heated in one place and piped over the grounds inside a filter. The extracted brew then drips into a holding vessel.

One complaint is that these machines do not make the water hot enough, so flavor extraction happens at lower temperatures than is recommended.

Another issue is that the machines have warming hot plates, ostensibly for keeping the coffee warm. However, continuous heat will make the coffee bitter.

Single-Serve Systems
These machines were once used exclusively in commercial places. Now, people buy them for their own use at home.

These are very convenient to use. Pre-packaged coffee is inserted into the machine and with one push of a button, the coffee starts to come out. There are variations to these, however.

Some pre-heats an entire reservoir or heats the water on demand. Some machines can brew with less water, making for stronger coffees. They are more like smaller versions of drip machines. Some involve pressure but they are not true espresso machines.

One complaint is that these machines use proprietary packaged coffee, so quality and freshness cannot be guaranteed.

French Press / Press Pot / Cafeteria / Plunger Pot
The French Press has two parts: the beaker (made of glass, metal or plastic) and a plunger which has a wire-mesh filter.

To use, heat the brewing water and pour it on the coffee grounds in the beaker. Let the coffee steep for about 3 to 5 minutes (to your taste) before putting the plunger in and push the dregs down with the filter mesh. You may stir the brew for a second or two before putting the plunger in. Pour the cleared coffee into an appropriate mug. It is now ready for drinking.

Note: Pour out the coffee into your drinking mugs or carafes right after brewing. Do not leave it steeped with the grounds all throughout. The continuous steeping will make the coffee bitter.

Espresso
Espresso is coffee created by forcing hot water steam through finely ground coffee at a certain pressure. The resulting brew is called espresso, as developed by the Italians. It is different from regular coffee in that it has a cream produced by the process unlike regular brews.

Espresso is the base for such bestselling Italian coffee concoctions as cappuccino, lattes, macchiato and more.

There are many more brewing techniques culled from all over the world. Since they are popular only in their parts, we have not included them in the list. Suffice it to say that whatever the number of brewing techniques that one knows, the quality changes accordingly.

Frankly, all of these coffee brewing techniques are just as good as any. And that says a lot on how versatile coffee is.

Jhon Noya, Author Of Free Tips Making Money From Internet and Free Tips For Dating

Author: Jhon Noya
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Make PCB Assembly

Auto-drip coffee makers may be more convenient, but the French coffee press is unmatched in flavor and design. The press makes a thicker, stronger coffee than conventional brewers because the coffee’s essential oils aren’t caught in a filter or lost in the filtration system. Below I will explain how to use a coffee press.

1. You should use coarsely ground roasted coffee beans. A burr mill grinder is recommended because it gives a more consistent grind than blade grinders. The ground coffee should be coarser than that used in an auto-drip machine. If your coffee is too finely ground it won’t get caught in the filter and will make it more difficult to depress the plunger.

2. Boil your water before you start grinding the beans. The water will be allowed to cool to the appropriate temperature and won’t scald your coffee grounds. The temperature of the water should be 195-205° F. To insure the best tasting results, use filtered water.

3. Place the coffee grounds into the coffee press carafe. You should use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per 8 oz of water. You may have to experiment with the amount of coffee in order to achieve your desired taste.

4. Slowly pour the hot water over the coffee grounds. You may gently stir the water with a plastic or wooden spoon. This will cause most of the floating coffee to sink to the bottom of the coffee press.

5. Replace the lid and plunger unit with the filter raised to the top. Allow the coffee to brew for 3 to 5 minutes. The longer the brewing time, the stronger the coffee.

6. Depress the plunger slowly and gently.

7. Pour the coffee slowly into a coffee cup. Let it set for a minute to allow the sediment to
settle to the bottom.

8. Don’t let the coffee sit in the coffee press after it has completed brewing. The coffee will continue to brew, causing it to become bitter. If you are not serving all of it at once, pour the remaining coffee into a thermos.

I hope these instructions on how to use a coffee press have been helpful. Many coffee lovers swear by the superior flavor the coffee press provides. It produces the most rich, full bodied coffee to be tasted. They are affordable and easy to use. The brewing process is a little more involved, but the results are worth it. The intense flavor and smooth taste make the coffee press unbeatable.

The author’s website Coffee Addict Cafe features coffee press news, reviews and instructions.

Author: Atica Brewton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Cool mobile gadgets