Coffee

The coffee bean roaster is fast becoming a “must have” in today’s kitchens. The flavor and freshness of coffee is at its best when it is roasted in small batches at home.

Roasted coffee is very susceptible to oxygen damage when it sits on store shelves and in café bins for days or weeks at a time. It spells disaster for specialty coffee beans creating stale, flavorless coffee.

Today, the coffee bean roaster is a coffee enthusiasts dream, bringing the freshness and quality of roasting fresh gourmet coffee at home. It is the beginning of a new era in coffee history and a major step in the return of great tasting coffee.

You’ll be surprised to learn how easy and fast it is to roast your own specialty coffee beans at home. Once you experience the flavor of fresh gourmet coffee like this you’ll want to share it with everyone you know.

There are basically two types of home coffee bean roasters: fluid bed roasters and electric, radiant heat drum roasters.

Fluid bed roasters work like hot air popcorn poppers. They have a glass-roasting chamber so you can watch as the coffee beans are roasted and stop at the desired roast. These are good for beginners and a great way to get started in home roasting.

The radiant heat drum roaster is more like the professional coffee roasters use. These do not allow you to watch as the beans are roasted so you have to roast by smell or sound.

How about having a roasting party with friends or the family? Home roasting is a lot of fun. You can try some of the best coffees in the world and roast them just the way you like them. What’s even more fun and tasty is creating your own custom blends.

So if you haven’t tried home roasting, get ready for an amazing treat. Your coffee drinking experience will never be the same once you taste the fresh gourmet coffee you made with your home coffee bean roaster. “Enjoy”

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Author: Gary Gresham
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Whether enjoyed steaming hot, or blended with ice; whether it is a morning necessity or an occasional treat, coffee has been a universally consumed drink since the ninth century in Ethiopia. Once the plant was discovered, it spread throughout the world like a wildfire. It was used for religious ceremonies, as medicine, and was soon to become part of the average person’s routine. Over the centuries, the brewing process has changed and been perfected, and the varieties and flavors of coffee have grown immensely. But what has stayed the same throughout these years is the underlying, unique flavor of coffee and the world’s general love for it.

The history of coffee can be traced back to as early as ninth century Ethiopia. Legend has it that the first to discover coffee were shepherds, who noticed an increased liveliness in their goats when they consumed a certain berry. Coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen from Ethiopia. By the fifteenth century, it had permeated the entire Middle East and northern Africa. This drink became incredibly popular in the Islamic Empire, where wine was prohibited. Initially, it was only used by Arab Sufi monks to rouse them through their nights of prayer, but it gradually became available and in demand of the general public. Arabia held a monopoly on the coffee plant until 1650, when it was broken by an Indian pilgrim named Baba Budan. Baba is said to have smuggled seven coffee beans out of Arabia, which were grown in Southern India. The offspring of these coffee trees are still being cultivated to this day. From the Muslim world, coffee was brought to Italy, where it gradually moved throughout Europe.

Modern brewing techniques are said to have begun in fifteenth century Arabia, and have been honed and fine-tuned with newer technologies to the complex brewing process in use today. After coffee berries ripen and are ready for harvest, they are hand picked and then processed (the flesh of the berry removed). Then, the beans are fermented to remove a slimy layer still coating the seed, known as mucilage. After fermentation, the beans may or may not be washed with large amounts of water to eliminate the residue from the fermentation process, depending on the brand of coffee. At this point, they are known as green coffee beans. Coffee may be bought green, but all coffee is roasted before consumption. There are different grades of roasting, depending on the time spent on the roast. Darker roasts contain less fiber, and are therefore smoother, while lighter roasts are generally bitterer due to an increased caffeine level. However, lighter roasts contain more aromatic flavors, which are eliminated in further levels of roasting. The different grades are light, cinnamon, medium, high, city, full city, French, and Italian.

Studies show that when it comes to the nutritious value of coffee, there are actually more benefits than risks. Various studies demonstrate that drinking coffee reduces the risk of several chronic and life-threatening diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Recent research by Finnish and Swedish scientist has shown that middle-age, moderate coffee drinkers (those who drink three to five cups per day) had a reduced risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by as much as 65%. It is unclear how exactly drinking coffee lowers this risk, but it may be because of coffee’s strong antioxidants, which are known to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Also, coffee protects the nervous system, which leads to a decreased chance of dementia. It also prevents diabetes, a disease commonly related to Alzheimer’s. However, too much coffee is simply too much-it should be enjoyed in moderation.

Coffee has proven itself to be rich in its history, uses, types, and taste. It can complete a morning, or complete a life. From centuries of distribution throughout the world from continent to continent, it has been as contagious as an epidemic. The coffee epidemic, however, is not one likely to end for a few more, or maybe even hundreds, of centuries to come.

Anitha Ahmed
Coffee in a Bean Shell
To see a large selection of coffees and coffee accessories from all over the world, please visit http://www.Coffeeta.com. It’s a one-stop shop for coffee lovers.

Author: Anitha Ahmed
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee bean direct is your best choice. You probably don’t think about it much but the chances are, the coffee beans used in your morning cup o’ joe have passed through as many as five or six different middlemen on their way to your mug. All that passing from hand to hand adds to the price and subtracts from the quality of your cup. There’s a better way:  you can do what I do and buy your coffee bean direct from the source!

Coffee bean direct from the source costs less

Did you know that by buying direct can actually cost less than buying coffee at the supermarket? All those middlemen certainly don’t work for free. You can actually save money by buying it in bulk direct from the source. By “bulk” I mean at least 10 to 25 pounds at a time – this is where you start to see significant price discounts.

Coffee bean direct from the source gives you higher quality and better taste

If you’re buying ground coffee from a supermarket, did you know that those coffee beans were ground months ago, and most of the flavor has already faded away? And even if you’re buying whole bean, that coffee has waited in several warehouses for who knows how long before it was placed on the supermarket shelf. When you buy your coffee bean direct from the distributor, you know that the coffee is fresh, and you’ll be able to taste and smell the difference.

Tips for buying

* Do some research: what kind of coffee do you like? Dark, smoky, and robust – or light, crip, and mild? Did you like that Sumatra you tried at the local coffee shop? A quick search for “Sumatra” on the internet will yield distributors who sell Sumatra coffee to the public. Contact the distributor closest to you and start enjoying fresher Sumatra right away!

* Coffee is at its peak flavor right after the beans have been roasted. In some areas you might be able to find a good coffee roaster in your area, but even if you can’t find one nearby you can always find one on the internet and have the coffee shipped to you.

* Don’t buy more coffee than you can consume within one month – coffee beans begin to lose their flavor after this time.

* For many coffee aficionados, going through 10 to 25 pounds of coffee in a month is no problem, but if you think this might be too much for you consider sharing an order with a friend.

* Coffee tastes its best when brewed right after grinding, so buy your beans whole and invest in a good coffee grinder – unless you know it was ground very recently and you plan to consume it soon. (Still, nothing beats grinding it at home and brewing immediately after!)

So if you really savor the aroma and taste of a great cup of java, wait until you try it at its peak – right after roasting – when you buy it direct from a distributor. Give it a try today! 

Damen Choy, editor of Coffee Bean Direct Coffee-Bean-Direct.com provides timely information about the coffee market, as well as tips and ideas for coffee lovers and their friends. Visit Coffee Direct to know how coffee bean direct roasters ship coffee to you directly at wholesale pricing.

Author: Damen Choy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

True espresso coffee is generally a small 1-2 oz shot of pressure-brewed coffee and about a tablespoon of finely ground coffee that is brewed for around 30 seconds. When correctly brewed an espresso will have a glorious crema on the surface which is layer of rich dark golden cream.

The term Espresso (often misspelled Expresso) is very loosely a term meaning a coffee made just for you. Just like the barista in a coffee club preparing your favorite shot as you wait.

Baristas will make many cups of coffee to perfect the quality of the crema as it is a good indicator of a good quality espresso. We as coffee drinkers certainly appreciate a rich dark roast base crema to pass our lips.

What constitutes the Best Espresso Bean?

Quality Coffee Beans: There is plenty of argument about whether a particular coffee bean is more suited for espresso than another. Some baristas will stand by their assumption that a certain blend works better for espresso than any other.

Considering that espresso is somewhat more the process than the actual article it is suffice to say that a quality grown coffee bean, generally with a darker roast profile which has been carefully roasted and correctly ground should always be the base for a quality coffee.

Different areas prefer a lighter roast for an espresso, but the fuller taste of a dark roast seems to appeal to more of the coffee shops. There is no hard and fast rule about which roast profile is regarded as better than another.

Quick Delivery: One of the most important points in sourcing the best espresso bean is that you get the roasted beans in as short a time from roasting to brewing. Boutique roasters specialize in smaller roast batches that are delivered very quickly to the end consumer. This ensures that the maximum aroma is kept in the beans that will be released when you make your espresso. Generally the quality falls off within two weeks from roasting and this is a very short cycle for the bulk coffee roasters available in your supermarket to achieve.

Roasting:  Coffee bean roasting is done in a rotating drum for around 15 mins at 450F. The specific times and temperatures for each roaster are what is commonly referred to as the roasting profile. The beans will rest anywhere between 12 to 36 hours to degas. There are a host of chemical changes that occur in the coffee bean when roasted and how these interact depends so much on how the individual roaster is versed in this seemingly dark art of roasting the best bean. Over 1500 substances will combine to give you that special best espresso bean flavor. Maintaining the consistency of this roasting profile is what ensures that the specific traits of any coffee blends are maintained throughout the years.

Passion: Talk to any coffee drinker and you will sense a distinct emotional response to the thought of a quality brew to sip on. People can often remember very clearly where “That” coffee was that tasted so good. Roasters are no exception to this and only a boutique coffee roasting company can instill the passion that they have for their craft into the blend. It is often said that coffee roasting is half science and half art. I would rather buy a DaVinci than a factory oil.

There is a monastery that I have found where they carefully roast some truly fabulous blends in small batches. The proceeds from the coffee sales are used for their monastic upkeep and they are absolutely passionate about making the best espresso coffee. If you want an exceptional espresso bean to use in your coffee maker, the sample packs that are available are a great introduction for you to a truly superb coffee that is unique and very enjoyable.

There is a great online shop where you can view all the espresso and other blends of coffee that are produced by the mystic monks. Just go to The Best Espresso Beans [http://www.need-ideas.com/coffee/Best-Espresso-Beans.html] site where you can navigate to the great sampler packs and other coffee products. They even do wholesale espresso coffee [http://www.need-ideas.com/coffee/Best-Espresso-Beans.html] packs if you want to set your coffee shop apart from the rest.

Author: Marc Weedbrook
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Omron HEM-790IT

Fair trade coffee sometimes is misunderstood, but it is quite simple. Fair trade coffee is coffee that is produced differently. They still use the finest quality of coffees, but there is something special and unique about it. Fair trade coffee ensures that the people who are working in the coffee industry are treated fairly. The United States consumes an extremely large amount of coffee. It is important to think about the people around the world who are harvesting and producing the coffee. The coffee drinkers of the United States often only think about the price and place of their coffee and do not think about the production, harvest, and shipment of this fine product.

Many of the people who work within the coffee plantations are treated very poorly. The coffee that is labeled as Fair Trade has standards for the workers. There are very specific rights of the workers. The criteria and requirements of the workers are held to this standard and that the workers receive appropriate compensation. This organization has the objective of helping the coffee drinkers in the world to purchase and brew coffee where the working conditions are sufficient for the employees. The focus on the organization is to ensure that socially and economically, the coffee field employees are not being exploited.

Many coffee fields have long work days involving unfair conditions and for very little pay. Companies who treat their workers in this fashion should not be compensated by people buying their product. Fair Trade has a definite certification process and through the labeling of the products lets the rest of the world know that this coffee was harvested under the best conditions for the workers. It is the same as not purchasing clothing that was produced under sweatshop conditions.

Some of these coffee fields should be considered “sweat shops in the field.” There are farmers who own small coffee plantations that are not treated fairly either. The companies tend to offer them little compensation for their coffee. This leaves the farmer being exploited. The farmers often end up in poverty. This is unfair to the farmers who have the desired product.

The people who love coffee should think twice before buying coffee that is not Fair Trade certified. Many people who find that they are looking into Fair Trade coffee have found that there are many suppliers with very reasonable prices. There are several Fair Trade coffee websites and one brand that is common is Dean’s Bean which is a morning brew. The cost difference between ordering online and buying from the grocery store is minimal. It is a great feeling for the people who do purchase off of the websites that each is doing their part to support the Fair Trade coffee industry. It makes every cup of espresso or cappuccino more enjoyable knowing that you are doing something special for the workers in the world.

Vince Paxton’s articles are found on lots of web pages related to brewmaster coffee maker. You might see his comments on grind and brew coffee machines over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/grind-and-brew-coffee-makers.html and different sources for grind and brew coffee machines knowledge.

Author: Vince L. Paxton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Duty tariff