Coffee

People often wonder how they take the caffeine out of coffee.  Though this is a question most have never pondered, recent reports have emerged showing decaffeinated coffee can be bad for your health.  Here are the facts you need to know in order to make an informed decision when you purchase decaf coffee:

Two Different Kinds of Beans

There are two kinds of coffee that are grown:  Arabica and Robusta. Arabica has about twice the amount of caffeine in it as Robusta, and therefore this type of coffee is usually used to make normal, caffeinated coffee, espresso, and most other coffee drinks.  Robusta is usually used to make decaffeinated coffee, since it starts out with a much lower caffeine level to begin with.  The caffeine is then removed from the beans using one of the following methods.

Decaffeination Methods

There are a few different ways that you can separate the caffeine from the coffee beans.  These days, most decaf coffee is produced using a process that removes the caffeine from the coffee beans using a solvent.  The two types of solvents that are used are methylene chloride and ethyl acetate.  The first of these solvents, methylene chloride is on the National Cancer Institute’s list as a possible human carcinogen.  Though the solvents are rinsed from the coffee beans, residues often remain as it is quite difficult to remove all of the substance.  Although the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t declared the use of these solvents unsafe for human consumption, many people are choosing to drink decaf coffee produced using an alternative method.  

A second method that is used to produce decaffeinated coffee is called the Swiss Water Process.  Currently, only twenty percent of the world’s decaf coffee is produced this way.  This process does not use any harsh chemical substances, and relies only on the use of hot water to separate the coffee from the beans.  This process takes longer to complete than with other methods, but there is no residue on the beans afterward.  Health experts generally agree that this is the healthiest way to produce decaf coffee.

Although most decaffeinated coffee for sale today uses solvents, decaf produced using the Swiss Water Process is readily available as well.  Since the Swiss Water Process does not involve the use of solvents, it is considered to be of better quality and taste.  Most organic decaf is produced this way, and it is nearly always clearly marked on the label.  Any specialty coffee shop should know which process was used on their decaf beans, and it also readily available for purchase on the internet.

Decaffeinated coffee is best when used in an electric drip coffee maker.
Chad Damon is the author of the guide to the best cheap coffee makers.

Author: Chad Damon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Mmmm, there’s nothing better than a cup of coffee that fills your house with its unmistakable aroma. Although people around the world have been making and drinking coffee for centuries (it originates from Ethiopia), it wasn’t until 1972 that electric coffee makers became available for use in the home or office. These coffee makers revolutionized the way people make coffee, turning the coffee making process into a quick and easy affair. Although there are plenty of ways to make coffee without electricity, automatic coffee makers are definitely the most convenient, hassle-free way of making a great cup of coffee quickly and easily.

How an Electric Coffee Maker Works

Basically, electric coffee makers work by using a heating element to heat the water in the reservoir. The hot water is siphoned up through a tube and then sprayed onto the coffee grounds. The hot water then hits the coffee grounds, and the coffee drips down into the pot, which is on a warming plate to keep it hot until you drink it. Electric Coffee Makers come with all kinds of features these days. Some have timers you can set so that the machine will start making coffee so it is ready the moment you need it-usually first thing in the morning! Some new coffee makers are designed to make exactly one perfect cup of coffee, no more, no less. Others can make a wide assortment of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, café latte, and many others.

The Future of Coffee Makers

Home coffee makers are so widespread in the west that nearly every household has at least one on the kitchen counter. Yet things started to change once coffee chains like Starbucks started opening on corners worldwide. Since coffee shops can make specialty coffee drinks that you probably wouldn’t make at home, many people started choosing not to make their cup of joe at home anymore.  Coffee chains opened all over the world, buoyed by the voracious appetites of coffee lovers willing to fork over four bucks for a cup of coffee. 

But alas, the tide seems to be reversing again. It seems that people are keeping a better hold on their wallets’ contents, and have come to realize that it costs at least 10 times as much to buy coffee than to make it yourself at home, and many coffee shops are closing due to lack of business. Starbucks has been shutting down stores like crazy.  Though many people will still frequent coffee shops, the home coffee machine definitely still holds a prominent position on the kitchen counter.

Chad Damon is the author of the electric Coffee Maker Guide and your guide to the best cheap coffee makers.

Author: Chad Damon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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