Coffee

It is widely believed that coffee is a native of the Ethiopian rain forest, which lies in eastern Africa in the southern part of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean on its northern side. But, that was over hundred years ago. In present times, there are over 50 countries across the world where coffee is cultivated on a substantial scale. Some of these are Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guatemala, Vietnam, Indonesia and Yemen besides Ethiopia, of course.

A common fact that many people, including regular coffee drinkers, do not know is where coffee comes from. These same people may say it comes from plants, but little knowing that these are actually trees!

Yes, that is true! Coffee grows on trees, though these trees may not always be tall as many coffee farmers prefer to keep their trees short because it is easier at harvesting time to deal with shorter trees. Just like the climate in the original country where coffee was first grown, the South American rainforest area too, provides similar shade as required for the optimum yield in coffee plantations.

Thus, it can safely be said that the best coffee in the world is that grown near the equator, as it requires tropical environment to produce best results. Apart from shade, coffee trees need a fair bit of water, and sun though no special soil conditions. In some areas, coffee farmers may use fertilizer to increase productivity but doing so may be detrimental for the environment.

However, national coffee boards of the above mentioned countries which are top producers of coffee beans reveal that the best beans come from coffee trees planted in tropical plantations at high altitudes, which typically have rich soil. This is why countries along the equatorial zone have the best coffee plantations.

However, as mentioned earlier, location, including altitude, is not the sole criteria governing the quality of coffee. Its flavor as well as its quality is dependent on other factors too, such as the plant variety used, the chemical composition of the soil it is grown in, amount of rainfall experienced in the region and the availability of sunshine.

It is a vital combination of the right mix of these complex components along with the manner in which the cherries are processed post-picking that determines the quality of coffee one receives from a particular region and sets the distinction of coffee obtained from different countries. Sometimes, due to the complex nature of these variables, the coffee obtained from the same plantation may also yield different quality and flavor.

A little known fact about coffee beans is that these are actually berry seed, and very small in size, therefore referred to as cherries. Each berry will typically contain 2 green coffee beans but sometimes these may be mutated. After these berries turn red, it means they are ripe for picking and this is the ideal time for harvesting them, as opposed to ‘strip picking’ which some farmers indulge in to save on labor, but this early picking before coffee berries ripen causes the coffee obtained from them to be of an inferior quality.

However, the time invested in harvesting ripe coffee berries can be considerable, taking up to 7 days or more for a farmer to single-handedly pick coffee for filling a 100-pound bag of beans, by hand. Now, when one thinks of nearly 7 million tons of this brown concentrate, being produced annually, one can well imagine the number of laborers required on coffee plantations to pick enough berries to meet this demand!

Learn more about the History Of Coffee on our Blog.

[http://www.automaticcoffeemachinesguide.com/the-short-history-of-coffee/] You can also find Automatic Coffee Machine Guides and Reviews, plus much more information all about the humble coffee bean!

Author: Martin Salter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee aficionados, all around the world, can agree that the type of coffee bean you use to brew is the determining factor on the quality of the coffee brewed. Whether you are a coffee snob or not, it’s important to educate yourself on what’s available on the market today.

Exotic locations and blends are well advertised because of the quality each possesses in the bean and oils. Places like Hawaii, Sumatra, Tanzania and Kenya are often seen on packaging, that boasts rich smooth flavor. But no one can argue that Kona Coffee is labeled one of the best varieties of coffee beans in the world.

What makes this coffee bean so special? Kona Coffee is harvested on the windy mountains of Hawaii. Mostly from the Hualalai and Mauna Loa mountains, these coffee beans are hailed to be the best tasting coffee world round. This is the only place where Kona Coffee is grown. They are harvested and processed into 100-pound bundle sacks and flown to places all around the globe.

These shiny green beans are left unroasted. This enables the bean to keep its flavor and aroma for the duration of the delivery. Often times, the Kona Coffee bean is blended with other lesser beans to enhance the overall flavor. This combination is known to be Kona Blend. Still delicious in flavor and texture, this Coffee Kona blend is only about 10% pure Kona bean. Although some coffee purists may cry out in vain, most people don’t mind the taste of this blend. In fact, most people seem to not care but just enjoy the coffee nonetheless. Only those who are willing to pay the premium for a 100% cup of Kona Coffee can enjoy it in all its glory. It will cost a fortune.

The Secret to Kona Coffee

But in all honestly, how does the Kona Coffee Bean set itself apart from the rest of the coffee on the market? Surely, there are other rival beans? Mainly due to the tropical climate and rich volcanic soil can the Kona Bean have its distinct richness, unmatched by any other bean?

The body of the Kona Coffee is full with flavor and has minute subtle cues of win and spices. Amongst all the Kona Coffee Bean Types, Peaberry is the most wanted variety. However, the Peabody variety didn’t originate from Hawaii. Reverend Samuel Ruggles brought it over there back in the early 1800, during his missionary working in the area. As time went on, coffee production was a way of income for the people. Despite the rise and fall of coffee through the years, Kona is still ranked and coveted by coffee lovers worldwide.

However, coffee buffs also know that the roasting plays just as important a role in the quality of the coffee made. It goes hand in hand with in the quest of the perfect cup of Kona coffee. Roasting is considered an art form. It can transform the bean into the embodiment of pure enjoyment for the taster. Growing the perfect coffee bean requires the same care and expertise as the roaster. Weather conditions and soil lay the foundation for it. This is the reason why the Kona Bean is seen as unmatched due to the ideal climate and fertile soil it’s farmed in.

Now you can understand why Kona is so praised by coffee lovers all around the world. If you haven’t considered enjoying a cup of Kona Coffee, why not start today? There are many delicious blends available at your local coffee shop and grocery store. You won’t regret it.

Want Starbucks flavor at home? Check out my blog for Breville Espresso Reviews and other Breville Espresso Machines. Timothy Schwartz, The Coffee Brewster, reviews and puts his taste buds and wallet on the line.

Author: Timothy Schwartz
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There is an obstacle course involved with brewing a great cup of coffee. When you wake up for work at 6:00 AM and you have 30-45 minutes to hit the road, how are you going to get a good, hot cup of brew in your hand when you do? The chances are, you could be brewing in a way that delivers flavor far superior to what you are getting now, and in the same amount of time, or even less.

To help you decide what brewing method, or methods, will best match your needs, start by asking these questions:

1) What are the occasions do you normally drink coffee, and what is the relative importance of taste and convenience?
2) How much money are you willing to spend on coffee, a coffee maker, or various brewing equipment?
3)Can this particular brewing equipment produce great coffee?

For most coffee lovers, the biggest hurdle to overcome as you begin to get serious about coffee is the fact that you own an electric drip coffeemaker, and the vast majority of the electric drip brewers sacrifice some of the taste for convenience. If good taste is your ultimate goal, you may want to think of an investment of time rather than dollars. Grinding fresh coffee beans, and measuring coffee precisely, will become second nature after about a week. If you will be going to the trouble of buying fresh, perfectly-roasted coffee beans, then you should brew coffee to get every precious bit of flavor and aroma you are paying for.

A great drip maker combines the essential brewing elements in a specific way. You need a filter that contains a large amount of fresh grounds for each 6 ounces of coffee brewing. The water should be heated to 195-205 degrees F. The water should be allowed to saturate the grounds gently and thoroughly. The total brew cycle, from start to finish, must take from 4 to 6 minutes. If it takes longer than 8 minutes, the coffee will be over-extracted and bitter.

It is almost impossible to brew drip coffee that meets the above criteria using your typical home electric brewer. This is what leads to the frustration so many coffee lovers come across when they try to duplicate good coffee-bar coffee at home. Brewing manually, where you can control the brewing process, is still the absolute best way to get a great cup of coffee. Since almost no coffee maker under $150 can produce great coffee, you will have to sacrifice some flavor when using one. Spend some money on a coffee maker that gets the best reviews, regardless of price, always use quality coffee, and you will come closest to the best cup of coffee possible in an automatic coffee maker.

Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. Please visit his latest website about coffee at http://www.bestdripcoffeemaker.com with information on finding the best drip coffee maker and other coffee products and discussions that any coffee lover would be interested in.

Author: Greg Parsons
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee is a complex and delicious drink, but how much do you know about your cup of Joe?

First of all, Java itself is actually a fruit, and it grows as a seed within a cherry. Coffee trees produce coffee berries or coffee cherries, and they turn bright red when they are ripe. Each cherry will contain two coffee beans, which will be removed from the cherry when the coffee beans are harvested. Within the harvesting process, the coffee beans will be fermented, similar to making a fine wine. However, the end resulting taste is much different than wine. In harvesting, the coffee beans will be separated from the fruit, and fermentation is used to break down the fruit skin that covers the coffee beans. If this outer layer is not removed, it will directly affect the taste of the coffee beans for the worse.

Coffee beans have different characteristics all over the world based on where they are grown. This is another reason that coffee is similar to wine because climate and geography directly affect the taste of the final coffee product. Some other factors that affect coffee beans are soil type, amount of rainfall, altitude, and method of processing.

Along those same lines, the word “coffee” was once used for wine. However, the word later began to be used to describe black coffee brewed from Java berries. This was something that was used in ancient religious ceremonies to keep the monks awake during their all-night prayer meetings, so they gave it the same name as their wine.

Java contains caffeine, which is the reason that it is actually prohibited by Olympic athletes. If an athlete tests positive for a certain amount of caffeine, they have the potential to be banned from the Olympics. This amount is equivalent to 5 cups of Joe, meaning that Olympic athletes certainly need to moderate their daily coffee drinking to stay in the game.

In ancient Turkey, Turkish grooms were required to promise to their new wives that they would provide them with Java. If they did not live up to this vow, that was grounds for divorce!

What many coffee lovers don’t know is that espresso actually has less caffeine than a regular cup of Joe. Fresh brewed espresso has one third less caffeine than coffee because the Java grounds are extracted for a shorter period of time. An ideal shot of espresso is brewed within 25 seconds, but coffee takes longer to brew. This is why Java contains more caffeine than espresso because the coffee grounds are in contact with the water for longer in the brewing process.

Last of all, Japan is now the third largest coffee consuming country worldwide. Japan used to be a tea drinking culture, but coffee popularity is spreading globally. The Japanese drink coffee regularly and even use it to treat the body by bathing in coffee grounds that are fermented with pineapple pulp.

Coffee is truly a celebrated drink with a number of beneficial uses!

Another popular accessory for coffee is Bunn Filters at The Coffee Bump! For a great selection, check out Mark Ramos’ website, The Coffee Bump.

Author: Mark Ramos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Jura-Capresso is a well known coffee maker manufacturer brand. It was formed by merger of 2 brands. The first is Jura AG Company (founded in 1931) from Switzerland which already had received many of awards in designs and performance. The second is Capresso Company (founded in 1994) from United States which is focusing in user friendly features, and energy saving developments. Today, Jura-Capresso becomes a famous brand which is not only focusing in coffee and espresso makers but also in coffee grinder manufacturer.

One of their products is Capresso coffee grinder. You can enhance your coffee flavor and taste with this device. By grinding coffee beans by yourself, you can get the freshest taste because bean form is better to prevent oxidation process with air rather than ground form. So, it is better if you buy coffee in bean form to maintain the freshness and grind it as much as you need when you need your coffee. If you buy coffee in ground form or grind more coffee than you need, make sure it is stored in airtight package or container.

Capresso offers three types of coffee grinder. There are:

Cool Grind Blade Grinder
This type offers the lowest price but has the fastest speed than others. As it names, it uses blades to chop coffee beans into ground form. This device is recommended for manual coffee maker users like Melitta, vacuum coffee maker, and Chemex. The weak point of this device is heat which is produced from the high speed of the blades. It can reduce taste and flavor of your coffee.

Black and Stainless Steel Burr Grinder series
Burr grinder uses abrasives parts to crush coffee beans into ground form. It gives you uniform coffee grounds size with lower speed and less heat than blades type. This type is recommended for percolator and drip coffee maker users. Stainless Steel Burr Grinder is also equipped with insulated lid to make less noise.

Conical Burr Grinder Infinity
This type has the most expensive price and the lowest speed than others. It gives coffee grounds in fine and consistent size. With gear adjustment, this device can give coffee ground with any texture you need, so it can suit with many type of coffee maker, especially for cappuccino machine.

You can either choose Cool Grind Blade Grinder, Black and Stainless Steel Burr Grinder, or Conical Burr Grinder Infinity series based on your needs and your coffee machine requirement. Capresso coffee grinder offers not only less noise in grinding process, but also easy to clean and high quality in safety standard. With good performance and those benefits are offered by Capresso coffee grinder, it absolutely can be a device you might consider to improve your daily coffee experience.

If you are interesting with this article, you might read more about Capresso coffee makers [http://www.one-cup-coffee-makers.us/capresso-coffee-makers] and Capresso coffee grinder [http://www.one-cup-coffee-makers.us/capresso-coffee-grinder] in one-cup-coffee-makers website.

Author: Steve Kokasih
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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