Coffee

For the best flavor possible from your coffee beans, grind them yourself. Adding to that philosophy, use only beans that were roasted within the past ten days to get the freshest flavor. Beware of beans that are too new, though. Beans that have been roasted only within the past day or two are full of carbon dioxide. It will get released into your cup of coffee, causing it to turn sudsy.

There are two main types of grinders on the market: blade grinders and burr grinders. Burr grinders are also known as mills. Each type of grinder has its benefits and drawbacks, and you must decide which qualities are the most important for you.

Blade Grinders

These are the easiest and cheapest coffee grinders. A metal blade inside the grinder spins rapidly, chopping the coffee beans. The result is coffee flakes that are uneven in size, often causing the taste of the brewed product to be inconsistent.

There are generally no settings to tell the machine how coarse or how fine to grind coffee. It is up to the user to determine how long to let the grinder run to achieve the desired level of fineness.

Blades build up heat while grinding. If you are trying to grind coffee to make espresso, you will have to allow the blades to run for a long time. This causes them to get hot, which can in turn give the coffee a burned taste.

If you want a good, basic grinder for everyday use, you can find them in nearly every home goods or department store for approximately $30.

Blade grinders are fantastic for basic day-to-day coffee consumption, but if you want more finesse in you flavor, you need to move to a burr grinder.

Burr Grinders

Typically referred to as mills, burr grinders crush the beans uniformly between a grinding wheel and a stationary surface. There are two types of burr grinders.

Wheel Burr

This is the less expensive form of burr grinder. The grinding wheel spins very quickly to crush the beans, and the fineness of the grind depends upon where the grinding wheel is set. These grinders can be noisy and can get quite messy.

Conical Burr

The burr spins much slower in these grinders, making them quieter and cleaner. These grinders are more expensive, but will not clog and can be used to grind oily or flavored beans.

In addition to wheel burr mills and conical burr mills, there is also a wide assortment of handheld grinders. Due to the very nature of the handheld grinder, the wheel is turning much more slowly, which means it is not building up heat. If you desire a very fine grind for something such as espresso, you will get the best results and maintain the most flavor with a handheld burr mill.

Beautiful, heirloom-quality solid wood, handheld burr mills can be found for around $80 to $100. Modern, electric burr mills will run anywhere from $150 to $200 for very good ones.

How Fine to Grind

There are essentially four main grinds you need to concern yourself with. There are some others in addition to these, but the ones listed below will get you well on your way to becoming a coffee connoisseur.

o Extra Fine is nearly powder, much the consistency of sugar. Extra fine ground beans are used to make espresso.

o Fine could be described as just slightly coarser than table salt. Fine coffee would be used in pots or automatic drip machines with a conical filter.

o Medium would be much like the consistency of sand, and would work best in automatic drip coffeepots with flat-bottomed filters.

o Coarse coffee will have distinct particles or flakes. This is the coffee you would want to use in a French press or old-style percolator.

The finest coffee of all is Turkish coffee. This must be ground to a baby-fine powder, and many times must be finished off in a mortar and pestle after being ground in a burr grinder. Even the best of grinders cannot always get coffee as finely ground as it needs to be for Turkish coffee.

Never use your coffee grinder for anything other than coffee. Many people use their coffee grinder to chop up spices or herbs, or even to chop medicine for children or pets. It is extremely difficult to remove every foreign particle in the grinder, so save yourself some trouble and keep the coffee to itself. Use a food processor to chop other things such as herbs or spices. This way, the flavors will not be able to intermingle, and your coffee will remain pure.

Many modern coffee makers incorporate a grinder into the piece of machinery. This is a convenient way to grind and brew all at the same time. You will definitely get what you pay for, though. Cheaper models will most certainly have a blade grinder, while the more upscale versions will come with a burr grinder. Pay close attention to the product description so you know exactly what product you are receiving. This is particularly important if you enjoy finely ground coffees such as espresso.

Grace C. provides information on the Coffee Grinders for A1 Coffee Makers – Your Guide to Coffee Makers, Accessories, and Gourmet Coffee!

Author: Grace C
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The truth is that coffee hits a lot of spots! For centuries, people all around the world have loved coffee, and its popularity is far from waning nowadays. In fact, coffee connoisseurs have more varieties of delicious choices than ever before, as coffee houses, shops, kiosks and specialty carts spring up all over the place.

No matter how you like your coffee, whether it be black, frothy cappuccino, latte, espresso, hot or on ice, the selections available to tempt your taste buds is enormous. The average annual coffee consumption of the American adult is 67 gallons, over 600 cups. In fact, specialty coffee sales are increasing by 20% per year and account for almost 8% of the 18 billion dollar U.S. coffee market. Statistics show that among coffee drinkers, the average consumption in the US is around 2.3 cups of coffee per day. Also, studies find that over one-half of the population, equivalent to approximately 150 million Americans, now drink specialty coffees on a daily basis.

There are currently around 35,000 coffee shops around the United States, with an average $30 billion a year in sales. Based on market research, there will be approximately 42,000 or more independently owned coffee shops in the US by the year 2011. An enterprising business person should look at the gourmet coffee business as a golden opportunity.

Based on research by the National Coffee Association and The Specialty Coffee Association of America, the average price for an espresso based drink is $2.85, while the average price for brewed coffee is $1.38. The average espresso drive-thru business sells approximately 200-300 cups of espresso and coffee based drinks per day. The studies show that men drink as much coffee as women; each consuming an average of 1.6 cups per day. Women tend to be more concerned about price than their male counterparts.

The United States imports over $5 billion worth of coffee every year. Juan Valdez and his little donkey must be keeping very busy! Americans drink 460 million cups of coffee every day, which makes the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the entire world.

A scientific report from the University of California found that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges. The antioxidants are heterocyclic compounds which prevents cancer and heart disease. Guess what! Coffee is good for you!

More than half of all Americans, 18 or older, drink coffee every day. This equates to approximately 150 million daily java drinkers. 30 million American adults drink specialty coffee beverages daily; such as mocha, latte, espresso, cafe mocha, cappuccino, frozen/iced coffee beverages, and so on.

Coffee sales are continually rising year after year. And so are the pricing modules! Coffee is the second largest commodity traded, next to oil. If you are looking for a business to get into, coffee is probably the best business for you to consider. Can you think of any other product that has such universal appeal, is easy to get into, and is relatively simple to operate?

Michael Stadneck grew up in Palermo Italy, where he enjoyed the finest gourmet coffee for the first 35 years of his life. As luck would have it, his first job in America was with Nescafe Coffee Company. After five years of hard work he was promoted to take over the specialty coffee franchise department.

Author: Michael Stadneck
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When I think of “coffee beans”, instantly I think of the coffee industry’s biggest heavy hitters like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to name a few. My senses are aroused with thoughts of a hot, steamy and rich cup of java. The strong intoxicating exotic smell and distinct taste of a good cup of coffee is appreciated many people the world over and has been for many, many years.

Coffee was first discovered and consumed around the 9th century in the highlands of Ethiopia. After being introduced, coffee consumption spread quickly to the Muslim world followed by Europe and later the Americas. The history of coffee that followed after has certainly been interesting and controversial. Coffee in earlier years has been associated with religious ceremonies in Africa and Yemen as well as being associated with rebellious political groups in Europe. The cultivation of the coffee bean has caused much debatable conversation in the past due to certain medical effects and conditions that have been disputed many times over throughout the years.

A coffee bean is the seed of a coffee plant. Coffee beans contain endosperms that contain caffeine. Once the coffee seeds have been removed from the plant, the seeds are roasted and this process causes several physical and chemical changes. The coffee bean is then brewed to create the ever popular product and beverage known as coffee.

Coffee is one of the world’s largest traded commodities after oil. The coffee bean is a primary source of income for many third world countries mainly African countries and much of Central American countries. Coffee beans from different countries have different characteristics such as flavor, aroma and body, such as the well known coffee originating from Colombia as an example.

Brazil is the largest coffee exporting country and in recent years Vietnam has inched in at a close second. The legendary Colombian coffee is rated third largest in export.

In our modern society of recent times there are many different variations and presentations of the coffee beverage. There is the common brewed and roasted hot cup of coffee, the espresso, café latte, cappuccino, café macchiato and the iced coffee served cold. To match so many variations of the coffee bean, the marketing distribution of coffee has many unique creative forms aside from the traditional self brewed method. The roasted coffee bean can be distributed as instant coffee, freeze dried, canned coffee and coffee is being sold right out of vending machines.

Yaser Dorri, an American scientist, has proposed that the smell of coffee can restore and increase appetite. Our civilized society may want to reconsider our much anticipated ritual of an after dinner coffee. Our evolving society may want to possibly embrace the thought of coffee as what it truly is a stimulant that if going to be incorporated in your daily dietary consumption should be best utilized in conjunction with a healthy and positive needed acceleration and or stimulant in your body’s system and process. Simply put; coffee before dinner would be more logical and practical. Coffee as a stimuli at night is not favorable unless intentional. Remember with any consumption; being responsible and moderate will always keep you safe and healthy.

Tania Penwell provides information on coffee beans and other java related topics for Coffee Xpert – your online guide to coffee.

Author: Tania Penwell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee can make us feel more alert, boost our metabolism, make our heart race, affect our digestive system and more. And though most of us are aware of the brief caffeine high that coffee offers, most of us don’t really know how coffee truly affects our body.

To learn more about the effects of coffee, both immediate and long-term, keep reading.

Coffee as a Stimulant

Coffee and caffeine are stimulants. You know that when you drink coffee you feel more awake, but you also know that too much coffee can give you the jitters or cause irritability.

Because coffee is a stimulant, it can also wreak havoc on your sleeping schedule. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try cutting back on your coffee consumption or opting for water or decaf after noon.

Coffee on the Digestive System

Coffee actually has fairly high acid levels, particularly with beans like Kenyan or Ethiopian roasts. This is why when you drink too much coffee on an empty stomach, you’ll often experience “coffee tummy” or “coffee gut,” a basic discomfort in your digestive system.

The caffeine and acid in coffee can also be problematic for people suffering from ulcers. So, if you’re having trouble with coffee, try switching to water, herbal teas or drinking milk with your coffee.

Coffee and Antioxidants

Coffee is actually the primary source of antioxidants for most North Americans. Antioxidants are, essentially, any compounds that fight or neutralize free radicals, which cause cells to break down and are cancer causing agents.

Studies have shown that coffee consumption can reduce the risk of developing liver cancer, throat cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s disease and cancer of the esophagus.

Coffee and Physical and Mental Performance

Coffee isn’t just a study aid because it helps you stay awake – regular coffee consumption can actually improve your cognitive ability. A recent study showed that participants who regularly consumed at least one to two coffees a day scored higher on short term memory recall, spatial ability, logic tests and general IQ testing.

Coffee and Weight Loss

Coffee is a stimulant, meaning with every sip of caffeine, your metabolism will get a kick start. You’ll also have more energy. For example, if you read the ingredients list for most pill-form dietary or weight-loss aids, you’ll see one of the main ingredients is often caffeine.

Coffee and Your Teeth

While coffee can actually reduce cavities thanks to its acidity, it can also cause major teeth staining. To keep your teeth white, follow a cup of coffee with a bottle of water and brush your teeth at least two to three times a day.

For details on enticing coffee flavors that explode your taste buds, please visit coffeetryst.com, a popular site of great coffee options, such as almond flavored coffee, a commercial super automatic Espresso machine, and many more!

Author: Wesley Johnson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The coffee economics and numbers and details related to coffee production and consumption is extremely mesmerizing for marketers. A glimpse of some of the facts is given below

- Coffee consumption in North America and Europe comes to about one third of the tap water consumed.

- Throughout the world, nearly 25 million small producers derive their livelihood from coffee.

- In Brazil alone, which is the worlds largest producer of coffee, about 5 million people are involved in the labor intensive activity of cultivating and harvesting 5 billion coffee plants with hardly any automation available.

- 6.7 million tons of coffee was produced annually in 1998-2000 and this is slated to touch a figure of 7 million tons by 2010.

- In the United States, the number of retail specialty outlets including cafes, kiosks, coffee carts, and roasters touched 17,400 selling $8.96 billion worth of coffee in 2003.

- According to SCAA, 16% of adults in USA drank coffee daily at one of these specialty coffee outlets.

Considering these scope of these numbers, it is normal that coffee drinkers would be concerned about the price that they have to pay for their daily cup of coffee.

The price of coffee as a commodity has seen huge fluctuations in the recent past, especially after the breakdown of the International Coffee Agreement of 1975-1989 and the lifting of the US imposed trade embargo on Vietnam. The flooding of Robusta beans from Vietnam, which are cheaper and therefore preferred by larger companies, resulted in a crash in the commodity price of coffee. By 2001 the prices had reached abysmally low levels. As it became financially unviable it resulted in loss of livelihood for many coffee farmers in Africa, Indonesia, and South and Central America

The coffee growers retaliated by forming co-operatives and were able to get a better price. The major coffee companies were compelled to pay almost 3 to 4 times the price that they were paying to individual farmers. The Dutch brand ‘Max Havelaar’ also pitched in with a concept of fair trade which tried to guarantee a negotiated pre-harvest price to the growers. Nowadays, the price of coffee is also impacted by the trading done in futures and options on the commodity exchanges. These are financial assets based on a standardized contract for future sale or purchase at a settled price.

The correct perspective of the economics of what you pay for a cup of coffee is revealed by what transpires after coffee reaches the manufacturer’s premises. Raw beans are roasted, grinded, and packed for distribution. This adds to the cost but still would not tantamount to the kind of prices that you pay. A cup of coffee would still cost you hardly anything above a few cents to make at home and a bit more at a small coffee shop. Still customers are ready to pay much more in espresso bars at premium locations.

The consumer who visits a café is concerned not only about the quality of the coffee but also the service that comes with it. This need of the discerning consumers is met by companies that open outlets that sell specialty coffees within an ambience.

Specialty coffee is not purchased on the commodity exchanges and is an entirely different economic product than the wholesale coffee that is traded in these exchanges. Large companies usually enter into multi year private contracts at prices sometimes doubles the price that one gets to see in the newspapers’ commodity columns. When you go to a specialty retail outlet, you are not only getting your coffee the way you relish it but also the service and the ambience that accompanies it.

The discerning consumer looks for an experience that may be relaxing, fun, lavish or pampering. One look around the décor, the lighting, and the ambience in specialty retail outlets like Starbucks, The Hard Rock Cafe, FAO Schwarz, Niketown, and The Geek Squad will give an idea about the manner in which experiential marketing is taking the world by storm.

Coffee City | Offers extensive articles and resources on coffee, espresso, coffee beans, coffee making, etc.

Author: Mel Ng
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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