Coffee

If you’re looking to buy a new coffee maker, you obviously want to get the best one that you can. As with other consumer products though, which is “best” is dependent on your particular needs. Cheapest, fastest or best features all being ways of evaluating which is the best coffee maker. Therefore, it’s necessary to know the pros and cons of the differing types of coffee makers, and weigh your needs against them, in order to know which is the best for you.

Drip coffee makers are the most common coffee maker. You find them at home, the office, hotels, restaurants, etc. They come in many shapes in sizes, but they all use a water reservoir that passes hot water over coffee grounds in a paper (or gold) coffee filter. They usually make a pretty good cup of coffee as long as the coffee doesn’t sit on the hot plate too long. When coffee sits in the glass carafe for too long, it starts to burn and taste bitter. To prevent this though, you just need to only brew as much coffee as you know you can finish in 30 minutes.

Coffee percolators have been around for a while, but they’re not the best way to make coffee. They require a coarse ground like the French press, but the problem is that they keep boiling your coffee over and over because the brewed coffee spills over into the hot water reservoir. They’re classic, but not the best option. If you must use one though, try not to use an expensive coffee blend, as to a degree, it will be wasted.

Seen as the elegant and classy coffee maker, the French press is the best option for people who like their kitchen and appliances to give off a stylish and modern vibe. The French press is made up of a glass cylinder with a plunger and a flat mesh filter, and to use it you just put some ground coffee into the cylinder, douse it was water, and press repeatedly on the plunger. As for the final cup of coffee that it produces, it is definitely better than average. The only downside to them being that only coarse coffee grounds can be used with it, so it isn’t an option for those of you who prefer finer blends.

The newest coffee maker trend is one cup coffee brewers, especially coffee pod systems. They are becoming more and more popular in offices. They’re extremely easy to use and maintain because there is no messy filter or coffee grounds to fuss with. You simply pop the coffee pod (or disc) into the machine and let it brew. A minute later you have a cup of freshly brewed coffee, with just a pod to throw away.The only downside is that you can’t brew your favorite exotic blend.

So, which is the best coffee maker for you? It’s just a matter of evaluating your lifestyle and coffee habits, and establishing which type best suits your needs.

http://TheCoffeeMakerStore.com is a daily blog and e-commerce store about coffee, coffee makers, and coffee culture. Leave a comment on the blog for a chance to win a free coffee maker!
By Mark Walters

Author: Mark Thomas Walters
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Made to order

Researchers have shown that coffee plants are sprayed with more pesticides than any other commercial agriculture crop.  These days, many consumers are demanding that the food they consume is organic.  Yet many people don’t realize that the coffee they are drinking contains many harmful substances.  Conventional coffee is routinely doused with pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers.  These chemicals work their way into the beans themselves and, ultimately into your body.

Luckily, these days the consumer has a choice between buying the conventional, pesticide-ridden coffee, or an organic alternative.  Organic certifying organizations do a terrific job of ensuring that farmers meet strict guidelines when they grow coffee on their farms.  

Consumers can buy a wide range of organic coffee products, including beans from over 40 different countries in the world to decaffeinated coffee, to flavored and instant coffees.  Products that carry the USDA Organic seal need to contain at least 95% organic ingredients.  Most of them are in fact 100%, since coffee is a complete, natural product.  If you are purchasing an organic bottled coffee drink, everything in it must be certified organic, including the sugar, dairy products, etc.   

Organic coffee is already thriving in the world.  It is estimated that North America alone consumes 85% of the coffee produced throughout the world.  In 2008, 81 million pounds of organic coffee was imported into the United States and Canada.  This may sound like a lot, but it only accounts for 3% of the total coffee consumed in North America.  The trend is on the rise though, as organic coffee is one of the fastest growing segments in the beverage industry.  It has a phenomenal 35% growth rate, which far outpaces that of conventional coffee.  This impressive growth has definitely caught the attention of coffee shops and supermarkets, where organic coffee is steadily pushing conventional coffee off the shelves.

Is organic coffee worth the extra cost?  

The answer is definitely yes.  Coffee prices are so deflated these days that it only costs a few pennies to make a cup of coffee at home.  You can buy a pack of quality organic coffee for only one or two bucks more than regular coffee these days and that works out to about a cent increase per cup.  Everybody wins when you purchase organic coffee.  You get better coffee without the pesticides.  The farmer gets a little more income to support his family, and the ground the coffee is grown on isn’t sprayed with toxic chemicals.  Now that is definitely worth a penny more per cup.

Electric coffee machines are great for making organic coffee. Use a single serve coffee maker for making a perfect cup of organic coffee.

Author: Chad Damon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
White Coat Hypertension

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

The superior flavor that Arabica coffee beans produce in a cup of coffee is well known. Robusta and Arabica coffee beans are the two principal classifications of java that are offered for sale. Coffee connoisseurs travel to their favorite coffee shops to get a mug of tasty Arabica coffee, however, what is found in a typical office building break room that has been sitting on the burner for hours in probably a pot of bitter Robusta coffee.

You can experience the great taste of Arabica coffee beans at home instead of having to trudge down to your local coffee hour and cafe. These kinds of beans are raised in an organic fashion meaning that they are not sprayed with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides which gives them quite a superior taste.

Chic coffee shops that retail coffee beans, espresso machines, and perhaps a mug of cafe latte will only sell Arabica beans. On the other hand, the major commercial coffee labels sell ground Robusta beans mixed with other tasteless filler or at best a mix of both Arabica and Robusta. The reason why this is the case is it makes the coffee that they sell considerably cheaper for the wholesaler and eventually for you the consumer. This is where the common church potluck cups of coffee come from. Arabica coffee beans are known for their well-defined savory flavor that many coffee lovers prefer but these kinds of beans actually have a lower caffeine content than Robusta beans.

Most people think that all the beans are grown in Columbia, but actually there are more than 80 countries around the world where coffee is grown for commercial purposes. The tropical climates around the equator are the best places to grow coffee and the beans have a richer flavor in high elevations compared to the low elevations where they can also be grown.

Back twenty years ago, in order to buy wholesale coffee beans, you would have to use mail-order catalogs. Now, there are numerous sites all over the World Wide Web where you are able to purchase Arabica coffee beans. You can also buy them in bulk at some retail shops but be prepared to pay a lot more because their prices will be considerably higher than what you might find online.

By purchasing your beans wholesale you are getting coffee beans that are much fresher because they have not been kept for as long. The best way to guarantee the freshness of your coffee is to buy green coffee beans.

In closing, the next time you are wanting to buy some gourmet beans to make a cup of coffee be sure to pick up some Arabica beans.

Steve writes about coffee beans and buying coffee online.

Author: Steve Turley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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As the coffee industry shifts toward fair trade practices and organic certification, more farmers are switching to organic and sustainable practices. But, what does that mean, and how does it affect the actual coffee? For answers to these questions and tips on where you can find gourmet organic coffee, keep reading.

What Does Organic Mean?

Organic coffee typically indicates it has been certified by the USDA and meets their stringent growing and harvesting standards for organic certification. Therefore, coffee that has been certified as organic has been farmed using methods that have a minimal impact on the environment and little to no reliance on chemical or unnatural methods.

Because coffee is harvested as a seed, buying organic has little-to-no health effects for the consumer. However, purchasing an organic coffee bean means you’re supporting environmentally friendly and sustainable farming methods.

Ethical or Fair Trade Purchasing

Fair trade certification focuses on the labor practices of the coffee farmer and manufacturer. By purchasing fair trade coffee, you’re supporting a trade standard that gives small-industry grower co-ops a standard price for their coffee.

While fair trade doesn’t carry the same environmental standards as organic certification, they do ban the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and most pesticides.

Who Makes Organic Coffee?

Green Mountain Coffee Company (http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com)

The Green Mountain Coffee Company is based out of Vermont and is one of the country’s largest organic and fair trade coffee suppliers. They currently do the bulk of their business as a supplier for office and workplace coffee needs, including K-Cups and instant coffee machines.

Gloria Jean’s Coffee (http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com.au)

As a roaster and supplier of 100 percent organic, fair trade coffee, this Australian coffee roaster was awarded the Corporate Green Globe Award by the prestigious Rainforest Alliance.

They sell a range of coffees and roasts while fulfilling their commitment to ethical environmental and social business practices.

Jim’s Organic Coffee (http://www.jimsorganiccoffee.com)

Jim’s Organic Coffee makes a range of blends and roasts that are certified organic and fair trade. The company also sells a Rainforest blend that is shade grown and certified by the Rainforest Alliance. This means the farming methods used to cultivate the coffee don’t destroy natural habitats or the existing rainforest ecosystem around the plantation.

Starbucks

Starbucks, a major coffee retailer all over the world, carries three kinds of organic coffee. They stock their Shade Grown Mexican, Organic Serena Blend and their own Organic Sumatra-Peru blend.

For additional informative details on coffee and enticing flavors that explode your taste buds, please visit http://www.coffeetryst.com – a popular site with insights on coffee options, such as flavored decaf coffee, gourmet coffee gift baskets, and many more!

Author: Wesley Johnson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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