Coffee

It is hard to imagine a modern home without a coffee maker. Even if you don’t own a coffee making machine you will more than likely own a kettle and coffee granules. Coffee has become such a popular drink all around the world, it is had to imagine that it was originally brewed using a small copper container called a Turkish Ibrik. The coffee was very strong as it was not filtered and you can still get coffee prepared like this in the Middle East today.

If you are looking for an easier way to prepare your morning brew there are many options available to you. You can choose a very fancy, complex coffee maker or a more simple, straight forward machine.

The largest selection of coffee makers these days is, of course, the inexpensive drip model. Once you have poured the water into the top of the machine, it’s heated by an electric element inside, the water then passes through coffee grounds and is collected in the glass pot which sits on the heating plate.

But beyond these basics, there are a few functions it’s nice to have.

Controls have changed to the stage that many makers look like a modern stereo. LCD screens display the time, the time to brew, temperature, a timer and several options even more unmentionable .

Getting the strength of your coffee correct is very important. Modern coffee makers have many options for you to adjust the strength of your coffee. There are almost as many options as there are coffee beans! Auto shut-off is a very useful feature. If you have every been unable to wait until your coffee has finished being brewed and you have removed the pot from the hot plate too soon you will have noticed the drips on the hot plate. Auto shut-off stops the coffee dripping into the pot the second it is removed from the heating plate. Once the pot is returned to the heating plate it will carry on brewing.

Walking into your kitchen on a cold, dark morning and seeing the illuminated display telling you your coffee is ready is also a very useful and comforting feature.

Cleaning has been made easier, too, by the invention of coffee ‘pods’ – small pre-measured paper containers of coffee through which the water flows. They have the added advantage of providing good filtering for grounds. Once the brewing is complete you just pop them out (after they’ve cooled!) and toss them into the waste bin. Essential for the active – and opposed to cleaning up – coffee drinker.

With a lot of latest machines now using pods this make the whole process a lot quicker but some people question the paper quality of these pods and the effect on the environment. Others also feel that the paper may effect the quality of coffee. This is a personal choice and one you will have to consider before purchasing your machine.

Having a water filter attached to your coffee maker can be a very useful feature. This can make your choice of machine a little more expensive but if you live in an area where your water quality is not great it can be necessary to ensure your coffee tastes great.

With so many options to chose from and a bevy of coffee machines available it may seem like an impossible task to finally decide on your perfect coffee maker. But you can take comfort in that fact the once you have chosen you can enjoy your perfect cup of coffee whenever your want for a long time to come.

To find your perfect Coffee Maker take a look at www.doyoulovecoffee.com.

This is the prefect site for all coffee lovers. The site is owned by Lyndsay Whittaker who is an avid coffee drinker.

Author: Lyndsay Whittaker
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There are hundreds of bacterial, fungal and pest-caused diseases that can affect a coffee crop. However, the four major coffee plant destroyers are Coffee Leaf Rust, Coffee Berry Disease, Bacterial Blight and Leaf Miner insects. To learn more about each of these affectations and how they’re treated, keep reading.

Coffee Leaf Rust

Coffee Leaf Rust, also known as Hemileia vastatrix, is a devastating coffee disease that is highly contagious. The disease is carried by wind and rain through spores that come from legions found on the underside of an affected plant.

The disease destroyed Brazil’s coffee crop during the 1970s and has since been found in almost every coffee-growing country in the world. It is prevented by spraying a fungicide that is copper based. Other countries, including Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, have begun planting a disease-resistant strain of robusta coffee to prevent the spread of Leaf Rust.

Coffee Berry Disease

Coffee Berry Disease, also known as Green berry anthracnose and caused by Colletotirchum coffeeanum, is a fungal-based disease. The fungi grow on affected plants and then spread through wind or splashing rain. This disease can also be spread by animals. For example, if a coffee picker touches an affected plant, he or she can then spread the disease to every other coffee plant they touch.

The danger of Coffee Berry Disease is that it’s virtually undetectable until the coffee plant blooms. At that point, the fungus becomes aggressive, covering the whole berry and even turning it black.

Typically, this powerful disease is found in Africa, but can be prevented through fungicides and limiting the instance of standing water.

Bacterial Blight

Bacterial Blight, also known as Pseudomanas syringae garcae, is a bacterial disease that flourishes under cold and wet conditions.

Most recently, Bacterial Blight had an incredibly detrimental effect on Kenya’s coffee crop. However, the disease can be nominally prevented with copper-based fungicides.

Leaf Miners

While Leaf Miners aren’t technically a disease, they are still pests that can devastate a coffee crop. Because these insects are protected by a hard shell and feed right inside the plant itself, they can be very difficult to eradicate with pesticides.

Typically, leaf miner infestations are prevented or treated by planting tastier distraction crops or plants next to and amongst the coffee crop. For example, in Brazil, smart plantation owners are planting Columbine and Velvet Leaf among their coffee plants to remove the Leaf Miner threat.

Though these diseases do not inherently harm people, they can contribute to lower coffee supplies and higher prices.

For informative details on coffee and enticing flavors that explode your taste buds, please visit coffeetryst.com, a popular site providing great insights on coffee options, such as vanilla flavored coffee, specialty gourmet coffee, and many more!

Author: Wesley Johnson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee makers have been around nearly as long as coffee itself. The Turkish Ibrik is the original coffee brewer and is still used in the Middle East. This simple copper container with a long handle and grooved tongue produces a rather strong brew considering it does not filter.

But, for those who prefer to drink a beverage rather than eat coffee grounds, there are many different types available from simple to the inimitable deluxe makers. Here are some of the things you will want to look for in a coffee maker.

The lower priced drip model makes up the majority of coffee makers today. You simply pour water into the top and let the water pass through the grounds as it is heated by an electric coil. Of course, the pot is resting on a heated plate to keep it warm. This is the most common coffee maker. But, beyond this basic model, a few features on coffee makers are particularly useful.

The controls on coffee makers have transformed to the point that many resemble a stereo. Display screens show the actual time, the brew time, a timer, the temperature and several other useful pieces of information depending on the model. However, the “level of brew desired” is necessary control although more rather than less control may be preferred.

Another useful feature is the auto-shutoff, especially for those who often forget to turn appliances off. This may make these models of coffee makers the inimitable choice. Most today tend to be too busy to wait for the entire process to finish, so they often remove the pot before the water has completed draining. Coffee continues to drip and splashes onto the heating plate, at least it did in the past. Automatic shut-off now solves this problem. The water flow stops when the pot is removed, thus preventing this problem.

The lighted LCD screens are also useful in the dark, perhaps in the mornings, when you have not yet found the light switch or are still not quite awake.

Cleaning is also much easier with the invention of coffee pods, which are small, individual containers of coffee that water flows through. An extra benefit is that they provide good filtering for the ground coffee. Once brewing is finished, you simply pop the pods out and throw them away. Pods are terrific for the busy coffee drinker who does not have time to clean.

Some models even come with water filters which is a great added feature for the city dweller since quality water is very important to a good cup of coffee. Filters may be a bit expensive, but waking up to a delicious cup of coffee is invaluable.

Yes, you can get a permanent coffee filter but they are less important with pods. However, there is still some debate over the effect on the environment and taste from these pods. So, do what you feel is best.

Guy Morris publishes essentially for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com an online site covering information on single serving coffee maker, one cup coffee brewer and other areas. You might see his comments on where to buy single cup coffee makers over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/single-cup-coffee-maker.html and various other sources for where to buy single cup coffee makers news.

Author: Guy J Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Caffeine is a drug, yes, but a very sweet one at that. It enhances the senses and uplifts the spirits. Coffee is, without a doubt, a culture unto itself. Used as a means to gather, laugh and debate. Coffee is a social beverage. Its roots are as storied and full as the roasts you may drink.

Within the borders of Turkey coffee has become an institution. It has its own culture complete with ritual and house of worship (coffeehouses). Turkish coffee, in particular may, without a doubt in most coffee lovers’ minds be the be all and end all of coffee. It was introduced to Turkey in the early to mid 1500′s, finding the first coffeehouse opening soon after.

Coffee came at a rather interesting time in Turkish history as it was geared more toward decadence than business. This gave way to many rituals. One of which was to brew the beans slowly over fifteen to twenty minutes in a copper coffee pot nestled among the embers of smoldering charcoal. The pot was removed frequently to prevent overheating. You can certainly tell the difference, if you are a coffee connoisseur, between Turkish coffee and your run of the mill modern day restaurant coffee.

The Turks believed in delicate brewing and all that was needed was a copper pot that came to a point, a teaspoon and something to heat it with. Water was always cold and the coffee fresh ground right before brewing. One thing that makes Turkish coffee so good, rich and special as that many would add cardamom and or sugar to the ground prior to brewing. Also unique is that the ingredients were added to the water instead of the water added to the ingredients. After all of the ingredients are added, they are stirred, spoon removed and pot placed on the heating source. No more stirring occurs and the pot is removed periodically to prevent the overheating mentioned earlier.

Identifying well prepared Turkish coffee is easy. It’s not too hot and has a thick foam resting comfortably on top and is free of any dark particles. In some circumstances, the coffee is brought to a boil and just before boiling over is removed the heat then replaced to do it all over again. This process is done two or three times and concentrates the coffee down. Cold water is served and drank before the coffee to cleanse the palette. Traditionally, the pastry known as Turkish Delight was served alongside the coffee and afterward you’re treated to mint liqueur.

Turkish coffee is special. Not because it tastes good, but because of the care and love that is put into the preparation and consumption of it. Coffee has a very special meaning to the Turkish people and to the culture of their land and that should be respected. The whole premise and life of coffee in Turkey gave way to all of the coffeehouses and coffee business that we partake in to this day from our Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to your mom and pop Beatnik Coffee Dens. Without Turkish coffee, we would have no coffee at all.

Steve is a regular contributor to Coffee Maker Review an informational website for Coffee Maker ratings and reviews on the top brands including Bunn Coffee Makers and Senseo Coffee Makers

Author: Stephen Haworth
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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