Coffee

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

As a culinary art, creating exceptional gourmet coffee is similar to the creation of an exceptional wine. Each crop, and even different harvests of the same crop, will have unique characteristics that result from differing conditions over time with respect to the soil, temperature, water, time of harvest, etc.

High quality Specialty coffees are harvested over time from the same plant during the growing season as the beans ripen, leaving the green ones until they are ready. This process creates early and late crops containing differing percentages of nutrients and moisture content affecting the flavor characteristics of the beans. ‘Specialty” grade coffees are distinctly superior to those coming from the mechanical harvesting resulting in the bulk of coffees grown for ‘grade’ coffees sold on the worlds commodity exchanges.

These factors necessitate the coffee roaster to continuously select coffees with the necessary profile of body, taste, acidity and other attributes to meet the objective of the end product in order to consistently maintain a semi-predictable expectation for the consumer.

Each coffee blend will be a combination of these carefully chosen coffees from the current harvest, blended together in a complimentary fashion to achieve numerous variations of flavor, aroma and complexity.

Flavor Descriptions

Mocha Java is the earliest known descriptive coffee flavor known for its delicious full bodied and bittersweet chocolate highlights. Early cocoa was named after the Mocha coffee from Yemen.

Latin American coffees that achieve Specialty grade are almost all grown at very high altitudes compared with the coffees of Africa. In general these coffees are known for their full body, acidity and spicy flavors.

Africa is where coffee originated from. Its soil and climate combination produces outstanding coffees that have an exceptional balance of body and refined acidity creating distinctive aromas of flowers and fruit, with complex flavors ranging from citrus to winy.

Espresso will have a stout body and rich coffee essence, with thick creamy consistency as a result of the inclusion of more soluble beans blended with others that add desired flavors. Bold and robust are descriptions often used to describe a desirable espresso. An Italian style espresso will often include ‘natural’ or unwashed beans that help enhance its creamy consistency. These dry processed coffees are not typically considered Specialty grade, but are what create a traditional espresso flavor.

Natural or ‘unwashed’ coffees contribute nutty and earthy flavors, while ‘washed’ Specialty coffees are known for their desirable acidity and refined flavors that are essential to the master roasters ability to create a variety of gourmet style blends.

Specialty gourmet blends are the result of blending specifically selected coffees to achieve any combination of well-rounded, complex, rich, mellow, smooth and even exotic flavors in the final cup.

Author: Steve Josephs, whose family’s office coffee service business, the Great American Coffee Company, http://www.GourmetOfficeCoffee.com, is a premier Specialty coffee roaster and office coffee service provider in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan business community. They also offer Corporate Coffee Gifts through their sister company, Visionary Gourmet Coffee, http://www.VisionaryGourmetCoffee.com

Copyright 2009 The Great American Coffee Company and Intellidon Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprints permissible if copyright statement and link are included.

Author: Steve Josephs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker

Traditionally, almost all coffee was shade grown. The coffee plant in its natural state isn’t very tolerant of direct sunlight; thus most coffee plants grow best under the shade of a canopy of trees. In an ideal setting, the leaves from the overhanging trees would decompose and compost into the soil, creating a rich, moist soil in which the coffee plants thrive. Furthermore, the trees overhead provide a home to native birds that eat many insects which would otherwise threaten the coffee plants. Coffee grown in this type of environment would need little to no fertilizers or pesticides to grow; rather, it would grow quite well on its own.

In 1972, scientists developed a new hybrid type of coffee plant. This new plant boasted a much larger crop of beans than traditional coffee plants, and in addition, the crop was easier to harvest because the plant remains small in size. Soon, coffee farms around the world were converting to the new hybrid plant. In turn, coffee farms cut down their native forests to provide direct sunlight for the hybrid coffee plants. Out of the some 6 million acres of coffee-producing land around the world, it is estimated that 60% of that land has been deforested since 1972 as a result of hybrid sun coffee plants.

The loss of forest on coffee plantations has created numerous problems. First, the migratory birds that lived in these trees no longer have a habitat. It is estimated that the population of migratory birds has declined 20% over the last ten years, mostly due to loss of habitat. The lack of trees not only interrupts the bird population. It has a direct impact on the entire ecosystem of an area. A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that shade coffee plantations support a significant number of other species of animals and insects. For example, the study noted that one tree on a shade coffee farm in Costa Rica was home to 27 different species of ants and 126 species of beetles. When the shade trees disappear, so do other animals and insects, upsetting the fragile balance of the natural ecosystem.

Another problem with sun grown coffee is the enormous amount of synthetic chemicals required to grow it. Because there aren’t as many native birds present to eat the insects, pesticides are required to keep the insect population down. Sun coffee plants are also treated with chemical fertilizers, because there is no canopy of trees present to provide organic matter that would naturally enrich the soil. Furthermore, plantations growing sun coffee must also rely on the use of herbicides to keep down the weeds that grow in the increased sunlight (shade coffee plantations don’t have as many problems with weeds, because the weeds don’t grow well in the shady conditions that the coffee plants favor).

All these chemicals that are required to farm the hybrid sun coffee plants create an enormous amount of runoff, which poisons downstream waterways due to runoff and threatens the health of workers on the coffee plantations. The lack of trees has also created serious soil erosion problems. It has become clear that this type of coffee farming is not sustainable.

Traditional shade growing, however, is a self-sufficient and sustainable farming method. It promotes increased biodiversity and requires little to no fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. The Smithsonian Institute’s Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) is working to raise awareness and promote shade grown coffee through a certification process. Look for coffees that feature the SMBC’s “Bird Friendly” seal of approval, or if you cannot find such coffees, simply look for those that specify shade grown conditions.

The only way to address this problem is through consumer demand. Every purchase of shade grown coffee helps restore natural shade grown coffee farming methods. Coffee drinkers and bird lovers unite, and buy only shade grown coffee!

All gourmet roasted coffee and flavored coffee beans sold at Home Products ‘n’ More are shade grown, and include free shipping and handling.

Author: Ellen Bell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital TV, HDTV, Satellite TV

Coffee is an integral part of my family. We’ve had disputes, and discussions settled over coffee. Sometimes we have bargains and agreements done over coffee. In demonstrable fact coffee has given our family time to slow down and simply catch up.

With coffee so ever famous, it’s no wonder that it’s become a business life blood. Some companies even charge up to $5 for a cup, and yet people are still buying. All the benefits, all the wonder and taste but we have never really asked about the coffee bean to whom we have much to thank for.

Coffee Beans through the Years

A lot of people consider coffee a friend, and a shoulder to lean on. The coffee bean has many secrets which we as firm patrons of its fruits have yet to explore. It’s come a long way from its humble origins; the coffee bean has had many travels. Did you know that the lowly coffee bean was first venerated for its curative properties? The bean is also brewed for religious meditation purposes.

Coffee comes from berry producing trees encountered in the Middle East. The berry itself looks a lot like a very small cherry, red and agreeable. The berries are edible, they are considerably sweet. Each berry contains two locules, enclosed inside are the beans which is the cash crop. The coffee tree cannot tolerate frost or extremely cold weather that is why it is generally found on regions where there is ample sun and rain.

The coffee tree used to be a source for a tisane, where in the fruits, flowers and leaves where boiled in water, kind of like tea.

“Coffee beans, botanically inaccurate, are the seeds of the coffee plants”

It was the Arabs, who innovated upon the idea of making drinking coffee by roasting the dried coffee bean.

The Coffee Bean Travels

The story is that a Moslem stole some coffee beans from a farm in Arabia and brought them to his home in India. There he planted the coffee bean one by one and made it flourish, supplying one – third of India’s coffee produce.

From Arabia to India, word spread of the deliciously enchanting and aromatic coffee. Soon the French and the Dutch became enamored of the coffee bean as well. In their desire to produce the bewitching brew; the French brought coffee to Dijon ( a region in France ) unfortunately the coffee tree is not adept to cold weather, so the whole crop was wasted. The Dutch however was a lot cleverer. They planted the coffee seeds in Java where it thrived and became a reliable crop.

Even the famed King Louie XIV, who is captivated by coffee had a tree shipped to Paris, and built a Greenhouse especially for the Noble Tree. That same coffee tree is the fore bearer of the trees found in the South and Central America today.

There are 50 types of coffee trees in the world today. But only three are acknowledged to produce the best coffee bean of all time. No matter who you are, or where you’re from – have a quiet moment, enjoy a cup and let your mind wander.

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Author: Michael Patrick
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera Information

The rise in popularity of organic coffee over the past decade or so is the direct result of consumers becoming more and more aware and conscientious about what products and produce they are buying. Because companies must detail production methods on their product’s packaging, consumers are able to easily make informed decisions about the products they purchase. Even more than that, consumers are generally becoming more educated about the international coffee manufacturing industry and the chemical processing that goes into the coffee they buy. Coffee, if you don’t already know, is one of the most chemically processed products in the world.

What is certified organic coffee?

The term organic refers to the way a coffee is grown, harvested and produced. It refers to the conditions of the coffee plantation or farm and the conditions under which it is processed. Only coffees grown under the strictest of organic farming guidelines may publicly label their product organic and certified organic.

Organic farming methods avoid any chemical or synthetic processing of the coffee. Organic farmers base their methods on the philosophy of processing coffee as naturally as possible, creating a healthier coffee alternative and keeping the environment as healthy as possible, too. Organic coffee farms never use chemicals as fertilizers or pesticides. Moreover, they do not use chemical flavorings or additives.

Organic farms are always built in line with principles of sustainable agricultural practice and always place importance on the health and quality of their soil. It almost goes without saying that healthy soil produces a healthy crop. And by extension then, that healthy coffee crops means healthier coffee.

These days, everyone knows well enough that chemically processed coffee is adverse to their health. Consumers also know that there are excellent organic alternatives.

Organic shade farming

Coffee is traditionally and naturally grown in the shade. This method is called ?shade coffee farming.? To this day, shade farming produced the best coffee. But large manufacturers have taken to producing coffee quickly and in full sun to meet the demands of the market.

But coffee that is grown in full sun suffers a number of adverse effects, such as from bird and insect pests. This pestilence means that large-scale coffee farmers must use pesticides to protect their crop and this, of course, results in negative effects on a coffee bean’s taste and aroma.

Only organic coffee is grown in natural conditions. The gourmet varieties of Mocha, Java and Kona are grown organically.

Coffee wholesalers who sell organic

When it comes to certified organic produce it is often best to try your local coffee retailer or coffee shop. These are small companies who love their coffee and will most likely be purchasing the very best, organically produced coffee. Next, try online stores that specialize in organic coffee. A simple search on the Internet will bring up many coffee wholesalers and retailers committed to certified organic coffee beans and blends.

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Author: Samantha Evans
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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