Coffee

There are different types of addiction, and as far as medical science is concerned, none of them are good. If you’re an addict, you can either be addicted to smoking, drinking or even using drugs. But what is addiction, really? The Merriam – Webster Dictionary defined addiction as the “persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful”. Addiction is a clinical disorder. Shall we then consider the persistent and compulsive drinking of coffee an addiction? To all coffee lovers, rest assured that it is not an addiction, nor is it a clinical disorder, and it is not detrimental.

Today, coffee is one of the widely known and drank beverages in the world. In early societies, coffee was part of religious rites and ceremonies, making it sacred and its consumption limited to important people only. In the latter days, coffee even became part of political activities. At present, coffee is an important good widely exported throughout the world. It is actually counted as the seventh largest agricultural product, in value.

There is more to coffee that meets the eye, or rather the nose and the tongue. Before we are able to serve, inhale the aroma and drink it, where did the product come from? The beverage was actually a result of several processes. It is not as if the coffee we drink can just be picked from the tree. Coffee berries, contrary to what many think, actually tastes sweet when ripe. These berries are removed of their fleshy part and the beans are fermented. They are then washed to remove dirt and then dried. The next step is the roasting of the beans. This is an important step owing to the fact that how the coffee is roasted affects the taste when brewed. Short roasting time results in a bitter, stronger flavor and more aromatic essence.

Even in everyday life, coffee has been a part of most people’s lifestyle. Much like ancient times, coffee now serves like a personal religion. It is a part of the morning ritual in starting the day. Taking a sip of the warm exquisite drink heightens the mood and helps the person feel wide awake. Of course, we must give the credit to the essential ingredient of coffee which is caffeine. During social gatherings or business meetings, people tend to lighten up and ease the tension away with the help of the mere presence of coffee. It seems like a magical beverage! Even at simple friendly get-togethers, people talk “over a cup of coffee”.

Walk around the plaza and you won’t miss a coffee shop. Coffee is no longer a fad, but became a necessity for people all over the world! More and more people feel the need to utilize the wonderful flavor of coffee. It is not surprising, therefore, to find out that there are actually more than a hundred coffee combinations around the world. Among the hundred others, however, we have the top five most popular varieties: espresso, cafe latte, cafe mocha, cappuccino, and of course, the instant coffee. Espresso is not a coffee combination, for it is actually the pure coffee, which is in fine powder form, subjected to hot (not boiling) water under high pressure. It has a thicker and denser liquid compared to the usual brewed coffee and it is measured in shots when served. It functions as a main component in coffee combinations.

Café latte literally means coffee with milk. Latte is the Italian word for milk, so if you order latte in an Italian coffee shop, you will most likely be served just a glass of milk and not the usual cafe latte you are expecting. This beverage is composed of one third part espresso and two thirds milk. It is served with a thick layer of foamed milk, usually a third or a fourth of an inch thick.

Café mocha is almost the same as cafe latte, only instead of the thick foamed milk, chocolate syrup or powder is added. Likewise, cappuccino is a combination much the same as café latte, only having a thinner layer of foamed milk on top.

But who would ever forget the most popular type of coffee served? Instant coffee is something that you would see in every two households out of three. No wonder coffee is one of the most popular drinks ever!

Maryrose Jairene Cruz is a freelance writer for more than 2 years, accepts article writing projects in bulks or individually.
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Author: Jairene Cruz
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For those who are not familiar with the non dairy creamers, Non-dairy creamers typically contain sodium caseinate, a milk protein (casein) derivative that does not contain lactose and is not considered a dairy product. Other common ingredients include corn syrup and vegetable oil solids. And for the Vegans and Vegetarians, some creamers are based on soy milk rather than on milk protein.

In 1989, Nestle launched exciting variants of the coffee mate- Coffee Mate Lite and Coffee Mate Liquid. The Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer quickly became the number one liquid creamer on the market. Nestle aggressively added more flavors over the following 10 years, fat free products and single serve tubs. Amazingly, Nestlé’s Coffee Mate Coffee Creamer was awarded the prestigious “Gold Taste Award” from the American Tasting Institute. This was the first time a non-dairy coffee creamer was included in this competition, and many chefs from across the country agreed that Coffee-Mate liquid and powder products have the best taste amongst all other competing national brands.

Additionally, several Coffee-Mate flavors were awarded medals for “Best of Show.” Coffee-Mate flavors were judged in June 2001, awarding Coffee-Mate the 2001-2002 “Gold Taste Award.”

If you are up to experimenting with your coffee, you can have a whole new experience when you try your coffee with coffee mate. There are so many different coffee mate flavors available and it is also available in four different varieties- Coffee mate liquid, coffee mate powder, coffee mate liquid concentrate and coffee mate soy.

Coffee mate liquid has many flavors like French Vanilla, Irish Crème, Vanilla Caramel, Crème brulée, Original fat free, original low fat and many other exotic flavors. Irish crème flavor is rich, creamy and blended with a hint of mint and is a perfect complement to desserts. The Crème brulée flavor adds a delicious taste of crème brulée to your coffee and makes for a fantastic dessert. The original fat free flavors add creaminess to your coffee minus the fats.

Coffee mate powder has flavors like Vanilla Chai Spice (which has a spicy taste), sugar free hazelnut, Pumpkin spice, Peppermint mocha, Cinnamon vanilla crème and many other flavors. Sugar free hazelnut offers the nutty sweetness of hazelnuts without the sugar. The cinnamon vanilla crème is delicately blended with real cinnamon spice and makes for a different, flavorsome cup of coffee. Coffee mate liquid concentrate offers three different exotic flavors- French Vanilla, Hazelnut, and Sweetened Original. French Vanilla gives you the rich, creamy taste of classic vanilla with a convenient Liquid Concentrate pump dispenser.

The non-dairy creamers liquid helps avoid mess by providing easy to use pump dispenser and can serve approximately 250 cups of coffee. Coffee mate soy is available in Soy French Vanilla and Soy Original flavors. In both the flavors, the soy is combined with vanilla and the smooth creamy taste of coffee mate (for second type) to bring a beautiful flavor to your cup of coffee.

Do You LOVE good coffee? Heather is a qualified barista and shares many of her great coffee making tips. Register for Your FREE copy of the Health and Happiness Mag, that includes tips on coffee making like the professionals at http://www.womensinfoproducts.com/food/coffee

Author: Heather Richards
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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California coffee houses have been famous for years. The eclectic blend of coffee, celebrities and high energy people creates a social atmosphere like nowhere else. Throughout the country and the world, coffee houses pop up and attempt to emulate the cool, casual vibe at California coffee bars.

With so many cafés, coffee enthusiasts sip quite a few cups of brew before finding the best coffee in Los Angeles. While a superior cup of Joe is always a priority, many California coffee lovers are also looking for a place to hang out. Artists bring along their laptops, easels and digital cameras to capture creativity along the way. It’s not unusual to see several people busily working on a laptop at Los Angeles coffee houses.

Socialization is part of the coffee experience in The City of Angels. The close, comfortable atmosphere is a perfect way to catch coffee and conversation. In days gone by, coffee gatherings took place in someone’s kitchen or in the office. While those venues are still popular, many Californians prefer the unpredictable excitement of sipping java at a coffee house.

When you sit down in a Los Angeles coffee house, you are privy to one hundred conversations. Coffee lovers come in looking to kick back with their favorite drink while they meet new, interesting people. Unlike an alcoholic bar, at coffee bars people don’t get intoxicated. From celebrities to local workers, everyone mingles together. You might even wind up sitting next to one of your favorite stars and strike up a conversation!

Some of the best coffee Los Angeles serves is at coffee bars and eateries. In fact, many local cafés deliver wholesale coffee to the local restaurants, delis and offices. When people can’t take time to visit their preferred coffee house, they can still enjoy a cup of gourmet java on the go. It’s not the same as spending time at a choice café but at least you can get a flavorful cup of coffee. You can even purchase gourmet coffee beans to brew at home for your family and friends, creating a café right in your own kitchen.

California coffee houses offer the best organic coffee because of the large number of locals involved in environmental efforts. Home of hybrid and other environmentally concerned efforts, many Californians consciously make green decisions about all their behaviors. Organic coffee is grown and processed in an environmentally-friendly way. Its pure, unadulterated flavor is preferred by quite a few coffee enthusiasts around the world. In fact, over forty countries grow organic coffee. The Organic Trade Association showed a 24 percent increase in coffee sales in 2006, which proves a growing number of people are actively drinking healthy, delicious organic coffee.

For the Best coffee Los Angeles has to offer visit the Intelligentsia Caf in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Order organic coffee beans online at IntelligentsiaCoffee.com or have coffee in Los Angeles for that flavorful social experience.

Author: Alice Lane
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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We all love drinking coffee. More than 1400 million cups are consumed per day. That’s a lot of coffee and also a lot of waste. But we don’t need to stop drinking coffee. We just need to be more conscientious in how we drink it. By drinking coffee the eco friendly way, we can reduce the negative impact on the environment while still enjoying our coffee. Here are some easy idea’s to reduce the negative influences from coffee.

Buy Organic Coffee
Not only is Organic Coffee better for the environment but it is also healthier for the coffee drinker. Organic coffee is grown without the pesticides standard coffee growers use. Lots of Organically grown Coffee is shade grown which means the farmers aren’t cutting down all the trees to grow the coffee. This is better for the forest and the wildlife in the forest. It is also better for the coffee as the beans form slower and therefore produces a denser, higher quality bean.

Use Ecotainer’s
There are biodegradable coffee cups around now such as ecotainer. Find out which café’s are using these compostable cups and start buying your coffee from these coffee shops. Or if you run a café start using ecotainer’s instead of normal non-biodegradable cups.

Use Your Own Mug
If you like going to a café to get your coffee and they don’t use environmentally friendly cups then get in the habit of taking your own thermal mug. It will keep your coffee warm for longer and it reduces the waste from the standard takeaway cups. If you have one coffee a day that will be 365 less paper/plastic coffee cups in the waste each year.

Recycle Your Coffee Grinds
There are many ways to use your coffee grinds. You can use them on your garden or if you don’t have a garden collect them and give them away to people that do. The coffee grinds release nutrients that increase the acidity of the soil. Thus you get a richer soil which will obviously produce healthier plants. You can also use coffee grinds on your indoor plants.

Coffee grinds can also be used to repel insects and to keep cats of your garden!
Try using coffee grounds as an exfoliater as it removes all the dead skin cells making your skin lovely and soft again.

These are simple ideas but they can have a huge positive impact on the environment if lots of people start doing them. Even 365 less coffee cups a year is an improvement. So if a few people start drinking coffee the eco way they will make a positive change for the better.

For more Coffee Ideas visit: http://www.gourmetcoffeemakeronline.com

Author: Laurel Whiting
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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