Coffee

One of the best ways to understand your daily cup of Joe is to discover how it came to be in the growing process. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide, and it is actually the second most exported commodity globally, second only to oil. Coffee comes in many different forms based on the brewing method, whether it is espresso, French Press, or regular drip brew coffee. However, all coffee is grown in a similar manner using different techniques to cultivate diverse flavors.

To begin with, coffee can only be grown between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This coffee growing region is throughout equator, and it includes Northern South America, Central America, Indonesia, India, Africa, Hawaii, and the Middle East. When a coffee tree is planted, it starts out small and evergreen. Coffee is grown in larger plantations, and it involves intense labor since many beans are handpicked. This is precisely why many developing countries rely upon coffee production because they can start their own small farms and support the community with this livelihood.

Coffee is actually best grown in the equator because it provides a suitable climate. There are two different types of coffee trees that produce beans called Arabica and Robusta. Robusta is seen as the lesser quality variety that makes up around 30% of the market, with Arabica encompassing the remaining 70%. Arabica is often used for gourmet and specialty coffees, and Robusta beans are used for cheaper fillers. Robusta coffee actually contains twice as much caffeine as Arabica, but it often has a bitter or harsh taste.

Coffee is best cultivated in an area that is well aerated and well drained with fertile soil. Coffee trees need a large amount of oxygen to their roots during the growth process, which is why many farmers rely upon aerating the soil to help them to thrive and grow. Coffee trees also require a serious amount of rainfall at anywhere from 1500 to 2000 mm per year. If there is less rainfall yearly within the coffee growing region, then that deficit needs to be accounted for with the use of irrigation.

Many of the finest coffees are grown at higher altitudes at over 3000 feet. The reason that this is so important to growing coffee plants is because it provides cloud cover and mist. This combination allows the coffee plants to grow more slowly, which is important for developing deeper and more complex flavors. There is also a higher oxygen content at these altitudes so that the plants can continue to grow slowly and intake more oxygen. This environment also provides diffused light and moderate winds to the coffee trees to further enhance their development.

At lower altitude regions, you will normally find Robusta coffee trees growing. These are stronger plants that are more resistant to disease, but they are still subpar in flavor to the more premium Arabica variety. When you are looking for the best cup of Joe, look for coffee that is cultivated with care made from Arabica beans!

Another popular accessory for coffee is the commercial coffee maker! For a great selection, check out Mark Ramos’ website, The Coffee Bump.

Author: Mark Ramos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Twenty-nine million American adults drink gourmet coffee beverages every day. Though specialty coffee shops like Starbuck’s can be found just about anywhere, Cuban coffee, known for its strong taste, is only found in areas of the United States where there is a large Cuban American population. Sought after by coffee connoisseurs, it is the finest and most sought-after coffee in the world. Often compared to espresso, it is actually a rich blend of Cuban, Spanish and Italian coffee traditions.

Cuban coffee is roughly double the strength of regular American coffee. It is usually served in small cups called “tacitas,” which are smaller than demitasse cups, at the end of a meal. It is a mud-thick java brew with a tantalizing flavor and aroma made sweet by the amount of sugar that is used. The secret to “Cafe Cubano” or”cafecito,” as it is known in Cuba, is the finely ground, dark roasted coffee beans.

Coffee was brought to the eastern region of Cuba by French immigrants in the mid 18th century. By the early 1800′s it became a bigger import than sugar. Cuba’s natural humid climate, fertile soil and two centuries of cultivation techniques, have made it the ideal setting for growing coffee beans. The coffee beans are grown high in the shady jungles of the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The cultivation of the beans is labor intensive and its planting, growing, harvesting, and processing procedures have been perfected every step of the way. Large beans are used and are left out to try in the sun instead of using mechanical dryers. No pesticides are used so the coffee is 100% organic.

Cuban coffee beans have a superior reputation in Asia and Europe with Japan and France accounting for 70-80 percent of the exports. Other importers of Cuban coffee include Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Embargo on Cuban goods has created a challenge for those i America who would like to enjoy this distinctive coffee. However Cuban American grocery stores and cafeterias sell their version of Cuban coffee. There are a number of Cuban coffee companies like Tu Cafe and Cafe Llave with Cafe Pilon being the top seller, that market “authentic Cuban coffee.” The beans for these brands are grown in Brazil,Colombia or other parts of Central and South America.

There is no secret recipe or process for making Cuban coffee. All that is needed is freshly ground dark roasted coffee beans, sugar and a “cafetera,” a unique italian double chamber coffee pot. Water is placed in the lower chamber and the ground coffee goes into a perforated holder. The top is screwed on and the pot is heated. The brewed coffee rises into the upper chamber. The coffee is poured into a “tacita” and sugar is added.

Drinking “Cafe Cubano” remains a prominent social and cultural activity within Cuba and in Cuban American communities. The rest of the world is slowly catching up to enjoy this particular style of coffee. One can find “authentic” Cuban coffees in many supermarkets and the specialty brewers are sold everywhere. So if you want a true coffee experience try Cuban coffee.

Cuba has always been a major player in world events both politically and socially. It is hard to believe that an island nation that has been politically ostracized from the rest of the world for more than fifty years, can still create such an impact. The Cuban coffee thing is just part of the whole Cuban experience. In my blog My Cuban Thing I write about my observations as a Cuban kid who grew up American.

Author: Mario Del Sol
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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