Coffee

Aside from the finer points in roasting coffee beans, the extraction of the coffee flavor from the beans by way of brewing is the most important aspect of coffee-making. It is the final process right before we drink our coffee.

This is the one area where most of the connoisseurs have tried to concentrate their efforts in trying to improve the process throughout the ages. Today, we have several forms of coffee brewing techniques, both for commercial and home use.

Flavor extraction length
As a general rule, the length of extraction time is directly related to the grind coarseness.
The smaller the coffee particles, the shorter the extraction time.

French press coffee is the longest, with coffee and water contact lasting as long as four minutes. Espresso has the shortest contact time, about twenty-five seconds, and the coffee granules used are among the smallest.

If the coffee and water stay together for too long, other compounds start to leach and these will make the coffee bitter. On the other hand, if the granules are large, and the extraction time is short, the coffee will lack flavor because of under-extraction.

Drip brew
Most home brews nowadays are produced through the drip process. The technique is simple enough: hot water is poured over a medium-ground coffee within a filter and the water goes through the coffee grounds and drips into a holding container.

There are many variations on these drip brewers with different functions for home use, and also available in larger models for commercial use.

Auto-drip brewers
This machine makes brewing a very simple process. Water is heated in one place and piped over the grounds inside a filter. The extracted brew then drips into a holding vessel.

One complaint is that these machines do not make the water hot enough, so flavor extraction happens at lower temperatures than is recommended.

Another issue is that the machines have warming hot plates, ostensibly for keeping the coffee warm. However, continuous heat will make the coffee bitter.

Single-Serve Systems
These machines were once used exclusively in commercial places. Now, people buy them for their own use at home.

These are very convenient to use. Pre-packaged coffee is inserted into the machine and with one push of a button, the coffee starts to come out. There are variations to these, however.

Some pre-heats an entire reservoir or heats the water on demand. Some machines can brew with less water, making for stronger coffees. They are more like smaller versions of drip machines. Some involve pressure but they are not true espresso machines.

One complaint is that these machines use proprietary packaged coffee, so quality and freshness cannot be guaranteed.

French Press / Press Pot / Cafeteria / Plunger Pot
The French Press has two parts: the beaker (made of glass, metal or plastic) and a plunger which has a wire-mesh filter.

To use, heat the brewing water and pour it on the coffee grounds in the beaker. Let the coffee steep for about 3 to 5 minutes (to your taste) before putting the plunger in and push the dregs down with the filter mesh. You may stir the brew for a second or two before putting the plunger in. Pour the cleared coffee into an appropriate mug. It is now ready for drinking.

Note: Pour out the coffee into your drinking mugs or carafes right after brewing. Do not leave it steeped with the grounds all throughout. The continuous steeping will make the coffee bitter.

Espresso
Espresso is coffee created by forcing hot water steam through finely ground coffee at a certain pressure. The resulting brew is called espresso, as developed by the Italians. It is different from regular coffee in that it has a cream produced by the process unlike regular brews.

Espresso is the base for such bestselling Italian coffee concoctions as cappuccino, lattes, macchiato and more.

There are many more brewing techniques culled from all over the world. Since they are popular only in their parts, we have not included them in the list. Suffice it to say that whatever the number of brewing techniques that one knows, the quality changes accordingly.

Frankly, all of these coffee brewing techniques are just as good as any. And that says a lot on how versatile coffee is.

Jhon Noya, Author Of Free Tips Making Money From Internet and Free Tips For Dating

Author: Jhon Noya
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You have gone to the coffee shop and had your best cup of coffee ever. Now you want to duplicate it at home. You try, but it is just not the same.

The following may be some of the reasons.

Keep in mind that there are only a handful of things you can do to make a premium cup of coffee at home. Most are simple should you choose to adhere to them.

First, you need the right equipment. You need a coffee brewer that will extract the best flavor from your coffee beans. Most people buy a $20 brewer from Walmart and think they have the best equipment. After all, it is new. Well, a cheap brewer brewer brews cheap coffee. Also, they think that the more expensive brewers just have more fancy bells and whistles that they just do not need.

You need a really good coffee brewer to brew good coffee.

There are two items to look for when assessing whether it is a good brewer or just junk.

First, it must have a high quality heating element. Coffee at most coffee houses is heated with brewers that have elements that will heat the coffee between 198 and 205 degrees. The cheaper brewer can only heat to 180 degrees. Hot enough for you, you say? Not if you are trying to brew the best cup possible. You need to heat your coffee near the 200 degree mark so that you can pull the great attributes out of the coffee.

Lower temps just will not cut it.

The second item to look for in a brewer is a quick brew time. Your water should only stay with your coffee for three to four minutes. You want your water to pull the best out of the coffee, and not sit with the coffee for longer than four minutes. After four minutes you pull the negative tastes out of the coffee.

I have seen Bunn advertise on the box that they have a three minute brew time. Most customers see this and think “I have one half hour to get ready in the morning and do not care that it is quick”. Fact is, it is telling the customer that the water does not sit with the coffee very long, not that you will have a quick cup of coffee in the morning.

That is about all you need in a good brewer. Above this, it is all bells and whistles. If you need a morning timer or a clock, get it. However, it does not help you make better coffee. As a rule of thumb, spend above $75 to get a good coffee maker. For goodness sake, they last 10 years. Bunn, Krups and Cuisanart have been consistent brands. However, beware even with these brands because they too will sell a crappy coffee maker.

The third important factor in making great coffee is in the water you are using. Coffee is 99.00123% water, and therefore, it is a very important factor. If you are using unfiltered tap water, (even if your city does have the best water), stop it. Put a high quality filter on the line under your sink, and do not forget to change the filter regularly. Using an on the counter filter system generally does not cut it. Use bottled water if you cannot have a high quality filter installed. The bottom line is use perfect water.

The fourth and final factor in improving your coffee is to use fresh coffee beans. We suggest that you invest in a burr grinder and grind the coffee just prior to brewing it. This can make a huge difference in the taste. While buying “gourmet” coffee off the shelves at the grocery store can make a huge difference in how your coffee tastes if you are using Folgers out of a can, I suggest you avoid what is on the grocery store shelf, especially the large bins of coffee that are unsealed.

Rather, locate a roaster of coffee in your area. What I am referring to is a place that buys the coffee beans in their green condition, and then roasts them on-site. Not only are you buying the freshest coffee possible, but you are keeping your money in your own community.

I suggest you find a roaster that will tell you the date that the coffee was roasted. Coffee is at its best within 14 days from its roast date. The quality begins to dissipate after this, although depending upon how the coffee is stored, it can last for 30 to 45 days after the roast date. With that being said, buy just enough coffee to get you through one week of home brewing. Generally this is between one and two pounds of coffee for most households.

Finding a coffee roaster that has a big selection of coffees and blends can be difficult. Start with the internet and see what comes up in your area. You never know, you may just start your very own Starbucks from the comfort of your very own kitchen.

The Jackson Coffee Company’s story is really quite simple: We have been roasting and brewing really great coffee since September 2006. Our coffee is roasted in small drum roasters in our downtown Jackson store, which is located in the heart of Jackson’s business district. We do this because we know that there is nothing better than freshly roasted coffee so long as you’re starting with great beans and roasting them with passion.

In 2007, 2008, and 2009 we won awards for “Best Coffee House” in Jackson. We have won every year since opening, beating out the likes of Biggby Coffee, three Starbucks, Bearclaw Coffee, three Tim Hortons, Dunkin Donuts, and 5 other independent coffee houses.

In 2007, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce awarded Jackson Coffee Co. the coveted Brick Award. In 2008, the Chamber awarded us the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. In the March 2009 edition, Jackson Coffee Co. was on the cover of Jackson Magazine, and was the feature article. Our commitment to coffee, as well as the remarkable flavor of our coffees and our commitment to our community, is the reason for our awards. It’s what we call “The J Way”.

Author: Brian Surgener
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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