Coffee

Though I have never been a coffee drinker, I love the smell of it brewing in the morning. I guess it is because I have happy memories as a child and I knew the smell of coffee meant my mother was up and we were going to have one of her wonderful breakfasts or that we were at my grandmother’s house and we were going to have one of her wonderful breakfasts. My grandmother always had a pot of coffee on the stove for visitors – and a homemade apple pie – and there was always someone at the house visiting!

People have been enjoying the benefits of coffee for over fifteen hundred years. Originating from the Kaffa, Buno, and Ethiopia areas, the main center of production was the port city of Mocha, Yemen, where it was served to Italian merchants and then spread to Europe in the 1600′s. Little did the Turks know that they were serving what would become one of the most popular drinks in history. Coffee houses began ‘brewing’ all over North American in 1668 in towns such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans drink on the average of more than eight ounces of coffee a day.

The benefits of coffee are astounding. Coffee is extremely high in antioxidants (substances that slow down or prevent oxidative damage to our cells and bodies and act as free radical scavengers). In Harvard Health Publication, studies have shown coffee in moderation can reduce the risk of developing gall stones, colon cancer, liver damage, Parkinson’s disease, improve endurance performance in physical activities and cognitive function.

It is recommended that coffee be consumed in moderation since it is a stimulant. Too much coffee or anything for that matter, can do more harm than good, so limit consumption to no more than two cups a day. Over consumption of coffee can cause anxiety or panic attacks and in some cases increase the risk of heart disease in some people. If you find that you are jittery or nervous after drinking coffee, cut back.

The key to brewing a good cup of coffee is to grind good quality fresh beans yourself. As soon as the beans are ground, precious oils that make your coffee taste great are lost. Just imagine how great your coffee will taste from freshly ground beans. A coffee grinder is used for this purpose and a must if you really want a good cup of coffee. I am going to add a personal note here about coffee grinders. I have one and use mine to grind nuts and seeds to make a coating for food instead of breadcrumbs. I grind almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mix them together with paprika, herbs, a little salt and pepper. This makes a grand coating for salmon cakes or chicken and fish. Then I pan sear, and serve with a mayonnaise, lemon, garlic, and horseradish sauce. Yum. 

I have also used mine to grind herbs if I want them really fine. If you wish to use a coffee grinder for other things, it is best to purchase two – one for coffee and one for grinding nuts, seeds and herbs. Purchase high quality beans, of course choosing the type of bean for a particular flavor is up to you. If your water is poor quality, use filtered or spring water to make your coffee taste even better.   Also consider organic coffee and experiment with different flavor beans to find your favorite. Our parents used to let us have a small amount of coffee when we were kids. They called it coffee milk and it consisted of coffee, pure cream – more cream than coffee and sugar. That was a real treat.

Safe Home Sue is a product specialist for Safe Home Products(R). Safe Home Products, Inc. is a growing e-commerce reseller of consumer products that improve safety, security, health and quality of life. Established in 1999 as a woman-owned business, Safe Home Products serves over 100,000 clients worldwide from its customer service and fulfillment headquarters in Iowa City, Iowa. Safe Home Products offers over 10,000 products including carbon monoxide and radon detectors, emergency preparedness equipment, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, pet products, pest control solutions, and home medical equipment. They ship to all 50 states and U.S. territories and to most countries.

Author: Sue Wes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Who knew there were so many styles and varieties of coffee makers? We have come a very long way from the time my grandmother and yours boiled the coffee over the open fire in the hearth. Choosing a coffee maker to fit your lifestyle is a big deal.

Now we have one cup coffee makers,2-cup coffee makers, and 4-cup coffee makers, 10 and 12 cup coffee makers and espresso machines that offer 4 oz cups of espresso for the coffee connoisseur. There are coffee makers that do everything for you, almost even to washing the cup when you are finished – but not quite. There are coffee makers that just simply can not have your coffee ready when you wake up in the morning – you actually have to go and push the button before you get your coffee. And there are coffee makers for the in between crowd. So how do you choose a coffee maker?

Choosing the Budget

For people for whom money is an object to consider, the first thing you will need to do is determine your budget for a coffee maker. Choosing a coffee maker that will break your bank account is not a wise decision; but choosing a coffee maker that is inexpensive just because it is inexpensive may not be a wise decision either.

How much coffee do you drink and how much money do you spend at the neighborhood coffee stand? Some of the low end coffee makers may cost the same as you already spend in a week at the coffee shop just down the street. Probably, you can afford to spend a little more and get a few more features in your coffee maker. You don’t want to end up buying a coffee maker but still stopping 2-3 times a day at the coffee stand for that specialty coffee you like so much but your machine can’t make. When choosing your coffee maker, make sure that it is adequate to meet your needs. Some simply want a cup of coffee in the morning before work and when they finish that cup, they are finished for the day. There’s no need to buy the most expensive machine for one cup of coffee per day.

Choosing the Brand

What brand stands out in your mind as a really great brand? Do they help people you would like to help out of their earnings? Is the brand well-made? Is it important to you where the coffee machine is manufactured? Is there anything important about the brand that would cause you to choose the coffee maker over another coffee maker?

Usually, every brand offers some sort of history about itself on their website which we have tried to summarize on our website. Find out the information you want to know and choose a brand you would like to buy. Choose the coffee maker from among their offerings that will fit your lifestyle and your needs.

Choosing the Type of Coffeemaker and Its Features

What type of coffee maker would you like to own? Do you want a machine that will serve enough coffee for guests? Do you want a machine that makes tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, and hot water for soup? Do you want a machine that dispenses one cup of coffee at a time and allows the user to choose from a variety of flavors and options? Choosing the coffee maker that best fits your needs will work best when you know how much space you have for the machine and what features interest you the most.

An RV will not have as much room as a home with 2,000 square feet of living space. The galley on a boat will not have as much room as a gourmet kitchen. Think about your space. Choose which coffee makers will fit in the space.

Then think about the features you want. Do you really need a programmable machine? Do you have your first cup of coffee after you’ve had a shower, applied your make-up, and fixed your hair? Or can you not even breathe until you’ve had your first sip of coffee? Do you always go for lattes or are you the person who always goes for the basic cup of coffee? Choose the coffee maker with the features that fit your desires and your lifestyle.

Conclusion

If you’re like me, you will want to choose the best coffee maker for the amount of money you have.Choosing and buying smart is the best way to choose a coffee maker.

With so many coffee maker possibilities out there, take your time. Read coffee maker reviews look at the features, compare and contrast, and study your budget. Yogi Shinde is the publisher of coffee maker reviews and ratings website offering researched information on choosing best coffee maker to suit your needs.

Author: Yogi Shinde
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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