Coffee

If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting a specialty coffee shop, you may have found yourself wondering how the shop owners decide what kind of great coffee makes it into the shop and which kinds don’t. The answer lies with coffee graders. Coffee graders give all coffee beans the thumbs up or thumbs down, and what they say carries a lot of weight in the coffee world. A good score from the coffee graders can get coffee fans everywhere buzzing.

Coffee Graders in Action

Long before the first steaming hot sip of coffee hits your lips, you should know that coffee graders have traveled long and hard, on arduous journeys in unpleasant and sometimes dangerous territories, to make sure you don’t have to settle for second best in your cups.

The grading of coffee happens well before the coffee is packaged and shipped to you back home. Before coffee hits the commercial market, a coffee grader known as a green coffee seller makes decisions about which beans should even make it to the roasting process. The “green” in the name refers to the fact that the coffee is raw – that these are coffee beans in their pre-roasted state.

Before they head off to be roasted, coffee beans are checked in a number of ways. First, all beans have to be of similar size and of approximately the same shape. Beans that are similar in size take a similar amount of time roasting, and which means your coffee taste won’t be thrown off a mix over roasted and under roasted beans. If you throw large and small beans in together, the small ones will pop and burn before the large ones even brown at all.

After the roasting process, new graders come along, and these graders are looking for different things in the beans. First and foremost, graders are looking for beans that have similar colors. When beans are different colors, it usually suggests that they have been roasted differently, which will impact the taste of your cup.

Likewise, they want to see that beans have been separated according to where they were grown. While mixes of beans are sometimes used in the final product to achieve a particular taste, this has to be done with care. Simply through beans together from all over the world will leave you with one unpleasant cup of coffee. Further, without this separation, you could be shelling out big bucks for what you think is matchless Kona coffee only to find out what you really bought was Folgers.

The next time you drink a great cup of coffee, spare a thought for the work of the coffee grader who helped put it on your table.

The copywriter Linden Walhard is very excited about information similar to coffee grinder reviews and coffee grinders. His abstracts on how to choose coffee a bean grinder are found on http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com and also different web pages.

Author: Linden A. Walhard
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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To buy coffee online requires a little guidance to avoid pitfalls and disappointment. Do you want to buy online from a store that has been around for several years, or one that hasn’t? Is personal attention to you and what you are buying important to you? Would you prefer to do business with a company that is based in Hawaii and the company owners have almost a half century of life in the islands?

Sometimes we want something different from the same old routine. Of course, everyone is trying to get rid of the same-old tired daily routine. We may do it subconsciously, even not realizing why we want new, want different things each and every day. Today many people find joy and enjoyment in drinking a cup of really good coffee, especially the world class royal coffee of Kona. We are looking for something special particularly in 2 cases: when we are depressed and when we are happy.

So then how to find out those rare coffee blends produced in different countries. Of course, you needn’t travel a long distance to get pure coffee beans. Now you can buy high quality coffee online from the comfort of your home.

Which Coffee Supplier is the best?

Many consumers get confused while looking for 100% original coffee online among multiple suppliers. They don’t know from which to choose and order. The largest coffee suppliers on the modern market are Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam. Of course, some regions of America, Asia and Africa also supply worldwide with original coffee.

Mexico, Uganda, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Indonesia, Kenya and Panama are considered to be among the countries where high quality coffee is produced.

Which coffee is the royalty of all coffees in the world?

Though Brasilia is the first largest supplier of green coffee over the world, there is a special grade of coffee beans that are not and cannot be grown there.

Which coffee is this? – Of course, the king of coffees – Kona coffee! This royal grade of coffee beans can be produced only in the Kona region of Hawaii islands. The perfect blend of all the six elements comprising of rich soil, proper elevation, cloud cover, sunshine, rain and a moderate slope helping in the drainage of the roots provided by the Hawaiian islands, have ensured an ideal environment to produce some of the richest coffee in the world.

Nowadays, Hawaiian Kona coffee is one of the most sought after coffees. Not to mention the rarest Kona coffee -Peaberry Kona coffee beans! They are really of the highest value and quality.

How to get the royal Kona coffee?

Today you can buy online almost any sort and grade of coffees produced in different countries, and so you can now buy gourmet Hawaiian Kona coffee from online Hawaii stores.

While you buy coffee online, be aware of some risk purchasing from sellers you do not know or have never ordered from before.

o Never purchase from individual sellers. Who knows where they got their coffee from or how old it is.
o Choose only sites of legal corporations. Federal, state, and local laws will help protect you when you purchase from a licensed seller.
o Try to buy coffee online only from original supplier countries. Why would you buy coffee grown in Hawaii from a store from another state? You’ve got to ask yourself; How old is their coffee inventory?

The best site to buy coffee online is Hawaii Gourmet Shopping owned and operated by Lanawiliama, Inc., a state licensed Hawaii-based reseller. Find their direct link to their coffee selection: http://Hawaii-Gourmet-Shopping.com/KonaCoffee1.html

Author: Will Campbell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Importing starts with green coffee that is completely processed and ready for export from the origin country. Typically, shipped in 20 foot containers of 275 to 320 bags (70kb or 60kg) or less. It could also be loaded bulk, therefore enabling more beans to be shipped, lowering the shipping costs on a per pound/kilo basis.

From the USA, specialty coffees are most often purchased by importers or individual roasters via an FOB Contract. FOB (Free On Board) means that the price paid by the buyer includes all of the costs in the exporting country, including processing, inland transport, warehousing, dock fees, export fees and loading the container onto the ship. Ownership passes from the seller to the buyer once the container passes over the rail of the ship. The ships captain prepares the Bill of Lading that you will present to your bank to prove the coffee is now on the ship.

The exporter will need a bank that can handle international interbank transactions. Preferably one that is experienced in export document requirements. If not well established at this type of transaction, the exporter will not want to extend credit to any buyer, but will require payment terms: CAD (Cash Against Documents).

A CAD transaction enables the exporter to have payment deposited into his bank account after presenting to the bank the required documents proving that the coffee purchased by the importer (buyer) meets the specifications in the coffee purchase contract/agreement. The exporter’s bank will determine exactly what documents are required.

These documents may include:

- Ocean Bill of Lading (from the freight liner after the coffee is loaded on the ship)
- Weight Notes to identify the exact content and weight of that content
- Certificate of Origin (issued by the government Customs authority in India)
- Certificate of Fumigation (if required by importing country)
- ICO Certificate of Origin (Approved by the ICO: International Coffee Organization)
- Invoice sent to buyer identify the details of the purchase and $Value.
- Packing List from seller as evidence of the product shipped.
- Other agricultural certificates as dictated in your country

Typically, the exporter will use an Export Broker in the origin country who is expert in these matters and can arrange all of the issues involved in preparing the coffee and the documents for export. If a broker is the seller/exporter, then he will handle all of the required export documentation. The buyer/importer arranges for payment, ocean freight and transport insurance. It’s also the importer’s responsibility for acquiring all import documentation and arrangement in his country.

Of course, finding buyers is the key when importing for resell. For information to identify coffee importers, office coffee service providers and specialty gourmet coffee roasters in the United States, you can purchase a membership list from the Specialty Coffee Association of America or from InfoUSA.com. You can use networking sites like, TradeKey as well.

Note: there are always risks associated with importing. Although the importer may have received samples representing the coffee purchased, in most cases the actual coffee received will match the quality grade, type and source, every coffee lot is different, even from the same region and farm.

There are a few ways to lower this risk. One is to be sure you have a “green coffee contract” modeled after the Green Coffee Association Contract Terms & Conditions. Second, be sure to get an export sample taken directly from the contain prior to its being loaded onto the ship, since once the container is on the ship ownership transfers to the importer (FOB contract terms). Finally, when you purchase is large enough, personally knowing who your buying from and even visiting the country to physically select and monitor the export process is an option.

Author, Steve Josephs is CEO of Intellidon Marketing Solutions, whose family 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.

Copyright 2009 The Great American Coffee Company and Intellidon Marketing Solutions, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reprints are permissible when this Copyright statement and website link are included.

Author: Steve Josephs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee roasting basics

Coffee is grown in remote areas throughout the world. In places like Java Indonesia, Kona Hawaii, and Harrar Ethiopia coffee is grown, selected, and then shipped globally. Since coffee is grown and consumed in different regions and since it is so popular, it is the second largest commodity exchanged in the world behind crude oil.

The most natural thing would have been for roasted coffee to be made where it is grown. It is, however, impossible for many reasons. First, while green coffee can be stored for one year without significant impact on the quality, roasted coffee provides fresh aroma and flavor for only about two weeks. Shipping roasted coffee by ship, would result in stalled coffee at destination.

In addition, coffee is roasted for local tastes. The bitter black roasts used in southern Italy are very different from those light acid ones consumed in northern Europe. In fact, the capacity of the district roaster to adjust roasting (and coffee blends) according to taste is an important competitive advantage – assuming it is well done, of course.

Should I do it at home?

Great, you say, no problem, give me some tomatoes, a package of butter, cheese, and I’ll take a pound of coffee…. But wait, is it freshly roasted?

Fresh coffee is like sunlight to the flowers. Take it away and it shows, real fast. First make sure you grind just before you brew – just as they do in that gourmet coffee shop around the corner where you have incredible organic coffee each time you visit. While the coffee roasted for a period of two week, the coffee takes only hours! Do not buy coffee unless you’re really in caffeine … it would you wilting flowers?

OK, great, we pick up the coffee beans and go to the cashier. But wait, it is indeed fresh? Take a look at the expiration date – it’s a year out. Mmm, what does this mean? Well, nothing really. Unless you are buying from a local roaster, chances are you buy coffee has already been roasted a few months ago, flushed with an inert gas such as nitrogen, to reduce oxidation and preserve freshness, and vacuum packed. Not very exciting, right?

So how about roasting coffee at home? Have you ever make bread at home? A pie? Remember that smell? The taste? Crispy! Well, it works also for coffee as well. Home roasted coffee gives both the means to experiment and experience of coffee in its natural form and the ultimate guarantee of freshness. Just be warned, roasting coffee is not for everyone. If you like cooking, if you’re a handyman, if you paint your own walls, go!

How do I roast coffee?

Easy, just buy a pound of green beans and throw them in the oven, right?

Wrong! First, green beans are not easy to find. Your best source is Sweet Maria’s online site, which is the ultimate source for supplies and information. Be warned though, this site is all for geeks. No problem, just take the beans and run … Coffee Bean Corral may be a friendly source, but it potentially has a smaller variety. Be sure to compare prices of course. One of the major benefits of roasting at home: raw beans are 50% cheaper than roasted ones. Cool!

Ok, that done, should I buy one of these geeky roasting devices? Probably not. Let’s start with the easy path – your oven.

Preheat it to 430 degrees, place half a pound of beans in the cooking pan and put it in the oven. Make sure you shake every five minutes for even roasting. While you’re at it, open the windows – this is a smoky business… Set your watch for 20 minutes.

Start looking at the color of the beans. Maybe have some coffee from your favorite cafe so you can compare the color and stop the roasting when your beans get the desired roast level. Take the hot beans outside (you do not want all the coffee chaff inside), place them in a colander, and shake a little to cool them down. Store the beans in a cool dark place – no vacuum required, they are fresh for a week.

So, what’s next for me?

Nothing …. or everything … The world of roasting is as deep as you want it to be. You want just the tip of the iceberg? Well, you’re already there. Do you want to discover more? Surf the web, learn more about the coffees available there, play with them – develop your palate and taste. In a short time and a lot of passion, you can easily become a good home coffee roaster, which is much better than what you get at Starbucks and at a fraction of the price. well, at some point you may even get a cool roasting machine – never say never …

Authored by Eyal Rosen, sponsored by http://www.roaste.com/

Source: http://www.roaste.com/

Author: Eyal Rosen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The first recorded use of coffee as a beverage goes back to the ninth century in highland Ethiopia. According to the legend, a shepherd named Kaldi in Ethiopia noticed that his goats seemed to dance about and to have a higher energy level after eating bright red berries from the coffee plant. Coffee use soon spread to Egypt, Yemen, and Arabia where raw coffee beans were processed by being roasted and then brewed into a beverage. By the fifteenth century coffee drinking had spread throughout the Middle East and into Turkey, Persia and all over north Africa. At the end of the sixteenth century a German doctor traveling in the Near East described coffee as a drink as black as ink which is useful in the treatment of many illnesses, especially stomach disorders.

The thriving commerce between the Middle East, North Africa, and Venice soon brought coffee and coffee drinking to Venice, from where it quickly spread throughout Europe. Although there was suspicion of the drink due to its Muslim origins, Pope Clement VIII declared coffee to be a respectable Christian beverage in 1600, which decree made coffee drinking socially respectable and increased its popularity. The first coffee house in Europe opened in 1645 in Italy. Soon Dutch traders began importing large quantities of coffee to northern Europe. In spite of Arab prohibitions against allowing green coffee suppliers to export unroasted seeds or living coffee plants, in 1616 a Dutch trader named Pieter van den Broeck was able to smuggle some live coffee seedlings out of Aden to Europe. The Dutch began to grow coffee in their colonies in Ceylon and Java, and in 1711 coffee was first exported from Java to Holland. The English East India Company was also active in coffee growing and exporting at this time, and in 1657 coffee was first introduced in France. Coffee came to Poland and Austria after Turkish invaders were defeated in the Battle of Vienna in 1683 and their supplies of coffee were captured by the defenders.

Coffee came to North America with the European colonization, but it was not as successful there as it had been in the old country. The English tax on tea, which led to the Boston Tea Party and other protests by American colonists, turned America into a principally coffee drinking country. During the American Revolution tea imports from England were cut off and coffee demand increased to such an extent that the dealers were forced to hoard the scarce supply of fair trade coffee beans and to raise prices drastically. The War of 1812 also restricted imports of tea from England and created greater demand for coffee. The Civil War was fought on coffee, which became a contraband item at the frontier between north and south: illicit salt and coffee being traded for tobacco and cotton.

Today raw coffee beans are the most valuable legally-traded export item after petroleum. Fair trade coffee beans are the most important cash crop in many countries in the Third World. Over 100,000,000 rural green coffee suppliers in developing countries depend on coffee as their main source of income.

Author: Alice Lane
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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