Coffee

Coffee plants are grown in huge volumes in many parts of the world. The plant is cultivated in more than seventy countries, many of them warm climate countries, including Indonesia and Brazil, who are two of the world’s biggest coffee producers. The plants are most often grown in areas lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Other coffee plant growing areas include Africa, Central America, and India.

Although the plants are grown all over the world, the cultivation is pretty much the same process in each country, and can be a very complex process. There are two main species of coffee plants, which are known as the Arabica and the Robusta. They are small, evergreen trees, and the cultivation of coffee plants take place on plantations. The process of cultivating the plant can be labor intensive, with the amount of work needed depending on the method of farming used. This fact makes coffee cultivation more suitable for developing nations lying around the equatorial regions of the world. Coffee plants usually require temperatures that range from 15-24C without any severe fluctuations.

Coffee grows best on fields that are well drained and well aerated with deep soils, and the plants require a large supply of oxygen to provide to their root systems. Their need for large amounts of oxygen is the reason why aerated soils are the best for the cultivation and growing of coffee. The plants also require 1500mm to 2000mm of rainfall annually to provide the best results. If the rainfall is below the ideal mark then the deficit must be provided with additional moisture through irrigation means. For a higher quality of coffee, it is best to cultivate the plants at higher altitudes with an abundance of mist and clouds. The higher altitudes provide lower oxygen content, so the coffee plants take longer to mature, which helps development better flavor within the coffee beans.

Coffee trees require constant special attention from the farmer. These plants require a specific amount of shaded sunlight, regular watering and fertilizing. They must also be protected from pests and weeds to ensure they yield the best and the most coffee beans. Coffee flowers take approximately six to eight weeks to blossom, and the period the flower takes to blossom then harvest may last as long as nine months, depending on environmental and other factors. The red fruits of the coffee tree take six to eight months to ripen after the tree begins to bear fruit. Regular harvesting is required because coffee plant fruits may become over ripe after ten to fourteen days.

The fruits are often hand-picked in mountainous regions of the world, instead of using mechanical harvesters. Coffee beans are found in the fruits of the coffee plant, and are also hand-picked by manual laborers. The manual laborers must learn how to pick the best beans and discard bad beans, which requires the laborers to have much skill in that area. The hand-pickers must provide special attention to each bean, and must perform a thorough evaluation. After harvesting and picking the coffee beans must be processed, which is drying and roasting to make them ready for fresh grounding. The cultivation and growing process may be long and complicated, but it is a process that is the same throughout the world, it is needed to provide the best quality of coffee to consumers, and is necessary to give the best yield of coffee to growers.

Many of the different coffee harvests from around the world are often blended with one another in an endeavour to obtain the best flavor for the consumer, of course this is a different flavor for different roasters, what is a beautiful coffee for some is bitter to others and vice versa.

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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Pour-over, automatic and satellite brewers are designed to produce traditional “American-style” coffee. These brewers drip heated water over gronded coffee in a filter. Pour-over models require manual filling of water reservoirs, while automatic urns and satellite brewers connect to a water line. One type of urn holds heated water in a separate chamber until the brew button is pushed, while another uses a heat exchanger. Some coffeemakers have heated plates below glass or metal decanters, while others dispense brewed coffee into insulated thermal or air-pots to keep the beverage warm. Freestanding, insulated urns hold up to 5 gallons of coffee and free up coffeemakers to make additional product while allowing service elsewhere.

Some coffee urns have heating systems that measure the temperature of the coffee and increase heat as needed. Manual brewers, such as French presses, are intended for tableside use. There are different designs and capacities of coffee urns available. Ranging from metallic coffee urns to highly polished coffee urns, all are available in the market. You can expect the coffee urn to have the following features:

Automatic temperature control which keeps the coffee hot for hours. Quick brewing – one cup per minute. Twist-to-secure cover. Two-way drip less faucet for easy serving. Interior water level markings for easy filling. Cool-tip filter basket for easy removal of grounds and stem.

Heat-resistant base and trim. Serving light indicates end of brewing cycle. Detachable cord. Durable aluminum construction. These (medium capacity) coffee urns can hold up to 30 to 45 cups of coffee and the price ranges from $35 to $50 (the price depends on the finishing too). There are larger for-office coffee urns also available. These have a capacity of holding around 55 to 60 cups of coffee and ranges from $90 to $150; the price depends on the type of material used like aluminium or stainless steel.

There are commercial coffee urns as well as electric coffee urns which have a capacity ranging from 5 gallons to 10 gallons. In electric coffee urns, there would be a thermometer on the front panel; it would have adjustable by-pass system, which gives the operator the ability to adjust the strength of the coffee. It would also automatically replenish the urn with fresh water as soon as it starts running low. It may also have automatic coffee agitation – where in you just push the brew button and walk away.

The electric coffee urns may also have cycle stop switch which gives the operator the ability to stop the brew cycle midstream. These electric urns come in attractive casing- all stainless steel construction. The price for such urns may range from $2000 to $4500 depending on the capacity of the coffee urn. Such urns are recommended for big offices wherein the employees have easy access to coffee and coffee consumption is quite high.

I personally do not like any of the urns and coffee making ways, where the coffee is not brewed fresh. I partically don’t like the urns that brew the coffee and then control the temperature for sometimes many hours at a time. I would go for the impress your guests, friends, staff and/or colleagues and get in a more professional barista with the correct equipment.

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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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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It is always something new and exciting in the world for coffee drinkers. And Coffee pods are the latest craze. What Coffee pods are, is a small paper enclosure, similar to a tea bag that holds an amount of roasted coffee that is freshly ground and measured to a specific amount and then encased in this small a paper bag like container.

To make a pot of coffee using a pod in simple, all that you need to do is place the pod into the filter department of your coffee maker and the procedure is then the same as normal. The result is a consistent, delicious pot of coffee every single time. Then when you are finished, you just remove the used pod and dispose of it straight into the trash. No mess, less waste and completely fuss free.

Many manufacturers are now making coffee machines specifically for pods, however you can still make coffee using a pod with any coffee maker that you already own. Many companies are now producing and selling adapters so that you can use a pod in the filter of your coffee maker easily.

In our ever increasing fast paced society, using a coffee pod is a time saver as well. By using a coffee pod, you can skip the often time consuming step of measuring out your coffee grounds each time you want to make a pot of coffee. Coffee pods are now available in a wide variety of flavors and blends and you can even purchase organic pods.

Coffee pods are typically a generic size that is geared to fit most espresso machines. All you need to do is simply open your single wrapped pod, place the pod inside the filter of your machine, turn the coffee maker on and wait for the machine to go throught the process and deliver you a delicious cup of coffee.

Using pods can be beneficial in virtually every environment where coffee is consumed. In restaurants and cafes, coffee pods are convenient because they save time therefore increasing the level of productivity on site. You will also save money by cutting down on the wear and tear of the grinders.

Many office buildings find coffee pods convenient as well because they allow people to quickly produce high quality product. Remember to store your coffee pods properly. The individually wrapped coffee pods should be placed in a sealed container and kept somewhere that is cool and dark. Make certain that you do not store your pods in the fridge.

If you have a coffee maker that works with pods, but are a little put off on the cost of purchasing pods, you can easily create your own pods at home. First of all, you will need a measuring scoop that is stainless steel and that can fit into the pod holder on your pod maker. Measuring scoops that are 1/3 of a cup are typically the ideal fit. You will also need a jar or even a glass that will fit tight into your measuring scoop. You will also need to purchase filters for a four-cup machine that are of a Mr. Coffee style. It is important to ensure that the filters fit tightly.

Take one of the filters and spread in evenly over the end of the jar or glass. Now, press the jar into the measuring scoop until there is a tight edge along the bottom of the measuring cup. Take the jar away and add approximately two teaspoons of coffee grounds to the paper filter. Adjust the amount depending on how strong you prefer your coffee. With your fingers, fold any extra filter to fully cover the coffee grounds making sure that your folds are even. Use the jar to again press down inside of the scoop very hard. Invert the scoop and remove your new coffee pod. Creating your own coffee pods saves you money, and also allow you to create your favorite blends and strength 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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There is quite a vocabulary to decipher coffee’s degrees of taste, consistency and acuity. Even if you only occasionally drink coffee, knowing the various coffee terminologies can be helpful.
For example, Acidity is a term used to describe the sharpness or clarity of the taste of the coffee on your tongue. A great balance of acidity in the coffee is considered to be desirable. When speaking about coffee, the acidity is somewhat of a sensation that is the cleansing of your palate. This sensation is typically described as bright, snappy, or clear.

A coffee that is thought to be smooth, will not encompass the astringency of its acidic counterpart. It will give off a taste that is softer and at times somewhat sweet and is often considered more desirable by coffee drinkers. Acidity does not mean that a coffee should taste bitter. If a cup of coffee is bitter, it means that the beans were either over roasted or the coffee was not made in the perfect manner by the barista.

The awareness of weight on the tongue, as well as viscosity is known as the body of the coffee. A coffee that has a full body such as Sumatran will have more weight and be more syrupy than a coffee that has a lighter body such as Kenyan or Costa Rican. Many coffee’s that have a heaver body also have a lower amount of acidity.

The blend of taste, smell and body of the coffee is what is referred to as the flavor of the coffee. In sweeping terms, coffee can be describes as smooth (mellow) or acidic (sharp). However, if you wish to be a little more detailed, you can find coffee flavors being described as fruity, nutty, spicy, or even chocolaty.

Experts in coffee can often spot slight distinctions in taste and notice flavors such as blueberries or lemon. Blend is referred to as the combining of two or more varieties of roasted coffee or the mixing of different roasts (light or dark). The blend produces a balanced, delicious taste. There are a large number of coffee shops that create their own house blend for purchase.

The term cafe au lait is a French style coffee. Cafe au lait is created by pouring boiled milk and coffee into a cup at the same time. Many people love a good cup of Cafe au lait. When coffee is referred to as strong, this is a term used to specify the strength of either flaws or merits.

This could be used to say a coffee has a strong acidic taste or a strong aroma. When a coffee is called strong it does not mean that it is good, depending on how the term strong is being used.
A sweet coffee is one that is smooth, easy on the palate and does not contain taints. A sweet coffee is not harsh but rather soft and mellow.

If you are into grinding your own coffee and you hear the term burr mill, you may be wondering what this means. A burr mill is the choice tool for grinding coffee in many people’s eyes. A grinder’s burrs are two corrugated steel cylindrical plates that have cutting edges. These edges are adjustable, and they slice or shave the beans to a consistent grind. Which is of course what people grinding their own beans want to have happen.

An Espresso is a method of extracting the heart of coffee flavor, under pressure; from specially roasted, finely ground Arabica beans very quickly. 1-1/2 ounces of Espresso is called a shot and is served as the base of a large number of coffee beverages.

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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