Coffee

A large percentage of the population loves to drink both gourmet coffee and espresso drinks. We are all aware of the fact that coffee and espresso provide a boost of energy and they also warm your body up on those cold winter days. Most, however, are not familiar with the history of the coffee and espresso machines, themselves. Without these machines, we probably wouldn’t see such a large population that can easily and affordably prepare these common drinks.

Where did the coffee maker come from?

Since the days of the early Egyptians, coffee has been a staple beverage for most people. Though the Coffee bean originated in Africa, it quickly spread to neighboring countries, like Arabia and Egypt. The first method of bean preparation was to roast the beans on an open fire and then added to boiling water for consumption.

It is believed that coffee was probably considered a type of wine and used to barter and trade. Fermented in much the same as grapes, coffee was a source of energy and warmth for most, but some drank it because they loved the taste, too.

A man by the name of Mr. Laurens came up with the first coffee-making machine in 1818. The machine was constantly modified by coffee drinkers. The coffee machine was actually a product that had just as many patents by women as men, that was practically unheard of at that time!

Through the years, the coffee machine has become a reliable, dependable and easy to use product. In the 1960′s, the first filter machines were invented and the modifications have improved even more since then. Coffee making machines began as crude looking inventions, but have evolved into many different styles, making it possible for a Governor and a Harley biker to own the same style! Found in just about every home, the coffee machine is made by many manufacturers, including: Braun, Senseo, Kitchenaid, Krups and Pod.

Where did the espresso machine come from?

Discovered by a goat herder and developed by a tired, hungry traveler, the espresso drink has provided many with the extra energy they may need. The goat herder noticed the goats acting like they had an extreme boost of energy. As he searched for his heard, he noticed they were snacking on a red berry growing from shrubs. Curious, he ate a berry and felt as if he had suddenly gained more energy as a result. At the same time, a tired, hungry traveler witnesses the occurrences and jumped at the chance to try it for himself. Having the same reactions as the herder and goats, he knew that they were on to something. He took some berries and began to add them to drinks for those in his hometown, as the drink seemed to be a good source of energy. The idea took off from there!

The first espresso maker is said to have originated in Italy in 1901, by Italian manufacturing company owner, Lugia Bezzer. He was simply looking for a way to help speed up his employee’s coffee breaks. He figured out that if pressure was applied in the brewing process, the drink could be made in a lot less time. Nicknamed “The fast coffee machine”, the espresso machine patent was sold in 1905. The new owner, Desidero Pavoni developed an espresso machine that used a piston pump to force water through a tube and into the coffee.

Modifications on the espresso machine were halted by the onset of WWII. Production picked up after the war and in 1946, the commercial espresso machine was invented. Since that time, the espresso maker has been produced by many name brand companies, including: Juda, Mr.Coffee, Kitchenaid and Braun. Offering various features, styles, colors and prices, the espresso machine has come a long way!

C V is a freelance writer, providing articles and information on where to buy Bunn coffee makers, coffee roasters, Saeco espresso machines, coffee grinders, and more.

Author: Chris Vorelli
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic DMC-ZS7

It’s amazing to think that just a simple drink of coffee can be so romantic. Just think how much effort has been put into harvesting the beans, processing them and then transporting them. Coffee has fascinated, cured and improved millions of people’s lives all over the world.

The most reliable information we have states that the coffee plant was originally from Ethiopia and was discovered in about 500BC. People started to notice effects when consuming the berries. It was taken to Arabia which is where it got its name!

The renaissance saw commercial production of coffee which meant it was worldwide. During the 18th century coffee spread to different countries, particularly Europe, Asia, Americas, the Middle East. It was suddenly a popular drink for every social class.

People started to say that the effects they noticed by drinking coffee were amazing, some of these health benefits were just myth, however others did have some truth in them!

Some scientific studies have noticed that sperm in mammals swim faster and have more energy when they are swimming through a liquid with coffee in it. It is thought that the caffeine in the coffee stimulates them to perform better.

Another Harvard study looked at 100,000 with diabetes and suggested that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the effects of diabetes. Other tests have shown protection against cirrhosis of the liver and even decreasing asthma.

Coffee contains antioxidants which are similar to those found in wine. These are thought to improve the health of your heart. However the problem is that coffee is known to cause some negative effects as well and nobody is sure whether it is beneficial as a whole to drink coffee. Some people have suggested that long term use of coffee can cause to nerve degeneration. If you suddenly stop drinking coffee then your body will crave for caffeine which can result in sleeplessness.

It doesn’t really matter whether coffee is good or bad, it’s going to stay because it is so popular. This is so certain because of the price. Coffee is the second most expensive commodity, with oil being the first!

Over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed every year, no matter which country you are in it’s extremely popular. It may not be hugely popular, only around 20% of adults drink more than one cup of coffee a day however its sales still total almost $9 billion every year.

If you then go on to consider everything else that a person buys for coffee, including grinders, roasters, brewers, cups and of course the raw beans then it will be a lot more than that.

Coffee is rising in price every year, it is set to have a bright future ahead of it. You can tell just how popular coffee is by the invasion of the coffee shops in all of our high streets! Starbucks have over 10,000 shops!

There are many different ways of drinking coffee, including espresso, straight shots or even double shots. All of these exotic coffees are available from your home coffee machine, whether it’s a traditional cofee maker, espresso machine, or a coffee maker that only makes one cup.

You can even make cappuccinos and lattes if you add a few extra ingredients and press a few extra buttons.

Being really interested in one cup coffee maker, Leroy Calstard has been authoring different papers in this specific area. His contributions on single serving coffee makers can be encountered on http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com .

Author: Leroy C. Calstard
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital economy, mobile technology

Coffee has a fairly secure history when in comes to details, although there are a few controversies as to actually who was the very first to grow it. One fact that is not disputed, however, is that Arabian coffee is the finest in the world.

It is accepted that Arabia was most definitely the first country to commercialize coffee growing – so hence its name coffee Arabica. There are in excess of 40 different types of plants in the coffee family but only two of them can be used for coffee; the first being coffee Arabica and the second, somewhat inferior species, Robusta.

Variables that go into making good coffee including Arabian coffee are so many that one little alteration and it can change the quality and taste dramatically. This is one of the factors that makes coffee so intriguing and yet can make it a little frustrating when trying to find that personal perfection in your coffee tastes. There is little doubt though that you will find what you desire within the Arabian coffee selections.

Arabian coffee is such a desired commodity that it makes up for about 80% of the coffee sales in the entire world. It is somewhat harder to grow then Robusta so that partially accounts for the extra cost that is associated with buying Arabica coffee as opposed to Robusta.

Very specific growing conditions are demanded by Arabica coffee beans and where those needs are met then that’s where the most superior coffee in the world is produced. It must have high elevations for optimal growth, which is between 3,000 to 6,500. The consensus is the higher the altitude is the longer it takes for Arabian coffee plants to grow and mature. This is beneficial because it allows for a longer time for the characteristics it possesses to materialize and permeate.

Every coffee has its variations and coffee Arabica basically has three major varieties being Typica, Caturra and Bourbon has well. Although they all have the same origin, they each have subtle differences that make for different variances in the final cup. Most avid coffee lovers that really know their coffee would be able to identify these differences, but many others probably would not. There are small differences in the body and balance for example.

As we, mentioned Arabica coffee can be somewhat fragile to grow, but by having these sub types developed, it has also hardened them up somewhat without jeopardizing the quality and the taste.

What it comes down to coffee Arabica is still great in its worst form but when it is prepared at its best its difficult to put into words just how superior it really is. One of the problems that can happen is if you have had the joy of getting a superior cup of coffee Arabica then go back to what you usually consume you are just not going to be happy with the brew that you have always enjoyed in the past.

For more up to date information on Coffee and all its fantastic benefits, please visit http://www.coffeebeansroasting.com.

Author: Carl Da Costa
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

Have you ever wondered, as you’re sitting in your favorite coffee shop or perhaps at your own kitchen table, sipping your morning cup of gourmet coffee, where that wonderful drink originated at? If you live in the United States, you can thank a man by the name of Alfred Peet. In 1955, Alfred Peet moved to California from Amsterdam, Holland. To his despair, he couldn’t find a decent cup of coffee anywhere. As the son of an Amsterdam coffee trader, he knew good coffee when he drank it.

In 1966, Peet opened a small coffee store in Berkley, California, and began to sell his dark roasted beans. At the time there was one other North American store selling quality coffee, but they were in Vancouver, Canada. From that time until now, Peet’s has served the gourmet coffee needs in Southern California.

While gourmet coffee didn’t come to the States until 1966, coffee has been around since the 9th century, when Ethiopian shepherds notice that their goats would “dance” and had more energy after eating wild coffee beans. Since Islam prohibits the use of alcohol, coffee provided an alternative to wine. From there it spread to Egypt and Yemen. It wasn’t until it reached Arabia that coffee beans were roasted and brewed to make a drink.

At first, this drink was not well received by the Islamic people. In 1511, it was forbidden by the court at Mecca. The drink was so popular, though, that this was overturned in 1524 by the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Selim. It was also banned for a time in Egypt and Ethiopia, before being accepted as an acceptable Muslim drink. This was largely due to the rulers at the time liking the taste of the beverage, therefore decreeing it acceptable.

By the 15th century, coffee was common throughout the Middle East, Persia, Turkey and North Africa. The word “coffee” came from “caffé” in Italy in the 16th century. Before that it was called, in Arabic, “qahwa”. In Venice traders started buying coffee from Africa and the Middle East, and in 1645 the first European coffee house opened.

The Dutch defied the Saudi Arabians prohibition on exportation of coffee by smuggling seedlings from Aden into Europe in 1616. They were also the first country to import coffee on a large scale. They took plants to Java and Ceylon, where they started exporting to the Netherlands in 1711.

Coffee arrived in the United States during the colonial period. When it was first imported, it was not widely drunk in the United States. It wasn’t until the revolutionary war and the shortage of tea, that Americans began drinking it on a regular basis. After the War of 1812, America’s taste for coffee grew and it became a common drink.

As the consumption of coffee grew, so did the companies cultivating, roasting and grinding. The larger companies used (and still do) a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans for a commercial blend, while gourmet coffee is roasted from the Arabica bean alone. Arabica beans are considered the tastiest of the three types of bean and also the most expensive.

Today, coffee is the life-blood of the third world countries that produce it. Over a hundred million people depend on the growth, production and exportation of this flavorful bean.

The next time you pour yourself a wonderful cup of your favorite gourmet blend, consider the origins and history of the coffee bean and how it came to be in your favorite store. The rich history of gourmet coffee is almost as rich and full-bodied as the drink itself which will surely give you even more of that warm and cozy feeling that only a nice cup of coffee can give!

Katya Coen provides information on gourmet coffee for Coffee Online – the site for coffee lovers.

Author: Katya Coen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic Lumix G2

Whether your a proclaimed coffee lover or a regular of Starbucks, you won’t be capable of understanding the art of appreciating genuine gourmet coffee unless you grasp the history and knowledge associated with it. Oh, of course, you don’t have to an connoisseur to love and appreciate gourmet coffee, but understanding a little bit more than what supermarket sells the instant coffee would help you admire the flavour, aroma and pure bliss that the fans gourmet coffee know that it is truly capable of.

Gourmet coffee is the complete opposite to fine wine. With wine, the longer it sits, the better it tastes, as its quality and price increases. But with gourmet coffee, freshness is an absolute must. If feasible, get coffee beans that have been roasted no more than 1 week beforehand. And if you’re going to discover its true potential, it’s essential that you only buy 100% Arabica beans.

It’s nearly impossible to find fresh roasted coffee on the shelves of your local supermarket. There is a really good chance, that the coffee that you’re drinking today has been roasted 2 or more months ago. You can try and change this problem by purchasing whole roasted coffee beans in batches from reputable on-line companies and grind them at home only when you need it. This is simpler that you think, as gourmet coffee companies have become more accessible with the onset of the Internet . Combine that with affordable at-home technology, it has become even easier to enjoy real gourmet coffee in the comfort of your own home whenever you feel fit.

In order to get the most out of your purchase, you want to do everything that you can to ensure the freshness of the coffee. After purchasing gourmet coffee beans, it’s almost a sin to leave it sitting out on the counter at room temperature. The first step is to make sure that you store any unused beans in an airtight container. If you are a regular coffee drinker, you can safely store the container in the refrigerator. But if you enjoy it only on special occasions or when you have guests, it is important to store your unused coffee beans in the freezer. This helps to keep it as fresh as possible. It won’t be exactly like freshly roasted coffee, but it will still be superior to the stale stuff that you buy off the supermarket shelves.

As with other products like wine, the area where the grapes are grown makes a really big difference. This is no different with gourmet coffee. There are two very important facts to consider. First, the country the gourmet coffee beans are grown can make a difference in taste and quality. But just as important is the company that roasts and sell the gourmet coffee beans. Remember to buy only from companies that have proven themselves. This is not hard to find out. Coffee tastings and reviews are a big part of the industry, and that information is readily available.

The most important thing about gourmet coffee is that you must take the time to really appreciate it. If you plan on slamming a cup of coffee as you run off to work in the morning, then stick the instant stuff. It’s almost an insult to all the hard work and art that goes into making really good gourmet coffee.

Gourmet Coffee Revealed [http://www.bestgourmetcoffee.info]

Chris Hickey “Been surfing the net for 12 years..seen some things that impress me and some things that disappoint me, but I am far from seeing it all.”

Author: Chris Hickey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Android phones