Coffee

If you travel to the Hexagon you may be surprised to see that coffee in France is a little different then what you may be used to drinking. For one thing, it is usually fairly strong – not as strong as an Italian espresso but certainly stronger then the average cup of American Joe.

When you are served coffee in France, don’t expect a large mug full either. The coffee will most likely be served in small, demitasse cups and, given its strength, this may be all you need. Sugar will be offered, but milk frequently is not. Not that a French host will object to you using a little milk – they just don’t think to offer it.

How do they make their coffee at home?

Drip coffee machine. Called a cafetière, these are fairly common, although the trend is definitely towards home espresso machines.

Stovetop espresso brewer. Commonly called a moka pot, you will find these in the housewares section of even small grocery stores in France.

French press. Despite its name, this way of making coffee is not necessarily a French invention. It is however a very popular and economical way to brew a cup of coffee that tastes very close to what you get when you go to a French café.

Electric espresso maker. – Judging by what’s available in the local French supermarket, I’d say these are the fastest growing segment of the coffee machine market in France. (The undeniable charm of George Clooney may have more to do with this then we imagine.)

What sort of coffee do they use?

Judging once again by what’s available in the French supermarket, most French people are not grinding their own beans. If it isn’t packaged in “dosettes” to feed an electric espresso maker, the coffee generally comes vacuum packed in 250 gram units. Almost all of the coffee available like this is fairly finely ground, although there are some packages of whole beans as well.

You can purchase 100 percent Arabica coffee in the supermarket. Although it may be somewhat higher in price, some people think it makes a superior tasting cup of coffee. Most of the coffee drank in France though is a blend of Robusta and Arabica.

Ordering coffee in France

You may not have coffee in a French home, but if you travel to France you will surely have the opportunity to order coffee in a café. You can also order coffee in most any bar (indeed the distinction between a café and a bar is fuzzy at times). Where ever you are, the names of the various coffee drinks stay somewhat the same. (There are regional differences, but for the purposes of this article we’ll stick to the Parisian terms, which should work fairly well anywhere in France).

• Un Café – A demitasse cup of espresso strength coffee.
• Un Double – Twice the amount of the same coffee.
• Un Crème - An espresso strength coffee with cream (or possibly milk – it depends upon the café)
• Une Noissette - Once again this is an espresso, but there is just a hint of cream or milk floating on top.
• Café au Lait - Coffee mixed about half and half with hot milk. Many times the hot milk is served on the side.
• Café Léger or Café Allongé – Regular strength coffee that has been watered down.
• Café Americaine – This is filtered coffee, similar to what you get from a drip machine.

When is coffee drank in France?

In the morning? Certainly. After lunch? Yes again. Even in the evening, you will see French people enjoying a cup of espresso after a meal. I don’t know how they can do it and sleep. I used to think they were all drinking decaf, but many times this isn’t even available in restaurants. I don’t go there, but you may like to. Part of your personal French coffee experience.

Kim Steele, who’s been making France her home for the past 18 years, has created a fun website based on her many and varied experiences. Easy French Food is for anyone interested in French culture and especially French food. Her favorite way to enjoy coffee in France is from a French Press Coffee Pot. Enjoy!

Author: Kim Steele
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Most consumers would think that coffee is coffee and that it wouldn’t matter if it’s instant or brewed as long as it tastes okay and wakes them up. While that is all fine and dandy, it is worth noting that picking the best beans according to your preference can result in a coffee which will be most looked forward to every morning. And if you own a grinder or a grind and brew coffee maker, you will notice the difference once you start thinking about your options and you will be glad that you did.

• Do Coffee Species Matter?

There are different species of coffee plants like Coffea arabica, Coffea benghalensis, Coffea canephora, Coffea congensis, Coffea excelsa, Coffea gallienii, Coffea bonnieri, Coffea mogeneti, Coffea liberica, and Coffea stenophylla. Each species produce beans that have certain different characteristics and distinct flavor profiles.

Around 75% of the world’s coffee trade is comprised of Coffee Arabica, the reason being its preferred flavor and ability to thrive in most areas. Arabica beans are coveted for the deep aroma and great flavor that can go with most coffee additives like cream, sugar, and so on. This is something that most coffee drinkers agree on with good reason. You can never go wrong with a high quality brand of 100% Arabica with a medium roast.

• Which Roast Is The Best?

There are different types of roast, depending on how long the beans are roasted. It can be determined by different degrees of darkness. There are four main types of roasts – Light (Cinnamon Roast, Half City, New England), Medium (Full city, American, Regular, Breakfast, Brown), Dark (High, Viennese, Italian Espresso, Continental), and Darkest (Italian, French, Spanish).

Describing the taste of different roasts is as subjective as that of wine. There is no substitute to judging them with your own palate as only you can decide what your personal taste is. Choosing a type of roast is mostly on personal preference, but most people do like medium roast for its balanced flavor and sweetness.

• How Important Is The Origin?

Coffee beans are distinct in their terrier, or capturing the place in where they were grown. While differences in flavor can be subtle, beans grown in Hawaii and Central America are more of snappy and vibrant variety, while those from East Africa and Yemen are deeper in bitterness, and those grown in Indonesia and Sumatra are even more complex in flavor.

• Storing Coffee Beans

When open to air and light, roasted coffee beans can lose their flavor and go stale quite quickly. The best way to store beans is with an opaque airtight canister at room temperature. Theoretically, refrigeration can help preserve the beans longer, but with frequent opening of containers for use creating condensation, the moisture can tamper with the beans’ flavor.

When purchasing beans, make sure to get those stored in a sealed bag with a one-way valve laminated on it, which lets carbon dioxide out and keeping outside air from entering. Upon roasting, coffee beans produce prodigious amounts of carbon dioxide, so such valves are necessary for initial storage. Either that or frequent opening of jars for venting as done by most coffee shops. Do not go for beans stored in open beans as they would mostly be stale.

• Grinding It Right

The perfect grind size is crucial so that the right amount of the flavor is extracted from the beans without going to far, which will take excess bitterness along for the ride. The smaller the grind size, the more surface area there is and over extraction is a big possibility. Too big of a grind size will just keep the hot water from getting enough flavor. Most people would say that they don’t like strong coffee, while the reality is that they don’t like bitter coffee. With coffee, strong doesn’t really have to mean bitter.

If your coffee maker comes with a grinder, then use it. Experiment with different grind sizes to find your preference. If there is no grinder along with your coffee maker, then a small coffee grinder with pulse action will do the job just fine. Grinding your own is best as it is better to draw out the flavors closer to brewing time than having them ground in the shop. Most find a 15-20 second grind best while espresso calls for a finer grind.

Selecting and storing the beans right can have a great impact on the flavor of your coffee, a difference of changing the mediocre coffee from your coffee machine to a restaurant quality one in the comforts of your own home. So next time you are grocery shopping for coffee give coffee beans choice some thought.

Having the best coffee maker helps, but buying the best beans and grinding them right can make a huge difference to the quality of your brew.

Yogi Shinde is the webmaster of Coffee Maker Ratings & Reviews website which provides unbiased information on different types and brands of coffee makers. This article is free for publishing provided the resource link is maintained.

Author: Yogi Shinde
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee is the second most imported commodity in today’s world, right behind petroleum. This beverage has become so popular that many coffee-derivative drinks have been produced and consumed for years. Below are a few common coffee drink recipes.

The first drink would, of course, be coffee. Grown all around the world but especially in Ethiopia, the Middle East, Columbia and Brazil, coffee seeds are harvested, dried, and then roasted. The process in preparation is complex, but the coffee drink recipe for coffee is simple: Coffee beans, consisting of caffeine and a variety of oils indigenous to the particular environment in which the beans are harvested.

One coffee drink, called “Ca Phe Sua,” popular in Vietnam comes in two variations “Ca Phe Sua Da” (“coffee, milk, and ice”) and “Ca Phe Sua Nong” (coffee and milk hot”). The coffee drink recipe for the first consists of the simple process of blending dark French Roast with a quarter to half percent of condensed milk and then pouring, through a small drip filter, over ice. The coffee drink recipe for the second is similar, but ice is withheld, leaving only hot “Ca Phe Sua.”

The famous and widely consumed Espresso, invented and developed in Italy and popular all over Europe, has a wide array of coffee drink recipes. Only a couple of them are described here.

A formal Italian Espresso is made by forcing moderately hot water through high pressure (nine to ten atmospheres, or bars) into extremely fine-ground coffee to create a drink thicker in consistency than regular coffee and composed of a variety of vegetable oils, proteins, sugars, and reddish-brown foam called Crema.

Espresso has very little water. The coffee drink recipe for Caffe’ Americano (“American Coffee”), an American version of Espresso, has a higher degree of water and is made similar to the drip-brew fashion.

The coffee drink recipe for Latte (Italian for “milk”) is a simple one: “Café a Latte, meaning “Coffee and Milk,” consists of one-third Espresso and two-thirds steamed milk, poured together simultaneously into either side of the drinking cup. Café’ Lattes typically have foam floating on top.

The Frappaccino is a popular drink sold by the Starbucks coffee chain. This coffee drink recipe is as follows: one-part soluble coffee is blended with water, which in turn is mixed with a one-part proprietary liquid comprised of milk, sugar substances, and caramel flavoring and then finally with ice. A Frappaccino has a milkshake consistency, a strong coffee flavor, and is chilled before drinking.

All of these and many other coffee drink recipes are available on the Internet or in various recipe books. For those who love coffee, these coffee drink recipes will leave mouths watering!

Mmm, coffee! That oughta get your fire burnin! Visit our site for more recipes including coffee syrups [http://www.coffeesure.com/coffee-syrups], coffee thermos [http://www.coffeesure.com/coffee-thermos], and commercial coffee grinder reviews [http://www.coffeesure.com/commercial-coffee-grinder].

Author: Steven Sarsgaard
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There are many refreshing iced coffee recipes available, and we have selected some of the most interesting for you. However, my favorite of all it the traditional Italian iced coffee recipe which uses freshly made espresso, a cocktail shaker and ice cubes. In fact, if you ask for an iced coffee in Italy this is the only recipe they will serve. Poured into a cocktail glass, the chilled Italian espresso is second to none.

When the heat is on try this traditional Italian iced coffee recipe …

So, how is the Italian iced coffee recipe actually made? Simple, like all good things. Use your espresso machine, if you have one, to make a normal shot for one, two or more servings. Pour the freshly made espresso coffee into the cocktail shaker, add ice cubes (the ice doesn’t get poured into the glasses with the coffee, so the flavor isn’t diluted), close the shaker and shake like crazy! Pour into cocktail glasses and enjoy. Surprisingly, the iced coffee will not be a dark espresso brown color, but a creamy beige .

Here are a few more iced coffee recipes for you to try
Bermuda Iced Coffee

For this recipe, you’ll need coffee, cream, sugar and coffee flavor ice-cream. Pour the coffee, cream, sugar and 1 or 2 scoops of ice-cream into a blender. Blend, and serve cold in glasses or mugs. Tastes great, but if you’re on a diet beware.

Fresh Lemon Cafe

Here you’ll need 1/4 cup of coffee to which you add 2 oz of lemon sherbet, 1/2 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of grated lemon rind and 1 tsp of sugar. Place the contents to your blender and blend until smooth. Serve in chilled glasses.

Cinnamon Caramel

This recipe has an interesting taste. You’ll need about 6 tsp of ground coffee, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup caramel syrup. Prepare a pot of coffee in the usual way, but add the cinnamon to the ground coffee. Add the syrup to the hot coffee and stir until dissolved. Chill the coffee and serve over ice with milk, cream or sugar. For an interesting variation, you could also use this coffee, but chill it in the way of the traditional Italian iced coffee recipe above.

Thai Iced Coffee

Here’s another interesting variation. You’ll need strong ground coffee for brewing 4 cups, 4 tsp sugar, 4 tsp heavy cream, 2 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tsp almond flavoring, crushed ice. Add the cardamom to the ground coffee and brew, when ready add the sugar and almond flavoring, mix well and leave to cool or chill in fridge. Fill four glasses half way with the crushed ice, then add the coffee leaving about an inch or a little more from the rim of the glass. Hold a spoon over the coffee and gently pour the cream over the spoon so that the cream floats on the top of your iced coffee.

Well, that’s it. These are just a few of the many iced coffee recipes that are available today. Part of the fun is also experimenting. Enjoy.

This article was prepared by Nicholas Webb who writes for http://www.Allabout-Coffee-Beans.com Coffee is more than just a passion. For many articles from coffee beans to coffee making machines, click over to this site.

Author: Nicholas Webb
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you’ve been searching for that perfect holiday gift for a friend or loved one, a fabulous gift idea is to send delicious gourmet coffee made with imported coffee beans to their doorstep. Any coffee lover will adore this delightful, savory gift, and the possibilities of coffee gifts are endless with so many flavors available today.

Gourmet coffee has come a long way in recent years. It is readily available at affordable prices, and you can find numerous discount coffee beans from around the world right from your own home computer. Internet shopping makes it easy to find the perfect coffee blend for yourself or a loved one, whether they enjoy sweet and savory chocolate coffee or Italian espresso. Whatever flavor of coffee arouses their senses… there’s a coffee gift that’s just right!

What to Buy

Consider the type of gourmet coffee your friend normally drinks. Ask about their favorite flavors in casual conversation so you’ll know what they prefer. Gourmet coffee comes with many distinctive flavors such as chocolate, hazelnut, Irish cream, white chocolate, cinnamon, white Russian, rain forest crunch, chocolate banana, mudslide, maple pecan, toasted almond, vanilla, roasted chestnut, raspberry almond, creme brulee, and even cookies and cream. There are hundreds of other blends, so that’s why it’s a good idea to find out what your friend enjoys most.

Some gourmet coffee retailers might offer special blends such as Brazil blend, Viennese blend, Custom House blend, or Breakfast blend. You may also see Italian espresso or other specialty coffees such as organic coffee, which is made of coffee beans grown without chemicals or artificial treatments.

Before Ordering

Before ordering a gourmet coffee holiday gift, be sure to get your friend’s mailing address. Also, find out if they prefer decaffeinated coffee or regular blends. While shopping online, you can either have the gourmet coffee gift shipped to your friend’s home, or purchase a gift certificate so they can choose their own coffee. If you’re not sure what type of coffee to buy, a gift certificate to an online gourmet coffee shop will make a fantastic gift. You can include the gift certificate with a holiday greeting card to express your thoughtfulness and spread some cheer.

Gourmet Coffee Gift Ideas

During the holidays, you’ll likely buy gifts for many different people. The aroma of gourmet coffee delights folks from all walks of life. Coffee makes a terrific holiday gift for co-workers, employees, and even important business clients. It’s also great if you want to surprise your spouse, mother, father, brother, or sister. If you have a distant relative, you can easily have their favorite coffee blend or a gift certificate shipped to them. Even when the Christmas shopping season is long gone, gourmet coffee is still great for birthdays, celebrations, thank you gifts, get well presents, or wedding showers.

There’s always room for fresh, mouth-watering coffee blends at any gathering, whether it be for work or play. Go online today to check out all the gourmet coffee blends to find ideal gifts for those who are dear to your heart this holiday season!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Gourmet Coffee Holiday Gift Ideas.

Author: Chris Robertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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