Coffee

A coffee maker is an appliance, usually operated at home or in coffee shops, which you can use to make coffee while bypassing the need to boil water separately. Essentially, it is an appliance that brews coffee. Typically, the most popular brewing method employed is the drip-brew principle, wherein heated water is made to run through ground coffee which has been scooped onto a funnel in the coffee maker. The prepared concoction then drips through the apex of the funnel and into a container set under this funnel.

Naturally, the type and quality of the coffee you brew would depend on several factors. As expected, the key component to making a good cup of coffee would be the coffee itself. Nothing beats using fresh coffee, whether in the form of whole beans or as ground coffee. Just as important is the ability to preserve the freshness of the beans, because more often than not you cannot brew all of the coffee beans that you have just bought. One good way to go about the upkeep of your coffee’s freshness is store it in airtight bags, such as zip lock containers which you can open and reseal anytime. The key is to ensure that your coffee is kept away from heat and air. Also, make certain that you store it in a place that is dry and cool.

Now when it comes to preparation, the general rule is to prepare about 1 to 2 spoons of coffee for every 6-ounce cup. However, you may vary this mix depending on your personal tastes. The beauty of making coffee is that you can serve it in a variety of ways-black, with cream or milk, and varying amounts of sugar.

There are also several types of coffee makers to choose from, and the type you can opt to use will depend on exactly what kind of coffee you want. The first type is the pressure-brewed type of coffee maker. This one uses extreme pressure to brew black coffee. If done right, this maker also gives you a gold crema while maintaining the coffee’s full-bodied aroma. The caffeine content of the coffee you can brew from a pressure-brewed maker is about 30% less that that you can make using a drip type. Another good thing about this particular coffee is that it contains no tannic acid.

Still one other type of coffee maker is the filter drip type, or simply the drip type, wherein coffee is simply brewed through a filter. The great thing about this coffee maker is that it is relatively easy to clean.

Yet still another type of coffee maker is that pod maker, which makes use of pre-packaged coffee packed in a filter. Needless to say, this type of coffee maker is very easy to use.

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

Author: Katya Coen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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NYBOT or New York Board of Trade is holding the New York sugar cocoa and coffee exchange which is the world forum for quality coffee futures as well as option trading. Most people who are new with the exchange think that they are the consumers of all coffee delivered. The exchange of high quality coffee solely matches sellers and buyers.

Coffee farmers are regularly coming out of the shadow of anonymity to recognize their efforts in producing good quality coffee around the world. Good quality of coffee has about 800 percent flavor component and coffee consumers are still counting. A twelve ounce cup of coffee made from beans costing 10 dollars per pound can be compared to less than twelve ounce can of coke. Coffee farmers and coffee consumers equally enjoy increasing the value of the great coffee.

Coffee is made by burning the seed of a coffee tree, a big evergreen shrub that has glossy deep-green leaves. The tree is sheltered with wonderful white blossoms that emit the delightful jasmine fragrance. There are 70 different species of a coffee tree from dwarf shrubs up to 40 feet tall tree. Arabica or coffee Arabica as well as “Coffea conephora” also known as Robusta is produced around the world. The best coffees come from the Arabica varieties particularly those grown on a higher altitude. Robusta, which is used mostly for instant coffee has the higher caffeine content and more neutral in taste.

Cultivating Quality Coffee
It all begins with planting particularly bred seeds in nursery designed houses so as to provide the right amount of shade and sun. After six months, the seedling that is planted in the field that had been prepared with minerals and fertilizer are set in soil. The coffee plantlet is planted in rows, following the contour of this slope. Hence, these are then spaced in order to allow room for the growth and maintenance of the soil and trees as well as to make the harvesting of the coffee easier.

The trees should have regular attention throughout the year to become productive. This includes the removal of the weeds that compete for the nutrients in the soil and the regular application of the insecticides and fungicides to protect against diseases and pests.

The coffee trees take at least two years for the young plant to start producing coffee beans. When the harvest time comes, the work increases radically. The perfect process is to handpick only the ripe cherries one by one. This process of having these cherries harvested is usually done in the pulping machine. The seeds are the next ones to be put inside the tanks for the duration of two to three days during that time.

The fallen cherries must be sifted and raked up either mechanically or manually to remove the leaves, dirt and sticks. The cherries are then put in the large 15 gallon basket. The washing process separates these ripe cherries which are from older dry cherries which have started to rot. Once the cherries are washed, the coffee is spread out on a large concrete terrace to be dried in the sun between fifteen to twenty days.

Receiving a great mug of quality coffee is a mixture of numerous different reasons. These reasons may vary depending on whether equipment is clean, what equipment they use, the water and how high quality the coffee bean is.

A good thing to remember is to find high quality coffee beans for you. Those jars or cans of coffee you get in the supermarket are not all fresh. You can even get quality coffee grind or have it crushed with your own coffee which is, of course, the best freshness of coffee you can ever get.

Managing the making of quality coffee denotes that there is more flexibility and more consumers but at better prices.

For more information on New York Coffee Shops please visit our website

Author: David Urmann
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A question that is often asked is “does a serving of espresso have more caffeine than a serving of regular coffee?” It is not possible to state exactly what the serving size of coffee is because that varies based on personal choice, type and shape of cup or mug used, among many other factors.

However, it is reasonable to state that the average serving size of a cup of regular coffee is 8 ounces and the average serving of espresso is about 3 ounces. Based on such straightforward comparison, a cup of brewed coffee has more caffeine than espresso. However, this comparison is not exactly accurate because it does not take into consideration the amount of caffeine per ounce served.

From a concentration perspective; that is, in terms of caffeine per ounce served, it turns out that espresso has more caffeine than brewed coffee.

• Brewed coffee has about 65 to 120 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces serving.
• Dividing 65-120 milligrams by 8 ounces results in about 8.125 to 15 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.
• Espresso, on the other hand, has about 25 to 50 milligrams of caffeine per 3 ounces serving.
• Again, dividing 25 to 50 milligrams of caffeine by 3 ounces results in about 8.3 to 16 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.

Therefore, from this concentration perspective, espresso has more caffeine than brewed coffee based on the amount of caffeine per ounce. However, the total number of cups of either brewed coffee or espresso per day is actually what will determine the total amount of caffeine consumed per day.

Ultimately, total volume is what matters in evaluating the amount of caffeine consumed per day. Espresso cups may be smaller in size but it does not take long for a frequent espresso drinker to consume much more caffeine per day than a moderate brewed coffee drinker.

Caffeine is also assimilated more quickly when taken in concentrated dosages, such as an espresso cup.

• This is why drinking a shot of espresso can give a “jolt” faster than drinking a full 8 ounce cup of brewed coffee. The espresso method of preparation allows the coffee drinker to have fresh coffee “in a hurry” by forcing very hot water under pressure through the finely ground coffee.
• This method extracts the coffee’s aroma, flavor and body in a way that requires a special blend and a roast level of coffee, called espresso roast, instead of the roast levels used for the “regular” ways of brewing coffee.
• A great tasting espresso should be sweet, very aromatic and have a flavor similar to freshly ground coffee. The taste should be enjoyable without any additives but, if adding milk, the espresso taste should be bold enough not to “disappear.”
• Several minutes after consumption, the coffee drinker should still taste the pleasant and aromatic aftertaste on the palate.
• It is not possible to have a good espresso without a good espresso blend which should feature aromatics, sweetness and smoothness associated with espresso. The espresso blend should be fresh and not roasted too dark to prevent bitter, charcoal taste.

As a recommendation, grind and dose espresso on demand for one shot, dose properly, tamp and brew to enjoy each drop. The water pressure is responsible for the “crema” which is a unique feature of espresso and adds to the unique taste and drinking experience. Preheating the espresso cup with clean hot water prior to filling the cup with the espresso brew is always a good idea. Doing this helps retain the aroma and heat of the freshly prepared espresso. Deciding to drink 1 to 3 or more cups of espresso per day is a coffee drinker’s prerogative. Doing things in moderation is good advice to remember and is the way to control total caffeine consumption.

The best way to ensure preparing a great specialty coffee beverage is to apply exact standards of water quality, brewing temperature, and coffee to water ratio as much as possible.

• This is true whether the coffee is prepared as an espresso or as brewed coffee. The choice of coffee beans and flavors offer many opportunities for coffee tasting experiences and memorable times with family and friends.
• Brewing coffee is an art and a science. To coffee lovers, brewing coffee is fun, relaxing and enjoyable. Coffee drinking is both a habit and a ritual. It is a rewarding activity to several personal senses; literally, from the tongue to the nose and to the mind! In just about any language and culture, coffee is a very popular beverage.
• On a per serving basis, regardless of whether it is espresso or brwed coffee, the average cost of a cup of coffee is more affordable than the cost of drinking an equivalent amount of fresh juice, milk, bottled water, wine, beer, and soft drinks.

In addition, there are many health benefits from drinking coffee. Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine.

• Both of these substances have health and anti aging benefits.
• Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals.
• These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.
• The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports the claims.

Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you.

Go ahead and drink coffee, brewed and espresso. They are both great tasting and varying the type of coffee brewed is fun. Enjoy a cup of Panama Boquete specialty coffee!

Timothy (“Tim”) S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him “The Gourmet Coffee Guy.”
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author’s website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com.

Copyright – Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Author: Timothy S. Collins
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For years, the news about coffee vacillated between positive and negative. At the same time, study after study extolled the health virtues of tea. But a flurry of new research suggests that coffee offers nearly as many health perks while protecting against a number of diseases.

All this is not to suggest you should start gulping endless cups of java if you’re not already a coffee lover. After all, excessive coffee intake may have a downside for some people. But if you like your daily “cuppa joe,” you can take some pleasure in knowing your coffee habit has finally been vindicated.

Antioxidants and More

A few years back, headlines trumpeted the news that coffee was the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet. It earned that claim not because it’s richer in antioxidants than fruits or vegetables, but because we drink so much of the stuff.

One of the prime antioxidants in coffee is methylpyridinium, which may help protect against colon cancer. This may explain the findings from a recent study that found women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had half the risk of colon cancer as that of nondrinkers.

Another coffee antioxidant, chlorogenic acid, has been shown to inhibit liver cancer. In one study, for every two cups of coffee the participants drank, there was a 43 percent reduced risk of liver cancer. This same substance slows the intestines’ absorption of glucose and might help explain coffee’s protective effect against type 2 diabetes

Here’s something else you probably didn’t know: Coffee is the main dietary source of the trace element boron. Biologist Curtiss Hunt at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center found that an eight ounce cup of instant coffee contains about 57 mcg. of boron. An essential nutrient for plants, one study found that dietary boron reduced the amount of insulin in the blood required to maintain proper glucose levels. Plus it’s one of the minerals necessary for strong bones.

Coffee is also a surprising source of more familiar minerals and nutrients, including chromium, magnesium and niacin. What’s more, a cup of coffee contains about one-third as much potassium as found in a small banana.

Coffee and Heart Health

Additional antioxidant compounds in coffee – caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids – may curb cardiovascular disease by protecting low-density lipoproteins (LDLs, the “bad” cholesterol) from oxidation, fending off inflammation and improving blood vessel function.

In 2006, Norwegian researchers found that older women drinking one to three cups of coffee daily were 24 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than non-drinkers. Another study in 2007 found that people age 65 and over who consume four or more servings of caffeine daily had a lower risk of death from heart disease.

But curb your enthusiasm. Because the caffeine in coffee has a short-term elevating effect on blood pressure, people who drink one cup after another may keep their blood pressure high for periods long enough to risk heart trouble.

Coffee’s long-term effect on blood pressure has long been debated, and should be weighed against any possible benefits. A 2007 Finnish study of 24,710 healthy men and women, ages 25 to 64, found that over an average 13.2-year follow-up period, those drinking two to three cups of coffee daily were 29 percent more likely to start drug treatment for high blood pressure. The lesson here? Moderation is key when it comes to coffee, if you suffer from hypertension.

Brain Benefits

Anybody who’s experienced coffee’s morning wake-up call to the brain knows that it can temporarily help sharpen thinking. But coffee may also boost brain function in more lasting ways. A European study of 676 healthy men found that those consuming three cups of coffee daily suffered significantly less cognitive decline over 10 years than non-drinkers. And in 2007, a French study concluded that older women who drank at least three cups of coffee daily were 18 percent less likely to develop problems with verbal recall and 33 percent less prone to memory problems. And new evidence shows that middle-aged coffee drinkers slash their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life compared with those drinking no coffee or only a little. In fact, those who drank three to five cups a day cut their risk by an impressive 65 percent!

Other research shows that coffee may defend against Parkinson’s disease. A notable Finnish study found that drinking 10 cups of coffee a day slashed the risk of developing Parkinson’s by as much as 84 percent. Researchers suggested that the caffeine in coffee might stimulate dopamine, the brain chemical lacking in the disease.

From Gallstones to Gout

Coffee also seems to protect against both gallstones and kidney stones. In two large studies, people who drank two to three cups a day of caffeinated coffee were less likely to develop gallstones than nondrinkers. Decaf coffee didn’t protect against gallstones, but it did keep kidney stones at bay, perhaps simply by boosting total liquids.

And then there’s gout, a painful inflammatory condition that first attacks the big toe and then spreads to other joints. In the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, Harvard researchers found that coffee consumption was linked to a lower blood level of uric acid – the substance linked to this type of arthritic disease. People who drank six or more cups a day were 40 percent less likely to develop gout. Decaf was also linked to a modest reduction in gout, suggesting that something other than caffeine could be credited.

One Last Thing …

Despite coffee’s growing list of benefits, the caffeinated version still may not be ideal for some people. If you’re concerned that coffee is keeping you up at night, try decaf or drink it earlier in the day. However, if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), be aware that decaf coffee has been shown to aggravate reflux as much as the caffeinated kind.

Caffeine is also often mentioned as a trigger for migraines, so sufferers should moderate their intake. Less clear is whether caffeine can aggravate arrhythmias or raise the risk of breast cancer in women with benign breast disease. The latest findings from Harvard’s Women’s Health Study suggest an increased risk for women who drink four or more cups of coffee daily. However, in the Iowa Women’s Health Study, no link was found.

While the jury is still out on these few potential problems, the news is generally good for people who enjoy coffee. The news is so positive, in fact, that coffee may be the new milk with the ability to claim that it “does a body good!”

Research Brief …

It’s common knowledge that most people tend to gain weight and lose bone as they age – neither of which is particularly healthy. But here’s the problem: If you try to lose unwanted weight, it only promotes more bone loss – increasing the risk of fractures and the dangerous complications that accompany them. The dilemma then is how to lose those extra pounds without doing damage to your bones. A study designed to answer that exact question provides some answers.

The research, from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Pennsylvania State University, studied 130 men and women, aged 30 to 65. The people in the one-year study ate one of two low-calorie diets: A reduced-calorie diet that provided either the currently recommended intake of 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight, plus two servings of low-fat dairy a day, or 0.64 grams of protein per pound of body weight with three daily servings of low-fat dairy.

The researchers found that the weight-loss diet with nearly twice the recommended amount of protein and three servings a day of low-fat dairy not only improved calcium intake, but was much more effective at preserving bone mass during weight loss -  especially when compared to the lower protein (and higher carbohydrate) weight-loss diet. These findings add to the growing amount of evidence that high-protein diets do not leach calcium from bones, as long as calcium intake is adequate. So, when you cut back on calories, be sure to get plenty of high-quality protein, including three servings of low-fat dairy a day, to protect your bones while you’re paring pounds.

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References:

Eskelinen MH, Ngandu T, Tuomilehto J, et al. “Midlife coffee and tea drinking and the risk of late-life dementia: a population-based CAIDE study.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2009;16:85-91.

Je Y, Liu W, Giovannucci E. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.” International Journal of Cancer. 2009;124:1662-1668.

Mukamal KJ, Hallqvist J, Hammar N, et al. “Coffee consumption and mortality after acute myocardial infarction: the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program.” American Heart Journal. 2009;157:495-501.

Thorpe MP, Jacobson EH, Layman DK, et al. “A diet high in protein, dairy, and calcium attenuates bone loss over twelve months of weight loss and maintenance relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate diet in adults.” Journal of Nutrition. 2008;138:1096-1100.

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Author: Bonnie Jenkins
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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