Coffee

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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California coffee houses have been famous for years. The eclectic blend of coffee, celebrities and high energy people creates a social atmosphere like nowhere else. Throughout the country and the world, coffee houses pop up and attempt to emulate the cool, casual vibe at California coffee bars.

With so many cafés, coffee enthusiasts sip quite a few cups of brew before finding the best coffee in Los Angeles. While a superior cup of Joe is always a priority, many California coffee lovers are also looking for a place to hang out. Artists bring along their laptops, easels and digital cameras to capture creativity along the way. It’s not unusual to see several people busily working on a laptop at Los Angeles coffee houses.

Socialization is part of the coffee experience in The City of Angels. The close, comfortable atmosphere is a perfect way to catch coffee and conversation. In days gone by, coffee gatherings took place in someone’s kitchen or in the office. While those venues are still popular, many Californians prefer the unpredictable excitement of sipping java at a coffee house.

When you sit down in a Los Angeles coffee house, you are privy to one hundred conversations. Coffee lovers come in looking to kick back with their favorite drink while they meet new, interesting people. Unlike an alcoholic bar, at coffee bars people don’t get intoxicated. From celebrities to local workers, everyone mingles together. You might even wind up sitting next to one of your favorite stars and strike up a conversation!

Some of the best coffee Los Angeles serves is at coffee bars and eateries. In fact, many local cafés deliver wholesale coffee to the local restaurants, delis and offices. When people can’t take time to visit their preferred coffee house, they can still enjoy a cup of gourmet java on the go. It’s not the same as spending time at a choice café but at least you can get a flavorful cup of coffee. You can even purchase gourmet coffee beans to brew at home for your family and friends, creating a café right in your own kitchen.

California coffee houses offer the best organic coffee because of the large number of locals involved in environmental efforts. Home of hybrid and other environmentally concerned efforts, many Californians consciously make green decisions about all their behaviors. Organic coffee is grown and processed in an environmentally-friendly way. Its pure, unadulterated flavor is preferred by quite a few coffee enthusiasts around the world. In fact, over forty countries grow organic coffee. The Organic Trade Association showed a 24 percent increase in coffee sales in 2006, which proves a growing number of people are actively drinking healthy, delicious organic coffee.

For the Best coffee Los Angeles has to offer visit the Intelligentsia Caf in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Order organic coffee beans online at IntelligentsiaCoffee.com or have coffee in Los Angeles for that flavorful social experience.

Author: Alice Lane
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Smiling shark

Are you an avid coffee drinker? Do you want to indulge in quality oriented coffee? Then you have come to the right place. Coffee is basically a herb that is grown in several tastes. Its cultivation also takes place beneath a covering of shade trees. Although in the modern times there is a specific name for this kind of coffee, i.e. “shade-grown coffee”, but almost two to three decades ago it was the one and only method of cultivating coffee. With the passage of time several coffee plantations are also accustomed to grow in the sunlight. The difference between the to is that the coffee that is grown in the shade has a life span that is two times the life span of the coffee that is grown in the sunlight and also spreads the herb meaning that the coffee herbs and shrubs grow even without re-plantation. This also ensures the restricted usage of chemical fertilizers hence giving gourmet its natural flavor that is finer in quality as compared to the regular coffee that is bitter in contrast.

When it comes to coffee one is presented with a wide array of choices, and if you belong to the category that derives pleasure in frequent entertain events and occasions, then you will surely want to keep a variety of gourmet coffee on hand in order to go well with the special taste requirements of your different guests. An equally important factor that is ignored whilst shopping for gourmet coffee is not only do you need to purchase good quality coffee but should also be knowledgeable regarding the most excellent method of preparation of your coffee.

On a personal not, drip filtering is possibly the most ordinary method of making coffee. Further investing in a good brewer or an espresso machine in accordance to your personal requirements would be money well spent. As the method that you employ to brew your coffee will most definitely affect and enhance the taste of the respective coffee. Another thing that needs to be taken into account whilst taking into consideration the different sorts of gourmet coffees is that you need to have all the respective coffee accessories, especially if you are one of those people who visit friends and family just for a cup of your favorite gourmet coffee then it is the appropriate time to make the respective purchase. The gourmet coffee accessories are available in the market a all shapes and sizes and an array of colors and styles.

When we talk about the most loved gourmet coffees that are much popular, they can safely be divided into four main categories namely the latte, cappuccino, espresso and flavored coffees. They have been briefly explained for your benefit. The latte served commonly in café and hence also called the café latte is basically a kind of espresso mixed with hot milk and foam-covered at the top. Cappuccino is also similar to the latte and is made up of espresso and steaming milk blended together. The only difference is that instead of being topped with frothy foam it is frequently garnished with either cinnamon or chocolate.

The espresso on the other hand is a strong and powerful kind of coffee. It incorporates a dark froth and is drunk in over four gulps whereas the flavored coffees include coffee in which the respective flavors are added. Amongst the variety of flavors that are specifically employed for this purpose are Irish cream, vanilla, chocolate, almonds, caramel to name a few.

You can buy coffee both in the market and online. Orders can also be placed on the net and safe and swift delivery is ensured. While doing so you can also look for new flavors of the gourmet coffee. Regardless of the sort of coffee that you purchase, as that is your own choice, but on a personal note I would recommend you to try out all the different flavors in order to find out more about its different tastes. And who knows… whilst trying out new flavors you might find a new favorite! Comparisons amongst the different coffees can also be made. Whereas if you desire to send a gift hamper to somebody, doing so is just a click away, as it is the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life! Any individual flavor/kind of gourmet coffee can be sent on its own and also in the form of a gourmet coffee gift basket that includes its different flavors which are sure to ignite the recipient’s heart and fill up their senses!

Wholesale Gourmet Coffee

Author: Jay Kaplan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Android phones

When it comes to coffee, it is not all about choosing between instant coffee and drip coffee and black coffee and coffee with milk and sugar any more. Although Americans used to be limited to a choice between Folgers and Maxwell House, there are now tons of different cups of coffee to be tried out. Coffee aficionados can try a different kind of coffee from a different place on the globe every day and hardly ever taste the same cup of coffee twice.

Coffee Around The World – Where’s The Best Cup of Joe?

Any world trip for coffee lovers would have to start in the world coffee capital of Brazil. This enormous country is the perfect coffee growing environment, with at least a third of the land space ideal for growing beans. Bahia and Minas Gerais are just two of the enormous number of different kinds of coffee grown in Brazil.

Although Brazil makes the most coffee, if you ask people to name a coffee producing country, they are likely to answer with Columbia. Tons of varieties of coffee beans are grown in Columbia, from rich and bold blends to light and sweet caffeinated delights like ‘supremo’ and ‘excelso’. Coffees made from beans like Popayan or Narino are considered to be among the best in the world. Of course, blends of the different beans grown in Columbia offer a whole new world of possibilities for coffee tastes.

Don’t count Mexico out when it comes to the coffee producing stakes. The small beans that are grown in Mexico produce coffee that has a delicate taste and very mellow acidity, giving it an overall light flavor. Last but not least in Latin America is Cuba, which brings its uber strong cafe cubano to the table. This coffee is so strong it is drunk like a shot of alcohol.

Outside of Latin America, a trip to South East Asia is ideal for coffee lovers. The warm, damp weather in Indonesia helps coffee beans grow there are low in acid and high in taste. In fact, Indonesian coffee is so popular that they are now the world’s fourth largest producer.

Malaysia is the challenger to Indonesia’s crown in the Asian coffee stakes. All coffee in Malaysia is brewed within a muslin bag, which means that is one strong cup of coffee.

If sweet coffee is your think, then Thailand is your place. Thai coffee has a touch of chicory, much like Parisian coffee, and it is usually sold cold, mixed with coconut milk and sugar. It is like dessert in a coffee cup.

There’s a world of coffee waiting to be explored, so what are you waiting for? Grab your cup and go!

Peter Mason usually creates articles on themes corresponding to home espresso machines and how to make espresso. You can have a look at his abstracts on how to make espresso and expresso maker over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com

Author: Peter S. Mason
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Eco Friendly

Percolator coffee pots are immensely popular, particularly to those who want fresh, hot coffee, but do not have access to electricity to get immediate satisfaction for their coffee cravings. Most often, outdoor people and campers love these kinds of coffee makers. Furthermore, because they use less water without electric, and the waste is kept to a minimum, they are often used by people with strong environmental values as well.

If you are considering to get a percolator coffee pot, but are not exactly sure how to use it, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explain exactly how to use the coffee pot and create good coffee anytime, even when you are not at home.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that all parts and accessories of the percolator coffee pot is cleaned thoroughly. This is necessary for the first use or subsequent uses. You do not want any waste that may be present on a new pot to be in your coffee and you surely do not want any oils left from the previous use to remain either.

After you have ensured that it has been appropriately cleaned, you now have to make your coffee. The 2nd step of using a percolator is to grind the coffee. The recommended grind is coarse. If the coffee beans are ground too finely your coffee will contain debris. It is a good idea to use a high quality coffee grinder that guarantees a uniform grind each and every time.

Now that you have cleaned the coffee pot and ground the coffee, you will need to assemble the percolator coffee pot together. The jug of the percolator should be filled to the suitable level with fresh water. You will then need to put the coffee you just ground into your brew basket. To get an idea of how much coffee you need within the brew basket you should use the following comparison: For each cup of water within the jug, place one tablespoon (rounded) of your ground coffee into the basket. The basket is then placed onto the jug.

Because it does not use electric, you will need to find other ways of heating the water in the jug. If you are outdoors, most people use a firepit, if indoors, a stove will work just fine. The boiling water is necessary to ensure great coffee. Typically, the cycle will only require about five to six minutes. However, make sure that you do not reboil the water as the coffee will be extremely bitter and rancid.

When you have finished with the above steps, toss the used coffee out of the brew basket and serve in coffee cups with your favorite additions. As you can see, using a percolator coffee pot is really a cinch and provides you with fresh, hot coffee, regardless of where you are.

Natalie is the webmaster of CoffeeMachines101.com Visit her site for more information on portable coffee equipment you can use outdoors.

Author: Nat Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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