Coffee

If you’re not familiar with Vacuum coffee makers then a written description of how they work may have you a little lost. How ever, to those that own or use vacuum coffee brewers you know what a great cup they make, and what a joy they are to watch.

If you’re a fan of using a French Press to brew your coffee each day, then you’ll love the coffee made in a Vacuum maker. It works on a similar principle of boiling water flowing over freshly ground coffee beans then filtering the grounds out of the water leaving behind a wonderful tasting and smelling cup of coffee.

There’s something to be said when a paper filter isn’t used with coffee grounds, it allows all the acids and aromas from the beans to transfer into the water and create a very special tasting cup of coffee. One that can’t really be compared to what your regular drip coffee maker makes.

So how does a Vacuum coffee maker work?

Well unlike some of my friends who thought a vacuum coffee maker was a combo vacuum coffee brewing machine it’s actually quite a small glass or sometimes plastic appliance. There are both electric and stove top models available (For a great electric or non electric vacuum coffee maker check out the Bodum Santos).

There are two compartments an upper and lower. The lower one has fresh water added to it, and the upper fresh coffee grounds. The two are connected with a plastic or glass tube which has a filter in the center. Once heat is applied to the lower area either via stove top or an electric element the water begins to boil. Once boiling that water travels up to the upper chamber where the coffee grounds are stored. The two then mix together and the brewing process begins.

It’s really quite amazing to watch the water move up and spill over the coffee, it’s a lot more interesting then watching the drips come from your regular old peculator. Now this is the real amazing part, after a short period of time the mixed coffee then beings to transfer back to the bottom chamber once all the water has boiled away. The coffee grounds are separated from the coffee via the filter that is in the tube connecting the two chambers.

Depending on the size of the holes in your filter and the coarseness of your coffee grounds you may get a bit of sediment in your coffee. Once all of the coffee has transferred to the lower chamber again you’re done and ready to enjoy. Sounds like quite the process to brew a pot doesn’t it? In real time all of this happens quite quickly, and it isn’t any longer to make then what a French press would be.

If you’re a real coffee enthusiast I highly recommend you either try out the coffee made in a vacuum maker, or consider purchasing one for your own kitchen. While it may not take the place on weekday mornings of your regular drip coffee maker, I’m sure it’ll be the treat for weekends, and you won’t be disappointed.

To learn more about Vacuum coffee [http://www.espresso-and-coffee.com/coffee-makers/vacuum-coffee-maker-interesting-and-tasty-coffee] and other coffee accessories take some time to browse our coffee and espresso [http://www.espresso-and-coffee.com/] website.

Author: Ian Henman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It’s surprising just how little people think about the coffee bean when they go about drinking their morning cup. Dave and I have found that a lot of people in our classes even think that that it is some kind of generic food substance – like a peanut (after all, it looks like one!) and it looks and tastes the same irrespective of where it is grown.

Then there’s a group of people who know zero about coffee, but they do know about their wine or their chocolate. They can relate to you when you talk about the nuances in coffee and nod knowingly when you tell them that coffee is different from country to country. Most are flabbergasted though when you tell them that coffee can taste different not only from country to country, but plantation to plantation in an individual country.

Believe it or not, tens of thousands of people are employed around the world just to sort coffee, and grade it according to its size, shape and number of defects. Buyers of green coffee beans are a picky lot – they crave consistency and understand that quality and price necessarily go hand in hand.

Because of such diversity in quality and ultimately shape, coffee beans can influence an espresso in so many ways: strength, mouthfeel, aroma, amount of crema produced, crema colour and thickness and aftertaste.

Why does Coffee Taste Different According to Where it is Grown?
Coffee that comes from just one country is called single origin coffee. Simply put, coffee can be classified as Brazilian, Colombian, Costa Rican, Guatemalan etc. But as suggested previously, the classification is much more complicated than that. Brazilian coffee can be further broken down into size and quality. For example, a coffee roaster may order Brazilian Santos 2/3, strictly soft, medium to good bean, 14/16. Most of this is self explanatory apart from “Santos” which simply refers to the port from which the beans were shipped (and therefore signals the general geographic region that the beans were grown in) and “14/16″ which refers to the “screen size.” Green beans are sieved to separate out different sizes. Everything falling through the 14/16 sieve is too small to be classified as 14/16 and everything that sits above the sieve must be large enough to attain that status (and therefore accompanying higher price).

Single Origin Coffees – What Defines Them?
The soil in which the coffee trees grow can obviously impact on the flavour of the coffee beans that these trees produce. Different pH levels, mineral content and even what crops coffee grows next to on a plantation will affect taste, aroma etc. For example, coffee that is grown in India sometimes takes on a spicy undertone as it grows under the forest canopies next to pepper trees. Coffee from the highlands in Mexico can take on a slight chocolaty aftertaste as it grows near cacao trees that are used to produce chocolate.

Climate will also impact on coffee and is one of the main reasons that single origin coffees taste different to each other. Countries with distinct wet and dry seasons will often have a shorter maturation period than countries with slightly less temperate climates.

There are two main species of coffee tree that grow commercially around the world: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee refers to coffee that grows on a tree. It is generally more difficult to grow than its poor cousin Robusta, but Arabicas are generally better tasting than Robustas and hence command a higher price in the market place. Robusta coffee grows on a wild shrub or a vine and although they are easier to grow than Arabicas and their yield is higher, they often yield a bean that produces bitter espresso that dries out the drinker’s palate (not always true though, for example Robusta coffee coming from certain plantations in India is very nice – and expensive).

Altitude plays a large part in taste as well. Generally, the higher the altitude, the better the Arabica coffee that is produced.

It surprises people but the method of processing and the individual farmer will have a huge impact on a coffee’s taste, aroma and depth of quality. A plantation that cuts corners when it ferments its coffee cherries or dries the green beans artificially/too quickly or stores them in their hessian bags incorrectly will produce inferior-tasting coffee compared to the farm next door that does these things correctly.

What to Buy
Generally you will purchase a blend when you purchase your coffee, but if you are at the stage or experimenting with the often-costlier single origins, the better-known ones include Ethiopian Limu (the home of coffee), Kenya AA, Costa Rican SHB and Colombian. Single origins to watch include Myanmar, Laos, Nepal, El Salvador, India and Papua New Guinea.

Our next article will focus on coffee blends (ie the mixing if single origins and why coffee roasters do this). Fire up another Ethiopian espresso and stay tuned!

© Barista Brothers 2009. All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying of this article or any part thereof will result in copyright infringement that will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

Matt and Dave Gee are coffee book authors (bean there, drunk that….) coffee DVD producers and coffee trainers who have owned a coffee roasting facility and several espresso bars in Australia. They are also feature writers for several industry magazines. Buy their unique coffee training techniques at http://www.ultimatebaristasecrets.com/ and be sure to visit their blog for more on all things coffee at http://www.baristabrothers.com/

They created the worlds first coffee art class and their training materials are used by TAFE colleges and franchise groups in Australia and around the world. When not searching for the worlds best single origin coffees, they can be found training the baristas of tomorrow from their training centres dotted up and down the east coast of Australia. Follow the boys on twitter at ultimatebarista and baristabrother1.

Author: Matthew Gee
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The specialist coffee dealership

A dedicated coffee store will certainly have its clear advantages compared to the non targeted vendor, If though you are thinking of obtaining things like a Jamaican Coffee product or wicker coffee table and have all the information you need on the goods then just maybe specialized coffee information is not going to be the most important thing on your mind. For the folk that happen to be totally confused and have no clue as to what the difference between an item like a Brazilian Santos sachet or german coffee machine [ just kidding you ], the guidance of a coffee specialist will surely be well received and any shopper is guaranteed to gain from the valuable help of an expert.

Another fine advantage of the specialized coffee store is it might undoubtedly supply a huge assortment of coffee products and other nice items in stock, say then you wanted to choose from a quantity of different goods like commercial coffee grinders, coffee blending kits or similar products then the specialist coffee stores are more likely to help you. The fact that a specialist coffee vendor will undoubtedly stock a large amount of products for you to look at will probably mean that you are much more likely to come across the product that is most suitable your requirements.

The bigger food and drink stores

The big food and drink vendors and chain stores will hopefully be able to give most of the coffee experts a run for their money where cost levels are concerned, the plain truth is the well known food and drink vendors can obtain coffee products and goods in such substantial quantities which in turn means they are able to offer buyers some pretty great discounts on certain items like unique coffee tables or coffee table plans. If you have checked out a number of coffee guides and reports and are satisfied that a coffee product that is being marketed in one of the major retail chains suits your purposes then purchasing from such a vendor is ideal.

Yet another reason to buy from one of the large food and drink retail stores is due to the fact that lots of them have such a huge amount of power that the massive coffee makers will actually produce original brand merchandise that could only be retailed by these bigger retail groups and food and drink suppliers. The big brands do this to thank the major stores and provides some really decent cut price coffee products within the grasp of consumers.

My own opinion is there is tons of room for both the specialist coffee stores and the huge food and drink retail groups or department stores, both have their own individual advantages and it doesn’t difference if you are thinking about buying a german coffee pot or a glass coffee pot as one side or the other will clearly be able to help you and provide you with a fantastic coffee item.

The Free Secret Coffee report by Larry Whiter the author of this article can be found at : http://www.bjcoffee.com

Author: Larry Whiter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For any consumer who is in need of relevant honest advice on products such as miele coffee makers or Coffee Accessories then one of the finest places to get real advice aimed at coffee merchandise is a forum or message board on food and drink or coffee products, also all round consumer news groups are invaluable and I would strongly suggest you check some out prior to any coffee connected purchases.

For a lot of goods you might even wonder why such a forum might exist but I can tell you now there are message boards all over the net on the strangest and weirdest of topics, coffee companies and those associated to the industry will themselves contribute and take part in news groups targeted at food and drink and the general sphere of coffee products and related merchandise, it is in such places that you will discover the insider secrets on such subjects and also get a glimpse of the newest coffee items to be released.

Whilst you are hunting for coffee help on a discussion forum you can usually guarantee that the knowledge you will obtain will come to be a hundred percent genuine and very significant indeed, a person might have sourced a coffee making machine or a Kona Coffee Beans product however not have been happy with their purchase, by thoroughly checking out some forum posts on the chosen coffee item before they ordered they might perhaps have obtained some smart feedback regarding their coffee related purchase.

Additionally forums can offer you some real positive feedback on coffee products and related items, It only takes a couple of minutes of your time to divide the decent items from the bad. Lets say you have read multiple messages about a Brazilian Santos pack, if this food and drink merchandise was included in your shopping list then this may perhaps be a coffee item that you can purchase and know that you are getting a decent bargain for your money.

The other superb benefit of newsgroups that incorporate data focused on coffee products is that some individuals for whatever reason are specialists on this sector of food and drink, Becoming a member of such message boards is straight forward and the good part is you can question these folk and get hold of some really smart coffee tips for nothing. Where are the best places to order wholesale coffee packs? or can anyone assist me with any advice on italian coffee grinders?, you can be sure that some person who is an expert on the subject of coffee products will be more than happy to help you and assist you with your own individual coffee query.

Pretend for a moment you are looking for a Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pack, why choose this? well it just so happens a relative of yours ordered the same item, you are wishing to order the exact same product but check out a coffee discussion forum before you order, there you find out the product is not as good as you imagined and ands so up sourcing an alternative item. This is applicable to any region of coffee products, office coffee grinders, coffee sampler bags it doesn’t matter what the merchandise is, specific coffee or food and drink discussion groups are priceless for any possible purchaser of these kinds of products.

Valerie Shapero the coffee writer contributes for the high profile coffee website Fuzzy Coffee. An outstanding source for facts about beverages and drinks. Visit: http://fuzzycoffee.com

Author: Valerie Shapero
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee or the word cafe is all you would like to hear after a long work or right after you wake up. This is the most widely drunk beverage in the world. Coffee ingestion on an average is about a third of that of tap water in North America and Europe . While drinking coffee outside is usually expensive and preferred mostly during conversations or meetings, deals etc., many of us would prefer to make coffee ourselves at home and drink it in the company of our family members or drink it ourselves. Over the years, this art of brewing coffee has been mastered and we can make the best brewed coffee ourselves, but this has been taken over by our need to automate the coffee brewing art so that our work is made easier. Here, you will be taken through the three types of coffee makers in the world and figure out which is the best for you.

Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker , designed by Swedish designer Kass Kleeson:

First we will look at the vacuum coffee maker which is hailed by anyone who has tried it as the best coffee maker of all times. It uses a process that cooks coffee with an extremely strong flavor. The flavor and strength is usually based on how much coffee you use to make it. Today, a lot of coffee makers destroy the flavor by not mixing the components properly, or by not brewing at the right temperature or maybe not brewing for the right amount of time too.

A vacuum coffee maker is made up of two units. The lower and upper pots which are both made of glass. The upper pot is placed directly on top of the lower pot, and both the pots sealed together with the help of a stopper. A tube is attached to the upper pot which runs down to the lower pot as well. A filter is also attached to the upper pot to filter the coffee while it flows down to the lower pot.

Ground coffee, usually of coarse texture, is added to the upper pot. This depends upon how much your taste buds want. Usually, for a strong coffee, 1 tablespoon per cup of coffee will suffice. Then the lower pot is filled with the required amount of water and placed over a heating element or fire. After reaching boiling point, the upper pot is placed on top of the lower pot and the decreased pressure in the lower pot will cause the water to push up itself through the pipe into the upper pot. Here, the coffee is brewed in hot water and after a few minutes (depending upon the strength of coffee you want) the whole apparatus is removed from the heating element. If you are a beginner at using this type of coffee machine, it pays to experiment and figure out the right time duration that produces the coffee of your choice. As the water cools down, a vacuum is built up in the lower pot and coffee is sucked down. The upper pot is removed and the coffee collected in the lower pot is poured into the cups and enjoyed. The greatest benefit of using this coffee machine is that the temperature is perfect and this does not destroy the oils and flavor of coffee which is often the case in other coffee makers. Though this process requires little manual effort to place the apparatus on the heating element and taking it out of the heating element, this manual effort is affordable once you start drinking coffee made by this procedure.

Stove Top Coffee Maker :

This is made up of aluminium or stainless steel. The bottom of the pot contains a reservoir of water and the top has a round basket with a stem reaching to the end of the pot. First, water is filled and the basket of coffee is then added. The pot is heated and as the water boils, it comes in contact with the coffee and the coffee is brewed. The basket must be removed to filter out the coffee beans. Latest types include espresso pots which use steam and water to brew the coffee. This is reported to brew better coffee, but taste buds vary from person to person. Steam is used to produce latte or foam milk for cappuccinos.

Nowadays, we have stove top pots which function similar to the French press which presses the coffee beans to the bottom of the pot to produce a darker and much richer cup of coffee. However, this type of machine requires constant watching as there is possibility of burning the coffee beans in the absence of careful observation.

Drip Coffee Maker:

Almost all the drip filter coffee makers work the same way. They contain a paper or a plastic filter which holds the finely ground coffee. Cold water is poured through a tube from a reservoir and heated before falling over the coffee powder. This brews and extracts the oils and flavor of the coffee into the waiting carafe. This is a simple and reliable method compared to many other models available in the market.

Many companies use these three models with other additional features such as the strength of coffee, sugar adding facility, coffee with milk, number of cups etc. It is up to you to choose the best coffee maker according to the budget and the one which is most appropriate to your convenience. You would not choose the one which adds sugar automatically for an extra price as we can do that for ourselves, unless you are the one who does not know how to spend your money. The bottom line is that the machine must brew coffee at the right temperature for the right time using the right amount of water.

Check out latest coffee machine reviews and compare coffee maker prices special offers and deals at Coffee machines reviews website.

Author: Fredrick Joy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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