Coffee

If you want to taste coffee in a whole new way, try making it with a French Press coffee pot. Most people are used to their coffee being brewed in an electric, drip coffee maker a la Mr. Coffee. This method has one flaw in the brewing process that takes away from the true essence of coffee: the paper filter. The paper retains some of the coffee essence, and deprives you of coffee’s true potential. Granted, we cannot simply dump ground coffee into a cup, pour in hot water and start drinking; the grounds must be separated from the liquid that is consumed. Coffee grounds are bitter, gritty, and stick to your teeth. The French Press method removes the grounds, but lets all of the flavor of the coffee come to life.

Although French Presses come in various shapes, sizes, materials and manufacturers, the Chambord model by Bodum is a good example of a ubiquitous style found throughout the industry . The handle attaches to the holder for the glass carafe. The carafe holds the coffee and hot water. The carafe looks like a beaker from a chemistry lab, with a spout for easy pouring. The “pressing” apparatus of the French Press sits atop the beaker. It consists of a dome which covers the coffee as it brews. The plunger is a skinny metal post with a plastic ball at the top that slides through a small hole in the middle of the dome. At the bottom of the post is the filter, a wire mesh disk.

A quick note about ingredients. A cup of coffee is made of coffee beans and water. Therefore, start with freshly roasted whole beans ground just before brewing. Whole beans maintain their freshness twice as long as ground coffee. The water is just as critical: make sure it is cold, fresh, and filtered.

Let’s assume a 12 oz. cup is being prepared. Using 1-1 ½ tablespoons of whole beans, set your grinder to coarse. This produces the largest grounds possible, and allows water to extract the maximum flavor from the coffee. It also reduces the amount of smaller grounds that will end up in the bottom of the cup.

Dump the ground coffee into the carafe. Before adding hot water, take a moment to inhale the aroma of the dry coffee. The aroma of freshly ground coffee will take you to a better place.

Next, heat your water (12 ounces). The optimal brewing temperature is 195-205 F. If you don’t have a thermometer, simply bring your water to a boil and wait thirty seconds.

Pour the water into the beaker and stir for a couple of seconds. This will agitate the mixture and allow the coffee to brew more completely. Place the plunger apparatus on the carafe, but do not depress. Set a timer for four minutes. This amount of time allows all of the flavor and oils to be extracted perfectly from the coffee.

At four minutes press down the plunger completely, then pour the freshly brewed coffee into your mug.
Look at the coffee before adding any condiments. The coffee will appear more complex (richer) than if it were brewed in a drip coffee maker. There will even be a thin layer of crema (light brown froth) resting on top of the liquid. Put your nose close to the cup and breathe in the aroma. The smell is stronger, more pure than if the coffee passed through a paper filter. Taste the coffee before adding sugar etc. When you reach the end of the cup you will notice some residue. These are simply micro-grounds that made it through the mesh filter.

You can purchase French Presses that double as travel mugs. There are also double-walled glass, and stainless steel thermal units as well. Some are beautifully crafted and look like museum pieces. The reason for this is that coffee made in this manner is the height of the coffee brewing experience. So, if you love coffee, you owe it to yourself to purchase a French Press and make the best-tasting coffee in the easiest possible way. Prices start at around 13 dollars for a two cup (12 oz.) unit.

Brent Kloster is co-owner of Falls River Coffee, which sells fresh roasted coffee, loose leaf tea, and brewing equipment online at http://www.FallsRiverCoffee.com.

Author: Brent Kloster
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Antique coffee grinders create a natural coarseness and aromatic flavor of coffee. It is used manually. Aside from this, it is made of wood with metal patterns and designs.

This kind of grinder takes more time before it can achieve finely grind coffee beans, yet it is definitely worth it. Moreover, it is an attractive kitchen décor that showcases an important historical tradition of everyday coffee experiences.

Parker Nation coffee is the oldest regarded coffee grinder with a bronze finish. It was made in Connecticut, US and was formed in 1905. More antique coffee grinders are still in good quality and still being used.

There are many reasons why some coffee fanatics still go for the conventional way of grinding their coffee.

Antique coffee grinders are generally left unpainted because of the natural wood shine finish of its box. The handles along the sides are made from cast iron with intricate designs, for a more appealing look. A small door on the box upper portion is designed for the coffee beans. Grounded coffee falls to its bottom drawer or the collection box once the propeller turns. It is similar to vacuum coffee makers.

These grinders have 2 blades, namely; the disc blades and the cone-shaped blades. Disc blades grind faster and are more accurate compared to conical blades. Blade grinders have single blades that grind more finely and at very high speed.

Antique coffee grinders come in different shapes, sizes designs and blades. Traditional models that sit on top of kitchen counters have handles for grinding beans.

Wall mounted coffee grinders are rare but are exceptionally beautiful. Origins are noted to be of German or French descent. Designs include a porcelain face of a man and woman praying in the filed.

The 1920 design is sleek. It has clean lines running through its mill. Moreover, it favors the Art Deco design with a stylish look. Most models of antique coffee grinders are simple yet attractive.

Functionality

This kind of coffee grinder hand grinds coffee beans in less than 2 minutes by using its handles. A finer grind of espresso would take a longer time, about 6 minutes.

Antique Burr Coffee Grinders grind coffee beans to more even sizes. A propeller needs to be turned in a clockwise manner as it grinds the beans. Then, it passes it onto the collection box. You can have a filter drip coffee when you turn it halfway in a clockwise motion. A grind for a French press should be turned in a 3/4 anti-clockwise manner.

Antique coffee grinders are an attractive alternative to modern coffee grinders. They work more quietly compared to its electric counterparts. It provides freshly aromatic coffee grounds and does not overheat the coffee. The construction appears good and almost breakable.

Antique coffee grinders are easy to maintain. Aside from being dishwasher-friendly, its exteriors only need to be cleaned after every usage. Its drive shaft is made with nylon or brass bearings, not requiring any lubrication or maintenance.

Zero pH body soaps can be used for the exterior wood finishing. Avoid using high alkaline content soaps or dish washing solutions on woods.

Burrs can be cleaned with the use of 1/3 cup rice, and then grinding it. You can unscrew the burrs in order to get the remaining sediments from the grinder. Cleaning with a toothbrush is a much better option.

For more information on Coffee Grinders and Types of Coffee Grinders please visit our website.

Author: David Urmann
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Gourmet coffee comes in all shapes, sizes, tastes, smells, and price ranges. It may seem obvious that the higher the price, the better the quality. However, this is not always the case when considering gourmet coffee. Who decides the best gourmet or specialty coffee is the coffee drinker: you. Tastes and styles differ form one person to the other. In addition, tastes and styles are not dependent on the price tag of the coffee. Coffee specialty shops offer the coffee drinker a chance to experience all qualities, styles, and tastes of gourmet coffee through a trial and error method. This proven trial and error method allows even the fussiest of coffee drinkers to choose a gourmet specialty coffee that is perfect for his or her lifestyle.

Coffee specialty shops are often a franchise business owned by major corporations. However, many of these fine specialty coffee shops are privately owned and ran by smaller groups of people. The benefits of both the corporation and the small business are completely different. I know I enjoy the small business coffee specialty shop mush more than the larger franchise. Customer service, quality, and down-home comfort all while enjoying that awesome cup of gourmet Java. Larger franchises have the advantage of having conformity of coffee tastes from one location to the other, even from one country to the other. Whatever your choice, coffee specialty shops offer all coffee drinkers a truly different coffee experience.

As with all specialty coffee, specially grown gourmet coffee beans are used to create a uniquely flavored coffee bean. Only the finest of gourmet coffee beans are used in the process of creating the most exceptional specialty coffees. The components of the soil creates the coffee bean used by specialty coffee shops around the world. Of course, coffee shops also sell the roasted coffee bean by the pound to loyal customers. Exposing the gourmet coffee beans to the public allow coffee drinkers to build loyalty and ultimately to buy only that specific gourmet coffee bean.

Many specialty coffees are infused with additional flavors to better please the coffee drinker. These additional coffee flavorings add a whole new element to gourmet coffee beans. Not only do these flavorings add a new taste, but these flavored coffee beans also add a whole new robust aroma. The two qualities together make an idealistic opportunity for coffee retailers to present their loyal customers with new and often improved qualities of coffee beans. Coffee retailers are always ready to find new ways to provide high quality to loyal customers as well as new coffee drinkers.

Gourmet specialty coffee shops reach out to their customers. Offering gourmet specialty coffees that carry the coffee shop’s company label gets potential coffee drinkers to trust that coffee shop. Building trust is important in the coffee industry. When dealing with customers willing to spend $18 billion annually on coffee and coffee products, the coffee retailers are more than willing to customize coffee and coffee products for their customers.

Tana has been an avid coffee and tea drinker her whole life. She has tried more than 100 different varieties of coffee and tea. At her site, Tana reveals to you her delicious secret blends of coffee and tea that she has experienced through her years. To learn more about premium gourmet coffee visit http://www.thelittleteahouse.com

Author: Tana Ticer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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