Coffee

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
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Coffee. We wake up with it, sip it all day, and drink it after dinner. But coffee is more than a beverage. For years, professionl chefs have used coffee to boost the flavor of meats, sauces, and desserts. While I’m not a professional chef, I’m a competent cook and have fixed buffet dinners for 70 and romantic dinners for two.

In fact, I was a food writer before I became a health writer. Like many other writers, I love coffee. I love coffee so much I decided to add it to some classic dessert recipes. Results? Coffee improved the flavor of all of them.

The coffee in Molten Mocha Cake gives this gooey dessert an added depth of flavor. Coffee Ice Cream sauce is a celebration of coffee flavor. Cinnamon and nutmeg give Pioneer Cookies lots of flavor, but coffee brings our the flavor of the spices. Fudgy Pudding, a rich, dark, and creamy dessert, is comfort food at its best.

Read the recipe before you start cooking. Notice that I’ve swapped healthy ingredients for less healthy ones when possible. Splenda for sugar. Applesauce for shortening. Skim milk for whole. Whipped topping for cream. Don’t worry, these desserts are still delicious and satisfying.

Buy the best coffee – ground, instant, or instant espresso – you can afford. Use fresh coffee only, not sludge that’s been sitting around since the birds got up. Drip coffee should be made with one tablespoon of coffee for every two cups of water. Get out the mixing bowls, the measuring stuff, the necessary ingredients, and start cooking. Then sit back and enjoy a coffee dessert with a cup of “Joe.”

MOLTEN MOCHA CAKE

Cake:

1 cup regular flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup Splenda,
2 tablespoons cocoa, 1 teaspoon instant coffee, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

Topping:

1/4 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon instant coffee, 2/3 cup light brown sugar, 1 3/4 cups hot coffee

Combine cake ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Pour into a one and a half quart casserole dish that has been coated with cooking spray.

Combine topping ingredients in the same bowl. Gently pour this mixture over the cake batter. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 minutes. Cook cake 10 minutes before serving. Serve plain or garnish with whipped topping or sugar-free frozen vanilla yogurt. Yield: 6 servings.

COFFEE ICE CREAM SAUCE

1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup strong coffee (room temperature), 1/4 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup fat free half and half, dash of salt, 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Using a whisk, add coffee, milk, half and half, salt (but not vanilla) to the cornstarch mixture. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let sauce cool. Serve over sugar-free vanilla or chocolate frozen yogurt. Yield: 6 servings.

PIONEER COOKIES (A SOFT, CAKE-LIKE COOKIE)

1/2 cup butter-flavored Crisco, 1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark), 1/2 cup calorie-free brown sugar, 1 large egg (room temperature), 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (pre-sifted kind),
1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 cup strong coffee (cold),
1/2 cup dried currants or cranberries, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Crisco, brown sugar, and egg until fluffy. Combine dried ingredients (excluding fruit and nuts) in a large bowl. Add to creamed mixture in small batches, alternating with the coffee. Fold in fruit and nuts. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto prepared cookie pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies are puffed and golden. Yield: 4 dozen.

FUDGY PUDDING

1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/3 cup Splenda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee, 2 cups skim milk, whipped topping (sugar-free)

Combine cornstarch, Splenda, salt and instant coffee in a small saucepan. Slowly add milk to this mixture. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until pudding is smooth and thick. Remove from heat and cover with plastic wrap. Chill pudding until set. Serve with whipped topping and a few sprinkles of instant coffee. Yield: 4 servings.

Copyright 2005 by Harret Hodgson. For more information on her work please go to www.harriethodgson.com.

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journslists. She was a food writer for the former “Rochester Magazine” in her hometown of Rochester, MN. Her latest book, “Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief,” written with Dr. Lois Krahn, is available from http://www.amazon.com

Author: Harriet Hodgson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee lovers will all uniformly agree that hazelnut coffee is a very richly-flavored delectable coffee with nutty overtones. To experience the original taste, you must try hazelnut flavored coffee made with natural ingredients without sugar, calories and allergens. Hazelnut coffee is a harmonious blend of nut and coffee that is something distinctly unique.

Even if you are not a veteran drinker, it is quite easy to know if the kind of coffee you are offered is indeed of the hazelnut flavor or not. The aroma that is emanating from the cup should be almost identical to hazelnut liquor. After inhaling a whiff of the strong smell, the very first sip will tell you what sort of coffee you have in your hands.

If it is sweet, nutty and gives you the feeling of a wonderful combination of coffee and nut, then rest assured you are holding a hot cup of hazelnut coffee. If you instantly like what you just sipped, then you are on the way to join the elite group of people from all over the world who have almost become addicts to this delicious blend of coffee – the strong Hazelnut.

The die-hard fans of hazelnut will say it is very similar to a cup of plain coffee with hazelnut liquor added in order to give the coffee that addictive kick. But one must hasten to add, that when you really buy hazelnut flavored coffee in the market, do not expect it to have any liquor mixed in it. Hazelnut is an excellent refreshing top-up beverage after breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Hazelnut coffee has a strong aroma, terribly rich and temptingly creamy. Hazelnut coffee is said to leave a very strong taste that will linger in your mouth for long.

There is a popular misconception that hazelnut flavor is meant to be taken only during the cold autumn and winter months. Nothing can be farther from truth as hazelnut is still a very delicious drink any time of the year. Because of its innate flexibility, some people even add chocolate to their hazelnut flavored coffee, to make their coffee unique. Universally appealing, hazelnut flavored coffee is the ideal beverage for parties, social events, or office breaks.

Although some coffee purists would argue against flavored coffee, you should not let any unreasonable bias to prevent you from sampling a highly addicting cup of hazelnut coffee. Do not forget that today hazelnut flavored coffee is surely but slowly taking over the scene. To substantiate this, hazelnut flavored coffee is today one of the best selling kinds of coffee in many parts of the globe. For a long, long time, coffee was just meant to be savored in its pure form – such as Brazilian, Colombian, and French Roast. Flavor was a detestable monstrosity best avoided.

History has it that some monks were the first ones who started this trend of hazelnut coffee. Although this fact is not very reliable, a more believable version of how flavored coffee started pertains to the Arab. It is said the Arab truly loved their food and drink to be flavorful and experimented their cups of coffee with different flavors and aroma before they arrived at hazelnut coffee. But now, more and more purists are also veering around to enjoy hazelnut coffee.

Samehtas is a Copywriter of Hazelnut flavored coffee. She written many articles in various topics such as Gourmet flavored coffee. For more information visit: http://capellaflavordrops.com.

Author: Samehtas S Capellas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Twenty-nine million American adults drink gourmet coffee beverages every day. Though specialty coffee shops like Starbuck’s can be found just about anywhere, Cuban coffee, known for its strong taste, is only found in areas of the United States where there is a large Cuban American population. Sought after by coffee connoisseurs, it is the finest and most sought-after coffee in the world. Often compared to espresso, it is actually a rich blend of Cuban, Spanish and Italian coffee traditions.

Cuban coffee is roughly double the strength of regular American coffee. It is usually served in small cups called “tacitas,” which are smaller than demitasse cups, at the end of a meal. It is a mud-thick java brew with a tantalizing flavor and aroma made sweet by the amount of sugar that is used. The secret to “Cafe Cubano” or”cafecito,” as it is known in Cuba, is the finely ground, dark roasted coffee beans.

Coffee was brought to the eastern region of Cuba by French immigrants in the mid 18th century. By the early 1800′s it became a bigger import than sugar. Cuba’s natural humid climate, fertile soil and two centuries of cultivation techniques, have made it the ideal setting for growing coffee beans. The coffee beans are grown high in the shady jungles of the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The cultivation of the beans is labor intensive and its planting, growing, harvesting, and processing procedures have been perfected every step of the way. Large beans are used and are left out to try in the sun instead of using mechanical dryers. No pesticides are used so the coffee is 100% organic.

Cuban coffee beans have a superior reputation in Asia and Europe with Japan and France accounting for 70-80 percent of the exports. Other importers of Cuban coffee include Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Embargo on Cuban goods has created a challenge for those i America who would like to enjoy this distinctive coffee. However Cuban American grocery stores and cafeterias sell their version of Cuban coffee. There are a number of Cuban coffee companies like Tu Cafe and Cafe Llave with Cafe Pilon being the top seller, that market “authentic Cuban coffee.” The beans for these brands are grown in Brazil,Colombia or other parts of Central and South America.

There is no secret recipe or process for making Cuban coffee. All that is needed is freshly ground dark roasted coffee beans, sugar and a “cafetera,” a unique italian double chamber coffee pot. Water is placed in the lower chamber and the ground coffee goes into a perforated holder. The top is screwed on and the pot is heated. The brewed coffee rises into the upper chamber. The coffee is poured into a “tacita” and sugar is added.

Drinking “Cafe Cubano” remains a prominent social and cultural activity within Cuba and in Cuban American communities. The rest of the world is slowly catching up to enjoy this particular style of coffee. One can find “authentic” Cuban coffees in many supermarkets and the specialty brewers are sold everywhere. So if you want a true coffee experience try Cuban coffee.

Cuba has always been a major player in world events both politically and socially. It is hard to believe that an island nation that has been politically ostracized from the rest of the world for more than fifty years, can still create such an impact. The Cuban coffee thing is just part of the whole Cuban experience. In my blog My Cuban Thing I write about my observations as a Cuban kid who grew up American.

Author: Mario Del Sol
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee is so popular these days that it ranks as one of the three top beverages that people drink. Different people have different tastes, which is the reason why coffee manufacturers have taken to blends and coffee flavors to meet the demands and tastes of different people. The different kinds of coffee and coffee blends are sometimes called gourmet coffee.

The Beginning Of Coffee

The discovery of coffee was sometime in the 9th century, in Ethiopia, when a shepherd notice his goats cavorting around with fresh energy after having dined on some red berries on a high bush. It was told that the shepherd took home some of the berries and roasted them to be able to eat the seeds. This was how coffee was discovered. Soon, coffee reached the Turks and they started to pound the coffee beans and mix them in water.

As the beverage traveled to Europe, many people liked the strong taste and energy, which came with it. Many coffeehouses sprouted in Europe and people started experimenting on different roasting processes and different ways to prepare coffee.

Specialty Coffee

Nowadays, many companies and stores sell their coffee products with variations. Coffee is not anymore the simple black with sugar and cream but it has many different flavors. Some people still prefer their coffee straight black with just sugar but some of the younger generation like the newer gourmet coffee.

Gourmet coffee or specialty coffee is coffee made from exceptional beans and grown in very specific climates and soil. These kinds of coffee have very distinct flavors, which are sometimes adapted from the soils they grow on. Even the care that is given to the plant and the ways it will be harvested or process may be factors to the coffee being gourmet coffee plant.

Freshness is also an essential part to gourmet coffee being called gourmet coffee. If the beans that are used are processed while they are fresh, these give out a definite aroma. Truly fresh coffee is ground right before brewing and brewed within a week of roasting. Being aromatic is a big part to coffee being called a specialty coffee. It is usually the highest quality green beans roasted by expert roasters.

Specialty coffee does not refer to the way that coffee is brewed but instead refers to the quality of the beans used to make the coffee grounds and the process by which the grounds are processed. True gourmet coffee does not need additives to enhance their flavor. When flavor is added to coffee it becomes flavored coffee, not specialty coffee.

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Author: John Hilaire
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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