Coffee

A coffee grinder is a must have for anyone who loves coffee, for two simple reasons:

1. Freshness
2. Control over the Coarseness of the Grind

Freshness

To keep coffee as fresh as possible you need to minimise its contact with air. Air is one of coffee’s worst enemies as it destroys delicate flavours by turning the natural oils present in coffee rancid.

If you have a coffee grinder at home you can grind your coffee beans as and when you need them. This preserves their freshness, as a whole coffee bean has a much smaller surface area than that of a ground bean and therefore is less exposed to air.

The actual process of grinding releases many of the coffee’s aromatics; as you grind you can smell this in the air. If you don’t quickly use these grounds then you are going lose this aroma and deprive your cup of valuable flavours. This is another good reason to only grind coffee on demand.

Control over the Coarseness of the Grind

Different coffee makers require a different coarseness of ground coffee. For example: an espresso machine, which has a short brewing time (less than 30 seconds), needs a very fine powder-like grind; whereas a cafetiere, which has a long brewing time (3-4 minutes), needs a much coarser grind.

With your own coffee grinder you get to control the coarseness of the grind as you can adjust the grinder’s setting. So if you find that your coffee tastes bitter, a result of over-extraction, then you can adjust the grind to a coarser setting; and if your coffee tastes flat, a result of under-extraction, you can adjust the grind to a finer setting.

Blade Vs Burr Coffee Grinders

Coffee grinders come into two categories:

1. Blade Grinders
2. Burr Grinders

A blade grinder works in a similar way to a food processor: there is a set of spinning metal blades which roughly cut through the coffee beans. The coarseness of the grind is determined by how long the grinder is left running. Coffee ground by a blade grinder is inconsistent in size as some beans will be sliced through more times then others.

Rather than chopping the coffee beans into tiny pieces, a burr grinder crushes the beans between two pieces of burred metal. A burr grinder produces a much more consistent size of grounds as the coarseness is controlled by how close the two pieces of metal are set to each other: i.e. a smaller distance for fine grounds and a larger distance for coarse. For this reason, burr grinders are far superior to blade grinders.

Why is Consistency Important?

The ultimate aim when making coffee is to extract the maximum amount of flavour whilst leaving behind bitter compounds and caffeine. This is why different coffee makers require a different coarseness of grounds. However, if your grounds are inconsistent then the larger particles in the grounds are going to be under-extracted, leaving behind flavour, and the smaller particles are going to be over-extracted, releasing bitter compounds and further caffeine into the cup. Unfortunately, the two don’t balance each other out; instead you have a flat, bitter coffee that will keep you awake for hours.

Choosing a Coffee Grinder

The coffee grinder you choose should depend on for what type of coffee maker you’re grinding the coffee. If you’re using a cafetiere or stove-top espresso maker then a hand grinder is perfectly adequate, although they do require plenty of physical effort to get results.

However, for an espresso machine a good quality electric burr coffee grinder is essential. As making an espresso is a pretty intense process (its all over in less than 30 seconds) the margin of error for the grind is very slim. This is why you need a grinder which allows for minuscule adjustments to be made so you can get the grind spot on.

James Grierson is the owner of Galla Coffee – UK based retailer of espresso machines, coffee makers, grinders and cups for the home.

View the original article in its context at: Guide to Coffee Grinders

Author: James Grierson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Being a coffee lover it’s likely if you are anything like me, you just cannot start your day without it?

I suspect that no matter how much you like your coffee you surely have your own opinion as to which is the best tasting coffee. Perhaps you like a shot of espresso or a latte but maybe you just want that cup regardless of what’s in it!

Generally speaking there are two types of coffee,one derived from Arabica coffee beans and the other from Robusta beans.

Coffee from the Arabica bean is the higher quality coffee and being more popular accounts for around 75% to 80% of the coffee drunk around the world. Robusta is of lesser quality but still good in taste and makes up for around 20% of the world’s coffee.Both of these beans are grown in Latin America,Southern Asia and Africa. As soon as the beans, known as berries on the plant, are ripe they are picked, dried and roasted to varying degrees depending on the desired flavors. Once roasted the coffee beans are ground and brewed to make coffee.The roasting process produces the characteristics and the flavors of coffee by expanding the green beans, changing their color, taste, smell and density. As the heat is absorbed by the beans their color changes from green to yellow and from yellow to various shades of brown. During the latter stages of roasting the surface of the bean starts to look shiny in appearance as natural oils appear on its surface. The longer the roast the darker the bean.

Lightly roasted coffee allows a lighter bodied coffee and it is easy to distinguish the taste created in the bean by the soil and weather conditions as well as the growing region and so you’ll probably be able to locate where the bean came from. Darkly roasted coffee beans however, have been roasted to the point where the dominant flavor becomes the roast itself and you’ll be hard pressed to guess where the coffee came from.

Brewing also plays an important role in coffee drinking as the better the coffee machine is that you use as a coffee maker the better coffee you can make. Since the fresher the coffee is the more aromatic and flavorful it is and therefore it’s better to grind coffee beans yourself just prior to brewing so you can enjoy the best tasting cup.

All can contribute to a great cup of coffee, but which is the best coffee? Well again that depends on personal taste and preference but here below is a short coffee guide to help you decide:

Dark Roasts

This is coffee that is roasted longer. It’s darker and has a smoky flavor. If you like this, then you’ll enjoy French coffee, Espresso Coffee or Italian Coffee, although some French roast can be considered as medium roast as well.

Medium Roasts
These are a little sweeter tasting than a lighter roast with good aromas,fully flavored and balanced acidity. You can look for American, Viennese or City roast if you like to enjoy a cup of medium roasted coffee. This is also the category for most breakfast blends in the US.

Light Roasts
This light roasted coffee contains more caffeine that other categories but they offer less taste and body than the other two types of roasts. Look for New England or Cinnamon roasts.

Truth be told no one can tell you exactly what the best coffee is for you. Some people prefer a particular type of coffee while others enjoy another. There are many producers, roasters and retailers of coffee so go out and try them all as ultimately it is up to you to decide which one suits your palate the best.

For more good advice on choosing a good coffee and a coffee machine [http://www.goodcoffeeclub.com] visit my website at, [http://www.goodcoffeeclub.com]

Author: Brian Potter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Being a coffee lover it’s likely if you are anything like me, you just cannot start your day without it?

I suspect that no matter how much you like your coffee you surely have your own opinion as to which is the best tasting coffee. Perhaps you like a shot of espresso or a latte but maybe you just want that cup regardless of what’s in it!

Generally speaking there are two types of coffee,one derived from Arabica coffee beans and the other from Robusta beans.

Coffee from the Arabica bean is the higher quality coffee and being more popular accounts for around 75% to 80% of the coffee drunk around the world. Robusta is of lesser quality but still good in taste and makes up for around 20% of the world’s coffee.Both of these beans are grown in Latin America,Southern Asia and Africa. As soon as the beans, known as berries on the plant, are ripe they are picked, dried and roasted to varying degrees depending on the desired flavors. Once roasted the coffee beans are ground and brewed to make coffee.The roasting process produces the characteristics and the flavors of coffee by expanding the green beans, changing their color, taste, smell and density. As the heat is absorbed by the beans their color changes from green to yellow and from yellow to various shades of brown. During the latter stages of roasting the surface of the bean starts to look shiny in appearance as natural oils appear on its surface. The longer the roast the darker the bean.

Lightly roasted coffee allows a lighter bodied coffee and it is easy to distinguish the taste created in the bean by the soil and weather conditions as well as the growing region and so you’ll probably be able to locate where the bean came from. Darkly roasted coffee beans however, have been roasted to the point where the dominant flavor becomes the roast itself and you’ll be hard pressed to guess where the coffee came from.

Brewing also plays an important role in coffee drinking as the better the coffee machine is that you use as a coffee maker the better coffee you can make. Since the fresher the coffee is the more aromatic and flavorful it is and therefore it’s better to grind coffee beans yourself just prior to brewing so you can enjoy the best tasting cup.

All can contribute to a great cup of coffee, but which is the best coffee? Well again that depends on personal taste and preference but here below is a short coffee guide to help you decide:

Dark Roasts

This is coffee that is roasted longer. It’s darker and has a smoky flavor. If you like this, then you’ll enjoy French coffee, Espresso Coffee or Italian Coffee, although some French roast can be considered as medium roast as well.

Medium Roasts
These are a little sweeter tasting than a lighter roast with good aromas,fully flavored and balanced acidity. You can look for American, Viennese or City roast if you like to enjoy a cup of medium roasted coffee. This is also the category for most breakfast blends in the US.

Light Roasts
This light roasted coffee contains more caffeine that other categories but they offer less taste and body than the other two types of roasts. Look for New England or Cinnamon roasts.

Truth be told no one can tell you exactly what the best coffee is for you. Some people prefer a particular type of coffee while others enjoy another. There are many producers, roasters and retailers of coffee so go out and try them all as ultimately it is up to you to decide which one suits your palate the best.

For more good advice on choosing a good coffee and a coffee machine [http://www.goodcoffeeclub.com] visit my website at, [http://www.goodcoffeeclub.com]

Author: Brian Potter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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True espresso coffee is generally a small 1-2 oz shot of pressure-brewed coffee and about a tablespoon of finely ground coffee that is brewed for around 30 seconds. When correctly brewed an espresso will have a glorious crema on the surface which is layer of rich dark golden cream.

The term Espresso (often misspelled Expresso) is very loosely a term meaning a coffee made just for you. Just like the barista in a coffee club preparing your favorite shot as you wait.

Baristas will make many cups of coffee to perfect the quality of the crema as it is a good indicator of a good quality espresso. We as coffee drinkers certainly appreciate a rich dark roast base crema to pass our lips.

What constitutes the Best Espresso Bean?

Quality Coffee Beans: There is plenty of argument about whether a particular coffee bean is more suited for espresso than another. Some baristas will stand by their assumption that a certain blend works better for espresso than any other.

Considering that espresso is somewhat more the process than the actual article it is suffice to say that a quality grown coffee bean, generally with a darker roast profile which has been carefully roasted and correctly ground should always be the base for a quality coffee.

Different areas prefer a lighter roast for an espresso, but the fuller taste of a dark roast seems to appeal to more of the coffee shops. There is no hard and fast rule about which roast profile is regarded as better than another.

Quick Delivery: One of the most important points in sourcing the best espresso bean is that you get the roasted beans in as short a time from roasting to brewing. Boutique roasters specialize in smaller roast batches that are delivered very quickly to the end consumer. This ensures that the maximum aroma is kept in the beans that will be released when you make your espresso. Generally the quality falls off within two weeks from roasting and this is a very short cycle for the bulk coffee roasters available in your supermarket to achieve.

Roasting:  Coffee bean roasting is done in a rotating drum for around 15 mins at 450F. The specific times and temperatures for each roaster are what is commonly referred to as the roasting profile. The beans will rest anywhere between 12 to 36 hours to degas. There are a host of chemical changes that occur in the coffee bean when roasted and how these interact depends so much on how the individual roaster is versed in this seemingly dark art of roasting the best bean. Over 1500 substances will combine to give you that special best espresso bean flavor. Maintaining the consistency of this roasting profile is what ensures that the specific traits of any coffee blends are maintained throughout the years.

Passion: Talk to any coffee drinker and you will sense a distinct emotional response to the thought of a quality brew to sip on. People can often remember very clearly where “That” coffee was that tasted so good. Roasters are no exception to this and only a boutique coffee roasting company can instill the passion that they have for their craft into the blend. It is often said that coffee roasting is half science and half art. I would rather buy a DaVinci than a factory oil.

There is a monastery that I have found where they carefully roast some truly fabulous blends in small batches. The proceeds from the coffee sales are used for their monastic upkeep and they are absolutely passionate about making the best espresso coffee. If you want an exceptional espresso bean to use in your coffee maker, the sample packs that are available are a great introduction for you to a truly superb coffee that is unique and very enjoyable.

There is a great online shop where you can view all the espresso and other blends of coffee that are produced by the mystic monks. Just go to The Best Espresso Beans [http://www.need-ideas.com/coffee/Best-Espresso-Beans.html] site where you can navigate to the great sampler packs and other coffee products. They even do wholesale espresso coffee [http://www.need-ideas.com/coffee/Best-Espresso-Beans.html] packs if you want to set your coffee shop apart from the rest.

Author: Marc Weedbrook
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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First, let’s talk about why you should use coffee grinders for better coffee. Most people don’t bother to grind their own coffee. This is purely because of convenience. I hear excuses like “I don’t have the time,” or “coffee grinders make too much noise”, or “I don’t want to clean up the mess” and on and on. The simple fact is this: you should grind the coffee just before you brew it. Here’s a simple test. Go ahead and open up a can of ground coffee. Smell the aroma? Now go ahead and grind some coffee at the supermarket. Smell the bag. Do you smell the difference? Well, you’ll taste the difference too. The reason for grinding the coffee is to get more surface area to extract more coffee taste. As soon as you grind the coffee, the grounds are exposed to air and the flavor and aroma begin to dissipate. You should brew the coffee immediately after using the coffee grinder for maximum flavor.

Coffee Grinders – Cheapie Blade Grinders

The cheapest type of coffee grinder is the blade grinder. Blade grinders work like your blender does. Spinning blades chop the coffee until the desired grind size is achieved. The benefit is that the blade grinder is inexpensive. The problem is that the coffee is ground unevenly. To the coffee expert, this yields a cup of coffee that is uneven and undrinkable. My take on this is that it is still better than not grinding the coffee yourself. All is not lost, however. On to a better option.

Coffee Grinders – The Burr Grinder

Burr grinders are used by professionals for good reason. Metal discs called burrs are set apart by a precise distance. Coffee beans are ground until they are the size of the gap between the burrs and they fall down the chute into the hopper. The benefit is an even grind. This results in a better coffee experience. The better burr grinders have precision settings for all types of coffees and brewing machines.

If you want a better cup of coffee, use a coffee grinder and grind the coffee beans immediately before brewing. If you want even grounds for smoother flavor, get a burr grinder. Take these two pieces of advice and you’ll be on the way to your best cup of coffee yet. There are many more topics and articles on coffee on our website. Please take a moment to visit us. Pull up a chair and bring a cup of coffee, we would love to have you drop by.

Athanasios G. is very passionate about making perfect coffee. His website is dedicated to everything coffee related. Visit our site to learn more about how to make coffee. Here’s a list of articles on coffee, coffee history and more.

Author: Athanasios G.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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