Coffee Articles

Single Origin Coffee

You can never compare a hot cup of gourmet coffee with a mere processed coffee you bought at a grocery store you came across on the street. They are worlds apart. They are different from each other in ways you can never imagine if you’ve never tried the former.

Gourmet coffee has a classic and typical taste and a unique and distinct aroma from the beans. The texture and the aftertaste that it has never fail to leave gourmet coffee lovers in a Zen place. Gourmet coffee is generally never bitter as compare to regular coffee. Like a good wine which is known to have a distinctive flavor, a quality gourmet coffee is prepared to give coffee drinkers a pleasurable experience every time.

Gourmet coffee marketing is also different from how regular coffee is marketed. They come in whole beans and they are almost always sourced from estates that are known to possess specific and unique characteristics.

If you are a true blue coffee lover like you claim to be, you should know the distinct properties of different estates. Every estate has its own unique characteristics, familiarize yourself around these stuff and you’re bound to know which properties work for your discriminating taste. Thus, your next coffee orders will be directed to a specific estate.

Gourmet coffee processing is way slower in comparison to ordinary coffee in order for the coffee beans to retain its full flavor and aroma. Take for example the Kopi Luwak you tasted from the Philippines. You probably found a muted acidity with an aroma of roasted nuts plus dark chocolate along with a syrupy and chocolaty aftertaste to it. The place where coffee is cultivated actually plays a big part on the taste, acidity, aroma, and aftertaste of a coffee bean.

That being said, coffee experts have come up with the concept of single origin coffee over the years. The same bean could have a different taste when it is being cultivated in different estates even in the same region. This is one of the reasons why an estate coffee is a step ahead of single origin coffee.

The soil where the coffee is grown as well as the climate, the species, the altitude, and the coffee processing methods define a single origin coffee.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - May 14, 2014 at 9:36 am

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Find Zen In Drinking Gourmet Coffee

Coffee hails from all the different regions in the world. Since coffee is and can be grown almost everywhere too, many cultures and nations have different approach to it. But how is gourmet coffee produced?

Coffee beans are from different parts of the world but they are processed in the same way of turning coffee beans into coffee. Beans are picked, dried and sorted out. Of course only beans that haven’t been broken or splintered into half are picked and packed for commercial use. The roasting process of these coffee beans is one of the, if not the most, important steps in coffee making. The coffee will end up tasting weak if the roasting process is not done well. Conversely, if the coffee has been roasted a little too much, the coffee will end up tasting burnt.

When you talk about gourmet, it means that a food or a drink has been made finer by having an expert judge and improve it.  Though anything improved usually means a higher demand and can mean a little bit costly compared to the usual ones.

Nonetheless, there are still other factors that one must consider for gourmet coffee. It is more than just roasting your coffee perfectly. Just like building a structure, any coffee maker must have a plan that ensures that client needs are met and delivered.

Be honest now, do you have those days when you feel like nothing can make you relaxed and stress free aside from treating yourself with flavored coffee or drinks? Roasters nowadays are able to add flavors to simple coffee, giving it a totally unique taste. Some of these examples are adding chocolate syrups, hazelnut, vanilla and even caramel. Anyone can be guilty of this. People are seemingly addicted to some childhood treats. And their coffee having a new exciting taste can be really satisfying and indulging.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - May 5, 2014 at 8:43 am

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Getting the Most Out of Your Decaf Coffee

As a true blue coffee lover, have you been sobbing decaf? There are rumors circulating that are good and bad about decaf coffee. Bad ones say not it contain harmful chemical, and there are ones that say there are coffee plants that naturally grow decaffeinated. Truth is, when you get the know-how of decaffeination process, you can then be able to make an educate decision in choosing decaf beans that are not only delectable, but they can be beneficial to the health as well.

One thing you should always make sure of so as to have a premium decaf cup of coffee is to have your beans always freshly roasted. You could come across a lot of websites that give decaf options of their gourmet beans that they usually freshly roast, hence making this the best way to go about getting your beans. Not to mention, buying decaf beans at the grocery store would mean that you are buying beans that have been sitting on the shelves for ages. The main reason behind this is because less attention has been given to decaf.

The process used in decaffeinating green coffee beans involves submerging them in water. This makes them swell, and they are usually soaked in a kind of solvent that could be either chemical or water. It will then be left to sit and make its way into the coffee beans, then it evaporates so as the green beans to dry out. This is by far the most effective in removing caffeine from coffee beans, but still seeing to it that it maintains its flavor.

Whenever you come across bag of coffee beans that have labels claiming they are naturally caffeinated, just know that they usually use ethyl acetate as a solvent that could be naturally found in vegetables and fruits, and Java, too.

It is even said that there is a new coffee plant that could potentially produce coffee with zero or little caffeine, which comes from Cameron. This is a tremendous way to grow specific plant varieties that have their own natural flavors that need not go through a decaffeination process, but it could have about 30% caffeine remaining. Is it legit? I don’t know. Let’s wait and see for ourselves.

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Posted by Coffee Guy - May 1, 2014 at 4:24 pm

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Scouting For Gourmet Coffee

Coffee is so famous that it is a much-loved drink of countless people all over the world, and it sparks interest in many of us, something most of us can share. Gourmet coffee beans may refer to the high-quality ones, but they may also be those that have improved flavors. Selecting such beans though is different from one individual to another. This will depend on the personal preference of the coffee buyer, whether they are looking for gourmet flavored beans, or ones that are grown in a certain area.

You can take advantage of them out of your local supermarket, but you’re not sure just how fresh and genuine they might be. Coffee houses may be quite expensive, but you can be confident they’re offering authentic ones.

Premium gourmet coffees are grown in ideal environmental conditions. Envision an island with a plantation in the middle of trees in which the air is crisp and clean since it is a long way away from other lands. The ground is fertile and the weather conditions are ideal. The water that the mountains of this island are receiving comes from the clean ocean which is why crops can mature without problems. Coffee beans have to be underneath shade trees that protect them from the harsh sun.

Prior to buying your gourmet coffee beans, you really should research options and rates about what type of coffee you specifically desire as there is an array of available options. Since every area has a different setting and environment, the coffee beans are all diverse.

It is possible to opt for a coffee bean based on its level of acidity, taste, and strength or robustness. Some gourmet coffee beans may have a tougher and full-bodied flavor while many could have a trace of spice.

By undertaking meticulous study, you are on your way to finding the ideal gourmet coffee beans that fit your taste buds. Oh, and taste testing won’t hurt, too.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - April 28, 2014 at 9:47 am

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Finding The Right Gourmet Coffee

Coffee is so popular that it is a favorite of many all over the world, and it sparks interest in all of us, something we all can share. Gourmet coffee beans may refer to the high-quality ones, but they can also be those that have enhanced flavors. The choice of these beans though differs from one individual to another. It depends on the personal preference of the coffee drinker, whether they are looking for gourmet flavored beans, or ones that are grown in a particular area

You can avail of them from you local grocery store, but you’re not sure just how fresh and authentic they could be. Coffee shops may be quite expensive, but you can rest assured they’re selling the real deal.

Premium gourmet coffee beans are grown perfect environmental conditions. Imagine an island with a plantation surrounded by trees wherein the air is crisp and clean since it is far away from other lands. The soil is fertile and the climate is ideal. The water that the mountains of this island are getting is from the clean ocean which is why plants can grow easily. Coffee beans must be under shade trees that protect them from the harsh rays of the sun.

Before purchasing your gourmet coffee beans, you may want to shop around about what type of coffee you particularly want since there is an array of options available. Since each area has a different setting and environment, so they are all diverse.

You can opt for a coffee bean based on its acidity, flavor, and strength or robustness. Some gourmet coffee beans may have a more robust and full-bodied flavors while some may have a tinge of spice.

By doing meticulous research, you are on your way to finding the perfect gourmet coffee beans that suit your palate. Taste testing won’t hurt, too.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - April 21, 2014 at 4:48 pm

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Brief History of Coffee Cultivation

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world today and one of the world’s most important commodities traded in the market. But did it ever occur to you how all the hype for coffee cultivation started?

The first coffee houses were opened in Mecca around 1100 AD, it has been said that trade ships brought the coffee beans to them. They created beverages s by roasting and boiling the beans which they called ‘gahwa’ meaning to prevent sleep. They initially made wines and medicines out of it, but later came up with the idea to make it a drink. Coffee became very famous in Arabia afterwards.

Coffee cultivation were Arabs’ pride since it was originally almost exclusive to them, but later on it reached the Dutch colonies in India and Java around 1615. Britain was the first country in Europe to open a Café in 1651. Around 1700, there were over 3000 coffee houses which had upper middle classes as customers.

Everywhere they went, they brought coffee along with them. It ultimately made its way into India, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and then reached Yemen around 1400 AD.

Other countries wanted to cultivate these beans but the Arabs held control of it and were very uptight in guarding it. They even killed the seed-germ so nobody else would be able to grow the coffee if taken elsewhere. Thus, Yemen is where the main source of coffee stayed for several hundred years, but the beans were finally smuggled out by pilgrims and travelers in spite of all their efforts to keep the beans to themselves.

The Dutch were able to send some beans to Java (Indonesia) in the late 1600’s which made way for the worldwide spread of coffee cultivation. In the late 1700’s, coffee became popular across Europe and coffee houses opened in Italy, Austria and England. Coffee cultivation was brought by the French to Martinique around 18th Century, and just by the end of the century, there were already millions of coffee producers in Central America and South America .

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazil has become the biggest producer of coffee worldwide. It was so commercial that many countries, such as Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, then started to plant coffee beans. Since early 20th century, US became the largest coffee importing country. Today, coffee is so popular that coffee shops can be seen almost everywhere.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - April 6, 2014 at 9:14 am

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Coffee for Culinary Purposes

Coffee used to be for drinking purposes alone, but not anymore. Coffee lovers just can’t get enough of it that they’re no longer satisfied with merely drinking it, they apparently came up with a brilliant idea and used it for cooking! Brilliant it is.

Before, after having brewed coffee and enjoying it, coffee grounds and leftover coffee are put to trash. But it’s not the case any longer, it can now be used as an essential food ingredient.

When using coffee for culinary purposes, some helpful and no-nonsense tips should be taken into consideration and followed.

Coffee is used in making dishes that have meat since it paves way for better absorption of flavor and spices. You can give pot roasts, stews, soups, chili, and beans some oomph to its flavor using strongly brewed coffee. To get fuller flavor, go for ground coffee beans instead of the instant ones. Since instant coffee is the polished version, significant aroma and flavor are less compared to the freshly ground ones. It can still be used in cooking though, turn it into an espresso and you’re good to go.

Also, when you plan on having it as an ingredient in a certain dish, make it much stronger than you normally would have if it was intended for drinking so the aroma and flavor will linger since coffee practically mellows down when cooked.

It can also be used in baking. A lot of pastries and cakes have coffee variants available in the market today. When making cookie dough, dissolve ground coffee using water or coffee liqueur. Flavoring it is all up toy, you can put in sugar, butter, pretty much anything you want. Like I said, coffee-flavored cakes are found everywhere. When making them, vigorously crush the coffee beans first.

Mix coffee only with white or unsweetened chocolate when making chocolate desserts. Otherwise, the chocolate flavor will overpower the coffee.

There are many other new ways to use coffee, cooking is just one of them. That’s how good coffee can get.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - March 24, 2014 at 8:54 am

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Keeping Gourmet Coffee Fresh

There are factors that affect the freshness of gourmet coffee, and the main ones are air, heat, light, and moisture. Expose your coffee to these elements for a stretch of time and its quality will surely decline.

When gourmet coffee is exposed to air, chances are, it will oxidize quicker than when kept in an air-tight container. The rapid oxidization causes the taste of the gourmet coffee to also rapidly become stale.

After coffee beans are roasted, they release carbon dioxide and undergo a chemical process that changes it flavor over time. When they are exposed in massive amounts of light and extreme heat, they tend to undergo these processes much quicker and can easily become rancid.

Moisture in gourmet coffee can be caused by putting them in the freezer or the fridge, and this usually dampens the flavor and quality of the coffee beans. When you freeze your coffee, the water molecules also freeze. And when they thaw, the water tends to condense on the outside of the grounds causing weakness on the robustness of the coffee ground. It can also cause the coffee to spoil quicker.

So your storage container is of the essence in keeping the freshness of your gourmet coffee grounds. Make sure you always store them in an air-tight opaque container as it helps get rid of both air and light because if you leave it in its original packaging, unnecessary light and air will enter since it cannot be sealed properly. Also, store them in cool and dark places such as cabinets and pantries, never to direct heat or sunlight.

In addition to that, you may want to buy coffee in individual coffee packets. Since when you purchase a full pack, it tends to be only fresh in the beginning but will spoil before you can even finish the whole pack. Also, single packets can give perfect amounts for one pot or serving. You can get these packets from any coffee sellers, even online.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - March 18, 2014 at 4:30 pm

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Having Coffee At Work Makes Work Bearable

We all have our reasons to show up at work. Most certainly, we need to make a living, we have our families to provide for and support, the list goes on. Even though there are millions of things in our to-do list, we have to delay them just to be able to make money for now.

We work and we always have that long face we seem to perpetually wear. The face that’s getting stale and stinky already. Oh, the effect of wear and tear. You get to thinking it’s another manic day at work. You feel meh. You feel blah. And it doesn’t change as you enter your own little cubicle.

Hours have gone by, and no matter the pile of papers you have to get busy on, you still feel terribly bored. You see your officemate towards the direction of the coffee machine, your eyes meet. Yes, anytime is coffee time. You try to strike up a conversation. Small talks can’t be eluded, but you get past it in no time. Then all of a sudden, someone else joins in on the conversation. Your exchange of mumbo-jumbos is slowly becoming the highlight of your day.

I’m just gonna cut to the chase and make my point here. Sharing coffee in the workplace is what makes most of us have at least a bearable day at work. There are even people who won’t drink coffee when alone in public. Coffee is something that brings us together, and brightens our day. Coffee alone can do that, of course, but toss in some conversation with friends and everything is better.

Every employer should know about this, so they could know just how significant putting coffee stations in the office is. Certainly, they cannot overlook the quality of the coffee they provide!

 

 

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Posted by Olga Hartman - March 11, 2014 at 8:29 am

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The Luxury of Having A Coffee Maker

Isn’t it just great to give yourself a break and make yourself the perfect coffee hassle-free? Well, coffee makers might be just what you need in times like this. They are designed to give you excellently brewed coffee which you can offer to guests or just selfishly enjoy.

You have the luxury to prepare your favorite coffee recipes without much trouble and without having to spend a huge sum of money. You can make you coffee just the way you like it. And many coffee makers are now marketed to suit every kitchen and taste, you can avail of these without sacrificing quality since you can get them from renowned manufacturers.

If you are the type of person who has a taste for finer things in life but still want to live within a budget, you may want to keep track of sales and discounts so you can avail of quality yet inexpensive coffee makers. With the excellent coffee makers now available in the market at a minimum, you can now enjoy a luxurious cup of coffee without having to spend luxuriously.

Coffee makers are a great addition to a home, and they especially come in handy when you want to have friends over. Instant coffee is okay, but sometimes you just want your coffee to be of high quality and superb taste. Plus, the convenience of its push-button use is just remarkable! Cleaning and maintaining it doesn’t cause you much trouble either.

There’s a lot more to know about coffee makers, but the little tidbits mentioned above can be shared to the people you may know. It might change their morning rituals forever.

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Posted by Olga Hartman - March 9, 2014 at 4:50 pm

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