5 Tips For Selecting A Coffee Of The Month Club
Article by Ray Forrest
Coffee of the Month Clubs are a great way to experience high quality, specialty coffees from all around the world at an affordable price. The recent demand in popularity for “coffee of the month” clubs has opened up a new channel for local coffee shops to showcase their flavorful blends on the internet. Most organic and fair trade coffee is roasted by local shops or micro-roasters that import beans from different regions globally. These coffee producers focus on roasting beans that are mostly organic, fair trade and shade grown to produce high quality, gourmet coffees that are rich in flavor with a mild touch on the palette that lacks the bitterness associated with lower grade coffees.
Demand for organic and fair trade products coupled with growth in online shopping means it makes good business sense for the savvy owner of a coffee shop to create a new sales channel using the web to distribute their specialty coffee products on a global basis. Today more than ever, establishing an e-commerce presence is a relatively easy task and the benefits of getting product online make it a worthwhile effort.
What does this mean for coffee lovers you might be asking? Now instead of having to settle for the “usual suspects” or big brand coffee producers, consumers have a wide variety or high quality, specialty coffees to choose from. Coffees of the Month Clubs are designed to offer shoppers the opportunity to experience a variety of specialty coffees on a monthly basis at an affordable price. As you start your search for a Coffee of the Month Club here are several tips on what to look for and how to find the best deal for yourself.
1. How much should I pay? Most organic and fair trade coffees range in price from .99 to per pound. This excludes ultra premium coffees such as Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain. These two particular coffees range in price between and per pound.
2. Quality – Look for products that are certified organic and fair trade. These coffees are produced based on high quality standards that are free from harmful herbicides and pesticides and promote ethical and financial practices that support the local farmers and surrounding communities.
3. How to find? – Coffee producers big and small have moved onto the internet. You can find a variety of options available by doing a web search. Type in words and phrases such as – “coffee of the month club”, “coffee club”, or “organic coffee club” and you will find plenty of companies to choose from.
4. What should I buy? – Most companies offer a subscription to their coffee clubs ranging from 3-12 months in duration with orders shipping 1-2 times per month depending on when you make your purchase. If you can, purchase whole bean since it preserves freshness better than ground coffee.
5. How much should I buy? – Most two person households go through about 2lbs per month.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search make sure that the website you decide to purchase from looks credible and displays logos ensuring secure transactions. You can take it one step further and call the contact number on the website to validate their identity and protect yourself against fraud.
For all of you coffee lovers out there, there is nothing quite like the anticipation of receiving that special package in the mail every month and experiencing a new flavorful blend of coffee.
Ray Forrest, the author, is the marketing manager for Coastal Roasters, a coffee shop and micro-roaster of organic and fair trade coffees located in Tiverton, RI.
Find out more about Coffee of the Month Clubs and organic, fair trade coffees at http://www.coastalroasters.com
Gourmet Coffee Cake Recipe : Tips on Baking Gourmet Coffee Cake
On this video, you will learn how you can have your own Gourmet coffee cake at home. With the help of our expert, Pamela Bowman, she will guide you on how to properly bake your own coffee cake recipe in this detailed video.
All the instructions you need will be handed to you and eventually understand what are the important things you have to follow.
The video will demonstrate a step by step process for you to master this recipe and make it on your own.
So enjoy and watch this video together with our Chef who is a graduate of the LAMC school of culinary arts in having a Gourmet coffee cake recipe: Tips on Baking Gourmet Coffee cake.
Tips on getting the best coffee grinds when grinding coffee?
Question by xDark_Genomex =): Tips on getting the best coffee grinds when grinding coffee?
I just bought a Mr.Coffee Coffee grinder, blade grinder not burr. I’m new to this grinding coffee at home thing so I don’t know whether I’m getting the best grind, but what I do know is that the end product is in need of improvement. Any useful tips on getting the perfect grind.
Best answer:
Answer by singletrack65
Well, you’ll never get the perfect “grind” from a blade (it pulverizes, not grinds) as they can’t make the coffee even. That means some will be over extracted (bitter) and some under extracted (weak).
If you’re using a blade, just do it in short bursts to prevent burning the bean via friction.
What do you think? Answer below!
Tips on Brewing Coffee
Article by Chuggin McCoffee
You have probably enjoyed many cups of coffee in your lifetime, but it is still important to have insider tips on brewing the best cup of Joe so that you can enjoy premium quality every time.
The first step to take is to make sure that you are always purchasing freshly roasted coffee beans! This is highly important, and not all coffee beans are equal. Furthermore, it is never advised to purchase pre-ground coffee beans from the supermarket because they are already 100% stale. It is important to purchase whole coffee beans that are freshly roasted from a local roaster or an Internet retailer that guarantees freshly roasted beans when they ship. If you purchase a bag of coffee beans that has been sitting on the shelf, then the odds are that they have already gone stale. Coffee beans are only fresh for up to 10 days after roasting, and they go stale 30 seconds after they are ground, which is why you need to grind your coffee beans directly before you brew. It is so easy to purchase a small grinder to freshly grind your beans before you brew, which will give you an even more premium flavor and taste.
When it comes to the amount of coffee grounds that you will be using, the rule of thumb is 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. This is something that can be used for a drip brew coffee maker, French Press, or other methods of brewing. It is also important to brew with fresh filtered water, which will make a dramatic difference in the flavor of your cup of Joe. If you are not brewing with filtered water, and instead are using tap water, then you risk filling your coffee machine full of minerals that can cause scale and buildup. Not only will this affect the life of your machine, but it will also negatively affect the taste of your coffee when you brew.
Last of all, make sure that you are taking the time to clean your coffee maker well to remove any buildup within the machine. There are specific products that you can use to clean your coffee maker, or you can even run white vinegar through the machine. The reason for this is that coffee beans are full of essential oils, which can build up a residue within the components of your coffee machine. This will begin to negatively affect the taste of your Java, and it will also affect how well your machine works. It is important to use some sort of product to remove oil buildup within the components of your coffee machine for a better taste in your brew.
As a last tip, if you are ever stuck drinking a bitter and poor tasting cup of Joe from your office or a diner, then you can add a little salt to the brew to cut out the bitterness. This is a last resort tip for a delicious tasting cup of coffee, but it works every time!
Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and Commercial Coffee Makers can be found at www.thecoffeebump.com.
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Categories: Coffee Articles Tags: Brewing, coffee, Tips
Tips For Selecting Quality Coffee Beans
Article by Harvey J. Sharp
Coffee is one of the most widely distributed commodities in the world, usually sitting #2 behind oil. It is the most consumed beverage in North America and the third most consumed beverage in most other parts of the world, behind water and tea. Considered a specialty product due to the delicate growing conditions that are needed by coffee farmers, coffee comes in a variety if different qualities, ranging from inexpensive (instant coffee blends) to expensive (pure beans, special roasts). Here is a breakdown of how to select quality coffee beans for your next cup of java.
Aroma
Arguably one of the most attractive qualities of coffee is that aroma that comes from the beans as well as the fresh grounds. Your first element that should guide you to buying beans is to choose a bean or bean blend that has a pleasing aroma. Don’t be afraid to stick your head in the bag and take a deep breath. Fresher roasts will have distinct aromatic notes that older roasts won’t. In fact, freshly roasted beans will have no trouble filling a room with its goodness. Tip; go for the beans that smell the best.
Storage
While not always possible, it is important to ask your coffee bean seller how the beans are stored. Beans generally stay fresh longer in cool, dark locations, such as a cellar or a windowless room. They should not be kept in the refrigerator or even in the freezer, as these two areas are too cold.
Look
Beans should always be examined before being purchased. Some beans are quite oily, while others are relatively dry. Purchasing oily beans, rather then dried ones generally means there will be slightly more acidity to the coffee after its roasted and the roast is likely a dark one.
Taste
Some stores will go the extra mile and allow you to try a sample of the coffee before making a purchase. You can always ask the employee to make you a small espresso and give it the true taste test to see if it measures up in the coffee mug . If the coffee is an espresso, let it sit for a minute first before consuming. The flavors will often balance within this period and give you a truer coffee flavor.
All these tips are meant as guidelines for your purchase. Ultimately, you should be asking the coffee store employee lots of questions and telling him or her what kind of coffee you enjoy. They’ll often be able to pair you with something of your liking.
About the Author
Harvey J. Sharp is an avid traveler and writer, who spends little time in the United States, preferring South America, India and parts of Asia. His interests are in art, design, photography and sculpture.