Coffee: How it reaches your table
October 31, 2011
Its morning and you automatically reach out for your first cup of coffee!
Coffee has become an integral part of daily diet in some societies, especially in the US and one hardly ever gives a thought to how bland coffee beans are transformed into an aromatic beverage with strong flavors that are so familiar.
Before acquiring the state in which coffee reaches the table, the coffee berry and its seeds undergo a series of processes that require a fair amount of human labor that make a coffee what it is.
Coffee processing requires a series of agricultural and industrial procedures that are needed to deliver the desired flavor to the consumer. The processes involved are:
- Picking the berry
- Defruiting
- Aging
- Roasting
- Grading
- Grinding
As expected, the first task in the efforts to make coffee beans is to pick the fruit from the shrubs or the trees, depending on the species in question. This is done in large plantations and mostly by hand. The beans are then de-fruited and sorted. In some cases the berries are even aged, since it is believed to lend a more mature aroma to the beans. Though the picking of the berries, de-fruiting and aging are essential parts of the entire process, it is the next step that is the most essential – roasting. It is this process that transforms the insipid berries into a beverage that the world loves and enjoys.
This is one process that requires a fair amount of skill and the temperature, evenness of heating, amount of time allowed for roasting and other such parameters can make all the difference between a good coffee and a bad one. Even though different species have different characteristics and some are bitterer than the others, characteristics like aroma, flavor and taste are dictated by the process of roasting and therefore extreme care and finesse needs to be maintained during this process.
The process of roasting is actually a complex chemical process where heat acts as a catalyst to kick off a chemical reaction. This transforms the carbohydrates and fats into aromatic oils like Caffeol and removes the moisture and carbon dioxide in the beans. The process also breaks down and builds acids that lend the inherent characteristic flavor and taste of the coffee.
Before the coffee is released in the market, it needs to be graded. The grading is based on the assessment of professional tasters who are connoisseurs of coffee. The process of tasting requires them to sniff deeply of slurp the coffee loudly to carry it back to their tongues. With this, they determine the texture (mouth feel), oiliness, acidity (a sharp tangy feeling as in biting a citrus fruit), and harmony (the harmony of different flavors in the coffee).
Grinding the coffee beans can be done at various levels and the bean can be ground coarse or fine. The Turkish grind is considered to be the finest and can be mixed with water directly. The coarsest grinds are considered to be the coffee percolator and the French Press.
Grinding can be done by the coffee company, the grocery shop or at home. And these days, many people prefer to buy whole beans even though the grinding process does involve higher levels of effort at home. The most common home coffee machines use the drip and paper filter grinds. These machines give a grind that is somewhere between the finest and the coarsest grinds. The drip machines pass near-boiling water through the coffee in a filter. The other method that is used to make Coffee from coffee beans is the espresso method. This method is more technologically advanced and involves hot steaming water that is forced through the grounded coffee to give coffee that is frothy and great to taste.
But there are many people who do not want to put in large amounts of effort to make a cup of coffee. For the convenience of such people, there are many instant coffeebrands available in the market. Instant coffee is dried into soluble powder or frozen-dried into granules so that all a consumer needs to do is to mix hot or cold water to prepare the beverage.
So whether you like cappuccino or cafe latte, ensure that you appreciate the effort, perseverance and skill that it is required to make the coffee what it is.
Coffee City http://www.coffeecity.org offers extensive articles and resources on coffee, espresso, coffee beans, coffee making, etc.
Organic Coffee – Learn Why It Is Healthier
October 25, 2011
In the modern world of today, more and more people are becoming aware of their health and therefore they are choosing to go organic. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world and trade second to oil. Many people eat organic products and choose organic coffee rather than original coffee because it contains no insecticide, fertilizers and pollutants. Natural coffee is eco-friendly, which means it is good for the environment. They grow natural coffee with certain organic farming methods and the main purpose is to keep the soil free from pesticides and fertilizers. There are certain rules and regulations to produce natural coffee and one of the steps involve regular testing to maintain the “organically produced” certification. Farmers and harvesters that choose to go organic are creating a better future for us and our environment. Some organic farmers grow their coffee beans under rainforest-preserving shade trees for a variety of birds in the skies and that is how coffee benefits the environment.
Natural coffee provides a wide range of health benefits. It contains antioxidants, nutrients and is very good for the health of your heart. Antioxidants can protect you from a wide range of diseases and contains natural enzymes. Drinking this coffee protect your cells from damage and keeps you young. Organic coffee gives you a lot of energy and acts as a natural relaxer. Coffee can help you lose weight because it is a natural diuretic and laxative. This allows it to act as a natural detoxing agent and help you get rid unwanted toxins. There are many health advantages you can get from organic foods or coffees.
Coffee beans can protect your body from certain cancers, gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and asthma. Although they do not recommend coffee as a diet or nutrition aid, it can help you keep full and flush out toxins that accumulate in your body. Also, you will find many different advantages to organic grown vegetables and other types of foods.
Scientist and researchers believe that natural coffee has many hidden health benefits, which they still need to discover. Many believe that natural produced coffee is more expensive than regular coffee but if you go online, you will find many online retailers that sell natural coffee for the same prices as regular coffee.
Although organic coffee is, natural it still contains caffeine but the form of process is pure. When you choose to drink decaf, it is very important to choose organic because the methods to process decaf coffee can be harmful to you because of the chemicals. Exposure to too many of these chemicals can lead to respiratory illnesses and mental deficiencies.
To produce organic decaf coffee special decaffeination processes are used which produce natural decaf coffee without the chemical exposure. Caffeine can be very harsh on your health because it is a stimulating agent. Overdosing on caffeine can cause anxiety, irritation, high blood pressure, appetite problems, chronic pains, fatigue, lung problems and many more. The caffeine in Coffee is a lot more than in tea and therefore more potent, even caffeine in tea can do harm if you are sensitive to caffeine.
The history of coffee is very interesting. It started back in 800 after the dark ages when a goat herder saw his goats dancing after they ate the red berries of a coffee bush. In 1800 after the dark ages, Brazil became the largest producer of coffee in the world. In those days only royalty and the elite class people could afford to drink coffee. Today they produce natural coffee beans in Mexico, Peru and Ethiopia. Take a chance and get a cup of coffee today.
Coffee is a great way to socialize with friends, but we can choose to be healthy by choosing organic. Whether drinking coffee early in the morning to get a boost or after desert, nobody can resist the rich flavor of coffee. Naturally, produced coffee is tastier and rich in flavor and taste allot better than synthetic coffee beans. There is no greater feeling than drinking a hot cup of coffee to relax and stimulate the nerves.
One way to increase your health is to drink a cup of organic coffee on a regular basis. It will change your life in many ways and with all the added health benefits it can only make you healthier. Always make sure that it is 100% natural without any pollutants for your optimum health and enjoy the great aroma of organic coffee.
20 Coffee Health Benefits – Advantages of Drinking Coffee Everyday
October 17, 2011
Coffee is everyone’s favorite drink. But, do you realize that coffee has plenty of health benefits as proven by many studies?
Below, we have listed down 20 health benefits of coffee:
1 – Cut the Risk of Heart Disease by 25% for Women
A study by Esther Lopez-Garcia of Universidad Autonoma de Madrid reported that women who drink two to three cups of coffee per day had a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and a smaller decreased risk was also seen for men
2 – Cut the Risk of Diabetes by 60%
Coffee contains antioxidants, including a group of compounds called quinines which in a study to lab rats, its increased sensitivity improves the body response to insulin.
3 – Cut the Risk of Dementia by 65%
A research suggested that coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body.
4 – Cut the Risk of Colon Cancer by 50%
A 12-year study on Japanese women found that drinking 3 or more cups of coffee per day may actually halve the risk of developing colon cancer.
5 – Lowered Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer
In a 20-year study of 50,000 men, it shows that 6 cups of coffee per day has the lowered risk of advanced prostate cancer.
6 – Lowered Risk of Alzheimer Disease by 65%
A study of 1,400 middle-aged Finns shows that 5 cups of Coffee per day can lower the risk of Alzheimer disease by 65%.
7 – Cut the Risk of Cirrhosis by 80%
A study showed out of 125,000 coffee drinkers that one cup of coffee per day cut the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver by twenty percent. Four cups per day reduced the risk by eighty percent.
8 – Cut the Risk of Gallstones by Almost 50%
Men who drink at least 2 cups of coffee per day may reduce their risk of developing gallstones by 40 percent, and women showed a twenty-five percent lower risk of gallstone development. Those who drank more than four cups had a 45% lower risk.
9 – Cut the Risk of Stroke by 43% for Women
A study of 83,000 nurses who have never smoked shows that 4 cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of stroke by 43%.
10 – Cut the Risk of Parkinson Disease by 80%
At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson disease.
11 – Lowered the Risk of Committing Suicide by 60% for Women
A 10-year study of 86,000 women shows that 2 cups of coffee per day can reduced the likelihood to commit suicide by 60%.
12 – High Level of Antioxidants
Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals.
13 – Keep You Awake and Alert
Coffee can boost concentration and therefore makes you more alert and awake.
14 – Protect You from Cold
Caffeine acts as decongestant as it opens narrowed bronchial tubes.
15 – Asthma Relief
Manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable.
16 – Headache Relief
Caffeine is often use as a medicine to treat headaches, especially migraine and cluster headaches.
17 – Pain Relief
Two cups of brewed coffee may reduce post-exercise muscle pain by up to forty-eight percent. In fact, a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, have shown that adding about 65 milligrams of caffeine to aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen increases pain relief by around 40 percent.
18 – Boost Mood
Moderate intake of caffeine boosts energy and cuts depression, thanks to dopamine.
19 – Boost Athleticism
Caffeine in coffee is a powerful aid in enhancing athletic endurance and performance. So powerful, caffeine in coffee or other forms was deemed a “controlled” substance by the Olympic Games Committee.
20 – Prevent Dental Cavities
A compound called Trigonelline, which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste, have both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties to help prevent dental cavities from forming.
Conclusion
Coffee may have its health benefits but like many other substances, it may react differently for different people and therefore if you are not a regular coffee drinker and if you experience stomach pain after consuming a cup of coffee, it is better you stick to tea instead.
CN Pong recommends to use 701Panduan, a Malaysia online business directory with comprehensive details with company info, Malaysia city guides and maps.
Log on to search for Malaysia coffee retailers shops and get free information on how to drink coffee healthily today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CN_Pong
Keeping Your Coffee Equipment Clean
October 13, 2011
If you’re a Coffee lover, then you know that investing in good coffee equipment is a good way to get the best out of your coffee. With your own coffee maker and grinder, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy a fresh steaming mug of coffee just the way you like it. However, after a few months, you’ll begin to notice that your coffee doesn’t taste quite the same anymore; this is normal, and is as a result of residue build-up on your equipment which happens over time. To keep your coffee tasting like it should, here are a few tips on how to keep your coffee equipment clean:
Coffee Maker: Particles and lime deposit can build up in your drip coffee maker over time. To restore the insides of your coffee maker to their former glory, it is a good idea to clean it with vinegar. Vinegar is a good cleaning agent for your machine because it thoroughly cleans and deodorizes your coffee maker to ensure a fresh tasting brew. To clean your coffee maker with vinegar, follow the steps below:
- Pour some vinegar into the water reservoir.
- Turn on your coffee maker, and allow the vinegar to drip down the spout.
- After the vinegar drips out completely, fill the reservoir with clean water, and turn the coffee maker on once again.
- After the water drips out completely, repeat the previous step. The importance of doing this is to ensure that you completely remove every trace of vinegar from your coffee maker.
To prevent oils and residues from sticking to your coffee pot, wash it regularly with detergent and hot water. You can either swill the jug around until the detergent dissolves completely and the stains are gone or, you can let it sit for a while before thoroughly rinsing it out.
Coffee Grinder: If not cleaned regularly, old and stale coffee grounds can get trapped between the blades of your grinder. A good way to effectively clean your grinder is by grinding uncooked white rice in it a few times. Simply fill your grinder with enough white rice to cover the blades, and let it run. The oil from the coffee grounds between your grinder blades will be attracted to the starch in the rice and as a result, stick to it. Repeat this process with fresh rice until the rice no longer comes out discolored. Cleaning your coffee equipment will improve the longevity of the machine, and not to mention, keep your coffee tasting delicious.
Shawn Dunaway is the Vice President at CoffeeAM.com, one of the largest online gourmet coffee and tea companies with more than 150 000 customers worldwide. CoffeeAM offers a variety of coffee equipment, and pretty much anything that you need to make and enjoy your coffee. To see their full line of products, visit: http://www.CoffeeAM.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Dunaway
How To Select A Good Coffee Maker
October 4, 2011
Can you imagine starting a day without drinking a cup of freshly brewed coffee? And because of the fact that coffee plays such an important role in starting our day, there is no wonder why a 10 cup coffeemaker is very much in demand. And there are a number of things that you need to keep in mind when you are shopping for this kind of coffee maker. Coffeemakers come in quite a variety and there are those that can brew coffee up to twelve cups at a time. So one of the first things that you are going to consider will be the number of people that will drink Coffee at home. If you do not have a family living with you, the one cup varieties are ideal, but families on the other hand are usually buying the eight to ten cup varieties.
And before you start to think that coffee makers that make ten cups of coffee is a little too much, you need to understand that the amount of coffee these machines make are measured by cups and not in mugs. Since cups aren’t what we normally use to drink coffee, this addictive beverage after all, is best enjoyed in mugs, a 4 cup coffeemaker will not really be enough for a family of six. So when you are going to buy a coffee machine, you need to consider the drinking habits of your family. Usually, a coffeemaker that makes up to twelve cups of coffee equals to five to six mugs of fresh brew so you are going to have to consider the amount of coffee that your family will consume.
It is also important that you consider any special preferences that you have. An example will be a 12 cup coffee maker that you can program at night to automatically turn on and brew coffee in the morning. This way, you can wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Also, if you are living on your own, there are coffee machines that have a built in cup in it and a resalable cover which you can grab and take with you as soon as the coffee is made. Your budget is also one more thing that you need to consider when it comes to buying these machines. And because there are several machines available, you can easily find one that suits your needs as well as your budget.
To read reviews of the best coffee makers and to decide if the 12 cup coffee maker or the 1 cup coffee maker is best suited for you, please visit our site to make an informed decision.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Patrick_Simmons
