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Coffee - Bean Growing

January 10th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

For a tree grown in over 70 countries, from Indonesia to Brazil, it’s curious how narrow a range of conditions is required to produce quality ‘beans’ and how relatively small the total output is.

The word ‘beans’ is deliberately in single-quote marks, since the thing that gets roasted and ground to make the drink isn’t really a bean at all, it’s a seed.

In particular, it’s the seed of a fruit that grows on trees that can easily reach twenty feet or more. Some wild varieties grow to over 45 feet or 15m. Most of those seeds come in a pair, though there is a variety that produces only one (the peaberry). The berry resembles a cranberry, with a sweet pulp covered by a membrane called a silverskin.

In a band around the equator from approximately 25 degrees north or south, comes the overwhelming majority of the world’s coffee output. Temperatures of between 60F (15C) and 70F (21C) are best as is rainfall of six inches per month or more.

Loamy, good-draining soil is needed and also helpful is high humidity - plenty of mist and cloud at the high elevations, over 3000 ft (915m) for the good stuff. At these elevations the oxygen content is lower, so the trees take longer to mature.

The robusta, or coffea canephora, goes into making the majority of coffee because it can be grown at lower altitudes and is more disease resistant. But it’s the high-altitude coffea arabica that forms the base of a gourmet cup.

Diffuse light and moderate winds are helpful, both of which are sometimes produced by deliberately growing in the shelter and shade. By contrast, wine grapes like hot sun and lots of it.

Once planted, the tree takes about five years to mature to first crop and even then a single tree will only make enough for about two pounds (1 kilogram) of coffee.

Those two pounds equal about 2,000 beans, (correct or not, it’s the standard term), usually hand-picked by manual laborers. Manual they may be, but ignorant they are not. Coffee bean harvesting is a skill developed over time, where the picker learns to select good beans and discard the bad. Bean by individual bean. That’s only one reason coffee is high priced.

The trees have broad, dark green leaves and produce a flower that resembles Jasmine. Some - in Brazil and Mexico, for example, - blossom over a six to eight week period. In countries that lie along the equator such as Kenya and Colombia, though, a tree can have mature berries growing alongside still ripening ones. That’s part of what makes picking such a specialty.

Blossom to harvest may cover a period of up to nine months depending on the weather and other factors and the cycle will be carried out for the life of the tree - about 20-25 years. With the best cultivation technology, a good harvest will be between 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) and 8,800 lbs (4,000 kg) per hectare. (One hectare is about 2.47 acres.)

From these inaccessible regions, where conditions are harsh, the berries are brought down and processed to make up the world’s second largest commodity (by annual dollar volume).

So, the next time you savor that brew, give a thought to the long journey it traveled to reach your cup. It might make that high price seem less steep.

Being Expressive about Espresso

January 5th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Espresso is one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world today. The espresso coffee drink began in Milan, Italy, and has since spread as a popular drink to many other countries. An espresso is a coffee beverage that is prepared using water under pressure and usually served in a preheated demitasse cup. The espresso coffee drinks have thicker consistency than regular coffee drinks. The high pressure of water used in making espressos is very hot, but the water will not boil. If the espresso brewing process is right, the coffee-maker will find a cream floating on the top of the drink, which makes the drink so special compared with other coffee drinks.

There are many types of espresso drinks, including the latte, mocha, and con leche. There are many sides to espresso that most people don’t know, including the different drinks and how they are made. Traditionally, a master coffee maker, or Barista makes espressos. Espressos that are made properly will have a top layer of golden foam, which is known as crema. There are four factors that help trained Baristas help enhance the quality of their espressos. The four factors include the machine, the blend, the grinder, and the hand.

The Barista must consider the machine because it controls the temperature and pressure of the water as it passes through the coffee. The machine must be clean and in working order to make the best espresso. The blend is important because there are not many single-origin coffees that have all the flavors and aromas that make a good espresso, so the Barista must blend several coffees together to achieve the desired effect. A coffee grinder is used to crush the beans into small particles for brewing, but there is no ideal particle size for espressos. It is the Barista’s job to figure out how coarsely to grind the coffee in order to provide the best flavor. The hand is important because the skill of the operator is a major factor in espresso making.

Espresso has grown in popularity of many years, and it is now one of the most popular coffee drinks. The coffee drink is the main type of coffee in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and many countries in southern Europe, including Spain, France, and Italy. Espressos are also popular throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. For Australia and New Zealand, espresso coffee drinks account for almost all of the commercial café, coffeehouse, and restaurant coffee business. The rise of coffee chains such as Starbucks in the 1990s are also a factor in the ever-rising popularity of espresso-based drinks. With the addition of more coffeehouses, the popularity of the espresso drink will only increase even more over time.

Baristas are not the only ones making espressos, and home-espresso machines are also available to consumers for home-brewing. The home machines are also a major contributor to the espresso’s rise in popularity. Espresso machines are available almost anywhere, including in department stores and coffee specialty shops. Home espresso machines are fairly user-friendly and make it simple for almost every person to master the basics of espresso making. The latte, mocha, espresso machiato, and con leche are a few of the espresso drinks available.

Lattes are a blend of espresso and “velvetized” foamed milk. Mocha can be described as a chocolate latte topped with whipped cream. Mocha drinks also have “velvetized” foam, which is put in after the Barista adds the chocolate syrup. Espresso machiato is a shot of espresso that is topped with a tablespoon of light, fluffy, foam. Con leche is a double espresso that is put in a regular style cup, with latte-style steamed milk poured on top of the drink to fill the cup. Espresso is one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world, and its popularity will only get greater as the popularity of coffeehouses expands.

A Breakdown of Popular Icy Coffee Drinks

December 23rd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are countless iced coffee drinks that are enjoyed by many people all over the world. No matter what your taste preferences may be, there is a delicious iced coffee drink that you can enjoy. Although these drinks can be rather expensive when purchased in cafes and coffee shops, the good news is that most of them can be created right at home using only a few simple ingredients.

One of the simplest things you can make at home, which is a wonderful addition to any icy coffee drink, is a coffee ice cube. Often iced coffee drinks require ice, however once the ice melts, your beverage is left watery. When using coffee ice cubes you will never encounter this problem. Just freeze coffee in ice cube trays; you can even opt for a unique touch by freezing a coffee bean into the middle of each ice cube.

Creating a cinnamon caramel icy coffee drink is so simple and very delicious. You will want to remember to add the cinnamon before your brew your coffee however. To make a cinnamon caramel icy coffee drink you will need-

6 tablespoons of ground coffee.
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
1/2 cup of caramel syrup.
Combine your cinnamon with your ground coffee and then continue on brewing like you normally would. The caramel syrup will be added to your hot coffee and stir until it has all dissolved. Place the mixture into the fridge until it is cold. Fill tall glasses with ice and pour your cold coffee beverage into the glass. You can feel free to add milk or sugar according to your taste preferences.

A coffee soda is another wonderful icy coffee drink that can be enjoyed by those young and old alike. A coffee soda is such a unique blend of creamy goodness and fun fizz.

To make a coffee soda, you will need-
3 cups of very strong coffee that has been chilled.
1 cup of half-and-half cream.
Coffee flavored ice cream.
3/4 of a cup of club soda.
1 tablespoon of sugar.
Whipped cream.

Combine your iced coffee, sugar and half-and-half cream together. Fill your glasses approximately half of the way full and add a generous scoop of ice cream to the glass. Fill the remainder of the glass almost to the top with the club soda and garnish with whipped cream.

Thai coffee makes a delicious icy coffee drink that is incredibly pleasing to the palate. To create Thai iced coffee at home, you will need to have-

2 teaspoons of ground cardamom.
4 tablespoons of sugar.
4 tablespoons of heavy cream.
1 teaspoon of almond extract.

Brew yourself four cups of coffee in the way that you typically would; however you need to mix your two teaspoons of cardamom in with the coffee grounds first. When the coffee is brewed and while it is still hot, add in your sugar and almond extract. Stir the blend until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Allow the mixture to cool either on the counter or in the fridge, typically the fridge is the ideal method, as it will chill your beverage faster. Fill your glasses with ice that has been crushed and then pour your flavored coffee over top. Before you serve add a heaping tablespoon of cream to each glass.

Although delicious, an icy Jamaican coffee is strictly an adult’s only beverage. This is the perfect icy coffee drink for an afternoon summer party. To create a wonderful icy Jamaican coffee, you will need-

1 oz of dark rum.
1 oz of Tia Maria.
3/4 oz of heavy cream.
4 oz of coffee that has been chilled.
Crushed ice.

Blend you rum and Tia Maria in with your coffee and cream. Take a wineglass and fill it about half way with crushed ice and then fill to the top with your chilled coffee mixture.

I hope that you enjoy these recipes for cold coffee drinks. Enjoy

A Glimpse into the Two Main Types of Coffee Plants

December 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are many types of coffee plants, but there are only two main species of the coffee plant. The two main species of the coffee plant are the Coffea arabica and the Coffea canephora (robusta), whereas arabica is the eldest of the two. Robusta contains 40 to 50 percent more caffeine than arabica, and can be cultivated in environments that are not suited for the growth of arabica, which has led to its use as an inexpensive substitute for arabica in commercial coffee blends. The taste of robusta is bitter and has little flavor, compared with arabica, and has a “burnt rubber” or “wet cardboard” aroma and flavor. The best quality robusta plants are used as ingredients in espresso blends, which provide a better foamy head and lower ingredient costs. Many of Italy’s espresso blends are based on dark-roasted robusta.

The arabica coffees are named for the region of the world they are exported from, with the two oldest being Mocha, from Yemen, and Java, from Indonesia. However, the names have become more specific, telling the country, region, and sometimes the estate the coffee plant comes from. The arabica coffee plant is known for making traditional coffee, and is known to have a much better taste than robusta. Arabica and robusta have sub-varieties, like the way a winery has many different blends of wine. Mocha and Java are the traditional varieties of arabica, while robusta has an exotic and very expensive gourmet variety known as Kopi Luwak. This coffee bean is unique because the beans are gathered from the droppings of the Common Palm Civet, which is an animal whose digestive processes give the bean a distinctive flavor. However, most varieties of coffee plants are not as odd as the Kopi Luwak.

Where a robusta or arabica species of coffee plant is grown, can affect how the plant grows and how the bean tastes. Arabica is a species that is indigenous to Ethiopia, and may also be known as the coffee shrub of Arabia, mountain coffee or arabica coffee. The Coffea arabica is known to be the first species of coffee cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia more than 1,000 years ago. Arabica is also considered to produce better quality coffee than robusta. It also contains less caffeine than robusta, but is still preferred for its taste, as taste matters more today. The arabica plants grow wildy, and can grow between 7 and 12 m tall with an open branching system. The leaves of the plant may be elliptic-ovate to oblong, and may be 6 to 12 cm long and 4 to 8 cm broad, glossy and dark green. Its flowers are produced in auxiliary clusters, and the flowers are white and approximately 1 to 11/2 cm in diameter.

The fruits of the arabica plants are berries, and measure 10 to 15 mm long, mature to bright red or purple colors and contain two coffee beans. Robusta trees are grown exclusively in the eastern hemisphere, but may thrive in equatorial climates at low altitudes. The plant’s berries require less care than arabicas’ because they remain on the tree after they ripen. The beans of the robusta have twice as much caffeine as they arabica, but the flavor is far less. Most brands of coffee beans found in supermarkets are robusta. Arabica beans are most commonly found in coffee shops. One third of the coffee produced in the world is robusta. Robusta is mostly grown in Africa and Brazil, where it is known as Conillon. It is considered a less quality of coffee, so it is limited to lower grade coffee blends as filler. The robusta beans may also be included in instant coffee, and of course in some espresso blends to enhance the formation of crema(foamy head).

How you get from the Coffee Bean to a Cup of Coffee.

May 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

All around the world people are enjoying coffee. As with everything they way they take their coffee varies, some like iced coffee, others want a strong expresso. Some people will only drink it in the morning, while others will enjoy a cup off coffee throughout the day. As these people are enjoying their drink, how many wonder how the coffee bean, picked somewhere in the world ended up in their cup.

From Bean to Cup

Coffee comes from the seeds of the coffee plant. These seeds or the coffee beans then undergo a process that prepares them for drinking. This starts with the coffee berries being picked from the tree and defruited.
Defruiting means the fruit is taken away and only the coffee beans are left. They are then dried and then sorted after which the coffee beans are sometimes aged or roasted directly.

The beans turn dark when undergoing the roasting process because the sucrose in them is caramelized. Some people prefer to do the roasting of the dried beans themselves at their home. Roasting brings out the flavor of the coffee beans because the heat it is exposed to turn carbohydrates and fats into aromatic oils. Roasting also burns off the moisture in the beans and also the carbon dioxide.

After the roasting, coffee beans are typically ground to make them ready for consumption. A Turkish grind is a straightforward process of making coffee where the ground coffee is mixed directly with water. This procedure makes very fine textured ground coffee. Other ways of preparing the ground coffee is using the percolator or coffee maker.

Different Kinds of Coffee

Espresso:
Made by forcing very hot but not boiling water through compacted ground coffee. A stronger flavor is made and there is more coffee bean matter in the drink. This process results in a stronger flavor so most espresso drinkers use very small cups to consume this.

For those who do not wish to be encumbered by the long process of percolating or making coffee from ground coffee, there are several alternatives. These are pre mixed coffee, available in canned form. Some varieties come already sweetened or already mixed with creamers. Other coffee drinks, which are pre-mixed, come in plastic bottles or cans.

Instant coffee:
Instant coffee is coffee granules that have been freeze dried or dried into soluble powder. These powdered coffee forms just need to be mixed with water and other ingredients depending on the drinker’s preference.
Many people like the convenience of just adding the granules to hot water compared to percolating, which may take time.

Some coffee producers also make their roasted coffee decaffeinated. This takes out the caffeine from the coffee beans but still leaves the flavor and aroma.

Hopefully this will have given you an idea of how the coffee bean ended up in your cup of coffee in the morning. No matter how you decide to enjoy your coffee in the morning it will have made quite journey. If your looking for the best coffee you have ever tasted I would recommend having a look at Mystic Monk Coffee that is roasted by monks passionate about coffee.

Want more than caffeine in your coffee try a Gourmet Flavored Coffee

May 21st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

You may be more than happy with your normal cup of coffee, but you might want to try something new. A gourmet flavored coffee may be just what you are looking for. What this means is that you have a choice of a multitude of different flavors that can be added to your coffee that will totally change the taste you are used to.

You can easily find certain flavors that will help enhance your coffee and these include honey, rum as also chocolate that have often been added to the coffee from many years ago and in fact go back as far as when it was first produced. Among the latest gourmet flavored coffee one can find are vanilla, macadamia as well as peanut butter also!

Not Everyone’s cup of tea, well coffee!

However, these flavors may not be appreciated by one and all though the sensation that one gets from gourmet flavored coffee will certainly open new vistas as far as your favorite Java cup of coffee is concerned. If you take the first step in trying out these extra special flavors, you may very well find yourself getting hooked on it and coming back for more.

Varieties of gourmet flavored coffee to choose from include:
Apricot cream,
Café Napoleon,
Black Forest cake,
Jamaican rum
Chocolate
Raspberry
Southern pecan
Vanilla
Hazelnut.

If these names themselves do not excite your senses, the taste will certainly have you licking your lips in delight.

You can make gourmet flavored coffee by adding flavors after such substances have been roasted. Most of the substances that are used for flavoring are highly concentrated which means that only a small amount of them are used in gourmet flavored coffee. You should also exercise care when buying such coffee and only buy reputable branded coffee since some products available may contain inferior quality coffee. In addition, bear in mind that the flavoring used in gourmet flavored coffee usually loses its strength when it comes in contact with air, which means you must keep the coffee in tightly sealed containers to retain its flavor. And, you can also grind the beans prior to brewing your coffee.

A more advanced idea would be to create your own special blend of flavored coffee. Naturally this might be a hit and miss affair, but you might just come up with a unique flavor that is just what you are looking for. If your looking for the best coffee you have ever tasted I would recommend having a look at Mystic Monk Coffee that is roasted by monks passionate about coffee.

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