Coffee Bean Info

Learn about the humble coffee bean

What’s all the fuss about Expresso Coffee

February 22nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

As I am sure you have noticed the popularity of expresso coffee has been growing in the last few years. Every day there seems to be somewhere new where you can buy an expresso, in your local grocery store, the bookshop or library, some people even buy expresso machines for their home. The popularity transcends the age divide, and is enjoyed by teenagers to seniors around the world, who like to enjoy the variety of expresso drinks available.

Expresso coffee is comprised of a few select varieties of coffee beans imported from a range of countries. The beans are carefully roasted to bring out the flavor of the coffee. This roasting process causes the coffee beans to become dark and start to look oily. Once the roasting process is completed, the expresso coffee beans are finely ground until they become the consistency of powder. This fine grounding gives the expresso its strength and flavor. If the coffee is ground finely, it takes longer for the hot water to pass through, infusing the water with more of the expresso coffee flavor.

Expresso Coffee Drinks

Expresso coffee drinks come in many varieties to appeal to a wide range of consumers. These drinks include cappuccinos, caf mochas, and caf lattes, all very popular coffee based drinks. These drinks contain large amounts of milk, sugar, and flavored syrups to mask the harsh taste of pure expresso and make the drinks more pleasing to consumers. The most popular flavors to add to these drinks are chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnut flavorings, but there are others available as well. Many of these drinks have a standard formula that is used across the board, while a select few are the creation of independent coffee shops and can only be found in certain locations.

One shot of expresso coffee has less caffeine than one cup of regular drip coffee. There are other differences between the varieties as well. The most significant difference is the amount of time it takes to brew the drink.

How to make an expresso,

In an expresso the water is heated to near boiling and forced by pressure through tightly packed, finely ground specialized coffee. The process takes about 25 seconds for a single shot of expresso coffee. In contrast, for drip coffee, boiling or near boiling water is poured over coarse ground coffee and allowed to slowly seep through the coffee grounds to infuse the water with the flavor of the coffee. This process takes 5 times as long as the process for expresso.

Expresso is certainly here to stay! 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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What to look for when Selecting Coffee Roasters

February 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Is this you in the morning?
1. Put a filter in the coffee machine and add a measured amount of coffee into the filter.
2. Pour Water into the canister area of the coffee machine
3. Turn the coffee machine on, and leave it while you go get ready
For many, including myself, this is how they start the day, and gives me a good cup of coffee.

But what if I want a great cup of coffee, the freshness of that cup of coffee can be greatly enhanced by taking non-roasted coffee beans, roasting them in the comfort of your home, grinding those freshly roasted coffee beans to place in the coffee filter and then brewing the freshest cup of coffee possible. All this can be attained through the use of a coffee roaster.

If you are looking for a coffee roaster there are a number of features that the coffee lover should look for. Some of those features include the ability to manage the level of roasting and the collection of chaff.

What Is a Coffee Roaster?

A coffee roaster is a self-contained unit that roasts green coffee beans. These coffee beans are green because they are in their natural state and are un-roasted. These coffee roasters roasting at the right temperature and over a period of time will brown the green coffee beans. Once these coffee beans have been roasted they are ready to be ground up and placed in the coffee maker to brew that pot of coffee.

The advantage of using a coffee roaster is that the coffee beans are ground fresh as well as roasted fresh. Obviously this provides the coffee drinker the freshest cup of coffee possible.

Controlling the Level of Roasting

When shopping for a coffee roaster one of the key features to look for is the roasters ability to provide the different levels of roasting. This is generally provided by a combination of heating and timing that controls the intensity of the roasting process. Often a quality coffee roaster will provide the coffee drinker a range of roasted beans ranging from cinnamon to dark French.

This is an important feature to have built into the coffee roaster as there are differentiating tastes amongst coffee drinkers. This is because the lighter the coffee bean is roasted the more mild the coffee flavor is.

Collection of Chaff

Another important feature to look for when in the market for a coffee roaster is a contained chaff collector. When the green coffee bean is roasted, the chaff or outer portion of the bean is expelled.

Chaff is a paper like substance can be collected through certain chaff collectors found on certain coffee roasters. Generally, these receptacles are easy to use and clean.

Hopefully these tips will help you find the coffee roaster that will give you that great cup off coffee in the morning. 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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The Coffee Bar, a place for everyone

February 9th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are too young to get into a bar to meet up and socialize with your friends what options do you have? One is to go the Coffee Bar. This does not mean that all coffee shops are full of teenagers; they attract a wide range of people. They might go there to read, work or just to socialize with friends. Nowadays you don’t just get coffee in your local shop; you should be able to get a range of snack or sandwiches to enjoy with your coffee.

Food in a Coffee Bar

Many people choose to purchase something to nibble on while enjoying their cup of coffee. The food choices in a coffee bar can encompass a wide variety of foods. In most cases, the food found in these establishments is limited to pastries, muffins, cakes, and biscotti. In other coffee bars, the establishment serves a range of hot foods and sandwiches along with the basic fare. Larger establishments typically have a larger variety of food than the smaller establishments. The type of food eaten is typically chosen to compliment the type of coffee purchased.

The Coffee bar Model

The typical coffee bar is modeled after the coffee houses of the Italian-American immigrant communities of major cities in the United States. These were usually individually owned until Starbuck mainstreamed the model of the standard coffee bar in America. The standard coffee house is a fairly simple affair. There is a counter for service where individuals can order their coffee and any accompanying food items. There are cozy tables and chairs sparsely interspersed into the main area, and many have a raised stage for evening entertainment.

The coffee bar is quickly becoming the new face of drinking establishments, since it is patronized by a wider variety of individuals than the ones that frequent bars that serve alcohol. They have started to serve as the center of cultural exchange in many communities, fostering healthy debates and artistic inspiration. They also serve as a venue for entertainment and are an excellent place to see local talent showcased. Many professional workers routinely meet at a coffee bar to relax and unwind with their peers.

Incase you hadn’t noticed in the last couple of years the coffee bar is gaining in popularity, with a new shop opening up in any spare unit as well as in other shops, such as bookshops. The trend does seem to be towards chains, but the small independent bar does seem to be hanging in there. No matter where you go, you would be guaranteed the best coffee around. 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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Hawaiian Coffee From Molokai

January 31st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When you think of countries that produce coffee you may be thinking of Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, Arabia, Costa Rica etc, one that probably doesnt come to mind is the United States, let alone that it is a producer of fine coffee.

This oversight may be due to the fact that one may forget that Hawaii is part of the United States and that Hawaii is known for their production of coffee. Two particular Hawaiian Islands that are know for their coffee is the Big Island and the Island of Molokai.

If researching the Hawaiian coffee harvest on Molokai, it is important to understand more about the Island of Molokai, the lifestyle of this island, and what make this Hawaiian coffee so unique.

The Island Of Molokai

The agriculture found on Molokai is truly a reflection of the lifestyle of the inhabitants found on this island. That lifestyle is a commitment of the people to preserve the pristine beauty of the landscape and to honor the resources of the land and the surrounding sea. This commitment has resulted in little or no change to the island and avoidance of modern day development experienced by other islands.

Therefore, this mindset and subsequent respect of the land produces quality crops. Those crops include sugar, pineapple and coffee. The Hawaiian coffee produced on the island of Molokai is a new crop, but is beginning to make strides in the coffee market.

The Uniqueness that is Hawaiian Coffee from Molokai

The reason why Hawaiian coffee from Molokai does so well is due to two basic factors. Those factors include the climate and the soil.

The Climate
The climate of Molokai is conducive to the growing of tropical crops. This is due to its proximity to the equator. In addition, the island of Molokai receives abundant sunshine and moderate amounts of rainfall.

The Soil
In addition to the climate, Hawaiian coffee beans grown on the island of Molokai are enhanced by the soil that comprises this land. It is a well known fact that the Hawaiian Islands were formed from a series of volcanic eruptions. Subsequently, this soil is intensely red in color, allows for the drainage of water and is saturated with mineral content. This rich soil is extremely conducive to the growth of Hawaiian coffee on the Island of Molokai.

One other feature of the land of Molokai is that one particular coffee plantation borders a large reservoir. This reservoir acts as a huge humidifier which helps to standardize the humidity. In addition, the water from the reservoir enables the Hawaiian coffee producers to adequately irrigate the coffee trees.

So when your next out at the grocery store or shopping online be sure to have a look at Americas own coffee, Hawaii Coffee. 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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The benefits of Organic Coffee

January 20th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

You may think that growing coffee beans requires plenty of sunshine at that they are grown in huge commercial farms located in remote areas of South America. This is true, but there are also beans grown under different conditions and use different procedures for harvesting. For the purpose of this article, we are going to look at the commercial coffee bean grown in direct sunlight, compared to the shade grown or organic coffee.

The Two Types of Coffee

These two types of coffees are diametrically opposite as far as their production is concerned. There was a time when coffee was only grown in the shade and it was much like the present day organic coffee that we drink today. It is not usual for most kinds of coffee to grow properly under direct sunlight and grow at their best when under shade. Thus shade grown coffee or organic coffee are used to benefiting from the falling of leaves that are instrumental in mulching the soil and helping in retaining moisture. Also, such type of coffee, when grown beneath trees means that the trees provide a home to birds and thus are a way of controlling pests.

Till about thirty years ago there was not much fertilizer or pesticides used and thus organic coffee was synonymous with healthy production. Then, in the seventies a number of new varieties of coffee began to appear and new methods of producing coffee became known which meant production of more coffee beans, slower rate of harvesting and also use of direct sunlight to grow the crops. Thus, the coming of non-organic coffee meant that farmers began to cut down on trees so that they could make plantation rows and in the United States alone it meant almost two million acres of land being dedicated to both organic as well as non-organic coffee growth. Only those farmers that were too poor to use fertilizers as well as pesticides continued producing organic coffee.

There is little doubt that organic coffee does cost a bit more, but the transition from organic to the sun coffee has also meant that the environment is being sacrificed. With erosion of soil and the depletion of nutrients, more chemical fertilizers are being sprayed into the ground and there has also been the removal of rainforest land just so that non-organic coffee can be grown. This has led to just a few countries remaining that are still producing organic coffee and these countries include:
Ethiopia
Panama
El Salvador
Mexico
The bigger producers of coffee such as Costa Rica and Brazil are now producing sun coffee.

Organic coffee although costs more, but is not as costly to the earth and would be a healthier option. 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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Nescafe Coffee known around the world

January 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Travelers will know that in many places around the world Nescafe Coffee means quality coffee. These people will know that in many faraway places Nescafe Coffee is the first choice of people who know this brand name although they speak many different languages. Nescafe Coffee has been around for many years, and it remains a favorite although the competition increases daily. This great coffee is the result of a campaign by the Brazilian government to create an instant coffee with superior taste. Nescafe Coffee is the result of this quest to find a superior product that would utilize an important Brazilian crop.

Nescafe Coffee was first produced by a Swiss team, but this product soon spread to other places in Europe. This fantastic beverage was used extensively during World War II by the troops that were on the move and in the fields away from the modern amenities. Nescafe Coffee was the first coffee that was made into crystal or powder that could be added to hot water for an instant drink. This instant coffee had the taste that people loved, but it was also easy to prepare by adding boiling water. The drink soon became one of the most popular beverages in the world.

Nescafe Coffee Remains a Popular Drink

In the last century, Nescafe Coffee was a phenomenon, but this great product has retained its popularity into the beginning of this century. The processes that have turned brewed coffee into powder or crystals that could be instantly prepared have also improved through these years. The processes that are now used preserve even more of the flavor of brewed coffee than the original product developed in Switzerland. The most modern processes for producing Nescafe Coffee also preserve more of the caffeine if desired. There is also Nescafe Coffee available without the caffeine.

Coffee on the Move
It is also popular with those on the move. A traveler can pack some in their bags to add to available water in different places. People can prepare this delicious coffee in the wilds of the rain forest or the chill of the ski slopes with just a cup of boiling water. Water is a staple of life so those with their coffee packed in their bags can make their favorite drink while touring the world.

Nescafe Coffee is a delicious drink that many people prepare for themselves wherever they might be in the world. The drink is popular with those who want a quick cup of coffee at home before they begin their day. 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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