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What are the Different Kinds Of Gourmet Coffee

May 12th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Ranking in the top 3 of beverages people drink, coffee is very popular around the world. As with anything people prefer different tastes, and coffee manufactures are tapping into this by producing blends and coffee flavors to meet this demand. Sometime these different blends or flavors are called gourmet coffee.

A little Coffee History

The discovery of coffee was sometime in the 9th century, in Ethiopia, when a shepherd notice his goats cavorting around with fresh energy after having dined on some red berries on a high bush. It was told that the shepherd took home some of the berries and roasted them to be able to eat the seeds. This was how coffee was discovered. Soon, coffee reached the Turks and they started to pound the coffee beans and mix them in water.

As the beverage traveled to Europe, many people liked the strong taste and energy, which came with it. Many coffeehouses sprouted in Europe and people started experimenting on different roasting processes and different ways to prepare coffee.

Specialty Coffee

Nowadays, many companies and stores sell their coffee products with variations. Coffee is not anymore the simple black with sugar and cream but it has many different flavors. Some people still prefer their coffee straight black with just sugar but some of the younger generation like the newer gourmet coffee.

Gourmet coffee or specialty coffee is coffee made from exceptional beans and grown in very specific climates and soil. These kinds of coffee have very distinct flavors, which are sometimes adapted from the soils they grow on. Even the care that is given to the plant and the ways it will be harvested or process may be factors to the coffee being gourmet coffee plant.

How Fresh is your Coffee?
Freshness is also an essential part to gourmet coffee being called gourmet coffee. If the beans that are used are processed while they are fresh, these give out a definite aroma. Truly fresh coffee is ground right before brewing and brewed within a week of roasting. Being aromatic is a big part to coffee being called a specialty coffee. It is usually the highest quality green beans roasted by expert roasters.

The main point you have to remember about specialty coffee is that it is based on the quality of the beans used, and not the way it is brewed. A true gourmet coffee does not require any additives to improve it, and as soon as you add a flavor it becomes a flavored coffee and loses its right to be a specialty 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.

Some Coffee Facts To think about over your next cup

May 9th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When enjoying that next cup of coffee at a social gathering, date or at work there are certain facts about coffee that can be shared. These simple coffee facts may help others to appreciate their cup of coffee even more as well as possibly impressing others with the sharing of these coffee facts.

These interesting coffee facts can be compiled under three basic headings. Those headings could be coffee drinkers themselves, historical facts about coffee and the economics of coffee.

Coffee Drinkers

When sharing coffee facts it may prove interesting to other people the popularity of drinking coffee. For example if sitting with others at work during the coffee break you might state, in an offhanded way, that a person who enjoys their coffee spends a lot of money on that pleasure. In fact the average person spends enough money on coffee every year to purchase a round trip airline ticket to Florida.

Or when sharing coffee facts you can talk about the time commitments of people in obtaining their coffee. For example, while waiting for coffee at the local coffee shop, you could share with those around you that the average person who buys coffee through the convenience of store with a drive-through window will spend as much as 45 hours a year waiting in line.

Historical Coffee Facts

In addition, there are many historical coffee facts. One of those interesting facts could be that the first coffee house to open up in Europe was in the city of Venice. This first coffee shop opened in 1863 and mainly catered to the rich.

Another coffee fact that may impress people may be the knowledge that it takes five years for a coffee tree to mature. In addition, the average output of a coffee tree equates to one pound of roasted coffee per year.

In regards to trivial coffee facts, the individual sharing the information can talk about reading coffee grounds. This piece of information can be followed up by saying that Chase and Sanborn, in the late 1800’s, actually put on a flier instructions on how to read the coffee grounds found in the bottom of a coffee cup.

Or, a little known fact is the invention of instant coffee. This was discovered in 1906 by a Belgian who lived in Guatemala. His name was George Washington. The person sharing this coffee fact could ask if anyone knows who invented instant coffee. Interestingly enough you could declare that it was George Washington.

Economics Of Coffee

For those who are business minded, some interesting coffee facts could include the fact that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world and that it is second only to oil.

In addition, the question could be asked regarding which country is the largest producer of coffee. Some may answer Guatemala, Columbia or Arabia. However, the answer is Brazil where 30 to 40% of the coffee is produced. 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.

What Ingredients do you find in Coffee Cake

May 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

What you may be surprised to learn is that the ingredients of coffee cake don’t actually contain any coffee. Coffee cake got its name by being the perfect accompany to a cup of coffee. This just doesn’t have to be coffee it could be apple streusel, sour cream or banana walnut coffee cakes.

One traditional coffee cake is a cake made from cinnamon. This coffee cake can be made from a simple recipe. When following this recipe there are basically two steps in the process. Those steps begin with the gathering of the ingredients and following the preparation steps.

Ingredients of Coffee Cakes

Being organized is a key strategy when starting any project. The baking of a coffee cake is no different. Therefore, it is important to assemble the ingredients needed along with the appropriate cooking utensil.

A pan to pour the coffee cake mixture into.
2 cups of warm water,
Two packages of bulk yeast or the equivalent of 4 teaspoons
½ cup of sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup of cooking oil.

In addition, to the mixture,
2 eggs will need to be added
5 to 6 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
6 tablespoons of butter

Also, as an added flavor, the ingredient to make a delicious coffee cake is the addition of cinnamon. 3 teaspoons of cinnamon should be sufficient.

Preparation

Once the ingredients have been gathered together they can be combined to comprise the coffee cake batch. The first step in the process is to dissolve the yeast in warm water. This combination of yeast and water should be allowed to stand for a couple of minutes.

Following this first step, add the sugar, salt and cooking oil. Stir these ingredients together.

Following these steps add in the eggs and beat vigorously to ensure the eggs are properly mixed in. After the eggs have been added, mix in one cup of flour and stir till the mixture is smooth in texture. Following the addition of one cup of flour add in two additional cups and stir in the mixture till the batter is smooth. When this step has been completed add in enough of the remaining flour so that the batter is sticky to the touch.

Once this process has been completed the batter should be placed aside for roughly 20 minutes. During this 20 minutes take the opportunity to lubricate the cake pan and prepare the glaze for the coffee cake. This can be accomplished by mixing the sugar and cinnamon together and melting the butter.

After the 20 minutes has elapsed take the dough and pull out lump portions equivalent to the size of a small egg. Take these small portions of dough and roll them into smooth balls between the palms of your hand. The rolled balls of dough should then be glazed in the melted butter and rolled in the cinnamon and sugar.

After this preparation, place the balls into the pan. Don’t pack the rolled dough too tightly. Add the dough until completely gone and layer the dough if needed. Allow this dough to rise by placing in a warm area for about 45 minutes.

The last step is to bake the dough in an oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once you have done all this remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool, and you should have the perfect coffee cake to enjoy with your cup of coffee. Enjoy.

Twists And Tweaks to the recipe.

The variations on coffee cake recipes are numerous. You can tweak and adjust most recipes to fit your personal tastes. The adaptability of these recipes is part of what make coffee cakes so appealing! 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.

To hot for coffee why not try an Iced Coffee

March 18th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Sometimes you are looking for your caffeine hit, but it is to hot outside to even think about having a coffee, maybe Iced Coffee may be the answer. It is a refreshing on a hot day and will give you that much needed energy. Many coffee shops can make you up on but they are relatively easy to make yourself

You start the start out with the procedure that you use to make your hot coffee. Once you have the coffee brewed, just pour the coffee into a pitcher or similar. Now you have to wait for the coffee to reach room temperature. You could put it in your refrigerator to speed it up, but this can cause your fridge to consume more energy as it tries to cool the coffee down.

For a group of people, ice cubes can be added to the pitcher of coffee or some of the coffee can be poured over some ice cubes in an individual glass. The iced coffee should be stirred to mix the coffee and the ice cubes. After this is complete, people can add sugar and milk if desired. There you have it how to simply make iced coffee, but dont just stop there.

What else you could add to iced coffee.

The local coffee bars and some restaurants now offer some wonderful iced coffee drinks. Local coffee bars with these fantastic choices are located in many neighborhoods. When dining out, those who would like an alcoholic drink after dinner or with dessert should order an iced coffee with some tasty additions. Amaretto is an alcoholic beverage that has the wonderful taste of almonds. Adding this to the iced coffee will provide a unique, delicious taste. This iced coffee drink is also very nice when ice cream, milk and almond extract is added to the mix. Other alcoholic beverages with distinctive tastes can also be added to the iced coffee.

There are some great recipes using Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, ice cream and plenty of ice. People might add other favorite alcoholic beverages to their cooled coffee. Some recipes for these can be found in of the magazines devoted to food and drink. Some of these include brilliant suggestions for garnishes such as orange wedges that can be added to the cool drinks when entertaining.

Iced coffee is a fantastically refreshing drink, and is increasing in popularity. After diner many of your guests will welcome this unique blend of coffee cooled with ice cream and ice cubes. So why not give it a try today. 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.

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.

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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