Coffee Machines

Coffee makers are appliances that are used to efficiently brew a perfect cup of coffee every time. There are many different types of machines that use many different methods to brew the coffee. The end product may be the same but the principles used to get there are very different.

There are two main types of machine, the drip coffee makers and the pod coffee makers. The drip coffee maker is considered to be the classic way of making a cup of coffee and may be a bit outdated. This is the standard way of making a bog standard coffee without anything fancy. These may cost a lot less than some newer models but still allows for great efficiency. The way it works is by running hot water through a filter which is filled with ground coffee. These are still popular among the older generation and less technologically savvy.

Coffee

Pod coffee makers use some very creative technology to make a cup of the brown stuff. The key to the brewing of the drink is similar to that of the Drip Machines; the only difference is operation. You simply put the pod in the machine and press the button. Shortly, you will have a great cup of coffee at the touch of the button. A pod is defined as a single serving size package of coffee. Since the serving size is so small, it makes a single cup of fresh coffee every time.

Coffee Machines

It can be considered that the pod coffee machines are an improved version of the drip ones. This will make the coffee making task much easier. The pods are also available in many different flavors and variety, so a pod machine will also produce perfect hot chocolates, mocha's, latte's and many more tasty hot beverages!
Coffee Machines

Kinds of Coffee Beans

Coffea or coffee is a large variety of flowering plants with over 90 species. They are shrubs belonging to the Rubiaceae family native to southern Asia and subtropical Africa. The coffee beverage is derived from the seeds of its fruit or coffee cherries. Coffee plant grows to a comparatively large height and is more precisely described as a tree.

The coffee berries, coffee cherries or fruits usually contain two stones or beans. Coffee beans are mostly made up of endosperm that consists of 0.8 to 2.5 per centum of caffeine. Only a small percentage of coffee cherries have a single bean. This bean is called a peaberry.

Coffee

Coffee beans are not literally beans. The name originates from the Arabic words gahwa and bunn; gahwa means coffee and bunn means berry. They are the seeds of the coffee plant, and almost all coffee traders call these seeds beans.

Kinds of Coffee Beans

Coffee develops under the shade in its natural habitat. Coffee plants grown under the shade, do not deplete the soil's resources and lives two times longer than sun grown varieties. The quality of shade grown coffee is said to be higher than sun grown coffee. The cherries produced by the coffee tree under the shade are relatively smaller than those of commercial varieties.

Many believe that this smaller cherry contracts the flavors into the bean itself. Majority of coffee is grown on plantations with full-sun. Some coffee plantations were prepared with the use of deforestation.

The two main variety of coffee being grown today are Robusta and Arabica. Robusta comprises about 20 percent of the world's production. It is a lower grade coffee with higher caffeine content. Robusta trees are normally grown at lower elevations and easier to maintain and cultivate. This type is typically grown to attain a lower priced coffee in the market.

Arabica coffee supplies 75 to 80 percent of the world's coffee trade. It is usually referred as gourmet coffee by most people because of its superior grade, aromatic properties and desirable taste. Arabica species of coffee are grown all over the world but only a few growers passed the Specialty Coffee Association of America's standard.

Other kinds of coffee plant being grown include Coffea benghalensis, Coffea congensis, Coffea excelsa, Coffea bonnieri, Coffea gallienii, Coffea mogeneti, Coffea liberica, and Coffea stenophylla. Each species has different characteristics.

Green beans are essentially coffee beans not roasted yet. Its volatile and non-volatile compounds are said to appeal to insects and distract animals from eating the coffee fruits. These compounds also contribute to the flavor of roasted beans. Nitrogenous compounds jointly with carbohydrates are significant for the full aroma or fragrance of roasted coffee beans. The non-volatile nitrogenous compounds include trigonelline, alkaloids, protein and free amino acids.

Gourmet Coffee Beans have volcanica, costa rice, Jamaica blue mountain, and kona. Volcanica are grown at 3,000 to 7,000 feet on mountain slopes created by volcanoes and nurtured on volcanic soil. The moisture coming from the clouds and the cool climate combined gives the coffee a smooth and robust flavor.

Costa rica is among the world's largest gourmet coffees with clean, light flavor and fantastic aroma. The magnificent growing condition of this tiny Central American nation is due to the fertile volcanic soil and mild climate.

Jamaica blue mountain is considered as the Rolls-Royce of coffee. It is one of the most appreciated gourmet coffees in the world. This coffee has a strong and intense aroma, balanced acidity, and prominent fruit flavors.

Kona coffee has a rich delicious full-bodied flavor grown from the slopes of Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii. Plantation needs a sunny weather, rich soil and ample rainfall. This coffee has a luscious, smooth, intense fragrance and nutty flavor that made it very famous throughout the US.

Kinds of Coffee Beans

Coffee and Espresso Pod Machines

Coffee is something that many people regularly consume and drink on a daily basis. Coffee lovers love their coffee and if you are one of these people them maybe you need to get new coffee machines.

Coffee machines make a pretty big difference when it comes to brewing good coffee. There are also many new features in modern day coffee machines as opposed to the older modules.

Coffee

One thing that many new coffee machines have is coffee pods. These coffee pods can have ether coffee of espresso in them. They are designed to serve coffee almost instantly. They are used for when you are in a rush or you want to have coffee right away. If your morning is usually busy then these coffee pods will be of interest to you.

Coffee and Espresso Pod Machines

The only downside about this new type of coffee is that you will need a coffee pod machine in order to make them. The older machines will not be able to make them.

These new coffee pod machines have many new and exciting features that you will probably enjoy. Most of them will allow you to brew more than one coffee at a time. They will also allow you to ether make espresso or coffee. This solves the problem of buying two separate machines.

The only problem with these machines is that they can cost you a fair bit of money. The average machine will probably cost you about . It is well worth the money though if you are going to be putting it to good use.

If you are someone who drinks coffee a lot then this may be something that is right for you. If you are someone who only drinks coffee occasionally then maybe you need to spend your money on a cheaper machine.

Coffee and Espresso Pod Machines

Coffee Mugs Come Into Point

When it comes to coffee mugs, most people have something to say about their own mugs. As we all know that most people have the habit of having a drink of their favourite beverage, such as coffee, tea, milk and so on. When they are at home, well it is easy for them to drink, but when they are out, it is not convenient to drink at any time they want, then the coffee mug comes into point. A coffee mug is the container which you can used to hold your favourite beverage. You will find your life great with a coffee mug.

Every morning when you get up, you can prepare your coffee or tea well before you go to your workplace. If you like to drink hot coffee, then you can pour your coffee into the mug as soon as you prepare it well, the coffee cup will help you to keep it warm. Most coffee cups can keep the warmth of the beverage inside, so you can drink the beverage at any time you want. As you open the mug, the sweet coffee smell will make you get excited. When you are tired after a long time's working, the hot coffee can definitely make you energetic again.

Coffee

There is one thing that as most people have coffee mugs and some of these mugs are the same, it is easy to mix them. To solve this problem, you can choose to personalize your coffee mug, make it the unique one. You can decorate your mug with some small things, such as pictures, names and so on. Or you can use a special cup hanger to put your mug, then others will not take your mug carelessly.

Coffee Mugs Come Into Point

Coffee Mugs Come Into Point

Coffee Storage

Proper coffee storage makes a lot of difference in how your coffee tastes once you go to use it. Here are a few tips for storing coffee beans and ground coffee to keep your coffee tasting as good as possible.

For roasted whole bean coffee storage use an airtight ceramic canister that blocks light. The ceramic canister needs a rubber seal around the lid so air cannot get inside.

Coffee

Fill the ceramic canister clear to the top with whole bean coffee to keep the air inside down to a minimum. Roasted whole bean coffee will last one to two weeks, when stored this way at room temperature.

Coffee Storage

Stay away from plastic or metal containers because they can alter the taste of your coffee. If you use a clear glass canister, keep the light away by storing it in a dark cupboard.

The truth about ground coffee is that it will only store for a few days. But you should at least keep air away by using an airtight ceramic canister that blocks light.

This is why grinding your own beans is well worth the effort and it's also really simple. Trying to keep ground coffee fresh is next to impossible.

You'll even hear some people suggest freezing whole bean or ground coffee but here is why that is a bad idea. Water molecules not only attach to coffee beans and ground coffee but also to the packaging.

When the water comes into contact with the surface of a coffee bean, ice forms around it. Roasted coffee beans are porous, so when the ice melts, it deteriorates the taste and quality of the coffee.

So what about coffee storage in the refrigerator? Absolutely not. The constant cold mist in the refrigerator attaches to the whole bean or ground coffee and water is coffee's enemy during coffee storage.

Coffee storage at room temperature works well for coffee that you will use within one to two weeks of purchase if these elements can be eliminated.

Water

Light

Oxygen

Heat

If you want to always have good tasting coffee, buy whole bean coffee and grind it just before you make a fresh pot. Buy only the amount of coffee you can use up within one to two weeks.

Proper coffee storage will keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com. All Rights Reserved.

Coffee Storage

Special Coffee Variety

Coffee is a drink that is usually drank hot. It contains caffeine which makes you more alert. Coffee is drunk around the globe and almost every country has its own special coffee variety. Coffee is made from the peeled, grounded, dried and roasted seeds of the coffee plant. The seeds are called coffee beans. During the roasting process, about 700 different chemical substances are released.

After the harvesting and drying of the coffee bean it is burnt and ground. Sometimes different types of coffee are mixed to create the perfect taste. This mixture is to be put in a filter, this filter is usually already present in modern coffee machines, and then hot water is added. The fluid that seeps from the filter is what we, today, call coffee. There are various other methods to make coffee but this is the most common one. Some machines ground the coffee themselves; freshly ground coffee is usually regarded to be of higher quality and better taste than the pre-ground variety.

Coffee

One of the seven hundred chemical substances which are released during the roasting of the beans is caffeine. Some people, however, are advised not to drink caffeine for health reasons. These people can, thankfully, still enjoy a hot, steaming cup of coffee in the mornings as it is fairly easy to take most of the caffeine out of the beans. By applying carbon dioxide at a certain temperature and pressure for example. Another way is to steam the beans which makes them more porous, the beans are rinsed in chemicals which extract most of the caffeine from the beans. The beans are then rinsed with clean water to remove all chemical residues. After this the beans are dried and processed just like regular coffee beans. It is impossible to extract all the caffeine from the beans, but enough can be removed as to not impose a health risk for people sensitive to caffeine. Recently a caffeine free type of coffee has been discovered in Cameroon. Caffeine free coffee beans were already known to exist on Madagascar. There are, however, no plans for the commercial growing of these beans. 

Special Coffee Variety

Brand dedicated to chicory based drinks. Almost hundred years' tradition in cereal and chicory drinks.

Special Coffee Variety

What Countries Produce Coffee Beans?

Coffee is produced in over 30 countries. As a result of each country's specific rainfall, sunshine, temperature, humidity, winds, and seasonal changes; the coffees from around the world all have their own characteristics and flavors. However, the similarities that all coffee-growing countries do share is that they are tropical countries located in the equatorial belt at 25 degrees N to 30 degrees S. Coffee plants like generous amounts of rain and steady temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They also prefer volcanic soil, plenty of shade, and good drainage.

There are two types of coffee plants that are grown for commercial coffee production: Arabica trees and Robusta trees. The Arabica bush originated from Ethiopia and flourishes at high altitudes above 2,000 feet. It was first cultivated in Yemen and still grows wild in Ethiopia. It prefers a temperate climate and produces the highest quality coffee.

Coffee

The Robusta tree is a smaller plant that originated in the Congo and thrives below 2,000 feet. Although the beans produce a lesser quality coffee with a harsher flavor it is mostly resistant to disease; making it quite abundant. It prefers equatorial heat and humidity.

What Countries Produce Coffee Beans?

The following countries are producers of coffee beans:
Angola Australia Bolivia Burundi Cameroon China Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Galapagos Islands Guadeloupe Haiti Honduras Ivory Coast Le Reunion Madagascar Martinique Mozambique Panama Peru Puerto Rico Philippines South Africa Saint Helena Sudan Surinam Tahiti Taiwan Uganda Venezuela Vietnam Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe

Each producing country uses a different system to classify their coffees but four general classifications are used. "High Grown Milds" are coffee beans grown at locations over 2,000 feet; "Brazils" are Arabica beans produced in Brazil and grown at less than 2,000 feet; "Milds"are low-grown Arabica beans produced in countries other than Brazil; and "Robustas" include Robutsa coffee beans produced mainly in Brazil, Africa, and southeast Asia.

What Countries Produce Coffee Beans?

Coffee Myths & Facts

Like everything else, coffee has its own share of popular myths and misconceptions. Before making your next cup of coffee, take time to reflect on coffee myths. This short article will help you separate fact from fiction.

Coffee improves memory: Having a couple cups of coffee daily will supposedly help improve your memory. At least this is true for women but not for men. Austrian researchers said that caffeinated coffee can temporarily sharpen your memory. They arrived at this conclusion after observing that volunteers who consumed two cups of coffee experienced increased brain activity. This was confirmed using MRI technology.

Coffee

Another study that appeared in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed that the effects of coffee may be longer lasting in women. After four years, researchers found that women aged 65 and older who consumed over three cups of coffee a day had 33 percent less decline in memory over time compared to those who drank one cup or less of coffee a day.

Coffee Myths & Facts

Coffee causes ulcers: Its commonly believed that coffee can give one ulcers since it increases stomach acids. But recent studies say otherwise. Most ulcers are caused by a certain bacteria that can be eliminated with antibiotics. However, if you already have ulcers, coffee can actually aggravate your problem.

Coffee causes miscarriage, low birth weight, and infertility: This is another misconception with no scientific basis. Scientists have found no evidence linking coffee consumption to miscarriages. In like manner, low birth weight in children has not been observed even with increased caffeine consumption. Lastly, studies have also shown that women who drink over three cups of coffee daily wont suffer from infertility or delayed conception.

The next time you drink a cup of coffee don't be bothered by these old wives tales. That way, you'll enjoy your drink more.

Coffee Myths & Facts

How to Make Tasty Coffee Drinks

The world of coffee desserts, tasty coffee drinks and flavored coffee beverages offers many new opportunities for memorable tastes, aromas and experiences.

Coffee is very versatile. With a little imagination and willingness to try something new, it is easy to transform your favorite coffee into a tasty drink or a dessert. The trend for flavored coffees and tasty combinations is not new. For centuries, different types of plant roots, grains and beans have satisfied coffee drinkers' pursuit of new tastes and aromas.

Coffee

What is different now is the proliferation of coffee varieties, flavors and recipes just about everywhere you go. There is no need to limit the tasty coffee beverage adventures to restaurants and parties. Drinking tasty coffee drinks, hot or cold, right in the comfort of your own home is a fun and rewarding activity.

How to Make Tasty Coffee Drinks

What should you remember before turning regular coffee into a tasty drink? For starters, the basics about brewing great tasting coffee:

Use good quality, Specialty coffee. Freshly roasted and freshly ground. Use fresh, clean, cold water. Use filtered or bottled water but do avoid softened or distilled water. Make sure you choose the right grind for your beans. The coffee pot needs to be clean. Use the right quantity of coffee and water. For sure, do not boil brewed coffee.Ready to try some ideas for tasty coffee drinks?

After brewing your coffee, consider adding to your cup spices such as pumpkin pie spice, ginger, nutmeg, cocoa or cinnamon to taste. For an extra special taste, add whipped cream, your favorite food flavoring, dark or white chocolate, caramel or milk.

Interested in a chilled tasty beverage? Add vanilla ice cream to your coffee to create your own "ice cream coffee." For a festive look, place some nuts, whipped cream and flavored cinnamon sticks. Delicious!

How else can you spice up and make coffee really tasty?

Cocoa Choco Espresso: use white chocolate, cocoa and skim milk with your cup of Espresso. If preferred, add froth on top and a hint of nutmeg.

Caramel Cocoa Choco Espresso: combine caramel and espresso with a hint of whipped cream as flavored froth.

Vanilla Coffee Milkshake: combine a cup of Espresso with vanilla ice cream.

Homemade Iced Coffee: simple to make. Use brewed coffee, add lots of ice, put it in the blender and crush it small. Very refreshing as a summer beverage.

Old Fashioned Irish Creamy Coffee: prepare fresh hot coffee and serve it in your favorite, thick and sturdy coffee mug or glass. Put about 2 to 3 spoonfuls of thick cream and nutmeg. Add the coffee, mix it and then add whipped cream to taste. Not too much to hide the coffee but enough to create a flavor contrast. Enjoy!

Christmas Coffee Eggnog: at Christmas time, when Eggnog is very popular, you can make your own homemade eggnog. This can be time consuming but well worth the effort. Or, for simplicity and practical reasons, buy quality gourmet eggnog.

Use about 8 ounces of eggnog, stir in 1 to 2 ounces of vanilla flavoring and 8 to 10 ounces of cold black, freshly brewed coffee. In a separate bowl, beat about 4 to 6 ounces of whipping cream until it is "just stiff." Fold it into the cooled eggnog, vanilla flavoring and coffee mixture. Chill it all for a few minutes. Just before serving, add a spoonful of whipped cream as froth on top with nutmeg sprinkled. Santa may like this instead of cookies and milk by the chimney...

Any other suggestions?

The list of ideas for tasty coffee drinks is endless. There are many excellent coffee recipe books available and many other resources to consult. However, the most important thing to remember is that the secret to success in preparing "tasty" coffee drinks is always using quality, Specialty Coffee beans!

So, what about a cup of delicious Papua New Guinea AA Estate?

How to Make Tasty Coffee Drinks

What Does Kenyan Coffee Taste Like?

Kenyan coffee is rising in popularity because of the rich and complex flavors that it has to offer within the bean. And if you too are a true lover of Java, then I am sure that you want to know all about the bean and what kind of flavors you will get before you brew your first pot. It is really great to begin to explore all different regions of the world that produce Java because you are going to get something different every time. That is why so many lovers of Java are called coffee sommeliers because they are actually enjoying their brew in a way that they can pair it as one would with a fine wine to each meal.

Kenyan beans are actually exported through Nairobi in an auction which causes extensive price wars to which a farmer can offer the most competitive price on the crop. There are actually many smaller farms operating in Kenya as opposed to large plantations, which yields many independent farmers harvesting their beans. The beans themselves produced in Kenya are wet processed, which means that all four layers that encase the bean itself are removed in a manner that preserves the acidity and leads to a cleaner and brighter taste where you can still detect the undertones of fruit in the brew. This is a newer method that is preferred by many different harvesting communities. All of the beans that are exported from Kenya have a specific grade, which is based on the size of the bean, and the scale starts with AA as the largest bean, and then A, and then B, successively.

Coffee

Since Java production is a popular method of income for many Kenyans, there are said to be almost 6 million Kenyans producing beans currently. It would only make sense that this is a booming region for Java, and it is mostly grown around Mt. Kenya, Kisii, Nakuru, and Kericho. One of the main benefits to the harvesting of the beans in Kenya is that the soil itself is acidic so it yields an excellent harvest. The taste that you'll find in your brew from Kenya will have an intense flavor, heavy body, and full aroma that makes it stand out completely. The harvesting of Java did not begin in Kenya in till the late 1800s, even though it is closely located to Ethiopia, where coffee was believed to have been birthed. The most popular type of bean that comes from Kenya is AA, which is the classification that I mentioned above. All of the beans are first milled, and then they are graded according to their size. The fact that Kenya produces so many AA beans means that they are much larger and known for being the highest quality available.

What Does Kenyan Coffee Taste Like?

I encourage you to try a robust Kenyan coffee that will give you berry and citrus flavors with tones of spice and a smooth finish, like the Kenya Coffee Beans AA, which are available whole, or in any grind consistency for only .95. A small price to enjoy something so exotic!

What Does Kenyan Coffee Taste Like?

Delonghi Coffee Makers

It's divine, hot and richly-flavored. Who can deny the aroma and the taste of the freshly-brewed coffee first thing in the morning? Now this is possible with Delonghi coffee makers, or espresso machines.

What you get with Delonghi coffee makers are those impeccable Italian design and styling and of course that state-of-the-art coffee brewing technology. With their coffee makers, you get to elevate your coffee experience every morning. This company makes a range of auto-drip coffee makers, so the choice of the apt maker for your adorable kitchen is yours alone.

Coffee

As mentioned, Delonghi offers many choices, and one sound choice that you can make is the 10-cup Delonghi coffee maker finished in brushed steel exterior. This is a great choice for small family since this has a capacity of 10 cups, or 50-ounce. The brushed stainless steel exterior is only a bonus for you to match the looks of the kitchen. This offers the double-wall Thermal Carafe, a uniquely designed carafe that effectively retains the heat of the coffee for hours! This means that you can leave it there while you do your morning chores, and after an hour you can still pour hot coffee for you and your partner.

Delonghi Coffee Makers

Temperature isn't the only thing preserved as the fresh coffee taste is retained as well. This kitchen device is 24-hour programmable as well, equipped with the timer with brew auto coffee maker and a shut-off. Other features are added here, making this model of Delonghi a good choice for any family. Check out as well the Delonghi DC55TCW Twenty Four Seven 10-Cup Drip coffee maker finished in white. This features the same design used on the latter model. This adds the swing-away filter basket with the permanent gold tone filter and the aroma switch.

Many more functional Delonghi coffee makers are available, and worth checking.

Delonghi Coffee Makers

How to Clean Coffee Mugs

Have you ever had a favorite coffee mug get stained so badly that throwing it away was the only solution? Well fret not! There are ways to clean it without harming the mug.

Stains usually come from the coffee/tea itself, additives (cream/sugar), stir sticks and spoons.So be sure to choose cleaning methods that suit the stain. One thing that I highly do NOT recommend is washing coffee mugs in the dishwasher. Because of the hot water and steam inside the dishwasher, this can actually break down the enamel on the mug and cause crackling or spider veins (heat cracks). You can tell if it has heat cracks if the inside mug has a mottled look where the coffee has seeped into the interior walls. Always hand wash mugs to keep them fresh and in mint condition.

Coffee

Problem: Coffee/tea stains on the outside.

How to Clean Coffee Mugs

Solution: Most of the time you can just use a **Magic Eraser (Mr. Clean brand works wonders) and rub back and forth around the stain. **will rub off any coloring that is not glazed onto the mug (photos/prints/un-glazed images). If this doesn't work, see solution for inside staining

Problem: Coffee/tea stains on inside.

Solution #1: Add 2 tablespoons of bleach + water and let set for a couple of hours. Make sure to wash and rinse to get bleach out. Some people will fill up sink with water and then add bleach to soak multiple mugs....please be warned that this will cause fading on unglazed print mugs.

Solutuion #2: Make Baking Soda paste (baking soda + a little bit of water) and then apply it to affected areas. Using a toothbrush can penetrate difficult stains. Wash and rinse.

Solution #3: Magic Erasers....the trick to using these are to not oversaturate the erasers....just dampen them and then rub.

Solution #4: Put baking soda directly onto magic eraser and scrub. This does take some effort, so if you dont mind some elbow grease, then use this method.

Problem: Spoon markings on inside.

Solution: My favorite product for cleaning is Bar Keepers Friend (**powder version). Slightly dampen the inside of mug and then sprinkle powder on inside. Let it set for 10-15 mins and then either use a finger or soft scrubbing pad, rub powder into mug. Wash and rinse. **I have tried the liquid version of Bar Keepers Friend but found that it  just doesn't do a good job as the powder. You can also use Bon Ami if you cant find Bar Keepers Friend.

Problem: Rust stains on mug

Solution: Bar Keepers Powder (read solution above)

Additional ways to clean mugs

---put denture cleaning tablets inside mug and fill with water
---CLR (for cleaning Calcium buildup, Lime and Rust)
---Whitening Toothpaste....yep....not for just cleaning teeth anymore!
---Toothpaste with baking soda
---Oxyclean. Make a paste with water and rub it on
---Salt. Dampen inside of mug and rub salt into stains
---Undiluted vinegar. Let it soak overnight for tough stains (esp. Corningware brand)

by Paula Duff

How to Clean Coffee Mugs

Coffee With Fruit Recipes

I have been testing various types of coffee recipe since last year. Recently, I have tested coffee with fruits and the outcome was so good. Therefore today, I have decided to release Fruit with coffee series coffee recipes for all the coffee lover. Hope you enjoy these recipes too.

First Coffee Recipe: Passion Fruit with Coffee latte Recipe
Fruit mix with coffee, does this make sense? If you have tried this, please let me know what do you feel about this recipe too.

Coffee

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (just nice for one tall glass)
1) 2 tablespoons of Passion Fruit syrup as well as Coffee Syrup
2) 1 shot of organic espresso
3) 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk
4) 2 to 3 ice cubes

Coffee With Fruit Recipes

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation:
1. Take an empty blender cup and mix all ingredients into it.

2. Once that done, blend it with low speed for 60 seconds.

3. We need a clean tall glass to pour the latte over.

4. At last, you can enjoy your fruit passion latte now.
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Second Coffee Recipe: Passion Fruit and Vanilla Latte Recipe
I have tried vanilla and coffee before, but today I would like to add in some fruit in this recipe too. Just wonder how would it be after that?

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (just nice for one tall glass)
1) 2 tablespoons of Passion Fruit syrup as well as Coffee Syrup
2) 5 ice cubes
3) 1 shot of organic espresso
4) 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation:
1. We need an empty blend cup to put passion fruit syrup, coffee syrup, espresso, ice cubes as well as steam milk.

2. Blend it for 1 minute until they are well mixed.

3. Take an empty glass to pour your latte into the empty glass.

4. You can now enjoy your latte.

Coffee With Fruit Recipes

The Green Coffee Beans

Green coffee beans naturally have to go through a special process before they reach the phase of being turned into the popular hot drink that so many people love and enjoy on a daily basis. A large number of people all around the world crave and depend upon the boost that a freshly brewed cup of delicious flavor and amazing aroma that makes its way to your taste buds and to your senses.

One enjoyed benefit that many people enjoy is the fact that there is a large variety of different flavors they can drink and enjoy when it comes to coffee that has been made from green coffee beans. This is largely due to the fact that the beans that are used to make this well-known drink are grown in several different countries, as many as 50 countries or more. The variation in the process that is used in each of the different countries throughout the planting procedures and differences in the soil that is used, the harvesting, as well as in the preparation and the roasting procedures that are used will all play a very big factor into each of the varieties and different delicious tasting flavors that you and your family have grown to love so much and enjoy each day.

Coffee

The beans are transformed as they go through the necessary process of being roasted and this is the important process where the physical properties and the chemical properties of the green coffee beans will take place because of the temperatures that are reached as they are heated. Before you are able to enjoy the rich taste in flavor that these little beans provide they must go through a series of steps such as being cleaned properly, the heating process of being roasted at just the right temperatures, the cooling process necessary after roasting has been performed, the necessary grinding that has to be done to the beans, and finally the last process in the packaging of the product so that it can be shipped to various stores located all over the world.

The Green Coffee Beans

If you have not tried the fabulous taste in flavor that green coffee beans are so known for providing, then you simply do not know what you have been missing out on. Explore the variety of websites that are available on the Internet for ordering information and for the variety in flavors that are available to you.

The Green Coffee Beans

Australian Coffee Culture

Australian coffee culture is one of the most sophisticated in the world and it isn't until you go travelling overseas that you really appreciate how lucky we are! Walk in to any Australian workplace between 7am and 11am and you'll be hard pressed to find someone without a cup of coffee.

Everywhere you look in Australian cities and towns you will find an abundance of coffee shops and cafes, most of which are individually owned and not part of chains. We are cravers of high quality coffee as Starbucks recently discovered when they tried expanding into Australia. They were promptly run out of town by an angry caffeine filled mob.

Coffee

According to a report from Datamonitor, more and more Australians are ditching their instant coffee in favour of heading out and adopting a cafe culture lifestyle. This is great news for coffee lovers as it will hopefully force cafe's to lift their game and take the job of a barista seriously.

Australian Coffee Culture

The best coffee in Australia is no doubt in Melbourne. Melbourne boasts some of Australia's finest coffee shops and unfortunately there are too many to provide a definitive list of the best coffee in Melbourne.

Unfortunately Sydney is lacking when it comes to high quality coffee, but the best coffee in Sydney would have to come from Mecca Espresso on King St in the city or Campos in Newtown.

Surprisingly, considering the smaller population size, Perth takes coffee almost more seriously than anyone else. There are a number of good cafes in Perth and they are increasing daily!

Australian Coffee Culture

Animal Coffee

While searching the many resources of the internet today on coffee, I found a very interesting coffee...blend we'll call it. The coffee is made with animals' stomachs and is called Luwak Coffee. The process as how they get their coffee is simple.

Coffee beans are harvested and fed to animals that live in the Sumatran forest. After the animals have done their business, workers walk around the forest and collect the remains to be brewed into "fresh" made coffee. The actual coffee is owned by the company AnimalCoffee, which is based in Indonesia. The coffee apparently is very popular and is considered to actually be Gourmet Coffee. The beans come from various places around Indonesia but they can offer both Arabica and Robusta type coffees. The company is so far only online based but does have offices in Indonesia as well and is run by someone with the name Troy Davis but they have been in operation for 13 years as of yet. Currently he lives in Australia but his company is starting to pick up steam and the word is spreading.

Coffee

Big orders are being placed for these coffees so perhaps there really is something to it. If you would like to try some of it, you can always request a sample. If you are into animal stomach type foods don't forget there is also Haggis and I'm sure lots of other types of companies that sell animal organ related foods as well. But then again, some just don't have the stomach for it.

Animal Coffee

Animal Coffee

The History Of Coffee

Coffee - THE Drink of Choice

Did you know coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. How did coffee get this ranking? What country first figured out coffee was safe for consumption? When was the first drink of coffee prepared? Where did the first coffee shop come in being?
There are many questions about the starting point of drinking coffee. It has been so long ago no one really knows all the facts. But, one thing is for sure, coffee is the most consumed beverage on the planet.

Coffee

The Beginning of Coffee

The History Of Coffee

It looks as if the first trace came out of Abyssinia and was also sporadically in the vicinity of the Red Sea around seven hundred AD. Along with these people, other Africans of the same period also have a history of using the coffee berry pulp for more than one occasion like rituals and even for health.

Coffee began to get more attention when the Arabs began cultivating it in their peninsulas around eleven hundred AD. It is speculated that trade ships brought the coffee their way. The Arabs started making a drink that became quite popular called gahwa--- meaning to prevent sleep. Roasting and boiling the bean was how they made this drink. It became so popular among the Arabs that they made it their signature Arabian wine and it was used a lot during rituals.

After the coffee bean was found to be a great wine and a medicine, someone discovered in Arabia that you could also make a different dark, delicious drink out of the beans, this happened somewhere around twelve hundred AD. After that it didn't take long and everyone in Arabia was drinking coffee. Everywhere these people traveled the coffee went with them. It made its way around to India, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and was then cultivated to a great extent in Yemen around fourteen hundred AD.

Other countries would have gladly welcomed these beans if only the Arabs had let them. The Arabs killed the seed-germ making sure no one else could grow the coffee if taken elsewhere. Heavily guarding their plants, Yemen is where the main source of coffee stayed for several hundred years. Even with their efforts, the beans were eventually smuggled out by pilgrims and travelers.

Coffee Shops Appear

Around 1475 the first coffee shop opens in Constantinople called Kiv Han two years after coffee was introduced to Turkey, in 1554 two coffee houses open there. People came pouring in to socialize, listen to music, play games and of course drink coffee. Some often called these places in Turkey the "school of the wise", because you could learn so much by just visiting the coffee house and listening to conversations.
In the sixteen hundreds coffee enters Europe through the port of Venice. The Turkish warriors also brought the drink to Balkans, Spain, and North Africa. Not too much later the first coffee house opens in Italy.

There were plenty of people also trying to ban coffee. Such as Khair Beg a governor of Mecca who was executed and Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire who successfully closed down many coffee houses in Turkey. Thankfully not everyone thought this way.

Coffee Tips Arrive

In the early sixteen hundreds coffee is presented to the New World by man named John Smith. Later in that century, the first coffee house opens in England. Coffee houses or "penny universities" charged a penny for admission and for a cup of coffee. The word "TIPS" (for service) has it's origin from an English coffee house.

Early in the 17th century, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opens in England. The Dutch became the first to commercially transport coffee. The first Parisian café opens in 1713 and King Louis XIV is presented with a lovely coffee tree. Sugar is first used as an addition to coffee in his court.

The America's Have Coffee

Coffee plants were introduced in the Americas for development. By close to the end of the seventeen hundreds, 1,920 million plants are grown on the island.

Evidently the eighteen hundreds were spent trying to find better methods to make coffee.

The Coffee "Brew" in the 20th Century

New methods to help brewing coffee start popping up everywhere. The first commercial espresso machine is developed in Italy. Melitta Bentz makes a filter using blotting paper. Dr. Ernest Lily manufactures the first automatic espresso machine. The Nestle Company invents Nescafe instant coffee. Achilles Gaggia perfects the espresso machine.
Hills Bros. begins packing roasted coffee in vacuum tins eventually ending local roasting shops and coffee mills. A Japanese-American chemist named Satori Kato from Chicago invents the first soluble "instant" coffee.

German coffee importer Ludwig Roselius turns some ruined coffee beans over to researchers, who perfected the process of removing caffeine from the beans without destroying the flavor. He sells it under the name Sanka. Sanka is introduced in the United States in 1923.

George Constant Washington an English chemist living in Guatemala, is interested in a powdery condensation forming on the spout of his silver coffee flask. After checking into it, he creates the first mass-produced instant coffee which is his brand name called Red E Coffee.

Prohibition goes into effect in United States. Coffee sales suddenly increase.
Brazil asked Nestle to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses so the Nestle Company comes up with freeze-dried coffee. Nestle also made Nescafe and introduced it to Switzerland.

Other Interesting Coffee Tidbits

Today the US imports 70 percent of the world's coffee crop.
During W.W.II, American soldiers were issued instant Maxwell House coffee in their ration kits.

In Italy, Achilles Gaggia perfects his espresso machine. The name Cappuccino comes from the resemblance of its color to the robes of the monks of the Capuchin order.

One week before Woodstock, the Manson family murders coffee heiress Abigail Folger as she visits with her friend Sharon Tate in the home of filmmaker Roman Polanski.

Starbuck's Hits the Coffee World

Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market in 1971. This creates madness over fresh-roasted whole bean coffee.
Coffee finally becomes the world's most popular beverage. More than 450 billion cups are sold each year by 1995.

The Current Coffee Trends

Now in the 21st century we have many different styles, grinds, and flavors of coffee. We have really come a long way even with our coffee making machines. There's no sign of coffee consumption decreasing. Researchers are even finding many health benefits to drinking coffee. Drink and enjoy!

The History Of Coffee

Collecting an Antique Coffee Grinder

Coffee grinders have been around for a very long time, as coffee was being brewed before electricity was invented. In fact an antique coffee grinder will date from before nineteen fifty, as this was when these hand powered machines ceased production, and may have been produced as early as eighteen fifty.

All of these older models will have a handle, and will be made of wood, cast iron or glass. Some machines have been manufactured to look old, but if they have not been made in these kinds of materials and are maybe instead made from plastic, then they are definitely not antique. It is possible to find these coffee mills from both European and American manufacturers.

Coffee

In England these were made primarily by two different companies. Some grinders were made out of cast iron from eighteen fifty to nineteen fifty, during which time the basic model did not change very much meaning that dating these is best achieved by researching the serial number. Other manufacturers such as those of German manufactured made models that were instantly identifiable as they changed the design every couple of years. A Dutch brand made their coffee mills out of glass and decorated them with artwork, and these can be dated by identifying when the artwork was produced.

Collecting an Antique Coffee Grinder

American coffee mills can be found dating back to eighteen sixty, and are most likely to be made of cast iron. There were two major manufacturers in the United States.

Most brand names can be found on the front or back of a machine, and there may also be a serial number so that the precise year of manufacture can be looked up. These machines are quite popular as collectors items with many being in working order. The ones that have been constructed out of cast iron are obviously the most durable. Perhaps the best reason for buying an antique coffee grinder is that they are an attractive ornament that may still have a useful purpose.

Collecting an Antique Coffee Grinder

Coffee in a Bean Shell

Whether enjoyed steaming hot, or blended with ice; whether it is a morning necessity or an occasional treat, coffee has been a universally consumed drink since the ninth century in Ethiopia. Once the plant was discovered, it spread throughout the world like a wildfire. It was used for religious ceremonies, as medicine, and was soon to become part of the average person's routine. Over the centuries, the brewing process has changed and been perfected, and the varieties and flavors of coffee have grown immensely. But what has stayed the same throughout these years is the underlying, unique flavor of coffee and the world's general love for it.

The history of coffee can be traced back to as early as ninth century Ethiopia. Legend has it that the first to discover coffee were shepherds, who noticed an increased liveliness in their goats when they consumed a certain berry. Coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen from Ethiopia. By the fifteenth century, it had permeated the entire Middle East and northern Africa. This drink became incredibly popular in the Islamic Empire, where wine was prohibited. Initially, it was only used by Arab Sufi monks to rouse them through their nights of prayer, but it gradually became available and in demand of the general public. Arabia held a monopoly on the coffee plant until 1650, when it was broken by an Indian pilgrim named Baba Budan. Baba is said to have smuggled seven coffee beans out of Arabia, which were grown in Southern India. The offspring of these coffee trees are still being cultivated to this day. From the Muslim world, coffee was brought to Italy, where it gradually moved throughout Europe.

Coffee

Modern brewing techniques are said to have begun in fifteenth century Arabia, and have been honed and fine-tuned with newer technologies to the complex brewing process in use today. After coffee berries ripen and are ready for harvest, they are hand picked and then processed (the flesh of the berry removed). Then, the beans are fermented to remove a slimy layer still coating the seed, known as mucilage. After fermentation, the beans may or may not be washed with large amounts of water to eliminate the residue from the fermentation process, depending on the brand of coffee. At this point, they are known as green coffee beans. Coffee may be bought green, but all coffee is roasted before consumption. There are different grades of roasting, depending on the time spent on the roast. Darker roasts contain less fiber, and are therefore smoother, while lighter roasts are generally bitterer due to an increased caffeine level. However, lighter roasts contain more aromatic flavors, which are eliminated in further levels of roasting. The different grades are light, cinnamon, medium, high, city, full city, French, and Italian.

Coffee in a Bean Shell

Studies show that when it comes to the nutritious value of coffee, there are actually more benefits than risks. Various studies demonstrate that drinking coffee reduces the risk of several chronic and life-threatening diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Recent research by Finnish and Swedish scientist has shown that middle-age, moderate coffee drinkers (those who drink three to five cups per day) had a reduced risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease or dementia by as much as 65%. It is unclear how exactly drinking coffee lowers this risk, but it may be because of coffee's strong antioxidants, which are known to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Also, coffee protects the nervous system, which leads to a decreased chance of dementia. It also prevents diabetes, a disease commonly related to Alzheimer's. However, too much coffee is simply too much-it should be enjoyed in moderation.

Coffee has proven itself to be rich in its history, uses, types, and taste. It can complete a morning, or complete a life. From centuries of distribution throughout the world from continent to continent, it has been as contagious as an epidemic. The coffee epidemic, however, is not one likely to end for a few more, or maybe even hundreds, of centuries to come.

Coffee in a Bean Shell

Learning About Coffee History

Coffee has a very long and interesting history full of traditions that have made it into what it is today. The coffee of today is a result of all the traditions that have been in place since the beginning of the 9th century. The cup of java you drink today is linked throughout many countries and many centuries.

Where Did Coffee Start?

Coffee

The discovery of coffee is a mystery to us still. There is one legend that tells of an Arabian shepherd called Kaldi who saw his goats near a shrub with colorful red fruit. He decided to try the fruit and was amazed at the energy it gave him. It is said that Kaldi told the monks in the area about what he had found and they ate the fruit so they could stay up praying all night. They shared this discovery with other monks and that is why there is a strong tie between coffee and the church today.

Learning About Coffee History

You can find mention of coffee in historical writings from the 10th century and it was written about regularly after that. Around the time that Columbus was setting out to explore the world, cafes were showing up in Constantinople. It came to Italy via merchant traders from Venice and that is where the first cafe in Europe opened in 1645. After this time, they could be found all over Europe and England and eventually America. By the late 1600s, England had more than 3,000 shops which shows the longevity its popularity. Over time, many countries started growing their own coffee which led to a variety of flavors caused by the variety in growing conditions. Around the world, coffee became part of the culture in many countries.

How Coffee Making Has Changed Over Time

The way that coffee is roasted, ground, and brewed is constantly changing over time. The beans were originally crushed with a mortar and pestle and then boiled such as is still done today in Turkey. The first drip brewing of it occurred around 1800 in France, which was also when percolators were created. The vacuum coffee maker came out around 1840 and people could have their brew with sediment in it. In the late 19th century, you could find espresso style makers using pressure to brew the drink. The paper filter was created in the early 1900s by Melitta Benz. Along with her family, she obtained a patent for it and started a family business that still makes filters today.

The drip coffee maker made its way into American homes with the Mr. Coffee coffee maker in the early 1970s. Before that, people mostly used a percolator at home or in the office. It is just in recent years that gourmet bean cafes have become popular in the U.S. Starbucks began in the early 1970s and is responsible for the boom that occurred in the 1990s. You can find over 16,000 of these stores around the world. The increased interest in gourmet shops has changed the way Americans view coffee and their expectations for it.

The History of Growing Coffee

While coffee originally only grew in the Arabian peninsula, it is now a commercial crop that grows all over the world. It grows in many tropical places, many of which are very poor countries with very little industry or development. The majority of it is mostly grown in South America (Brazil and Columbia produce the most coffee in the world), Africa (especially East Africa), and Indonesia. It is also a major commercial crop for countries like Jamaica, Hawaii, Australia, India, and Costa Rica. It should come as no surprise that these countries produce some of the best beans in the world.

Where Coffee is Now

Coffee beans that come from South America have a mild but also potent flavor. The African and Arabian beans are more intense and have more acidity. The beans from Indonesia are known for their smoothness, richness and low acidity in the flavor.

Coffee has affected all aspects of society throughout the last 10 centuries or so. It is something that unites all the countries of the world. The cup you drink tomorrow morning is probably from a country far, far away and has traveled the world on its way to your home. Where will coffee go now? No one can say! All we know that it is something we are all going to continue to enjoy.

Learning About Coffee History

Coffee's Liver Benefits

The healthcare community has done its fair share of investigating the effects of drinking coffee, and a subsequent array of health warnings and encouragements have been issued regarding its regular consumption.

Since the liver processes all that we ingest, people living with liver disease, including hepatitis, must be extra vigilant in watching everything entering their digestive system. Coffee is turning heads as a liver cancer and cirrhosis preventative. It has also been noted as a factor in reducing insulin resistance, a prominent liver disease risk factor. The keys to accentuate coffee’s benefits while avoiding any harm are to stay within moderation, be aware of conditions contraindicating its consumption, and be careful of what you add to your brew.

Coffee

“Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful,” says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. “For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good.”

Coffee's Liver Benefits

Benefits of Coffee

The latest research confirms that moderate coffee consumption harbors several benefits, including:

· Reduces the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis

· Decreases risk of type 2 diabetes

· Reduces risk of developing gallstones

· Discourages the development of colon and liver cancer

· Improves cognitive function

· Reduces headache/migraine severity

· Reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease

· Improves endurance performance in long-duration physical activities

· Reduces the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease

Liver Benefits

In a Japanese study, researchers looked at the association between coffee consumption and liver cancer among the middle-aged and elderly. Those who drank coffee daily, or close to it, had about half the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, than people who never drank coffee. Among daily coffee drinkers specifically, the liver cancer rate was over 200 cases per 100,000 people over 10 years. Among those who never drank coffee the rate rose to nearly 550 cases per 100,000 people. The more coffee consumed, the lower the HCC risk.

Based on data collected from more than 125,000 people, researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in California recently reported a 22 percent daily reduction of liver cirrhosis risk from alcohol with each cup of coffee consumed. Hepatitis c and other liver disease can also cause cirrhosis. Study co-author, Dr. Arthur Klatsky reports that the study found coffee did not protect the liver against those other causes of scarring.

Several studies have demonstrated that drinking coffee lowers the liver enzyme GGT, especially among heavy alcohol drinkers. Although GGT is a relevant indicator of cirrhosis risk, the liver enzyme ALT is a more specific marker of liver injury. Several population-based surveys from Italy and Japan have found a similar inverse relationship between drinking coffee and ALT levels.

Diabetes Benefits

Type 2 diabetes and one of its precursors, insulin resistance, have been making headlines in various health reports as a leading cause of fatty liver disease. (Read the posted article, How to Prevent a Fatty Liver.) After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculated that compared to those who do not partake in America’s favorite morning drink, people who consume one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by up to 10%. Having six cups or more each day slashed men’s diabetes risk by 54% and women’s by 30% over java abstainers.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, including a group of compounds called quinines that when administered to lab rats, increased insulin sensitivity. This increased sensitivity improves the body’s response to insulin. Coffee also has large amounts of magnesium and the antioxidants, chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Each has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, reducing the risk and severity of diabetes.

Possible Harm

As reported in the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, coffee is not completely devoid of risks. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient, is a mildly addictive stimulant with cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and occasional irregular heartbeat. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health, gynecological cancers and osteoporosis. Coffee has also been reported to aggravate previously existing gastrointestinal ulcers.

Researchers are quick to point out that caffeine is a drug, and can be abused if used in place of a good night’s rest or a healthy diet. We each have our own thresholds for caffeine. Most people can tolerate two cups of coffee each day without a problem. But any more than that may cause nervousness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, sleeplessness and irritability. It can even lead to health problems such as osteoporosis or high blood pressure. Additionally, skipping your usual morning cup of joe can lead to a caffeine withdrawal headache.

Brew Additives

The greater risk of coffee consumption lies with the ingredients typically added to java. Creating a “light and sweet” drink carries an entirely separate set of hazards. Whipped cream, flavored syrups, half-and-half, sugar, sucralose and aspartame can contribute to diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease and toxic liver reactions. Below are the statistics for a few common coffee additives:

· 2 tablespoons of flavored liquid nondairy creamer = 80 calories and 4 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon of plain liquid nondairy creamer = 25 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon half-and-half = 20 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon cream = 50 calories, 6 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon whipped cream = 90 calories, 9 g fat.

· A drizzle of Starbucks caramel syrup = 25 calories.

· 2 tablespoons flavored syrup = 80 calories, no fat.

· 2 tablespoons malt = 90 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon mocha syrup = 25 calories, .5 g fat.

· 1 teaspoon sugar = 15 calories.

If you prefer your coffee light and sweet, choose your additives wisely to support the healthful benefits offered by your beverage.

Putting it all Together

Individuals with pre-existing liver disease, or who are at high risk of its development, may want to think twice before sacrificing the enjoyment of a coffee ritual. While the proof of coffee reducing the risk of cirrhosis is limited to alcohol-related cirrhosis, its benefits transcend this one condition. In its entirety, this evidence supports coffee’s role in liver health. When selecting your beverage of choice, consider coffee’s ability to reduce insulin resistance, improve liver enzyme levels and prevent against liver cancer. As long as you do not harbor another risk factor to prohibit java consumption, proceed moderately and are conscious of the additives you chose, feel good about lifting your favorite cup in support of your liver’s health.

References:

http://www.cnn.com, Coffee May Cut Alcohol Liver Damage, Reuters, June 13, 2006.

[http://www.coscic.org], Coffee and Liver Cirrhosis, The Coffee Science Information Centre, 2006.

http://www.health.harvard.edu, Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch, Harvard Health Publications, 2006.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com, Coffee Consumption Reduces the Risk of Liver Cancer, April hivandhepatitis.com, 2005.

http://www.medscape.com, Coffee, Caffeine Consumption Associated with Reduced Liver Disease, Karla Harby, Medscape Medical News, May 2004.

http://www.mercola.com, Coffee May Prevent Liver Cancer: Should You Add it to Your Morning Routine?, Dr. Joseph Mercola, 2006.

http://www.onhealth.webmd.com, The Buzz on Coffee, Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, WebMD, Inc, March 2006.

http://www.webmd.com, Coffee, the new health food?, Sid Kirchheimer, WebMD, Inc., March 2005.

Coffee's Liver Benefits

Coffee Flavours

Coffee is a popular beverage and comes in a range of flavours, from the fun and light-hearted to the deep and intense. I love coffee, but it's fair to say that I don't drink each and every single flavour! Everyone has their preferences, and with the tastes of different coffees varying so wildly, you may find yourself surprised at how much a basic drink can differ so much.

The most intense, and possibly most favored by coffee connoisseurs, is the espresso. This is a drink that originates from Italy and is created by passing water through coffee beans at a very high pressure to extract the most flavour in a dense liquid. True espresso drinkers love this brew and swear by it. For most people however, the flavour is simply too intense. Which is why espresso is generally either watered down to make a long black coffee or mixed with other ingredients to create gourmet coffees.

Coffee

As mentioned, a long black coffee is created by mixing in hot water with the espresso. This dilutes the intensity somewhat.

Coffee Flavours

A cappuccino or a latte is created by mixing in milk with the espresso or mixing in froth. This makes the taste creamy and sweet instead of intense. Instead of milk or cream, you can also use soy milk, which will alter the flavour slightly. In addition, you can also have decaf coffee.

Finally, you have various other flavoured coffees, referred to as "dessert" coffees by many coffee snobs - I'll admit that I call them dessert coffees too! While they taste great, they pack on the sugar and carbs, and often taste like coffee flavoured ice cream. In fact, ice cream is often an ingredient of these particular coffees!

Coffee Flavours

Coffee Production

The Coffee plant requires a warm humid climate, 22-25C, moist air, high temperatures and daily rainfall to make it flourish and flower.

Therefore the coffee producing countries are located between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

Coffee

World production of coffee beans can be broken down into:

Coffee Production

65% Central and South America, Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador

25% Asia/ Pacific, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam

10% Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon

Coffee is often known by the port of "export" as many plantations come together to produce one export item. The coffee from large plantations is often mixed with small farmers crops. The coffee plant can grow between 10-12 metres although they are normally pruned at 2-3 metres, making the fruit picking, which is done by hand, easier. The plant will mature in about three years, then clusters of white fragrant flowers appear for 2-3 days. They are quickly replaced by small green coffee cherries which ripen to a brilliant red.

The cherry contains two coffee beans. There are approximately 60 varieties/ species of the coffee plant, although only two are really suited for the commercial market:-

Arabica

This is the most sought after bean for its quality and richness of flavour. This species grows at high altitude in richly fertilized and mineral filled soil. This is a temperamental plant, susceptible to disease, frost and drought. They also require perfect weather and soil conditions.

Arabica beans sell at a higher price due to their quality and limited availability.

Robusta

This species adapts to all conditions, grow more quickly and at a lower altitude. Robusta beans are much smaller in size, have a less pronounced flavour and are used mainly in instant coffee.

Producing that great cup of coffee requires both these beans. Arabica coffee provides the quality, flavour, aroma and gives that acidic taste due to the soil in which it is produced. Robusta adds colour and body to coffee. It has a higher oil content producing great crema and when combined with Arabica coffee takes the acidity away from the final blend.

Coffee Production

Gold Coffee Filters Are Better

Coffee filters have come a long way since the first Melitta filters were invented. Today, it comes in all shapes and varieties, from paper to unbleached, organic and even gold filters. These are all created in different sizes to fit the home coffee maker such as a Krups coffee maker or the commercial coffee maker. Regardless of the shape or size, they all serve the same function, which is to filter away the coffee grounds.

These days however, with the economic crises affecting almost everyone, people are opting for the more practical option, which is why gold coffee filters are the better alternative over disposable paper ones. Many coffee aficionados have switched from using disposable to the permanent gold filters, mainly because of its advantages. The latter actually enhance the flavor of coffee. Paper absorb some of the oil surrounding the coffee bean during the filtering process.

Coffee

Though this removes some of the bitterness of coffee, the overall taste is still affected as it removes much of the coffee natural antioxidants and complex flavor contained in the oil. In addition, some paper may react with the hot water and leave a papery taste in your coffee. Gold do not react with the hot water nor do they impart any metallic taste to your coffee. This lack of chemical reaction between gold and hot water results in a purer, cleaner taste and eliminates the intake of dioxin, a poisonous chemical that is released by the chlorine used in bleached filters.

Gold Coffee Filters Are Better

Another advantage of gold is its easy maintenance. Paper are designed to be disposable so you need have a regular supply to brew your java. If you run out of these, you will have to go through the hassle of going to the store and buy a box so you can brew a cup. With gold coffee filters,you will never encounter this kind of problem since they are permanent.

Furthermore, gold tone filters are really easy to clean. All you need to do is to empty the contents and rinse thoroughly. Some are even dishwasher safe. Paper, on the other hand, can be very messy to clean up and discard, with the coffee grounds and oils filling it up. Sure, gold is more expensive than paper filters but in the long run it is still the economical alternative since you only pay for it once. Paper being disposable meant you have to keep buying in order to brew coffee.

Gold Coffee Filters Are Better

Coffee Grinder Types

Many people around the world look forward to the aroma, the taste, and the sense of being revitalized by a cup of coffee. It brings pleasure to us whether we are at home or at work. So in accordance with it, coffee grinders are built to brew your own coffee which adds a little drama while you are sipping it because you made it personally.

Coffee grinders come in many forms to satisfy your preference. You may also choose grinders according to its ease of use and as well as your budget.

Coffee

Generally, you can select from the two types of grinders available. First, an electric grinder and the other one, which is rather more primitive one, is the manual grinder.

Coffee Grinder Types

Manual grinders are the ones which are very simple to use because it involves just two main things; you and the grinder. Using a manual grinder is a quiet way of grinding whole beans that adds a quality experience to a quality cup of coffee. Using it also provides a more uniform grinding of the coffee bean. It is also suited for people who are going to camping trips and excursions where electricity is unavailable.

The other type, the electric grinder, uses motor and electricity to carry out the process of grinding and therefore eliminates the need for you to manually do the process. The results of the ground coffee of the electric grinders are similar with the manual ones. The only difference is that, by only switching the power of an electric grinder, you immediately have ground coffee. Many people choose this kind of grinder because of its different grinding mechanisms and its ease of use.

The prices of these grinders vary greatly. Manual grinders would normally be cheaper because it has less features and less functionality than other ones. The electric ones are more expensive than the manual types. It is not just because it has more features and functions, but also it is more common to households nowadays than the other type.

Coffee Grinder Types