Why Shade Grown Espresso Coffee Are The Best

With coffee's growing popularity, the demand for coffee beans has increased. Most of the coffee consumed worldwide is grown on large farms, otherwise known as plantations, where the land has been cleared for rows and rows of coffee plants. These plants, like other crops, are grown and ripened under the warmth of the sun. However, for those who prefer the bold flavor of espresso and other gourmet coffee drinks, the sun ripened beans are just not suitable. Shade grown espresso coffee beans which take longer to mature seem to be the answer to this problem.

Coffees grown in different parts of the world have different flavors, and there are about 800 different components to coffee that has an effect on the taste of the finished product, plus sun ripened coffee beans or cherries tend to be bitterer than shade ripened cherries. Espresso shade grown coffee has a flavor that is both full and dark but smooth. Also, this type of coffee blends better with other ingredients, making it the perfect base for lattes and cappuccinos.

Not only does shade grown coffee have a better flavor, but it is also a more ecologically sound choice. Since most of the land used for the large coffee growers is tropical forest, clearing these lands takes away a vital component in maintaining earth's perfect atmospheric balance. The tropical forests take in carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen needed to sustain life on this planet. Many argue that by depleting this resource we are contributing to the rise of global warming.

Since there is no need to clear the land when growing shade ripened coffee plants, they become part of the forest. They provide shelter for smaller animals, such as birds and other tiny creatures. Not to mention, since larger plantations do not find this type of coffee crop economically viable, shade grown plants are normally raised on smaller family owned farms. These farmers are able to sell their crops to companies through Fair Trade sources, thus obtaining proper pricing so that they are able to provide proper support for their families. This helps to boost the economy of an underdeveloped area.

Another thing to consider is that shade ripened cherries are organically grown, which means that no chemicals were used during the farming process. This is important because fertilizers and pesticides like DDT, which is banned in the US, are still being used on most of the larger plantations located outside this country. Fertilizer and pesticides like DDT have been linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems.

So the next time you select coffee for your espresso, or even morning cup of regular Joe, try to remember to look for shade grown espresso coffee beans. You are guaranteed to get a better cup of coffee every time. Also, you are making a healthier choice, one without toxic chemicals that can have lasting effects for years to come.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as coffee beverage at http://www.gourmetespressoandcoffee.com

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History of Arabian Coffee

robusta. It prefers higher elevations and drier climates than its cousin C. Arabian coffee accounts for about 80% of all coffee produced in the world. Arabia lends its name to the highest quality coffee plant in the world, Coffea Arabica. Arabian coffee is the quintessential coffee of the world.

This gives it time to develop the internal elements and oils that give coffee its aromatic flavor. Generally, the higher the plant is grown the slower it matures. The tropics of South America provide ideal conditions for growing Arabian coffee which grows best between 3,000 and 6,500 feet but has been grown as high as 9,000 feet.

Arabian coffee soon came to be known as an Islamic beverage. Soon it became a beverage endorsed by the Islamic clerics as drinking alcohol was prohibited in their religion. Soon it became a beverage endorsed by the Islamic people. Coffee soon made its way to Yemen where it was embraced by the Islamic people. Coffee was originally discovered in Ethiopia, just across the Red Sea from Arabia.

However, the Catholic Cardinals shunned it as the ‘Devil's drink' and tried to have it banned. Arabian coffee was exported to Europe where the people embraced it.

He decided that to banish the delightful drink would be a shame to let the impious ones have this delightful drink all to themselves. As legend has it, the Pope was immediately enamored by the distinct, pungent aroma and taste. But then Pope Clement VIII decided that it would be imprudent to ban the beverage without having tasted it, so he summoned a sample.

Arabian coffee is still a part of the Islamic faith and is use in ritualistic ceremonies.

Arabian coffee growers protected their monopoly on the prized plant. They were the exclusive providers of coffee throughout the world for several hundred years.

That is until a coffee plant finally made its way to the Caribbean. This began a new legacy of high-quality coffee in Latin America.

It is said that all the Arabica coffee grown in the world started from this plant as cuttings were transplanted all over the world. Arabian coffee is truly the source of coffee throughout the world.

The word mocha comes from the name Mokha, the shipping port in Yemen where all Arabian coffee was exported. Mocha has become a term used for describing a coffee beverage in which chocolate is added. But originally it had nothing to do with chocolate.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Why You Should Buy Fair Trade Coffee

And many of us think nothing of spending four or five dollars at Starbucks for a gourmet espresso, latte or cappuccino. Here in the West we are massive consumers of coffee.

Most of these farmers are paid less for the coffee beans they grow that it costs for them to produce and pick them. What few of us think about as we sip our favorite brew is that coffee is grown by small farmers in developing countries.

In other words, for every gourmet coffee you and I enjoy, the grower of the beans used is descending into a deeper and deeper cycle of poverty and desperation.

It was in recognition of this cycle that the certification process for fair trade coffee was introduced in 1998.

When you buy a pound of fair trade coffee, $1.26 goes directly back to the coffee growers who grew it.

It doesn't go directly into the hands of an individual grower, but to the cooperative to which he or she belongs. Part of the deal with fair trade coffee is that farmers are required to band together in cooperatives. The money then goes to the cooperative and is shared among all the farmers.

The issue of farmers having to join a cooperative to benefit from fair trade is a complex one, with advantages and disadvantages.

However, the big benefit is that when $1.26 goes to the cooperative, and then to the farmer...they are receiving about the double what they would get outside of the fair trade coffee system.

In other words, when you or I buy fair trade coffee, we are providing the grower with twice the income he or she would normally receive.

Over 100 million pounds of fair trade coffee have now been sold in the U.S. alone. Better still, the numbers are growing fast.

Starbucks now offers fair trade coffees and recently Wal-Mart announced that it would start offering fair trade coffee through its Sam's Club outlets.

When Wal-Mart becomes a buyer, you can be sure that the impact on small coffee farmers in Central and South America, East Africa and the Far East will be substantial.

But when you pay that little extra, you'll be making a real difference to the lives of coffee farmers and their families and communities. Yes, it will cost you a little more to buy fair trade coffee.

change the world by changing your morning routine

Did you know that you can be an agent for positive change by making a few small changes to your morning coffee routine?

Research from the National Coffee Association (NCA) indicates that more than 100-million cups of coffee are brewed each day in homes and offices across America. In fact, coffee is second only to oil as one of the most actively traded commodities in the world. When you consider the resources it takes to get coffee from the plant to your mug, it makes sense that – just as automobiles are "going green" – there’s room for eco-friendly improvements when it comes to coffee.

Keurig, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., is one of the companies working to provide socially- and environmentally-conscious coffee options. This is great news since about 6% of all coffee brewed in offices in the U.S. is brewed using Keurig coffee makers ! If you're one of these millions of people, here are some quick and easy ways you can help our planet:

Help Farmers

Make a difference in the lives of farmers around the world by purchasing Fair Trade Certified(TM) organic Keurig K-Cup coffees. All too often coffee prices are set by intermediaries who lower the price per pound of coffee paid to farmers then raise the price per pound for sellers. Under Fair Trade, the middleman is cut out, and farmers receive a fixed minimum price per pound. This means that farmers can count on earning a set minimum price per pound of coffee produced. Buyers of Fair Trade certified coffee help these coffee growers utilize better growing practices, and earn enough money to sustain their families and way of life.

Reduce Waste

Instead of using a new Keurig K-Cup each time you want a cup of coffee, switch to "My K-Cup" Reusable Filters. Reusable filters reduce waste as you can fill, brew, rinse and reuse the filter over and over. The Keurig single-cup filter allows for more personal customization as you choose the type of coffee, the quantity and the grind. Since there is no paper filter or K-Cup to throw away, waste is minimal. When you’re done, simply hand-rinse your reusable filter or pop it into the dishwasher.

Support a Worthy Cause

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters offers Keurig K-Cup(R) Portion Packs from Newman's Own(R) Organics. Not only are these coffees Fair Trade Certified(TM), a portion of the proceeds go toward funding both companies' shared philanthropic goals. In fact, Paul Newman donates 100% of his after-tax proceeds to charitable causes!

When you purchase any of Newman’s Own(R) Organics, the proceeds support Coffee Kids(TM) in its mission to help coffee-growing families in Oaxaca, Mexico. The non-profit organization works to improve the quality of people's lives by building more sustainable communities through an innovative agricultural program.

There are currently seven selections in Newman's Own(R) Organics line of Fair Trade Certified(TM) organic coffees: Newman's Special Blend, Newman's French Roast, Newman's Special Decaf, Café Almond Biscotti, Nell's Breakfast Blend, Colombian Especial, and Vanilla Caramel. These coffees do some good while tasting great!

It's clear that the path to making a positive change in the world starts with small changes in your everyday life. You too can make a difference, one cup of coffee at a time.

About CoffeeCow

CoffeeCow.com goes to great lengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastest service, and the deepest discount prices you will find on Keurig K-Cups , coffee pods, and a wide selection of related coffee supplies. Developed by coffee professionals with over 35 years of experience in fulfilling any coffee service need, CoffeeCow offers all the coffee conveniences for your home or office. Visit http://www.coffeecow.com for more information.

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february is specialty coffee month

DATELINE: BOSTON; BROOKLINE; JAMAICA PLAIN; NEWTON CENTRE; SOMERVILLE AND WEST ROXBURY, MA… But, what many don’t realize is that they are just as particular about their coffee – where it comes from, how it’s roasted and how it tastes. Licks, the Kosher-certified scoop shop with seven stores in and around Boston, is known for their high quality, homemade (and sometimes outrageously flavored) ice cream. J.P. Licks’ passion for coffee and commitment to coffee growers is highlighted through their limited edition offering of Fair Trade Organic (FTO) Nicaragua coffee, which comes from Promotora de Desarollo Cooperativo de las Segovias (PRODECOOP), based in the Segovia region of Northern Nicaragua and boasting of 40 cooperatives. With February being “Specialty Coffee Monthâ€?, J.P. PRODECOOP was established in 1993 to provide assistance to its members’ families in the sustainable production and the marketing of their coffee. Their revenues from fair trade sales support many social and quality control programs including: primary and secondary school scholarships and books; a revolving social fund that assists with disaster relief, healthcare and homebuilding; an organic production program that has boosted their certified organic coffee production significantly; improved processing equipment and the creation of a quality control center to maintain their high standards. When it comes to Fair Trade coffee, J.P. Licks insists upon several factors before partnering with a grower: fair price; environmental sustainability; fair labor conditions; direct trade; community development and organic cultivation. “Where our coffee comes from and how it is obtained is just as important to us as how our coffee tastes. We take pride in being ‘fair’…fair with our employees, fair with our customers, and fair with the people who grow the coffee we roast,” says the enigmatic founder of J.P. Licks, Vince Petryk. To further ensure high quality and flavor consistency in every cup of coffee, J.P. Licks insists on roasting their beans at their Jamaica Plain store and has been doing so since 1999. FTO Nicaragua is a medium roast coffee…not too dark, not too light, but just right. Customers who enjoy a great cup of J.P. Licks coffee may also purchase their favorite blend of fresh roasted coffee beans. With coffee bean sales accounting for more than 25 percent of their business, J.P. Licks continues to meet considerable consumer demand for the best brewing beans in Boston. J.P. Licks can be found at Coolidge Corner, Davis Square, Mission Hill, Newbury Street, Newton Centre, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Visit www.jplicks.com to check their store hours. Best of Boston and Beyond For more than 25 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream and other specialties in their seven Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. Locally owned and operated, J.P. Licks has won many awards over the years for their intensely-flavored homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Most recently, J.P. Licks was named “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine and also made WBZ’s “A-List” for the second year in a row. Known for their high quality, scrumptious treats and their knack for “treating people right”, J.P. Licks was named Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year”. In addition to their frozen creations, J.P. Licks has taken it upon themselves to roast their own fair trade and organic coffee beans on-site at their Jamaica Plain store, which ensures the best and the freshest, full-bodied cup of coffee around. Decadent hand-packed ice cream cakes as well as breakfast & ice cream sundae catering are also available. Visit the website at www.jplicks.com for more information.

DATELINE: BOSTON; BROOKLINE; JAMAICA PLAIN; NEWTON CENTRE; SOMERVILLE AND WEST ROXBURY, MA…But, what many don’t realize is that they are just as particular about their coffee – where it comes from, how it’s roasted and how it tastes. Licks, the Kosher-certified scoop shop with seven stores in and around Boston, is known for their high quality, homemade (and sometimes outrageously flavored) ice cream. J.P.Licks’ passion for coffee and commitment to coffee growers is highlighted through their limited edition offering of Fair Trade Organic (FTO) Nicaragua coffee, which comes from Promotora de Desarollo Cooperativo de las Segovias (PRODECOOP), based in the Segovia region of Northern Nicaragua and boasting of 40 cooperatives. With February being “Specialty Coffee Month�, J.P.