Showing posts with label coffee plant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee plant. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Coffee Is A Historic Beverage, And It Makes For A Great Gift

So where did this famed drink come from? We drink it out of habit, we drink it for flavor; whatever the reason, it is surely a popular beverage. For some of us, it keeps us up during the day, or for late night study sessions. a fantastic dark beverage that wakes us up in the morning. Ahhhhh, coffee...

However, Homer, and according to Arabian tales speak of a mysterious bitter black beverage with powers of stimulation that could have been this drink. The most notable dates point to around 800b.c. In the East it was widespread at every level of society, since the earlier era. Coffee, for Americans, is three hundred years old.

From there it spread to Egypt, Yemen, and Arabia, where it became a part of daily life. No matter how it actually was created, the fact remains that the coffee plant started in Africa, in an Ethiopian region known as Kaffa. After relating his observations to a monk, they boiled the berries and made a beverage that could disperse sleep and weariness. In 1400 a Yemeni goat herder observed his flock eating reddish berries, then becoming excited and restless. About the year 1000, coffee was being used for medicinal purposes.

By the 20th century, various forms of coffee were developed for the public. Much later, around 1727 coffee growing started in Northern Brazil. However, due to an increasing demand for the new beverage, and high taxes on shipping, there was experimentation with growing the crops in various other countries. In the late 1500s coffee was a commodity, being sold in Europe.

This was marketed in the 1920s. They developed the process of taking the caffeine out of the beans without losing any flavor. Decaffeinated coffee was first founded in 1903 when Ludwig Roselius, a German coffee importer, gave a batch of damaged coffee beans to researchers.

Instant coffee was first mass produced from the invention of George Constant Washington, an English chemist living in Guatemala. While waiting for his wife one day to join him outside for coffee, he observed on the spout of the silver coffee urn, a fine powder, which looked to be the condensation of the coffee vapors. This excited him and led to his founding of soluble coffee.

In 1906 he started experiments and put his invention, Red E Coffee, in the markets in 1909. Nestle', in 1938, trying to aid Brazil with their coffee surpluses created freeze-dried coffee. Nescafe was started and first introduced into Switzerland. Instant coffee became a fad after 1956 when commercial television was the new craze.

And now in the US alone, 400 billion cups of coffee a year are consumed. Coffee is one of the world's largest commodities, second only to oil. From a remote area in Africa, to millions of shelves and homes worldwide, coffee has became a fixture everywhere.

The author has been a passionate coffee drinker for many years. She has tasted coffees from all over the world, and believes in serving and entertaining her guests with only the best.

She has catered hundreds of events and affairs and is known for her attention to details, especially regarding picking the perfect coffee.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Women and Coffee

I do not know about you, but for me, coffee drinking, especially in the morning or early evening, is more than a simple habit or cultural characteristic. Actually, it has become a necessity without which I cannot open my eyes and stand on my two feet all day. According to researchers, I am not alone. Nearly 80% of the U.S. population drinks coffee on a daily basis. The caffeine measured to be contained in a cup of coffee, me and you daily consume, is around 80-130 mg. But while the medical community has warned the public of the health risks associated to caffeine intake, there still is very little linking between coffee and health problems, except in a very few cases.

Coffee, which is a beverage served cold or hot, comes from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, almost always referred to as coffee beans. But regardless of its tremendous market success-coffee is the second most commonly traded commodity in the world surpassed only by petroleum-coffee has been blamed to be the cause of a variety of disorders ranging from indigestion to cancer, at one time or another. Since it is the main source of caffeine, which is a stimulant, coffee has had an almost constant role in the news pertaining to health problems in recent years. Surprisingly, most of these warnings and urgent health reports, describing problems like the human airways clogging, are aimed at women.

But while even doctors have been very critical of the role of coffee in women's health, the fact of the matter remains; there is little proof that any risk to women exists from coffee drinking, especially when consumed in moderate amounts. As a matter of fact, reports have even suggested that coffee even lessen the risks of some diseases in women, such as bladder cancer. Unfortunately, since the health problems examined in relation to their linkage with coffee consumption have not yet reached indisputable results, women have reached a stage that it is almost difficult to believe anything involving the health risks of coffee and women.

The reasons why coffee has been getting such a bad reputation are based on the fact that of all drinks containing caffeine, coffee has the highest concentration amount, far exciding that of sodas. In addition, since doctors advice pregnant women to be cautious and avoid caffeinated beverages while carrying an infant, despite there being no evidence of any serious health risks involved, women tend to consider coffee drinking almost as if they were performing some kind of sin and avoid drinking it in fear of the unknown consequences. On the other hand, new research has revealed that coffee is actually beneficial to a person's health. For example, the diuretic effect of coffee has proved that it lessens the incidence of bladder cancer in smokers, and drinking coffee regularly is also reported to lessen the onset of Parkinson's disease.

So, what should we ladies do? The best advice that anyone can believe is the trusted advice of their doctor. Question your doctor if he/she restricts coffee and follow their advice, but stay current on health news. Although it seems impossible to know which study to believe, we have to train ourselves to tell the difference between hypothesis and fact. Being educated about our health will always make us women feel better in the long run.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Health , Cooking , and Beauty

Health Cooking Beauty

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Coffee: From Harvest to Cup

Coffee is a plant. However, before it can be drunk it must pass through a number of stages and travel thousands of miles.

Coffee beans come from the red cherries of the coffea bush. Each cherry usually contains two seeds, or coffee beans. The exception to this is the Peaberry, where only one bean is produced. The flavour a bean produces is affected by where the coffea bush is grown. Soil, climate and altitude all alter the way coffee tastes; this is why, for example, coffee from Columbia will differ in taste from region to region and from year to year.

Most coffee comes from two species of the coffea bush: Coffea arabica, simply known as ‘arabica'; and Coffea canephora var. robusta, simply known as ‘robusta'. Robusta beans are cheaper to buy then arabica beans because they produce coffee with an inferior flavour, containing more caffeine.

When the red cherries have been harvested from the coffea bush, the outer layers of pulp and skin must be removed to reveal the green coffee beans inside. There are two common methods of doing this: the ‘natural' or dry method, and the ‘washed' or wet method. The natural process of removal tends to give coffee a full-bodied yet mild aroma, whereas the washed process yields strongly aromatic coffee, with a fine body and a lively acidity.

In the washed method the outer pulp is removed using a mechanical pulping machine before the cherry is immersed into a fermentation tank for between 12 to 32 hours, after which the remaining pulp and skin is washed off, revealing the green bean. Finally, the bean is left out in a sunny area for between 12 to 15 days to dry.

In the natural method, the cherry is simply left to dry out in the sun for up to four weeks. During this time the pulp and skin become shrivelled and can then be easily removed.

The coffee beans are then sorted and graded by size and density. Generally the larger the coffee beans the better the coffee. The largest bean is known as ‘Maragogype' or Elephant bean. There is no international grading system for coffee beans, with different countries using alternative systems. For example, in many African countries, the highest grade of coffee is AA, whereas, in Indonesia it is Grade 1.

Green coffee beans must first be roasted before they can be used to make a cup of coffee. The roasting process produces the primary flavour and aroma of coffee. Beans are roasted by a skilled coffee roaster, who judges how long to roast the beans in order to produce the optimum taste. For example, Javanese coffee is usually roasted for a lengthy time to give it a full-bodied and earthy flavour. However, if heat is applied to the beans for too long, it will destroy this flavour and give it a burnt aroma.

The final process before you can enjoy your cup of coffee is grinding. The coffee beans need to be ground ready to infuse, using your preferred brewing method. Different brewing methods require a different coarseness of coffee in order to produce the best possible taste. For example, using a cafetiere you need coarse coffee grounds, whereas when using a stove-top espresso maker you require a much finer grind.

James Grierson is the owner of Galla Coffee: http://www.gallacoffee.co.uk - Uk online retailer of designer coffee accessories. Through the Coffee Knowledge section of his website he aims to help people understand more about coffee and give them tips on how to make great tasting coffee in their home.

http://www.gallacoffee.co.uk

Friday, November 14, 2008

Who, When and Where in the History of Coffee

The history of coffee widely varies according to the source due to the length of time as well as the blurring of truth that sometimes occurs. Coffee have been a part of culture for over one thousand years.

This is especially true when something as powerful as coffee is involved, as coffees have brought people much wealth and prosperity throughout the history of coffee.

He noted that his sheep became extremely active after eating the red cherries from a plant as they went from one pasture to another. According to one story that has been passed down through the generations, a sheep herder named Kaldi discovered coffee as he tended his sheep. in the part of Africa now known as Ethiopia. Coffees were discovered around 850 A.D.

The story goes on to say that a monk passed by and scolded him for "partaking of the devil's fruit." However, the monks soon found themselves eating the same fruit to help them stay awake for their prayers. He ate a few of the cherries himself, and was soon as overactive as his herd.

But once the people of Arabia became enthralled with coffee and transplanted plants to Arabia, coffees were monopolized by them. Originally, the coffee plant grew naturally in Ethiopia.

Later, countries beyond Arabia whose inhabitants believed coffee to be a delicacy and guarded its secret with the greatest care began to siphon off coffee plants as was possible.

The Arabian government prohibited the transportation of the plant out of the Moslem nations, so the actual spread of coffee was started illegally.

In the 17th century, Italian traders introduced coffees to the West and changed the history of coffee forever. Many Christians believed that coffee was the drink of the devil.

But in Italy, Pope Clement VIII drank and endorsed coffee against the advice of his advisors who wanted it to be considered part of the infidel threat. Because of his endorsement of coffee, it became acceptable as a Christian beverage and spread throughout the West.

Coffee Houses began opening in the mid-17th century in the Western world. The first coffee house opened in Italy in 1645, in England in 1652, in Paris in 1672, and in Berlin in 1721.

In 1668, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opened in England and eventually became Lloyd's of London, the best-known insurance company in the world. By this time as well, coffee had replaced beer as New York's City's favorite breakfast beverage.

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Dutch became a prominent force in the coffee industry with a coffee plant smuggled out of the Arab port of Mocha. The Dutch cultivated coffee commercially in Ceylon and in their East Indian colony of Java, which came to be the source of coffees' nickname. However, the French stole a seedling and transported it to Martinique.

Fifty years later, an official survey found 19 million coffee trees on Martinique and eventually, it's estimated that ninety percent of the world's coffee spread from this one seedling.

The Dutch and French monopoly was broken up in 1727 when Brazil entered the fray. Lieutenant colonel Francisco de Melo Palheta was sent by the Brazilian government to arbitrate a border dispute between the French and Dutch colonies in Guiana.

Not only did he settle the disagreement, but he also began an affair with the wife of the governor of French Guiana.

The dear lady bid the lieutenant colonel adieu with a bouquet in which she hid cuttings and fertile seeds of coffees that began the Brazilian portion of the history of coffee. By 1907, Brazil accounted for 97% of the world's coffee production.

As the Industrial Revolution swept through Europe and the United States, coffees were changed forever.

Hills Bros. became the first company to vacuum pack coffees, changing the coffee industry from a local one to a regional and even national one. Sanka was introduced to the United States as the first decaffeinated coffee. And Nestle learned how to freeze dry coffee and keep it fresher longer.

The most recent changes in the history of coffee has come over the last sixty years. In 1946, the espresso machine was invented in Italy, giving rise to the Cappuccino.

And in 1971, Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market. And that ladies and gentlemen is a small and brief history of coffee, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Cuban Coffee: Excitement in a Cup

If you're looking for an exciting and soulful blend of coffee, try a cup of Cuban coffee. Cuba produces some of the finest Arabica coffee beans in the world in the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

The origins of Cuba's coffee crop have been followed through the centuries, and can be linked to a gentleman named Jose Antonio Gelabert. In 1748, Gelabert introduced the coffee plant that has found an ideal home in the climate and rich soils of the Cuban forests. Now, Cuba does not grow the majority of the world's coffee; however, they are happy to claim they produce the finest of the world's coffees.

Coffee is such an important part of the Cuban culture that its people view their daily coffee drinking as rituals or social events. Because Cuban coffee is stronger than many commercial coffees, it is often served in much smaller containers. Cubans prefer a 'jolt' of coffee over the traditional mug of the steamy brew. The Cuban after-dinner coffee is often perked on a stovetop, or prepared in an espresso maker.

Some varieties of Cuban coffee are twice as potent as American coffee and very full-bodied; which explains why it is served in smaller shots or cups. Common coffee drinks of the Cubans are cafecito, espumita, colada, cortadito, and Cafe' con Leche. Cafecito is a sweet, strong espresso served in a small cup. By mixing a few drops of cafecito with a drew spoons of sugar, a foam called espumita is made to place on top of the beverage making it sweeter and fancier. Colada is the preferred social drink of Cuban coffee. Colada comes in a larger cup accompanied by several smaller espresso cups, and is meant to be shared by many. Cortadito is a milder version of the cafecito, produced by adding milk in different proportions to the brew. Cafe' con Leche is like a latte, which is formed by pouring a single shot or jolt of cafecito into a cup of hot milk.

Imported Cuban coffee carries a richness of flavor which lends itself perfectly to drinking at any time of the day or night. Whether it is your morning java, or a social gathering of friends and family, you are sure to enjoy the flavors and aromas of this country's coffee.

This article was written by Tomira L. Rosser of CreativePenz Copywriting Services. CreativePenz creates custom, original and engaging articles, books, stories and more. For further information, please contact her at creativepenz@aim.com or visit her website at http://www.rosser-smp.net/joomla

creativepenz@aim.com http://www.rosser-smp.net/joomla

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

About Coffee

Even today there is controversy surrounding coffee as to whether it is good for the health or not and a new study seems to be published each week either defending or condemning this drink. At first coffee beans were sold by pharmacists and then by coffee houses which became popular for revolution and enlightened thinking. As coffee traveled from Constantinople to Venice and then to Vienna and other European capitals it was banned repeatedly. Here coffee was widely consumed by the populous but condemned by the Islamic leaders because of its supposed intoxicating effects. The coffee plant was first cultivated commercially in the Arab world in the fifteenth century.

Robusta beans have twice the caffeine of Arabica beans but less flavor. The Arabica beans are named for the Arabs who first grew them and are the better of the two. Commercial coffee beans belong to two main groups, Arabica and robusta. When picked coffee beans are green and do not acquire the familiar brown color and intoxicating aroma until they are roasted.

On the other hand most coffee beans sold in coffee specialty shops are Arabica. Supermarket coffee blends are usually made up of mostly Robusta beans with a few Arabica to add some flavor.

Today the word Mocha has come to mean a flavor combination of coffee and chocolate, but actually has nothing to do with Mocha beans which are rare and expensive. Named after the Yemeni Port from which the coffee was once shipped to the rest of the world. The prized of these are the true Mochas. Africa, the birthplace of coffee still grow coffee with wild flowers that coffee lovers prize. But there is a small amount grown in the Hawaiian Islands and some in Yemen on the Red Sea. Africa, Indonesia and Central and South America are the three main regions where coffee is grown.

This coffee is almost impossible to find in America as the Japanese buy almost all the tiny annual production and if it can be found it is extremely expensive. Coffee produced in Central America (particularly Guatemala and Costa Rica) are of real interest to coffee connoisseurs because many of the beans from these regions offer the balance and smoothness that made Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee legendary. Many good coffees also come from the island of Papua New Guinea. Indonesian coffees are popular for their body and earthy flavor. Another favorite, Africa Coffee is from Kenya, a country that produces many superlative beans.

One third of the coffee drunk worldwide is grown in Brazil but almost none of it is of any interest to coffee connoisseurs.

Colombia has put money and research into its coffee industry but unfortunately its beans are rarely exceptional.

If you prefer a flavored coffee a better idea is to brew good coffee from unflavored beans and dose it modestly with one or more of the flavoring essences that can be purchased at many gourmet shops. If these flavored beans are ground at home they will impart their flavors, possibly forever, on to your grinder and brewing apparatus. The flavored coffees that are becoming increasingly popular are usually based on bland, mediocre beans that are stirred with chemical flavoring essences after roasting.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Coffee

What is this dark-colored substance made of and why can't some people survive a day without having even just one sip of this stimulant? Nothing perks up a lazy morning like coffee.

The perceived benefits and hazards of this potent drink remain the subject of debate among coffee drinkers worldwide. Considered the second-most traded commodity in the world, next to petroleum, it is hailed as modern man's chief source of caffeine for that extra burst of energy. Coffee, normally taken hot, is made from the coffee plant's roasted seeds, called coffee beans.

It came to England in 1598, via the Italian "caffe." The Turkish term for it is "qahwa." Its origin is still unknown, although some believe that the drink possibly came from the Kaffa region in Ethopia, where the plant originally named "bunna," the precursor of coffee, came from. The term "coffee" is known by many names among various peoples of the world. How did the word "coffee" come into being?

From then on, owing to the pioneering efforts of the British and Dutch East India companies, coffee found its way to Europe in the sixteenth century. Due to coffee's immense popularity, the law was made obsolete soon after. Did you know that coffee drinking was outlawed in Mecca in 1511, and in Cairo in 1532?

Thus, it is used as an inexpensive substitute for Arabica in commercial coffee blends and in almost all instant coffee products. However, the later is proven to be a natural insecticide and stimulant, growing in places where the former cannot grow. Although Arabica is more prone to disease, coffee lovers consider it to be more flavorful than "coffea canephora" (robusta), which holds twice as much caffeine. One of the two main species of the coffee plant is "Coffea Arabica," its name implying that its origin was the Arabian Peninsula, but it is indigenous in Ethiopia.

Compared to Arabica, robusta is more bitter, with a burnt-rubber smell and taste. Robusta of finer quality are used in espresso blends for a foamy effect and for better affordability. In fact, Italian espresso blends are made from dark-roasted Robusta.

Some blend varieties are so popular and in demand that they command a higher price, examples of which are the Jamaican Blue Mountain and the Hawaiian Kona coffees. Often, these beans are mixed with other, less-expensive varieties and the term blend is added to the label, such as "Blue Mountain Blend" or "Kona Blend".

So beat those morning blues with an adrenaline-pumping sip of this favorite drink among caffeine addicts worldwide.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

jamaican blue mountain coffeean introduction to one of the best coffees in the world

This aromatic and flavorful coffee has to be experienced to be believed. Widely considered to be one of the worlds best, if not the best, coffees, Jamaican Blue Mountain is a rich, smooth roast. The Beginning of Jamaica's Coffee Trade More than 600 coffee plantations had been established by the early nineteenth century. Less than ten years later, coffee exportation had already begun. Once this coffee plant arrived on Jamaican soil, a coffee crop was quickly established thanks to soil rich in nitrogen, potash, and phosphorous. Just one of the three plants survived, and this particular coffee plant was given to Sir Nicholas Lawes, a former Jamaican Governor, approximately five years later. According to one legend, King Louis XV of France sent three coffee plants to French colony Martinique around 1723. The history of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is just as rich and interesting as the coffee itself. It is believed that all of the coffee plants grown in Jamaica today are descendents of that single plant, of the Arabica typica variety, that arrived in Jamaica from France, via the island of Martinique. The Blue Mountains Factor-why does that Coffee Taste so Good? The fantastic Blue Mountain taste is achieved by a combination of three different factors: altitude, a special kind of rich, nutrient-laden soil called volcanic soil, and the treatment processes undergone by the beans once they are harvested. The hub of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee production is, of course, Jamaica's Blue Mountains, a magnificent mountain range that rises more than seven thousand feet above sea level. The high altitude, dense cloud cover, and low annual rainfall of the region all serve to slow down the maturation rate of the coffee crop. In this region, crops take up to ten months to mature, whereas in most other parts of the world, the average time taken is five to six months. The longer maturation time produces beans that are larger and have a more concentrated and complex flavor. Like every other mountain in the islands of the Caribbean, Jamaica's Blue Mountains are the peaks of extinct volcanoes. Throughout centuries of eruptions, the soil created on the peaks of the Blue Mountains has become extremely nutrient-rich due to the decomposition of plant life, and the deposition of accumulated biomass. This extraordinarily rich soil is an important ingredient in producing the exceptional quality coffee beans that go into every cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. This is not the entire story, however. There is one more important factor, without which Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would not be as highly-regarded as it is today. The production and distribution of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is rigorously regulated and protected by the Jamaican government to ensure that every bean roasted and every cup brewed is of the highest quality. For example, only coffee grown at an altitude of between 3,000 and 5,500 feet is allowed to bear the name Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. If the coffee plants are grown between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, the coffee is known as Jamaica High Mountain Coffee, and plants grown below 1,500 feet are Jamaica Low Mountain or Jamaica Supreme Coffee. These regulations ensure that all Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is grown at the special altitude that delays maturation of the coffee plants and produces that complex and rich flavored coffee. In addition, there are geographical requirements as well as elevation requirements, in that to bear the Jamaican Blue Mountain, the coffee plants must be grown in one of only four parishes in the region. Another unique aspect of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is that pulped and washed coffee beans are allowed to age for a full six weeks, which is a particularly unusual part of the preparation process. Finally, before export of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is allowed, it is checked for appearance and taste, to ensure that every single batch of coffee is of the highest quality. How to Best Enjoy Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Once you have made the effort to purchase one of the very best coffees in the world, it would be almost criminal if you did not ensure that your coffee is properly stored and brewed!

Storing your coffee properly requires that it be sealed in an airtight container, away from any foods with strong odors or flavors, such as curry powder and other spices. Refrigeration in an airtight container is the ideal way to store ground beans.

Additionally, give the pot a rinse with hot water before making a fresh batch of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, and enjoy. Simply empty the pot, brush and rinse thoroughly with hot water. Never use detergent or other cleaners in your coffee pot, this can affect the taste. You can keep your coffee tasting great by cleaning your coffee pot immediately following each use.

This aromatic and flavorful coffee has to be experienced to be believed. Widely considered to be one of the worlds best, if not the best, coffees, Jamaican Blue Mountain is a rich, smooth roast.The Beginning of Jamaica's Coffee TradeMore than 600 coffee plantations had been established by the early nineteenth century. Less than ten years later, coffee exportation had already begun. Once this coffee plant arrived on Jamaican soil, a coffee crop was quickly established thanks to soil rich in nitrogen, potash, and phosphorous. Just one of the three plants survived, and this particular coffee plant was given to Sir Nicholas Lawes, a former Jamaican Governor, approximately five years later. According to one legend, King Louis XV of France sent three coffee plants to French colony Martinique around 1723. The history of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is just as rich and interesting as the coffee itself.It is believed that all of the coffee plants grown in Jamaica today are descendents of that single plant, of the Arabica typica variety, that arrived in Jamaica from France, via the island of Martinique. The Blue Mountains Factor-why does that Coffee Taste so Good? How to Best Enjoy Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee





Additionally, give the pot a rinse with hot water before making a fresh batch of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, and enjoy. Simply empty the pot, brush and rinse thoroughly with hot water. Never use detergent or other cleaners in your coffee pot, this can affect the taste. You can keep your coffee tasting great by cleaning your coffee pot immediately following each use.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

history of coffee bean

These berries were distributed to other monasteries and this had spread all across the globe. So Kaldi himself had tried these beans and he was able to feel the stimulating effect of these red berries. Soon Kaldi came to a conclusion that these particular beans from the bush cause some kind of excitement when eaten. When the Shepherd investigated, he found that it was the bright berry in the bush which made the goats act funny. History of coffee is a legend, it is believed that Kaldi, an Arabian shepherd discovered his goats behaving funny; they seem to be actually dancing around a bush. Both Arabica and Robusta coffee are grown at high altitudes and in places where the temperature is low. The Robusta coffee is the Coffea canephora, which has very high caffeine content but the taste seem to be inferior. Throughout the globe Coffea Arabica is also called as the Arabica coffee. There are several species of coffee plants, the two common species cultivated are the Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. The plant has an orthotropic trunk with primary, secondary and tertiary plagiotropic branches. The coffee plant belongs to the family Rubiaceae which is a woody evergreen perennial dicotyledon. The most famous coffee is the Blue Mountain; know for its flavor and resistance against many diseases and they have the ability to grow in higher altitudes. The Catimor variety matures earlier, and has larger coffee fruits and seeds hence the production is high. The Catuai produces a superior yield, which is a cross of Caturra coffee and Timor coffee which was produced in Portugal. Bourbon coffee fruits are basically small and dense and they tend to mature faster. The Bourbon coffee plants make about 30% more coffee than the Typica variety. The Pache comum is the mutation of the Typica type. The Typica is said to be the base from which many kinds of coffee has been developed. The Typica is said to be the base from which many kinds of coffee beans. The Typica is said to be the base from which many kinds of coffee beans. The Typica is said to be the base from which many kinds of coffee beans. There numerous kinds of coffee beans.

These berries were distributed to other monasteries and this had spread all across the globe. So Kaldi himself had tried these beans and he was able to feel the stimulating effect of these red berries. Soon Kaldi came to a conclusion that these particular beans from the bush cause some kind of excitement when eaten. When the Shepherd investigated, he found that it was the bright berry in the bush which made the goats act funny. History of coffee is a legend, it is believed that Kaldi, an Arabian shepherd discovered his goats behaving funny; they seem to be actually dancing around a bush.Both Arabica and Robusta coffee are grown at high altitudes and in places where the temperature is low. The Robusta coffee is the Coffea canephora, which has very high caffeine content but the taste seem to be inferior. Throughout the globe Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is widely cultivated; Coffea Arabica is also called as the Arabica coffee. There are several species of coffee plants, the two common species cultivated are the Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. The plant has an orthotropic trunk with primary, secondary and tertiary plagiotropic branches. The coffee plant belongs to the family Rubiaceae which is a woody evergreen perennial dicotyledon.The most famous coffee is the Blue Mountain; know for its flavor and resistance against many diseases and they have the ability The Catimor variety matures earlier, and has larger coffee fruits and seeds hence the production is high. The Catimor is a cross of Caturra coffee and Timor coffee which was produced in Portugal. The Kent is known for its resistance to coffee rust and produces high yield. Again Maragogype is a mutation of Typica and this was discovered in Brazil. The Amarello produces a yellow fruit hence not preferred by cultivators. The Catimor is a cross between the Caturra and Mundo Novo. The Kent is known for its resistance to coffee rust and produces high yield. Again Maragogype is a mutation of Typica and this was discovered in Brazil. The Amarello produces a yellow fruit hence not preferred by cultivators. The Catuai produces a superior yield, which is a cross between the Caturra and Mundo Novo. Bourbon coffee fruits are basically small and dense and they tend to mature faster. The Bourbon coffee plants make about 30% more coffee than the Typica variety. The Pache comum is the mutation of the Typica type. There numerous kinds of coffee has been developed.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

how gourmet coffee can benefit health

One week the gourmet coffee you love to drink is good for you, and the very next week it is bad for you. While other reports say that drinking coffee carries health risks. While other reports say that drinking coffee offers many health benefits. Some reports say that drinking coffee offers many health benefits. The reports we hear and see about the benefits and risks of drinking coffee can be confusing. Taking a more cautious stance on the suggested amounts of caffeine that can safely consumed however, many health experts do recommend a limiting of no more than 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day for coffee drinkers, and reducing caffeine intake from other beverages like teas and sodas. Taking a more cautious stance on the suggested amounts of caffeine that can be consumed daily without risking health, remains to be reached. How much is too much is hotly debated in health circles, and a clear consensus on the allowable amount of caffeine that can be consumed daily without risking health, remains to be reached. But caffeine has also been shown to cause health risks when consumed in large amounts. Caffeine gives you a quick energy boost and may even help you focus more on what you are doing and can help you remember details a little better. It is the caffeine that makes coffee such a stimulating drink. A lot of the confusion begins with the caffeine content found in coffee. Because of these conditions, the beans retain higher amounts of their healthy properties while less-desirable properties such as caffeine are reduced. The Arabica coffee plant is typically grown in elevations ranging from 1000 to more than 5,500 feet above sea level, and in regions with rich soils and climates that foster the healthy growth and development of this plant. It has far less caffeine content than the coffee that is made from the seeds of other varieties of the coffee plant. Gourmet coffee is derived from the seed or bean of the Arabica coffee plant. Lost in the shadows of all the debating over caffeine in coffee are the health benefits that gourmet coffee, for example, offers. The gourmet coffee bean used in the brewing of gourmet coffee for drinking, is full of antioxidants that offer us protection against the radicals that are present in our bodies and that can make us sick and even make us more susceptible to major conditions like heart disease and cancers. The conditions under which the gourmet coffee bean is grown permits less use of pesticides which are harmful to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. When pesticides are used to control insect infestations and plant diseases, they can infiltrate the plant and remain there even after processing, although usually in lesser amounts. But consuming pesticides in any amounts from the foods we eat and the beverages we drink is not good for our health. They can cause serious and even deadly risks to our health when consumed regularly because the level of pesticides grows higher than what our bodies has natural defenses to fight. Other harmful substances are often added to foods and drinks made available for consumers to extend shelf life and enhance appearance, and these can harm our health as well. The antioxidant properties in gourmet coffee can help the body to fight off the harmful affects of the pesticide residuals and added substances we ingest from the foods and beverages we consume. Antioxidants help the body to neutralize these radicals before they can develop into serious and deadly diseases. Other properties in gourmet coffee beans have been shown to reduce the risks for developing heart disease for many coffee drinkers who are at higher risk for heart disease. Caffeine can of course give you a quick burst of energy and this is why many people drink coffee. But the other properties in the gourmet coffee bean and present in the brewed coffee we drink interact with chemicals in the brain to elevate mood, and improve powers of concentration and comprehension. These attributes are viewed as health benefits that can result from the consuming of gourmet coffee. Drinking coffee has long been a social activity and sharing a cup of coffee with a friend or in a group setting benefits us by meeting the basic human need we all have of connecting socially with other human beings. In unfamiliar surroundings and settings, drinking coffee offers the comfort of something familiar to the coffee drinker, which can reduce the stress of being in a new place or with new people. You should be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming daily in other beverages and substitute decaffeinated versions of your favorite gourmet coffee and beverages to keep caffeine consumption levels under control. Two or three cups of gourmet coffee a day should not present a risk to your health. The health benefits gained by drinking gourmet coffee far outweigh the risks associated with caffeine consumption when you take care not to consume more caffeine than is recommended.

One week the gourmet coffee you love to drink is good for you, and the very next week it is bad for you. Some reports say that drinking coffee carries health risks. The reports we hear and see about the benefits and risks of drinking coffee can be confusing.How much is too much is hotly debated in health circles, and a clear consensus on the allowable amount of caffeine that can safely consumed however, many health experts do recommend a limiting of no more than 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day for coffee drinkers, and reducing caffeine intake from other beverages like teas and sodas. But caffeine has also been shown to cause health risks when consumed in large amounts. Caffeine gives you a quick energy boost and may even help you focus more on what you are doing and can help you remember details a little better. It is the caffeine that makes coffee such a stimulating drink. A lot of the confusion begins with the caffeine content found in coffee.Because of these conditions, the beans retain higher amounts of their healthy properties while less-desirable properties such as caffeine are reduced. The Arabica coffee plant is typically grown in elevations ranging from 1000 to more than 5,500 feet above sea level, and in regions with rich soils and climates that foster the healthy growth and development of this plant. It has far less caffeine content than the coffee that is made from the seeds of other varieties of the coffee plant. Gourmet coffee is derived from the seed or bean of the Arabica coffee plant. Lost in the shadows of all the debating over caffeine in coffee are the health benefits that gourmet coffee, for example, offers.You should be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming daily in other beverages and substitute decaffeinated versions of your favorite gourmet coffee and beverages to keep caffeine consumption levels under control. Two or three cups of gourmet coffee a day should not present a risk to your health. The health benefits gained by drinking gourmet coffee far outweigh the risks associated with caffeine consumption when you take care not to consume more caffeine than is recommended.

Monday, September 1, 2008

a look at the major difference between arabica and robusta coffee plant

Though generally referred to as a coffee tree due to the huge dimensions it can get to, the coffee plant is an evergreen specific to the warm subtropical areas all over the world. Though there are quite many species varieties, there are only two types of coffee plant that global economy exploits on a large scale: they are Arabica and Robusta, the two coffee kinds on which international commerce depends.

Though these two varieties of the coffee plant are used, Arabica leads beyond any trace of a doubt as it is responsible for 75% of the world coffee production, whereas Robusta only gives 20%. This huge difference comes from the coffee plant specificity of each of these subspecies. The beans produced by Robusta coffee plant are inferior in what the quality is concerned due to the higher level of caffeine that also influences taste.

Thus, Robusta coffee is a little bitter than Arabica and darker too; nevertheless, certain communities also depend on this coffee variety for economic survival. To make harvesting pretty easy or comfortable, the height of the coffee plant is kept under control on plantations, and it doesn't get to grow as high as ten meters as it would normally do, if left wild.

Another major difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee plant lies in pollination specificity: Arabica for instance is self fertilizing whereas Robusta depends on cross pollination. The full development of the coffee fruit, the delicious bean we depend on for our morning coffee, takes about thirty to thirty-five weeks after which it's time to harvest. As for the growth period of the coffee plant until it becomes fertile it ranges between four and five years.

For proper development, the coffee plant depends on a pretty high level of rainfall every year; it is sensitive to cold, however, it will not die because of accidentally cooler weather. The dependence on warm temperature makes it impossible to cultivate the coffee plant in Europe or in other similar parts of the world, where a temperate climate provides incompatible environments.

One great surprise came when a naturally decaffeinated type of coffee plant was discovered in Brazil, with a lot better flavor than the no-caffeine coffee brands manufactured at present. Flavor is usually lost because caffeine is extracted with the help of solvents, while if it be completely absent from the chemical composition of the plant, the flavor would remain untouched. Cultivating this type of coffee plant would mean a true revolution in the business, and things are not far from moving in that direction.











Monday, August 25, 2008

coffee bean processing and roasting 101

This pit, containing up to 2.5 percent caffeine, is a major export for several countries. Technically speaking the bean is the pit, similar to the pit found in a cherry or apricot, but with two half oval shapes facing each other. The coffee plant produces a red or purple fruit, but people are less interested in that than they are in the actual coffee bean. Unripe and bad beans will float to the top, while the good beans will sink to he bottom. The green bean is then put through a process of sorting, done by immersing the bean in water. The coffee bean is cultivated and is green. This is how most coffee is processed. The beans are then thoroughly rinsed with water to get rid of the microbes. Pulp that is left on the beans is removed by letting them sit in a pool full of microbes for several days. Once the sorting has been done, the beans are washed and fermented. The oldest and most traditional ways of processing coffee is the dry method. The beans, once harvested, are laid out in thin layers on tables to dry out in the sun. This takes significantly longer to do, up to two weeks. To prevent mildew, the beans need to be moved around a lot. This dry processed coffee is in high demand, but because it is so much more labor intensive, only a few regions do it. Ethiopia produces the most, followed by Brazil and Yemen. Once processed, green coffee beans can be stored for up to a year. If kept in a cool, clean and dry place, there is no reason for it to go bad before the year is up. Almost all of the coffee that consumers across the world buy has already been roasted, though it is possible to buy green coffee and roast it themselves at home. The coffee bean is then roasted.

This pit, containing up to 2.5 percent caffeine, is a major export for several countries. Technically speaking the bean is the pit, similar to the pit found in a cherry or apricot, but with two half oval shapes facing each other. The coffee plant produces a red or purple fruit, but people are less interested in that than they are in the actual coffee bean.Unripe and bad beans will float to the top, while the good beans will sink to he bottom. The green bean is then put through a process of sorting, done by immersing the bean in water. The coffee bean is cultivated and is green.This is how most coffee is processed. The beans are then thoroughly rinsed with water to get rid of the microbes. Pulp that is left on the beans is removed by letting them sit in a pool full of microbes for several days. Once the sorting has been done, the beans are washed and fermented.Almost all of the coffee that consumers across the world buy has already been roasted, though it is possible to buy green coffee and roast it themselves at home. The coffee bean is then roasted.

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