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

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espresso machine 101 a guide to making espresso

Increasingly, baristas in America are being recognized as such too. Similar to artisan baking, the knowledge and skill required to make the best espresso beverages is considered to be a craft in Italy. A person who operates an espresso machine for a living is called a barista. For a single shot of espresso is 30 ML of liquid, a double shot is 60 ML. This is because the traditional espresso machine that is used requires the barista to pull a long handle in order to produce a shot. When one makes a shot of espresso, it is called pulling a shot. Espresso is the result. When the brewing process starts, nearly boiling water (90 degrees Celsius) gets pressured though the coffee. To tamp espresso, the barista must compress the coffee gounds into a dense puck. Before the espresso can be brewed, it must be tamped. If the water is too cool, the espresso will be sour. If the water forced through the coffee is too hot, the beverage will be bitter. The best espresso machines control the temperature of the water, ensuring that it is always within a couple degrees of the ideal temperature. The cup that one drinks espresso out of is called a demitasse cup, and is best when pre-heated. This is an ideal zone, and water pressure, tamping and fineness of the grind can all have an effect on this time zone. A shot of espresso takes approximately 25 to 30 seconds to go through the ground coffee puck and into the waiting cup sitting below the espresso machine. This brewing process extracts and emulsifies the oils in the ground coffee, producing a thick, rich beverage.

Increasingly, baristas in America are being recognized as such too. Similar to artisan baking, the knowledge and skill required to make the best espresso beverages is considered to be a craft in Italy. A person who operates an espresso machine for a living is called a barista.For a single shot of espresso is 30 ML of liquid, a double shot is 60 ML. This is because the traditional espresso machine that is used requires the barista to pull a long handle in order to produce a shot. When one makes a shot of espresso, it is called pulling a shot.Espresso is the result. When the brewing process starts, nearly boiling water (90 degrees Celsius) gets pressured though the coffee. To tamp espresso, the barista must compress the coffee gounds into a dense puck. Before the espresso can be brewed, it must be tamped.The cup that one drinks espresso out of is called a demitasse cup, and is best when pre-heated. This is an ideal zone, and water pressure, tamping and fineness of the grind can all have an effect on this time zone. A shot of espresso takes approximately 25 to 30 seconds to go through the ground coffee puck and into the waiting cup sitting below the espresso machine. This brewing process extracts and emulsifies the oils in the ground coffee, producing a thick, rich beverage.