Gourmet Coffee - Variety and Choice

!±8± Gourmet Coffee - Variety and Choice

The words "Gourmet Coffee" are coming up in conversation more often these days. Is there any substance to it or is it just a term some elite coffee snobs have come up? What makes a coffee "gourmet" and who decides this? This article attempts to sift through the hype and give some straight facts.

As an adjective, gourmet is defined as: Referring to fine food. So, gourmet coffee is fine coffee, that doesn't help narrow it down much more. It may be stating the obvious, but what makes a coffee fine is its taste. There are five primary taste sensations; salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami (savory). Understanding how these sensations apply to coffee is not important to the majority of us. What's important is our preference; what tastes good, bad and to what degree. People have huge variations in preference. A coffee you may love, I might hate. C'est la vie!

This variation in preference is where gourmet coffee fills a need. Gourmet coffee offers choice and variety. These choices come in countless combinations of international coffee beans, varying degrees of roasting, flavoring and preparation.

International Coffee Beans

International coffee is probably the biggest factor in gourmet coffee; it's the starting point for variety and choice. From a purest point of view the bean's original flavor should play a bigger role than artificially flavored coffees or specialty coffee drinks.

Coffee is international by nature, even though all the world's coffee beans are grown within 1000 miles of the equator - from the Tropic of Cancer in the north to the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. Two varieties make up nearly all of the beans; Arabica and Robusta. Arabica contains less caffeine, it is the most popular and it grows between 1,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Robusta contains the most caffeine and grows at lower elevations.

South American, Central American and Caribbean coffee beans for the most part are lighter in body than other regions, a bit sweeter and slightly more acidic. These beans are often described as smooth and nutty. Central American varieties are not usually as sharp as the South American. African and Middle Eastern coffees often have a more medium body and what can be described as a wild and syrupy feel. African beans are strong, sharp and assertive. The majority of the world's Robustas are grown along the African coast. Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Indonesian coffees are almost completely Arabicas. Characteristics include spicy, heavy body and low acidity.

Flavored Coffee

Flavored coffees become popular in the 1990s but can be traced back centuries ago to the Turks, who used a unique method of preparing coffee that is still popular in the area today. Spices like clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom were added to flavor the coffee. People typically have strong feelings towards flavored coffee; they love it or prefer to let the natural flavor of the bean to prevail.

Coffee is typically flavored by adding flavor oils to the beans after roasting and prior to grinding. Flavoring oils are combinations of natural and synthetic flavor chemicals which are created by flavor chemists. There are also liquid flavors which are added to coffee during preparation much like adding cream or sugar. Flavored coffees are generally classified into four categories:

Spice based flavors - like cinnamon. Fruit based flavors - like coconut or raspberry. Chocolate based flavors - like chocolate mint. Nut based flavors - like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nut. Cremes - like Irish Creme or French Vanilla.
Specialty Drinks and Preparation

There seems to be a million ways to prepare coffee these days; Dark roast, light roast, espresso (and all its derivatives), regular coffee, with cream and sugar or simply black. Coffee preparation is a topic that's been the subject of many other articles. However, like all facets of gourmet coffee the theme of choice and variety applies.

Most of the fancy coffee drinks start with espresso, which is just coffee that is brewed a particular way. The beans are finely ground to an almost powder consistency then very hot water is forced through the grinds at high pressure. Some examples of Espresso based coffee drinks are Espresso Macchiato, Espresso Con Panna, Caffé Americano, Cappuccino, Caffé Latté and Caffé Mocha. Specialty coffee drinks are becoming very popular but most people still drink regular coffee optionally adding different amounts of cream or sugar.

Summary

The bottom line is Gourmet Coffee offers today's selective coffee drinker choice. These choices come in the form of beans farmed around the world, flavored coffees and vast array of specialty drinks and preparation techniques. Some people drink coffee only as a means to an end, to wake up! More and more people are starting to take notice of the flavor. People's taste evolve, many people start out drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar and overtime take less or even drink it black. With all the choices available, why not try something new for your next coffee.

Gourmet Coffee - Variety and Choice

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Community Coffee Ground Coffee, New Orleans Blend with Chicory, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 10)

!±8±Community Coffee Ground Coffee, New Orleans Blend with Chicory, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 10)

Brand : Community Coffee
Rate :
Price : $54.38
Post Date : Nov 27, 2011 20:48:01
Usually ships in 24 hours

Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans

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How to Remove Coffee Stains From a Stainless Steel Thermos

!±8± How to Remove Coffee Stains From a Stainless Steel Thermos

Do you find yourself sometimes staring into the stainless steel thermos you take to work or use to carry coffee around and wonder how to get it really, really clean so the pesky dirt inside does not damage the taste of your beverage?

Well, you are not alone in this and the following cleaning suggestions may help you keep that thermos spotless and ready for more great tasting gourmet coffee.

1. Use the gentlest cleanser possible instead of harsh and abrasive products that can really tarnish your thermos and even change the flavor of your coffee.

Start with a gentle all-purpose cleanser or soap first. Use only abrasive pads made out of plastic so you do not scrape the inside of the container. If you must, brush lightly.

2. Clean your thermos containers after every use. This is going to make keeping a clean thermos much easier for the long run.

Soak the container for a few minutes before cleaning to remove any stubborn stains that you cannot remove with a washcloth. A soft toothbrush is a great and inexpensive cleaning helper to clean certain stains that are otherwise hard to reach. Dip the brush in a little bit of detergent and scrub very gently. Easy does it. That is the best thing to remember. Sometimes, people will use baby's shampoo because it is so gentle and effective in cleaning. A few drops are all you need.

3. Most smudges come out by using slightly damp paper towers or a soft sponge.

For very stubborn stains, soak the thermos container in warm water with detergent or shampoo for a while longer. Then rinse again with water and vinegar.

4. One other cleaning recipe for very stubborn coffee stains is to use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.

The trick here is to mix about ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Do not over complicate this simple recipe: simply stir and pour into your stained steel thermos. Give a soft shake and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This usually removes the stains from the bottom of the thermos. Rinse very well with hot water. Repeat as necessary.

5. A very easy cleaning method is to fill the stainless steel thermos with baking soda and hot water.

Place a teaspoon or two of baking soda into the thermos, slowly pour near boiling hot water until almost full (notice the effervescence), add a teaspoon more of baking soda and close the lid. Leave closed for 30 minutes or more, depending on the degree of staining on the stainless steel surface. Brush gently with a soft dish brush while rinsing until all the "slippery" feel from the baking soda solution is gone from the inside. Dry the thermos and it is ready for the next time to fill with your favorite specialty coffee.

Is it worth cleaning the stainless steel thermos?

You bet! Coffee flavors, aromas and tastes should be as pure of any other external influences as possible. For those people who prepare their own coffee and carry it for their personal enjoyment (and cost savings), a clean thermos makes all the difference in a great coffee experience or one that is not as good.

Obviously, in case of doubt about using quick cleaning tips that do not intend to offer any guarantee for removal of stains of any kind, by all means contact a professional cleaning service. Or, if applicable, contact the manufacturer. However, for many people, quick tips work well and provide helpful solutions to normal problems such as coffee stains.

Go ahead. Now that you have a clean thermos container, prepare some Vanilla Cream gourmet flavored coffee and give yourself a real treat at your office or on the road!

How to Remove Coffee Stains From a Stainless Steel Thermos

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Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

!±8± Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

Brand : Keurig | Rate : | Price : $148.99
Post Date : Nov 23, 2011 23:13:38 | Usually ships in 24 hours

Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

The Special Edition Brewing System is our mid-luxury home brewing system that offers a blend of styling and convenient features. The Special Edition features chrome accents, a blue, back lit LCD display and three brew size options. Programmable features include a Digital Clock, Adjustable Temperature and Auto On/Off. The 48-ounce removable water reservoir holds up to eight cups before refilling and for the removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning and the use of travel mugs.At initial set up, once the machine is filled with water, it will take approximately 4-minutes for the water will be heated. During the heating period the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center will become illuminated. Once the water is heated, the red light will turn off and the Small Mug Button will flash. Press the Small Mug Button to start a cleansing brew. Pour the hot water into the sink. The Brewer may take 15 seconds to reheat water between brews during which time the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center may be illuminated. When the water has heated, the red light will turn off. The one-time set-up process is now complete and you are ready to brew!

More Specification..!!

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Want An Exotic Caffeine Boost? Try Dandelion Coffee

!±8± Want An Exotic Caffeine Boost? Try Dandelion Coffee

Coffee lovers and addicts worldwide are seeking more and more flavor when it comes to the black devil's brew. Coffee manufacturers have tuned into this new consumer demand and are now producing the most exotic gourmet coffee blends with some of the most surprising tastes that can be found in the world.

As such, dandelion coffee, though it sounds off at first, is fast becoming a favorite flavor amongst exotic gourmet flavored coffee blends. Coffee lovers are known for their demanding taste, their cravings for variety, and their constanst seeking out of the brightest and richest caffeine kicks of all. This is why flavored coffee has become a big industry.

Of course, there will always be the traditionalists favor their coffee, traditional and black and sweetened only with sugar. Traditional coffee drinkes are faithful to the older tastes, the origin blends of Columbia, Kenya, and Brazil. But for those who care to take a walk on the exotic side, flavored coffee is refreshing and exciting.

How dandelion flavoring is added to the roast

Dandelion flavoring, in fact all coffee flavoring, is usually added to the coffee blend right after the coffee beans have been roasted. Freshly roasted coffee beans absorb the flavor of whatever they are exposed to. So if they are exposed to dandelion flavoring, the standard coffee bean taste will soon be blended with the coconut to produce a rich and sweetly unique coffee flavor.

How to make your own dandelion coffee

It should be noted that dandelion root is a source of vitamins and minerals, but sometimes the way coffee is processed and flavored can do more harm than good. Most flavored coffees use flavors that are identical to the natural flavor, but not natural at all. You can actually make your own dandelion coffee or, if you prefer, find an organically grown and flavored coffee online. There are so many stores online that sell organic and artisan coffee and flavors.

To make your own dandelion root coffee, you'll need to grow some dandelion root. Once you've done that and harvested the root, then wash it well. You'll need to chop into chunks and then grind the dandelion roots. You can do this by soaking the roots in water and then grinding them in your food processor. Then you have to roast the roots. This process takes about 2 hours at 250 degrees.

You can actually brew the dandelion root as is to make a cup of dandelion root coffee or you can add the grind to freshly roasted coffee beans and seal them in a container so that they may absorb the flavor. Then you will have your own dandelion coffee without all the additives.

Want An Exotic Caffeine Boost? Try Dandelion Coffee

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Gourmet Vanilla - The Facts About Mexican Vanilla

!±8± Gourmet Vanilla - The Facts About Mexican Vanilla

Mexico is the original birthplace of gourmet vanilla, and it remains the source of some of the finest gourmet vanilla produced anywhere in the world. But Mexican vanilla has gotten an undeserved bad rap for the practices of some imitation vanilla manufacturers.

The vanilla planifolia orchid is indigenous to Mexico, which was the principal source of vanilla worldwide for many centuries. Only a small amount of real vanilla is produced in Mexico now, but it continues to be prized by connoisseurs for its smoothness, creamy richness, and bright, spicy flavor and aroma.

Mexico lost its dominance of the vanilla market in the early 1900s, after the Mexican revolution wreaked havoc on the vanilla producing operations on the Gulf Coast. Unable to produce enough to compete with new growing operations in Madagascar and Indonesia, some Mexican producers began substituting natural vanilla with cheap manufactured imitation vanilla, to which a potentially toxic compound called coumarin was added.

Not only did coumarin disguise the artificial taste, it greatly intensified the aroma and flavor of the imitation vanilla and made it seem more like the real thing. This made it possible for Mexican producers to continue to capitalize on the nation's association with top-quality natural vanilla long after long after they had actually become manufacturers of a synthetic imitation product.

However, the toxic properties of coumarin became a cause of concern when it was proven to cause liver damage in lab animals, and in the 1950s the US officially banned the use of coumarin in any foods or food additives sold in the country. Many other nations have done the same. Further research on coumarin has shown it to also be a carcinogen.

How to be sure you're buying real, natural Mexican vanilla

Though it is illegal to import imitation vanilla with coumarin into the US and other countries, it still manages to make its way to consumers. Often tourists visiting Mexico are tempted by low prices and an overwhelming aroma (which is actually typical of coumarin-laced imitation vanilla) and are convinced that they're getting a steal on the "real thing".

Here are some tips for making sure you don't get duped:

1. Pay attention to price. Real, natural Mexican vanilla is relatively rare and is definitely not cheap. In fact, it's expensive - and there are no "special bargain sales". If you're offered a low price for a large bottle, you can be certain its an imitation.

2. Pay attention to color. Real Mexican vanilla is translucent and amber colored. Most synthetics are dark and murky or perfectly clear.

3. Pay attention to alcohol content. Real gourmet vanilla is extracted by using alcohol, and according to FDA standards real vanilla extract must have an alcohol content of at least 35%. Synthetics typically contain either no alcohol at all, or have an extremely low alcohol content, no higher than 2% - 3%.

Gourmet Vanilla - The Facts About Mexican Vanilla

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Grinding Gourmet Coffee

!±8± Grinding Gourmet Coffee

Quality brewing always needs a quality grind of your coffee beans. And you must keep your coffee beans fresh and only grind them right before you brew them. So it's not so important how you grind but when you grind. It is not enough to grow superior coffee beans. If you are not having a proper coffee grind, then get ready for a worse brew. Costa Rica is best in both growing nice beans and grinding them in the right way.

The grinding is done only to get the best flavors out of the coffee beans while infused in hot water. There are three categories for perfect Gourmet coffee grinds, the fine, the medium and the coarse. The third kind i.e. the coarsest one is mainly used in the traditional pot method, the medium grind is required for plunger methods (methods used in drip filters) of coffee making and the finest one is needed for perfect espresso brewing.

If you try to bring in some alterations in the usage of these three diverse coffee grinds, you will surely fail. Trying the coarse one in espressos and the finer ones in drip filters will never work the wonders for you. Strong and mild brews are based on the quantity of coffee your use, not the grind.

The best flavor is obtained if you grind the gourmet beans just before brewing the coffee. This freshness and superiority exists only for a few days after the grinding. Moisture and oxygen oxidizes the coffee and it gradually looses the original flavor. So it is always better to grind the beans just before the brew.

However, health benefits are easily achievable if you learn to make a perfect cup of gourmet coffee. This will make your kid drink at least a glass of delicious coffee everyday. Learn different other gourmet coffee recipes, so that the taste of coffee doesn't become monotonous to your child. Desserts like Caramel Macchiato, Cappuccino and Latte can be some nice options for you.

Grinding gourmet beans is quite a simple task to pursue. The market holds a large variety of coffee bean grinders, which can also add up to the exquisiteness of your kitchen. The most hugely used coffee bean grinders of the past are mortar & pestle. The grinds obtained from these devices are not consistent and also requires a lot of time. However, the present day electronic grinding devices have made the task a lot easier.

The electronic motor-grinders are either with powerful blades or crushing burr-plates. The first one is a lot cheaper compared to the burr-grinders. But the burr-grinder is more liked by the mass due to its attractive appearance. Once you become comfortable to grind your own gourmet coffee beans, having a pot of healthy coffee daily will no more be a dream for you.

Grinding Gourmet Coffee

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