POUR THE COFFEE SLOWLY

The Essentials of Making Great Coffee

Use high-quality coffee, preferably recently roasted and ground just before serving. Always use the correct grind for the method. If your coffee is too bitter and muddy, the grind is too fine; if the brew lacks flavor, the grind is too coarse. Always use freshly drawn cold water. Never guess amounts. Use the correct proportion of coffee and water (two level tablespoons per six ounces cold water for regular-strength coffee), preferably measuring both. I f coffee is too strong or weak, change grind and/or blend, not proportion of coffee to water. Make sure the coffee maker is scrupulously clean and thoroughly rinsed. Coffee quickly picks up off-flavors during the brewing process. For best results, always brew at least three-fourths of the coffee maker’s capacity. Most large coffee makers do not make one or two cups satisfactorily. Never guess when timing. Use the clock. Remove the grounds from the brew as soon as the brew cycle is completed to prevent bitterness. Also for that reason, never rewet grounds. Serve coffee immediately after brewing. (With drip methods, stir the brew before serving.) Coffee is at its best when just brewed. If coffee must be kept warm, try to hold it at 180 degrees to 190 degrees farenheight. Brewed coffee stays palatable for twenty minutes, drink able for one hour maximum. The longer it is held, the less desirable it becomes. Never reheat cooled coffee; it breaks down in flavor. Never allow the brew to boil; its flavor turns bitter.

Coffee 101:

    Q. What’s the difference between specialty coffee and why does it cost more than regular coffee?
A. Specialty coffee is a different species of coffee called Arabica. Arabica beans are picked and processed by hand, then freshly roasted to ensure consistent top quality. As a result of the special care and time required to harvest and process Arabica beans, the coffee is more expensive than the lower quality commercial beans. Commercial-grade coffee is usually machine picked and processed, and made from lower grades of coffee called Robusta.

Q. What’s the difference between French Roast and regular coffee?
A. French Roast is a particular style of dark roasting that results in a dark , oily bean. French Roast is stronger and more flavorful than regular coffee.

Q. Which coffees have the least amount of caffeine?
A. Dark roast have less caffeine than light roast. That’s because as coffee beans are heated at high temperatures, the caffeine evaporates. The longer the beans are roasted, the less caffeine they have (although the difference in caffeine content between roast is relatively slight). I f you want to cut down on your caffeine consumption but don’t like the taste of decaffeinated coffee, try a dark brew. Or try a split shot espresso drink or a half decaf/half regular brewed coffee. NOTE: Arabica beans contain approximately half the caffeine of the lower-grade commercial coffees made from Robusta beans.

Q. Is drinking decaffeinated coffee harmful to your health?
A. There is no proven health risk associated with drinking decaf coffee. Methylene chloride, the chemical used to decaffeinate coffee, vaporizes at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Since temperatures in the roaster reach in excess of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes, it is safe to assume that any residue burns off during this process. If you’re still concerned, you can order a Swiss Water Process decaf, which is not treated with any chemicals.

Q. Is coffee fattening?
A. Coffee is 98% water and therefore has virtually no calories. Calories and fat come from the sugar and milk you add.

Q. How is coffee harvested and processed?
A. Coffee trees produce fruit known as coffee cherries. Inside the sweet, gummy pulp of each cherry are two flat, green coffee beans that lay against each other. Once the coffee cherries have been picked, the outer hull of the fruit must be removed to get to the beans. There are two methods used to extract the beans: the wet method and the dry method. The wet method requires a large supply of fresh water. A machine strips away the outer layers of skin and cherry, leaving the beans enclosed in a sticky inner pulp. The beans then are soaked for 24 to 72 hours in fermentation tanks to remove any remaining pulp. Coffees processed through the dry method generally have lower acidity and deeper, more complex flavors.

Q. How is coffee roasted?
A. Roasting is a fine art, requiring a delicate hand, split-second timing and an ability to judge when the coffee bean is at its peak of flavor. First, the roaster drops the green beans into a drum filled with hot air, causing the temperature inside the drum to drop. Then the roaster heats the beans until the water in the beans begins to steam, making the beans swell and audibly pop. The heat causes complex polysaccharides to break down into starches and then sugars, which caramelize. Aromatic oils within the beans boil to the surface, giving them an oily appearance. The expansion of oils causes a second audible “crack”. Along the way, the beans darken from their original green to a rich chestnut brown. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Roasts are classified as light, medium, dark and darkest. Despite the current vogue for dark roast, they are not necessarily better. Some single origins are better suited to a light or medium roast.

Originally published here.

Boake” Moore is an IT Sales engineer by trade and founded a non profit coffee company called Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee -http://www.missiongrounds.com/ourphilosophy.php It donates all its profits and proceeds to helping orphans and impoverished children. We currently are building schools in rural China, orphanages in South America; supporting orphans in Russia and Africa. And helping homeless children in the United States.

Lets make the world better -

George “Boake” Moore

Mission Grounds

http://www.missiongrounds.com

Starbucks VIA is made with ethically sourced, 100% arabica beans. The magic is in Starbucks proprietary process that they’ve spent years perfecting. Starbucks added microground coffee, preserving all of the essential oils and flavors — no other coffee company takes this important step.

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee, Italian (Pack of 18) ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/09/03/starbucks-via-ready-brew-coffee-italian-pack-of-18.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/09/02/create-the-perfect-coffee-station.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/09/02/create-the-perfect-coffee-station.html#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:21:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=69

Published Aug 31, 2010.
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If you ever find yourself in a bind where you need to brew coffee without electricity, here are some helpful methods. Of course, this will not work if your power is out because you need to heat your water, but the use of a French Press will make it convenient and eco-friendly to brew your cup of Joe without the use of electricity.

Likewise, Bodum, the popular creators of the French Press, also offer a small coffee brewing device that is not a French Press, called the Café Solo. This is an interesting little coffee brewer that also does not require electricity, and it will create a single cup serving for your pleasure. To use this device, all you have to do is place 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds into the mesh filter basket. After that, you will place the water strainer on top of the mesh filter so that the coffee grounds are pressed between. After that, place the upper filter basket on the glass cup within the mechanism, and pour the water that has just finish boiling through the top filter basket and cover. All you have to do is allow a few minutes for this coffee to gently drip into the glass coffee cup, and you can enjoy the fresh coffee product directly out of the cup that it was brewed into!

Of course, the Café Solo is somewhat different than a Coffee Press, although it still uses drip brewing. But it is also beneficial because it uses a mesh filter and not paper filters so that the essential oils will not be removed in the brewing process. This is something that many people may want to use if they are in their office, especially if they have a water cooler with a hot water tap on it nearby. Within this method, you would not need electricity whatsoever, and all you would have to do is fill up the Café Solo with the hot water from the water cooler to have a quick and incredibly fresh cup of Joe at your desk.

Other than that, the French Press made available by Bodum comes in an infinite amount of models and styles. This will give you the capability to add hot water to coarse coffee grounds to allow them to steep for four minutes. After that is done, press the plunger down directly to remove the coffee grounds from your brewed coffee, and there you have it! You now have a delicious and fresh cup of Joe!

This type of coffee brewing method without electricity is helpful for anytime you are not at home with your drip brew coffee maker. In fact, if you are going on a camping trip or anything along those lines, you can use the Café Solo or the use of a Travel Press will allow you to make a speedy cup of coffee that you can drink even in the great outdoors.

Originally published here.

Mark Ramos is a coffee geek. For a great selection in all things coffee, espresso machines and Pasquini Livia 90, check out The Coffee Bump.

Published Aug 30, 2010.
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Coffee lovers’ options greatly improved with the advent of the one-cup coffee maker. Now, instead of having to venture out to get a cup of gourmet coffee, you can brew everything from a premium french roast to a dreamy cappuccino or soothing tea at home, in less than a minute, with coffee makers such as the Tassimo Brewing System.

Whether you’re the owner of a Tassimo Brewing System or are just looking to learn more about the stylish coffee machine, this guide provides helpful information on what makes the Tassimo Brewing System unique and how to get the best brewing results with each and every cup:

What is the Tassimo Brewing System?

The Tassimo Brewing System is a convenient, easy-to-use single cup coffee maker. The machine features a large water reservoir and an adjustable cup pedestal that can accommodate regular coffee cups or large travel mugs.

What sets the Tassimo machine apart from other single cup brewers is the use of Tassimo T-Discs instead of coffee pods. T-Discs work exclusively with the Tassimo system and contain precisely measured amounts of coffee, tea, chocolate or concentrated milk. This means there is no grinding, mixing or measuring required in order to make the perfect hot beverage. The Tassimo system also offers manual settings that allow you to adjust for individual taste preferences.

What makes the Tassimo system unique?

The Tassimo Brewing System’s combination of T-Disc technology and Bar Code technology make it easy to brew a perfect cup every time.

As noted above, each T-Disc contains perfectly measured amounts of coffee, tea, chocolate or concentrated milk. The brewing process takes place inside the T-Disc as the discs internal components guide the flow of hot water using a process called “inverse filtration.”

With inverse filtration, the water is pushed upwards into the T-Disc then delivered to your cup, making for a more efficient flavor extraction process. Because the water flows from the T-Disc directly to the cup, you can brew different flavors of drink, one after the other, without the intermingling of flavors.

Each T-Disc also comes with a unique bar code printed on the label. This bar code tells the machine how to prepare your beverage. When you insert the T-Disc, the machine reads the bar code and calculates the brewing time, the amount of water needed, and the optimal brewing temperature. If you prefer, you can manually adjust the water amount or brewing time for a cup that is customized to your taste.

What can I brew?

With the Tassimo Brewing System you can make your favorite flavors of coffee, tea, real milk lattes and cappuccinos, café crema and hot chocolate. T-Discs are available for some of the most celebrated brands and varieties including Gevalia Swiss Hazelnut, Jacobs Latte Macchiato, Suchard Hot Chocolate, Twinnings Chamomile Tea, Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend, Carte Noire Petite Dejeuner and coming in December 2007, four original Starbucks coffees.

How do I use the Tassimo Brewing System?

Using the Tassimo Brewing System is as easy as one, two, three:

1. Choose your favorite beverage brand and flavor, then insert the T-Disc upside down into the machine and place your mug on the cup pedestal.

2. Place your mug on the cup pedestal and push the start button. The Tassimo T-Disc bar code reader reads the discs and automatically calculates the settings needed to brew the perfect beverage.

3. In about 60 seconds, your cup is full and ready to enjoy.

Manually making your drink stronger or milder is easy. For large cups or travel mugs, hold the start button in after the brewing cycle has completed to dispense more water. You can also press the start button during the brewing cycle to halt flow of water for a stronger taste and smaller cup.

The large water reservoir holds about 68 ounces of water so you can make several cups before refilling. The reservoir is clear, so you will know when you need to add more water.

Clean up is a breeze. Just wipe the surface and bar code reader with damp soft cloth. The machine comes with a reusable cleaning disc that should be used every 7 days. All removable parts are dishwater safe, except the water reservoir which should be rinsed out with every filling.

T-Discs should be kept in a cool dry place away from direct light. The concentrated, real milk T-Discs used in cappuccinos and lattes do not need to be refrigerated. T-Disc’s are designed to be used once and discarded.

The Tassimo Brewing System is the perfect system for those with diverse tastes and little time. Follow the steps outlined above and you’ll be rewarded with years of fast and easy brewing, with no mess and little cleanup.

About CoffeeCow

This article was provided by CoffeeCow.com which goes to great lengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastest service, and the deepest discount prices you will find on single cup coffee makers, regular, decaf, and flavored coffee and tea, and a full line of Tassimo 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.

Originally published here.

R.L. Fielding Bio

R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries. She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and enjoys rock climbing and ornamental gardening.

USDA organic. Certified organically grown and processed by Stellar certification services. Hand grown on family farms.

Cafe Altura Organic Coffee, Sumatran Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 32-Ounce Bag ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/09/01/cafe-altura-organic-coffee-sumatran-dark-roast-whole-bean-32-ounce-bag.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/08/31/buddy-brew-coffee-store-front.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/08/31/buddy-brew-coffee-store-front.html#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:01:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=64

Better puts Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds coffee to the test to find out who brews the best cup of joe. ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/08/31/who-brews-the-best-joe.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/08/30/making-cold-brewed-coffee.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2010/08/30/making-cold-brewed-coffee.html#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:25:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=62