Discovering Organic Coffee
Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can’t find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online.
How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee
The coffee plant has traditionally been grown in the company of shade trees and other food and cash crops. This approach made for healthier soil and prevented water contamination. Unfortunately, many coffee growers have abandoned this approach in favor of larger crops and hence larger profits. However, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers have become necessary to maintain these crops, and along with them the taste of the coffee has suffered, the soil has suffered, and no one knows the potential impact they may have on the future health of the coffee consumer.
In addition, the loss of the shade trees has had a direct impact on migratory song birds. While an obvious connection may not immediately come to mind, the relationship has actually been symbiotic. These birds used the shade trees as their habitat as they migrated, and as a result they provided a natural defense against many of the bugs and pests that can ruin a coffee crop. Without them, pesticides must be used to do the job.
Unlike the large, commercial coffee plantations, organic coffees are generally grown on small farms with plenty of shade cover. There are plenty of migratory birds to control insects, and pesticides are unnecessary. In fact, the United States requires that organic coffees be grown on shaded land and be completely chemical free for three consecutive years.
Tips For A Great Cup of Organic Coffee
Whole beans should be used within a week of purchase in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee.
Avoid vacuum-packed coffee, even organic vacuum-packed coffee. The process of vacuum packing cannot be done immediately after roasting. The coffee must sit for nearly a week before it can be vacuum-packed. This degrades much of the flavor.
Coffee beans should be stored in an airtight container, not on the shelf in the paper bag you brought them home with from the store. And in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee, you should grind only the amount you intend to use just before brewing.
Whole coffee beans that will be stored longer than a week should be placed in an airtight glass container that’s kept in the freezer.
As with any coffee blend, organic or not, grind the beans according to the brewing method you intend to use. Keep in mind that if you grind your beans too fine your coffee may end up bitter and muddy; if you don’t grind them enough, your coffee may end up flavorless.
Often overlooked, many people consider the most important step toward a good cup of coffee to be the proportion of water to coffee. Experts recommend 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.
In Conclusion
While you will pay more for organic coffee, just as you’ll generally pay more for organic fruits and vegetables, choosing organic coffee promotes the environment, the health of the coffee grower, and your health, too. Just as important for coffee drinkers everywhere: organic coffee tastes as good if not better than non-organic coffee.
D. Silva is the webmaster for Coffee Pleasures (http://coffeepleasures.com), a website about coffee, coffee flavors, coffee makers, and more.
How To Use Reviews To Choose A Coffee Maker
Have you joined the coffee maker revolution yet? Today, there are so many different machines on the market, any decision about which one to buy requires scanning the coffee maker reviews and getting good, professional advice.
It’s important to define exactly what type of machine you are after. If you are single and drink one or two cups day then a single cup machine should accomodate your needs. If you entertain a lot, then you’ll be looking at more robust and mass producing machine and obviously, you’ll be spending a little more!
Let’s take a brief look at some of the variety of machines available to consumers today.
Coffee Maker Reviews
Automatic drip machines come in all shapes and sizes and varying prices. Look for extra features such as a glass carafe and adjustable temperature hot plate. This is important as it allows the user to maintain the coffee at a constant and acceptable temperature which means no re-heating is necessary. The quality drip machines will come with programmable timers so you can set them to brew at your convenience. Also look for an automatic shut-off feature.
Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
Interesting concept in recent years this particular coffee maker feature is proving to be increasingly popular. The idea is the hot plate is replaced by a thermal carafe and the benefit is that the coffee won’t continue brewing when ready and over cook. How long can it be kept at a reasonable drinking temaperature? Well, anywhere up to 3-4 hours.
Features are a great selling point with many machines however, while they are great to have, the bottomline is you want great tasting drink so don’t be afraid to compare machines. You’ll be surprised at just how good coffee can be produced from cheaper, less featured machines. In fact, if it’s the great tasting end product you’re after, then there are thermal carafe models at less than half the price of their more expensive cousins that will keep the brew hot for several hours and taste just as good!
Single Cup Coffee Makers
As the name suggests, single cup coffee makers produce one cup at a time and are always searched for when conducting coffee maker reviews. The advantages are obvious for single people who are moderate drinkers. If you are a one or two cup a day person, then these machines are ideal as the need to brew and entire pot is eliminated.
One cup machines come with pods and I’ve found if there is a disadvantage, it’s the fact that certain makes come with pre-packaged pods but when it comes time to replace them, it’s sometimes becomes a case of “trying to find a needle in a haystack.” Therefore, don’t get too hung up about buying a machine you think can only be serviced with a particular kind of coffee pod. Simple truth is, generically produced pods will be just as effective.
More Coffee Maker Reviews
For excellent tasting coffee there is nothing that beats freshly ground beans. If you have a budget at the upper end of the market then give serious consideration to the “grind and brew” style of machine. Not only will these machines automatically grind the beans but in many instances, you can set the grind to different levels such as thick, medium or fine.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how many coffee maker reviews you read or listen too; fact is, determine the level of drinker you are and then purchase a machine that will accomodate your needs. It’s as simple as that!
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster who has a passion for all things coffee. Know what to look for with these coffee maker reviews before you buy. Also, get the latest coffee related news and information at:http://www.coffeemakerheaven.com
Ten Steps To Help You Find The Most Suitable Coffee Maker
Everyone it seems, has an opinion on coffee. How it’s brewed, when you should drink it, whether to freeze the beans and the list goes on. It also seems that coffee maker reviews can almost generate the same kind of passion given the proliferation of machines on the market today.
There is a whole range of features that make up a good coffee maker however, if you are looking for the perfect model, one that has every feature imaginable, then you are going to be searching for a long time. Why? Because of the nature of coffee drinkers. The beauty about this little black liquid is that it’s taste is an individual thing. What pleases one person may not necessarily sit well with another.
I’m a self confessed caffe addict. In fact, I don’t mind where or how it is brewed, as long as I can taste the coffee. Whether it’s brewed from an automatic drip machine, a single cup maker, a percolator, a french press, heck, even instant, I’ll drink it. But I do appreciate there are some connisseurs out there who are particular about the taste of their brew so in this coffee maker review, I am going to point out a few features to consider when searching for the perfect machine.
Ten Step Coffee Maker Review
The ideal machine will have the following features:
1. At least a two year warranty.
2. A timer that is user-friendly and can program to the precise second.
3. Automatic features such as hands-free shut-off.
4. An automatic bean grinder within the machine.
5. Settings which include brew control.
6. Settings enabling the number of cups to be brewed.
7. Adjustable temperature hot plate. This is important because coffee that is allowed to continue to cook on a hot plate tastes, in a word, horrible!
8. Pause and serve.
9. Easy to clean. Also, many coffee makers while they brew an excellent cup, tend to be a little messy. So add a non-messy feature to your wish list.
10. Automatic milk heating and serving feature.
What Will You Settle For?
How’s that for a wish list? Trouble is, even if you find a machine with everyone of those features, and bear in mind, there are others I’ve left out, it’s probably going to “cost you an arm and a leg.” How serious are you about your brew? If you are like me then a simple functioning machine with several of the features mentioned above would do the trick.
You need to consider how often you’ll use your machine, it’s size, particularly if you are a home entertainer, and most importantly, your budget. There are a lot of things to consider aren’t there? Again, the question has to be asked… how serious are you about your coffee?
Finally, be careful when reading coffee maker reviews as some will certainly show some bias. A good place to check is online such as forums and Amazon reviews. The bottomline will be how much are you prepared to spend and whether your machine will get good use. The last thing you want is for it to become an ornament on your kitchen bench!
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster who has a passion for all things coffee. Read the latest coffee maker reviews plus coffee related news and information at:http://www.coffeemakerheaven.com
Espresso Coffee Machines What Are The Differences?
Most coffee drinkers if you are anything like me can go broke stopping at the local coffee house along the way to get your favorite cup of espresso. Most of you probably would benefit from owing your very own espresso machine. There are several varieties of espresso machines available. If you don’t know what is going on with the different machines it can be very confusing.
Tips To select the Espresso Coffee Machine That Is Right For You
There are several different types of espresso machines available. You need to decide how much control you want over the coffee brewing procedure. There is a fine line between how hard the machine is to operate and how much control you want. In order to make a good choice it is important to understand the differences in each machine.
You can purchase a machine designed to use in your home or one set up for a commercial setting. It is easy to become confused because there are so many choices. You need to pick a model that will suit your needs. To narrow down you choices there are only a few different types of espresso makers when it comes down to it.
Manual Espresso Coffee Machines
The manual espresso machines are the hardest type of machine to use. They require a certain amount of skill but once you have the procedure down it will make a great cup of espresso.
When you use a manual machine you must fill up a portafilter handle and compact down the coffee. Now you brush away any loose grounds and lock the handle. The complicated part is pulling the handle, if you pull at the wrong time your espresso will not be as good as it could be.
The lack of an electric pump is something you will need to consider before purchasing. The manual espresso machines were among the first espresso machines that were capable of producing the espresso we know and love today.
Semi Automatic Espresso Machines
Soon after the manual pump model espresso coffee machine became available out came the Semi auto espresso machine. As you might imagine this model gained ground very quickly.
The semi automatic model makes use of a pump sparing your arm from the task. This pump produces more reliable results than you can get from a manual mode
This model is a whole lot more user friendly than our manual friend. You will have wonderful espresso before you know it.
The Full Automatic Espresso Machines
The full automatic espresso machine was introduced a few years back and is really a hands free device. This machine will automatically cut itself off with no help from you when the right amount of espresso has passed through. A lot of professional coffee houses and cafes use this type of machine.
Super Automatic Espresso Machines.
All of the above machines require you the espresso maker to take charge of the espresso extraction. A new day has arrived in espresso machines where your espresso maker will take charge of the situation. With the press of a simple button everything is programmed into the machine. Out comes the perfect cup of espresso with little help from you. These machines have grown quite popular in the last few years.
For more information on choosing the right coffee espresso machine and more information about the espresso machine try visiting http://www.coffeebean101.com, a website that specializes in providing espresso tips, advice and resources.
An Explanation On How To Use An Espresso Machine
Let’s assume that your machine already has water in it in this article we will explain how to use an espresso machine in order to make the best drink you could possibly want.
So it’s got the water in now you turn the machine on and then wait for the heater light to indicate that the water has been heated to the ideal temperature, which is just below boiling point.
Now you place the ground coffee into the basket and tamp it down. The best coffee to use is one that has been freshly ground as after grinding the volatile oils which were previously protected by the bean are exposed to the air which then oxidize and the coffee becomes stale. Unfortunately this occurs immediately after the coffee has been ground and so it is important that you tamp and extract the espresso as quickly as possible. Whilst you are grinding the coffee beans preheat and warm the group head by turning on the pump for several seconds. Then remove the portafilter and dump out the espresso and then wipe the basket dry with a clean towel. When wiping the basket you are preventing water from finding a path of least resistance and this will help to ensure an even extraction of the espresso.
You now install the portafilter in to the machine by twisting and then place a small cup beneath its spout. Now turn the valve on your machine to the espresso position and this will engage the micro switch, which starts the pump, which in turn pressurizes the heating chamber and hot water to a pressure of 15 atmospheres (220 psi). This pressure forces the hot water through the ground coffee and out of the spout. A good espresso machine will take about 25 seconds to produce a 1.5 ounces of espresso.
Then all you need to do is put the switch back into the middle position and you can now steam and froth some milk for making a latte. To do this you need to place a container with some cold milk under the steam wand so that is submerged. You then turn the valve to the steam position, this will energize the resistive heater, which quickly boils the water in the heating vessel and opens the valve that starts the flow of steam to the nozzle. You will notice that the pump runs intermittently in order to keep the heating vessel supplied with water and the steam will quickly heat up the milk. If you want froth then you need to hold the steam nozzle near to the surface of the milk.
With the instructions shown above on how to use an espresso machine you should be making espresso’s, cappuccino’s and latte’s just like the ones you can buy at your local coffee shop.
For more information on choosing the right coffee espresso machine and more information about the espresso machine try visiting http://www.coffeebean101.com, a website that specializes in providing espresso tips, advice and resources.