May 2005
Monthly Archive
Monthly Archive
Posted by gourmet coffee snob on 14 May 2005 | Tagged as: Home And Family
When creating decaffeinated coffee the European process involves having the beans soaked in water and washing the beans with methylene chloride. The treated beans are then dried and roasted. Gourmet coffee beans from this plant are usually harvested from this tree three times a year for 30 years.
Gourmet coffee made from the beans of this plant tastes great and holds a premium position in the market. Gourmet coffees from Arabica coffee beans boast of a finer aroma, richer flavor, and more body than those made from Robusta beans. The Robusta beans on the other hand, are known for their disease-resistance properties and are more popularly used in commercial blends.
People enjoy the taste of the sophisticated beans used in the making of this delightful gourmet drink. When purchasing coffee beans from different areas they all go through the same type of process. Beans are picked, dried, and sorted pretty much the same way.
The coffee and tea market has become so popular that the exports of some countries are coffee and tea alone, we spend more than $20 billion a year on coffee, that is a lot of coffee. No seems to disagree that a cup of gourmet coffee is definitely better than and average blend of coffee.
Gourmet flavored coffee lovers just don’t seem to get enough from their coffee desire. Gourmet flavored coffee is becoming very popular and many people are like the different flavors that have been coming out in the market place.
If you would like to appreciate a cup of gourmet coffee, take some time to taste other coffees and compare, make sure you use the fresh beans to compare them equally. There are gourmet flavored coffees that are caffeinated and those that are decaffeinated. Some of the newest gourmet flavored coffee includes vanilla, macadamia, and even peanut butter.
Gourmet coffees come in so many different flavors like Toasted Almond, French Vanilla, and Hazelnut. If you want to try something a little out of the ordinary then you can try one of the flavored varieties. When preparing coffee it should be prepared from the bean that is fresh, instead of having the bean ground for you take the time to do it when you want to drink the coffee.
Usually you need a machine to do this and espresso really brings about the right flavour of the coffee beans. Espresso is black coffee and requires a stream of steam which is passed over the coffee beans.
Gourmet espresso beans make excellent gifts for all occasions, especially if your recipient is a certified coffee lover. When brewing an espresso this method needs the least amount of time to prepare but need the beans ground very fine to get the taste just right. You can find espresso machines at any wholesale store or online and you can purchase the gourmet beans at any specialty store or online
There are many coffee shops that have popped up and they seem like they are on every street corner and they sell coffee beans, you can also find these gourmet beans in supermarkets or specialty shops.
Posted by gourmet coffee snob on 14 May 2005 | Tagged as: Food And Beverage
I don’t want a really strong coffee flavor. On the box mix for the chocolate cake it calls for 1 and 1/3 cup water. Couldn’t I just dissolve a bit of instant coffee/espresso powder into the water to give the cupcakes a hint of the coffee flavor and kick? Or would that mess with the chemicals and the way the wet and dry ingredients react together?
Posted by gourmet coffee snob on 14 May 2005 | Tagged as: Food And Beverage
Java coffee… it sounds a bit redundant, doesn’t it? Many people call coffee java, just like they may say they want a cup of joe. In reality, Java coffee refers to coffee grown on the island of Java, the largest island in Indonesia. Java coffee was so popular and was exported around the world, that many Americans just used the term ‘java’ as slang to mean coffee in general. And there is good reason for that.
The history of Java coffee is a long one. The Dutch brought coffee to Java in the 17th century, and it has been a major export for Indonesia ever since. They planted Arabica beans, but a coffee rust plague wiped many of the coffee plants out in the 1800s. The Dutch replaced them with Liberica beans, which while hardier, did not please the palate as much. Most of the beans grown in Java today are of the Robusta and Arabica variety.
Java coffee has a distinctive flavor that true coffee aficionados revere… it is known to be strong, spicy and sweet. The specific growing conditions on the island of Java create the flavor of the coffee beans grown there, and while they share similarities with coffee grown in other places, they have differences too. Coffee flourishes at an altitude between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in Java, with the majority of it being grown on a plateau around 4,500 feet. The coffee plants really thrive in the volcanic soil, which is rich in nutrients, and provides good drainage to the roots.
Even the area in Java influences the coffee… the most sought after Java coffee comes from the far eastern side of the island, near the Ijen volcano complex. There are four main coffee farms in this area, all started originally by the Dutch hundreds of years ago. These farms are now run by the Indonesian government, and they grow 85% of the coffee on Java.
Java coffee is wet processed, with the beans being pulped immediately after harvest, then washed. The beans are dried and rested for many weeks before being sorted and sent to the roasters. In fact, one variety of coffee, known as Old Java or Old Brown, is aged for two to three years. Java coffee beans are often added with others from different areas of the world to create unique blends. Java coffee beans produce a rich coffee with chocolate undertones, and when paired with Mocha, creates the ever-popular Mocha-Java blend.
Coffee has become part of Java’s culture as well as a primary agricultural product. Visitors are handed a cup of coffee in homes before they even ask for one. It is part of the fabric of everyday life in Java. So, if you have a cup of Java coffee, you may be inclined to spare a thought to the long history and culture that lies behind those beans that lent their flavor to that dark liquid you are enjoying. Java coffee is one of the world’s most famous brews, and will continue to be for a long time.