Many people all over the world are what we may call real coffee lovers. If you enjoy gourmet coffee and you find that every cup you drink is delicious, you would certainly like to know as much as you can about this incredible type of beverage. Generally, people consider coffee pods the most efficient way of having an excellent coffee without living a mess behind you. Of course, there are many ways to prepare a coffee. Nevertheless, those who may call themselves coffee fans will always appreciate a fresh coffee, one freshly brewed up. This is the most important advantage of coffee pods, as they give you the opportunity to get always a cup of fresh coffee.
In addition, coffee pods have the advantage of being very easy to use. All you have to do is to introduce the pod in the coffee machine and after adding water, you just need to push a button, wait a minute and drink your coffee. If you are a busy person, this is the right way to begin your day, without skipping your coffee in the morning. It even gets worse when you only get the time to prepare your coffee, but you do not have enough of it to enjoy the drink, so you end up leaving it on the table. The pods will give you the opportunity to prevent such annoying situations. You will not feel tired and dizzy during the day and you will be able to finish what you have planned, ready to start another day in the morning.
You should think about another advantage: the fact that you will not have to clean up your mess, because there will be no mess. You can easily dispose of pods. Moreover, they make a great substitute for messy coffee filters. Just think about the ground coffee you split on the floor every time you have to prepare one. This only means more mess that needs cleaning. However, for those who like gourmet coffee, there is a possible disadvantage, because when buying a coffee pot, you do not get to choose the coffee types you want to mix. When grinding your own beans, you may add or exclude any type you want, but if you are satisfied with the coffee selection offered by brewers in one pad, nothing should stop you from getting fresh gourmet coffee any time you need it.
If you want to prepare your own single cup of coffee by using a coffee pod, the first thing you should do is to buy your own single-serve coffee-making machine. After doing so, you are free to choose between the different brands on the market that sell coffee pods. If in the past there was only one company who used to produce them, now you have the possibility to make a pick between some famous brands on the market that sell gourmet coffee. In this manner, you will have many options when buying your coffee pod, you will be able to try everything and then compare. You will be the only one to decide which brand you like more, which offers you better quality or which is more affordable for you. However, you should take into consideration that the convenience of getting fast and fresh coffee also means a higher price than the one practiced for ground coffee or coffee beans. Still, this might have no importance for you, because you only know to appreciate great coffee.
As you can see, gourmet coffee sells even in coffee pods. Whether you like it or not, whether you find it something ingenious or just a waste of money, it is only up to you. What we know for sure is that gourmet coffee is perfect for your taste and the passion for coffee will always tell you how to drink it every day. People might have a favorite way of preparing coffee, just as they have a favorite brand of coffee. In the end, the only secret for having a cup of great coffee is to enjoy it the way you like it best.
By: Ckint Jhonson
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If you enjoy gourmet coffee, here, on our website, you will get all the information you need to know about the drink you love so much. You can also find out more about coffee pods or you can write your suggestions and comments.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Coffee Pods For Coffee Lovers
Unique Kona Coffee Beans
Nowadays, people consume coffee at a worldwide scale, which makes it more of a pleasant custom than a strict necessity. Real coffee lovers know how to appreciate an excellent coffee, so this is why Kona coffee makes one of the best coffee brands all over the world. These coffee beans have specific characteristic that transform coffee into an elixir. Whether you like to have your coffee black, sweet or with cream, you will appreciate this type of coffee because of its rich and specific aromatic flavor with subtle tones of wine.
Kona coffee is a Hawaiian coffee and its growing became a tradition for the Hawaiian people. Known as one of the best and rarest types of coffee in the world, many people appreciate its unique flavor and freshness. These coffee beans go through a whole process of growing and preparation before getting into your cup, ready to offer that unique taste.
If you are curious to find out more about this type of Hawaiian coffee, you should know that it needs a certain climate to grow, a combination between sunny mornings, rainy afternoons and mild nights. The islands of Hawaii display these special climate characteristics. As a result, this is the only place where Kona coffee grows. All over the world, you will not be able to find another type of coffee to include the same characteristics.
In processing the beans, Hawaiian people use traditional methods and they choose not to dry them artificially, but using the heat of the sun. Naturally dried, Kona coffee will preserve the flavor so many people are searching. As it is so rare, this kind of coffee is also expensive, but in the most cases, you will not find pure Kona coffee on the market. What you can surely buy are blends, which usually contain only 10% of these special coffee beans. The purer, the more expensive it will be. Still, if you know how to appreciate a cup of great coffee, you will also know that there is a catch. When you are drinking it, coffee is not a simple “must” anymore. On the contrary, it becomes a pleasure and you will soon realize that you have never enjoyed a cup of coffee like this.
This Hawaiian type of coffee may also be a perfect gift for someone you know that loves this drink or even for someone who otherwise has “everything”. A present like this will always be capable to bring joy, because the unique coffee beans will carry the special flavor of the sunny Hawaiian Islands. The rich volcanic soil of region of Kona is what also helps the coffee to spread its special aromatic flavor.
Because of the special climate characteristics mentioned before, Hawaii is the only place in the United States where they grow coffee to use it afterwards for commercial purposes. It might be the only place, but it offers some of the best coffee beans in the whole world, so there is your reason to try it.
Whether you are a coffee lover or you just like a coffee from time to time, you will be surprised to see how special Kona coffee can be. You will be able to drink it and prepare it as you usually do with your regular coffee. You will notice the difference after the first sip. In case you are interested to find out more about coffee and about its secrets, you should let us know and we will be able to provide you with the information you need, so that you can enjoy your coffee every day. You will also become aware of all the great possibilities you have when choosing to buy a certain pack of coffee. Also, if you have any suggestions concerning the information we could post, please contact us.
By: Ckint Jhonson
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In case you want to find out more about Kona coffee, you can find it all on our website. Here you will find out about some of the secrets of these special coffee beans that grow only in Hawaii.
An Espresso A Day...?
While many of us enjoy—indeed, rely on—our morning coffee, we haven’t been able to shake the popular theory that the caffeine content makes coffee bad for the body. Espresso, a concentrated beverage, has been especially maligned. But there are numerous health benefits to drinking coffee, some of which may surprise you, and might help you enjoy that freshly brewed cup just a little bit more.
Even the harshest skeptic is aware of the short-term benefits of coffee: the pick-me-up it provides when we’re feeling drowsy, the enhanced sense of mental alertness, and the increased motor activity. The long-term advantages, however, are more far-reaching.
Studies have shown that brewed coffee contains numerous antioxidants, a critical element in disease prevention and control. Specifically, tests have linked moderate coffee consumption with reducing the risk of a diverse range of illnesses, including:
* Alzheimer’s disease
* Asthma
* Cirrhosis of the liver
* Colon cancer
* Diabetes
* Gallstones
* Parkinson’s disease
At the same time, recent research has disproved the prevailing wisdom that excessive coffee drinking can cause birth defects and cardiovascular disease.
This is welcome news to the millions of us who need our morning coffee, whether it’s our preferred freshly ground brew, that scalding paper cup of Joe from the local diner, or an espresso-based nonfat macchiato from Starbucks. However, the negative effects of excessive caffeine intake cannot be ignored. The key is to know what constitutes a “moderate” amount of consumption.
An average cup of coffee has between 100 and 150 milligrams of caffeine, with the average espresso containing 80-120 milligrams. Most experts agree that we can drink up to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day without experiencing any long-term negative effects. As such, two to three cups of coffee daily gives us the most benefit with the least risk. However, the 300 milligrams is a measure of total caffeine consumption. If you drink sodas, which can contain anywhere from 0-60 milligrams of caffeine, you must balance your caffeine intake accordingly.
Those of us who love our coffee can enjoy it with the knowledge that, far from being detrimental to our health, a few cups a day can provide a needed burst of energy and help reduce the risk of common diseases.
By: Charlie Voss
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Charlie Voss provides thought provoking information on choosing an espresso maker and provides the latest information on the best places to buy espresso machines. For more information please visit: www.bestespressomakers.com/.
Espresso Coffee Cups
Up until 1992 all espresso coffee cups could only purchased in either white or with a company logo upon them. It was then the decision of Illy Caffe that they would combine art with espresso and they commissioned Matteo Thun to help design their first espresso cup. The design is considered by the owner of Illy Caffe (Francesco Illy) to be the perfect cup even though its design is very simple. Now with many coffee connoisseurs around the world, these types of cups have become collector's items.
In fact for many when it comes to collecting espresso coffee cups it is almost akin to them collecting some forms of artwork. The cups designed today each have their own artist who will produce his/her own particular design and will contain some of their own personal style within them. Today there are many up and coming artists who have now designed cup collections as a way of getting themselves known and making their artwork available to the general public.
Today all companies that produce such cups will have a particular numbering system in place which allows them to limit the number that are produced. Plus you will also find that they limit the time in which these cups will be available before they remove them from the shelves and bring in a completely new design. You will find that with each of the Illy collector cups and their accompanying saucers has been signed and numbered on the base.
Plus inside the cup itself you will see it says "Illy Collection". However those cups and saucers which are used in restaurants and are therefore part of a bar set will only say "Illy Espresso" on them and will neither have a number of being signed. Other cups that are now being produced are those by FrancisFrancis! and Saeco. The FrancisFrancis! collections come with both a number and a signature on them just like the Illy collections, whilst the Saeco espresso coffee cups will only signed on the base.
Each set of cups when purchased comes in a display box and in some cases you may find that the manufacturers have also included coffee with them as well.
Today because espresso coffee cups have become extremely popular, getting hold of the older versions can be very difficult and also be very expensive. Certainly as soon as any series of cups is no longer available to be brought through a retail outlet then the only way to obtain this through buying them from another collector. One set of Trazzine espresso coffee cups which a person could have purchased in 1994 for $109 is now up for sale by a collector for $700. So certainly as you can see these cups are not just for drinking your espressos.
By: Ricky Lim
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Ricky is an espresso lover and highly recommends using Saeco Espresso Machines. Visit his site for his top 3 saeco espresso machines reviews.
Favorite Flavored Coffees And Tips For Coffee Retailers
In the early ‘80s, coffee flavor choices were minimal and less-than-desirable to consumers. There was amaretto, irish cream, brandy, vanilla and chocolate flavored coffees sold in small quantities to local specialty roasters. The aroma to these early flavored coffees was slightly “medicinal.” The taste of flavored coffees was not all that enjoyable.
When nut flavors were introduced in the mid-to-late ‘80s, things changed. Flavors like hazelnut, vanilla nut, nut cream, southern pecan emerged. These new flavors offered sweet, creamy and of great importance aromatic alternatives. This introduction of nut flavors and other flavors with sweet and creamy profiles began to contribute to the overall success of flavored coffees in the specialty industry. The flavors attracted new customers for retailers. Flavors gave small regional roasters within the burgeoning specialty coffee industry a special competitive edge over larger roasters who did not offer flavored coffees. Small coffee shops as well began to brew and sell hot and cold variations of flavored coffees to help give themselves a competitive edge. The sweet, creamy and aromatic coffee beverages seem to attract a consumer who did not like the regular brewed coffee, but still wanted to be part of the “gang” of those who went to the coffee house for socialization and coffee.
By 1988 top sellers on the flavored coffee market were:
•Hazelnut
•Vanilla
•Chocolate
•Amaretto
•Irish crème
Currently, top sellers are similar to those in the ‘80s and include:
•Vanilla
•Chocolate
•Hazelnut
•Irish crème
Caramel is popular in the U.S. and Amaretto sells well in Europe. According to Colleen Roberts, director of sales at Flavor Dynamics, Hazelnut, Vanilla and Irish Crème continue to hold their position as the most popular flavors in the flavored coffee industry. Some flavored coffee retailers offer the top three and select flavor profiles that might represent the season, such as, chocolates in the first quarter and spice flavors in throughout the fall.
If a roaster wants to limit the number of flavorings bought, be sure to purchase the top five flavors. Flavor and Fragrance Specialties’ top five coffee flavors represent a combination of the traditional and new, hazelnut, vanilla-french vanilla, vanilla nut cream, pumpkin spice and blueberry cobbler.
Simple application methods make it possible for any small roaster/retailer to inexpensively begin flavoring coffees. The process can start with a small drum mixer similar to a cement mixer. Line the mixer to avoid cross contamination (of the flavors). If proper precautions are taken, contamination of green beans should not be a problem for the small roaster/retailer. The cost of flavoring is about 25-50 cents/lb.
Pricing of flavors in the flavored coffee industry has become very competitive as more and more flavor houses offer this type of product, which gives the roaster/retailer a greater opportunity to shop and compare quality and pricing. The roaster/retailer should know their regional flavor profiles and demographics to select the best options from a flavor listing. Some flavors are more popular in specific regions.
Vanilla and hazelnut flavored coffees have been favorites with consumers for decades. These flavors continue to appear year in and year out on supermarket shelves.
In the ‘90s, Starbucks educated the American consumer about coffee beverages with a written and illustrated guide to the differences between lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, etc. It was a simple, well-written piece that enabled almost anyone to walk into Starbucks, order whatever they chose, and know what it actually was they were ordering. Consumers could also order a shot of flavored syrup to cover the taste of the coffee, which made the dairy-based beverage sweeter. The consumer could learn how to pronounce what they were ordering without embarrassment.
Today, Starbucks is on almost every corner. A new one just appeared in my immediate area. Flavored coffees are an everyday staple for supermarkets and convenience stores all over the nation.
Source: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal
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By: Connie Limon -
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Connie Limon. Visit us at smalldogs2.com/CoffeeArticles for an extensive list of FREE reprint coffee articles.
Coffee Legend: The Legend Of Kaldi
Coffee trees continue to grow in the Ethiopian highlands. The legend of Kaldi originated here in the Ethiopian highlands. There might be some truth to the Kaldi legend, although we will probably never know for certain.
The legend is that it is said Kaldi discovered coffee after noticing that his goats became extremely spirited after eating berries from a certain tree – no doubt this was the “coffee tree.” They became so highly spirited or you might say “agitated” as coffee sometimes makes some humans a bit agitated or stimulated, that the goats did not want to sleep at night.
Kaldi was dedicated and loyal to the abbot of the local monastery and promptly reported his findings. The local monastery made a drink with the berries. He discovered the drink made from the berries of no doubt “the coffee tree,” kept him alert in the long hours of evening prayers. It was not long until the abbot shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery. Very slowly, the knowledge about the energizing effects of the berries began to spread throughout the region and on into the east until coffee reached the Arabian Peninsula. At this point coffee began a journey that spread its reputation all over the world.
We can all trace our heritage of coffee to the trees in the ancient coffee forests of the Ethiopian highlands. Whether you live in Asia, Africa, Central or South American, the islands of the Caribbean or Pacific or the United States, coffee can be found growing in areas all around the world.
The first to cultivate coffee and begin its trade were the Arabs. In the fifteenth century, coffee could be found growing in the Yemeni district of Arabia and on into the sixteenth century coffee became known in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.
It may have become so popular because the Muslims forbid the alcoholic drink by the Koran. The Muslims found coffee’s energizing abilities to be an acceptable substitute for the alcoholic drink.
Coffee was drunk in homes and public coffee houses, which were called “gahveh khaneh.” These coffee houses began to appear in cities across the Near East. There was nothing quite like these coffee houses for people to gather in for all kinds of social activity. They would drink coffee, talk with each other, listen to music, watch performers, and play chess and tune into the most recent news of the day.
In the short time of 100 years, coffee established itself as a profitable crop throughout the world. Some crops prospered while others did not. Fortunes were made and lost. New nations became established on coffee economies.
By the end of the 18th century, coffee had become one of the world’s most profitable crops.
Source: The National Coffee Association
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By: Connie Limon -
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Connie Limon Visit us at smalldogs2.com/CoffeeArticles for an extensive list of FREE reprint coffee articles.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Creating A Coffee Gift Basket
If you're shopping for a unique gift for that special coffee connoisseur on your shopping list, then a customized coffee gift basket may be just the ticket. You can purchase a coffee gift basket from a business that specializes in gift baskets, or you can create one yourself. Creating one yourself is quite easy. Simply put a number of coffee related gifts inside some type of decorative basket or container. The choice is up to you, and will depend on both your level of creativity and your budget constraints. Pre-made coffee gift baskets can be found at many department stores, gourmet food shops, or at your favorite café.
Coffee Gift Basket Ideas
If you are the creative type and prefer to arrange your own coffee gift basket for that special someone on your gift list, you can begin your ensemble with a unique coffee mug or travel mug that suits the taste and style of your intended recipient. Coffee mugs can be found in all shapes, colors and sizes, so you are sure to find the perfect one for your gift basket. Keep in mind that most coffee lovers prefer coffee mugs that are large enough to hold an ample amount of their favorite brew, but if you are buying specifically for an expresso lover, a demitasse cup may be a better choice. If the coffee lover drinks their favorite brew while commuting to work in the morning, be sure to include a travel mug in the basket as well.
Once you have selected the coffee mug to include in your coffee gift basket, it is time to move on to the type of brews that you will put in it. The art of selecting the perfect coffee beans can be a science in itself, so be prepared for some tough decision making at the coffee shop. When in doubt, a blend that is categorized as “mild” to “medium” is usually a safe choice for almost any coffee drinker. If your gift recipient likes grinding his own beans, then bags filled with whole beans will keep better until used. You can also have your local coffee shop grind the beans you choose for you, but you will need to let them know what type of filter and coffee maker they are grinding them for.
Some Simple Additions
Once you have added the basics to your coffee gift basket, it is time to add a few special “extras”, such as flavored syrup for making luscious lattes or a bag of chocolate coffee beans for crunching with a steaming cup. Other great choices are a flavored cream, a package of biscotti, or a set of chocolate covered spoons. Put all of your selections together in a decorative basket lined with a colorful tissue or cellophane, and add a big bow and gift tag as the finishing touch. The coffee lover in your social circle is sure to be delighted with such a delicious and customized treat!
By: John Wollitz
Espresso Coffee Pods Make Brewing Easy
Those of us that love coffee or espresso based drinks there is a revolution going on to make it a whole lot easier. No one likes rushing to your local coffee house when you want an espresso, not to mention the expense builds pretty quickly as well. How ever making the drinks at home might be cheaper, but it's pretty darn messy and the clean up takes some time. Measuring out the right amount of espresso, getting it into the machine, then washing it all after the fact. Whew getting tired just thinking about it all.
Good news, there is a happy medium between heading to your local barista and making a flavorful drink at home. Espresso coffee pods are a new technological break threw in the coffee world that allows you to create wonderful espresso and coffee based drinks without the prep work or the clean up. Not to mention it won't have you breaking into your piggy bank each time you want one.
What Is An Espresso Coffee Pod?
Like a pre-packaged coffee filter with the grounds already inside an espresso pod is two pieces of filter paper, with espresso or coffee grounds sandwiched between them. Approximately 2 inches around they are used in your home coffee or espresso machine to reduce the need for messy coffee grounds every where or paper filters. You drop in your espresso or coffee pod and your ready to brew. Clean up is even easier, without any paper filters full of grounds to dispose of you just take the pod out toss it away and rinse out the machine.
Equipment
If you have an espresso maker already you're set. Most espresso pods are designed to work with pre-existing equipment so there's no need to go out and purchase anything new. Using a pod just makes the whole work up and brewing process a lot faster. If you're just shopping for an espresso maker, but didn't like the looks of how much work went into making a drink each time worry not. Using espresso pods makes it ten times easier and faster. Owning an espresso machine is now both cost and time efficient.
As popularity increases around coffee pods you should find that most of your favorite brands and flavors are available in pod form. Starbucks to nestle coffee are beginning to package coffee and espresso this way. They save you time, and ensure top quality. Wondering how much grounds or coffee beans to use will be no more, reduce the questioning in brewing a good cup of espresso and get into coffee pods the wave of coffee future.
By: D Matheson
Following The History Of Coffee
The following paragraphs summarize the work of the history of coffee experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of coffee history.
Of the drinks available to people today, few are as famous as coffee. Perhaps the best source of caffeine short of the new energy drinks being developed, coffee is popular in a variety of places, from the home to the office, from small coffeehouses to swanky restaurants.
The history of coffee can only be tracked a little more than a thousand years, a relatively short period of time compared to alcoholic beverages, which have been consumed since prehistory, and tea, which goes back to over a thousand years BC. Despite this, coffee has spread throughout the world as a popular beverage. A look at the history of coffee will help to show how it became so widespread.
African Origins
The history of coffee begins sometime around the 9th century, with its origins in Ethiopia as a beverage. The legend of coffee is that Ethiopian herders noticed that their goats were especially perky after eating the berries of a particular bush, and thus got the idea to consume it as a stimulant. The reality is that coffee probably had already been developed as a drink by the 9th century as a natural result of cultivation of plants. From Ethiopia, the drink spread to North Africa, including Egypt.
Middle Eastern Success
The introduction of coffee to Egypt make it accessible to ports with trade to the rest of the Middle East, where coffee became a popular drink by the 1500s. Shortly after its introduction, Muslim authorities placed a ban on the drink due to its stimulant properties. But much like prohibition in the United States, the ban on coffee didn’t last and was later rescinded. At this point in history, though, tight controls on such a commodity were in place. Though coffee in its roasted form began to be exported to Italy and other European Nations, unroasted seeds and plants were forbidden to be exported.
Colonization and Coffee
This tight control over the export of coffee plants didn’t last. This period of the history of coffee ended when Dutch traders smuggled coffee seeds out of the Middle East in the 1600s, where it was planted on the island of Java, which is still a major exporter of coffee today and also shares its name with a nickname for the drink. Interestingly enough, as coffee plants spread to other European colonies, another century into the history of coffee, in the 1700s, the plant was smuggled to Brazil, which is still the largest exporter of the drink.
Coffee in America
The history of coffee in the United States follows that of early wars. Introduced there in the 1700s, coffee’s popularity didn’t take off until the Revolutionary War, when tea was scarce and colonists turned to other drinks. The drink again gained in popularity during the war of 1812 for similar reasons.
But the time when the history of coffee developed to where it was an American fixture seems to be during the Civil War, when demand was high enough that it became cemented as a beverage in many American households. Through colonization and wars, the history of coffee seems to follow that of the history of people, and its widespread popularity throughout the world shows that it is truly an international sensation.
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of history of coffee. Share your new understanding about the exciting history of coffee with others. They'll thank you for it.
By: Roland Jefferson
Are You A Gourmet Coffee Drinker?
Do you love your coffee? Can you go a day without a cup of your favorite drink? Coffee as we know it today is much different than when it was first discovered. These days there are so many varieties of gourmet coffee that it is difficult to choose a favorite one.
What Exactly Is Gourmet Coffee?
A cup of gourmet coffee is a relatively new idea. Gourmet coffee is usually only made from Arabica beans, which are usually the coffee beans with the fullest flavors. The general average jar of coffee which you buy in supermarkets is made using a mixture of beans using low grade Brazilian coffee beans and Robusta beans. They also add a small amount of the Arabica coffee beans to ensure a nicer flavor than using just the low grade beans. Also the lower grade beans contain more caffeine than the others.
Usually, gourmet coffee is roasted at the plant and makes it into the consumer’s hands within a week. You can buy pre-ground gourmet coffee, but the preferred way to buy it is while it is still in its bean form. The beans can usually be ground at the store you buy them from.
Commercial coffee is also usually not as fresh. Commercial coffee is pre-ground before it is packaged. After packaging it can take several weeks to actually make it to a grocery store. Usually, the longer pre-ground commercial coffee sits on a shelf waiting to be purchased, the staler and bitter it will become. Generally, the biggest advantage of commercial coffee is that it is cheap compared to some types of gourmet coffee.
The two most important things to remember when looking for gourmet coffee is that it is fresher and has more flavor than the commercial jars of coffee. Another important point to remember with gourmet coffee, is that you can choose where the coffee beans have come from and also know how it has been roasted. If you have yet to try a cup of gourmet coffee, you will not be disappointed. You will be spoilt for choice in the world of gourmet coffee, give it a try. You can find small bags so that if you decide you don’t like that particular variety, you don’t have a 10 pound can in your kitchen still full of coffee. So give gourmet coffee a try, and if you find it is not to your liking you can always revert back to your old ways!
By: Sharon Price
Make A Quick Cup Of Coffee With An Espresso Coffee Pods
Why not pump up your next cup of coffee with a Dowe Egberts Switch Espresso coffee pod. If you enjoy coffee and espresso and you want to enjoy a quality drink at home these espresso coffee pods are ideal. The time it takes you to measure out the espresso, press them into your machine, make your drink and then clean up can be quite time consuming which is why the coffee pods are ideal. Espresso coffee pods are a quick way for you to brew quality espresso/coffee drinks without a lot of work or clean up.
What Is An Espresso Coffee Pod And Where Can You Find Them?
Espresso coffee pods are like pre-packaged coffee filters. The espresso or coffee is sandwiched between the filter paper, forming a pod about two inches in diameter. You use them in the same way that you would brew coffee in a traditional home coffee pot, only without the hassle of having to measure out grounds. However if you buy a Dowe Egberts Switch pod you do not even need a coffee machine. These pods are designed to be used on the go. They are designed to be ‘pumped’ with your thumbs to provide a frothy, creamy coffee. They are available in lots of different flavours and can be served hot or cold. With the other espresso coffee pods they need to be placed into a espresso coffee pod machine.You just pop the espresso or coffee pod into a compatible machine, and your work is done. Clean up is just as easy, since the only thing you have to do is throw away the espresso/coffee pod and rinse out your machine.
Equipment needed and where can they be found?
If you want to make an espresso coffee using an espresso coffee pod and not a dowe egberts coffee switch pod you will need to purchase a espresso coffee pod machine. Espresso coffee pods are designed to work with most machines so there’s no need to have to purchase anything new if you already own one. Basically espresso coffee pods are just making the process a lot faster and easier for you. Espresso coffee pods are available in most forms including Starbucks and Nestle. Espresso coffee pods save you time, without skimping on quality. You can still brew quality espresso or coffee, and you can enjoy that fact that is has already been packaged for you to brew right away. With the introduction of the new Dowe Egberts Switch coffee pods you also have the luxury of choosing speciality cold coffee as well as flavored espresso coffee pods. Bothe standard espresso coffee pods and dowe Egbert switch coffee pods can be purchased at your local convenience store and local garages.
By: Sharon Price
Coffee Variety Is The Spice Of Life
As the proud owner of a Keurig coffee maker, I can attest to the truly dizzying array of coffee, tea, and hot cocoa K-Cup flavors the company offers. With over 130 varieties available, it’s almost criminal to not branch out and try a little of everything.
With the help of a few K-Cup variety packs and some suggestions from friends, I’ve managed to come up with a list of my favorite coffees for each season. If you’re new to K-Cups or are just looking to break away from your normal brew, I hope these recommendations will introduce you to some flavors you’ll enjoy.
K-Cup Coffees for Spring
Tully’s Breakfast Blend is a light roast coffee that’s a perfect compliment to breezy spring weather. What I particularly like about this aromatic coffee is its milder floral flavor and clean finish. It’s warm and refreshing.
Timothy’s Noisette is a great dessert coffee that tastes of roasted hazelnut and French vanilla cream. I usually pair mine with some chocolate almond biscotti for a sweet treat.
K-Cup Coffees for Summer
I’m sure there are a lot of people who wouldn’t like the idea of drinking something so heavy during the summer but, being a full-fledged “Chocoholic,” I can’t get enough of Gloria Jean’s Mudslide Mocha. If you’d love the taste of rich, creamy Ghirardelli chocolate mixed with espresso, this one is for you!
If you want something more sweet and subtle, try Rain Forest Nut. This delicious brew tastes of vanilla, caramel, cashews and brazil nuts. Dreamed up by the folks at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Rain Forest Nut is certified “Fair Trade,” which means it’s easy on your conscience as well as your taste buds.
K-Cup Coffees for Fall
As the weather starts to cool, I like to switch to Van Houtte Café’s Pecan Praline and Diedrich Coffee’s Paradiso House.
Van Houtte Café’s Pecan Praline is a slightly sweet, medium roast. I don’t usually go for pecans but, with its hint of caramel and pleasantly nutty flavor, this brew won me over.
Paradiso House is a smooth and rich dark roast made from a unique blend of specially-selected coffee beans. It’s easy to understand why this full-bodied coffee is one of Diedrich Coffee’s signature flavors.
K-Cup Coffees for Winter
On cold winter mornings, nothing gets me going like a cup of Newman’s Own Special Blend Extra Bold. This drink offers a more traditional, rich coffee flavor. On top of being certified Fair Trade and organic, the thing which really makes Newman’s Own K-Cups great for the holiday season is that Paul Newman donates all of his royalties after taxes to educational and charitable non-profits. Talk about the spirit of giving!
At holiday parties, I like to serve Van Houtte’s Irish Crème. I enjoy this medium roast for its creamy, smooth flavor and my guests love how it mirrors the taste of traditional Irish liquor. It’s a nice alternative for anyone who wants to skip the eggnog.
After you give these flavors a try, keep going! There are still more than 120 other K-Cup varieties to tickle your taste buds. If Keurig expands their line some more, you know I’ll be working toward an article titled “The 365 Best Coffee Flavors for 2008.”
About the Author
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.
This article is copyrighted by CoffeeCow. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at coffeecow@digitalbrandexpressions.com.
By: R. L. Fielding
Flavored Coffee Vs. Black Coffee
If a purist asks whether you want your coffee black, the answer will often be an inadvertent yes, then an inward grimace. Of course black coffee is delicious. Drink it like a hero, right? Not necessarily.
There are several wonderful flavors, blends and mixes that could be enjoyed as any coffee purist would, as a coffee is supposed to be enjoyed. This is precisely why over time coffee lovers all over the world have kept experimenting and coming out with different coffee flavors and roasts. The best part is, it has not yet been perfected. You, like the rest of us, still have the opportunity to decide which coffee is best for you. For all the hype and the claims to be "the best coffee in the world" by many manufacturers and growers, coffee really is a personal issue. There is absolutely no truth in the idea that some coffee are vastly superior to others. There is however, truth in the saying that the proof of a good coffee is in its brewing.
Life is definitely more exciting with a little more flavor. You take whatever coffee works best for you and be proud with the choice, whether it's flavored coffee or black.
Flavored coffee drinkers must stand together and unite. When caught red-handed purchasing it, do not make the poor excuse that it was meant for your mother, honestly. Drink it and be happy with it. After all, it is your taste buds you want to please, not anyone else's.
Enjoying flavored coffee may be as old as Hamurrabi. As a matter of fact, even the Turks of old, famous for having no sugar mixes, had the coffee in their ibrik with cinnamon, cardamom, clove (of all things), sometimes as weird as a pepper-flavored coffee. In other areas there is also a coconut flavored coffee. There are even rumors of flavoring with garlic. It can be gross, the length that one has to go just to have a flavored coffee. The purist who prefers his coffee black will grimace at that, but then you're even.
Today, thank your lucky stars we have better ways of enjoying a good cup of flavored coffee. Flavored coffees come in countless flavors, including: Irish cream, mocha, amaretto, vanilla, peppermint, cinnamon spice, pumpkin spice, and raspberry.
Flavored coffee beans are divided into the following categories:
* Spice-based flavored coffee, such as cinnamon.
* Chocolate-based flavored coffee beans like mint mocha.
* Vanilla-based flavored coffee, including the nut-based flavors like hazelnut and macadamia nut flavored coffee.
* Fruit-based flavored coffee like raspberry, melon and coconut.
While the lists are the elementary groupings, roasters are also experimenting with mixing the groups to come out with a delicious coffee flavor.
As previously mentioned, coffee is still undergoing a tremendous amount of development and innovation. No perfect blend has been discovered in spite of thr various claims. Coffee lovers still have a chance to come out with their own original flavored coffee. Garlic, though, might be a bit much for even the most diehard coffee enthusiasts.
By: William Moore
Friday, July 6, 2007
Need A New Coffee Machine?
There is almost no tragedy greater to a real coffee lover than the breakdown of his coffee pot. Just imagine waking up one morning and not being able to get your jump start because the coffee machine just decided to take a nose dive and you can't brew your morning cup of ambition. You can just picture some individuals driven to tears at the mere thought. Even a day or two without a stove, or without a T.V. would be easier to take than a mere day or morning without a coffee pot. You would never hear the end of it if the coffee pot wasn't working for even a morning, never mind a day or two.
Luckily, it is pretty easy these days to get a replacement coffee machine. Many of the big warehouse stores open early and stay open late, so if you find the need for an emergency coffee pot, you should be able to get one pretty quickly. It wasn't always this way. Most stores didn't carry coffee pots and you would have had to go to a number of stores before you could find a coffee pot to suit your needs.
If you can wait a little while to get your coffee pot, the Internet is really the place to shop for it. The good thing about it is you can choose between an amazing assortment of pots offering all sorts of features. You can choose a large one or a small one, a plain one or one with dozens of features. It is wise to order from a reputable retailer rather than EBay. This way you know the pot will be properly packaged when it is shipped and you will not end up with a coffee pot in a couple of pieces when it gets to you. This is especially important if you order a pot with a glass carafe.
If you are fussy about the type of coffee pot you want, you may have to look around a bit. You may want your coffee pot to have a timer with an auto-start feature, a pause feature or some other features that are now offered. They have clocks, and even nightlights so you can find them in the early morning dark. Just make sure you put the coffee maker through a trial run before you throw away the box and the receipt.
By: Rob Carlton
Blue Mountain Coffee
Blue Mountain Coffee – The Taste Of Jamaica
Coffee beans get their flavor from the climate where they are grown. The Blue Mountains in Jamaica offer some of the finest coffee beans ever found. The Blue Mountains are named for the blue mist that hovers over the mountains at all times. Located on the beautiful island of Jamaica, these mountains offer the perfect climate for growing fantastic coffee beans. This lush, tropical region benefits from plenty of rainfall, giving the soil the rich quality needed for growing the gourmet Blue Mountain coffee.
The beautiful Blue Mountains stand at almost 7,500 feet above the sea and make a stunning backdrop for the pristine white beaches These mountains house over 194,000 acres which are protected as part of the rain forests. There are many different species of birds and plants which can only be found in these mountains.
Blue Mountain coffee beans were originally brought to the Jamaican Islands by Sir Nicholas Lawes who hoped the climate would prove productive for these special beans. Since 1728 these beans have continued to produce extremely well and today coffee is the biggest export of these islands. Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought after coffees in the world and Japan imports a large part of this coffee.
Blue Mountain coffee offers a bold, rich taste which is also smooth and sweet. It is grown on small farms instead of being mass produced. Often it is difficult to obtain because of the high demand for the succulent flavor which can only be found in the Jamaican mountain ranges. It is often referred to as the champagne of coffees because of its bold, rich taste. It is also one of the most expensive coffees in the world.
The Threat to Blue Mountain Coffee’s Existence
Blue Mountain coffee is closely monitored by local Jamaican officials to insure the supreme quality associated with its name. These officials grade the quality of the coffee bean before they place it in specific categories. There is close regulation with strict rules which must be met before the coffee bean is offered for sale.
Recent climate changes have posed a threat to Jamaica’s most precious resource. Hurricane Ivan posed a real threat to not only the coffee industry, but the islands themselves. Ivan is just one of a long line of hurricanes which have threatened the islands over the span of only a few years. In 1988 Hurricane Gilbert caused considerable damage to the coffee crop which resulted in a drastic price increase. Each time the island sustains a hit it takes longer for them to rebound which in turn makes the Blue Mountain coffee almost as precious as gold.
By: Roland Jefferson
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Good News For Coffee Lovers
Good News For Coffee Lovers; One-cup Drinkers Less Likely To Get Heart Disease
Are you drinking too much coffee? We seem to need it to wake up in the morning, to stay alert when we drive, and even our work breaks are now referred to as “coffee breaks.” A sign that may indicate that we’re getting a little too carried away is when we have a mug, with a picture of our favorite mug on it. But don’t put your favorite cup away just yet. There’s new evidence suggesting that coffee in moderation can actually be good for you!
New evidence shows that antioxidants are not only in green tea, but are also in coffee. Surprisingly, there’s four times the amount of antioxidants in coffee as what there is in green tea. Of course this doesn’t substitute for the amount of antioxidants that you find in fruits and vegetables. But one to two cups of coffee per day lowers your chances of having cancer and chronic diseases.
Harvard University School of Public Health shows that the risk of Type II diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers. Why? It boosts the liver’s ability to break down sugar. Too much sugar that stays in our bodies not only causes us to gain weight, but also weakens muscle strength. And who wants saggy muscles?
Did you know that almonds lower your cholesterol and help to increase your memory? That’s right, a few of those delicious nuts with coffee, and it’s even more of a super memory booster! You actually have an 80% less chance of getting Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s drugs are now being developed with caffeine derivatives for this very reason.
In medicine, caffeine is used as a diuretic (to increase urine) and as a cardiac stimulant. It boosts energy and triggers alertness.
After a large cup of coffee, our muscles tighten up, our heart beats fast and our hands get cold. Coffee stimulates the brain like cocaine and heroin. That’s why it’s so addictive and for the same reason why most of us need it first thing in the morning, to start our day. Once you get into the coffee cycle, you can’t stop. If you try, you get a wicked headache and you start squirming like a snake.
But recent studies reveal that regular coffee drinkers are less likely to contract heart disease. “Until now, we have attributed the cardiovascular effects of coffee to caffeine, but we found non-coffee drinkers given decaffeinated coffee also display these effects,” says Roberto Corti, M.D., a cardiologist at University Hospital in Zurich. Then could there be other ingredients in coffee that are causing the “jitters”? If there is less elevation in blood pressure, could this mean that we are increasing our tolerance to caffeine? Should hypertensive people still drink coffee?
The American Heart Association agrees that there’s a lot of contradiction about caffeine and regular coffee drinkers and the link with cardiovascular disease. If you sit down and calculate how much caffeine you consume in one day, you might be surprised. But could only one or two cups of coffee be harmful for you?
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is more risk for a heart attack if a regular coffee drinker carries a gene called cytochrome P450 1A2*1F. This gene metabolizes caffeine slowly. They have decided however, that more research still needs to be done before they can make this conclusion.
Dr. Florian Koppelstatter of the Medical University Innsbruck, in Austria, claims that caffeine boosts brain activity. Vanderbilt University also found coffee to increase blood flow to the brain thereby, preventing degenerative brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Again, maybe there are some good benefits as long as we consume this beverage in moderation. Apparently, adding an extra paper filter in your coffee machine when brewing your coffee, even if you have a plastic filter, helps to lower cholesterol and your blood pressure.
We all know that coffee sometimes prevents constipation. Nothing like that morning brew to get things moving! Some practitioners in alternative health medicine actually suggest doing coffee enemas for bowel cleansing. Myself, I prefer bottoms up to be my cup!
Are we addicted to the coffee or to the lifestyle and habit that we’ve grown into over time? Well at least now we know that there are some healthy benefits.
But can having too much coffee and drinking the brew too late in the day cause insomnia? Without a good night’s sleep, our body can’t replenish itself. Let’s not forget the increased risk of osteoporosis for menopausal women. I think I’ll stick to my martinis and use the coffee grounds for something else.
I heard coffee grounds make good fertilizer in the gardens because they’re high in nitrogen. Use them to fertilize your evergreens, azaleas and rosebushes. Also coffee grounds mixed with orange peels placed around your plants in the garden will keep the cats away. You can even mix some carrot seeds with ground coffee when you sow and pests will stay away. Placing a small container or dish of coffee grounds in the freezer, rids your freezer of spoiled food smells. For you fishermen, coffee grounds mixed with earth will keep your worms wiggly.
Meeting new people and socializing with coffee is one of America’s favorite pastimes. From espressos to café lattes or ice cappuccinos, we keep thinking of new delightful ways to enjoy our quick fix. And now with convenient drive-thru coffee shops, it’s even easier to grab a mug on the go. The coffee places make fabulous meeting places for a quick chat, to play games, or to read the newspaper. Some go alone and others gather in groups. Ironically, we all go out of our way to have something that we can make fast and effortlessly at home.
A man and woman were in the kitchen having a discussion on who should brew the coffee in the morning. She suggested that he do it because he was the first to get up in the morning. “This way you won’t have to wait,” she said. He quickly replied, “You should do it. You usually do the cooking around here.” The wife walked out of the room for a moment and reached for the Bible and opened the New Testament. She pointed to the top of the pages and showed him that indeed it said, “Hebrews. “
So coffee lovers, as long as you drink your coffee in moderation, it doesn’t seem like it will hurt you. It’s apparent that it could benefit you. Studies have shown that coffee has amazing antioxidants, helps persons with bronchial asthma, increases the speed of rapid information, counteracts driver sleepiness, reduces the risk of stone formation and colon cancer, and is even a great source of potassium. Again the key word is moderation, like with everything. Too much of anything is not good.
So java junkies go ahead and drink up! Your coffee fits right in with its cousins tea and cocoa.
By: Louanne Baelde
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Making A Coffee Gift Basket
When you are looking for a fun and creative gift idea, gift baskets are a great way to go. You can add your own personal touch to any gift basket. For the coffee lover in your life, you can create a gift basket that will be sure to satisfy their taste buds while letting them know you put a lot of thought into their gift. You can be very creative with a coffee gift basket, by adding a variety of flavors to this special package. When you make a coffee gift basket, it does not necessarily have to be in a basket. You could use a bag, box, pail or any other type of container. You can just let your creative juices flow. Once you have selected the container for your coffee gift basket, you are ready to begin filling it. This is where the fun comes in.
Filling Your Coffee Gift Basket
The first thing you want to put into your coffee gift basket is of coarse coffee. There are several types to choose from. Most prefer to add gourmet coffee beans as the center piece in the gift basket. You can find these at a grocery store or one of the many coffee houses. Some gourmet coffees can be purchased in a decorative bag that will add a touch of class to any coffee gift basket. You can also add some instant coffee as this is perfect for the coffee lover on the go. You might also find a few sample flavors of the coffee in smaller bags that will help fill the basket.
Flavorings
Once you have the coffee in your container, you should consider what types of flavorings you want to add to your gift basket. There are so many different coffee syrups on the market you will surly be able to find a few you think your coffee lover might enjoy. Add a few bottles of that and you are sure to add a smile to the recipients face. What about creamer? Some people enjoy creamer in their coffee and once again there is a wide variety to choose from. Your basket will start to become full by this time.
The Most Important Item
One of the most important items for a coffee gift basket would be a really nice coffee cup. This will be one of the best items you can add to your special present. This is where you can add a touch of personality to the gift. Whether it is a large or small cup, you need to have a coffee cup to complete the coffee gift basket.
By: Roland Jefferson
Monday, July 2, 2007
Homemade Coffee To Go
Many people patronize a particular coffee bar (aka global coffee chain) simply because of the convenience of being able to take out a cup of their favorite brew. But as in any food-to-go service, there is a tendency for quality to suffer no matter how much they assure you of the care they put into preparing their products. Realistically, when an establishment churns out hundreds or maybe even thousands of cups of their coffee in a day, how much quality can actually be preserved?
For people who find that coffee is an indispensable part of their daily life, think of the times you had to endure the overly bitter or overly diluted coffee that is being served in your office kitchen or cafeteria? Guess what? You do not have to suffer in silence! Your day at work has to be productive, not miserable. Here are a few ideas that have been gathered from personal experience:
The most obvious--BYOC--bring your own coffee. Invest in a thermos bottle, prepare your coffee at home and bring it with you to your workplace. This will assure you of a constant supply of your own preferred coffee throughout the day. You might even save an officemate's sanity by sharing your homebrew with them.
Even instant coffee tastes better than stale coffee. And just what is stale coffee? Bland, flat, like brown colored hot water--you've tasted that a hundred times before right?
For the price of three cups from a coffee bar, you can buy yourself a small bottle of instant coffee and tuck it away in your desk drawer. Some brands even come in sachets similar to those where teabags are stored and good for one serving each. Then there are the fancier ones which come in different flavors like French vanilla, orange, etc. A bottle or can of those can last several days.
Be your office barista and become a star. This may be a bit trickier because this requires a sensible boss but needless to say, the reward is greater.
Start by asking your officemates what types of coffee they would rather have than the usual flat coffee in the company kitchen. If the officemates do not know much about coffee, you can even educate them on the different types of gourmet coffee beans around. Once you have a concensus, ask the boss if it would be okay to bring a different type of coffee to serve in office. You can even suggest to the boss that this idea will enhance productivity. If the boss agrees, do not forget to ask to be reimbursed. And if the boss does not agree, you still have ideas 1 and 2 to fall back to.
In today's fast paced go-go-go world, convenience is a concept that stands out and sadly it is at the expense of quality. How many times have you wished that you could have just "brown bagged" your lunch instead of standing in a long line just to endure a soggy meal served in a plastic box? The same can be said for coffee especially if you find it an indispensible part of your daily life.
With so many brands, flavors, and roasts of gourmet coffee to choose from nowadays and how easy they are to brew at home, why settle for the usual flat coffee when you can have its sweet aroma swirling out of your cup or bottle everyday? Spoiling yourself with it may require a little sacrifice, a little adjustment in your life style but just consider the fulfillment and the savings, and you probably will not feel as miserable through the course of your day.
By: Simon Wu
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The Healthy Perks Of Coffee
Recent studies show that coffee derives many healing properties from its high caffeine levels and antioxidant-rich content. Antioxidants are compounds that defend our bodies against cell damage caused by free-radicals. Trigonelline, the antioxidant which gives coffee its distinct taste and aroma, may even help prevent cavities! Coffee is also a good source of essential nutrients such as chromium, magnesium, niacin and potassium.
“The health benefits of drinking green and black teas have long been touted, but it’s wonderful to see scientific proof of coffee’s value as well,” said Joel Gavalas, Vice President of CoffeeCow.com, a leading coffee supplier. “Hopefully coffee lovers everywhere will benefit from this insight into the healthful effects of drinking coffee. I know I’ll be looking at my Keurig coffee maker in a whole new light.”
Let’s look at a few of the ways that coffee perks up our minds and bodies:
Boosts Brain Power
Coffee is legendary for its ability to increase alertness and keep its drinkers awake longer, but most people are unaware of the beverage’s other brain boosting powers. Researchers have determined that drinking just one to two cups of coffee per day may improve cognitive performance, including short term memory and open-mindedness.
Improves Mental Health
If you’re feeling a little blue, coffee is a great mood booster. The caffeine in the drink improves alertness and performance, helping to lift the coffee drinker’s overall mood. A study of the relationship between coffee consumption and suicide rates among female nurses revealed that coffee drinkers had lower age-adjusted risks of suicide. Researchers have yet to determine whether the suicide rate is lower because coffee elevates mood or because it prevents depression, but it’s clear that coffee has a positive effect on the mental health of its drinkers.
Did you know that coffee is even good for headaches? The average 8 ounce cup of joe contains approximately 85 mgs of caffeine – nearly the same amount as many popular headache medicines. A single dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams. Caffeine helps your body absorb aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen more quickly, meaning you may not need to take as much medication to feel relief.
Reduces Health Risks
Studies show that coffee lovers may be at lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Regular coffee drinking may counter the disease’s onset as coffee tends to lower the blood sugar count and promotes the delivery of insulin to the body’s tissues.
Here’s something even more stunning: Coffee drinking may lower your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as certain types of cancer. Regular coffee drinkers are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's and half as likely to get liver cancer as those who don’t drink it at all.
Coffee is so good for you that it can actually counteract the effects of excessive smoking and drinking. Research indicates that drinking coffee cuts the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis and heart disease. In fact, studies show that drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day can lead to an 80% reduction in risk for cirrhosis of the liver, compared with non-coffee drinkers.
Tips for Drinking to Your Health
Of course, coffee isn’t a miracle food. As with most things we eat or drink, moderation is key. Most doctors recommend drinking no more than one to two cups of coffee per day in order to achieve the maximum health benefits. Drinking too much coffee can lead to nervousness, insomnia, hypertension, irritability and a host of other side effects.
If you’re a frequent coffee drinker, keep a close eye on how much sugar or cream is in your beverage. The calories can really add up! Also, try drinking your coffee throughout the day instead of all in one sitting – this will cut back on the amount of caffeine in your system at any one time. If you’re looking for a low-caffeine alternative, try drinking black tea and decaffeinated coffee. These beverages contain antioxidants levels akin to those found in regular coffee and produce similar health benefits.
It’s clear that coffee doesn’t just taste great – it’s also good for you. With so much research in support of coffee’s positive benefits, coffee lovers everywhere are proud to give new meaning to “Drink to your health.”
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 Keurig coffee makers, regular, decaf, and flavored coffee and tea, and a full line of 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.
This article is copyrighted by CoffeeCow. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at coffeecow@digitalbrandexpressions.com.
By: R. L. Fielding
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
How Starbucks Made...
To sum it all up the Coffee Giant know as Starbucks Coffee, made a huge impact in all of our lives, from the way we drink our coffee, to the type of coffee we choose. Coffee was never such an idealized item until Starbucks Coffee company showed up and capitalized the entire industry, instead of ordering a plain coffee with cream and sugar we know have a wider variety to choose from including, cappuccino, espresso, different coffee flavors, irish cream, french vanilla, and others, there is just so much more it's incredible. Even though all this was available before the Coffee Mongol commercialized coffee completely, it didn't have much interest with any of us. And then the phenomenon, Now we cant seem to live without all these wiled coffee flavor's.
Lets take a step back in time:
At the beginning when the coffee giant first started out in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks coffee was just three friends with a passion for fresh gourmet coffee, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, they opened a small shop and began selling fresh-roasted, gourmet coffee beans and brewing and roasting accessories.
In 1980 Zev Siegl wanted out to explore his opportunities elsewhere. By that time Starbucks coffee was the biggest roaster in Washington with six different stores. In 1981 the little coffee giant managed to get the attention of Howard Schultz, a plastics salesman that noticed the huge supply of plastic drip coffee thermoses they were buying from Hammarplast.
Starbucks Coffee 1982, history was marked forever when Baldwin hired the highly energetic Schultz as the new marketing developer. It was not long after that he was sent on a business trip to an international housewares show in Milan, Italy 1983. Schultz was amazed and amused with the vibrant coffee culture of Italy. In another town nearby Verona, Schultz had his first caffe’ latte’ and, as he noticed people at the cafe talking and laughing exiguously while sipping on their coffees in the luxurious surroundings, ideas starting flowing.
In what he describes as an epiphany, the idea hit him, "I could start a community gathering place like the great coffee house of Italy in the United States?" he thought to himself. This idea would place Starbucks coffee history into the annuls of business journals for many years to come.
Latter on, while back in the united states, Schultz's idea did not go over well with Baldwin and didn't think it would be a good idea to wager over into the restaurant business aswell distracting him from his original goal of selling whole coffee beans. However, he did let him try out a small espresso bar in the corner of one of the coffee stores. It was an immediate success and Schultz branched out on his own and opened Il Giornale, a coffee house named after Italy’s largest newspaper, ‘The Daily’.
1987 Starbucks coffee was up for sale and Schultz managed to raise $3.8 million by convincing investors of his vision, one hundred and twenty-five outlets in the next five years. Schultz modified the Starbucks bare-breasted mermaid logo into a more socially acceptable figure, changed the name of Il Giornale to Starbucks and converted the six existing Starbucks coffee roasting shops into a more elegant, suitable coffee houses. Starbucks coffee history was just starting to take form.
Shultz reached his goal and more by 125 stores in 5 years, 1992 there were 165 cafes up and running. Today there are more then 8,000 stores in 30 different countries and annual revenues over $7.5 billion.
Monday, June 25, 2007
High Quality...
Getting a great cup of coffee is a combination of many different reasons. These reasons include what equipment you use, if the equipment is clean, the water used and its quality, when the coffee beans you use were roasted and ground, and how high of quality the coffee bean is. When it comes to getting that perfect cup of coffee, the coffee bean quality is the most important of all.
A good thing to remember is that to find high quality coffee beans you have to look for them. Those cans or jars of coffee you find on the shelves of your supermarket are not going to be at all fresh. Think about it, would these manufacturers have or take the time to roast, grind, and ship their coffee all over the country and still preserve freshness? No, what you get are beans that are old and extremely low quality.
When you are looking to buy coffee and buy freshness, you want to be looking for one hundred percent Arabica coffee beans. Sometimes these can be found in your local supermarket, but specialty coffeehouses are more popular for a completely Arabica blend.
When you do buy coffee beans from a specialty coffeehouse, you want to look at the blends that are popular and faster moving. This will ensure the blend is stocked regularly, giving you the best chance to get maximum freshness. While in the supermarket, you will want to look for vacuum-sealed package. These typically come with expiration dates, which ensure that you will get the best possible freshness.
Some supermarkets grind coffee in-house, if you are looking for that kind of coffee bean, you will want to ask workers when the coffee was ground. The best thing to do is if they cannot tell you, go elsewhere. You could even get excellent coffee beans and grind your own coffee; this is the best possible freshness you could ever get. Remember to use the coffee grounds within a day, to keep that freshness.
By Danny Brown
A Guide ...
Top Ten Coffee : A Guide to Gourmet Coffee
Even a Coffee Bean or San Francisco Coffee outlet frequenter won’t be able to master the art of appreciating true gourmet coffee unless they know the history and info about gourmet coffee. Oh, of course, you don’t have to an EXPERT to enjoy and understand gourmet coffee, but knowing a little bit more than the grocery store owner who sells instant coffee would help you appreciate the taste, smell and absolute heaven that gourmet coffee fans know gourmet coffee is absolutely capable of.
Gourmet coffee is nothing like wine. With wine, the longer you leave (some wine, anyway), the better the taste, the higher the quality and the pricier it is. But with gourmet coffee, freshness says a lot. If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted no more than 1 week before. And if you’re going to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, only buy 100% Arabica coffee.
It’s pretty hard to find freshly roasted coffee bean on the shelves of the local supermarket. Chances are, the coffee beans that you’re consuming today have been roasted at least 3 months back. One way to counter this problem is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them with a home-coffee grinding machine as and when you need it. It’s really easy with the kind of machines they have today, so, if you want to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, grind it when you need it.
Once you’ve purchased the gourmet coffee beans, don’t just leave out there in room temperature. What you should do with gourmet coffee beans is to store them in an air-tight container in the fridge if you’re planning to use it soon. However, if you’re going to keep it, store the gourmet coffee beans in an air-tight container and keep it in the FREEZER.
You need the right grinder for the right brewer. Generally speaking, you can use about 2 tablespoons of gourmet coffee powder for 6 oz of water. Adjust the way you make your cup of gourmet coffee according to the way you like to drink your gourmet coffee.
With wine, the country where the grapes are grown makes a difference. With gourmet coffee, not only is the country of origin for the gourmet coffee bean makes a difference, the company that sells the gourmet coffee beans matters too. Buy only from reputable companies for gourmet coffee.
And one last thing about gourmet coffee is this – learn to enjoy it, appreciate the smell, love the taste, experiment with it and you’ll soon see the wonder of gourmet coffee. If you’re hurrying off for work in the morning, forget about gourmet coffee! During the morning rush, just stick to instant coffee.
By Dakota Caudilla
Find The Best...
Top Ten Coffee : Find The Best Coffee Makers On The Market
Finding an automatic coffee maker that suits your needs can be trickey. Automatic coffee makers can be used for regular coffee, espresso, or even lattes. No matter what you like, you can find something to fit your coffee tastes. You can even find automatic coffee makers that have grinders built right in and some can also timed so that your coffee is all ready for you as soon as you wake up!
If you take good care of your coffee machine it will last longer. Always turn it off when you aren’t using your machine so that it lasts longer. The more coffee you drink the more often you will have to replace your machine. You can also clean your machine by running water with one cup of vinegar through the machine. This will help clean the interior of the it and keep your coffee tasting better. After using the vinegar solution make sure you run water through it several times to get rid of any vinegar residue.
You can also save time in the morning by purchasing a coffee maker that has a timer on it. You can make your coffee at night and then it will brew for you at whatever time you would like. If you need to hit the road at 7 am, then set your coffee to brew at 6:30 and you’ll be awake and alert by the time you hit the road. You can also buy coffee makers that stop when you grab the pot. So if you are in a real rush just pour your coffee even if the whole pot isn’t ready yet. Don’t worry, the flow of the coffee will stop automatically for you!
Shop around to find the coffee maker that is best for you since they come in so many sizes and shapes. If you are into home décor than find one that will suit your kitchen or personal tastes. Some coffee machines make a single serving and others make tons of cups so get one that is suitable for all the coffee drinkers in your household. You can also find something small and portable if you travel often and want your coffee machine with you where you go!
By Johnathan C. Bakers
6 Delicious ..
Top Ten Coffee : 6 Delicious Coffee Recipes
Do you love coffee? Most of us do. In this article we will provide you with 6 recipes to enjoy your coffee a different way. We hope you enjoy it.
Irish Coffee
1 teapsoon of suger
1 jigger of Bushmills Irish Whiskey
2/3 cup of coffee or flavored Irish Creme coffee
1/4 cup of heavy cream, lightly whipped
Prehead the glass with hot water. Dump the water out and add the hot coffee with the teaspoon of suger and stir. Add the jigger of whiskey, and top with the whipping cream. Dark coffee's are best for this recipe.
Spiced Orange Coffee
1 teaspoon fresh, grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
5 whole cloves
Regular amount of your usual coffee or try Swiss Chocolate Orange flavored coffee
Add the above ingredients together and brew as normal. Place a slice of orange at the bottom or your cup. Pour in coffee and add suger and cream to taste. Top with whipping cream and sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon if so desired.
Mint Cocoa Coffee
1 ounce of chocolate mint liquear
Dash of shaved chocolate
Whipping cream (optional)
Regular coffee or try Dutch Chocolate Decaf flavored coffee
Brew your regular coffee, add the 1 ounce of liquear into your cup. Add some whipping cream if desired and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.
Coffee Milkshakes
1 pint of coffee ice cream
2 teaspoons finely ground coffee
1/2 cup light rum (optional)
4 to 6 scoops vanilla ice cream
Instant coffee powder
Spoon coffee ice cream into blender. Add rum and finely ground coffee. Blend on high until creamy smooth. Pour into tall glasses, adding a scoop of the vanilla ice cream to each glass. Sprinkle lightly with instant coffee powder.
Frosty Mochas
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee
1 pint of vanilla ice cream, softenend
6 tablespoons of chocolate syrup
1 cup prepared cold coffee
Blend hot coffee and chocolate syrup in blender. Blend until smooth. Cool the mixture to room temperature. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the softened ice cream and cold coffee. With a rotary beater, beat until smooth. Spoon into tall glasses and serve immediately.
Nogged Coffee
1 cup of coffee or try Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee
1 egg yoke
1/2 cup of cream
Dash of nutmeg
Beat the suger and egg yoke together. Place cream in a saucepan and heat over low setting, do not burn. Wisk the egg mixture into the warmed cream, heat until hot. Add coffee to mugs and top with the cream mixture. Garnish the coffee with nutmeg.
By Merrie Schonbach
What Coffee Pods?
People drink coffee to stay awake and get more things done. But how can you get more things done if you’re waiting around for your coffee to brew. Oh sure you can go buy a cup of coffee but at some point you going to want a cup at home. With a coffee pod maker you’re only 30 seconds away from an excellent cup of coffee.
Senseo was one of the first coffee pod makers available. And having sold more than 10 million units in four years Senseo is definitely here to stay. A coffee pod looks just like a round tea bag. It works like this. You fill the coffee maker with water, place a coffee pod in the receptacle, hit the button and thirty seconds later you have a great cup of coffee. A patented method that uses a special spray head and mild pressure to balance the ratio of coffee to water while brewing creates a rich frothy cup of coffee.
If you’re looking for great tasting coffee that’s convenient and time saving then try pod coffee. Coffee pods are available in different brew strengths including dark roast, medium roast and mild roast. You can usually buy a package of 72 coffee pods for less than twenty dollars. Since you can also buy a 33 oz can of coffee grinds for about five to 10 dollars at the supermarket, coffee pods are not for budget minded coffee drinkers. That large can will definitely contain a lot more than 72 cups of coffee. But remember you’re paying a premium for a no mess, no measuring, easy cleanup, ready in thirty seconds, cup of a coffee. For some people that’s money well spent.
Cleanup is a breeze, just discard the pod. Since the coffee grinds are enclosed in a pod instead of a filter there’s less of a chance of spilling them all over your kitchen floor. The pod receptacle is even dishwasher safe.
Another reason to buy a coffee pod maker, especially a Senseo, is that the machines are so good looking. They are sleek, stylish and will look great on your countertop.
Coffee isn’t just for breakfast anymore, it’s an all day long affair. Why not make coffee pods part of your daily routine?
By Anthony Tripodi
Coffee Bean ..
Top Ten Coffee : Coffee Bean Roasters
Excellent coffee will come in handy if you consider purchasing a coffee roaster at home. Coffee lovers have a variety of brands of sizes of coffee roasters to choose from for home brewing. Nothing beats freshly brewed coffee, brewed right in the comfort of one’s home. You may also create your own coffee concoctions and regale your family and friends.
However, it is important to consume coffee from a roaster at once to experience great flavor. Green coffee beans stay fresh much longer than those that have been through a roaster. Green coffee beans stay fresh as long as six months while those that went through a roaster lasted for only a week. Why is this so? Within a week coffee from the roaster oxidizes. Upon cooling, the roaster continues with its internal chemical process.
Once the coffee is already ground, you cannot be assured of its freshness and quality unless laboratory results show you the facts, whereas, if you have your own roaster, your green coffee is guaranteed one hundred percent fresh, which in turns save you money and frequent trips to the grocery store or to your favorite coffee shop.
You will discover that once you have your own roaster, all the other coffee you have tasted will pale in comparison. Ground coffee from the grocery normally contains fillers, diluting its flavor.
Roasters employ different processes prior to giving you that delectable cup of coffee. An air roaster should not be used for a very long time, as compared to drum roasters, since they transfer heat very quickly in a high-velocity stream of air. A drum roaster, on the other hand, needs to conduct and convert heat coming from the coffee at a slower rate to prevent it from being baked and scorched by heat.
So take your pick from among the roasters advertised on the Internet, and be assured of quality coffee anytime, anywhere.
By Josh Riverside
Italian Coffee
Espresso, caffè normale and cappuccino are types of Italian coffee, and one might wonder if there are as many types of coffee in Italy as there are pastas. Quite surprisingly, there are and just like pasta, Italian coffee is also an art form linked to many customs and traditions. Be it a caffè corretto shot down like a drink, a cappuccino and brioche that would make a lovely snack, or a granita di caffè con panna to chill off from the hot noon sun, Italy has a coffee drink for every occasion and every mood.
The most famous of the Italian coffees are the cappuccinos -- the café corretto and café latte. Cappuccino is prepared with espresso and milk. A cappuccino is commonly identified as 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk and 1/3 frothed milk. Cappuccino is preferably served in a ceramic coffee cup to retain the heat, instead of glass or paper that is a comparatively poorer heat retainer. Café corretto is a coffee "corrected" with a measure of grappa, cognac or any other alcoholic content. Latte is Italian for milk, and café latte refers to coffee prepared with a larger measure of hot milk in it rather than coffee.
There are many other styles of Italian coffee, and they have all become world famous. In fact, Italy is the coffee house of the world, and has contributed to the entire world many different styles of coffee that have so become a part of our culture and lives. Even espresso had its origins in Italy. It was from Italy that Starbucks got most of their coffee recipes and rose to fame quickly in the West. Despite all the progress and spread of the coffee culture, Italy still remains the coffee capital of the world.
By Alison Cole
The History..
Coffee makers date all the way back to the Turks in 575 A.D. But it wasn't until 1818 when the first coffee percolator was created.
This coffee pot became known as the "cowboy pot" because so many cowboys had begun using it. between the years of 1835 to 1850, coffee makers began to completely saturate the marketplace. Everything from glass balloons, to pressure steamers, to grinders and roasters had all started to become available.
In the year of 1890, the Manning-Bowman Percolator started to get distributed in the United States. These percolators were made out of linen with a cloth that had to be cleaned after every use.
It wasn't until 1912 that a paper filter was finally introduced. This help coffee makers explode in popularity since the clean up was so much easier now. in 1960 is when coffee pots with disposable filters began being used commercially.
It was 1972 when coffee makers really took off though all thanks to Mr. Coffee and his automatic drip process with disposable filter. And today, Mr. Coffee is still the largest coffee maker in the world.
Mr. Coffee has stayed at top as number one because they are always adapting to the needs of the consumers. For example, in the year 1977 the price of coffee skyrocketed and tripled in price. So Mr. Coffee invented a coffee maker that used less coffee grounds but kept the same great taste everyone loved.
The design pretty much stay the same from then until 1979 when a timer was added. Now coffee lovers could set their coffee maker to brew automatically each morning. Hooray!
In 1989 Mr. Coffee meet the demands of the consumers once more and came out with the first coffee maker that only made four cups of coffee. In that same year Mr. Coffee also launched the worlds first ice tea maker.
Coffee continues to grow in popularity and demand. No matter where you are in the world, you are sure to see someone enjoying a cup of fresh coffee.
By Ryan Woodward
Benefits of Coffee
Coffee is a beverage that is prepared from roasted coffee beans. Coffee beans from different places have their distinctive characteristics like flavor, caffeine content, body or mouth feel, and acidity. To turn the coffee berries and its seeds into roasted coffee, a lot of processing and human labor is required. The processing of coffee involves Picking, Defruiting, Drying, Sorting, Aging and Roasting.
Benefits of Consuming Coffee :
Asthma sufferers may find that the theophylline in coffee may reduce their symptoms.
Coffee may also help reduce the risk of colon cancer by keeping a body regular.
Coffee is consumed by students while preparing for exams because it makes them more alert and even boost the learning abilities and powers of reasoning.
The effectiveness of painkillers, especially those taken for migraine, is increased by drinking coffee.
In men, it can reduce the occurrence of gallstones and gallbladder disease.
Coffee may help to reduce the risk of a number of diseases and ailments that includes Type II diabetes, Parkinson's, colon cancer, cirrhosis, depression and much more.
Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease. Coffee represents by far the largest source of valuable antioxidants in the diet.
Coffee is the early morning energizer that helps you to begin your day in high spirits.
In the summer months iced coffee is a special treat.For superior taste, cold coffee with different flavors is consumed. Expresso, Doppio and Macchiato, Long Black, Caffe Freddo, Latte and Cappuccino are some of the varieties that will be a treat to your taste buds.
By Ekta Verma
Gourmet Flav...
Top Ten Coffee : Gourmet Flavored Coffee
Coffee tastes great by itself, but for an extra special taste sensation, try gourmet flavored coffee. There are many flavoring substances which can be added to coffee to give your daily cup of Java an out of the ordinary flavor experience.
Some flavors are natural enhancers that go together with coffee like bees and honey. Rum and chocolate have been added to coffee for almost as long as coffee has been produced. Some of the newest gourmet flavored coffee includes vanilla, macadamia, and even peanut butter!
Not all these flavors are everyone's “cup of tea”, but the taste sensations of gourmet flavored coffee give you a new outlook on Java juice. Try out some of these special flavors -- you may find a favorite that you always come back to.
Just look at some of these types of gourmet flavored coffee -- apricot cream, Black Forest cake, Café Napoleon, chocolate raspberry, Jamaican rum, Southern pecan and vanilla hazelnut. The names by themselves makes your mouth water.
Coffee is flavored by adding flavoring substances after it is roasted. The flavoring substances are highly concentrated and only a small amount is used in gourmet flavored coffee. Be careful when buying flavored coffee -- be sure to buy from a reputable company. Some companies use the flavoring process to hide the taste of inferior quality coffee.
The flavoring used in gourmet flavored coffee loses its strength when exposed to air. Always keep the coffee beans in a tightly sealed container for maximum flavor. For the best cup of coffee, grind the beans right before brewing.
You can make your own special blends by combining various gourmet flavored coffee. Adding a touch of flavored coffee to your regular coffee beans adds a special taste that is uniquely yours. The sky is the limit! You can have a new flavor of coffee every day!
By Hans Dekker
A Gift Of Coffee
Giving a gift of coffee is made easy with today’s gift baskets. A coffee lover is sure to enjoy a gift as this, as they are filled with other fine goods as well. Many gift baskets of today also include hot cocoas and teas. There are some that include gourmet coffee, if the basket is made specially or if one makes it themselves.
The gift baskets that are presented today, are themed and most have a theme that it is centered around, gifts for him, gifts for her, children, golf, fishing and many other themes. Most of these themed gifts have a gift of coffee or tea included, however they are not centered just for the coffee lover. Most of the themed gift baskets only have one or maybe two packs of coffee, and nothing else that is in relation to coffee.
Giving a coffee lover a gift such as the gift basket, Coffee Connoisseur, is sure to show them you appreciate them and respect their love for coffee. A gift like this includes: several assorted gourmet coffees, honey straws, cookies, creamer, and stir spoons. This is the perfect gift for them, as it has everything included for a cup of coffee except mug and hot water.
This gift would also be a great gift for a husband and wife. There are enough goodies to share. By sharing a gift as this, the buyer will save money and will show the recipients they are cared about. Show the coffee lover you care by sending a gift of coffee!
By Michele Rogers
How To Clean ...
Top Ten Coffee : How To Clean A Coffee Maker
Ever wonder how to clean a coffee maker the right way? Drip coffee makers need to be cleaned at least once a month to keep your coffee tasting good.
Cleaning your coffee maker takes away hard water mineral deposits, old oils from previously brewed pots and other impurities that can make your coffee taste bad.
A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water is the best way to clean a drip coffee maker. Mix a full pot of the vinegar and water mixture, pour it in your water reservoir and turn the coffee maker on.
Once the mixture has run completely through, it's important to turn the drip coffee maker off and let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. If you are cleaning a coffee maker that hasn't been cleaned regularly, repeat this step again with a fresh vinegar and water mixture.
Next, rinse the pot out thoroughly with warm, plain water. Then, fill the water reservoir again with clean water and turn the coffee maker on to start the rinsing process.
To make sure all of the vinegar and water solution is completely gone repeat the rinsing process one more time after letting the pot cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
This is how to clean a coffee maker the right way. Cleaning your drip coffee maker on a monthly basis will make it last longer and keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.
By Gary Gresham
Coffee Beverage...
Top Ten Coffee : The Coffee Beverage - Chicago Style
Coffee used to be just coffee. You used to have a choice of either black or white, with or without caffeine. Today when you decide which coffee beverage to indulge in choosing a coffee beverage can be very confusing. Some of your choices may be: an Espresso, a Latte, Mocha, an Iced coffee, or a Cappuccino. In Chicago they have a very strong special coffee which is very popular amongst the locals which is called Intelligencia coffee. It is a very potent coffee which is full of flavour and can be purchased almost anywhere even at gas stations and convenience stores. The best coffee house in my opinion is in Illinois and can be found at 3123 North Broadway Street.
The History Of The Cup Of Coffee
The coffee beverage was first consumed back in 1000A.D. but the first coffee shop didn’t open until the year 1475. In 1601 coffee finally made it to North America. In the year 1668 the coffee beverage became New York’s favorite breakfast beverage in place of beer and is now know around the world as a breakfast drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
You can buy coffee beans and grind them yourself or you can but them packaged already ground for you. The coffee beverage is also available in single packs much like tea bags, for those who don’t want to wait for the coffee beverage to brew, there are instant granules. There are also powdered versions of cappuccinos as well.
There can be a few factors to consider when choosing the best coffee. Depending on your mood, the time of day and where you are will help you get your coffee fix. If your in a hurry and don’t have time to stop in a gourmet coffee shop then you might want to go to a drive thru which can be found in coffee house in Chicago. There you will get the tried and true coffee beverage. Here are a couple of Chicago coffee houses you could try.
By Sharon Price