Archive for April, 2009
Gourmet Decaf Coffee
Gourmet coffee producers finally realized that they had to produce decaffeinated versions to keep up with the ever-growing population of health wise individuals. The taste of decaf coffees may be slightly different than that of regular roast coffees but it can still be flavored and have a nice flavor to them.
Typically there are two methods for decaffeinating coffee. With either of the processes it is done before the beans are roasted and a little of the flavor of the bean is lost. One process uses a solvent to absorb the caffeine from the beans and then they are washed to remove the solvent.
The alternative process uses a method called the Swiss Water method. There are no chemicals used, which for some people is important. The coffee beans are instead treated with hot water and steam to remove the caffeine; however, they also lose some of their oils which is where their flavor lies.
In order to retain more flavor during the decaffeination process, the very best green coffee beans must be used. This of course means you, the consumer, will pay more for the coffee, but you won’t be as disappointed with the flavor.
Once the coffee beans are decaffeinated, gourmet coffee companies can create those wonderful flavors coffee enthusiasts have come to love. Not every coffee bean or variety is available in a decaf version. If you want a rich Jamaican or Ethiopian decaf coffee you will be disappointed. Part of the richness in these coffees is in the caffeine.
Where to find Decaf Gourmet Coffees
Your local grocer likely carries some flavored coffees in decaf, but to find the truly gourmet, flavorful versions you should look to gourmet shops, either online or in your local area. For true, full flavor be prepared to pay a little more than your typical shelf brand decafs.
Arabica Coffee the Arabica Reserve Blend Decaf coffee is an excellent decaffeinated coffee that does not have that lingering after taste that many cheaper decafs do.
One of the top rated decaffeinated coffees available, as judged by Food & Wine Magazine comes from Volcanica Coffee. Volcanica Coffee beans come from some of the best coffee growing regions in the world such as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. The most popular of their coffees is the Costa Rican Blend.
Coffee enthusiasts who are looking for both a decaf coffee and an organic coffee should try Caffe Appassionato. These organically grown coffee beans are processed using the Swiss Water method and roasted at very low temperatures to create a near perfect decaf coffee.
While there are many shelf brands of decaffeinated coffee available, true coffee lovers will find more satisfaction in the beans that have been carefully processed just for decaf lovers. Buying from the local grocer may save some money but in the end these coffees will leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
Starbucks Coffee – the History and Background of Starbucks Coffee
There are more than 13,100 Starbucks stores in the world, spanning 40 countries. The stores all sell drip coffee, espresso drinks, tea, blended drinks, coffee mugs and other coffee accessories. Interestingly enough, the prices found at Starbucks Coffee are significantly higher than the market average. The higher prices are a direct result of their ingenious marketing strategy.
Moving beyond beverages and coffee mugs and makers, Starbucks has started an entertainment division that features the Hear Music brand. Selling books, music and film, the brand is developing into something much larger than a Venti Frappucino.
Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971, Starbucks Coffee began growing exponentially. During the 1990s, a new Starbucks store was opening somewhere in the world every single working day. This continued into the new millennium, however domestic growth has since slowed down quite a bit. Abroad, however, the brand is still expanding rapidly.
Starbucks Coffeehouses began to give consumers a different kind of feeling about drinking coffee. Even employees, called partners, get a different kind of experience than one a regular barista would expect. Between two and six partners are working at any given time.
Coffee Masters are partners that have gone through extensive training in tasting, roasting, purchasing and growing regions. Starbucks Coffee offers full benefits to partners, including vision, health and dental insurance. Stock option grands are also available, as is 401k with matching to employees who work 20 hours a week or more. In 2005, Starbucks was rated the 11th best place to work in the United States by Fortune magazine. The same can be said of the UK stores, which were voted among the top ten best places to work by the Financial Times in 2007.
Tips on Choosing Right Espresso Machine for a Perfect Cup of Coffee
An espresso machine is an appliance used to produce the traditional Italian coffee drink known as an espresso. Those who use these machines professionally such as those found in places like Starbucks are known as barista’s and the knowledge that is required to make the finest espressos is an art that is known by many Italians. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world and there many of us who first enjoy a warm cup of coffee in the morning before starting any of our work. Because of this and the proliferation of coffee shops and cafes producing these drinks this has created a wide demand for commercial espresso machines.
There are three factors that one should keep in mind before purchasing an espresso machine. The factors that lead to delightful cup of coffee, the time requires to prepare a cup of coffee and the operation and maintenance of the machine. These three factors usually come to mind while buying an espresso machine.
The finely ground bean and the spring or aerated water should be used in an espresso machine Many espresso machine have built in filter in order to make the water taste clearer. Often this espresso machine comes with either one or two espresso shot dispensers. The machine with two dispensers obviously cost more but they do cut down on the time that customers have to wait. It is also important to choose a machine which can produce high levels of steam from the steam rod. Another thing that is important to consider when choosing a commercial espresso machine is that it should be easy to clean after each days use and you should carry this out each day or the coffee grinds and oil that remain will become stale over time and leave a nasty off taste in the coffee you make.
An espresso machine works by shooting out water that is 90 degree centigrade hot using 9 bar of pressure into a puck of freshly ground coffee. The oils in the finely ground coffee are thus extracted and emulsified to create a rich syrupy liquid. Ideally a machine can churn out a double shot of espresso within 20 to 25 seconds. Another element of good espresso making is that the espresso must be roasted light so that its sugars and aroma will not be lost. Darkly-roasted espresso produces a bitter liquid that tastes like charcoal.
The key to good espresso is using an excellent espresso blend. Coffees must be specially blended to produce the smoothness, aromatics and sweetness inherent in good espresso. However, the blend should be freshly ground and brewed within four days from roasting. The different types of espresso machines available are pump-driven espresso machine, piston-driven espresso machine, steam espresso machine, stovetop espresso machine, automatic espresso maker and lastly the super automatic espresso maker. The maintenance of these machines should be minimal even though they are used for hours and if one want to save on the cost of servicing he should consider a commercial espresso machine which has a built in water tank as they do not need plumbing and can be moved anywhere at anytime.
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