Posts Tagged ‘coffee beans’
Peaberry Coffee: What It Is and Why to Try It
December 16th, 2009 | 
Author: Typically, the coffee cherry, or fruit, that forms on a coffee plant contains a bean that forms two halves. These typical beans are flat on one side. Sometimes only one of the two seeds becomes fertilized. In that case, the coffee cherry contains a single bean. This single bean is round or oval in shape, similar to a pea. Hence, such individually formed coffee bean is known as a “peaberry,” or less often as a “caracol.” Roughly five percent of all coffee beans are reported to be peaberries, so there is no question that peaberry coffee is rare.
In high grade Arabica coffees, peaberries are generally separated from regular “flat” coffee beans. A coffee labeled as a “peaberry” should contain only peaberry beans. Peaberry coffees — in contrast to regular coffee beans — are claimed to provide a superior taste. One school of throught argues that peaberry beans are superior to regular beans due to the roasting process. Since the peaberries are oval in shape, they roll easily in the roasting chamber, thereby providing a more evenly roasted bean.
Another argument for the superiority of peaberry coffee is the flavor of the bean itself. The single peaberry bean is smaller and more dense than the two typical beans. As only one bean is formed, the sole bean is frequently reported to be more robust in flavor and more acidic (generally good for taste) than regular Arabica coffee beans. Still others argue that the superiority of peaberry coffee beans comes from the rigorous selection process whereby regular beans are separated out from the peaberries.
Peaberry coffee is also designated by their geographic origin. For example, one of the most popular peaberry coffees is Tanzanian Peaberry. Even the most expensive coffees such as Kona and Jamaica Blue Mountain come in Peaberry varities. So the next time you purchase a single origin coffee you may want to try a peaberry variety to see if you can taste the difference. Though still hard to find at traditional retail establishments, premium peaberry coffees are now readily available through online stores.
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Espresso – The Morning Wake Up Call
What is Espresso?
The word espresso comes from the Italian words caff? espresso which literally means pressed-out coffee. Espresso is brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder. This process extracts a very flavorful concentrated coffee beverage. In Italy, good espresso is defined by the “four Ms” – Miscela, Macinazione, Macchina, Mano. These four words loosely translates to: blend of coffee beans, the grinding process, the machine, and the person making the espresso.
Espresso was developed in Milan, Italy in the early 20th century, but up until the mid-1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. A simple espresso machine uses a pot, a filter, ground coffee and a spout. The as water in the pot is heated pressure builds inside the pot, and the
only way for it to escape is up the spout, through the coffee and out of the spout in the top. Since the end of the spout is under water, the pressure forces the hot water up through the spout. Modern day espresso machines have really caught on since the invention of the spring piston lever machine. This machines commercial success changed espresso into the beverage we know today. Starbucks has taken espresso production to a new level and the market continues to grow each year.
How does Espresso Differ from Coffee?
So what makes espresso so much different than regular coffee? For starters it has a thicker consistency than standard drip coffee. It also contains a higher amount of dissolved solids than drip coffee per relative volume. And probably the most noticeable thing when you pay $6 bucks is that the serving is much smaller. Espresso is usually measured in shots, which are between 25 and 30 ml (around 1 fluid ounce) in size. Espresso is also chemically complex and somewhat volatile, with many of its chemical components quickly degrading from oxidation or loss of temperature. Just by looking at it, the most distinguishing characteristic is “crema”. Crema is the reddish-brown foam that floats on the surface and is composed of vegetable oils, proteins and sugars. Crema has elements of both emulsion and foam colloid.
Because of the high pressure brewing process, espresso tends to be a very highly concentrated “shot” of coffee. While there can be significant variation, on a per-volume basis, espresso contains approximately three times the caffeine content of regular brewed coffee. In most cases, 1 shot of espresso will have about half the caffeine of a standard large coffee. For this reason, it has become the base ingredient for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccino, macchiato and mochas.
Which type of coffee beans is used to make espresso?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no specific coffee bean type or roast required to make espresso. Remember, espresso is made from the process, not the bean or blend. Typically, espresso is made from a blend of beans that can be roasted ranging between dark and light. Depending on the consumer, the blend chosen is purely a decision on taste. Commercial espresso makers like Starbucks go with a darker roast of beans to produce their traditional flavor.
What the heck is a Barista?
Barista is the Italian word for bartender. So an expert operator of an espresso machine is considered a barista. Starbucks uses this term to refer to their counter staff and thus the term has gained popularity in the U.S. A “home barista” is one who enjoys making espresso at their home.
A final word on espresso
As more and more Americans pour (no pun intended) into the local Starbucks or the Seattle’s Best coffee shops, the popularity of espresso grows. Owning your own espresso maker has become quite popular in recent years and there are many styles of machines to choose from. Some operate with just the touch of a button. I encourage you to do your research before you buy there are many different options and many different price ranges to consider. Good luck on your quest for the perfect cup of espresso be it home brewed or Starbucks original.