Coffee Roasting Methods
June 22, 2010
Coffee roasting is an important process in achieving resultant delicious taste of coffee. Coffee roasting involves heating of coffee cherries by heating them with the help of passage of hot gas or placing the cherries on hot metal. Coffee Roasting should be done in a professional manner to get the expected results.
There are different types of coffee roasting methods. Depending on the coffee roasting methods, you can achieve different variety of coffee tastes and scents. Different types of coffee roasting methods have different names.
Coffee Roasting Methods
Depending on the color of the roast the names of the different coffee roasting methods are derived. Generally there are four prominent and popular coffee roasting methods. The coffee roasting methods include light, medium, medium dark and dark roasting.
Light roasting coffee methods produce coffee roast of light brown in color. Different types of coffee roasting methods in this category includes light city, half city, cinnamon and New England. For the production of coffee varieties of milder version light roasts are done. Since they are roasted for less time the surface of the coffee beans don’t contain any oil.
Medium roasting coffee methods produce coffee roast of medium brown in color. These methods produce coffee beans of non-oily surface and stronger flavor. Different types of coffee roasting methods in this category include city, breakfast and American medium roasting. These type of roasting is preferred by USA and generally they are referred to as American roasts.
Medium dark roasting coffee methods produce rich dark color and the surface of the coffee beans contains some oil. This roasting produces slight bitter sweet after taste. Full city type of roasting method is the popular medium dark roasting coffee method.
Dark roasting coffee methods produce oil surfaces of shiny black coffee beans. Different types of dark roasting coffee methods in this category include high, continental, new Orleans, European, espresso, Viennese, Italian and French type of coffee roasting methods. Most of the names are used interchangeably leading to lot of confusion among customers.
Different types of roasting require various types of roasting skills. This requires years of extensive training and one requires to take quick decisions with in split seconds by reading the beans with expertise. Expert roasting brings out flavor and aroma of the green coffee beans for the benefit of the users.
One can enjoy the benefits of roasting according to individual tastes and preferences.
Fair Trade Coffee
June 22, 2010
Fair trade coffee is a product that comes under many products that are fair trade certified. The main aim of fair trade is to enable the people or farmers who spend so much time and effort to produce tastier and delightful products for the benefit of customers across the world.
Normally companies exist in the business with the sole aim of earning profits. They are not bothered about any other thing. This is a fact in any business and coffee production industry is no difference and the ignorance of real contributors for the coffee cultivation is rampant as coffee is extremely profitable industry in the world economy that it comes only second to oil industry.
In order to reduce the anomalies and differences and also ensures that the farmers who produce coffee gets his due share of profits fair trade coffee came into existence. Fair trade coffee involves purchasing of coffee directly from coffee growing farmers for a higher price than the standard price for normal standard coffee.
Advantages of Fair Trade Coffee
There are lots of advantages from fair trade coffee. It ensures that the farmers and the original coffee producers and cultivators are benefited from growing coffee and also they are guaranteed to receive minimum price for the coffee. Fair trade coffee provides other economic incentives and healthy working conditions. They also receive per pound premium when the markets exceed minimum price.
Fair trade coffee producing farmers should become a part of the consortium or coop in order to avail these benefits. The regulations of fair-trade coffee protect the human rights of the farmers and prevent them from getting exploited by business minded people. Fair trade premium received by the farmers is sufficient enough for them to invest in education, healthcare, community infrastructure and fairwage.
Farmers who become a part of the coop are given special additional training and provided with advanced equipment so that they can compete better in the market. Farmers who receive and practice fair trade along with organic farming methods are given additional incentives. So organic fair trade coffee is becoming extremely popular and catching worldwide attention. One can find out whether the coffee is fair-trade produced or not by looking for fair-trade certificate like Transfair. Tranfair is the organization that is overseeing fair trade activities and practices.
You can contribute a bit to environment and farmers by purchasing fair trade coffee even though it is expensive.
Coffee Storage
June 22, 2010
In order to relish and enjoy the delicious taste of coffee you should make best use of coffee storage methods. Coffee storage is a must for preserving the taste of coffee. When you are investing so much money in purchasing or cultivating coffee you should also take steps to ensure that coffee retains its delicious taste.
There are different coffee storage methods for storing different varieties of coffees. Coffee beans should always be stored in airtight glass vessels or containers in order to keep them away from moisture and air so that they wont get affected by them.
Types of Coffee Storage
Coffee storage is done in various forms and methods depending on the types of coffee you are using. The following are some of the methods of coffee storage.
Standard Ground Coffee Storage
Ground coffee should not be stored in fridge because it will be exposed to water and oxygen. It will also be difficult for ground coffee to retain its flavor as it quickly catches up other flavors. At the most one can store ground coffee in a fridge for not more than two months. If stored for long oils in the coffee break down thus affecting its flavor. Ground coffee storage is best done with the help of zip lock bags. Ground coffee should be put in airtight zip lock bags so that it wont get in touch with water, moisture and air.
Coffee always has capacity to pick up flavors of other items in the freezer even though the items in the freezer are frozen. Coffee in the zip lock should be stored in such a way that the air is sucked out completely from the bag and then the bag is wrapped some more times making it totally air tight.
Whole Bean Coffee Storage
Storing coffee in the form of whole beans is the most effective and preferable method. Purchasing only sufficient amount of roasted whole beans and then grinding them before you brew is the best option. If whole bean coffee has to be stored for more than three weeks then one should store it in a dark airtight container. One should take steps to minimize the exposure of coffee to external atmosphere like oxygen, water, sunlight, heat and other types of odors and flavors.
Green Bean Coffee Storage
Unroasted or green coffee beans must be stored stable environment and more commonly they are stored in jute or paper bags. This method enables coffee to be stored for more than two years under these conditions.
Full sun grown coffee beans
June 18, 2010
People living in various regions in different parts of the world enjoy and relish the delicious taste and rich aroma and fragrance of the coffee many times a day without even sparing a thought on from where the coffee is cultivated, harvested, produced, roasted and reach finally to your dining room.
Coffees whether it is coffee Arabica or coffee robusta the two most popular types of coffee seeds are generally produced in high altitudes and in congenial and special environment and climate. These plants require shaded region especially coffee arabica as they cannot survive direct sunlight and high temperatures. So majority of coffee plants are cultivated and harvested in wet region and grown under shaded trees.
Coffee arabica is grown under shaded regions in most of the regions like Central America, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru and Columbia along with India. In all the other parts of the world coffee arabica is grown in full sun shade.
Features of Sun Grown Coffee beans
The advent of technology and innovative techniques led to many new growing and cultivating methods of coffee plantation. The green revolution in the world during the 70’s led to this new method of cultivation. Full sun grown coffee produces faster results and the quality of the product better than the shade grown coffee. Full sun grown coffee is also cost effective and the yield produced by full sun grown coffee is very high compared to shade grown coffee.
Even though full sun grown coffee has lot of advantages and has gained lot of popularity and thrust with various coffee growing countries the global warming and environmental problem led them back to square one. For the cultivation of full sun grown coffee you need to cut lot of trees and plants as the cultivation mandates large areas for the production and cultivation of coffee.
This led to lot of destruction of forests and plants for the creation of full sun grown coffee farms. The coffee plants in the farms also require lot of chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers for the protection of coffee beans getting affected from direct sun rays. This led to lot of ecological and environmental imbalances and pollution of the environment. Now people are advised to turn back to traditional and conventional methods of coffee cultivation to protect the environment even though the coffee costs more for the end users. The farmers are even given concessions for following traditional methods compared to full sun grown coffee.
Jamaican Blue mountain Coffee
June 18, 2010
The coffee that is produced in the Blue Mountains region of Jamaica is known by the name Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. The Jamaican blue mountain coffee is the worlds most sought after brand of coffee and has made for its renowned reputation for its unique taste and flavor. The trademarks of Jamaican blue mountain coffee are its mesmerizing fragrance and aroma and are famously known for its low or no bitter taste. The blue mountains of Jamaica have the most exquisite and beautiful climate that is ideal and congenial for coffee cultivation and production.
Jamaican blue mountain coffee is famous not only for its uniquely brewed coffee but also for its delicious ultimate flavor of tia maria coffee liqueur. The region is famous for its unique blend of coffee arabica seeds that are available in abundance.
Popularity of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
People across the world are surprised to know the findings that more than 90% of the coffee lovers consume only Jamaican blue mountain coffee knowingly or unknowingly. Now one can gauge the reputation of the brand of Jamaican blue mountain coffee which is the trademark of the coffee produced from the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and is exclusively protected. So no one can use his or her name or trade mark for any other coffee production or marketing. This is the popularity and reputation of Jamaican blue mountain coffee.
People are mesmerized and attracted by the delicious and sweet taste of the coffee so much so that once they taste the Jamaican blue mountain coffee they get addicted to the brand and leave no stone unturned in order to taste more of that brand of coffee and quench their thirst. Nothing short of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee satisfies their desire.
Even though Jamaican blue mountain coffee is highly priced people are willing to pay for that because they are aware of the benefits and advantages offered by the brand of coffee, which one cannot find in other forms, and brands of coffees. There are many companies and people who are into the business of selling the brand of Jamaican blue mountain coffee. But one should make sure that they get the right quality and 100% Jamaican blue mountain coffee. Otherwise it’s a total waste of money. One cannot wait any longer and don’t act after reading the features of Jamaican blue mountain coffee but purchase right away and feel proud of their possession.
The jamaican blue mountain coffee is also know by its nickname of Jablum coffee all over the world.
Java Coffee
June 18, 2010
One of the most popular and famous coffee produced from peaberries is Java coffee. Java coffee is produced in Island of Java present in United States of America. Origin of coffee is signified by the Indonesian term Kopi Java and is the term for signifying the ultimate characteristics of coffee like strong, black and sweet tastes.
The unique feature of Java coffee is the combination of coffees produced from Java and Yemen. This forms the traditional blend of Mocha Java. It has also one of the most expensive brand of coffee in the world known as Kopi Iuwek.
Preparation of Java Coffee
There are many places from where you can get this unique blend and rare type of Java coffee. But if you cannot wait any longer to taste your Java coffee then you will be surprised to know that you can prepare Java coffee at your own house and enjoy and quench your thirst for Java coffee.
You should make sure that you have the cleanest of equipment for the preparation of Java coffee. This is a must so that you get the rich delicious taste of Java coffee. Otherwise it will be a disaster and will remain as an unpleasant experience. So start the preparation by cleaning your equipment and machinery with 50-50 mixture of water or vinegar. Then you should clean the vinegar content with the help of purest of water.
You should only use spring water or else the money you spent on gourmet coffee beans will be a huge loss of investment for you. Choosing the right grind is a must to achieve the desired results. The most preferable level for grind is medium type. Too course grind will present you weak coffee and finer grind will present you with the strongest coffee making it difficult for you to drink.
You should prepare and savor coffee as quickly as possible. If you keep it for longer it will get spoiled. So whenever you want you should prepare Java coffee and enjoy the taste. If you don’t have patience then you should wait for days and months to get your delicious Java coffee pack by finding a right company that has reputation of being experts in selling Java coffee. It is for you to decide and one thing you should make sure is you should not compromise on the end results at any cost and under any circumstances.
