Story Of Coffee by IOoI

Kona Coffee

2008-02-07T21:18:00.001-08:00

Excellent coffee from a tropical paradise

Kona coffee comes from Hawaii, but only from the exclusive Kona region on the west coast of Hawaii island. Hawaii does produce other varieties of coffee, but Kona stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Some of the other coffee regions around Hawaii are: Molokai, Kauai, Maui and Oahu.

As with most excellent coffee-growing regions, it's the tropical environment that makes Kona such a gem. The days are bright and sunny, with rain most afternoons. The nights are mild, with no fears of frost. The Kona soil is deep, dark and richly volcanic.

Part of the special charm of Kona coffee is its production. The Kona region spans across nearly 2300 acres, and is home to more than 600 independent coffee farms. These small, family-owned farms typically harvest their coffee crops by hand. Some sell their harvest to larger Kona processors, but more and more farms are taking their product one step further and selling the green or even roasted beans directly to consumers under their own label.

It has a medium body, but a rich flavour that has hints of wine and spice.

As with all coffee varieties, peaberry is the most desirable type of Kona. There are usually two beans in each coffee cherry, but when only a single bean is formed, it is much more flavourful than regular coffee.

Coffee is not native to Hawaii, but was brought from Brazil by Reverend Samuel Ruggles in the early 1800s during his missionary work there. When the price of coffee crashed in 1899, the huge plantations were broken up and leased to the families that worked on them. These small family farms are what we still see in Hawaii today.

Coffee and Caffeine

2008-02-07T21:15:00.002-08:00

Coffee and Caffeine

The caffeine in coffee occurs naturally; it’s not added to coffee (as it is, for example, added to many soft drinks.) Coffee – with its stimulating constituent, caffeine – is the most popular mood-altering substance on the planet, and has been for more than 300 years.

Caffeine promotes wakefulness by interfering with adenosine, a chemical in the body that acts as something of an natural sleep-promoting drug. In addition to its wakeful properties, caffeine – in moderate amounts – has been shown to enhance mood and increase alertness.

In moderate amounts, caffeine has been shown to decrease pain, alleviate asthma symptoms and migraine headaches, even to combat jet lag. The key, of course, is the phrase we seem to be repeating quite a lot… moderation.

What’s moderate? The medical community today generally agrees that 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day should be considered moderate consumption. What’s moderate for you, however, is largely a matter of how you respond to caffeine. If you have questions or concerns about your own consumption of caffeine, please talk to your doctor.

Relative Caffeine Content

Product	Serving Size	Caffeine
Brewed Coffee	6 oz.	100-150mg
Espresso	1.5 oz.	80-120mg
Brewed Decaf Coffee	6 oz.	3mg
Iced Tea	12 oz.	70mg
Hot Tea	6 oz.	60mg
Cola	12 oz.	30-55mg
Chocolate Bar	2 oz.	30-50mg

Coffee and Nutrition

2008-02-07T21:15:00.001-08:00

Coffee and Nutrition

Coffee has virtually no calories or fats, no carbohydrates, no sodium, no cholesterol… if it were required to carry a nutritional product label, that label would consist mostly of a lot of zeros. (In fact, coffee is exempt from federal food label programs precisely because it has zero nutritive value.)

That said, coffee does offer a number of trace minerals (Thiamin, Niacin, Folate, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese) and is a good source of Potassium, Pantothenic Acid and Riboflavin. A 6 ounce cup of brewed coffee may contain 2 to 4 milligrams of Sodium… most from the water used to brew the coffee and not the coffee, itself.

Our flavored coffees are likewise free of calories and carbs. Our flavored coffees have no additional nutritional impact. We add no sugars or sweeteners of any kind. So while our flavors may taste indulgent, they're absolutely guilt-free. (Note: Our Fair Trade Rain Forest Nut® no longer features slices of Brazil nuts.)

Sugar? Milk? Cream?

While coffee itself has virtually no nutritional impact, the things you might add to our coffee will, in turn, dial up those numbers. And, if what you ’re really doing is adding a little bit of coffee to a large cup of steamed milk (with a few tablespoons of flavored syrups on top!) the results can be pretty dramatic.

Serving	Additive	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Cholesterol
Tbls.	Milk, 2%	8	.8g	.3g	1.2mg
Tbls.	Milk, Whole	9	.7g	.5g	1.5mg
Tbls.	Half & Half	19	.6g	1.7g	5.6mg
Tbls.	Cream	30	.5g	3g	10mg
Packet	Sugar	11	3g	0g	0mg
Packet	Splenda	0	0g	0g	0mg

If you’re watching your diet, be sure to watch what you’re adding to your cup!

Coffee and Health

2008-02-07T21:14:00.001-08:00

Coffee and Health

Provided that what ails you is a lack of alertness or a sour mood, it’s good on its promise. Let’s leave patent medicines aside for the moment, though, and ask:

Is coffee good for you? The answer is, quite simply, yes!

Coffee has been a frequent subject of scrutiny by the medical community… perhaps because it’s so widely consumed, yet offers no apparent nutritive value. Or, maybe doctors are just looking for a really good cup of coffee!

Despite some 30 years of study, the field of medicine has yet to draw a direct correlation between moderate consumption of coffee and any medical disease or chronic health condition. Studies that have suggested worrisome links between coffee consumption and reproductive health, for example, have been put to rest by subsequent studies – larger, and more thorough – that have exonerated our favorite beverage.

More recent studies by the medical science community are now finding numerous positive benefits of moderate coffee consumption! These studies suggest that drinking coffee may reduce risks of colon cancer by 25% and cirrhosis of the liver by 80%, and may reduce the onset of Parkinson’s disease by up to 80%. More, brewed coffee has been found to have 3 to 4 times the amount of cancer-fighting anti-oxidants as green tea.

Still, we don’t recommend drinking coffee as a tonic – we think it tastes good and we enjoy how a great cup of coffee makes us feel. If you have specific concerns about coffee, please, talk to your family physician.

Learning what you like

2008-02-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

Learning what you like.

There is no single perfect cup... it's a matter of personal preference. Yours.

Maybe it's that morning cup that starts your day on the right foot. Or maybe you prefer lingering over a rare, exotic origin on a rainy day. Whatever your mood, we offer coffees to make your experience complete. To help narrow your search, you might try matching your coffee personality.

The Armchair Traveler. Maybe you were profoundly moved by your trip to Europe. Maybe you've never been, but simply long for the experience. Try our Single Origin Coffees... coffees of unmatched flavor, balance and character. Rare in production and limited in supply, they represent the pinnacle of the craft that creates the world's best beans.

Quintessentially American. You've little taste for the exotic, thanks very much. You prefer your coffee to taste, well... like coffee! Straightforward, brisk and direct. We suggest the coffee blends in our Signature Collection. Tried and true customer favorites that are mild, smooth and aromatic.

Coffee for a Cause. Maybe you're not an every-day activist, but you can be an activist at breakfast. Our Fair Trade Organic Coffees arent' just exceptional origins and blends, they help improve the quality of life in coffee communities around the world.

A Little Indulgence. You're not looking for coffee with dessert... you want coffee for dessert! Our Flavored Coffees are rich, delectably fragrant and guilt-free indulgences.

Tasting coffee

2008-02-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

Tasting coffee.

Our formal process of cupping coffee is all about evaluating coffees... it really has little to do with enjoying them. When we want to enjoy a cup we brew some in a press pot, or vacuum pot, or take a stroll over to the coffee lab and enjoy the coffee team's fabulous espresso drinks.

Cupping coffee is a ritual... and outside of Arabia and Ethiopia, there really are no similar rituals for folk who aren't in the coffee industry.

Or are there?

Consider the breakfast cup. For millions of people their day simply hasn't begun 'til they've had their morning cup — whether alone, or in the company of croissant, beignet, bagels or bacon and eggs. There is perhaps no more contemplated cup in the world.

Consider the ritual of the dessert cup. Whether your after-dinner treat is tiramisu, death by chocolate, or a few chocolate chips, there are few better companions than an equally rich cup of fresh-brewed coffee.

There are more... coffee and biscotti. Coffee and Mozart. Even coffee and Zen. No rituals, indeed.

Savoring a great cup of coffee deserves a ritual. It merits taking some time. Paying attention. Freeing yourself to be fully in the moment. We suggest the following:

Grind your coffee. Note the fragrance of the fresh-ground beans... spicy, earthy, perhaps nutty.
Brew your coffee. Enjoy the aroma as it brews... heady and full of promise.
Pour your coffee. Find a comfy place to sit. Feel the cup warm your hand.
Sample the aroma of the cup. Is it sweet? Fruity? Notes of caramel?
Breathe.
Sip your coffee. Go ahead... slurp it if you like. Focus on its flavor... is it complex? Is it direct, straightforward?
Breathe out through your nose. Savor the aromas that waft through your sinuses... are there herbal notes? Fruit?
Sip your coffee again. Wiggle your tongue. Does the coffee feel heavy? Viscous? Or is it light and delicate?
Breathe out through your mouth... feel your breath on your tongue. What new flavors and aromas do you sense?
Repeat, as often as you like.

Iced Coffee Recipes

2008-02-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Iced Coffee Recipes

Our flavored coffees (and flavored decafs) make great iced coffee cocktails without the fuss of sticky, calorie-laden syrups. If you're a single-cup coffee fan, you can make delicious iced coffee with your Keurig coffee brewer! Simply brew a single cup of your favorite coffee (we recommend a small cup) and follow our basic technique for a flavorful iced coffee cocktail.

Nutty Rainforest Freeze

The flavors of caramel and brazil nuts in our Fair Trade Rain Forest Nut® coffee blend delightfully with dairy to make this one of our favorite coolers.

1 cup (6 oz.) Fair Trade Rain Forest Nut coffee (brewed strong)
2 tbsp. heavy cream (or half & half, or…)
2 tsp. Sugar (or 2 packets Splenda)

Use basic technique: brew fresh coffee, add sweetener to hot coffee. Fill shaker with ice, add dairy over ice. Add coffee, shake, strain and serve in chilled glass. Garnish with a sweet strawberry, split and hung on the rim of the glass.

Blueberry Rhapsody

A stunning way to enjoy the fruity flavors of our Wild Mountain Blueberry coffee!

1 cup (6 oz.) Wild Mountain Blueberry coffee (brewed strong)
2 tbsp. heavy cream (or half & half, or…)
2 tsp. Sugar (or 2 packets Splenda)

Uses basic technique. Garnish with fresh blueberries, of course!

Iced Coffee

2008-02-07T21:10:00.001-08:00

Iced Coffee

Hot times! Summer's finally here and we can't help but think of swimming holes, shady porch-swings and a tall cup of coffee.

Coffee?

Sure! Coffee's not just for breakfast any more... or the blustery days of winter, either. When the mercury climbs – or whatever that stuff is they put in thermometers today – all you need are a few handy tools and a little know-how and you can make easy and refreshing treats to see you through the summer heat.

The tools.

You may think you need a fancy blender to make a smooth iced coffee drink. Not so! Our favorite drinks require little more than ice, coffee and some kind of leak proof container to shake ‘em up. Of course, there's really no better tool for the job than a cocktail shaker... We like those that are made of durable, dishwasher-safe stainless steel, and feature a built-in strainer.

For drinks that are stirred, not shaken, you might also consider ice-cube trays. Even if you've got one of those automatic ice-maker gadgets in your freezer, the humble ice-cube tray has its uses... and one of those is to freeze coffee into cubes so that as the ice melts it doesn't dilute your lovely iced coffee beverage.

The ingredients.

We like our iced coffee with a little bit of creamy dairy goodness (Vermont is a dairy state, after all!) and a little bit of sweetener. Having said that, you've got a lot of options... you can use skim milk, or heavy cream, or anything in-between. (Heavy cream often has carrageenan, a natural thickener, added to it to give it added body – this is especially nice in frozen coffee drinks!) As for the sweet stuff: sugar is fine, honey is heavenly, but calorie and carb-neutral sweetening products will work as well – sometimes better. (More about that in a moment.)

The basic technique.

Brew fresh coffee. This is important! Who wants to drink coffee that's been left to cool (and loose its aromatics and flavor?) We like coffee that's to be iced brewed strong... even double-strength.

If you're adding sweetener, add it to the just-brewed, hot coffee and stir to dissolve. Neither sugar nor honey are soluble in cold liquids (but many sugar substitutes are, and can be added directly to your cocktail shaker.)

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Don't skimp... too little ice will leave you with a luke-warm, watery mix.

If you're adding dairy products, pour them over the ice in the cocktail shaker. It's a good idea all around to keep cold with cold until we're ready to bring them all together.

Shake, shake, shake! Add your hot coffee to your cocktail shaker, top with its lid and shake vigorously, all at once rapidly chilling the hot coffee, mixing coffee, sweetener and dairy, and frothing the whole mixture. Shake for no less than ten seconds and rarely more than twenty. Shaking done, simply strain your coffee concoction into a tall, cold glass – maybe even a classy martini glass or two – and enjoy.

With the basics in-hand, you can make iced coffee treats tailored to your tastes. To help you get started, here are some of our favorite coffee cocktail recipes.

Here's to a sweet summer!

Brewing a Great Cup of Coffee.

2008-02-07T21:09:00.002-08:00

Brewing a Great Cup of Coffee.

You've heard it before... maybe you've even said it. "But I make terrible coffee!" Don't panic. Brewing delicious coffee isn't difficult, you simply need to mind a few details. The following tips cover most every thing you need to know.

Buy whole bean coffee. Buying and storing our coffee in whole bean form keeps delicate oils and aromas where they belong —in the bean— safely locked away from their primary enemy, oxygen.

Store unopened bags of our coffee in a cool, dry place. We eliminate most of the oxygen in our bags by flushing them with nitrogen, an inert gas that won't cause staling. After you open the bag, store unused beans in an air-tight canister.

Don't buy more coffee than you'll use in a matter of weeks. With our Café EXPRESS program, you can have fresh coffee delivered to your door when you choose, so you don't need to worry about running out!

Grind your beans just before brewing... and be sure to choose a grind appropriate for your brewing method. Grind coarsely for use in a coffee press, less so for a vacuum pot. Grind fairly fine for auto drip.

Always use fresh, good-tasting, cold water. Brewed coffee is about 98% water, after all.

Measure your coffee. Tastes vary widely, but a good place to start is between 1 and 2 tablespoons for each 6 ounces of water. Too little coffee won't make a weaker brew... it'll make a bitter brew. If your coffee is stronger than you like, you can always dilute it with additional hot water.

Brew your coffee using clean equipment. Whatever your method of brewing, start with sparkling clean gear.

Enjoy your coffee immediately... or store it for an hour or two in a thermal carafe. Don't let your coffee sit on a warming plate.

Cupping Coffee

2008-02-07T21:09:00.001-08:00

Cupping Coffee

Cupping coffees is one of the most unique aspects of our craft. It involves intense focus as we bring all our senses to bear on the cup in front of us... punctuated by noisy, explosive slurps. (It might look and sound silly, but it's a very effective way to taste!)

When we "cup" coffees, we formally evaluate their qualities using very precise sensory criteria. For cupping, we roast coffees very lightly, so that nuances of the coffee's own flavors and aromas aren't obscured by the roasting process itself. We then grind and brew these coffees in open bowls, and judge their merits on the following qualities:

Fragrance: We evaluate the fragrance of the just-ground coffee, before it's brewed. The coffee's fragrance can speak volumes about the coffee's origin, and the care of its processing.
Aroma: We judge the aroma of the brewed coffee. Coffee's aromas vary dramatically from origin to origin. Some have floral qualities, others offer citrus and fruit, even wood and earth.
Acidity: Acidity, or brightness, is not the PH level of the coffee, and an "acidy" coffee won't upset your stomach... instead, it will make your taste-buds tingle. Bright coffees offer a pleasing tang on the tongue.
Flavor: The diversity in coffee's flavor from origin to origin is astonishing... even coffees from the same origin surprise us!
Body: The coffee's body is the sensation of weight or texture that it offers on the tongue. Full-bodied coffees may be buttery or even syrupy.
Finish: We call the sensations that remain in the mouth when the coffee is gone its finish, or aftertaste. Some coffees impart a sweet, lingering finish; others are more direct, even abrupt.
Balance: Evaluating a coffee's balance is really about how all its individual flavors and taste sensations come together. Balance tends to separate good coffees from great coffees, in which the overall composition is somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

Throughout our process of evaluation it's important to keep in mind where a particular coffee is from. Qualities that are highly desirable in an American coffee —bright, citrus aromas and clean, polished flavors — are not the same qualities that are desired in coffees from Indonesia, where a more muted acidity and a lush, lyrical body is the norm.

Roasting & Blending Coffee

2008-02-07T21:08:00.002-08:00

Roasting & Blending Coffee

Roasting is a craft that's part art, and part science. It involves matching roast temperature and time with a given bean to maximize its potential. When you start with beans of great character, it's crucial that you roast them appropriately, so as not to obscure the coffee's origin flavors and aromas.

That's precisely what we do... in fact, we call our approach, Appropriate Roast™. Even our darkest roasts (our French Roast, for example) take care always to respect the integrity of the coffee.

We apply the same principles to our blends. We roast and blend carefully to develop the unique character of all of a blend's origin coffees.

The result? A large and varied palette of flavors to blend with. It's that palette that makes it possible to create our signature blends, like Vermont Country Blend® and Nantucket Blend®. It's extra effort, sure... but we think you'll agree it's worth it.

Sourcing Coffee

2008-02-07T21:08:00.001-08:00

Sourcing Coffee

We travel to coffee-growing countries the world over not only to discover great new coffees, but to strengthen our relationships with our current coffee producers.

Working side-by-side with coffee farmers allows us to identify opportunities to improve the process... from choosing the the best coffee varietals to plant and grow, to ensuring the health of the coffee trees and the overall ecosystem. We may find a cooperative would benefit from a new coffee drying patio, or better source of fresh water or power. Often we can help finance these improvements.

It's immensely satisfying to find a coffee producer that has the potential to grow exceptional coffee, and then to help them get there. It would be a simple thing to simply dictate quality standards. It's far more effective —and ultimately, more rewarding— to work with our growers to ensure they attain them.

Lending a Hand

2008-02-07T21:07:00.003-08:00

Lending a Hand

Farming has its rewards. It builds strong families, and it can be a healthy lifestyle, deeply rooted in nature. But it's often the only choice of rural inhabitants in developing countries to provide for their families.

Like family farmers everywhere, coffee growers are well aware that farming is a risky business, and some things are simply out of their control. A spell of bad weather can ruin a bountiful crop. And a turn in the market can render a great crop unprofitable.

For too many years now, the global commodity price for coffee has been at historic lows. An oversupply —a glut, really— of cheap, low-quality coffee from newly-planted growing regions has depressed the coffee market price under the point of profitability. While buyers of quality beans, like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, have a long tradition of paying farmers prices substantially above the commodity market price, the specialty grade beans we buy comprise just 5 to 10% of the total global crop.

Programs like Fair Trade help a lot of farmers who are members of coffee cooperatives, but a great many family farms remain out of their reach. To extend our own reach, we've partnered with Coffee Kids, Heifer International and Grounds for Health. And, where we can, we invest directly into coffee communities in need, with the goals of creating ever-greater self-sufficiency, and ever-improved coffee quality.

If we can help our producer partners to grow, harvest and process more coffee that meets our high standards, then we can buy more of that farmer's crop. And farmers that can develop a direct market for their quality coffee with roasters like us can better withstand stormy commodity market prices. We believe it's our responsibility to help steward the sustainability of our industry by helping coffee farmers, and their communities, develop a strong future.

We're committed to quality. We're committed to our growers, and to our relationships. Together, we'll help our farmers —our partners— weather the storm.

Processing Coffee

2008-02-07T21:07:00.001-08:00

Processing Coffee

A farmer of high-grown coffees on a finca or co-op in Central America wouldn’t dream of dry-processing his hard, dense and fruity beans… he’d probably sooner leave them on the tree (which, in countries like Yemen is a not an altogether unusual practice).

And while it might occur to the farmer in Sumatra to wet-process his beans, to gently ferment them to loosen the sweet pulp, and then to carefully sun-dry the result (precisely as that finca in Costa Rica or Guatemala has done for generations) it’s likely our farmer in Sumatra wouldn’t find much of a market for his beans. While there’d be nothing wrong with the resulting coffee, neither would it have the cup characteristics long associated with the origin.

But even tradition can’t begin to explain why coffee growing regions that may not have an abundance of water resources – Kenya, say, or Ethiopia – have come to rely on wet processing for their specialty coffee crop. It can be argued that these regions have an ample natural resource… the sun! As it happens, there are regions within Ethiopia that that dry-process and sun-dry their coffees, to wonderful effect… it’s just this process that gives us the celebrated Ethiopian Harrar coffee.

Ultimately it’s all about the coffee itself, and the potential found within. Dry-processing yields lovely mocha-like flavors in an Ethiopian coffee – winey and wild and fruity – but wet-processing yields something altogether different: explosively perfumed aromatics, sparkling citrus, vibrant, flowered fruit… flavors and aromatics that make Ethiopian Yirgacheffe arguably the most distinctive coffee in the world.

While geography and tradition still play a role, theirs is a bit part compared to the starring role commanded by the coffee crop, itself.

Growing Coffee

2008-02-07T21:05:00.001-08:00

Growing Coffee

And labor it is… prized coffee trees must be carefully tended if they are to produce an abundance of coffee cherries. Soil must drain well, be slightly acidic and rich with minerals. Weeds and creepers must be kept in check, but not eliminated; they cling to precious soil that might otherwise wash down the mountain slopes. Finally, coffee trees must be shaded from harsh sun, so a canopy of banana, nut and other fruit and hardwoods is planted and tended, too.

When the coffee cherries ripen, it’s all-hands to the harvest. It’s back-breaking work to hand pick the fruit on these steep, tangled slopes… and picking is done exclusively by hand, as only the ripest cherries will do. Fruit that’s too ripe will be sorted out in later processing, but under-ripe fruit is left on the tree for later pickings. Each tree will be visited as many as four times over the precious few days that ripeness is at is peak.

At day’s end, weary coffee-pickers haul their sacks of cherries down the steep slopes, and empty them onto burlap mats, where everyone joins in to pick out any green cherries, twigs and leaves. The cleaned cherries are carefully weighed. There’s good-natured rivalry here… ribbing for those who picked less than their usual; a sense of accomplishment for those who’ve picked most. It’s not just pride involved, however; workers are paid by how much they’ve picked, not by how long they’ve labored.

While the coffee pickers collect their day’s pay and head for home, the fresh-picked coffee cherries have only begun their journey… within hours the sweet, picked fruit will begin to ferment in its own skin. Uncontrolled, that ferment will flavor the coffee beans inside. If the beans taste of ferment, despite the care they’ve seen in growing and harvesting, they’re practically worthless.

Penny Universities

2008-02-07T21:04:00.002-08:00

Penny Universities

First offered by apothecaries in Venice and street vendors in Milan, coffee found footing in Vienna by way of a failed Ottoman invasion, and found the fancy of Germany’s upper crust: it inspired Johann Sebastian Bach’s Coffee Cantata, and obsessed Ludvig van Beethoven, who was rumored to grind precisely 60 beans for his morning cup.

It was in London, however, where coffee –and coffee houses– became the rage. The first London coffee house opened at Oxford University in 1650, and by 1700 more than 2000 coffeehouses dotted the London landscape. Early coffeehouses served more than coffee; they also served as hotbeds of conversation, politics and commerce. One coffeehouse might serve as a gathering place for physicians, another for actors, or musicians, or lawyers or clergy. These gathering places became known as Penny Universities… for the price of a cup of coffee, one could sit for hours and participate in the discourse of the day.

Or, one could conduct his business of the day… and a great many did. Mr. Edward Lloyd’s coffee house catered largely to merchants and sailors of the day, as well as the underwriters who met over coffee to offer insurance. In time, Lloyd’s Coffee House became Lloyd’s of London, the storied insurance company. Likewise, other coffeehouses –centers for news, currency and futures markets– became newspapers, banks, and stock exchanges, many of which thrive still today. Behold, the power of coffee!

While coffee flourished in Arabian lands

2008-02-07T21:04:00.001-08:00

While coffee flourished in Arabian lands, the legend of its powers of sobriety and mental clarity quickly spread far beyond Arabian borders.

While its historic roots are still shrouded in legend, by the middle 15th century the people of Arabia were roasting and brewing coffee to enjoy a beverage much as we know it today. Wine was forbidden to Moslems, so coffee became an integral part of Arabian society. Sharing coffee became ritual, and should a man of Arabia to fail to provide his wife with coffee, it was grounds for divorce.

Venetian traders were introduced to coffee by Arabian merchants, who'd insist on a cup as they bartered and bargained for hours. Soon coffee was offered by apothecaries in Venice — by prescription only. Some feared the power of "the devil's cup" and brought coffee before Pope Clement VII, hopeful he might condemn it from Christendom. To their dismay, Clement immensely enjoyed the beverage, and baptized it, so that all could enjoy the beverage without guilt… and without a prescription.

While Arab traders were keen to ship boiled or parched seeds the entire world over, they were careful to never allow beans or cuttings that could create new coffee plants to leave Arabian borders... coffee had become so precious to them, it was made illegal to export fertile beans.

On pilgrimage to Mecca in the middle 1600s, Baba Budan, a revered holy man from India, discovered for himself the wonders of coffee. In his zeal to share what he’d found with his fellows at home, he smuggled seven coffee beans out of Arabia, wrapped around his belly. On his return home, he planted the beans in the hills of Mysore, India, and nurtured the young coffee bushes that resulted. Coffee flourished in the hills of India – hills now named after Baba Budan.

In short order, enterprising Dutch traders bought some of these coffee plants, and shipped them to faraway colonies in Indonesia and Ceylon. The Arabian monopoly of the coffee trade was over, and the Western world was waking up to a new aroma… one that would play a fateful role in Europe, and beyond.

The Legend of Kaldi

2008-02-07T21:03:00.001-08:00

The Legend of Kaldi

Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Ethiopia —or maybe Abyssinia, it was a very long time ago, after all— there lived a young goatherd named Kaldi.

By all accounts (and there are many, as the story has been retold many, many times) Kaldi was a very responsible young man, and not one to do foolish things. Every day Kaldi would set his goats to grazing in the hills that surrounded his village, and every evening his loyal goats would return home. This, of course, would suggest that the goats were the responsible parties. How foolish is it, after all, to just turn your goats loose into the hills every morning? But, back to our story...

One evening, Kaldi's goats did not return home. The young man, no doubt feeling a little foolish by now, searched for his herd all through the night, and as morning broke he found them, leaping and dancing with reckless abandon and apparent glee round a stand of shiny, dark-leafed shrubs with bright red berries. Kaldi took in the scene before him, amazed. He soon decided it must be the berries that caused such reckless behavior in his otherwise responsible goats, and — forgetting everything his mother told him about eating strange foods from strange places — Kaldi sampled the berries, himself. In no time, he too was dancing gleefully with his goats around the green-leafed shrubs.

Soon, we are told, a wise and learned man passed by —an imam, or monk— trudging sleepily on his way to prayer. The imam rubbed his eyes and took in the scene before him —Kaldi and his goats— dancing gleefully about a stand of shiny, dark-leafed shrubs with bright red berries.

Being both a curious and learned man, the imam gathered some of these berries, himself, and on returning home he studied them. In his experiments with the bright red berries, he roasted them, boiled them and sampled the resulting beverage. He shared what he found with the rest of his fellow monks, and soon none fell asleep at prayers! And so coffee spread from place to place, creating a more gleeful, and wakeful, world.

So what of Kaldi? Perhaps he and his goats are dancing, still.

Coffee. The very word is alive with memory and promise.

2008-02-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Coffee. The very word is alive with memory and promise.

We begin our day with a breakfast cup. Share stories and secrets and laughter over a late afternoon latte. We end a perfect meal with dessert and a dark-roasted demitasse.

Coffee's heady aroma can transport us... to gramma's kitchen table. To that little French bistro, or that memorable Autumn in a quaint Vermont village.

For all the tremendous effort required to grow and harvest coffee — and the passion to select, roast and blend the beans just-so — coffee remains one of life's few simple pleasures.

This is the story of coffee. Of its rich history, its legend and lore—and its long journey from tree to cup.

We begin somewhere between history and lore, with the tale of a young herdsman named Kaldi...

The Story of Coffee

2008-02-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how the secret of coffee was discovered and just how it became popular all over the world?

The discovery of coffee
It is not known exactly when the first person discovered the effects of the coffee plant and brewed a drink from the berries, but there are two stories about the origins of coffee. The first comes from an Arabian doctor called Rhazes, who mentions it as a medicine from about 900 BC. The second story is about an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi (around 300 AD). Different versions of both stories are told but the basic story remains the same.

The legend of Kaldi
The legend tells the story of Kaldi the goatherd, who lived in Ethiopia about 300 AD. He noticed that after the goats had been eating red berries from a tree, they were lively and energetic until late in the evening. He tried the red berries himself and experienced the same effect. He mentioned this to the monks in the nearby monastery, who from then on took the berries to stay awake during the nightly prayer gatherings. By chance they discovered that the beans could be roasted and that a beverage prepared from the roasted beans not only produced the same effect, but also tasted far better. The coffee beans and the beverage made from them, were from then on regarded as a luxurious stimulant.

Coffee spreads around the world
The first systematic cultivation of coffee began in the terraced gardens of the Yemen, and with help of the Islamic pilgrims going to Mecca and Medina the use of coffee spread to the Near East. Later the cultivation spread to Arabia and Egypt, where drinking coffee (or "Kahweh") soon became a daily habit.

From the early 17th Century coffee become known in Europe and its popularity grew very quickly. Coffee houses sprang up everywhere, especially in Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France and Germany. Early in the 18th century, the Dutch spread the cultivation of coffee to Indonesia; the French took some plants to Martinique while the Spanish started plantations in the Caribbean, Central America and Brazil.

It was in 1753 that the story of Douwe Egberts begins.

Coffee today
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, followed by Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia. Many other countries produce coffee but they have a smaller output.

So who drinks it? Well, many of us drink coffee, from North to South, from East to West, from morning till night. We have many recipes and many rituals, and everyone knows coffee! More than 20 million people world wide are estimated to work in the coffee- industry or related businesses.

History Of Coffee

2008-02-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

There are countless legends built around coffee and as is common in this kind of story, dreams and fantasy get mixed with reality.

One of these legends takes place in the Yemen, a place near "Chehodet" monastery. A herd of goats was grazing in the rough hillsides of the region, when the goatherds realised that some had strayed. They went to the mountain to search for them and there, they discovered that the animals were unusually excited and that they were chewing the red fruits and leaves of an unknown bush.

The goatherds quickly told the Chehodet monks about it and they, feeling curiosity, decided to study those bushes that had been ignored till then.

One day, one of the monks put some branches loaded with berries near the fire. He wanted to dry them, so that they could use them during the rains.

Absent-mindedly, he forgot them and the berries began to be roasted spreading a subtle smell, which could be felt around the whole monastery and astonished the community.

A short time after that, another monk took the beans out of the fire and ground them with a stone. With the powder he obtained, he prepared the usual beverage.

They discovered, not only that the beverage was better like that, but also that its properties remained undamaged.

Coffee History

2008-02-07T20:52:00.002-08:00

Coffee History

According to a coffee history legend, an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon determined that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria and after trying the cherries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. The stimulating effect was then exploited by monks at a local monastery to stay awake during extended hours of prayer and distributed to other monasteries around the world. Coffee was born.

Despite the appeal of such a legend, recent botanical evidence suggests a different coffee bean origin. This evidence indicates that the history of the coffee bean beagan on the plateaus of central Ethiopia and somehow must have been brought to Yemen where it was cultivated since the 6th century. Upon introduction of the first coffee houses in Cairo and Mecca coffee became a passion rather than just a stimulant.

Espresso Tamping

2008-02-07T20:52:00.001-08:00

Espresso Tamping

Espresso Tamping is an art that is often neglected in espresso preparation. The goal is to create a pellet of coffee through which the hot water from the espresso machine will penetrate evenly. Since the water from the espresso machine is under pressure, the espresso pellet must be hard and evenly tamped. The water only knows how to go from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure. Therefore it is important to prevent paths of least resistance in the coffee pellet and force the water to evenly permeate and extract the coffee.

This chapter assumes that one has read and understood how to dose the coffee properly. After the ground coffee has been dosed into the porta-filter it is unevenly distributed. Hold the porta-filter in one hand while using the other hand to quickly, but gently level the coffee. This is usually accomplished by pulling the coffee to one side of the basket with a slightly curled pinky, then pushing the coffee back to the opposite side of the basket (Picture 2). The key is to evenly distribute the coffee without pressing into the grounds or leaving any empty space on the sides of the basket.

Correct Espresso Tamping

Once you are done distributing the grounds, it is time for the first tamp. Without moving the porta-filter, hold the espresso tamper so that the base of the handle fits into the palm of your hand. Your wrist should be straight, and the espresso tamper should be a straight extension of your arm. Press gently on the coffee with five pounds of pressure (Picture 3). You will notice that some of the grounds will stick to the side of the basket. Therefore, one must gently tap the basket with the handle on the porta-filter to knock the grounds onto the flat pellet you just formed (Picture 4).

The next step is to apply the finishing espresso tamp (Picture 5). The shape of the pellet has already been formed, and the finishing tamp confirms this impression. With the tamping tool held as before, press on the pellet with thirty pounds of pressure. It is useful to tamp espresso on a bathroom scale until you become comfortable with the amount of force necessary to achieve the appropriate pressure. After tamping, turn the espresso tamper 720° while continuing to apply pressure to polish the surface. Make sure you tamp evenly. An uneven espresso tamp will result in an uneven extraction.

The above steps should be carried out in about thirty seconds. Although speed is important, it is necessary to be careful not to bump the basket during this process. Sharply hitting the basket will unevenly distribute the grounds allowing shortcuts for the water to pass through. As any scientist can appreciate, the path of least resistance is preferred. If there are any weak spots or holes in the espresso pellet the water will push through this area, over extracting this portion of coffee while under extracting the rest of the pellet. Improper espresso tamping will result in a twirling pour or white crema.

Check the spacing above the espresso pellet and below the dispersion screen. You can do this by dosing, distributing, and tamping as described above. Then insert the porta-filter and remove it. Does the screen or screw press down onto the coffee? If so, the coffee will not have enough room to expand as it is brewing. On the other hand you want to have between 16-18 grams of coffee in the basket. Experiment with these two factors until you achieve a good height for the espresso pellet.

Choosing the Correct Espresso Tamper

Just as correct espresso tamping is essential, so is the use of a proper espresso tamper. The first action you should take is to throw away the plastic round bottom tamper that you currently have. The espresso tamper should be made of aluminum or similar light metal and should have a diameter so it fits firmly into the basket. Marzocco baskets are 58mm, so order the appropriate size. Without a flat packing surface, you create indents which cause uneven extraction. You may order your espresso tamper from Vivace's which sells several different size pistons to perfectly fit your basket. Currently, Vivace's has recommended the use of a round bottom coffee tamper rather than the traditional flat bottom tamping machines. This suggestion is welcome to further discussion. Currently, my observations do not support the conclusion that the rounded bottom tamper is better. Initial crema is thicker, but overall crema is less. I will continue tests with other espresso machines and with other espresso blends. You should also order the book "Espresso Coffee: Professional Techniques," a great book on espresso preparation.

An Espresso Timeline

2008-02-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

PR: 4

I: 20,600

L: 75

LD: 6,123

I: 104000

Rank: 10869

Age: Jan 23, 1998

I: 0

whois

source

Density

Links: 0|1

An Espresso Timeline

1901

Luigi Bezzera files a patent for machine that contained a boiler and four "groups". Each group could take varying sized filters that contained the coffee. Boiling water and steam were forced through the coffee and into the cup. Ambrogio Fumagelli (see ref. later) claims that this was the birth of espresso coffee.

1903

Bezzera's patent purchased by Desiderio Pavoni.

1905

The Pavoni company begins manufacturing machines based on the Bezzera patent.

1927

First espresso machine installed in the USA. A "La Pavoni" machine at Regio's in New York. (Still there on display)

1938

Earlier espresso machines forced steam through the coffee, causing a burnt flavour. In 1938 Cremonesi developed a piston pump that forced hot (but not boiling) water through the coffee. It is first installed at Achille Gaggia's coffee bar but World War II prevented further development at that time.

1946

Gaggia begins manufacturing a commercial piston machine. The resulting coffee has a layer of foam or crema.

The Coffee Museum in London has several interesting machines on display, including this one:

Unfortunately, the museum has no information at all(!) about the machines on display but this machine may well be one of the early Gaggia machines that use a separate heat exchanger to avoid forcing steam through the coffee. (More photos from the museum below.)

1961

Faema launches a pump based machine. Instead of a hand operated piston the water is forced through the coffee by an electric pump. Water is taken from the fresh water supply and travels through a tube that is passed through the boiler and then through the coffee. This allows the water to be at the optimal temperature (~200F), filtered and not have to stay in the boiler for a long period. Almost all modern restaurant machines are essentially this design.

Modern innovations continue in the design of espresso machines. Many of these innovations are designed to produce a consistent product irrespective of the operator.

Some changes are simple, such as precise metering of the amount of water passed through the coffee. Earlier designs were based on the operator deciding when to stop the flow.

Other developments include "fully automatic" machines that grind the beans, froth the milk and deliver a complete cup, all with the touch of a button.

Most of this information (but not the form of words) was obtained from various books, including "Coffeemakers" by Ambrogio Fumagalli. This is a fascinating book of photos of coffee machines from 1800 to 1960 with a little bit of history thrown in. The English version is published by Chronicle Books of San Francisco. The definitive work in the area is "Coffee Floats Tea Sinks" by Ian Bersten.

	A machine of similar style to the one in Regio's New York. (London Coffee Museum)
	An early single group Faema hand pump machine. (London Coffee Museum)

RJK

The Story Of Coffee

2008-01-16T20:16:00.000-08:00

The story of how coffee growing and drinking spread around the world is one of the greatest and most romantic in history. It starts in the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia, where the coffee tree probably originated in the province of Kaffa. There are various fanciful but unlikely stories surrounding the discovery of the properties of roasted coffee beans. One story has it that an Ethiopian goatherd was amazed at the lively behaviour of his goats after chewing red coffee berries. What we know with more certainty is that the succulent outer cherry flesh was eaten by slaves taken from present day Sudan into Yemen and Arabia, through the great port of its day, Mocha, now synonymous with coffee. Coffee was certainly being cultivated in Yemen by the 15th century and probably much earlier than that.

Mocha was also the main port for the one sea route to Mecca, and was the busiest place in the world at the time. But the Arabs had a strict policy not to export any fertile beans, so that coffee could not be cultivated anywhere else. The coffee bean is the seed of the coffee tree, but when stripped of its outer layers it becomes infertile. The race to make off with some live coffee trees or beans was eventually won by the Dutch in 1616, who brought some back to Holland where they were grown in greenhouses.

Initially, the authorities in Yemen actively encouraged coffee drinking as it was considered preferable to the extreme side effects of Kat, a shrub whose buds and leaves were chewed as a stimulant. The first coffeehouses were opened in Mecca and were called 'kaveh kanes'. They quickly spread throughout the Arab world and became successful places where chess was played, gossip was exchanged, and singing, dancing and music were enjoyed. They were luxuriously decorated and each had an individual character. Nothing quite like the coffeehouse had existed before: a place where society and business could be conducted in comfortable surroundings and where anyone could go, for the price of coffee.

The Arabian coffeehouses soon became centres of political activity and were suppressed. Coffee and coffeehouses were subsequently banned several times over the next few decades, but they kept reappearing. Eventually a solution was found when coffeehouses and coffee were taxed.

COFFEE COMES TO ASIA

The Dutch were also growing coffee at Malabar in India, and in 1699 took some to Batavia in Java, in what is now Indonesia. Within a few years the Dutch colonies had become the main suppliers of coffee to Europe. Today Indonesia is the fourth largest exporter of coffee in the world.

COFFEE COMES TO EUROPE

Venetian traders first brought coffee to Europe in 1615. This was a period when the two other great hot beverages also appeared in Europe. Hot chocolate was the first, brought by the Spanish from the Americas to Spain in 1528; and tea, which was first sold in Europe in 1610.

At first coffee was mainly sold by lemonade vendors and was believed to have medicinal qualities. The first European coffeehouse opened in Venice in 1683, with the most famous, Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco, opening in 1720. It is still open for business today.

The largest insurance market in the world, Lloyd's of London, began life as a coffeehouse. It was started in 1688 by Edward Lloyd, who prepared lists of the ships that his customers had insured.

COFFEE COMES TO THE AMERICAS

The first reference to coffee being drunk in North America is from 1668 and, soon after, coffee houses were established in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other towns. The Boston Tea Party Of 1773 was planned in a coffee house, the Green Dragon. Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Bank of New York started in coffeehouses, in what is today the financial district known as Wall Street.

It was in the 1720s that coffee first came to be cultivated in the Americas, through what is perhaps the most fascinating and romantic story in the history of coffee.
Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu was a French naval officer serving in Martinique who in 1720, went to Paris on leave. With assistance and no little personal charm he acquired a coffee tree which he took with him on the ship back. The plant was kept in a glass case on deck to keep it warm and prevent damage from salt water. The journey was eventful, or at least Mr. Mathieu de Clieu's journal of the voyage was. Pirates from Tunis threatened the ship, there was a violent storm and the plant had to be tied down. Our hero faced an enemy on board who was jealous and tried to sabotage the plant. There was a violent struggle in which a branch was torn off, but the plant survived this horror.

Then the ship was becalmed and drinking water was rationed. De Clieu had his priorities right and gave most of his allowance of precious water to the coffee plant. It survived, as did he.

Finally, the ship arrived in Martinique and the coffee tree was re-planted at Preebear, where it was surrounded by a thorn hedge and watched over by slaves. It grew, and multiplied, and by 1726 the first harvest was ready. It is recorded that by 1777, there were between 18 and 19 million coffee trees on Martinique, and the model for a new cash crop that could be grown in the New World was in place.

But it was the Dutch who first started the spread of the coffee plant in Central and South America, where today it reigns supreme as the main continental cash crop. Coffee first arrived in the Dutch colony of Surinam in 1718, to be followed by plantations in French Guyana and the first of many in Brazil at Para. In 1730 the British introduced coffee to Jamaica, where today the most famous and expensive coffee in the world is grown in the Blue Mountains. By 1825, South and Central America were on track towards their coffee destiny. That date is also important as it was when coffee was first planted in Hawaii which produces the only US coffee, and one of the finest.

COFFEE TODAY

For North Americans, the world's largest consumers, Seattle is the new spiritual home of coffee. The wettest major city in the USA gave birth in the 1970s to a café or 'Latte' culture which swept the USA and has dramatically improved the general quality of the coffee Americans drink. Today, any public place in the USA will have one or more coffee carts, serving a variety of coffees, drinks and snacks.

This new found 'coffee culture' has started to spread to the rest of the world. To those countries with great coffee traditions of their own, such as Italy, Germany, and Scandinavia, added new converts to the pleasures of good coffee. Today it is possible to find good coffee in every major city of the world, from London to Sydney to Tokyo; tomorrow the world will drink more and more importantly, better coffee.

COFFEE IS A GLOBAL COMMODITY

The importance of coffee in the world economy cannot be overstated. It is one of the most valuable primary products in world trade, in many years second in value only to oil as a source of foreign exchange to developing countries. Its cultivation, processing, trading, transportation and marketing provide employment for millions of people worldwide. Coffee is crucial to the economies and politics of many developing countries; for many of the world's Least Developed Countries, exports of coffee account for a substantial part of their foreign exchange earnings in some cases over 80%. Coffee is a traded commodity on major futures and commodity exchanges, most importantly in London and New York.

French Press Coffee - Style And Flavor For Your Coffee

2008-01-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

The French press style of coffee making produces very rich, aromatic and tasty coffee. It uses very coarsely ground coffee that basically steeps in the brewing water for several minutes allowing all the flavours to fully extract from the coffee grinds. Because of the filtering system there is always some sediment which some people don't like.

A French press coffee maker has two parts: a straight-sided container usually made of glass, and a filter-plunger that pushes through the water to filter out the coffee after it has steeped. This plunger also serves as the lid. There are some models of French Press that are insulated which is good for keeping things hot while it steeps.

To brew coffee with a French Press, you should pre-heat the carafe while you boil your water. When ready, empty the carafe, add your coffee, and then add your brewing water. You may wish to stir the coffee grinds around to be sure all of them are in contact with water. You should now put the plunger/lid on the pot to help retain heat. DO NOT press it down yet, it needs to steep for about four minutes (a little more or less depending the coarseness of the grind).

Once you feel the coffee has brewed enough, slowly depress the plunger trapping the grounds on the bottom. Do not force the plunger. If it doesn't want to go down, simply lift the plunger up slightly and try again. The filter can jam on grinds that are too fine. Just take your time and it will work.

Despite what some may say, it is usually best to decant the coffee into an insulated serving pot. If you leave the coffee in the French Press it will remain in contact with the grinds and keep brewing. This will quickly ruin your coffee. The other main reason to pour your coffee off is to keep it warm. French Press pots are not well insulated and coffee cools off very quickly.

Play with the brewing time and grind coarseness until you get the taste that you like best. Once you've done that you will have some of the tastiest coffee anywhere.

Coffee Press The Original Coffee Maker

2008-01-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

It's been around since the late 1800's but really coming into it's own in the early 1900's, the coffee press is a hot coffee brewing device that at first glance looks very simplistic but brews a cup of coffee like no other. Ask any coffee enthusiast about a coffee press pot and chances are you're in for a chat that will last longer then just a minute or two. It's the ultimate brewer to create a fabulous smelling, aroma rich, wonderful flavored, coffee.

How Does A Coffee Press Work?

A coffee press, as mentioned looks like a very simple device, basically like a coffee maker carafe with a rod down the center connected to a round filter. The filter via the rod can be moved from the top to the bottom of the glass carafe, this allows you to separate the coffee grounds from the water.

So how does it actually work? Coffee beans are first ground very coarse, they need to be more coarse then you would use in a drip coffee machine so that when the boiling water is poured over them the water can absorb the flavor, aroma, and acids from the beans. Water is boiled and poured over the grounds with the plunger filter out. The filter is replaced inside the carafe, the rod is pushed downwards into the carafe to separate the grounds form the water, leaving you with a aroma rich pot of coffee.

Pros and Cons of a Coffee Press

Of course any device has it's pros and cons, a coffee press is no different. A die hard coffee fan will surely appreciate the rich flavor textured coffee it produces. Not to mention it doesn't require any paper filters. Of course there is a downside, coffee from a press should be drank almost immediately to really take advantage of the flavor, also there can be some sediment left at the bottom of your cub due to the coarse grounds that are used. Some believe that the sediment that is left can cause your cup to go bitter.

All in all a coffee press is the original way to make a cup of coffee. While things have changed greatly due to technology, it's still a standard for many. Of course an electric machine is faster and easier to use, it doesn't produce the same exquisite taste found from a press. For those that are looking for a time saving option in the morning for their coffee, stick with your auto drip machine, but if you're looking for that all natural wonderfully brewed cup of joe consider a press, even if it's just for the weekends.

Coffee Tables - A Home Without A Coffee Table Is A Home That Is Incomplete.

2008-01-13T15:28:00.002-08:00

While there has been a movement to omit coffee tables from today’s décor, a room without one seems partially empty. It noticeably shows that something is missing. For instance a loveseat and a sofa grouped without a coffee table is extremely open, too open. While that open void of a space is the goal of many designers these days, it lacks a convenient space to rest anything you are dealing with, whether it’s a scrapbook or photos, a laptop computer or, of course, a cup of coffee. Even the best conceived furniture groupings lack places to rest things that inevitably end up in your hands. How frustrating would it be to be forced to hold your coffee cup until you had finished your drink? Or to be forced to balance things on your lap all the time, because there was no table available to set them down?

Coffee tables are a source for a lot of socialization. This is where people sit and sip their drink while talking, or possibly gossiping to one another. If people are uncomfortable talking, because they are forced to balance their coffee or hold it the whole time, they may be more focused on where they could put their drink, instead of giving you the best dirt.

Coffee tables also serve another valuable purpose - to define the room. Coffee tables define the space as much as end tables define the grouping in a living space. If you’re designing an L-shaped grouping, the coffee table helps to connect one piece of furniture to another visually. While the two pieces may match, they exist individually until there is a centerpiece that can bridge them. Those centerpieces are often coffee tables.

Of course, coffee tables don’t end on the table top, they also provide much needed storage and flexibility, being able to accommodate today’s lifestyles. Many coffee tables have drawers or shelves below the top that can be used for storage of games, remote controls, magazines or serving pieces such as coasters that you may need to pull out when your guests want a place to put their drinks. Other coffee tables can even serve as eating spaces where the tops can be raised from the base to serve as a secondary table offering. This is convenient for today’s home theaters or a perfect way to change up the space if you want to gather with the family to play video games, watch movies, or be able to eat while you relax.

No matter what décor style you are shooting for in your home, there are coffee tables on the market to suit. While some designers would like to move the coffee tables out of the living room, others are not fans of bucking the tradition, and have kept creating coffee tables in styles ranging from old country rustic to ultra contemporary modern.

Give your coffee a rest, or at least give yourself a place to rest your coffee.

Coffee Cleaning Coffee Makers

2008-01-13T15:28:00.001-08:00

Every restaurant worker is very familiar with the entire process that goes with cleaning coffee makers. A better part of an hour at the end of each shift is spent rinsing out the coffee pitcher for both regular and decaffeinated coffee brands offered. The pitchers were cleaned at the end of the previous shift and some restaurant workers do not feel that they need to be cleaned again.

It is easy to tell which restaurants are good about cleaning coffee makers, and which ones do not put their best efforts into getting all of the pieces clean. The taste of the coffee alone will alert customers to whether people have been doing what they are supposed to do at the end of every shift. There is usually one person assigned in a restaurant to make sure that the cleaning of coffee makers is done on a regular schedule.

The coffee pitchers will give evidence that someone is cleaning coffee makers when they do not have any residue built up on the inside of the glass. Coffee contains oils and these oils will rise to the top of a coffee server and by the end of the shift the residue will cling to the sides and form a full sized ring at the top that gives evidence of how full the pitcher was most of the time during the shift.

There are sanitizing agents that restaurants use for cleaning coffee makers. Many of the parts to a coffee service can not be put into a sanitizing machine where plates and dishes are washed. The plastic on the coffee server system will melt from the high heat environment inside of this aluminum dishwashing machine.

People can use degaussing wands and bleach for cleaning coffee makers in any environment. The use of degaussing wands takes a bit of practice because they must be inserted through a special access hole in any commercial coffee maker. Cleaning coffee makers with a degaussing wand allows the inner tubing to be cleansed. Most commercial coffee makers have an automatic water line that needs to be routinely cleaned out to keep the line free and clear of lime and other deposits.

Cleaning coffee makers and associated machine parts with bleach is a relatively simple process that takes about 15 minutes to complete. All parts of the coffee machine that are removable must be submerged in a 3 to 1 bleach and water mixture for at least 15 minutes but preferably 30 minutes. The longer bleaching time will ensure that all pieces are sanitized and ready for use on the next shift.

There are granulated crystals for cleaning coffee makers that are available at Walmart and other discounted retailers. Careful use of these crystals for cleaning coffee makers is recommended because overuse can cause the gaskets inside the machine to wear out long before they are supposed to.

Some people choose not to purchase these granules that are specifically made for cleaning coffee makers, and try out the granular cleanser that they use in their automatic dishwasher. These cleansers are not formulated for this purpose, and many people find themselves back at Walmart or some other discount store looking for another coffee maker.

Coffee: Is It Getting Too Complicated?

2008-01-13T15:27:00.001-08:00

Plain coffee is fast becoming a thing of the past. It's now quite simple to whip up a gourmet hot beverage for guest, family, or just for yourself. Nowadays there are a number of coffee clubs and circles in which coffee drinking has become somewhat of a social club. These social clubs meet in the community or on the Internet.

Where did the good old days go where you could get just a regular, good cup of coffee all across America.

It's all because there is a big craze over coffee these days. People are almost worshipping the coffee bean now. People get a thrill out of ordering and buying special coffees from specialty stores. They really like grinding their own coffee beans. They like visiting places such as Costa Rica and bringing back their special blends. And "coffee tasting" seems to be about as popular as "wine tasting".

They even have furniture and home interior designs with a coffee theme. This would make great gifts for the coffee buff.

Coffee got its beginnings around 900 A.D. where it was at first used as a stimulant. It was also at times used as a wine and a medicine. It doesn't look like anything is much different today.

There are not many products such as coffee that have continued "as is" for hundreds of years. And yet people are still scrutinizing and getting creative with it today and probably will be for years to come.

What is also interesting is that coffee is second to oil in dollar volume as a world commodity.

Did you know that there is two times more caffeine in a pound of tea than in the same amount of roasted coffee? This may be good news for those of you who hate the taste of decaffeinated coffee however wait just one moment. A pound of tea will make about 160 cups whereas a pound of coffee will usually make about 40 cups. This means that a cup of tea has about 1/4th the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

The content of caffeine in coffee decreases as it is grown at higher altitudes. If you want less caffeine in your coffee, grow it higher. Gourmet coffees are typically grown at higher altitudes so they have less caffeine than their grocery store counterparts.

There are many different types of coffee beans and way too many to describe in this article. Here are just a few of them:

You have Latte, Espresso, Low-Fat, Organic, Cal, Decaf, Half-Decaf, Black Forest, Cappuccino, Cafe au Lait, Alpine which has brown sugar, Arabian (lightly spiced and without filter), Cafe con Miel (Spanish for coffee with honey), and Cafe de Olla (a sweet coffee made with chocolate).

And you really should attend a coffee tasting at least once. You will get to experience how making and brewing gourmet coffee is slowly becoming a form of art. What is fun about the coffee tasting is that you could get a chance to taste two dozen or more different blends. You may even leave to start your journey as a coffee connoisseur. Any way you look at it, the tasting experience will be fun if you like coffee.

Are You Looking For Gourmet Coffee?

2008-01-13T15:26:00.001-08:00

Taste

The perception of gourmet coffee is characteristically rich and luxurious. But if you are a true coffee lover, fresh gourmet coffee has a flavor that can't be beat. It's rich, full-bodied Taste is a daily necessity to millions of people. But everyone's taste in coffee is uniquely there own. Find other articles on coffee at http://www.lool-lool.blogspot.com/

Coffee perceptions great by themselves, but for an extra special flavor sensation, try gourmet flavored coffee. Not all these flavors are everyone's "cup of tea", but the taste sensations of gourmet flavored coffee give you a new outlook on your cup of joe. You can taste the sweet caramel just as you can smell the aroma of the freshly ground coffee nearby.

The differentiation may seem miniscule, but the gourmet coffee or tea you beverage will Taste completely divers. More importantly, all the variances affect the flavor and aroma. Many coffee drinkers are not aware of how gourmet coffee should taste since their senses have been desensitized with below-par coffees.

Beans

The gourmet coffee bean is considered to be among the finest coffee beans in the world. Out of these varieties, fine gourmet coffee beans are obtained mainly from the species Coffee Arabica. The gourmet coffee beans are offered in a variety of dissimilar serving sizes.

When brewing your own gourmet coffee blend in your kitchen, you have a choice of fresh ground coffee beans from fine Italian Espressos to the rare and exotic Indonesian Kopi Luwak. You want the best cup of coffee you can get, right? If so it pays to do some research and ask questions about what you're buying.

When doing your legwork for the perfect gourmet coffee, there are a number of things to be cautious about. One thing you should know is whether the beans are fresh Arabian beans blended with stale French Roast. Are the coffee beans roasted in house or locally, or are they shipped from across the country to sit on a shelf waiting for orders. If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted less than 1 week before.

Quality

The dictionary defines gourmet nourishment like this, "Gourmet foodstuff is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented". Commuters can consider making gourmet coffee beverages at home or the office before departing and enjoy it at home or work while spending quality time with the family and coworkers or take it along in a commuter coffee mug. Gourmet coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

As a coffee aficionado, you know that there is some extra work to making excellent coffee than simply brewing it. You need to choose the highest quality beans to get the highest quality coffee. Today you can buy quality wholesale gourmet coffee and the right coffee machine to get the coffee you deserve. In addition, only Arabic beans contain the high quality needed for gourmet coffee beans. The quality of a coffee bean depends vastly on where and how that particular coffee bean is grown.

Grind

By grinding your own coffee beans, you'll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee. The best way to do this is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them with yur own grinding machine as you need it. But be careful: The type of coffee grind that you use is critical in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using. Be sure to ask your coffee merchant which grind is best for you.

Coffee And Your Health

2008-01-13T15:25:00.001-08:00

If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee. Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it. At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame.

Here's a new question that you may have never asked yourself: is coffee ever good for you? The answer may surprise you.

Here is a statistic to ponder: did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone? In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year. But consider this: the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year. That's a lot of coffee!

Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful.

But, since everyone's body is different, we all tolerate things differently. In some people even the smallest amount of caffein can cause nervousness and irritebility. Consider also that a person may consume caffein in other ways besides coffee. And often without knowing about it. For sonme other interesting coffee articles, check out http://www.fmcoffee.com.

A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:

* Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
* Antibacterial ingredients
* Reduce the risk of developing gallstones
* Preserve mental accuity
* Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption
* If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it
* Headache relief
* Reduce the risk of some types of cancer
* Improve physical endurance

This is not to say that there are not some serious negative results of drinking coffee. It is nice to know, however, that a cup or two in the morning may not hurt you. But how do you know for sure? Be sure to talk to your health professional and get their advice on consuming coffee. They (and you) know what conditions you may have that you need to be careful of when it comes to coffee. Then do you research and, if appropriate, enjoy your coffee.

About The Coffee Maker

2008-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

A majority of people wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is fire up the old coffee maker. Most models today are very easy to use, all you need is a filter, some coffee, and running water. Hit the button and you can have a pot of steaming hot coffee in just a few minutes. Today, almost every home has a coffee maker in the kitchen. The fact is, the coffee maker has become a must-have for the kitchen. There are many variations on the coffee maker. The basic model is nothing special ? it brews you a a cup of coffee and that’s it.

However, some advanced models offer much more. Many brands of coffee makers offer automatic shutoff mechanisms. That means that if you leave your coffee maker on for an extended period of time, or forget to turn it off before you leave the house, the machine will shut off automatically after a while. This automatic shutoff mechanism is designed to prevent the coffee maker from starting a fire if left for too long.

Then, there are the more advanced versions of the coffee maker that offer more features. Some advanced models sport timers, which are great for ensuring that you have a pot of steaming coffee before you even wake up in the morning. Set the timer the night before, prepare all of the ingredients, and when you wake up your coffee will already be made. You can save ten to fifteen minutes off your morning just by having a timer on your coffee maker. People can now enjoy all the coffee they want in the comfort of their own homes. Most people probably thought that with more and more coffee shops opening up, coffee makers at home would probably disappear. However, even though coffee shops are springing up everywhere and are more popular than ever, it will probably be a long time before people throw out their coffee makers.

Women And Coffee

2008-01-13T15:23:00.002-08:00

I do not know about you, but for me, coffee drinking, especially in the morning or early evening, is more than a simple habit or cultural characteristic. Actually, it has become a necessity without which I cannot open my eyes and stand on my two feet all day. According to researchers, I am not alone. Nearly 80% of the U.S. population drinks coffee on a daily basis. The caffeine measured to be contained in a cup of coffee, me and you daily consume, is around 80-130 mg. But while the medical community has warned the public of the health risks associated to caffeine intake, there still is very little linking between coffee and health problems, except in a very few cases.

Coffee, which is a beverage served cold or hot, comes from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, almost always referred to as coffee beans. But regardless of its tremendous market success-coffee is the second most commonly traded commodity in the world surpassed only by petroleum-coffee has been blamed to be the cause of a variety of disorders ranging from indigestion to cancer, at one time or another. Since it is the main source of caffeine, which is a stimulant, coffee has had an almost constant role in the news pertaining to health problems in recent years. Surprisingly, most of these warnings and urgent health reports, describing problems like the human airways clogging, are aimed at women.

But while even doctors have been very critical of the role of coffee in women's health, the fact of the matter remains; there is little proof that any risk to women exists from coffee drinking, especially when consumed in moderate amounts. As a matter of fact, reports have even suggested that coffee even lessen the risks of some diseases in women, such as bladder cancer. Unfortunately, since the health problems examined in relation to their linkage with coffee consumption have not yet reached indisputable results, women have reached a stage that it is almost difficult to believe anything involving the health risks of coffee and women.

The reasons why coffee has been getting such a bad reputation are based on the fact that of all drinks containing caffeine, coffee has the highest concentration amount, far exciding that of sodas. In addition, since doctors advice pregnant women to be cautious and avoid caffeinated beverages while carrying an infant, despite there being no evidence of any serious health risks involved, women tend to consider coffee drinking almost as if they were performing some kind of sin and avoid drinking it in fear of the unknown consequences. On the other hand, new research has revealed that coffee is actually beneficial to a person's health. For example, the diuretic effect of coffee has proved that it lessens the incidence of bladder cancer in smokers, and drinking coffee regularly is also reported to lessen the onset of Parkinson's disease.

So, what should we ladies do? The best advice that anyone can believe is the trusted advice of their doctor. Question your doctor if he/she restricts coffee and follow their advice, but stay current on health news. Although it seems impossible to know which study to believe, we have to train ourselves to tell the difference between hypothesis and fact. Being educated about our health will always make us women feel better in the long run.

The Best Ways To Keep Coffee Hot

2008-01-13T15:23:00.001-08:00

Keeping our brew fresh and hot is a big deal for some of us coffee drinkers. There is nothing worse than a tepid mouthful of stale coffee. How you keep your coffee hot depends a little on where you are and what you're doing. What happens to coffee as we keep it warm? Are there things I should never do to keep my coffee warm? Knowing a little more about coffee will help you understand how to keep it hot and tasting great.

This little set of points should help you out in most situations.

- Use a thermal cup or mug for commuting or to keep it hot for short periods of time
- Glass and stainless steel thermos style bottles barely effect coffee taste at all
- French Press brewers (like Bodum) are not good for keeping coffee hot. They continue to brew and can produce very bitter coffee
- Try to not use direct heat from an element or hotplate if possible
- A sealed or closed container slows the loss of essential aromas that influence coffee flavour.
- You get the best flavour from coffee that is kept at least 170F.

There are a number of taste related components in a cup of coffee that change or degrade over time. This means that the taste of a cup of coffee will continue to change, for the worse most would say, just because time passes. The best way to manage this problem is to simply brew smaller amounts of coffee more frequently. As we all know, the best cup of coffee is a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

So as you get your next pot of coffee ready, think about how you are going to consume it. If you plan on having it right away, no problem. But if you are thinking about drinking it over a longer period of time, keep the points we made above in your mind. Plan out how you will keep it hot and tasting fresh. Only then start the brew.

The Clock And Your Cup Of Coffee

2008-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

Is this what your clock shows?:

6:30 am - Coffee's brewing. The rich aroma confirms your day has begun. Time to have a cup and get going.

9:40 am - A break in the day. Whether the day is monotonous or frenzied, your coffee break tells you that time is moving forward.

12:30 pm - Lunch time and time to clock out. A work mate joins you at the local lunch spot where you hash over the hassles of the day, talk about your family and discuss your plans for the yearly vacation. Lunch winds down with a cup of joe.

3:00 pm - The afternoon is neither beginning nor ending. A cup of coffee is just what you need to get a boost. Taking a moment to chat with a fellow worker at the coffee pot doesn't hurt either.

8:00 pm - Meeting up with friends for dinner is is a great way to end the day. Drinks, some appy's and a good meal along with conversation that lingers over coffee makes for a fine finale.

Does your day go something like this? Is coffee keeping your day on schedule?

HOW MUCH ARE WE DRINKING?

With Americans drinking an estimated 300 million cups of coffee every day, it is no surprise that our day, and our social interactions are often associated with having a cup of coffee.

The trend towards 'specialty' coffees has only added to our national pastime.

The SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) reports that DAILY specialty coffee consumption rose from 9% of the adult population in 2000 to 16% in 2004. Occasional indulgence is a staggering 56%!

The sales from cafes alone (not including purchased bean sales) was a whopping $8.47 billion in 2003!

Do we stop there? No. We take those beans home to brew as well - and so our cycle goes on.

It brings up the question:

If there was no coffee - would the clock tick? Would the clocks stop? How would we get from one point in the day to another with nothing to measure the time going by?

WHAT ABOUT NON-DRINKERS?

Whether you personally feel that coffee controls your day, it might be valuable for you to take a moment and reflect on how our society is turning coffee into an established routine rather than a simple beverage.

Does this leave non-drinkers out? Has coffee replaced smoking as the social connection? Clearly the hazards are not the same, but the addiction might be. Just to be sure, why not replace the occasional coffee with another drink or even the odd decafe - you'll be enjoying the social aspects as much as the drink in your hand!

And by the way...stop watching the clock!

Is Coffee Good Or Bad For You?

2008-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

Did you know that coffee is the primary part of dietary antioxidants? Now let's be clear: that does not mean that your morning coffee is a substitute for fruits and vegetables. But serious java drinkers will surely get a jolt from the news that coffee is a top resource of disease-fighting antioxidants. Current analysis reveals that, taken in moderation, coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. You may see some additional coffee related information at http://www.lool-lool.blogspot.com/

Coffee is one of the few beverages that is consumed world-wide. It is consumed in most countries of the world and coffee is the second most widely traded commodity in the world (behind petroleum) and one of the most widely consumed beverages. It may be a world commodity that is second only to oil, but an excellent cup of coffee tastes a lot better than an excellent cup of petroleum. And, in today's world of high fuel prices, a lot more fun to consume.

So, can we call coffee a health foodstuff? Well, that may be stretching it! Caffeine, which is the "guts" of the coffee, is one of the world's most widely used drugs, and it has been part of the human diet for centuries.

Caffeine is one heck of a stimulant and is the element that gives coffee and many other beverages their jolt. It is definitely a central-nervous-system stimulant. It acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system and both regular and decaf coffee can irritate the stomach. Drinking caffeine in boundless amounts as coffee or tea (which may actually have more caffeine than coffee) over a short period of time has been shown to raise blood sugar. So if you are prone to blood sugar issues, beware! And, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, lower your current caffeine intake to less than 300 milligrams a day or three cups of coffee. Or, to be safe, cut it out altogether.

But you should be able to look forward to a early-day cup for reasons beyond the caffeine rush. The general conclusion is that moderate amounts of caffeine do not lead to arrhythmias and drinking a modest account of coffee should not increase your risk. Check with your health professional to be sure, though.

So, is coffee injurious? Surely you should be aware that some experts argue that coffee is bad for you. And nobody is saying coffee is entirely benign. But if you have reasonable health and enjoy drinking coffee, an excellent cup of coffee is worth it. But remember, coffee is not for everyone.

Well, I must go. I need to refill my cup of coffee.

Coffee Wedding Favors

2008-01-13T14:47:00.002-08:00

Think for a second about your daily routine and try to picture everything you do in the morning. You probably get out of bed and make some coffee so you can really wake up and get going on all the things you have to do during the day whether it be working in the office or working out at the gym, you count on that morning cup of coffee to really start your day off with some energy. So, it seems like you might have found the perfect wedding favor for the guests you care so much about.

Help them be successful in their daily endeavors by helping them out with their daily coffee in the morning. Try giving out special brews or coffee accessories such as mugs, scoops, measuring spoons, or even special sweeteners.

Don’t be afraid to break out of tradition and give your guests what you know they really want…something they can use every day, something that will help them. They’ll remember your wedding every time they take a sip of their freshly brewed coffee.

Maybe some of your guests are tea drinkers, possibly some just have never gotten used to the taste of coffee. Don’t worry, it’s easy to find unique teas and tea wedding favors online, just like you can find personalized coffee brews and sets. If you’re still wondering how it’s possible to give your guests the gift of brewed success, then check out some of these wedding favor suggestions.

Personalized Coffee Packets:

These packets of coffee come sold in a pack of 12 and each individual package brews 8 to 10 cups of coffee. The front says “Premium Blend” and the names of the bride and groom; a testament to the eternal bond that you enter into on your wedding day. These packets of coffee are aesthetically pleasing and go perfectly well with any wedding theme. Try putting them into a cup and saucer set that you pick out to match your personal style or theme to make these wedding favors really pop out at your guests but fit into your dream.

Personalized Tea Bag Favors:

For the guests at your party that don’t drink coffee, but still need a caffeine fix in the mornings, try these genuine Lipton teas that come in cute personalized (name and date) bags with snowflake images on the front. Make the bags fit into your theme with a choice of five different colors. Each tea bag has the simple message of “thank you” printed on it to remind your guests of why you have blessed them with this delicious tea.

Personalized Perfect Blend Coffee Kit:

This kit includes a two ounce bag of premium Colombian blend coffee in a personalized bag that is either dressed in a tuxedo to represent the groom or a wedding dress to represent the bride. Each bag also comes with a heart-shaped coffee scooper that will make brewing coffee easier and more memorable for the most important part of your party -- the guests.

Choosing Your Next Coffee Maker

2008-01-13T14:47:00.001-08:00

A coffee maker is an electric appliance that produces brewed coffee automatically, consisting of a hotplate, coffee pot, filter basket, and water reservoir. When it comes to coffee makers there are many, many to choose from. But if you are a coffee lover, you are probably very discriminating in your preferences so it's worth your time to do your analysis.

But first, determine what you want in a coffee maker. Are you satisfied with going to the nearest box store and picking one up for about twenty dollars? That's fine, they make a decent cup of coffee. Or maybe you're looking for something with a bit added style. Something that will fit into your kitchen decor nicely. Or something of best quality that will outlast the 20 buck special.

What options are essential to you? Should it have a clock built in that will allow your coffee to be ready and waiting when you hit the kitchen? Programmable coffee makers are a type of coffee maker that is becoming additional more popular not only in the workplace, but in homes as well.

Another type of coffee maker that is gaining popularity is the single cup type. Whether you just need one cup of Joe to start the day or you are trying to limit your caffeine intake by fixing just one cup at a time, the single cup coffee makers are an excellent solution. They are also accomplished for the stay at home types who may just want a single cup mid-day and don't want to make a whole pot. They also are available in a programmable version.

There are many ways to brew your coffee using the ever-reliable coffee maker. Decaf and coffee types that contain caffeine can be equally as appealing to the taste buds. For an analysis of more coffee subjects, visit http://www.lool-lool.blogspot.com/

As you begin your analysis of coffee makers, the first thing that you need to think about is what kind of coffee drinks you want to make. Do you prefer regular coffee, espresso, latte, or cappuccino? Espresso makers create a powerful and strong coffee that can really wake you up in the morning. But maybe that's not you cup of tea. Just know that there are unique and different types of cappuccino, espresso and coffee makers on the market.

If you are a gourmet coffee drinker, you may want to opt for a Cafetiere. A Cafetiere is a French coffee maker that is also known as a French press. Since no filters are used, this coffee pot makes rich, strong coffee. But beware: if you are not going to serve the coffee immediately, avoid using a Cafetiere. If left to sit, your coffee will continue to brew and you will be left with a coffee that is very bitter.

So weather it's a single cup style, a traditional coffee maker, an espresso, capuccino, or latte type, enjoy your down time with a terrific coffee. And here's a bonus: once you have a new coffee maker, you will be able to save time and money by spending less time waiting in lines at the coffee shop.

Coffee Gift Basket

2008-01-13T14:45:00.001-08:00

Many people like to give memorable gifts to friends and family at Christmas or any other occasion that is truly special. They prefer to find unique combinations of little things that they know every person would enjoy, and find that the gourmet coffee gift basket is the right choice for almost everybody on their gift giving list.

The flavored coffee that is in a gourmet coffee gift basket might come from Columbia, or as far as Greece. Some people read through countless reviews about the gourmet coffee choices that they have to pick from before deciding the flavors that they want to include for each person on their gift list.

Some of their friends might like a coffee that is robust and full of zest and caffeine, and there are certainly other friends who could do without caffeine completely. Some people would be completely thrilled to get some gourmet coffee all by itself in a large and very decorative basket that they can use in their home for other things.

A gourmet coffee gift basket can be filled with fresh fruits and vegetables too for the friends and relatives that prefer to make their own jams and jellies. Then they can spend a lazy day sipping flavorful coffees and enjoying the jellies that they made on some sconces and on their biscuits for breakfast. A gourmet coffee gift basket can be just the right gift for a wedding shower, and when filled with kitchen accessories it could be perfect for a new housewife.

Some people prefer to dress the gourmet coffee gift basket with matching towels and shower rings. The scented soaps that surround the gourmet coffee bags might camouflage the coffee scents for a while, but when they get their basket home and unpack, the friends will surely be delighted to find the aluminum foil wrapped delights in the bottom.

Every school teacher is bound to receive more than one gourmet coffee gift basket during the course of a school year, but every teacher knows that this type of gift is one that they will truly enjoy all year long. The basket will prove very useful too in class when it is turned into a treat jar for the class, or a place where children can find items that they lost in their haste to go outdoors at the end of the day.

Some people prefer to make their own gourmet coffee gift basket. They will pick and choose the flavorful coffee beans that they want each friend to get, and then seal them up in mason jars and a bow with a note that tell them that they are simply the best! Some of these gourmet coffee gift baskets will contain items that they cross stitched at home, and the entire gift will be fondly remembered each me those items are used.

Types Of Coffee Packages

2008-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

It might be a real eye-opener when people realize how many types of coffee packages there are offered in the Coffee Industry. There are so many different types of coffee packages because people drink coffee beverages in so many different environments. The flavors of the coffees vary too and that adds to the number of various types of coffee package designs too.

Most people are familiar with the branded coffees that are found in supermarkets, and the typical sizes of those offerings. Some people prefer to buy the freeze dried coffee because it is easier to fix in the mornings when only a cup or two will suffice. Most people choose between a large can of ground coffee that is weighed in ounces instead of pounds. The pound size bags have been reduced lately too, or did the various types of coffee packages fool you too?

Many of the hotel chains prefer to purchase the types of coffee packages that will fit the 4 cup coffee makers that are placed inside every hotel room. The various types of coffee packages that are chosen for the room will be typically more regular ground coffee pods, and one that will produce some decaffeinated coffee. Of course, the coloring for the decaffeinated coffee is usually green, and the regular coffee will be red.

Many people do not realize how expensive the various types of coffee packages are that are placed in a hotel room. Some hotel coffee services charge right at $30 for 18 rooms to have a coffee packet inside the room. That is one cost that is doubled when two types of packages are placed, and again when two of one kind are chosen, and then for each decaffeinated pack that is chosen.

The types of coffee packages that hotels choose and pay for will definitely make you review how you view your own coffee selection and price at the supermarket. The types of coffee packages that they choose will generally include Caribou French Ground or Caribou Blend Ground Coffee. If someone wanted to select a Starbucks brand for their hotel, then they would be expected to pay $37.40 or more for the same number of rooms.

Most hotels will only offer a 4-cup coffee maker in each room because they cost less to buy. If the hotels would switch over to guest room coffee, they could really save a bunch of money. The types of coffee packages used in a room equipped with a Melitta or Hamilton Beach single cup coffee maker are pods. These pods of coffee will brew one cup apiece and cost the hotels only $4.39 for 12 cups.

Coffee Tables – How To Restore Them

2008-01-13T14:43:00.002-08:00

You've found a couple of old coffee tables that were a steal at a yard sale. Sure they're a little beaten up, but you think you can make them sing once again. Here's the step-by-step process to giving those old coffee tables a new life.

1. Look Before You Leap. Don't just jump into this project before you know what really needs to be done. You should really look the piece over before you begin any work and find out what really has to be done. During this time you should pull out a rag and try to clean up the table a bit. You may find out that some of the things that were making the table look old were buildup of dirt and grime and it may be in better shape than you thought.

2. Test Before You Start. You are going to need some sort of furniture restoration cleaner in order to do this job, but you want to make sure it is compatible with the finish on your coffee tables. Use a small dab of it somewhere on the coffee tables that will not be visible, just in case there is an adverse reaction. Let it sit for a while (a few hours, or a day if you can) and look for any ill reactions. If there aren't any, move forward.

3. Don't Ruin The Hardware. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to restore these old coffee tables without taking them apart. First, the wood restoration cleaner you are going to use on the coffee tables may not be as friendly to the hardware. Second, if there is going to be a buildup of dirt and grime anywhere, it is going to be where it was hard to clean, under and around the hardware. You may even notice that there is so much build up around and under the hardware that it doesn't want to come off and you may need to use an edged, but non cutting item, like a putty knife to pry it free.

4. Put Your Elbow Into it. Now it's time to get down to the real work. Take that restoration cleaner, a rag and start cleaning. You should stick to one area of the coffee tables at a time. If you start on the top, work the whole top clean before you move to another area. You should also try to clean in little circles that can blend into one another to make the final clean surface look like it's consistent. If you have decorative touches on the piece that the cleaner dabbed rag can't fit into, you may need to get a small brush, even a toothbrush, to work that space.

5. Lather, Rinse Repeat. After you have given the piece a good first time cleaning, you should do it again, to make sure all the build up has been wiped away.

If you've done this correctly, your coffee tables should look like new, almost. Give them a good waxing, put the hardware back on, and put them to work in their new home.

Coffee Tables- There’s A Style That’s Just Right For You

2008-01-13T14:43:00.001-08:00

Fall in love with your living room every time you enter it when you make it complete with the ideal coffee table. Round or square, wood or metal, coffee tables come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials. The adventure lies in finding the one that is right for your room and your style.
Sure you could hit up every furniture store in town searching for that perfect piece. But why not save time and money by shopping online. You’ll find the largest selection and the best prices on all the best tables.

Perhaps you are looking for a traditionally styled table with a twist like a solid wood table with an etched bronze top in a kidney shape for a little retro whimsy. Maybe you are looking for a table with storage like a softly tufted ottoman table with flip top lid perfect for stashing blankets or a few magazines. Try a glass and metal one for a clean elegant look or throw some curves into your living room with a round or oval one.

A coffee table is one piece you need for your living room. You can rest a drink or your legs on one. You can eat off of one. You can set or display magazines and books on one. And with so many uses you have to make sure your choice in coffee tables works for all of them. Is it the right height to put your feet up? Is it proportional to the size of your sofa? Is it high enough to eat without hunching over too much? Is there storage if you want it? Can you rest a glass of wine on it without it spilling on the floor below? Once you have narrowed your search by answering these questions you will find it quite easy to find the coffee table of your dreams.

Beyond being accent pieces, coffee tables can be the centerpiece of your room. From designs with intricate veneer inlays to a table with a working clock in it the right table can really make your living room pop. Add a touch of the tropics with a table with a mahogany base wrapped in woven sea grass and topped with glass. Try a table with removable tray top for easy serving and clean up or try the popular look of bunching two smaller tables together to make one large one.

No matter what you are looking for in a coffee table you’ll find it online. From modern to traditional and elegant to casual a coffee table should complement your room with style and function. So whether you want to serve a few cocktails while entertaining guests or need a place to out the popcorn bowl on movie night there is a coffee table design for you. With all of the varieties out there it has never been easier to make your living room complete. So shake things up with a uniquely designed wrought iron table or keep things handsome and smart with a more traditional table either way your living room will be made whole.

Brewing A Perfect Cup Of Coffee

2008-01-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on a number of things such as the quality of the coffee bean, the quality of the water being used, the type of brewing being done, and the grind of the coffee. Now quality of bean and water is something you can easily take care. Just use good quality beans and pure water. However the relationship between the grind of the coffee and the type of brewing being done is more detailed and could use a little explanation. Now we all know that we make coffee by passing hot water over crushed coffee beans. However for it to really work well we need to understand just how long the water should be passing over the beans. The purpose of this article is to help you understand how to match your coffee's grind to the type of brewing you are doing in order to make the best coffee possible.

Generally speaking, the 'soaking' time relates directly to how coarse the coffee is ground. This means that smaller coffee grinds need less contact with the water, and coarser grinds need longer contact. Espresso coffee is only exposed to water for 20-40 seconds and as a result is made using extremely fine grind coffee. A French press coffee maker can take as much as 4 minutes and uses an extremely coarse grind. If coffee is left contacting water for too long for its grind size, unwanted extracts emerge and make the coffee taste bitter. Of course if the grind is too large and the water passes very quickly (like using frech press grind in an espresso maker), very little of the caffeine and flavours extracted and will have poor flavour.

Of course filters play an important role in managing the balance between over and under brewing your coffee. Not only do they keep the grind out of your cup, but they also control how fast the water passes over the grinds. Paper filters are the most common, but many people are also using metal varieties. Paper filters are quite good. However they can absorb some of the coffee flavour, and some people claim they can taste the paper in the final coffee. Metal filters are normally made from stainless steel or gold plated mesh. They have very fine weave and filter out the coffee grinds very well. They also do not alter the taste of the coffee at all. Metal filters are also more environmentally friendly than the paper alternative.

Whichever you choose, be sure to buy decent quality. Cheap filters often clog or not allow the coffee to brew properly. A decent quality metal filter will last years and save money in the end.

Brewing a cup of coffee is not that hard. Brewing a great cup takes a little more understanding, but isn't any harder. Start with fresh beans and good clean water and then match your brewing style to the proper grind and then mess around with the exact proportions and pretty soon your be brewing killer coffee every time.

The Future Of Making Your Coffee Just Got Easier

2008-01-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

The next time you go to make yourself a cup of coffee, you might want to give some thought to the new products that are now available, or will be available soon, to the cook in the family. What are we referring to? Well, welcome to the Intelligent Kitchen.

No longer is it good enough to set the time clock to start the slow cooker so that your roast will be done perfectly when you get back to the house. Then there is the coffee maker that you can pre-program to start up at 6:00 AM. Although those are great ideas, that's technology from the '70s. But what do you do if you are away from the house and realize that, not only did you leave your grocery list at home, but you have made no accommodations for dinner?

You could run home during a break, see what is there and/or retrieve your shopping list, and try to get back to work before it's too late. Or, you could call your 'fridge. What??? You heard me right...just call the refrigerator.

What we're talking about is not available yet, but it is coming! Soon you will be have the ability to, indeed, be able to phone your refrigerator and get a reading of exactly what you have in there. Soon, tiny ID tags will be attached to foodstuff products that will allow you read what you have and the contents sent back to your cell phone. But that's not all. You'll be able to access a database to find the perfect recipe that will utilize the ingredients you already have.

Or, you could call out for a pizza. But where's the fun in that?

This all may be in the about to be, but what about now? You've probably seen refrigerators that have built in monitors that will allow you to watch TV, check email and surf the Web while making dinner and enjoying your coffee. There's also an oven that takes the old timer/slow cooker combination and adds a refrigerator. What you do is pop the meal in the oven early in the day, set the temperature to cold and set it to start cooking at the time and temperature of your choice. For more on this and other ideas, check out http://www.lool-lool.blogspot.com/

How about a scale that will give you a reading of the nutritional values in you food like protein, sodium, calories, etc.? Kind of takes the fun out of having a bunch of those little books around where you can look up the nutritional contents of foods.

Like any new products, the new existing technologies are exciting, but unfortunately they are quite expensive and out of reach for most home makers. And the new things coming will also have a heavy price tag. But like all new technology, the prices will drop soon after introduction and numerous companies begin offering them. In the meantime, fix yourself a cup of coffee and call the pizza place.

Coffee Table—Why Shopping For One Is So Difficult

2008-01-13T14:39:00.002-08:00

Unless you just don’t care about your furnishings or how they affect the overall décor of your home, then you are going to have to spend some time thinking about how to find the most stylish coffee table for your home. This is actually a lot harder than you may think and if you have already been shopping on the web then you have seen that the range of choices is limitless. Believe it or not, it is possible to go out and buy what you thought to be a magnificent coffee table only to find out once you get home that it simply does not belong in your living room. So, what went wrong?

One of the first decisions you are going to need to make when shopping for coffee tables is the basic shape of the top. Do you want a round, rectangular, square, or elliptical top? Does it really matter or can you choose any shape and it be perfect or is there some logic to making this decision?

Believe it or not, some shapes on a stylish coffee table may not be so trendy when you get it to your home. For instance, an elliptical top on a contemporary coffee table is just that—contemporary. If you have a rustic or traditional interior design scheme in your home and plop an elliptical coffee table down in the middle of your living room, it is going to seem out-of-place and in stark contrast to the surroundings.

Now if you are interested in a square, round, or rectangular table—then you need to take both the décor and the overall size of the room into account. Round premium coffee tables, by definition, have “cut corners”. It is common in rooms with limited space to opt for round end tables and stylish coffee tables. This cuts down on the overall square footage taken up by the table and provides more space to maneuver in a living room with limited area.

When you know the shape of the coffee table top, the next question is the size of the piece. One of the things that can really make the living room décor seem awkward is furniture that is not suited for the space. When stylish coffee tables are over-sized, not only is the usable space within a room more limited, it can dwarf surrounding pieces of furniture—it can seem like you are trying to shove a dining room table into a space ill-suited for that purpose. Even for a grand coffee table, it should never be more than two-thirds as long as the sofa.

Once you know the size and basic shape of the table you need, it is time to hop online to start shopping for the one perfectly suited to your home décor. Online merchants tend to carry a wider selection of stylish coffee tables at discount prices when compared to traditional furniture stores thanks to their low overhead.

Glass Coffee Tables Online-why Not!!

2008-01-13T14:39:00.001-08:00

One of the biggest and most exciting adventures is moving out on your own but it is a time when the number of choices and decisions may seem overwhelming. Now, this “moving out on your own” does not include heading off to college to live in some dingy, cramped dorm room. Your first place is that home or apartment that follows school and is therefore the true cornerstone of your adult existence. Buying the right furniture for you décor is one of those decisions that must be made that will make a bold statement as to your character. A stunning glass coffee table may not be the first piece of furniture in your new home or even the most urgent interior decorating need—but, it is vital to the living room and will certainly make a bold statement about your level of sophistication and taste.

In all honesty, a premium glass coffee table is a furnishing you either buy later in life or at the beginning of your journey into adulthood. Once (or if) children enter into the picture, there are certain safety concerns that must be considered. Plus, despite the fact that we all love our children, the potential for damage to the top of the table is very high which is why many people store away their glass coffee tables once children enter into the picture. However, once the children have grown or at least reached ages where they can be careful around valuable furniture, you may wish to bring the premium glass coffee table back out of storage so it may be displayed properly.

However, in between the time when children enter into the picture and that seemingly brief window of care-free adulthood, there is the possibility to prominently display your premium glass coffee table with the other fine furniture in your new home or apartment. The truly great fact about these types of tables is that they can truly be at home in any interior design scheme, be it modern or traditional.

In more rustic or naturalistic settings, glass coffee tables would most likely feature a base made from a fine hardwood such as oak, cherry, or even mahogany. The traditional glass coffee table may feature inlayed glass partitions set into the wooden base. On more contemporary glass coffee tables, the base will tend to be metallic and generally coated in nickel, brass, or perhaps be solid wrought iron. So long as you take the time to understand and design a comprehensive interior design scheme for you décor, you will have no problem complementing your other furnishings and giving the entire space a more unified and “sophisticated” look—befitting of your new status as a fully independent adult.

Organic Coffee Promotes Better Health

2008-01-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

Around the world coffee is the second most traded item in the world, coming in just behind crude oil (although a distant second we're sure). How ever as more and more people are paying attention to what they're drinking and eating, organic coffee is sneaking up in the market share race.

Organic coffee wasn't a real concern when coffee first gained people interest way back in 800 AD. It was a drink reserved for the wealthy and royalty, even in 1800's when Brazil claimed the honor of having the largest international coffee crop, still no one was concerned where or with what the beans were grown.

Fast forward to toady, and there are strict rules and regulations for how any food product can or cannot be grown. Especially if you're looking to grow an organic product. Organic coffee is primarily grown in mountainous areas, where insecticides and fertilizers can become part of the lower watershed once they're washed down the hills from heavy rainfalls.

Many companies today are providing organic coffee, each require certification and designation as per the Organic Food Production Act set fourth in 1990. This act outlines the requirements for growing organic coffee, as well as how their testing can be carried out and what they must do to hold onto their certification.

Growing Fields Must Be Certified Organic

Now it's not just the growing and handling that must be considered and certified organic when growing coffee. The ground that it grows in must also be free of any ingredients or non-organic substances for at least the last 3 years.

Because the act requires so many intricate modifications to the regular growing process, organic coffee will cost a little more then a non organic brand. Healthy conscious consumers are willing to pay the price for the better beans. AS most organic growers believe that growing the beans with only natural methods and no artificial chemicals helps keep the natural flavor.

Whether the taste is superior to a non-organic coffee is up to the coffee drinker, but there's no arguing that the organic growing process produces a healthier bean for us to make our favorite cup of joe from.

Coffee Kit Wedding Favors

2008-01-13T14:37:00.001-08:00

At your wedding you want to give out some great wedding favors that your guests can appreciate when they use them in their own homes. Most people start their day of with a hot cup of coffee to wake them up and give them the energy that they need to get through their stressful day. Your guests will be really appreciative if you give them some great tasting coffee in attractive packages because you will be helping them out every day of their lives. Also, you can pick coffee sets that fit into your theme and enhance the overall meaning of your wedding celebration. This is such a special day, so it is very important that you do everything you can to make it the as unique and memorable as possible for both you and all your guests.

When your guests see some luscious coffee waiting for them to take home, they will certainly be enthusiastic about staying up late dancing at your party because they will have a great start to their day the next morning with a hot cup of coffee with their breakfast. Also, every time they use the coffee and the coffee accessories that you have given them they will remember your wedding fondly and tell everyone what a fantastic time they had celebrating with you and your new spouse.

Frangelico Flavored Coffee:

This delicious ground coffee comes in a two once block and has a delicious smell that will entice all your guests as they sit down and look around at the table and all the decorations. The bag has a very sophisticated look that you can use to enhance a traditionally themed wedding. You can even try putting ribbons, tags, and other personal touches on the bag so that you can give your guests a huge “thank you” that will be as warm as the coffee they are about to brew.

Perfect Blend Personalized Coffee Kit:

This kit is great because you can make it super personalized with your name and wedding date. The two ounce blocks of delicious coffee are packaged in bags that are decked out in a bride and groom motif. Another great feature about this item is that nit comes with a heart shaped spoon attached to each bag of coffee. The adorableness of these wedding favors will certainly capture the hearts of all your guests and show them your true love as soon as they lay eyes on their seats at the table.

Pink Personalized Coffee Packets:

The wonderful versatility that you get with the Pink Personalized Coffee Packets is unbelievable. You can welcome your out of town wedding guests with a special treat to simply say “Welcome” or you can use these Pink Personalized Coffee Packets to treat your wedding guests. Simply supply an elegant little cup and saucer set that shows your sense of style, and dress these little packets of 100% Columbian-blend coffee packets out for a wonderful wedding guest favor. Each packet is personalized with the first names of the Bride and Groom and their wedding date, and have a “Perfect Blend” motif and 6 pink and tan circles, some contain hearts, on each pack.

Wonderful aroma, coffee make great wedding favor gifts.

Enjoying Coffee At Home Or At Work

2008-01-13T14:35:00.002-08:00

Having a cup of coffee has been a very popular pastime for almost everybody. Be it in the workplace, coffee shops or even in the comforts of our very own homes, we get to enjoy it with our family and peers. It provides opportunities for social interactions to some and while to others it gives them a time to relax and wind up.

Coffee was first discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. It later on spread to Egypt, Yemen, Persia, Turkey, northern Africa and then to the Venetian ports of Italy. Then from Venice it was introduced to the rest of Europe and to the Americas. Initially, it was used for spiritual reasons. It became a substitute of wine for various spiritual practices. Today, coffee has become one of the most popular beverages enjoyed worldwide.

Coffee preparation involves a number of processes. It starts from harvesting (usually by hands), separating the fruit from the beans, fermentation (to remove the slimy layer on the beans), washing (to remove the fermentation residue), drying and finally sorting. Roasting comes in next since coffee beans are sold in its roasted state. It is in this process where more care is employed because roasting influences the flavor of the coffee bean, while undergoing physical and chemical change.

There are quite a number of health benefits from drinking coffee. One would be the theophylline in coffee which reduces the symptoms of asthma. It also has natural antioxidants which flush out the body from free radicals that contribute to cell damage and thus reduce the risk of cancer. It also appears to help in reducing the risk of certain ailments such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cirrhosis of the liver, gout, heart diseases and type II diabetes. It was also known to reduce depression and is popularly known to "perk you up" in the morning. It is commonly used by athletes to aid in lengthening their endurance for physical activity and their recovery afterwards. Scientists have already had some proof that taking coffee breaks is beneficial to anyone especially in the workplace. Recent studies show that coffee can help an individual become more productive and allow their mind to function well. However, excessive coffee drinking also poses some negative effects as well. It is mostly due to a stimulant found in coffee called caffeine, which can cause stiffening on the walls of the arteries. Caffeine is also an addictive compound so it is necessary that you drink coffee in moderation for if taken in excessive amounts could lead to insomnia, arrhythmia, psychomotor agitation and osteoporosis.

Coffee can be enjoyed in various ways, whether you are in the workplace or at home. It may be served black, which is with no additives, or served with sugar or creamers or both. It may also be served either hot or cold. When served cold, it is called iced coffee and is a special treat especially during the summer months. Hot or iced coffee can be prepared with a variety of flavors which would surely tease your taste buds. A few would include chocolate, French vanilla, hazelnut, Almond amaretto, caramel, and Kona.

Coffee Tables - Essential Style And Function

2008-01-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

Nothing brings a living room together quite like a coffee table. Round or rectangle one of these beauties can serve as a dining table, a drink holder, a place to set your book or magazine and a footrest as well. So it isn’t hard to see why a piece of furniture as versatile as this can be difficult to choose.

Shopping online offers the best selection and prices for any style of coffee table from traditional to modern and everything in between. Don’t trek to stores all over the city instead find exactly what you are looking for with a few clicks of the mouse.

Coffee tables come in many shapes, sizes, colors and styles to make your room pop. And online shopping offers the easiest access to all the world of coffee tables has to offer. Perhaps you like the padded ottoman style coffee table or maybe a more traditional wood one with storage space for magazines and the remote. Perhaps you want one the flips open to hide blankets or movies. Maybe you like the clean elegance of glass or the soft touch of leather. One large table may fit the bill or perhaps two to three tables bunched together to create the illusion of a large table. Match the color of your coffee table with the colors outdoors and bring some nature into the room.

When choosing a coffee table you’ll need to consider a few things. If you are eating at it while you watch TV or putting your feet up you need to make sure you get a table that is the right height for snacking and relaxation. You’ll also want to ensure there is enough leg room below as well. Size is also important. How much space do you have for a coffee table? How large are the sofa and chairs around it? You want to find one that is the right fit. You might want to consider durability as well if you have children or dogs. Wood and metal are stronger than glass or level when it comes to standing up to daily use and abuse. Once you have determined these things you can search out the perfect coffee table for your room.

Besides being functionally versatile, coffee tables can add a splash of color and style to your home. Whether you want the soft touch of rich leather or the hard shimmer of marble, a painted white wood table for a shabby chic look or the smooth, clean look of glass a coffee table is an essential part of any living room décor.

No matter the look or the use when you find the perfect coffee table it will both tie the room together and be a focal point at the center of the room waiting to hold your drink or support your feet in style. So try online shopping for your new coffee table and exercise your interior designing skills. Big or small, round or square you’ll love your new coffee table because you took the time to find the perfect one for your needs and desires.

Coffee Tables: How To Make The Right Choice For Your Home

2008-01-13T14:34:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been in a home where the coffee table absolutely dwarfed the rest of the room? It can be hard to have a conversation when the sofa and recliners are separated by a table that seems more suited to having a picnic than to hosting guests and serving coffee. Then there are those perfect coffee tables that happen to be too high or low so that you either need to stand up or kneel down to retrieve a drink. Let’s face it: the coffee table is one difficult piece of furniture to get right and when we get it wrong—we get it REALLY wrong!

The perfect coffee table for your home décor will be unique for all of us. However, there are some things to avoid when buying a coffee table to make sure that you don’t get the WRONG coffee table for your furniture and design scheme. One of those mistakes is buy premium coffee tables that are not to scale with the room dimensions.

Depending on your furniture arrangement, it is a good idea for the coffee table to be within 16 inches of the sofa, love seat, and any chairs that are central to the main seating area. The larger the seating area, the larger the coffee table needs to be. The idea is for guests to have access to the coffee table without feeling cramped when getting in and out of their seats. It is also a good idea to measure not only the dimensions of the room, but also of any doorways leading into the room as well. If the delivery people can’t get the table through the door then it doesn’t matter how great it would look in your living room.

Another common mistake people tend to make with coffee tables is to use them as storage spaces. One of the secrets to home décor is to always have a focal point to the room. The coffee table is a natural focal point of the room because it is generally found near the center of the room and featured in front of the seating area. However, when homeowners use their gorgeous coffee tables as storage areas for bills, newspapers, and anything else convenient, then it is easy to see how the entire area becomes unattractive. Prominently displaying candles, centerpieces, accent lamps, and other artistic décor will help the coffee table become the focal point of the room and bring an entirely different feel to the entire seating area.

The Coffee Grinder: An Investment For Your Morning Ritual

2008-01-13T14:33:00.001-08:00

Coffee lovers will tell you that the best coffee comes from beans grounded immediately before the coffee is brewed. Old Time coffee drinkers know this by heart. That’s why no kitchen is complete without a coffee grinder. Waking up in the morning and grinding up a fresh batch of coffee beans and throwing it into the coffee maker and then anticipating that first sip of fresh hot coffee! Now that is the good life!

What Makes a Great Coffee Grinder?

When it comes to coffee grinders, there to basic types. One is called burr grinders and the other is called blade grinders. The difference between these two is basically how the beans are processed. Blade coffee grinders use a spinning blade to grind up the coffee beans. Burr grinders use burrs to grind up coffee beans. Burrs resemble plates with gears on them. One of the burrs is stationary, while the other one spins and grinds up the coffee beans.

When trying to make a great cup of coffee, one has to keep a couple things in mind. The taste of coffee will be affected by heat and uniformity. What this means is, heat is undesirable in a coffee grinder because it damages the coffee beans. The process of grinding coffee is relatively violent, because both blade and burr grinders in produce some heat. And of course, the faster the grinding mechanism runs; the more heat is being generated. Even finer grinds generate heat because of the extra time it takes to grind the coffee beans.

For those who are concerned about the quality of their coffee, one can purchase a low- speed burr grinder. A low speed burr will be more expensive. As well it will take longer to grind the coffee beans. But coffee purists will swear by these coffee grinders as the only way to go for a perfect cup of coffee.

Another very important factor is the uniformity of the grind. With the brewing process, the water spends a certain amount of time passing over the grinds. The uniform grinds are much more efficient at imparting flavor to the water. At first glance, the average coffee drinker may not be able to distinguish coffee that was grinded from a blade grinder vs. a burr grinder. But, to a coffee purist, they will notice the difference. The blade grinder is not very good at creating a uniform grind. However, with burr grinders, they produce an exceptional uniform grind resulting in a much tastier cup of coffee.

Quite frankly, it’s a no brainer when it comes to selecting a coffee grinder. The burr grinder s really the only way to go. However, some of the higher end models can cost several hundred dollars, thus putting them out of reach for some of the coffee lovers. However, this doesn’t mean that a small budget will always get a poor coffee grinder. Best to do a search online for burr coffee grinders. One can pick up a very nice coffee grinder for under hundred dollars. The selection is almost endless. Most coffee lovers consider a coffee grinder to be an investment and not an expense. After all, who can put the dollar value on a fantastic cup of coffee each and every morning? Yes, it is the good life!

Cooking Flavors Accented With Coffee Extracts

2008-01-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

The grocery store shelves are filled to the top with cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts. Some of these cooking flavors are derived from actual coffee beans and some are coffee extracts that have been imitated through a variety of methods. It is very easy to tell which of the cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts are real and which ones are simply flavored by artificial means.

Many of the cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts will be applied to items baked in the kitchen. There are many cake recipes that require a cooking extract in order for the cake to have any flavor at all when it is baked. Some parents will combine powdered sugar, butter and a coffee extract and create a marvelous icing for their cakes at very little cost.

Flours, eggs and milk are pretty bland without the cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts that are offered in flavors such as almond and lemon. Many people consider coffee extracts to be pricey so they guard their supply and only use them when it is absolutely necessary.

While cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts are not commonly considered when mixing drinks at a party, there are many drinks that can be prepared with coffee liqueurs that are richer and thicker than any of the coffee extracts that can be purchased at the supermarket. Some homemakers will make dishes with the coffee liqueurs because the liquid can be split several times to get the consistency of the coffee extracts that are on the supermarket shelf.

The flavor of coffee liqueurs inside any baked goods is absolutely delicious and very economical if there is a baker at home. Of course, these are tastes treat for those homemakers that are willing to explore the possibilities of using alcoholic beverages in the dishes that they prepare on any given day of the week. There are blended coffees that can be created at home using a blender and some rich cream, and these creations will contain the cooking flavors accented with coffee extracts that are sold in supermarkets at very high prices.

Some parents will use decaffeinated coffees to create frozen drinks for their children to enjoy on a hot summer day. The cooking flavors accented by coffee extracts can be thick or thin and provided to the children right up to bedtime. Parents can make icicles for their youngsters to lick on from mixing coffee extracts in with the various soda flavorings currently offered on the market. Lemon and Lime accented with coffee extracts is an unusual taste treat for a child but one that they will enjoy immensely.

Coffee Tables – Perfect For Any Room Throughout Your Home

2008-01-13T14:31:00.002-08:00

In the past, people thought that the only place you could put coffee tables was in the living room because that is simply where they were designed to go. Well, that is not the case anymore and over the years people realized that these furnishings would also make great additions to other areas throughout the home since they are a functional way to make a bold, decorative statement.

You are probably wondering, why are coffee tables such a great option for other rooms beside the living room? It is because they provide a lovely space where you can both set and display different items while at the same time being extremely pleasing to the eye. So, they not only are very practical, but they also enhance the look of any room with their beautiful design and appearance. For example, in the den you might need a place to set that morning latte while reading the newspaper as you are sitting on a comfortable sofa. Instead of resting that latte on the floor, or some other less than desirable surface, get a coffee table for your space. It gives you a great spot for setting down your beverage of choice, and it is also a spectacular way to add a beautiful, decorative touch to the room.

Another place where one would make an excellent addition is in the bedroom. It is a nice way to liven up the space and provides a perfect area where you can display family photos along with other ornamental vases and sculptures. Or, you could have it just sit all by itself to be the decorative focal point in the room because there are many options that look so beautiful that they would be ruined if you were to put something on top of it.

The office is another ideal place outside the home for one as well if you need a spot to put coffee or water during semi-casual business meetings between you and your employees. Really, the possibilities of where you could place one are endless.

One of the best things about coffee tables is how they are extremely durable and are available in a number of different styles and shapes, making it easy to find the perfect one for you and your space. You can get something that is very modern to give your space a new and up-to-date feel. Like, something that has smooth, sleek lines and a glass table top. Or, others can have a very antique look and are made out of wood, featuring detailed carvings along with other intricate features that include elegant metal hardware. Some even have large amount of storage space with drawers, while others can be very, very simple and just have legs and a table top. And, those just listed are just of few of the options you can choose from because there are many, many different types that are available. One easy way to check out what you could get for your space is by heading to the internet and where you can do some online shopping. It is also a great way to compare products and find exactly what you are looking for.

For many, many years people thought that the only place you could put coffee tables was in the living room. But, that thinking has changed because people came to the realization that they would be wonderful additions to any room throughout the home, even professional office spaces. Make a decorative statement with one in any room in your home today.

Coffee Pods To Start A Great Day

2008-01-13T14:31:00.001-08:00

A great day begins with a cup of freshly roasted coffee. And that you get from an excellent coffee pod. Pods or coffee pods or espresso pods are a simple way to get a perfect espresso and with excellent results.

But for the beginners let's answer a simple question first i.e. what are coffee pods? Coffee pods are freshly roasted coffee, ground perfect, tampered to the correct pressure and then encapsulated in a paper. It is the beginning of a rich experience of the way you drink coffee.

The original pod was first designed by Illy caffe around 10 years ago. It was the year 1996 when Illy opened its idea to the coffee industry to bring a standard pod size to the market. Many coffee machine makers now offer adaptors with their machines to accept pods.

By using them in your machine not only can you guarantee perfect results, there is no mess and they help to look after your machine. In fact used ones can even be used as fertilizer for your garden as well. That is why a rich coffee taste is always benefiting.

If you are an espresso connoisseur by heart you can find a great relief with the coffee pods. As an espresso lover you understand that there are many ways of preparation where the espresso can get wrong, the grind, the measurement, freshness, the roast, tampering, temperature, water pressure are some areas which one has to watch out to make that special cup of coffee.

Now if you wonder what the best kind of coffee pod is, the answer is the home made one. Don't be shocked, it is true to the last drop of espresso. You can actually make them from your freshly roasted coffee beans. Although it is not that easy but it is sheer fun and little adventure to make one in your kitchen itself.

What you need is your favorite freshly roasted coffee beans perfectly grounded to fine powder, a sheet of filter paper and some kitchen tools. The first step to get a home made is to get the correct measuring scoop for the size of the pod. Take the coffee style filter paper sheet and put it in the scoop.

The next step is to find a glass bottle or something similar which can be used to pressure the paper in that scoop. If you have found the right size of glass jar (in most cases you will) center the filter around the jar and do it by putting the combination back in the scoop leaving a cup shaped filter paper in the scoop. Add one scoop, or about 2 teaspoons of your favorite ground coffee to this paper-filter-cup more or less to taste.

The typical coffee scoops that come with makers hold about 7 grams of coffee which is just about right. Give the cup a slight shake to evenly spread the grounds across the bottom of the filter, and then use your finger to gently fold over the extra filter material, completely covering the ground coffee. For a really well-formed pod, you can place the jar into the scoop one last time and press down really hard with the palm of your hand.

At last your favorite coffee pod is now ready to be put into the espresso machine to enjoy that rich taste of coffee. And who said coffee is not about fun.

The Perfect Cup Of Coffee For Your Taste Buds And Eyes

2008-01-13T14:30:00.001-08:00

If you're not familiar with Vacuum coffee makers then a written description of how they work may have you a little lost. How ever, to those that own or use vacuum coffee brewers you know what a great cup they make, and what a joy they are to watch.

If you're a fan of using a French Press to brew your coffee each day, then you'll love the coffee made in a Vacuum maker. It works on a similar principle of boiling water flowing over freshly ground coffee beans then filtering the grounds out of the water leaving behind a wonderful tasting and smelling cup of coffee.

There's something to be said when a paper filter isn't used with coffee grounds, it allows all the acids and aromas from the beans to transfer into the water and create a very special tasting cup of coffee. One that can't really be compared to what your regular drip coffee maker makes.

So how does a Vacuum coffee maker work?

Well unlike some of my friends who thought a vacuum coffee maker was a combo vacuum coffee brewing machine it's actually quite a small glass or sometimes plastic appliance. There are both electric and stove top models available (For a great electric or non electric vacuum coffee maker check out the Bodum Santos).

There are two compartments an upper and lower. The lower one has fresh water added to it, and the upper fresh coffee grounds. The two are connected with a plastic or glass tube which has a filter in the center. Once heat is applied to the lower area either via stove top or an electric element the water begins to boil. Once boiling that water travels up to the upper chamber where the coffee grounds are stored. The two then mix together and the brewing process begins.

It's really quite amazing to watch the water move up and spill over the coffee, it's a lot more interesting then watching the drips come from your regular old peculator. Now this is the real amazing part, after a short period of time the mixed coffee then beings to transfer back to the bottom chamber once all the water has boiled away. The coffee grounds are separated from the coffee via the filter that is in the tube connecting the two chambers.

Depending on the size of the holes in your filter and the coarseness of your coffee grounds you may get a bit of sediment in your coffee. Once all of the coffee has transferred to the lower chamber again you're done and ready to enjoy. Sounds like quite the process to brew a pot doesn't it? In real time all of this happens quite quickly, and it isn't any longer to make then what a French press would be.

If you're a real coffee enthusiast I highly recommend you either try out the coffee made in a vacuum maker, or consider purchasing one for your own kitchen. While it may not take the place on weekday mornings of your regular drip coffee maker, I'm sure it'll be the treat for weekends, and you won't be disappointed.

Glass Coffee Table – Great For Any Space, And Decor

2008-01-13T14:29:00.001-08:00

Just imagine it sitting in your living room, glistening in the sun as it accents the fixtures around it. Or, how about the den where you need a place to set that hot cup of coffee in the morning while reading the newspaper. And, it would be a great addition to any office since it screams professionalism and is a dynamite way to impress potential clients or new hires. You are probably thinking, well, how can the glass coffee table be so flexible? The answer is, the amount of choices that are available. Sure, the top is glass, but you can get one with beautiful, hand carved wooden legs constructed from maple, cherry or oak. A more contemporary feel is also an alternative where metal and glass intertwine in elegant, modern designs that bring an instant freshness to any space.

Probably the best feature of the glass coffee table is how you can see through it. You have the surface that you need, but not the clutter, making it perfect for smaller areas or rooms where you want the feeling that the space is larger than it is. Plus, it is durable and easy to clean. If you do not wipe up spill or mess right away, there is no worrying about warping or damage. Two days later, all you need is some glass cleaner, a paper towel, and you are good to go.

If you are new to the decorating scene and want something that will give your home a classic, sophisticated look, the console table is the way to go. Online shopping is a stress free way to find the best prices and the best quality, so good luck in your search and happy shopping. However, since there are so many options, finding what you want can be tricky, so make sure you have a game plan. Figure out if you want before you even start so you are not overwhelmed when you do begin. In today’s modern world, narrowing down to that perfect selection has gotten even faster through online shopping where you can compare prices and products by the click of a mouse. If you want that polished look to your living room, do not forget about the glass coffee table when making those decorating decisions.

Stainless Steel Coffee Makers Not Just Another Pretty Face

2008-01-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

It's likely that the majority of stainless steel coffee makers are sold because they have that different look. The brushed stainless finish almost always looks nicer then a regular white plastic coffee maker, and glass carafe. Especially with the kitchens of today being extra stylish, and often having stainless steel appliances, don't we all want it to match?

What some people might not realize is that there is more to a stainless steel coffee maker then just another pretty face. There are specifically two key advantages I like about a stainless steel maker versus my old regular plastic glass carafe coffee maker. One is to do with replacement parts, the other to do with how my coffee tastes each morning.

Possibly you haven't done this, but leaving a glass carafe in the sink for a day then doing dishes that evening offers a pretty good chance you could crack that carafe. Especially if you're loading more dishes in on top of that carafe through the day. Of course we can all leave it on the counter, or in the coffee maker, but bottom line is coffee maker carafes aren't indestructible especially those made of glass.

A stainless steel coffee maker often comes with a stainless steel carafe. Guess what, really tough to break a stainless steel coffee carafe. You can drop it on the floor, leave it in the sink, some even put in the dish washer to reduce clean up time. I love it, can't beat something that I don't have to wash and I can't break it.

Now the second benefit of a stainless steel coffee maker also has to do with the carafe. Often times when I brew half a pot of coffee just for myself, I don't get around to drinking it all while it's fresh. The burner on the coffee maker tends to burn the coffee and reduce the taste and aroma, with a stainless carafe they're usually thermal as well. Meaning they don't require another heat source they keep the coffee warm inside by sealing in the warmth, and being insulated in the body. Just like a thermos you'd take to work with you.

Prices vary from under a hundred to several hundred dollars for a stainless coffee maker. All the major brands offer a stainless version of their top selling models including Cuisinart, Black and Decker, and Kitchen Aid. If you're shopping for a new drip coffee maker, be sure to consider a stainless steel model, and remember the extra few dollars it might cost isn't just for that sharp looking brushed stainless appearance it's for the added features to.

Espresso Coffee Pods Make Brewing Easy

2008-01-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

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.

Free Up More Counter Space With A Built In Coffee Maker

2008-01-13T14:26:00.000-08:00

Do find yourself with limited counter space in your kitchen mainly due to the number of small appliances you have everywhere. Toasters, coffee makers, blends, and toaster ovens can all take up a lot of useful space. We now see more people turning to built in coffee makers to solve part of this problem and have one less small appliance on their counter cluttering everything up.

The cost of a built in coffee maker can vary from a couple hundred up to thousands of dollars. I know you're probably thinking the same thing I did when I heard this..Thousands? You can actually spend thousands of dollars just on a coffee maker. It's true new built in makers that are plumbed directly into your water and electrical are the peak of convenience for making coffee. Never having to add water or contend with hanging electrical wires is nice, but it comes at a price.

These single push button coffee makers only ever require the user to add grounds to the basket and a filter if needed. The water is supplied automatically, and brewing begins. Some of the more expensive built in coffee makers will even have a bean grinder built in, so you can add coffee beans, and enjoy the freshest coffee grounds for you cup of joe. All that's needed is an added filter if the machines doesn't use a permanent one.

Some Less Expensive Models Not Plumbed

Now since we all don't like the lifestyles of the rich and famous there are some less expensive built in coffee maker models. For those not wanting to spend thousands of dollars, there are under the cabinet models for a few hundred dollars. If you shop hard enough though you can find a buy on a Hardwired and plumbed built in coffee maker. Brew Express makes a model such as this for around $450.00.

An easy way to have a built in coffee maker is simply a coffee maker placed in a nook cut out of the wall. The plug still connects to a regular wall plug, and most machines will need to be removed from the nook in order to have water added to brew. While this might not really seem like a built in coffee maker, it does get it off the counter top. A unique way to get your conventional coffee maker off the counter is to purchase a bracket available that mounts a regular coffee maker to hang from under a cupboard, or other surface.

Of course there are advantages to the more expensive models, then just more counter top space. A plumbed coffee maker is self filling so the correct volume of water is always added. Just add fresh coffee grounds and brew. Now another unique feature, not directly related to coffee is that many of these pre wired coffee makers will also have an additional plug built into the front adding more electrical outlets in your kitchen

The reality is that if you're a hardcore coffee lover then a built in coffee maker that is plumbed and wired into your home could be worth while. For the average person that makes a pot when guests are over or on weekends it's probably not the best few hundred bucks you can spend. There are many excellent under cabinet and counter top coffee makers available. Take the time to research the features you'd be interested in and shop around. Shopping comparison sites are an excellent tool to use for researching prices and features.

Coffee Tables – The Key To A Great Conversation Area

2008-01-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Every time you host a party, it always seems that your guests have a hard time talking to one another. Well, it might be because your living room is not set up right for it. Take a look around, if you have the couch over here, the love seat and chairs over there, you’re guests probably are going to have a tough time talking. So, if you want a nice conversation area in your living room, you need to build it that way and lovely coffee tables are a great starting point.

If you are scratching your head as to why coffee tables are the answer, just keep reading. You see, you can build up everything else in your space around this wonderful furnishing to create a great spot where everyone can face and see each other to make talking and having a good time during those get-togethers easy. Take your living room for example, first you place the coffee table in the space, then add whatever kind of seating you want around it making sure that the seats are facing one another, then you add any other decorative touches that you want like lamps, pictures, and flowers and your space is good to go. With this space, anyone who sits down will then be sitting across from someone else so they can see and hear each other without any having anything in the way distracting them. Plus, you can also use the coffee table to set down drinks and other things if you want.

Along with being a great option for creating the ultimate conversation space, coffee tables will also add a nice decorative element to it as well. Why? Well, it is because this furnishing can be crafted out of a wide variety of eye-catching materials that can be finished off in a number of lovely stunning ways. You can get ones made out of wood, a combination of metal and glass, and even stone that feature all sorts of finishes like espresso, brushed stainless steel, and different painted colors. What is great about all these lovely materials and their finishes is that they produce coffee tables of many marvelous styles and designs, making it pretty effortless to find the perfect one to match your space and your tastes. Like, you can get ones that have a modern flare to them that have a metal base and glass table top or you can get traditional ones that feature elegant scrollwork.

For a stress free way to check out the different choices, just hit the world wide web for some comparison shopping. You can browse all the online stores and their products just with the glide of the mouse.

So, the next time you host a party, make sure that you have a space that is ideal for conversation and a great way to build that space is to start with beautiful coffee tables. Without a nice spot where everyone can talk and have a good time, your party might be over before it even begins.

Coffee Tables – They Fill The Void In Front Of Your Couch

2008-01-13T14:24:00.002-08:00

Besides places to sit like sofas and chairs what is the most common piece of furniture you will find in a living room? That’s right it’s a coffee table or cocktail table. Usually low and made of wood coffee tables are an essential to living room comfort.

When choosing a coffee table there are many things to consider. For instance if you are going to rest your feet on it or eat on it you have to consider the height. Too high or too low and both of these activities become difficult and uncomfortable. You need to consider the size of the sofa you are placing it in front of so you purchase one that is neither too big nor too small. Do you have pets that will chew, scratch or jump on your coffee table? If so you might want to look at something that is durable and easy to clean like a wrought iron base and thick glass top.

When taking these things into consideration, you also need to think about what material you would like your coffee table to be made of. Solid wood is pretty sturdy and available in varying finishes and paint colors. Glass is elegant but fragile and wrought iron can be elegant and rugged. A leather top adds richness and sophistication to your living room while sea grass adds a touch of the tropics. Once you have decided on the aforementioned variables you can look at shape. Do you want the traditional rectangle shape or maybe round or oval. Perhaps you want a simple square or one with funky curves and angles.

Next you need to consider if you need storage. Some coffee tables come with drawers, others shelves, some lift open to reveal lots of storage almost like a trunk and others have cabinets. You can store anything from magazines to remotes and they’ll always be close at hand. Once you have decided on what kind of coffee table you want you can begin shopping.

Rather than driving to every furniture store in town why not shop online? Not only will you find the largest selection to browse, but you will also find the best prices so you can compare and save. All it takes is a few clicks of the mouse and your new coffee table will be on its way to your door.

So whether you want the unique and elegant look of a coffee table with a working clock in it or the old world look of hardwood topped with fossil stone you’ll find them both and more online.

You probably can’t imagine a living room without a coffee table, so now is the perfect time to find a coffee table that you can’t imagine your home without. Find one from the many coffee tables available that speaks to you, that makes you feel something, that meets your needs; that you love. Fill that void in front of the couch with a functional, tangible work of art. It has never been easier to make your coffee table dreams come true.

Coffee Table – An Ideal Choice For Any Room In Your Home

2008-01-13T14:24:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, you need a nice surface and table in different rooms throughout your home. Whether it be in your living room for a place to set the remote control down or in your den for a spot to rest the morning newspaper. You might think that you could put a coffee table in just one of these two spaces, but think again because this furnishing would actually be an ideal choice for any room in your home.

Now, there are many reasons why a coffee table would be a nice choice for different rooms in your home. One of them being how beautiful this furnishing is. It gets its beauty from the wide variety of materials that it can be fashioned out of. One of the staple materials used to make them is wood, but a wide variety of woods are used including oak, maple, pine, and other sturdy hardwoods and softwoods. Other materials that they also can be crafted out of include metals, like steel or wrought iron, stone or marble, like granite or fossil, and you can get ones that have glass table tops too along with others that have rich, metal accents.

All of these materials have a fantastic look and because there are so many options, you can easily find one to match any type of décor in those different rooms. For example, maybe your den has like an old world theme to it, with antique furnishings, the whole nine yards. Well, a nice choice for this space would be a coffee table made from wood that has an antique brown finish that even comes with a drawer for easy storage, and to really finish off its look, has lovely scrollwork detailing and carvings. Or, maybe your living room is more up to date and modern than most others, than a fantastic selection for you is one that has a base crafted out of stainless steel with a brush finish that is brilliantly complemented by a beveled glass table top. You could even add a coffee table to your bedroom space if you want. Like, if you have a larger bedroom where you need to fill out a lot of empty space. And, these are just some of the options that are available, for a hassle free way to see the many selections that you could get, do not get in the car and head to your local furniture store. Instead, just log onto the Internet on your family’s home computer for some online shopping. You can compare products and prices at the drop of the hat.

So, if some of the rooms in your home are in need of a nice surface where you can set down and display different items, do not rule out putting a coffee table in there. This furnishing is not just reserved for the living room and would really be a nice addition to any room in your home.

End Tables—The “New Age” Coffee Tables

2008-01-13T14:23:00.001-08:00

The mantra of the modern décor is very clear and simple: clean, simple lines and wide open space—lots of it. Although furniture has remained pretty much the same for thousands of years going all the way back the ancient Egyptians, there have always been evolving tastes and design schemes. The sofa, chair, coffee table, and classic end tables have been prominent features in living rooms for centuries but their particular designs have always changed with the tastes and wants of the culture. Nowadays, the particular design elements of the living room in the contemporary home have seemed to wander in two very distinct directions: minimalism combined with artistic flare.

Traditional end tables were made from wood and had a flat surface on top for placing magazines, drinks, or whatever one might need next to the sofa or chair. It was typical for classic end tables to be placed on either side of a sofa or couch—sort of the anchors of this seating area.

But if you look in many contemporary design magazines or furniture showrooms, tables have undergone an evolution that tends to leave them resembling the classic end tables—smaller, few accoutrements, and often made with artistic presentation in mind. Surprisingly, it is even common for the coffee table to be completely left out of the décor which has placed an even greater importance on contemporary end tables where both function and aesthetics are concerned. The coffee table, it seems, interrupts the flow of the wide-open floor plans common to contemporary interior design while the classic end tables still adorn either side of the sofa without creating obstructions in the middle of the room.

Perhaps it is just a trend, but the classic end table was more of an accessory to the living room than a prominent feature. This certainly is not the case where contemporary end tables are concerned because they now play a central role in the décor of most modern interior design schemes. No longer is the end table perceived as “an added extra” to the décor and the wide range of new-age designs and materials is testimony to this transformation. So, while the popularity of the coffee table may be on the wane at this particular time, the classic end-table is enjoying a resurging dominance in homes all across the country. To find your “new-age” coffee table, try online shopping venues as they have the greatest selection and lowest prices for contemporary end tables when compared to most traditional retailers.

Coffee And End Tables – A Fantastic Decorative Starting Point

2008-01-13T14:22:00.001-08:00

You just bought a home and decorating your new space has been harder than you thought it would be, especially your living room. Whatever you put in there seems to look off and you are not all that sure what to do. Well, you are probably going to have to spend some money and purchasing some new coffee and end tables would be a great way to get things going on the right decorating path.

There are many coffee and end tables to choose from, all of which would be a great starting point for decorating your space. For example, maybe you want your space to have a very vintage feel to it. Then, a great option for you would be tables that are crafted from wood, featuring a dark, rich finish along with decorative accents. With those in your space, then you can add other decorative pieces that fit that design including antique type seating selections and other accent items. Or, maybe you want more of a contemporary look, then a great choice for you are ones that have an art deco type feel, which feature a painted stainless steel base that are complemented nicely by a uniquely shaped glass table top.

The reason why there are so many coffee and end tables that are available is because they are made out of a wide variety of materials that can finished in a number of different ways. A few alternative material selections include different woods like oak, maple, fir, ash and pine along with metals like stainless steel, as mentioned earlier, steel, wrought iron, and aluminum, along with other materials like the glass and even stone, leather, and marble. These materials create tables of all type of styles and designs, including the antique and are deco options along with those that have a simple, traditional feel and many, many others. If you want to find just the right ones to match your style and your space, a great way to look is by hitting the Internet for some online shopping. You can easily compare all the selections, including their prices, without even stepping foot outside of your home.

You might not think that they would be, but coffee and end tables would also be a great choice for putting in other areas throughout your home as well. Like, if you want something a little different than those nightstands in your bedroom, you could put some end tables in place of them. Or, if you need a place to set down that morning coffee of yours in your den, a coffee table would be a great option.

So, if you are having trouble decorating your new living room, or any space throughout your home for that matter, turn to new coffee and end tables for some inspiration. They would be a wonderful starting point for decorating the space, and will all the options that are available, you can find something that will match your style without much trouble at all.

Coffee Or Tea Time Is All About "Me Time"

2008-01-13T14:21:00.001-08:00

Nothing says “me time” better than a cup of coffee or tea? A hot, piping cup or mug of the favorite hot beverage alone or with a special friend can seem like an oasis of sanity in the midst of a hectic day. Hot or cold, with some favorite fruit or nut flavors added, can make for a very special time. Both coffee & tea come with caffeine as optional. If you find that caffeine disturbs your sleep or raises your blood pressure, you can opt for the caffeine free version. If, caffeine is not a problem then go for it! Since both coffee & tea contain caffeine naturally, they must undergo a process to remove it. The decaffeination process whether for beans or leaves, takes some of the flavor out of it, so plan to purchase a better grade of coffee when you want the caffeine out.

There is some humor when people link caffeine products with relaxation and comfort, while at the same time, look upon alcohol as a party drink. When in reality, alcohol is a depressant. You can always spice up your coffee & tea with some flavoring. Just check out your local supermarkets. There are a huge variety of flavorings for your coffee & tea. A scented pot of coffee is the norm at breakfast time. The aroma is as exhilarating as the coffee itself. Tea makes a nice break in the afternoon, accompanied by a light sandwich.

Coffee & tea are sometimes split up by gender as well as time of day. Coffee is the man’s drink, served with a newspaper while a flowered porcelain pot of tea is the picture of milady’s genteel tastes. In reality, men all over the world prefer strong mugs of tea and there’s no shortage of women who gather for a ladies afternoon with coffee.

Hot or cold, man or woman, flavored or plain, caffeinated or not, coffee & tea are possibly the best part of the day.

Flavored Coffee Syrup Adds A New Dimension To Beans

2008-01-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

Flavored coffee syrup is a popular addition to any coffee beverage and a welcome change for any regular coffee drinker. Whether you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or just want something different, flavored coffee syrups put a great kick into any drink. If you own a coffee business, these syrups are another great way to attract customers, allowing them to customize their own drinks so they can enjoy exactly the flavors that their taste buds desire.

Coffee, of course, has a wonderful taste itself, but it also acts as a catalyst for many other flavors. The growth in popularity of flavored coffee is testament to coffee's versatility and strength. People today have come to expect variety and certainly flavored coffee offers them a choice. Flavored syrups means that coffee drinkers can enjoy their beverage all day in a host of different ways.

The best flavored coffee syrups are made from all natural ingredients. The chemical additives and preservatives found in some syrups can distort or hide the flavor of the coffee, while all natural flavors will simply enhance a beverage. Although all natural syrups are more expensive, they are worth the investment as your customers will surely taste the difference and come back time after time for more.

There are four different groups of syrups. The most popular syrups are the vanilla based, which include nut and creme flavors like Irish creme and hazelnut. These flavors go well with just about any type of coffee, and can even be used to sweeten a cappuccino or latte. Chocolate is the next most popular flavoring group, followed by the fruit and spice flavors. It is always a good idea to have an offering from each group so your customers can experience different flavors (and spend more!)

Today, more than 100 different and delicious flavorings lace the coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, and frappes. To say the least, flavored coffee has become an interesting and fast growing area of the coffee market. Blends such as Irish Creme, French Vanilla, Hazelnut and even Macadamia Nut grace the shelves of both coffee specialty shops and home kitchens alike.

The concept of adding flavors to enhance the taste of coffee is, by no means, a new craze. Arabs began flavoring their coffee with cardamom hundreds of years ago, Africans experimented with citrus flavors, and South Americans enjoyed a hint of cinnamon in their cups.

Flavored coffee syrups are highly concentrated, so a little goes quite a long way – this makes it very cost effective for the café owner. One half-ounce shot of syrup is usually adequate to flavor an entire coffee drink. These syrups are available from most coffee suppliers; if you are a new retail or business customer, they will often send you samples to allow you to taste them for yourself; this way you can choose the best tasting syrup product for your customers. This is the fun part – then you have to sell them!

Cookware: Create Your Own Coffee Café In Your Kitchen

2008-01-13T14:16:00.001-08:00

The next time you prepare for a special holiday dinner or party at your house, turn your kitchen into a café. Many café goers are saving their $6 per day favorite coffee or cappuccino and saving their money. Today, the average café coffee drinker spends $1650 or more each year on designer coffees and pastries. A person that craves delicious coffee from their favorite café restaurant can purchase a state of the art cappuccino machine and save a lot of money.

Remember just because person has the latest cappuccino machine and the latest cookware doesn’t necessarily make them a good cook. It takes skill to prepare delicious meals and beverages. Yes, manufacturers of cookware make it easier for people to use various appliances, but the person still needs to know how to cook.

A good cook must know how select, measure, and know how to combine ingredients that would make a delicious meal. Following complete instructions when cooking is very important.

More and more people are succumbing to the cooking bug simply because Coffee lovers can save a lot of money, as mentioned earlier and they can even earn a few extra dollars on the side. Some coffee lovers actually go into the business of making coffee and they sell it to family, friends and co-workers. Others take it a step further and sell coffee beans under their very own brand name on the internet.

A coffee lover must have a nice pastry or meal to go along with their beverage. If one is not a good cook and has a kitchen filled with unused cookware is like a person who is all dressed up and has no where to go. It is suggested that a person take cooking lessons or ask a friend or a relative who is a good cook to teach them how to prepare good meals.

Before purchasing cookware, know exactly what you are going to use it for and how often you are going to use it. If you purchase a gourmet waffle oven for $900 and you haven’t eaten a waffle since the 1980’s, maybe you should think in terms of purchasing equipment that you will often use. There are many people who have so much stuff…cabinets filled with cookware that if they had a yard sale they could put a down payment on a new house. So, remember before investing in that cappuccino maker or that new kitchen appliance, make sure that it is something that you are going to use.

Espresso Machines: Not For The Coffee Shop Anymore!

2008-01-13T14:13:00.001-08:00

Instead of going to the local coffee shop, use your espresso machines instead. There are some excellent opportunities out there for you in these new, must have options for your kitchen. Once only used in coffee shops and in restaurants that were high end, these machines have been made so that anyone, anywhere can use them rather easily.

Espresso machines are available in several ways. You may have a favorite method of making the espresso or perhaps you are looking for something that offers a distinctive taste. In most cases, you will find that there are espresso machines that do just what you are looking for. Because they are so easy to use, you will be able to make your favorite espresso flavors yourself as well.

On top of this, you will also find that some machines are also combinations. Love cappuccino as well? Would you like a standard coffee maker along with your new espresso machine? These too can be purchased. You will find them available in a variety of styles and colors to fit any kitchen.

Yet another feature that is important to comment on is their quality. Some of the espresso machine styles that are on the market for individual use are in fact quite capable of making coffee house style coffee that is rich and full flavored, missing nothing except the price tag. And, you can experiment with coffee beans that fit your tastes while in a coffee house you may be limited. Purchase gourmet varieties for pennies on the dollar online and enjoy the coffee that is nothing short of amazing every day that you wake up.

Worried about dealing with these things each morning? Don’t be, because you will find it very hard to find an espresso machine that isn’t easy to use. Clean up is often just as easy as a standard coffee maker so that is not a problem as well. Espresso machines look great, work great and add an air of sophistication to your life.

The Popularity Of Flavored Coffee Drinks

2008-01-13T14:11:00.001-08:00

While some people only drink coffee in order to wake up in the morning, others are very selective about the coffee that they drink. If you fall in the latter category, you should try gourmet coffee. This coffee comes from beans that have been grown around the world and then made into flavored coffee drinks, using special preparation techniques.

These types of flavored coffee are actually causing people to stand up and take notice of this beverage especially as people's tastes evolve. While they start out drinking coffee that has a lot of cream and sugar in them, over time they will put less and less cream and sugar and may even start to drink it black. With all of the different choices of flavored coffee available, maybe it is time for you to try something new.

Brief History of Flavored Coffee

In the 1990s, flavored coffee became very popular. However, this type of coffee can actually be traced back several centuries to the Turks. Over time, a lot of people have developed strong feelings about this type of coffee; either they love it or they hate it and only want to drink naturally flavored coffee.

Flavored coffee is made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they have been roasted and before they have been ground. Another way in which this coffee can be made is by adding liquid flavors to the coffee while it is being prepared, in much the same was as cream and sugar are added.

Types of Flavors

Generally speaking, there are four categories of this type of coffee. The first category includes flavors based upon spices such as clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom. Next, there are also some coffee flavors that are based upon fruits such as coconut or raspberry. Chocolate based flavors are the next type with the most common being chocolate mint. Lastly, some flavors are based upon nuts like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nuts. Crème coffees also have their share of followers; these include flavors such as Irish Creme or French Vanilla coffee.

As you can see, there are a lot of different ways in which coffee can be prepared. There are also dark roast, light roast, espresso and regular coffee. After deciding on the blend, flavor and the roast, you have the option of drinking it black or with cream and sugar added.

Whole Bean Coffee - A Complete Review.

2008-01-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

If you are a selective coffee drinker like myself, then most likely already know that whole bean coffee is definitely the way to go. Whole bean coffee stays fresh much longer, and if you brew it right after grinding it you get a flavor you simply can’t get from pre-ground coffee that’s been sitting around for a short time. Even only mediocre whole bean coffee brands taste pretty good if brewed right after grinding.

One can find some of the best whole bean coffee in Costa Rica. As an area well-known for its coffee, I was keen to try some genuine Costa Rican brews during my visit there last year and I was totally blown away when I did. Despite the fact that I wanted to make the experience last as long as possible, I obviously carried as much coffee back with me as I could fit in my suit case. Knowing for a fact that the freshness is much better preserved when the beans are yet to be ground, I only brought back whole bean coffee to make it last longer. When I got home, I quickly put three of the four bags I had bought into the freezer, and left the other out for immediate use. Whenever I crushed that whole bean coffee it transported me right back to Costa Rica, and I was in a coffee-drinkers haven for the next couple of months. It’s a good thing I didn’t bring back already ground coffee; it would have lost a lot of its unique flavor.

At the same time the problem with whole bean coffee is that you have to grind it, which means you need to buy a coffee grinder. Moreover, coffee grinders can be a pain to clean, and it’s just an extra step you have to take before enjoying your coffee. If the flavor isn’t really that important to you, and/or you are running out of time or patience, whole bean coffee probably won’t appeal to you that much. The majority coffee drinkers I know don’t even have a coffee grinder; scooping out coffee ‘powder’ into a machine and pushing a button is the extent of their coffee making experience. Of course, there is something nice about just being able to add some already ground coffee in a machine and having a pot brewed in just a couple of minutes with not much effort. For this reason, I usually keep both whole bean coffee and already ground coffee on hand. For times when I’m in a rush, I use the ground coffee, and if I’ve got time to relax I’ll grind up some fresh whole bean coffee to savor its taste.

Using The Coffee Grinder For A Cup Of The Brew

2008-01-13T14:06:00.001-08:00

To a coffee lover freshly ground beans have the greatest attraction. The fragrance itself can make you long for a cup of the brew so earnestly. However, the charm decreases significantly if the beans are pre-ground since the electric grinders are not only too noisy but they heat the coffee beans beyond the ideal limit. No doubt an antique coffee grinder would be the right alternative here.

The beans will be not be subjected to over heating if an antique coffee grinder is used and moreover ideal coarseness and aroma of ground beans will be achieved. Not only that these old mills are highly attractive; also truly speaking with any kitchen décor they match well. An antique coffee grinder's dignified presence on the countertop of even a modern kitchen is graceful enough for the latter.

Back in the 1920's an antique coffee grinder was built that would work satisfactorily in the maximum streamlined modern design even. The Art Deco movement was a great attraction for many people during that very decade. A smooth design with clear lines running through the mill is the characteristic of the antique coffee grinder of that period. It is not really difficult to find that model though you might have thought otherwise. Following the stylish art deco trend the mills were generally developed.

Many users like a traditional model while it is a matter of choice to select from a number of styles available for the same. While one antique coffee grinder can rest easily on a countertop, you may have another fit for wall mounting. In both cases you are confident that charm will be added to your kitchen décor while you bring into your workplace a device so useful and therefore valuable.

For its attractive design the antique coffee grinder, which sits on the kitchen countertop, is to my liking. On top of it is a handle used for grinding the beans while at the bottom is a little drawer for collection of coffee grinds. No doubt very attractive but simple is the design.

Normally these coffee mills are built of wood while that woods remains unpainted as its special feature. The fine detail in the design you can view on the grinding handle too. For any kitchen that has a traditional décor these handles generally made of caste iron is charming feature.

Circa 1905 in Connecticut the Parker Coffee mill was created and that coffee grinder of the beginning of the twentieth century keeps alive the tradition today. On the top of it is a bronze finish while its shape leaves one spellbound.

That model fascinates me as much as a mystifying antique coffee grinder of French or German make, earn my favor. With a scene of a man and a woman offering prayers in a field, this grinder is wall mounting. Till I can collect more information this porcelain coffee grinder of a rare variety may have to continue in the dealer's store.

It matters little which design wins your favor, think to have in your kitchen an antique coffee grinder. If it so happens that there is no occasion for your use of this gadget to make a cup of espresso, still for your home it will remain as a valued object for conversation.

Make A Coffee Can Herb Garden

2008-01-13T14:03:00.001-08:00

If you drink a lot of coffee, you probably have quite a few metal coffee cans on hand. With just a little effort, you can make a useful and pretty handmade gift for your friends and family.

First, wash out your can and peel off any labels. Next, apply a coat of metal primer to your can. Let the primer dry thoroughly. Then, apply a coat of bright acrylic paint to the can.

Once your can is painted, you can decorate it. I like to apply crackle medium and then add a top coat of color. This effect is beautiful if you paint a deep blue undercoat and a rich red overcoat on your can.

You may want to rubberstamp bugs or garden tools onto the can instead. To do this, use stamps that are flexible so that you can stamp onto the curved surface of the can. You can apply a light coat of acrylic paint to the stamp and then press the stamp onto the can, carefully rolling the stamp so that the whole image is stamped onto the can. If you mess up, don't worry. You can wipe the stamped image off the can and start over.

Another great decorative technique for decorating cans is decoupage. Use empty seed packets with pretty artwork or cut pictures from magazines and decoupage them to the can in an attractive pattern.

Once your can is decorated, apply a coat of sealer to the finished product. If you will use the can outside, you may want to let this coat dry and apply a second coat of sealer.

Now, you are ready to prepare your can for planting. Turn the can upside down. Use a 3 inch nail and a hammer to poke drainage holes in the bottom of the can. Turn your can over and fill it to just an inch below the rim with good potting soil.

Next it is time for you to decide which herbs you will be planting in your can. Chives, basil, oregano, thyme and parsley all are great choices. Of course, you can also put a lovely scented geranium in the can, instead.

As a finishing touch, add a tag with information about caring for the herb and a few great recipes. It is easy to attach the tag with a simple florist pick.

Finally, consider other ideas for your coffee can. For instance, instead of adding potting soil and an herb, add a garden trowel, gardening gloves, a packet of seeds, a box of tea and a package of tea biscuits for do it yourselfers.

Indulge Yourself With Gevalia Coffee

2008-01-13T14:01:00.001-08:00

For coffee lovers, Gevalia is one of the favorites both for the convenience of shopping at home and a vast selection of quality coffee to choose from. Gevalia coffee became well known for giving away a free coffee pot with your first order and for shipping a different package of coffee every month for as long as you wished to receive the coffee.

Today Gevalia coffee is one of the most popular online coffee companies in the United States. If you ask around, someone you know has either ordered from Gevalia coffee in the past or they are a regular customer even today. With a variety of coffee from all over the world and flavors to treat even the pickiest of coffee drinkers, Gevalia coffee is a quick and easy way to try new coffee without ever leaving the comfort of your home to shop.

Seasonal Blends

Gevalia coffee is a perfect solution for any office or business as they deliver coffee right to you and you can order as much or as little as you need. For the more discriminating coffee drinker Gevalia coffee offers many specialty coffees including their limited edition and seasonal coffee lines. You might want to stock up on their seasonal coffee before the season ends as nobody can really resist crème brule in the summer or pumpkin spice in the fall.

Tea and Snacks

If you need more than coffee, Gevalia coffee can also take care of you tea needs from traditional black tea to green and herbal teas Gevalia coffee offers both quality and taste for your tea. Of course neither coffee nor tea can ever be complete without a delicious snack to go with them, so Gevalia coffee offers a selection of cookies, pastries and chocolates to make you experience complete.

Today Gevalia offers more than just a coffee of the month package; they also offer a tea of the month and a coffee and tea combination along with a wonderful free gift. If you are a coffee lover and you haven’t tried Gevalia yet, now is the time to give it a try. If you are a long time Gevalia coffee drinker you might want to check out all of the new things that Gevalia coffee now has to offer. There is no better way to indulge yourself than with a great cup of coffee or tea anytime of the day or night, so what are you waiting for - give Gevalia coffee a try.

Coffee Shown To Causes Cancer

2008-01-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

From the desk of Dr Magne, author of Cancer Free For Life

Caffeine is the modern drug of choice in the work world, easily accessible, socially acceptable, readily affordable, and of course perfectly legal. As for the health effects, caffeine is addictive, and because it is acidic, it creates an environment in the body that is favourable for the development of cancer. If you already have cancer, GIVE UP THE COFFEE TODAY!!! There are gentle ways you can do this:

You can switch from coffee to tea. You still get the caffeine from tea, but not as much. Enjoy some good quality tea.

Next, make the transition from regular tea to caffeine-free (not decaffeinated) herbal tea. Herbal tea isn’t really tea, but it’s close. Celestial Seasonings offers a wide variety of flavors. I recommend getting a variety pack to see which kinds you like. You can do the switch abruptly, or use the gradual method above. Now you’re caffeine free.

Switch from coffee to grain coffee. Grain coffee is to coffee as herbal tea is to tea, and grain coffee is naturally caffeine-free. Grain coffee isn’t real coffee, but it’s a ground mixture of things like grains, nuts, dried fruit, and natural flavors that you can put into a regular drip coffee maker and make something that looks and tastes similar to coffee.

A great way to transition to grain coffee is to mix it with regular coffee as you scoop the dry grounds into your coffee filter. So if you use 4 scoops of ground coffee normally, then try 3 scoops of coffee with 1 scoop of grain coffee for the first week, and continue to transition gradually as in the first method above.

Part of the addiction of coffee drinking is having a warm beverage, so the two methods above focus on that. I really like having something warm to drink, especially during the winter.

Don’t use decaffeinated coffee or tea because known carcinogens are used in the decaffeination process, and decaffeinated drinks are still highly acidic.

Why Give Up Coffee at All?

I can’t ignore the energy boost and mental acceleration that comes from caffeine. There are negative side effects with drinking coffee. Caffeine makes part of the brain overactive and another part underactive. You become good at doing things, but very bad at prioritizing what needs to be done. If I drink a lot of coffee, It’s hard to focus on the big picture from a holistic whole-brain standpoint.

Caffeine blocks your intuition and creativity. If you have to sit down and do high-level work like developing your next quarterly plan, caffeine will reduce your ability to concentrate. Your mind races too much on caffeine; it’s hard to stay focused on just one thing.

Additionally, caffeine definitely disrupts sleep habits. You just don’t sleep as well. With no caffeine, you sleep more restfully and wake up easily.

Cancer has been shown to be a substance that creates a favourable environment for cancer to develop. It is time to give it up for more health-enhancing beverages.

Coffee Grinders

2008-01-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

All coffee drinkers have their own opinions on what's involved in brewing the perfect pot. For many, it's a combination of cold, clean water, and freshly ground coffee beans. Coffee grinders are the perfect kitchen accessories for these caffeine connoisseurs.

Coffee grinders work so well because they unleash the bean oils and create a delicious aroma before you even brew a pot. It's like opening a fresh can of ground coffee each and every morning.

Of course, there's more to cooking up a great cup of joe besides simply grinding the beans. There are different techniques for storing the coffee, measuring the grounds. The type of coffee maker and water you use can also mean the difference between so-so and simply delicious.

Coffee gurus recommend adding two heaping tablespoons of whole beans to the grinder for every six ounces of water you plan to use. If using a drip coffee maker, you should measure the water before starting the brewing process.

To get the strongest, richest flavour, freshly ground beans work best in press pots or those with permanent filters such as gold cones. Truly fussy coffee drinkers do not use paper filters, as they can create an aftertaste and absorb the special aromatic oils from the coffee beans that are essential for creating superb taste. If you must use paper filters, try rinsing them with hot water beforehand to wash away the aftertaste.

Knowing how long to let your coffee brew is another important factor. Freshly ground coffee is very delicate, and if left in contact with the water for too long, it can become overly bitter. On the other hand, if the grounds don't spend enough time with the water, the coffee may lack the full and robust flavour you're hoping for.

After brewing the perfect pot, don't leave it sitting on a burner or hotplate for too long. After twenty minutes the coffee will "burn", take on a terribly bitter taste, and take a real toll on your stomach.

Coffee grinders make it easy to start every day with a brilliant brew.

Why The Fish Tank Coffee Table Is Dreaded By Fish

2007-12-14T02:15:00.001-08:00

If I were a fish I would hope and prey I did not go to a modern trendy home where the owners liked the latest craze. At the moment the latest trend is the fish tank coffee table. Although this type of aquarium looks stunning it is a death trap for fish. They are beautiful looking items of furniture and become the centre of attraction since you cannot fail to see and admire it.

Why the Fish Tank Coffee Table are Called Death Traps for the Fish?

The fish tank coffee table is a great piece of interior home décor; however, the same fish tank coffee table is actually murdering the fish. The reason they are cruel to marine life is because this type of aquarium gives very little place for installing proper filters, and it allows very little maintenance. The fish have height but they need the width as well in order to feel comfortable. The fish actually feel very uncomfortable if they have to swim between the different heights that make the fish tank coffee table.A solution to this problem would be mechanical fish.

If you do not want your fish in this type of aquarium to die a slow and very painful death then the best solution is to replace your live fish with mechanical fish. This way your fish tank coffee table stays as a splendid interior decoration piece without harming anyone or anything.

A Modern Looking Fish Tank Coffee Table

If you must have live fish in your fish tank coffee table then a large rectangular one would be best. This would also enable you to install adequate filters underneath the base of the table. This type of aquarium will be better for fish to live. So in order for the fish to be comfortable, they will need to be accommodated in a rectangular and long aquarium. The larger the surface the more fish can live in there.

Alternative Fish Tank Coffee Tables That Do Not Have Live Fish!

There is another choice for people who really must have a fish tank coffee table and do not like the idea of mechanical fish. You can fill a tank with colorful decorations and plants and add to it oxygen pumps which let out small and big bubbles. This, in combination with good lighting, can be as beautiful as an aquarium, without making you guilty of any cruelty. There are some lovely looking plants and colored stones and ornaments which are available to buy at very cheap prices and would really make your display the centre of attention.

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans: A Fun Snack

2007-12-14T02:14:00.000-08:00

Most people have some form of sweet tooth, and many also like the taste and smell of a fresh cup of coffee. Though the tastes of sweets and that of coffee are very different, they make a great match, since sugar helps to offset the slightly acidic bitterness of coffee. One of the best examples of this is the great taste of chocolate covered coffee beans. If you’re a coffee lover, a chocolate lover, or both, chocolate covered coffee beans make a great snack.

A Marriage of Flavors

Chocolate and coffee work well together, so much that some chocolates in Europe will have recommended servings that include serving with coffee, particularly dark chocolates. However, any kind of chocolate can make great chocolate covered coffee beans, even white chocolate. This sweet, crunchy snack gives you the mellow flavor of one of the favorite candies in the world with the tang and aroma of coffee. And even better, this is a snack with kick, since you’ll get a little caffeine rush from eating chocolate covered coffee beans.

Making Your Own

Some people are serious enough about their coffee to buy their own beans and grind them. If you’re serious about your coffee, then you can be just as serious about your chocolate covered coffee beans. By purchasing your own beans and chocolate, you’re guaranteed a quality product.

Making this great snack food is a snap; all you need is a pot to carefully melt the chocolate in, and some sort of device, whether a fork or a strainer, to remove the beans. Once the chocolate is melted, simply place the beans in the pot to coat, and then remove with the fork. Set on wax paper to harden overnight, and you’ll have a great snack that you made from scratch.

Buying Beans

The selection of coffee beans can be important in the making of chocolate covered coffee beans. You want to buy a medium or dark roast, since a light roast will simply be too acidic for chocolate covered coffee beans. This is one reason why chocolate covered espresso beans are a popular sell, since it’s a very dark roast.

You can bring out interesting flavor combinations with your chocolate covered coffee beans by purchasing flavored beans. Usually considered inferior by aficionados for creating a brew, they can add an extra kick to chocolate covered coffee beans. Give making this sweet, crunchy, snack a try and you’re sure to get hooked!

Caribou Coffee Offers Good Brew, Great Atmosphere

2007-12-14T02:13:00.001-08:00

Caribou coffee may be the second-largest coffee retailer in the United States, but taste tests have ranked them first in flavor in recent years. The company, which began in Minnesota, now includes over 460 coffee shops that are located in 18 states throughout the eastern and central regions of the country. It is second only to the Starbucks Corporation in terms of size and number of stores. The history of Caribou Coffee has had its highs and lows since it was founded in 1992, but the origins of the company are interesting and inspiring to up and coming entrepreneurs.

In 1990, the founding members of Caribou Coffee, John and Kim Puckett took a trip to the wilderness of Alaska. After climbing to the top of Sable Mountain, they encountered a breathtaking view of the valley below – complete with a herd of caribou running by. They took this vision home to Minnesota with them, and two years later they opened the first Caribou Coffee shop in Edina, Minnesota. This inspiration that began the path to their dream has resulted in a company that strives for the highest quality of products and service in the coffee market today.

What does Caribou Coffee Offer?

In addition to a great, laid back atmosphere that can be compared to a ski lodge or a wilderness cabin, Caribou offers a wide variety of hot and cold beverages as well as baked goods to warm your bones and tantalize your taste buds. The menu includes most of the beverages that you would expect to find in your basic coffee shop today, including espresso drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. They also offer blended drinks with and without coffee, depending on your preference. Tea is another common item found at Caribou Coffee, and comes in a variety of types and flavors. Make sure to check out the selection of “Wild Drinks” as well, which include the signature concoctions unique to the Caribou Coffee stores.

A couple of years ago, this company also began a bakery side of the business which includes items like cinnamon rolls, muffins and scones to go with the beverage of your choice. There are even sandwiches available, so that you can enjoy your coffee at lunch time as well. For those die hard Caribou Coffee fans, there is also a selection of clothing available that sports the Caribou Coffee label.

While Caribou Coffee has had its share of growing pains over the years as the business has developed, there is no doubt that the company offers a quality product that many consumers enjoy. If you have never tried the beverages from Caribou, why not give it a try today?

Is Your Coffee Making You Feel Sick? There Is A Healthy Choice

2007-12-14T02:12:00.002-08:00

Coffee is so popular you’d think it must be the right thing to drink. But there are many health drawbacks to the normal coffee. It may be your morning pick-me-up and your midday pick-me-up, but normal coffee can be a real put-down for your health.

Obviously not everyone feels that way. After all, coffee is the most popular drink worldwide with 1.4 billion cups consumed every day. Four out of five Americans drink it, consuming more than 400 million cups a day. In Canada it is the most popular hot beverage.

But the list of health problems associated with coffee is a real wake-up call itself.

Some of the problems that the caffeine in coffee causes are preventable and in fact urgent to prevent. For example, caffeine increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and can contribute to the development of heart disease.

Anxiety and irritability are also associated with too much caffeine intake.

The high acid content of most coffees can lead to gastrointestinal problems because coffee increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid leading to an increased risk for ulcers. Coffee, including decaf, reduces the pressure on the valve between the oesophagus and the stomach so that the highly acidic contents of the stomach pass up to the oesophagus leading to heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. With America’s high consumption of coffee, its no wonder the best selling over-the-counter drugs are the so-called antacids.

Besides its direct effect on the human body, there is also the issue of the use of chemicals and pesticides on the coffee beans (as well as on other food crops). Pesticides and chemicals used in agriculture contain a myriad of chemicals – most of which are have not been studied thoroughly enough to understand or contemplate their long-term effects on the human body.

So, am I telling you to give up coffee? NOT exactly. Rather, I want you to know that there is an alternative to the normal coffee, the normal coffee that plays such a part in your decreasing health, even as it purports to elevate your mood and energy.

The alternative I’m talking about is a real coffee (not a coffee substitute) grown and processed organically without the use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones or artificial fertilizers. It’s a coffee that actually helps to remove toxins from your body, and with every cup you drink, you can feel better and realize increasing health benefits.

And, in fact, this particular coffee tastes good.

This new healthy coffee has been known to increase oxygen to your brain, help balance your weight, and boost your overall health. The secret ingredient is an extract from the Reishi mushroom known as Ganoderma Lucidum. Its literal root is the term Reishie Senshi, of ancient Asian origin, meaning, “goodness of health, life and eternal youth.”

Unlike your average coffee bean, which is one of the most heavily pesticide sprayed crops, these coffee beans are grown and processed organically without the use of any chemicals or pesticides. This healthy coffee will help remove toxins from your body and boost your immune system. With every cup that you drink you can feel revived, rejuvenated and experience increased health benefits.

As for taste, this coffee is known to be delicious. In fact, not only health reasons, but pure and simple taste is one reason that many people are switching to Ganoderma.

Health issues, however, are a very important reason that more and more people are switching to Ganoderma. Its essential ingredient, Reishi mushrooms, has been used as an immune stimulant for both HIV or cancer patients and has even been found to improve immune response in advance-stage cancer victims. These mushrooms have also been used to help the healing of lungs for people with asthma and lung disorders. The ancient Asian civilizations began using Reishi mushrooms centuries ago and still used today for hypertension, liver disorders and arthritis.

As it’s low in caffeine, it won’t have negative affect on sleep patterns either.

So, it seems that coffee connoisseurs, or just the normal everyday drinker like me, can have a real coffee (not a substitute) that can help improve our lifestyle and health.

Just imagine a coffee that can boost your immune system, increase your circulation and just make you feel better. I’ve found that since switching to Ganoderma healthy coffee, I can have as much or more enjoyment of my daily cups of coffee, and have no more worries about negative physical or psychological effects.

Now that’s something to drink to!

Blue Mountain Coffee – The Taste Of Jamaica

2007-12-14T02:12:00.001-08:00

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.

From Green Coffee Beans To Aromatic Powder

2007-12-14T02:11:00.001-08:00

Coffee does not exist in the form that we are used to purchasing it in at the stores. Coffee comes in the form of green coffee beans that grow on the coffee plant. These green coffee beans are then collected from coffee plantations and are sent to places to be roasted, ground and finely crushed to make the coffee powder that you are use to purchasing at your local store.

The Processes that Green Coffee Beans Undergo

There is a process that these green coffee beans must go through before they actually become coffee powder. Firstly, the beans must be picked from the coffee plantations. This is usually done by hand by laborers who get paid for each basket that they pick. Then, since coffee beans have a fruity flesh that directly wraps around the coffee bean, once they are gathered this flesh has to be removed right away. This is done by soaking the beans, scouring them and then mechanically rubbing the bean.

Once the green coffee bean is free from its fruity flesh it is then cleaned with water. This is done in order to remove any of the fruity flesh that may still be sticking to it, as well as any additional sugars that are on it. The beans are then dried by spreading them over a large concrete or rock plane where they are dried by a combination of the air and direct sunlight.

After the beans have been dried it is time for the beans to be put into categories that are based upon the color and the size of the coffee bean. Any beans that are discolored, decayed or damaged are removed from the other beans at this point.

When the beans are finally dried, they are then roasted. This process is important if you want an aromatic cup of coffee. At this time, the coffee bean will actually expands to nearly twice that of what its initial size was. It will also change color and density as it takes in heat. The color turns to yellow and then to a light cinnamon brown. At this point the coffee beans will start to crack, just like popcorn does. As coffee is grown in different parts of the world, varying climate conditions and other factors also play a role in how the beans are processed. The final product is then crushed into the savory coffee powder which we are accustomed to seeing.

The Unseen Dangers Of Coffee Cup Warmers

2007-12-14T02:08:00.000-08:00

Coffee cup warmers will sell in every major supermarket by the year 2010, and they are more dangerous than electric blankets. More than 22% of house fires start by electrical item such as the coffee cup warmer. Most Americans today find some convenience in the common household coffee cup warmer. Our fast-paced lives do not allow us to slow down, stop at the microwave and reheat for the tenth time our chilled coffee. So low and behold the coffee cup warmer. Just plug this in anywhere you have an available outlet, seems easy enough. What most of us do not realize that in this fast-paced atmosphere we also do not have time to baby-sit this wonder product? Every label on electronic items like the coffee cup warmer reads, “Do not leave unattended”. Why this is so confusing to us, I do not know. Repeatedly the news blares out yet another incredible house-fire from electrical items left unattended.

Office Dangers

Most fast-paced work areas have use for an item such as the coffee cup warmer. It is much more attractive to have right at you desk with-in an inch of your mouse a heating element that conveniently keeps you from running to the microwave. Unfortunately, there are office meetings, phone calls, lunch, and just plain being busy. We are far too busy in fact to keep our eye on the coffee cup warmer. Just one piece of mail or small sticky note falling onto the heating element, this is all it takes and you are the next big news story.

Elderly and Coffee Cup Warmers

Some may think that the elderly have nothing but time to keep their eye on this very compact death unit. I must contest this sort of wayward thinking. The dangers of our poor little grandmas and grandpas using a coffee cup warmer are a little more straightforward. As we get on in age, the tendency towards dementia is a little more apt to happen. More than 10% of Americans today are living independently with some form of dementia. Coffee cup warmers are a popular gift to our elderly relatives. These little units have the capability of getting as hot as a 250-degree oven. This is hot enough to stick the skin right to the unit. One might think that it might hurt a little when an incident like that happens, but we Americans still keep buying these little miracle units. Consider yourself warned!

The Simplicity Of French Press Coffee

2007-12-14T02:05:00.001-08:00

Although there are different methods for producing a great cup of coffee - from instant coffee to complex cappuccino machines - most people tend to make theirs with the simplicity of an electric coffee maker. But there are other methods accessible to you that can make a great cup of coffee, such as French press coffee. If you haven’t seen one in use, then you’re missing out on a simple way to produce a rich cup of coffee.

The Pot

The main hardware for French press coffee is the plunger pot, and it’s basically all you need in order to make coffee with this method. It consists of a small jug with a sort of plunging mechanism on top. This plunger has a sort of mesh on it which is used to filter out the coffee grounds. In order to make French press coffee, you add water directly to the grounds in your plunger pot and let it steep for a few minutes. You then push down on the plunger to filter out the grounds from the liquid. The making of French press coffee is no more difficult than that, easy enough for anyone to operate.

The Coffee

When you grind your beans for French press coffee, you want to shoot for a coarse grind, since larger pieces will get filtered out better by the mesh of the plunger. French press coffee will produce a stronger brew than you’ll get with a coffee machine, which is great if you like a coffee with a lot of flavor. Keep in mind that with this method, there will be some small particles in the coffee after pouring. This is normal, and it doesn’t mean that you’re doing something wrong.

One thing to know about French press coffee is that it should be served right away, since the water and grounds are still in contact. If you wait too long, the mix will become unpleasantly acidic. So don’t make French press coffee and expect it to be good for a second cup in an hour. For this reason, most plunger pots are small in size.

Convenience

French press coffee is remarkably easy to make and low-tech, since you can make it without electricity. For this reason, it’s great on camping trips, since the plunger pot fits easily in a backpack and can be used outdoors. Similarly, for those traveling without guarantee of a coffee machine at their destination, a French press coffee jug can fit easily in your travel bag and ensures you can have a cup wherever you go. With the convenience, ease of use, and flavor that French press coffee making provides, it is sure to be a hit with you and your family.

Counting Calories In Coffee While Dieting

2007-12-14T02:03:00.003-08:00

If you look at any label for any type of food or beverage, you will find out just how many calories or in the product. When it comes to coffee, you start out with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and zero nutritional value. Only when you begin to add the sweeteners, sugar and creamers do the calories in coffee begin to grow. Many people add coffee to their diets because of its stimulating effects. Coffee and the unwanted calories that are in it will give you the energy and endurance to keep going at a fast pace throughout your day. Just how many calories are in your favorite coffee drinks may actually surprise you. Learning about the coffee drinks and the calories included in them will help you adjust the amount you intake while following any diet plan you are on.

Counting Calories In Starbucks Coffee

Everyone seems to love Starbucks, and they have created so many delectable beverages, that once you taste them the calories seem to be unimportant to most of us. However, a person who is dieting needs to be aware of the calories in these coffee drinks. For instance, a Frappucino in a large cup yields an amazing three hundred and thirty-one calories. That’s a lot for a drink that started out at zero. Another example of a high calorie drink is a latte. A tall one has an amazing two hundred and ten calories. Most dieters would agree that these drinks would not be beneficial to their diets, but without doing the research on the calories in coffee drinks there is no way to know what they are actually consuming.

Low Calorie Coffee Tips

When you fix coffee to your liking, chances are you will add calories. There is however ways that you can cut down your intake of calories consumed in coffee.
Start by choosing a small cup, either eight or 12 ounces would be fine. When ordering, ask that your coffee be prepared with fat free milk. This can save you from up to 80 grams of fat. Use a sugar substitute instead of sugar. (1 tablespoon of sugar is 15 calories) You should always order coffee without cream, whipped cream, coffee syrups etc. when you are trying to cut back on the calories in your coffee.
A good way to limit the calorie intake is to refrain from more than one or two cups of coffee.

Did You Know…?

Did you know that in order to burn off the number of calories in one of the fancy coffee house drinks you would have to walk for 1 hour continuously? This would only burn off the coffee drink calories and nothing else.

Making A Coffee Gift Basket

2007-12-14T02:03:00.001-08:00

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.

The Popularity Of Flavored Coffee Drinks

2007-12-14T02:01:00.002-08:00

Brief History of Flavored Coffee

Types of Flavors

Cold Coffee-Who Woulda Thought

2007-12-14T02:01:00.001-08:00

"What is the last thing that your patrons taste/drink before leaving a restaurant ?" And if you do not believe me go out there and watch. Nearly everybody will toss back that last cold cup of coffee before leaving their table, therefore it is vitally important that your coffee tastes wonderful hot, warm or cold.

Now how can you be sure that your coffee tastes good.

STEP ONE : CLEAN the EQUIPMENT

Cleanliness is more important than godliness, therefore ensure that you not only clean your bowls every night (there must be a joke in that line somewhere), and your coffee supplier can give you urn cleaner to really clean them occasionally, or run them through the dishwasher. DO NOT FORGET THE BREW BASKET. This will be dirtier than everything else, so once again ensure that there is no oily residue, plus clean the showerhead, and the area around it. If you have an urn or dual system, ask your coffee supplier to come in and train/educate your staff on how to properly clean the equipment.

STEP TWO: CALIBRATE the EQUIPMENT

Many times I go into a restaurant to find the brewer is short-potting (no this is not a gardening term), and the remedy can be very simple. Adjust the timer or float mechanism. BUT, maybe the equipment is short potting because the water line (including the filter/strainer) or machine or showerhead is clogged with lime, or some other gunk. Cleaning and maybe de-liming is necessary. Remember that if your brew time is too long, your resulting (revolting) coffee will be bitter, with a burnt after-taste. It’s rather like drinking coal tar - although I must admit I cannot remember the last time I knocked back a shot of coal tar.

Also, ensure that the water coming out of the showerhead is at the correct temperature, too cold and you will underextract, too hot and we start going down the coal-tar path again. A simple thing to check (use an oral thermometer, not a r...... one), and then adjust the temperature on the thermostat as necessary.

STEP THREE : WATER

A cup of coffee is 98% (approx) water, so if your water tastes lousy, your coffee will taste lousy. So test your faucet water by comparing it to the taste of a bottle of filtered water. And if necessary, put in a proper water filtration system. Remember your ice, soda, and cooking will all taste better.

STEP FOUR : YOUR COFFEE/COFFEE SUPPLIER

The people responsible at your coffee roaster will cup (taste) coffees through the temperature range, right down to room temperature - specifically to address the question at the top of this page, and to ensure that the coffee tastes good even when its been sitting for a while in your coffee cup. The coffee cupper (and by the way the best tea tasters, coffee cuppers, and wine sommeliers are all women, this is because physiologically God built a woman’s mouth differently to a man, and women have much better taste buds than men ) will cup and blend the coffee so that the taste profile always remains the same. People do not want surprises when they first wake up, least of all in their coffee cup at 7am, therefore the job of cupping and blending is one of the most difficult in the world. Mind you, most people don’t want a surprise in their martinis about 12 hours later, so once again tasting and blending is vital.

Having determined that your coffee supplier/roaster (hopefully one and the same company) can roast and blend coffee well, lets look at packaging, and the whole bean versus fractional pack/ground coffee debate.

Your coffee supplier is loaning you brewing equipment, and if you want to do a whole bean programme (no that is not a spelling mistake), they will lend you a portion control/doser grinder. Now the grinder they lend you will be a proper commercial grinder, costing about $700. But just consider that your roaster uses a grinder where the blades alone cost upwards of $15,000, and your roaster is checking the degree of grind several times a day with very expensive and sophisticated equipment. Therefore what chance do you have with a $700 grinder of achieving a consistent grind? And just remember that your brewed coffee quality will vary enormously with the vagaries of heat and humidity playing havoc with the coffee particle size coming out of your grinder. Or you can buy fractional packs, which have been nitrogen flushed to remove oxygen and preserve freshness.

A doctorate in nuclear engineering is not required to understand that fractional packs will always produce a better, and more consistent brew than a whole bean programme. The difference between local/regional coffee roasters is not in the roasting. Anyone can set themselves up as roaster. Even you. Buy some green beans and toss them into your hot air popcorn popper, and Voila you have air-roasted some coffee. And provided you didn’t cremate them, they probably smell wonderful. No, the difference in coffee roasters is how they buy the coffee, where they buy their coffee, how they blend the coffee, and most importantly (and this is really where the women are separated from the girls/ politically correct phraseology) how they pack the coffee.

Coffee’s enemies are heat, oxygen, light and humidity. Therefore coffee that does not arrive in your restaurant in foil/film wrapped, hermetically sealed bags will lose its freshness within a day or two. BUT, packing equipment is very expensive to buy and run, and this where the difference lies between a roaster dedicated to ensuring freshness in your patron’s coffee cup, and one who does not have what it takes.

And now dear readers to summarize :

Correctly clean and calibrated coffee brewers (try saying that after drinking a couple of martinis)
Clear, pure, and great tasting water.
Good fresh coffee, from a hermetically sealed portion/fractional pack.

Follow these simple rules and your clients will leave with a smile instead of a grimace.

The Coffee Beverage Chicago Style

2007-12-14T02:00:00.001-08:00

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.

Espresso's Good, But Why Decaffeinated Coffee?

2007-12-14T01:59:00.001-08:00

I love above all else to drink coffee, but I am still totally baffled why anyone would drink decaffeinated varieties. What about the needed and pleasurable caffeine rush? What would possess anyone in his or her right state of mind to give up on a good espresso for that dribble? Does this not take away the whole reason for drinking a decent cup of delicious coffee? I was soon to learn why this drudgery even existed. As I discovered pregnancy, I quickly developed a new taste for it. In fact, strangely enough, I actually really started to like it for the flavor alone. Weird, right? Hormonal reaction, maybe? That may have been a possibility, but you should read the rest.

Unfortunately, for everyone else, I cannot resist the insatiable urge to learn absolutely everything there is to know about pregnancy and how to avoid all known complications, diseases and anything, even the bubonic plague. Science said to avoid aspartame because how much of it was harmful was unknown. Luncheon meat was out because of a possible infection from listeria. Caffeine was the biggest fear – possible miscarriage. The fact is that you have to consume a minimum of three portions of normal coffee each day to do this, but it frightened me enough to settling for decaffeinated drinks and simple sodas.

Then, reaching my half-term point, I was horrified to discover through some television coverage that some decaffeinated varieties from coffeehouses may not be as caffeine free as they had claimed. Of course, it is obvious that there was some fractional amount of caffeine left in my drinks. However, I never dreamt that I was consuming close to that in the regular drinks. Then I discovered something else. In almost 60% of cases, the caffeine concentration in decaf was no different from the regular. As if that wasnt enough, scientists discovered that the problem lay in a cross-brewing process or the very brewing machines that had not been cleaned properly after the last batch. Normally that would not be a problem. However, in my case that was out of the question.

I understand now that during pregnancy my instincts to protect my unborn child left me now mad enough to eliminate any coffee types from my diet altogether, unless I made it myself. My pregnancy was to go undisturbed with any hint of decaf and that it frankly didnt help my moods during my last trimester.

A Coffee Cup- A Gift For All Occasions

2007-12-14T01:57:00.000-08:00

Purchasing a coffee cup is a great gift idea for all occasions. You may want to consider giving someone you care about a coffee cup. It makes a great gift because it is so unique and can be customized to accommodate every occasion. The coffee cup can be purchased in a variety of shapes and sizes, in all sorts of colours and patterns, including slogans and logos that are bound to impress or get a laugh from the recipient of this excellent gift idea. Try giving a coffee cup to a loved one today and watch their face light up as they begin to enjoy a hot steaming cup of tea in their brand new specialty mug.

The coffee cup or mug could that would be bought for a birthday or anniversary could be printed with the date of their special day printed on it or the coffee cup could have Christmas designs embellished on it to make a unique Christmas gift. Giving a Christmas cup near the holidays is a great way to get people to feel that Christmas spirit year round as they drink from their gift cup. Another great way to give a coffee cup would be a christening gift as you could commemorate the occasion with a photograph of the child on the coffee cup to give to the child when they are older.

There are also cups that represent local sports teams, organizations and charities. These make great gifts and can also be used to raise money for the sports fan or social club. You can choose a colourful and creative design featuring their favourite sports team’s logo and work from there to create an awesome gift experience.

Personalized cups: These types of coffee cups can be made personal to whatever extent you want to. They can have a photograph of someone or some special place printed on it or even a love poem or a picture of your pet. Imagine the exciting humour of drinking a cup of coffee from a coffee cup with your face on it!

Great Additions

Along with your coffee cup, there is a variety of coffee-related gifts you can consider giving. Easter is a good time to give a coffee cup as you can fill the cup with an egg or chocolates. You could also add coffee beans or tea in the mug as part of a package and string it together with a special bow. You can also give matching coffee equipment or other items that work well with the cup such as coffee makers or specialty coffee tools such as a grounds press that helps crush those beans into luscious ground coffee. The possibilities are endless in terms of giving a gift to the coffee lover in your family, so try it out with a basic coffee cup and work your way up. Your friends and family will be impressed at how thoughtful you can be!

15 Household Uses For Coffee Filters

2007-12-14T01:55:00.001-08:00

Coffee filters can be used for more than filtering coffee. You will be amazed at the many other uses for coffee filters. These creative ideas are both money and time savers, and who doesn’t like saving money? Once you see the wide array of ideas you are sure to come up with a bunch more. Here are a few ideas for putting your coffee filters to use:

Coffee filters can be used as disposable bowls for snacks such as popcorn, chips or crackers, allowing you to save time.
You can use these filters if you run out of paper towels to clean windows, and they do an excellent job.

Heat up leftovers in the microwave and cover them with a filter. This will help keep your microwave clean.
Use coffee filters to absorb grease from greasy foods, they do the job perfectly.

Catch ice cream drips by using a coffee filter as an ice cream cone holder, it will absorb the mess.
Use like a Kleenex when you don’t have a tissue, it will get the job done when you are in a pinch.

Keep a few coffee filters in the trunk of your car, and you will be able to check the fluids with ease and avoid the mess.
Use them to clean your glasses, they actually work the best and won’t leave any lint on the lenses.

Make an air freshener by adding some baking soda and using a twist tie to secure the contents. Then put them in all the places you need to freshen up.

Use as small bowls to divide ingredients to ease the mess in the kitchen and making cleaning a breeze.
Use coffee filters to polish your shoes, this will keep them nice and shiny.

Us e them when you are packing breakable dishes, this will help protect them better than newspaper.
Use coffee filters as coffee cup covers when you are re-heating coffee to avoid any spilling or splashing. This will help keep your microwave looking its best.

You can use them to protect your counter when you are cutting vegetables, they will help make sure you are slicing the vegetables and not your counter.

Coffee filters can be used to help diffuse the brightness of the flash on your camera. This will help ensure that you get the best picture possible.

To Sum It Up

Coffee filters can be used for many things that you may never have thought of, so be sure to take advantage of all these extra household ideas, and you will indeed save time and money.

Columbian Coffee Recipes

2007-12-14T01:54:00.000-08:00

So what is Columbian coffee really all about? The following guide includes some delicious recipes about Columbian coffee--information you can use now!

Coffee is on of Americas favorite beverages and becomes more popular as the years go by. So naturally you would be able to find different methods of preparing Columbian coffee. You can make all sorts of tasty treats with this aromatic drink.
Below are some of the most popular recipes that are highly used today in some of the most popular coffee houses across the world. Now, you can save money by making these Columbian coffee recipes come to life in your very own kitchen. Friends and family alike will be amazed at just how delicious your coffee treats taste.

100% Iced Columbian Coffee

Double strength Columbian coffee
Cracked Ice
4 tablespoons of sugar

Brew double strength Columbian coffee by simply adding 8 tablespoons of ground coffee to every 12 ounces of water.
Fill your electric blender half way with your chilled Columbian coffee and add the cracked ice.
Add the 4 tablespoons of sugar or sweetener and blend until you have a thick foamy coffee treat.
This recipe will give you approximately 4 servings, if you need more than that simply double or triple the recipe to suit your needs. This will became a fast favorite for the Columbian coffee lovers in your life.

Columbian Coffee Mousse

½ a cup of brewed 100% Columbian coffee
1 ¾ cups of milk
1 cup of heavy cream
1 package of unflavored gelatin
3 eggs; separated
¾ cup of brown sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coffee concentrates (1 cup ground to every 8 ounces of cold water)

Sprinkle the gelatin over a cup of cold water and let it soften while preparing the custard.
Heat milk to its boiling point in a saucepan. Beat egg yolks using a wire whisk or electric mixer. Pour the hot milk over beaten egg yolks slowly, beating constantly with wire whisk. Return mixture to saucepan, add brown sugar, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until custard has thickened slightly, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and add gelatin to the hot custard and stir until dissolved. Add coffee concentrate, vanilla and almond extracts.

3. Transfer mixture to a bowl and refrigerate. Keep refrigerated and stir every five minutes until custard has thickened to the consistency of unbeaten egg whites, approximately 25-45 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, whip the cream until it softens and refrigerate.
5. Beat egg whites until they are stiff but not dry. Fold coffee custard base into egg whites. Gently fold in whipped cream. Pour mixture into 8 individual custard cups and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until set.
When you have finished, you will have created a delicious surprise for all to enjoy.

These recipes are by no means exhaustive but just a few of some of the worlds most popular Columbian coffee recipes. With just a little creativity and imagination you can take these recipes on Columbian coffee and develop many more! Enjoy.

Coffee-So Darn Expensive

2007-12-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

I always cringe when that is the first question from a restaurateur, and my response is always the same - "Is price more important than taste"?

Consider the following - restaurants usually sell a cup of coffee for about one dollar. And when they pay $6.00 per pound for coffee, their cost per cup is about ten cents, (which means their profit is ninety cents). So the difference in their profit between $6.00 per pound and $3.00 per pound is the incredible sum of five cents per cup. However, the real difference will be in the taste of the coffee.

The taste difference is even greater with coffee brewed in an espresso machine since an espresso machine is an amplifier. It will highlight a really good coffee, but conversely, it will also amplify any faults with that coffee.

Remember, espresso is not a type of bean, but is a method of brewing coffee. Espresso coffee is tightly packed (7 grams), through which hot water (198 degrees F) is forced at high mechanical pressure (132 psi). The resultant one and a half fluid ounces is the elixir known as espresso, and many countries could be conquered before 9:00 am if their population were to be deprived of this magic "elixir"!

A commonly mistaken thought is that coffee used in espresso machines should be dark roasted - WRONG! When beans are darkly over-roasted, all the oils come to the surface giving the impression that the roasted coffee has been coated with grease. These oils contain much of the flavor of the coffee and when brought to the surface by over-roasting, they will be lost when handled, stored, and of course, when they are ground. Since coffee is really "cooked" three times, (the first during roasting; second when ground since the grinder creates heat; and thirdly when brewed), over-roasting will produce a bitter/burnt taste when brewed as an espresso.

Let me return to my original point as to why better coffee beans cost more. Coffee beans are an agrarian product, and like all crops they are subject to climate, soil, and growing and harvesting methods. Coffee plants that are treated better will produce a better crop.

Coffee harvested by hand will produce a higher quality product. A mechanical harvester only goes through once plucking ripe and unripe berries simultaneously. Manual harvesting takes place over a period of time and the pickers only pluck the ripe fruit, avoiding the unripe berries.

Sorting takes place at the plantation AND at the roaster. The better the sorting, the better the coffee. This process begins with the removal of stones (which can ruin your grinder), branches, leaves, poisonous spiders, (just joking, I think), and continues with the removal of broken, misshapen, and bad beans. This is critical since a broken or misshapen piece could roast quicker than the other beans, and will affect the quality of the finished batch.

Blending must take place after roasting. Different batches of beans from different plantations and countries will roast at different times and temperatures. Throwing different green beans together will result in some beans being under-roasted while others are burnt. Expert blending (or cupping as it is known) of roasted beans will ensure the best and most consistent flavor.

Packing the perfectly roasted and blended beans will ensure that you are sold the product in peak condition. Coffee begins to oxidize and lose its flavor and aroma as soon as the roasting process is finished. It's essential that the coffee is packed in lightproof and airproof bags that have been nitrogen flushed and/or vacuum packed. The bag should also have a unilateral valve to allow carbon dioxide to escape.

From the rambling monologue above, it's easy to see that short-cuts can be made to the coffee preparation process, but quality will only cost a few pennies more per cup. And remember - your coffee may be the last item that your customer tastes before leaving your restaurant.

Drink Coffee - It May Help Your Gout

2007-12-14T01:52:00.000-08:00

You may yourself suffer gout or have a family member or friend who suffers this deadly affliction. If you have ever had gout you would well remember your gout attack.

Gout is excruciatingly painful. The sufferer suffers great pain and is often unable to walk on their extremities. Often the poor gout victim has to crawl on their hands on knees on the floor just to get around.

The person who suffers from gout is often told to change their eating and drinking habits. Eat less red meat, no organ meats, no beer or red wine, lose weight, no shrimp. Liver, herring, salami or corned beef. But did you know that being a heavy coffee drinker can also help, not hinder your attacks from gout and help you to get over your painful gout attack? Drinking the beverage you like in the morning – coffee may well help your painful gout. If you drink a lot of coffee you are almost half as likely not to suffer from painful gout attacks.

Coffee may help to keep you alert, increase your thinking performance, give you insomnia and agitation, let you enjoy some socialization with co workers, friends and family at that local “Tim Horton’s” Coffee Donut Shop as well with your colleagues and coworkers at the “coffee break” and help your gout.

Gout, as you know, is a most painful condition which is more than common. Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis which can occur in any joint in the body, but most commonly in the large joint of the big toe.

It has been rececently found that drinking coffee has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of gout. So if you suffer from gout and are a heavy coffee drinker – keep drinking that coffee and enjoy it.

Gout affects about 10% of men over the age of 50 and 10% of the women over 60. In a large 12 year study of nearly 46,000 health care professionals ( such as surgeons , doctors , nurses and pharmacists that were over the age of 40) it was found that the risk of gout was almost 60% lower for men who drank 6 cups of coffee a day compared to men who drank no coffee at all. Similarly for men who drank 5 cups of coffee a day the risk was reduced by almost 40%.

Interestingly the similar popular beverage tea did not have any effect in reducing gout. Decaffeinated coffee was helpful in reducing gout but not as much as the real high-test power regular non decaffeinated coffee.

Coffee is not only an enjoyable, tasty social beverage. It can also be most helpful with your health and in helping your gout condition and bouts of attack of painful gout.

Discovering Organic Coffee

2007-12-14T01:51:00.000-08:00

Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can't find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online.

How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee

The coffee plant has traditionally been grown in the company of shade trees and other food and cash crops. This approach made for healthier soil and prevented water contamination. Unfortunately, many coffee growers have abandoned this approach in favor of larger crops and hence larger profits. However, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers have become necessary to maintain these crops, and along with them the taste of the coffee has suffered, the soil has suffered, and no one knows the potential impact they may have on the future health of the coffee consumer.

In addition, the loss of the shade trees has had a direct impact on migratory song birds. While an obvious connection may not immediately come to mind, the relationship has actually been symbiotic. These birds used the shade trees as their habitat as they migrated, and as a result they provided a natural defense against many of the bugs and pests that can ruin a coffee crop. Without them, pesticides must be used to do the job.

Unlike the large, commercial coffee plantations, organic coffees are generally grown on small farms with plenty of shade cover. There are plenty of migratory birds to control insects, and pesticides are unnecessary. In fact, the United States requires that organic coffees be grown on shaded land and be completely chemical free for three consecutive years.

Tips For A Great Cup of Organic Coffee

Whole beans should be used within a week of purchase in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee.

Avoid vacuum-packed coffee, even organic vaccum-packed coffee. The process of vacuum packing cannot be done immediately after roasting. The coffee must sit for nearly a week before it can be vacuum-packed. This degrades much of the flavor.

Coffee beans should be stored in an airtight container, not on the shelf in the paper bag you brought them home with from the store. And in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee, you should grind only the amount you intend to use just before brewing.

Whole coffee beans that will be stored longer than a week should be placed in an airtight glass container that's kept in the freezer.

As with any coffee blend, organic or not, grind the beans according to the brewing method you intend to use. Keep in mind that if you grind your beans too fine your coffee may end up bitter and muddy; if you don't grind them enough, your coffee may end up flavorless.

Often overlooked, many people consider the most important step toward a good cup of coffee to be the proportion of water to coffee. Experts recommend 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.

In Conclusion

While you will pay more for organic coffee, just as you'll generally pay more for organic fruits and vegetables, choosing organic coffee promotes the environment, the health of the coffee grower, and your health, too. Just as important for coffee drinkers everywhere: organic coffee tastes as good if not better than non-organic coffee.

The Power Of Coffee Roasters

2007-12-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

No matter what the brand of the coffee that you buy and no matter how great the advertisement is, if you do not own a coffee roaster and grind the beans yourself, you are missing out on enjoyment and paying a high price for it.

Before the age of mass communication, before the age of advertisements, coffee roasters were all within the family, and they were the ones who roasted their coffee and enjoyed them wholeheartedly.

It's always been a good feeling to wake up every morning with a pleasant coffee aroma. But the coffee aroma that many of us woke up each day is usually the aroma that comes from a metal can or a ceramic jar. That storage could never compare to freshly-ground beans.

The difference is this: If you roast with your own coffee roaster, drinking your own roasted coffee is like biting into freshly baked bread. The opposite is experienced by people who don't have coffee roasters. For them, they drink coffee that's like eating pre-cooked popcorn that is rubbery to the taste.

It could be hard to believe now, because so many people had been used to buying instant goods that often cannot compare to freshly-roasted beans. Try it for yourself sometime, just for the experience. Even if at first you don't achieve the level of exceptional coffee roasters, the coffee that you made, even with all its imperfections, will still be much better than those that you buy from a grocery store. There is an extra incentive as well. You will save up to 50% of the cost of store-bought coffee.

Aside from making coffee that is half the cost and tastes much better, here are other reasons to become your own coffee roaster.

Everyone knows how delicious freshly baked bread tastes compared with the stale loaves. Serving as your own coffee roaster and drinking from your own roasted coffee is as big a difference as that.

A roasting coffee bean explodes with aroma that is without equal. It permeates the senses and stimulates you to wake up and face the day.

Instant coffee and other grocery-grade coffee will not leave such an aftertaste on your palate. If it ever does, it will only be for a short while, not so with a freshly roasted coffee. On the contrary, your palate will retain the delicious taste for most of the morning.

When you are your own coffee roaster, you can be assured the best quality coffee because you cannot help but make it special for yoursself. You can sample the gourmet coffees. They too are freshly roasted and are an excellent alternative to the pre-ground coffee that you buy. Even then, it will never be and can never be as fresh and as good as when you roast it yourself.

If you can boil an egg, you can roast coffee. It is really quite simple. Use a popcorn popper if you can't find anything to properly roast the beans with. Pour in the beans and let them roast. If you do not want it too dark, have it lighter by roasting it for less time. You can make adjustments for different coffee textures as you experiment.

The satisfaction that you will get will more than make up for the trouble that you have by roasting your own coffee. Ignore the advertisements and experience for yourself how superb coffee really is. After that, you will never believe the boasting of coffee companies who say they have the best coffee in the world.

A Brief Look At Coffee History

2007-12-14T01:49:00.001-08:00

Coffee is probably one of the most popular beverages consumed by adults, yet many do not know coffee history very well. Understanding cofee history will make you appreciate that rich aroma you love so much. According to Arabic legend an Arabian goat herder was going about his daily activities when all of a sudden his flock of goats began dancing around a green leafy plant. The plant appeared to have cherries growing from it, the goat herder decided to give this fruitful plant a try. He noticed that he was experiencing a stimulating effect that allowed him to stay awake for hours. Once he let others in on his secret, they began using coffee for the same reason. It is said that once introduced to a priest, he began promoting coffee and its effects throughout the monastery for continued prayer sessions. Low and behold, we had an eye opening beverage that would soon become a frequent pick me up favorite.

Coffee History Begins in Ethiopia

Although many believe the goat herding legend as to be true in discovering coffees history, others need a more evidence than this to believe in when it came to discussing the history of coffee. Scientists have discovered botanical evidence that proves that coffee Arabica began in Ethiopia and then was somehow taken to Yemen, where it was then served up in the Mecca in one of the very first coffee houses in history since the 6th century. It became more of a personal favorite used for enjoyment, rather than putting it to use for its stimulating effects.

America Loves It

Wherever it originated, coffee is a popular choice of hot beverages. The number of coffee houses open for business now is amazing. There is one on every corner in America and is served in a variety of different ways. You can know get coffee drinks hot or cold, with or with out flavoring and it is made to order. Many prefer instant coffee when serving coffee in their homes. This shows just how far coffee has come since its history began.

Coffee, Coffee, and More Coffee

Now it seems as though we are obsessed with coffee, you can find it everywhere. Coffee candy, coffee ice cream, coffee syrup, coffee creamers and the list will continue to grow. With coffee being such a favorite, did you ever stop to think that we had an Arabian goat herder to think for this rich tasting drink we all enjoy so much?

Coffee Franchises: To Own Or Not To Own

2007-12-14T01:48:00.001-08:00

Coffee franchises have taken over in small business today as we know it. Every corner in every major city has a coffee house, most of these coffee houses are linked through coffee franchises. 81% of Americans will have been in at least 5 different coffee franchises in their lifetime.2.5% of the stock market are cornered by such businesses like the basic coffee house. We the public has definitely benefited from large coffee franchises, as they have benefited from us.

Small Business vs. Franchise Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales.

There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele. To Each His Own If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

Small Business vs. Franchise

Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales. There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele.

To Each His Own

If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.