The Top Brands of Coffee

Finding out the top brands of coffee is pretty simple if you do a little searching. If I had to guess off the top of my head, I would assume Starbucks would be at the top of the list. As it turns out, Starbucks is a huge competitor; however, there is a lot of competition out there for top coffee spot. Today I will tell you a few of the top brands of coffee.

One of the most popular coffees on the market today is Yuban. Yuban is a part of Kraft Foods and is known for helping the environment and wildlife of coffee growing regions. This is a popular choice among activists and people who care about the environment.

Whenever talking or thinking about coffee, one city comes to mind for me, and that is Seattle. Seattle's Best is another giant when talking coffee. In addition to serving the Seattle area, this giant also services the rest of the United States, as well as Canada.

One coffee I am quite familiar with and seen in the market often, is Millstone coffee. Millstone is owned by Proctor & Gamble and now for their blends and flavored roasts.

Growing up I always remember my parents having one of two coffee brands in the house, one of them being Maxwell House. Maxwell House has to be the quintessential house coffee. This is also owned by Kraft Foods and quite popular throughout the United States.

The other coffee my parents always had around the house was Folgers. I can remember growing up and the coffee being in a huge tin can. Now of course, they are in more modern plastic containers, but the coffee is still as popular as ever. This coffee is also a Proctor & Gamble brand and is widely known throughout the United States and beyond.

As I mentioned earlier, Starbucks is one of the top three coffee giants. Not only are they known for their coffee shops, you can also find their products on just about all grocery store shelves. If you are looking for some Starbucks, these days you do not have to look very far!

Another popular brand that is all the rage on the East Coast, is Chock full O' Nuts. I have to be honest and say I had not heard of this brand; however, it has been around since 1932 when it was first offered in a New York store!

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How to Clean Your Coffee Pot

Many people have their methods to cleaning their coffee pot. Some of us, like myself, go way too long without cleaning the pot. The result can be coffee that tastes bitter due to the left over coffee residue in the pot and filter. That is not a delicious thing, and something you definitely do not want to happen when you are serving guests or company!

One simple way to clean your coffee is pot, is the old-fashioned way with some soap and water. You simply want to wash the pot by hand, making sure to get in all the nooks and crannies of the pot when cleaning. Give it a good washing once or twice, make sure to rinse the pot well, and leave it out for air-drying. This is a simple way of cleaning your pot that will help it a bit. You can also run some hot water through the filter to clean that out as well.

Another way to clean your coffee pot is to pop it in the dishwasher. This will definitely get the pot clean, but what about the rest of the machine? The filter and the tubes of the coffee pot is where the coffee residue can get stuck and clog the machine. Again running some hot, soapy water through the pot should be able to clean it and make it somewhat better.

I have found the best method of cleaning a coffee pot is to use vinegar. This is something my parents did just about once a month while I was growing up. I have to admit, this will definitely stink up your house, but it is worth it in the end.

Some experts state to dilute the vinegar, but I find if you pour about a cup of it directly into your coffee brewing system, and turn it on as if you are going to brew a pot of coffee, this is the best cleaning method. I have also done this a few times on the same day to make sure to rid the pot of all the old coffee residue. If you are looking for a true deep cleaning of your coffee brewing system, think about using the vinegar method to cleaning it.

Once you start cleaning your coffee brewing system on a regular basis you will never go back to the days of not cleaning it. The coffee tastes so much better, and everyone deserves a good cup of coffee!

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Are You Looking for Statement Coffee Mugs?

All of us are quite particular about our drinks and there's hardly anyone in this world who doesn't have a definite choice with coffee. Everyone loves a different flavor. Some like to spend a delightful time with a cup of cappuccino, while others may like Espresso, Caffe Latte, and other tastes. We relish every time we have a strong cup of our favorite beverage. And, to make every sip of our favorite joe more enjoyable, we should have cool coffee mugs. These stylish cups would let that savor lasts for long over your taste buds. These mugs not only make your coffee taste better, but help you remain stylish even when you relax while sipping that strong joe.

However, while getting a cool cup or a set of coffee cups for your guests, do keep in mind the following things:

Consider the uses: As everyone loves to sip a hot (cold) and fresh joe, one should focus on the material of the cups and choose ones that will preserve the freshness and heat (cold) for a longer duration.

1. If you like to enjoy your hot joe, you should choose mugs made with strong and thick materials like porcelain. Also, make a wise choice in design. A cup with comparatively more height than width would be suitable to let your coffee stay hot for long.

2. In case you are a person who loves to gulp the whole drink in a single take, go for cups that have a large surface area. More width would help bring down your drink to a normal temperature, making it easier for you to swallow it in one go.

3. If you take coffee with you to office or anywhere else you go, you should choose good travel mugs made with stainless steel or porcelain. Vacuum insulation is another feature of travel jugs that you should check as it keeps your joe hot or cold for long.

Consider the look: The look of your coffee mug is also an important factor while choosing a new one for you. Make a statement with the mug that you often hold in your hands. Stick to designer crockery brands, as they keep on bringing new styles and interesting colors in these useful beakers. You can also go for designer tea sets to add more to your presentation, when welcoming guests for casual visits.

Consider a right place to shop: While buying a stylish cup-set for making your kitchen look more impressive, you should know the right place to shop. Finding classy and modern designs in cup-sets have become easier with following outlets:

Renowned retail stores: Standard crockery shops always bring a large range of all kitchen utility items. Coffee-sets are also available with them in galore.

Online stores: Buying mugs online can prove to be a wise choice as finding statement cups from a wide variety is always a fun. Buy ones with quotes or with hand-drawn figures. Discounted prices on your designer kitchenware would make your shopping experience more enjoyable

Relax while sipping your favorite flavor in a statement cup!

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Espresso Machine Reviews and How to Choose One

An espresso is a traditional Italian coffee beverage. The first espresso machine was patented in the year 1884 in Turin, Italy. Espresso machines are made commercially in many places of the world as the popularity of the beverage continues to grow. Some of the espresso machine makers for the home market include De'Longhi, Breville, Gaggia, Cuisinart, etc.

Espresso coffee is brewed by forcefully directing water that is at nearly boiling point through finely ground coffee powder. The result is a thicker and frothier beverage. The flavors in the drink are concentrated, which is one reason for its popularity. It also forms a base for many other related coffee beverages such as mocha, latte, etc.

Given below are some espresso machines and their prominent features that may help you to choose the best one for yourself.

Breville Barista Express is an espresso machine that is automated enough to grind a specified amount of coffee beans. If you want a good control over the grind, this machine is recommended. The sleek-looking machine has an inbuilt grinder and looks good when placed on any counter top.

Nespresso CitiZ Espresso Maker is a very popular model because of the high-quality espresso that it makes in less than 30 seconds. Quite a quality to rave about! A cup of frothy espresso made from this machine costs about 55 cents. The pods for the machine can be purchased online.

The Krups Espressaria Fully Automatic Espresso Machine has a removable drip tray that allows you to place big mugs on it to receive the coffee. The spout's position can also be moved up and down to accommodate larger cups. This machine allows only the use of full coffee beans. It is fully automatic enough to store, grind, brew the coffee for you, and dispose the dregs and grinds. The design of the model is very compact.

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is a machine for the coffee connoisseur that allows you to control every aspect of the coffee-making process. It is a good quality rugged and heavy machine that allows for a quiet operation. It is recommended that you buy the Rancilio grinder to make the best quality coffee.

DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is a very popular super-automatic model. The machine purportedly produces good quality espresso although some people claim it to be a little noisier than the other models. The model is rugged and longlasting.

The Gaggia Classic RI8161 Espresso is a good quality manual espresso machine that is sold worldwide. The espresso made by this machine is not only thick, but also frothy. It is comparatively cheaper than some other higher end machines that are available on the market. The machine is rugged and easy to operate.

DeLonghi ECO310 Icona Espresso Machine has a quick three button system to produce frothy creamy espresso. The machine has a big reservoir. It is specially designed for everyday use. The design is simple, easy to operate, and it is easy to clean the machine as well.

With the many machines available in the market, and if you want to purchase an espresso machine for your home, there are some qualities that you can look into and decide the best espresso machine that suits your needs. Estimate the space required for the machine, whether you are going to place it on the countertop or going to place it on one of the cabinets. The automated machines are generally taller than the normal ones. Ensure to note the dimensions of the machine before you buy one.

There are manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic machines that are available. The manual machines are beautiful to look at and are a lot more expensive. The semi-automatic ones are cheaper and more popular. The espresso machines can be bought with or without a pod system. With a pod system in place, however, it is imperative that you use the pods that they stipulate.

You can choose from different types of espresso machines depending on what you want and what your budget is. A pump machine having about 15 bars of pressure is strongly recommended for good quality espresso. Ensure that the espresso machine that you buy can fit a the size of cup or mug that you prefer. You would be surprised on how many people forget this.

Ultimately, the looks of the machine, the usability and the convenience, the quality of the espresso that the machine can make, and the cost of the espresso maker are some qualities that can help you to rate the machine.

Commercial espresso machines are manufactured by companies such as Wega and Miko. Commercial espresso coffee machines generally use steam to make many types of coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, mochas, etc. The machines are used in cafeterias and restaurants and cost several thousand dollars. The machines require some amount of expertise for them to be operated properly and Barista's who are responsible for making the coffee undergo proper training.

Some other factors that need to be considered when buying commercial espresso machines are the method of operation, the size of the machine, the power rating, the system used for the frothing, etc. Commercial coffee grinders are available as doserless (without doser) models, single dosing and dual dosing grinders.

It is always recommended to experiment with several shots of espresso before determining the exact method that works for you. The espresso should ideally have a good layer of froth on top and should take about 35 seconds to prepare. The grinder settings have to be adjusted until the required results are obtained.

Commercial espresso machines have to be carefully maintained for their superior performance. It is important to wipe the steam hands after use. Portafilters have to be cleaned immediately after use by removing all the grounds and rinsing them thoroughly. After use it is also recommended to run water from the group heads and steam from the spouts for a few seconds. Specialized cleaning products are available that prevent collection of residues in the group heads, lines and valves.

It is recommended that you be very cautious when operating commercial espresso machines. You should remember to keep your hands away from the steam spouts and the group heads. This is particularly important when cleaning the heads.

How to Make White Chocolate Mochas

One of the nicer things to come out of the massive growth of the coffee industry is the creation of new, delicious coffee and espresso-based drinks that give you an alternative to your daily plain coffee. A favourite among many people is the White Chocolate Mocha. Many people are glad to pay as much as the cost of a meal for some of the drinks, but how much is actual costs and how much is profit? It turns out that they are relatively inexpensive to make yourself, if you know how.

Ingredients

You'll need to gather all the ingredients for the White Chocolate Mocha first, which is not as complex as it may seem. Typically, all that is required is:

1. Espresso (2 oz)
2. White Chocolate Sauce (2 oz)
3. Steamed Milk (6 oz)
4. Whipped Cream (optional - topping)

The quality of the espresso and the quality of the White Chocolate Sauce will determine whether it tastes "plain", or it has that cafe-quality touch to it. While both of the ingredients can be acquired at most grocery stores, they may be stale and are more-than-likely lower-quality products. For a cafe-quality taste, you'll need to visit a professional supplier and get their ingredients.

Instructions

The steps are important in making sure that the ingredients all work together well. You don't want the espresso or steamed milk sitting for too long after being prepared, so those need to be done last. The sauce should also be mixed well with the other ingredients. Follow the steps below:

1. Pour 2 oz of the White Chocolate Sauce into the bottom of your mug or cup
2. Begin brewing your espresso. If your espresso maker does not have a milk steamer/frother, you'll want to heat it up in the microwave at this stage - 45 seconds should do it.
3. Pour the espresso into the cup along one side, so that it mixes the sauce as it is poured. You'll want to begin frothing the milk at this point - either with the steaming wand on your espresso machine or by hand if heated in the microwave.
4. Pour the frothed milk in the same way as the espresso, along one side so that it creates a mixing action as it is poured.
5. If desired, top with whipped cream.

That's it! The total cost of making your White Chocolate Mocha at home is less than $1.00 - even with cafe-quality ingredients. While it may be more convenient to just grab one while you're out, making them from home can result in over 80% cost savings.

Another bonus to making your own drinks at home is that you know exactly what goes into them. You control the ingredients, which means you control where they come from and ultimately, how the drink tastes.

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Coffee Bean Connoisseur

As a coffee lover I am always keen to learn more things about coffee, and ultimately find the best coffee in the world. So, if you have been off the store bought coffee for a while you will appreciate the understanding of real coffee.

I am talking about beans that are hand produced from 80 coffee making countries around the world. There are coffee farms in these countries, where entire communities are dedicated to making the best beans in the world.

Two Main Coffee Types
Real coffee lovers will know the two main organic and superior beans. They are the Arabica bean and the Robusta bean. The Arabica bean has a rich flavour and full body. This bean can only be cultivated by hand. This is why specialty coffee is more expensive than mass produced store coffee. The second main one is the Robusta bean is used to blend in with other specialty beans as the flavour is not as rich. This is yielded in quite large amounts.

The Grinding Process
The most important part of making your own coffee at home is the actual grinding process. You can buy mini grinders from most stores that work perfectly well. Depending on the type of coffee you want to make, you will have to grind for longer or shorter periods. A fine grind can make espressos, and a medium grind can be used for drip coffee makers. Once grinding is complete you should brew it immediately.

The Brewing Process
Making coffee can be a science for some people. Getting the right amount of granules in the grinder is only step one. The hardest part for specialty coffee shops or normal at home coffee connoisseurs' is the brewing process. Coffee lovers will know that the oilier the bean is the more flavour it releases. When brewing coffee at home make sure to keep your equipment clean at all times, this will prevents terrible smells seeping into your perfect cup of coffee. The water should be at a perfect temperature, never too hot or too cold. The general temperature used is 200 degrees. One very important tip is to never boil your ground beans, and make sure to stir the cup of coffee immediately after it has brewed.

Barista Tools
Every coffee lover should invest in a few barista tools in order to make their coffee extra special. The first tool to invest in is the dosing tool; this is the perfect way to get precise measurements, you can then also use the tool to flatten the granules before going into the machine. Apparently, this tool can give coffee that extra special sweet taste. Secondly, coffee is just not the same without the perfect foam. Therefore, the next two tools are a stainless steel milk jug and a milk thermometer; these two items guarantee the perfect temperature to make thick delicious foam.

Just like organic food, you get organic coffee. You can find organic coffee in health food store, supermarkets or specialty coffee shops.

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Why Is Coffee So Popular Worldwide?

Coffee is one of those things that has become part of our every day lives and is all around us all the time. Coffee has become just as much part of everyone's day just like brushing your teeth. People enjoy coffee around the world from morning till night ans has become one of the most popular things in the world. Why is coffee so popular? You may be thinking that is like a simple question, and the answer to that would be, yes it is. But why is coffee so popular?

Well, there are many reasons for this actually. Besides coffee being one of the things that is a normal part of endless peoples' mornings, coffee also provides a comfort. If you ask most people who have coffee in the morning if they have more coffee later in the day, the answer most likely will be yes. However, a lot of the time the reason that people will have coffee later in the day will be for different reasons than when they had it in the morning. For many people, coffee later in the day is more of comfort and is part of their evening after dinner relaxation routine.

However, coffee is much more than a morning or evening drink. Coffee for some time now has been something that people enjoy going out for and that is why there have been so many coffee houses around the world that have become so popular. Depending on where you live, there can be coffee houses and coffee shops on every block and sometimes there are more than one on the same street. That is how popular coffee has become. People enjoy meeting for a coffee just as much now as the popular "happy hour" that started some time back.

An additional reason for the popularity of coffee is that it is something that can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone. It is not a costly item or something that can only be enjoyed by select individuals. This is a simple pleasure that can be enjoyed by the masses and is something that can bring friends and family together for conversation. Because coffee is enjoyed now by so many different age brackets and different demographics of people, there are now so many different styles, flavors, and brews of coffees. Even fast food restaurants have joined in to provide their customers with the popular coffee drinks that everyone enjoys.

So what are all of those different popular coffee drinks that we have today? Well for starters lets begin with your regular coffees. You have the option of light or dark roast, french roast, house blend, breakfast blend and those are just to name a few. You could alternate between just regular coffees everyday of the week and never have the same kind, and actually much longer than that. You can also get regular or decaffeinated. From there you can move on to espresso, cappuccino, and lattes. This would most likely be considered the next most popular forms of coffees. You can get these served in a variety a different way as well making each style a completely different coffee experience.

One more recent style of coffee drinks have included the blended frozen coffees. These are very popular and are even consumed by the younger crowds even more so. They have the flavor of some of the most popular flavored coffees but they are blended with ice to make more of slush. They are usually topped off with whipped cream but sometimes people enjoy the lighter calorie versions and they leave the whipped cream off.

Sometimes people are not in the mood to have a hot beverage but they would still like to have a nice cup of coffee. This is where iced coffees come in. These coffee drinks are very popular as well and they are usually consumed at lunch or in the afternoon for a nice refreshing pick me up beverage. Iced coffees can come in a variety of flavors as well and is sometimes just what you need during the day.

Another popular coffee drink is espresso. Now, a lot of the time there are plenty of coffee drinks that call for a shot of espresso to be added to the drink, but many people like to get a shot or two of espresso to have by itself. There are times when people do not want a full cup of coffee but they would like the flavor and the quick jolt of caffeine that the espresso will provide.

Cappuccinos and lattes are very popular as well and these are the type of coffees that people enjoy when they want something a little more than a plain cup of coffee. These are also the type of coffee drinks that people sometimes enjoy later in the day as a nice pick me up enjoyable beverage.

The coffee styles mentioned are just a few of the different varieties that are available. There are so many different kinds that sometimes people can get a little overwhelmed by all of the option so they never try anything new. Most people will say that the best way to try new things is to do just that, try new things. You have to explore all the different kinds of coffee beverages so you can find the kinds that you like the best. There are going to be those that you like more than others, but that is the fun in trying the different coffees as well.

So where do you begin? One idea is that when you visit your local coffee shop during the week, you can go down the list and try different varieties every time you visit. Keep track of the kinds that you like and those that you do not think that you would enjoy having on a regular basis. If you have a single brew coffee maker at home, you can try a lot of the different styles in the comfort of your home, depending on the style of coffee maker that you have. Some will just brew single cups of regular coffee and others will allow you to make espresso and other favorite coffee drinks.

Anther things you can try, is to see what styles of coffees you family, friends, and co-workers drink. This will give you plenty of options to try and you will know what to order when you go to your favorite coffee house. The employees at the coffee shops can also be very helpful in helping you try different varieties. After all, they deal with all the coffees drinks that people enjoy on a daily basis and can make some recommendations sometimes off of the kinds of drinks that you normally order.

These are just a few reasons why coffee is so popular. There are endless styles and varieties of coffee drinks and there are numerous occasions where people enjoy having their favorite cups of black silk. Morning, afternoon or evening, no mater where you go you will always see people enjoying their favorite coffees. Not to mention, the wonderful aroma that comes along with fresh brewing coffee is simply wonderful and is part of the reason people enjoy coffee as well. There is nothing like, brewing your favorite style of coffee and then taking a moment for yourself and enjoying your cup of coffee to get you through the next part of your day or evening.

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Learn How to Make Cold Brewed Coffee

During the summer months your morning or afternoon coffee may seem to make you even hotter. A great option for drinking coffee when it's warm outside is to prepare iced coffee. The perfect cup of iced coffee cannot be made with your regular coffee maker. Coffee makers that produce hot liquid will quickly melt your ice and cause your coffee or coffee beverage to get watered down. So put your brewer to rest over the summer and learn to prepare cold brewed coffee without a coffee maker.

The materials needed to cold brew coffee are simple and inexpensive. The most important ingredient, obviously, is your coffee grounds. You can buy specialized grounds that are made to be cold brewed, or you can just get your regular favorite brand. It is best if you try to get coffee grounds that have a coarse grind. Some other items that you will need include two large non-reactive bowls or containers, a strainer, a coffee filter or cheesecloth, plastic wrap, and plenty of water.

Begin making your iced coffee by mixing together your coffee grounds and water in the large bowl or container. The ratio of grounds to water is flexible, but a good place to start is to add ten cups of water for each pound of coffee you are using. Once all the grounds are wet, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or its lid and let the mixture sit for twelve hours or longer. When your grounds are finished steeping, you should first filter the mix through a strainer to remove the larger grounds. Filter the mixture through the strainer and into your clean bowl or container. Place the filtered coffee grounds in the trash, and then repeat the process. For smoother coffee, you will want to place your filter or cheesecloth on the strainer during this second round of filtering.

Once you have prepared your cold brew coffee, you can store the coffee in your refrigerator for several weeks. Use an airtight container to hold your drink to keep it tasting fresh. When you are ready to prepare your cup of joe, simply add ice to a cup and pour the cold coffee over the ice. You can mix in milk, cream, half-and-half, or any sweetener that you prefer.

Even though brewing this cold brewed beverage takes a significant amount of time, it's a great option for daily use since you can make a large batch at a time. Once it's brewed, making iced coffee is quicker and simpler than using your coffee maker each day.

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Keurig's K-Cups and Vue Packs: Is There a Big Difference?

Although Keurig's K-Cups and Vue Packs might look similar, they are actually quite different. They are different sizes and shapes, they are compatible with different Keurig brewing systems, and the flavor possibilities are different as well.

K-Cups are individual coffee and tea portion packs that are slightly taller than the newer Vue Packs. Because of this, K-Cups will only work in brewers designed for these portion packs. These brewers include the Keurig Elite, Keurig MINI, Keurig MINI Plus, Keurig Platinum, Keurig Special Edition, Keurig Platinum Plus, Keurig B155, Keurig OfficePRO, Keurig B130, Keurig B150, Keurig B3000SE, Keurig B140, and the Keurig B200.

Vue Packs are slightly more stout than the K-Cups, and are only compatible with the Keurig Vue V700 brewing system. Vue portion Packs go through a different brewing process than K-Cups. They can be brewed to the user's individual temperature, strength, and size preferences. An additional difference lies in their ability to be recycled. To be recycled, the Vue Pack's lid is peeled back to separate it from the rest of the cup. The plastic portion of the cup is recycled anywhere #5 plastics can be recycled.

Since they have been around much longer, K-Cups come in a wide variety of flavors, made by many different major coffee and tea manufacturers. K-Cups are made by companies like Bigelow, Caribou Coffee, Celestial Seasonings, Dunkin' Donuts, Folgers, Gloria Jean's, Green Mountain Coffee, Starbucks, and many more. They come in over 200 different flavor varieties, from coffees and teas, to hot cocoa and other specialty beverages, including iced coffee and tea.

The newer Vue flavor Packs have been around for much less time. Because of this, there are fewer varieties of coffee and tea available. There are currently about 40 flavor varieties available in Vue Packs. Unlike K-Cups, however, the Vue Packs do offer a new style hot beverage to consumers, with café-style beverage. With a two-step brewing process, consumers can make cappuccinos and other specialty beverages using the newer portion packs. Vue Packs are made by many of the same manufacturers of K-Cups, including Barista Prima, Caribou Coffee, Green Mountain Coffee, Celestial Seasonings, and others. As more Vue brewers are sold, additional Vue Pack flavors will likely become available, so consumers should expect more flavors to continually become available.

K-Cup and Vue Pack flavors provide users with an easy way to get their perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or other beverage. With so many flavors to choose from, K-Cups and Vue Packs are available in a flavor to suit the tastes of just about anyone.

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The Calories in Coffee

If there is one food item that the medical pundits just can't decide is good or bad for us, it has to be coffee. One day they will tell you that coffee makes you tense and can cause heart problems, while the next they may tell you that it brings down cholesterol and people who drink coffee live longer. However, if there is one thing that is true, it is that the best thing about the black nectar is that there are no calories in coffee - that is if you drink it black, which unfortunately not a lot of us do any more.

Is Coffee Healthy?

If you are starting your day with a single cup of coffee, or even two cups, then you have nothing to worry about. You are giving your body a nice, healthy dose of caffeine to get your system up and running. However, there are some coffee habits that are not so good, such as drinking coffee all day long because you didn't sleep the night before, or drinking coffee that might be full of more calories than you might think.

How Many Calories Are There In Your Coffee?

The calories in a cup of black coffee are basically zero, but the trouble comes when we start adding things to it. If you are enjoying a cup of coffee with cream and sugar in the morning, then you are consuming anywhere from 75 to 100 calories per cup. That may not be enough calories to catch your interest until you think that if you cut back on that, you could save around 10 pounds worth of calories over the course of a year. You can do this simply by changing to artificial sweeteners and fat free milk.

What About Those Specialty Drinks?

Calories in coffee really start to add up when you head out to Starbucks. The calories in coffee from the specialty shops like this can start at well over 100 calories and end up being more than what you might get in a cheeseburger. For example, if you walk into Starbucks and order a Venti Mocha Frappuccino, you will be looking at 405 calories, and that is before they put on the whipped cream!

Even a mocha made with non-fat milk and no whipped cream could still clock in at around 350 calories, which is much more than most people eat in a single breakfast. You could have eggs, toast, and bacon for that number of calories.

What Should You Do?

If you are trying to save calories in coffee each day, then it goes without saying that staying away from the coffee shops is the first thing that you can do. Not only will you save hundreds of calories each day, but you might also end up saving hundreds of dollars each month. Those big, tasty drinks are not only full of calories, but they are pricey, and if you add up what you are paying over the course of a year, you might be able to afford a pretty good vacation.

Once you start making your coffee at home and drinking it there or bringing it to work, you can save calories in coffee simply by substituting your sugar with an artificial sweetener. If you like milk or cream in your coffee, just make sure that it is non-fat. You can also buy non-fat whipped cream which is very low in calories, and that will give you a coffee shop experience with a lot fewer calories. By watching your calories in coffee, you will have a lot more calories to spend on more worthwhile foods during the day.

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Which Coffee Grind For Which Coffee?

Coffee seems simple on the surface, but once you start to look deeper it is filled with complexities. Once you start down the road to the "perfect" cup of coffee, there are many options to consider. The first thing to understand is that this is a personal journey. No one can tell you what tastes best for you - that is something you have to discover for yourself. But, there are many, many different voices and opinions on the simple cup of coffee.

This article will focus on one of the key elements that go to making up coffee, the type of grind. Coffee grinding is one of the first steps towards that cup of coffee (after choosing the beans), but it can be a very important one. As a ship's captain will tell you, if you start out one degree off course, you will end up miles away from your destination. Similarly with grinding coffee, starting with the wrong grind will make it impossible to end up with coffee that matches your flavour demands.

The first thing to consider is the brewing method you intend to use. A brewing method which leaves the ground bean exposed to hot water for longer, should have a ground bean which is larger. This is because we don't want too much flavour to seep out of the bean, as this will create a bitter taste to the end coffee. If the grind was smaller, too much hot water would be in contact with the ground bean, and allow too much flavour. Thus, longer brewing methods use a "course" or rough grind.

Alternatively, a brewing method which only exposes the ground bean to the hot water for a short time, such as espresso, requires a fine grind. Here, we want the most flavour extracted as quickly as possible, so the smaller ground bean needs as much surface area available to the water.

Here is a list of brewing methods and which type of grind is best matched.

Brewing Method: Grind

Espresso: Very fine

French: Press Medium

Caffettiera or Moka Pot: Medium

Drip Maker: Coarse

Percolator: Coarse

Turkish Ibrik: Very fine

Vacuum Pot: Coarse

Now we know the kind of brewing method, and thus we have discovered the grind type required. The next thing is to actually grind the coffee. Similar to brewing methods, there are also many different ways to grind coffee:

Chopping: Blade grinders or food processors will use a blade in a chopping action to continually slice the beans into smaller and smaller pieces. Once these pieces become small enough, the coffee is considered "ground" - although it's really just chopped again and again. The big disadvantage of the chopping method is the difficulty to produce a consistent grind size. Some beans will end up finely ground, and some coarsely ground. The longer you leave the chopping action running, the finer overall grind you will get - but there is no guarantee that all beans will be chopped the same.

Burr Grinding: Burr grinders push the coffee beans between two revolving elements. The key benefit of burr grinders is the uniformity of grind they can produce. This is set by the operator selecting the "gap" between the two grinding elements. Once the coffee is small enough to fit in the gap, then it can escape into the hopper - thus all the output from a burr grinder will be of a similar size.

There are two types of burr grinders - wheel or conical. The conical burr (so called because of the cone shape of one of the elements) are preferred over wheel grinders as the conical grinder can successfully operate at a lower speed. The lower speed means there is less heat, and the coffee grounds are therefore not heated in the grinding process. Any excess heat at this stage can lead to the bleeding of flavour from the coffee.

For the highest control over one of the vital steps to making great tasting coffee, a conical burr grinder is recommended. A high quality conical burr grinder will allow for precision when selecting your grind size, and simple control over the output.

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From Seed to Cup: Small Batch Coffee Company

Whether you drink instant coffee at home, frequent a chain store or seek out an independent, the coffee you eventually drink has undergone a incredibly long journey through many different hands and countries to find its way from seed to cup.

The product we know as coffee beans begin life as the seed of a coffee tree in any number of coffee producing countries. Ethiopia is the only place on earth that coffee grew indigenously but from its origins in East Africa it has travelled the globe through trade and commerce. A staple product of the old European empires, coffee was transported form colony to colony by merchant tradesman. Indeed every coffee tree in modern day Indonesia can trace its roots to a single plant brought there by a Dutch merchant in the nineteenth century.

From the seed grows the coffee tree and when in season they produce cherries. It is the seeds of these cherries that eventually become coffee as we know it. These cherries grow in many different hues of red or yellow depending on the varietal of bean; yellow bourbon, red bourbon, catimor, typica, icatu, catuai to name but a few.

Once the cherries are ready to harvest the grower really starts to influence the final taste of the coffee. The best farms hand pick the cherries to ensure they are only harvested when perfectly ripe. On bigger farms and for more commercial grade coffee the harvesting is often done mechanically for higher and quicker yields.

Once harvested the seeds must be removed from the cherries and then dried before they are shipped around the world. There are a variety of processing methods, which vary depending on the local facilities.

Once the beans are dried they are packed into 60kg jute bags and shipped to coffee roasters around the globe. Just as farms vary hugely in size, quality and means of production, so too do the roasters from the industrial factory roasteries of the multinationals to the small artisan independent roasters.

Finally we have a coffee beans as they appear to the consumer: large, brittle and deep mahogany in colour. Most importantly they now have the delicate aroma of freshly roasted coffee and are nearly ready to be consumed. Freshly roasted beans need to be rested before they are drunk as they release so much Carbon Dioxide after roasting that they do not show all of their flavour immediately. It is a bone of contention between coffee roasters as to how long they should be rested with some arguing as little as 24 hours and others a maximum of two weeks.

Once rested the beans are finally ready, after journeying around the world to be made into coffee. Whether they are destined for a bag on a supermarket shelf, a jar of instant coffee, a cafetiere or an espresso machine, all the many millions of beans that are consumed every day have undergone a massive journey and employed the skills and expertise of many people to reach their final cup.

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Coffee, The Saviour

Coffee! The savior for most of us at work, school or in a meeting. As we all know, coffee contains stimulants that can help us be more alert and stay awake. A cup of coffee in the morning is a must for many of us to kick start the day. Many of us consume more than one cup of coffee a day and may be worried that drinking too much coffee isn't doing us good. Worry no more as drinking coffee is much healthier than what you might be thinking of it right now. Reports have suggested that there are much more benefits from drinking coffee than harmful effects. And don't worry, you are not the only one who loves drinking coffee, it is one of the most consumed beverages in the world!

Besides providing us with that energy boost when we are feeling sleepy, coffee has many more benefits such as cancer prevention and depression-lowering effects.

Are you an editor for a magazine or studying for your English exam? Well, drinking coffee can help you out with spotting grammar errors! Something you would have not thought of right? A study had been conducted and it revealed that caffeine in coffee helped students to correct errors in subject-verb agreement and verb tense. So next time when you know you have an English lesson coming, remember to drink a cup of coffee just before that to be better than the rest.

Another research revealed that women who drink caffeinated coffee have a lower risk of depression as compared to women who do not drink any coffee at all. This could serve as a breather to all you ladies out there who are constantly thinking too much; drink more coffee. The amount of coffee that you drink also matters as if you drink two to three cups a day you have a 15 percent lower risk of getting depressed whereas if you drink more than four cups, you have a 20 percent lower risk. However, researchers who conducted this study stated that these benefits do not mean that they could totally prevent you from getting depressed, just that you would have a lower risk.

Now that's for the ladies. All you gentlemen do not need to feel it's unfair as drinking coffee can benefit your health as well. Another study revealed that men who drink coffee -just one to three cups- could reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 30 percent. In a separate study by Harvard School of Public Health, it stated that men who drink six cups of coffee a day reduce their chances of developing a dangerous form of prostate cancer by 60 percent and also a 20 percent decreased chance of developing any other form of prostate cancer. Now that ought to relieve you guys! The health benefits of coffee are just too many compared to the negative impacts.

These were just some of the benefits of drinking coffee. There are many more! However, just like anything else, drinking in moderation is the key. If you drink too much coffee, you can develop cardiovascular problems, increased heart rate and irregular heart beats. Coffee can even become an addiction. Taking these negatives effects of consuming too much coffee, you should only consume a healthy amount to reap from the benefits that coffee can offer you.

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How to Make Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

Chocolate covered coffee beans are without a doubt one of my favorite pick me up snacks. These decadent little beans pack a punch of sugar and caffeine - which is perfect for my typical mid-morning crash at work. Although these beans are so delicious, you do not have to pay an arm and a leg for them as they are sold at speciality stores and coffee shops. Instead you can make them at home for next to nothing!

First, you want to get the ingredients to make these delicious little beans. You should start with whatever type of coffee bean is your favorite. I like a nice dark roasted espresso bean. That gives it a lot of flavor and is perfect for covering with chocolate. I have found that using the lighter roasted beans, such as a cinnamon roast or light blond roast, do not nearly fulfill in flavor as the darker roasts do.

First, you simply want to melt about a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in a double broiler over low heat. I like to use dark chocolate here for that intense and rich flavor. Always use a double broiler when melting chocolate as you do not want to burn or scorch the chocolate!

After the chocolate is smooth and melty, you simply want to turn off the heat from under the double broiler. After it has cooled a bit, simply mix in about a 1/3 cup of coffee beans into the chocolate. Stir it well so all the coffee beans are covered with the melted chocolate.

Next, you simply want to remove the beans from the chocolate. Using either a spoon or fork, remove the coffee beans and lay them on wax paper. I like to make sure the wax paper is on top of a tray or cookie sheet for added support. As you lay the beans out on the paper, you want to make sure they are separated and not clumped together.

After that you simply want to let the chocolate covered goodness cool. If you would like to speed up the process you can slip the tray with the beans into the freezer to harden and cool faster. Another interesting idea is after they are cooled you can drizzle with some milk chocolate or even white chocolate for an even more decadent treat!

These are perfect for snacking on any time of day, and also make lovely gifts!

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New Home Essentials - Coffee Making Supplies and How to Brew the BEST Coffee in Your New Home

You know, the first thing you want in your new home is a great cup of coffee. Without it, you're toast. Really. Toast. New home, move in day, and the coffee maker is the first thing to get unpacked.

Well, I'll share some great tips for making the BEST first pot of coffee in your new home.

1 - Pack all the supplies and enough cups for coffee drinkers in one box.

2 - Label the box really well so you will know it when you see it.

3 - Buy a fresh carton of half-n-half or your favorite cream on the way to your new home (along with some of those decadent little coffee - cookies that you know you can't move in without).

4 - Buy a jug of fresh water.

5 - Carry the box of coffee supplies with YOU, not in the moving van.

You may be thinking these tips are a little extreme, but I can assure you that as you're moving in, setting up your furniture and unpacking boxes, you're going to NEED a cup of yummy delicious coffee - and plenty of refills.

IMPORTANT: Preparing a place to sip your coffee. A nice couch pillow and a wall in a carpeted room will work well if your furniture hasn't arrived or been set up yet. Just be sure it's a comfortable place to sit, put your feet up a bit, lean your head back and relax.

Now about the coffee (I use a regular drip coffee maker - because it works well and makes more than one cup at a time) -

• Dark roast beans - my favorite are espresso beans. The brand isn't as significant as the darkness and color of the beans. Really dark beans have plenty of moisture in them and flavor up really nicely when fresh ground.
• Grind about a half cup of beans to a fine powder, say 45 seconds in most grinders. Shake the grinder and grind again for a few seconds longer to finish off the grinding process.
• Fill pot with fresh cold water (your bottled water will come in handy here).
• Add a filter and pour in the finely ground coffee.
• Allow the coffee to brew and sit in the pot for a few seconds before you pour the first cup.
• Pour cold cream into your hot coffee and allow the cream to swirl to the top.
• DO NOT STIR.
• Sip coffee and cream as they combine in the cup, allowing the swirl of flavors to fill up your mouth.
• Nibble at one of those decadent cookies.
• Sit back and relax a few extra minutes.... Unpacking will wait!

Now about finding the perfect house, to have that cup of coffee?

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Espresso Coffee: Lusciousness in a Cup

Espresso coffee, often miscalled as expresso, has been satisfying coffee lovers' appetite for caffeine for years. Originating from Italy, it has traveled a long way to make caffeine-addicts from all over the world happy. With this said, do you really believe that you already know everything about your espresso cup? To figure that out, check the following espresso facts (and myths) that you ought to know:

• The term espresso came from the Italian word "espresso" which means "pressed out," generally referring to the method by which the coffee is produced. By using hot water and steam, coffee bean essence can be effectively pressed out from freshly-ground coffee beans. However, some believe that the name of the coffee type may have come from the word "express" because of the fastness of the brewing process.


• The beans used in making espresso are roasted until their color becomes brown-black, complete with a glossy look. They are grinded finely so that the flavors can be extracted more easily.


• Espresso is commonly used as a base for many other coffee variants. By mixing it with milk (steamed, most of the time) or with hot water, different flavors can come out, spicing up people's coffee habits as a result. Notable milk-based espresso drinks include macchiato, cappuccino, flat white, and latte-certified favorites in coffee shops. Meanwhile, by adding hot water to the espresso, caffe Americano and long black coffee can be produced.


• The basic Italian espresso includes a rich body, a full and fine aroma, a balanced bitter-sweet taste with an acidic tinge, and a pleasant lingering after-taste. It is exempt from unpleasant flavor defects such as stinking, moldiness, and grass-like tastes.


• Throughout the years, there have been different espresso machine types that were invented such as the piston-driven machines and the pump-driven ones. Piston-driven machines are manually operated by the brewer, pumping a lever to pressurize hot water and send it to the ground coffee beans. Pump-driven ones, on the other hand, are motor-operated. They do not require the manual labor of the brewer, making them more efficient for espresso brewing.


• Lastly, you need to know that good homemade espresso is not easy to make-it takes a lot of practice and dedication.

In a sense, understanding the espresso can give people a fuller view of their favorite drink. By knowing what they are drinking and what makes it flavorful, they can appreciate their beverage more, making their caffeine shot a lot more fulfilling.

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How to Recognize Good Quality Coffee

Good quality coffee comes in four roast categories: regular, blends, flavored and organic. Because coffee roasts are sold with many different titles under a lot of different brands, choosing the right one really wants is more difficult.

To start with, regular is defined as a single-origin and single-named coffee variety bean that is roasted to varying roast levels. For example, the beans would all be just one of the following: Arabica beans, Robusta beans or India beans.

Blends are combinations of two or more different varieties of coffee beans. These beans may be blended before or after they have been roasted to varying roast levels. The reason for blending is to create new flavors or to add body or crema. They may also be blended to keep the flavor consistency when new crops of the same bean are used. The best definition for blended is it is a mixture which is mingled inseparably.

Flavored are beans that have been roasted and are sprayed with flavoring. Coffee that has been flavored may have inexpensive beans or it may have lower quality beans. The quality of the flavoring may be strong to create the tastes and aroma to other foods by contact with surfaces used previously to hold flavored coffee.

Fair Trade beans are organic. Organic Free Trade coffee is currently being exported by 23 countries around the world. They include those from Asia are Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor. African nations of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya sell Fair Trade coffee. In Central and South America Free Trade coffee comes from Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Honduras, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Paraguay.

How does this help you recognize good quality coffee? Fair trade is always organic coffee that is sold to coffee companies and roasters. They roast these beans in a way that brings out their unique flavor. Some of these beans are Robusta beans that are often looked down on as not a quality bean. While some beans like those from Ethiopia, Peru and other parts of South America may be Arabica beans. These beans are said to be a better bean and do not have as much caffeine in them as the Robusta.

Blended coffee beans may also include Arabica and Robusta beans together. These beans are usually found in instant coffees because they are so processed that they will taste better when made into liquid hot coffee.

Recognizing a good quality coffee does not always match what your tongue tells is the best coffee. Think about what you have read here and possibly do some exploring to find a quality coffee that matches what your tongue tells you is the best quality coffee.

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