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.

This news article is brought to you by HAPPINESS - where latest news are our top priority.

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.

This news article is brought to you by YOUR LIFE YOUR CHOICES YOUR MIND - where latest news are our top priority.

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.

This article is brought to you by FREE PERSONALS.

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!

This news article is brought to you by HEALTH-AND-FITNESS - where latest news are our top priority.

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?

This news article is brought to you by EXTREME - where latest news are our top priority.

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.

This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.

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.

This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.