Showing posts with label Costa Rica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Costa Rica. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2009

Costa Rica Gourmet Coffee - The Perfect After Dinner Coffee

Nothing beats a great cup of coffee after a great meal. Make sure you choose the finest Costa Rica coffee bean.

Nothing can be finer than closing your meal with a refreshing pot of gourmet coffee from Costa Rica. A freshly brewed cup of coffee, with the yummy ribbons of handmade chocolates is truly a treat to have. It is even a good option to try for getting out of mediocre culinary experiences.

You must preserve the idea that making gourmet coffee is an easy task, don’t you? However, the reality is much different. You must look into all the finer details for making a perfect cup of coffee. The ideal flavor is only possible if all these delicate points are taken care off in the right manner. Here are a few tips to help you out in your quest:

Water Needed for Coffee

Most coffee connoisseurs advocate the use of refrigerated spring water while making a perfect cup of coffee. You may also use tap water, but the first option is always the best one for gourmet coffee.

Now let’s come to the water to coffee ratio. Use a leveled tablespoon of ground-coffee for each cup. This will offer a nice and strong brew, and if you are looking for even a stronger one try with a heaped tablespoon of gourmet coffee. Some also like coffee with mild flavors, for them a desert spoonful of coffee is sufficient. An experienced coffee maker can make faultless measurements without the help of any of these tools.

Brew the Coffee

Put the water on heat and when rightly heated (when the water is boiled), take it away from the heat and wait for a few moments (approximately 15 seconds). Unlike tea, coffee tastes the best when brewed in water that is just removed from heat. Fill a pre-heated Cafetiere with the boiled water, leaving about 1"gap at the top. Add coffee according to the measurements discussed above, stir and allow it to brew.

As the coffee grounds starts settling, push the plunger down until it is fully depressed. If every thing is performed in the right way, the gourmet coffee is brewed to its excellence, with an exquisite creamy and aromatic espresso-fizz at the surface. It is now ready for the final serving. Like a perfect subtly flavored gourmet coffeeScience Articles, this will mellow and improve with cooling. The coffee will taste as good as any from a top notch coffee-shop and will refresh you up after a hard day of work and strain.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Boake Moore started http://www.missiongrounds.com/ to help children:

Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is a non-profit corporation dedicated to making a significant difference in the lives of children here in Atlanta & around the globe. We’re accomplishing that goal by selling our GREAT-TASTING, gourmet coffee & donating 100% of the profits to carefully selected charitable projects such as group homes, shelters, orphanages & schools.

http://www.missiongrounds.com/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Old Brew, Old Style - Gourmet Coffee

Sometimes in our hurried world it pays to take your time. Brewing your coffee the old fashion way is just one good example. Enjoy trying the Costa Rica coffee maker

About twenty years ago almost every home, restaurant and office kitchen in Costa Rica was equipped with a gourmet coffee making device called Chorreador de café or simply café makero. It consisted of an unvarnished wooden frame about 33 cms. tall, with a round hole at the top where a wire rimmed cloth filter or strainer was placed. Fine ground gourmet coffee was placed in the filter and boiling water was poured in filtering down to the gourmet coffeepot below.

This humble device is losing ground fast to modern percolators, gourmet coffee makers and Mr. Gourmet coffee machines. The reason usually given is that the new devices are said to be faster and more convenient. In our home the Chorreador de café lives on. Why? The gourmet coffee simply tastes better.

You don't need gourmet gourmet coffee to brew a great gourmet coffee. Gourmet coffee making is an art where every step should be followed closely. Some advice given below may seem superfluous but should be rigorously adhered to.

This information applies to those who live in or will be visiting Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee we will be using is not export or imported gourmet coffee. We will be using two off-the-shelf pure gourmet coffees that you can buy in supermarkets anywhere in Costa Rica. I will call them brand A and B. will not publish brand names here because I am not endorsing or publicizing brand names though there is only one gourmet coffee that helps children. The gourmet coffee should be fine ground, brand A and B mixed 50 - 50%, then stored in an airtight glass container. The two brands seem to complement one another creating a special blend. Now you know how they make a breakfast blend gourmet coffee.

Bring the water to a boil. The water should be fresh tap water and not reheated from water left in the gourmet coffeepot. Filtered water is even better; collected rainwater works well to make a great gourmet coffee.

Place two tablespoons of fine ground gourmet coffee into the filter, then mount the filter on the wooden stand. Two tablespoons of gourmet coffee produce four cups of gourmet coffee. Use a non toxic paper gourmet coffee filter, a non bleach type. Use a papersack or pantyhouse if no filter is available.

To make the best gourmet coffee please place a glass or stainless steel receptor under the filter and begin to slowly pour the boiling water into the filter or gourmet coffee. You may have to stop occasionally so that the level of water drops. Continue pouring as needed until you have the four cups. Do not introduce metal spoons into the filter to agitate the mixture.

In the future you can experiment by adding a touch of cinnamon or vanilla or chocolate or cloves to the coffee mixture. Smell the gourmet coffee and if you must - foolishly top the gourmet coffeepot and serve.

You must always use a perfectly dry filter. If you prepare gourmet coffee two or more times a day, you will probably need two filters so one can dry while you use the other. A wet filter causes wet coffee. The reason for this is that if you use only one, it is likely that it will not be totally dry the next time you brew gourmet coffee. By using alternating filters you will always have a dry one on hand. Filters are best dried by a hairdryer or in the sunlight.

For daily use you should carefully rinse the filters in running tap water to remove all residue. It is natural that it will stain. You should now worry about this as it is normal.You should wash the filter weekly. Please never wash the filter in bleach or soap or detergent, wash it only with salt water to remove the accumulated grease. This can be done by generously salting the damp bag and virgorously rubbing it. Afterwords you should sufficently wash and rinse the filter to remove all traces of grinds and salt.

If you are in a hurry, go ahead use instant gourmet coffee or your Mr. Gourmet coffee maker, but if you want a REAL cup of gourmet coffee, you are going to have to put some effort into preparation. I hope that this article inspires those Americans and Costa Ricans who have forgotten this charming way of brewing gourmet coffee. For those woodshop owners and handyman experts here is a detailed explanation. Anyway you look at it - if your are using Costa Rica gourmet gourmet coffee you will for sure have a great cup of gourmet coffee.

Here's what you'll need: A 5" X 18" X 1/2" Maple or your choice of wood. A 6" X 8" X 3/4" Maple or your choice of wood. Finish nails Glue

Cut the base out of 3/4" maple, 7 1/2" X 6". Chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" in from each corner. Cut the two short sections, one on each end, 15 degrees. Cut two supports from 1/2" pieces 9" long at 5 degrees on each end. Make sure the angles go the same direction on each end. Please cut the top out of 1/2" woodScience Articles, 6" X 4 1/2". Please carefully draw and then chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" from each corner. Please carefully draw and then cut a notch on each end of the top and base to fit the 1 1/2" supports using a dado blade. Set up the miter with a small piece of wood at the base to give the notch a 5 degree angle. Use a piece of backing on your parts to keep them from breaking out.

Mark the center of the top and draw a 4" circle. Cut out the circle with a scroll saw or saber saw.

Glue and nail the pieces together and you are almost ready to start making gourmet coffee. The Basket Maker: find a cone or use the basket from a stiff wire like a clothes hanger and a piece of cotton. Carefully mark and thenBend the wire to make a handle and a 4 1/4" circle of coffee beans.

So then use your coffee maker; add a filter and add the finest Costa Rica coffee beans and add hot water. Want to be a cowboy use some old pantyhose as your coffee filter. Want to be a homeless person - use an brown sack as your coffee filter. Want to be really rugged - use some leaves. As long as its Costa Rica coffee bean the flavor will still shine through. Its the anticipation that counts.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Our main focus is to help orphans and children in need the most: impoverished children in third world countries and homeless children in inner city neighborhoods in the United States Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee, http://www.missiongrounds.com , its is a non profit organization, a 501 C Corporation, dedicated to helping children.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Perfect Gourmet Coffee

Can a gourmet coffee be too perfect? That's the criticism leveled at the coffees from Costa Rica – too much flavor, too balanced, too clean, and too smooth. And Mission Grounds Gourmet coffee is considered by most as the finest Costa Rica gourmet coffee by the locals – so why would you not drink the best gourmet coffee– the gourmet coffee considered to be too perfect and blessed by all.

Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire Circle, Costa Rica has over 200 identifiable volcanic formations dating back over 65 million years. Today 100 or so show signs of volcanic activity and five are classified as active volcanoes. Most of the volcanoes in Costa Rica lie in the northern part of the country and in the Central Highlands; these are prime gourmet coffee growing regions. The volcanoes are a key part of this country’s spectacular natural diversity. This is because they have played an important role in how the lush landscape of this region has come into being. Due to the many volcanic eruptions over the past millennia, the soil in Costa Rica is rich in many minerals and very fertile. This natural fertility contributes to the production of unique and exceptional coffee. Mission Grounds uses the finest shade grown top of the volcano coffee, the only pure number one select coffee. The number one grade is only grown in small quantities and we purchase all of it. So if you want the highest grade of Tarrazu gourmet coffee– you have to purchase Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee. Buying any other gourmet coffee is settling for second best.

Our coffees stem from the jungles of Costa Rica. Costa Rican Coffees are known to be full-flavored, with lively acidity, and are very fragrant and tangy. Arabica is the only species of gourmet coffee that Mission Grounds Gourmet coffee sells. It is the sole source of fine gourmet coffee and comes from a more delicate, higher-altitude tree and grows at a lower temperature than the Robusta bean. The higher the altitude, the finer the gourmet coffee will be. Arabica coffees receive only 2 hours a day of direct sunlight. The Arabica bean is harder and has a denser aroma. It is the bean of choice for gourmet coffee connoisseurs. It is the reason Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is the finest Costa Rica gourmet coffee. The best Costa Rican gourmet coffee beans, which are grown above four thousand feet and hand selected, are designated as "strictly hard bean". However, because not all gourmet coffee beans which grow at the higher altitudes are "Strictly Hard Bean", we sort the gourmet coffee beans for the hardest gourmet coffee beans and remove the softer -"Cataula" gourmet coffee beans. The softer gourmet coffee beans are called Cataula to designate them as a byproduct of this sorting. Most of the Costa Rica coffees contain these softer less flavor gourmet coffee beans – but not Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee. Just another reason Mission Grounds is the finest gourmet coffee.

Single Origin Coffee: Estate or "varietal" coffees are unblended coffees grown on specific estates or farms in specific regions of Costa Rica. With this designation the consumer is made aware of gourmet coffee varietal used, social practices and environmental practices (land conservation, recyclingArticle Search, natural fertilizers & no chemical sprays for example – (like our Signature Roast the Natural Organic coffee) employed in the production of their coffee. Our estate Signature Roast is considered by most the finest most flavorful organic gourmet coffee in the world. Costa Rican coffee has set the standards for fine wet-processed coffee for the rest of Central and South America and the world. The most famous coffees by region are the Tarrazu – the best of the Costa Rica coffee. And Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is the best Tarrazu coffee – making it the best coffee in the world.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Boake Moore helps homeless children by selling Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee and donating the profits. He also happens to sell the world's best gourmet coffee:www.missiongrounds.com - the church coffee, the Costa Rican coffee and a great tasting gourmet coffee helping children.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Reports from the African Coffee Plantation

November and December is when most of the world starts harvesting gourmet coffee - so how does this year's coffee production look? And what effect did Africa and its emerging coffee farms have on the world production?

The worlds' coffee crop report is outstanding - world production will far exceed expected and or forecasted projections for gourmet coffee this winter. Supply will be huge and alot of it is due to the wonderful gourmet coffee production coming from Africa.

This year's coffee report calls for major production improvement and output record levels for African coffee producing countries. The african production over run also allowed the global markets to exceed expectations. Still will the excess coffee the wholesale prices continue to increase. However as demand is not able to keep up with supply look for prices to plummet.

The South American coffee is far superior to the Africa coffee with Costa Rica having the worlds best coffee. Many consider Costa Rica, Brazil and Columbia to have the finest coffee in the world. The Africa coffee is not even close in terms of quantity or quality and much of the African coffee is a robusta bean. Costa rica is a great coffee not found in Africa. The African coffees are also lacking in the production of certified organic coffee.

World coffee production in the current season will be greater than previously expected and will set a record, the Agriculture Department said today. The FDA announced coffee production was way up - near 100 million bags up.3 million from the previous forecast and over ten percent or approximately over 12 million bags above last year's crop. Improved prospects in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, the leading coffee-growing countries was the main factor in the higher estimate, the report said. Despite large world coffee supplies, several major retailers have raised prices in recent months because of actions taken under the International Coffee Agreement to prop up prices. Kenya and Nigeria commented that short term agriculture programs were finally taking effect and helping with production. Other cited factors included improved waterHealth Fitness Articles, water supply and consistent water along with improved farming techniques and farming co-ops. Coffee farmers shared their resources and knowledge to help each other produce more.

So this winter by December you should start seeing some of this wonderful gourmet coffee crop in your local store. This years coffee will not only taste great but will be in huge quantity. And with such a huge supply the price should go down also. So toast that cheap but wonderful cup of gourmet coffee.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Boake Moore sales IT staffing and solutions. He also owns a gourmet coffee company that donates all its profits to homeless children - http://www.missiongrounds.com .

Grinding Gourmet Coffee Beans from Costa Rica

A good cup of coffee starts with the coffee bean and how you grind it. First be sure you select the finest coffee bean - the Costa Rican coffee bean. Then grind it properly.

Grinding Gourmet Coffee Beans from Costa Rica

Quality brewing always needs a quality grind. It is not enough to grow superior coffee beans. If you are not having a proper coffee grind, then get ready for a worse brew. Costa Rica is best in both growing nice beans and grinding them in the right way.

The grinding is done only to get the best flavors out of the coffee beans while infused in hot water. There are three categories for perfect Gourmet coffee grinds, the fine, the medium and the coarse. The third kind i.e. the coarsest one is mainly used in the traditional pot method, the medium grind is required for plunger methods (methods used in drip filters) of coffee making and the finest one is needed for perfect espresso brewing.

If you try to bring in some alterations in the usage of these three diverse coffee grinds, you will surely fail. Trying the coarse one in espressos and the finer ones in drip filters will never work the wonders for you. Strong and mild brews are based on the quantity of coffee your use, not the grind.

The best flavor is obtained if you grind the gourmet beans just before brewing the coffee. This freshness and superiority exists only for a few days after the grinding. Moisture and oxygen oxidizes the coffee and it gradually looses the original flavor. So it is always better to grind the beans just before the brew.

Grinding gourmet beans is quite a simple task to pursue. The market holds a large variety of coffee bean grinders, which can also add up to the exquisiteness of your kitchen. The most hugely used coffee bean grinders of the past are mortar & pestle. The grinds obtained from these devices are not consistent and also requires a lot of time. However, the present day electronic grinding devices have made the task a lot easier.

The electronic motor-grinders are either with powerful blades or crushing burr-plates. The first one is a lot cheaper compared to the burr-grinders. But the burr-grinder is more liked by the mass due to its attractive appearance. Once you become comfortable to grind your own gourmet coffee beansPsychology Articles, having a pot of healthy coffee daily will no more be a dream for you.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


boake mooreTwo years ago I founded Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee, a church coffee, www.missiongrounds.com. It is a non profit that sales coffee and donates all the profits to children. Most of the sales come from Kroger Grocery stores and from a growing on line business. I support children in Atlanta; Buffal and New Orleans and in China, Russia, Venezuela and Africa

Monday, June 29, 2009

Old Brew, Old Style - Gourmet Coffee

Sometimes in our hurried world it pays to take your time. Brewing your coffee the old fashion way is just one good example. Enjoy trying the Costa Rica coffee maker

About twenty years ago almost every home, restaurant and office kitchen in Costa Rica was equipped with a gourmet coffee making device called Chorreador de café or simply café makero. It consisted of an unvarnished wooden frame about 33 cms. tall, with a round hole at the top where a wire rimmed cloth filter or strainer was placed. Fine ground gourmet coffee was placed in the filter and boiling water was poured in filtering down to the gourmet coffeepot below.

This humble device is losing ground fast to modern percolators, gourmet coffee makers and Mr. Gourmet coffee machines. The reason usually given is that the new devices are said to be faster and more convenient. In our home the Chorreador de café lives on. Why? The gourmet coffee simply tastes better.

You don't need gourmet gourmet coffee to brew a great gourmet coffee. Gourmet coffee making is an art where every step should be followed closely. Some advice given below may seem superfluous but should be rigorously adhered to.

This information applies to those who live in or will be visiting Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee we will be using is not export or imported gourmet coffee. We will be using two off-the-shelf pure gourmet coffees that you can buy in supermarkets anywhere in Costa Rica. I will call them brand A and B. will not publish brand names here because I am not endorsing or publicizing brand names though there is only one gourmet coffee that helps children. The gourmet coffee should be fine ground, brand A and B mixed 50 - 50%, then stored in an airtight glass container. The two brands seem to complement one another creating a special blend. Now you know how they make a breakfast blend gourmet coffee.

Bring the water to a boil. The water should be fresh tap water and not reheated from water left in the gourmet coffeepot. Filtered water is even better; collected rainwater works well to make a great gourmet coffee.

Place two tablespoons of fine ground gourmet coffee into the filter, then mount the filter on the wooden stand. Two tablespoons of gourmet coffee produce four cups of gourmet coffee. Use a non toxic paper gourmet coffee filter, a non bleach type. Use a papersack or pantyhouse if no filter is available.

To make the best gourmet coffee please place a glass or stainless steel receptor under the filter and begin to slowly pour the boiling water into the filter or gourmet coffee. You may have to stop occasionally so that the level of water drops. Continue pouring as needed until you have the four cups. Do not introduce metal spoons into the filter to agitate the mixture.

In the future you can experiment by adding a touch of cinnamon or vanilla or chocolate or cloves to the coffee mixture. Smell the gourmet coffee and if you must - foolishly top the gourmet coffeepot and serve.

You must always use a perfectly dry filter. If you prepare gourmet coffee two or more times a day, you will probably need two filters so one can dry while you use the other. A wet filter causes wet coffee. The reason for this is that if you use only one, it is likely that it will not be totally dry the next time you brew gourmet coffee. By using alternating filters you will always have a dry one on hand. Filters are best dried by a hairdryer or in the sunlight.

For daily use you should carefully rinse the filters in running tap water to remove all residue. It is natural that it will stain. You should now worry about this as it is normal.You should wash the filter weekly. Please never wash the filter in bleach or soap or detergent, wash it only with salt water to remove the accumulated grease. This can be done by generously salting the damp bag and virgorously rubbing it. Afterwords you should sufficently wash and rinse the filter to remove all traces of grinds and salt.

If you are in a hurry, go ahead use instant gourmet coffee or your Mr. Gourmet coffee maker, but if you want a REAL cup of gourmet coffee, you are going to have to put some effort into preparation. I hope that this article inspires those Americans and Costa Ricans who have forgotten this charming way of brewing gourmet coffee. For those woodshop owners and handyman experts here is a detailed explanation. Anyway you look at it - if your are using Costa Rica gourmet gourmet coffee you will for sure have a great cup of gourmet coffee.

Here's what you'll need: A 5" X 18" X 1/2" Maple or your choice of wood. A 6" X 8" X 3/4" Maple or your choice of wood. Finish nails Glue

Cut the base out of 3/4" maple, 7 1/2" X 6". Chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" in from each corner. Cut the two short sections, one on each end, 15 degrees. Cut two supports from 1/2" pieces 9" long at 5 degrees on each end. Make sure the angles go the same direction on each end. Please cut the top out of 1/2" woodScience Articles, 6" X 4 1/2". Please carefully draw and then chamfer a 45 degree cut 1" from each corner. Please carefully draw and then cut a notch on each end of the top and base to fit the 1 1/2" supports using a dado blade. Set up the miter with a small piece of wood at the base to give the notch a 5 degree angle. Use a piece of backing on your parts to keep them from breaking out.

Mark the center of the top and draw a 4" circle. Cut out the circle with a scroll saw or saber saw.

Glue and nail the pieces together and you are almost ready to start making gourmet coffee. The Basket Maker: find a cone or use the basket from a stiff wire like a clothes hanger and a piece of cotton. Carefully mark and thenBend the wire to make a handle and a 4 1/4" circle of coffee beans.

So then use your coffee maker; add a filter and add the finest Costa Rica coffee beans and add hot water. Want to be a cowboy use some old pantyhose as your coffee filter. Want to be a homeless person - use an brown sack as your coffee filter. Want to be really rugged - use some leaves. As long as its Costa Rica coffee bean the flavor will still shine through. Its the anticipation that counts.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

About Author

Our main focus is to help orphans and children in need the most: impoverished children in third world countries and homeless children in inner city neighborhoods in the United States Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee, http://www.missiongrounds.com , its is a non profit organization, a 501 C Corporation, dedicated to helping children.