Warm Your Body and Your Soul With a Great Cup of Coffee

While a great cup of coffee is always a welcome treat, there are just some days that call out for coffee. You look out the window and see nothing but an expanse of white. Yes, it is snow and more is falling. The wind is howling and no matter what you do, you can't seem to get warm. The coffee maker is just calling your name. But you don't want just any cup of coffee, you want something really special.

Copyright (c) 2009 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC

While a great cup of coffee is always a welcome treat, there are just some days that call out for coffee. You look out the window and see nothing but an expanse of white. Yes, it is snow and more is falling. The wind is howling and no matter what you do, you can't seem to get warm. The coffee maker is just calling your name. But you don't want just any cup of coffee, you want something really special.

What makes a coffee special? What sets certain coffees apart? Great flavor is not enough. You need to feel good about your coffee. After all, who could enjoy a cup of coffee knowing that kids were used harvesting it or that the growers were being taken advantage of by the company that was bringing the coffee to you. How do you make sure your coffee is great and was grown, harvested, and brought to you without exploiting the farmers that grew it?

First, look for coffee that is 100% organic. Just like other foods, coffee that is certified as 100% organic means the coffee is grown without fertilizers, pesticides or other chemical products. Be sure you look for the USDA symbol certifying that the coffee is organic.

Second, check to see if the coffee is Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade Certified means that the product the farmers were paid a fair price and the workers were paid a fair wage. No child labor was used. These practices result in stronger communities with better education and health care. You can feel good about the coffee you are purchasing.

But flavor is still important. You can't feel good about saving the world when you are still freezing. There are two things that make a superior coffee. Coffee that is shade grown and infrared roasted.

Shade growing gives coffee a better taste and richer flavor. It is also a better environment for wildlife, providing a natural home for birds which help eliminate pests naturally. The shade is also a better environment for farmers and workers as they are protected from the sun.

Last, but not least, is infrared roasting. Most coffee is roasted at high temperatures and with either direct or indirect flame. The roasting is what gives coffee its flavor, but flame roasting can lead to acidity and bitterness in the coffee, which is why coffee causes stomach problems for some people. With infrared roasting, the beans absorb the heat and essentially roast themselves. This eliminates the bitterness and acidity, making a more flavorful cup of coffee that is easier on the stomach.

So go ahead and brew your 100% organic, shade grown, fair trade, infrared roasted coffee. Sit back, watch the snow, and enjoy!

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

About The Author

"Dr. Robin", the well known MLM Radio personality is and has built his "honorary" doctorate in the Network Marketing world and has had experience in numerous other network marketing companies. He is a nationally recognized expert in the network marketing business. He is the current host of his radio show, "Networking with the Blindguy" with up to 3.8 million listeners daily. For more info go to http://robintrushlo.com and http://drblindguy.com

Italian coffee – something for everyone

Espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino; there would seem to be as many types of Italian coffee as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffees are an art form accompanied by hundreds of customs and traditions. Whether it's a corretto coffee thrown back like a shot of alcohol, a cappuccino coffee and croissant for breakfast, or an iced coffee to cool off from the hot midday sun, in Italy there is a coffee drink specific for every time and mood.

But how do you make the perfect cup of espresso? There are fully automatic espresso makers, pump driven espresso machines, lever piston espresso machines, and, of course, the classic aluminium espresso coffee maker – the choices are endless. All will make a great cup of coffee but it is entirely dependant on the features that you desire. The perfect cup of coffee depends not only on the bean type and the milk you use but also the machine - blade vs. burr coffee grinders, tamp pressure, water temperature, and humidity. Caffeine lovers not only have their favorite local coffee house or cafè, but even prefer certain baristi because of their ability to deliver a perfect espresso coffee.

So what kind of coffee should you order? The possibilities can be as daunting as a Starbucks menu. Below is a list of the most popular coffee beverages.

caffe (espresso)—a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso
caffe Americano—American-style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
caffe doppio—double espresso
caffe freddo—iced coffee
caffe Hag—decaffeinated coffee
caffe latte—hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
caffe macchiato— espresso "stained" with a drop of steamed milk: small version of a cappuccino
caffe marocchino— espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
cappuccino — espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never after lunch or dinner
granita di caffe con panna—frozen, iced beverage (similar to a slush, but ice shavings make it authentic) and topped with whipped cream

If you are looking for that special blend of Kona roast and you are tired of spending lots of money on pre-roasted and pre-ground tins then you should consider buying coffee online. Buying coffee online is the way to go. Whether you are that single morning cup of java drinker or an espresso guru, buying coffee at home and having it delivered fresh to you when you need it, is all you need to know. The ability to browse literally hundreds of roasters and wholesalers, all eager to sell you top line coffees at discount prices will make your coffee buying experience an enjoyable one.

When you buy coffee online, it is both practical and economical. By purchasing direct from wholesalers, not only are you assured fresh coffee, but you also avoid paying retail overhead. Why buy retail if you can buy coffee direct and save money?

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

About The Author

Looking for information about Coffee?
Go to: http://www.dkcoffee.com
DK Coffee is published by Julie Carter
The Complete A to Z Of Coffee Resources
Check out more Coffee related articles at:
http://www.dkcoffee.com/archive

Coffee With Class

A gift basket loaded with gourmet coffee and snacks is a present sure to be appreciated by coffee connoisseur and college students alike. Coffee gift baskets are available with both decaf, for those who enjoy the flavor, and regular coffee, for the caffeine addicts you know.

Coffee gift baskets often come with not only coffee, but cookies, biscotti, and other treats. In addition, many include mugs or other coffee related items such as canisters or grinders. If your recipient has a preferred brand of coffee, such as Gevalia or Starbucks, you are in luck! Many premium coffee brands are available in gift baskets.

For college students, look for a coffee gift basket that includes instant coffee products that require only the addition of hot water since they may not have access to a coffee maker to brew ground coffee. For coffee lovers that preferred brewed coffee but don.t have a coffee maker, look for a gift basket that includes a small French press.

Coffee gift baskets are available in a variety of sizes and price ranges, making them perfect for office birthdays, college care packages, and even gifts to the whole family. Smaller gift baskets are often available for under $20 and include a couple varieties of coffee and treats, and often a mug or other small item. Larger gift baskets range in price to around $150 and include a wide variety of coffee and goodies in larger quantities, and may also include a full set of mugs or canisters.

For those that don't like coffee, there are also hot chocolate gift baskets and tea gift baskets available. They are similar to the coffee gift basket, except for the focal beverage. They are available in the same sizes and price ranges, and many of the extras are similar as well.

A coffee gift basket is a great gift for any occasion and sure to be appreciated by the coffee lovers in your life. It.s a nice way to let someone special know you are thinking of them.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

About The Author

Bob Bassett is the owner of Unique Gift Baskets Online which offers a wide selection of gift baskets for any occasion including baby gift baskets, food gift baskets, wine and corporate gift baskets. http://www.uniquegiftbasketsonline.com

Who, When and Where in the History of Coffee

Coffee has been a part of culture for over one thousand years. The history of coffee varies widely depending on which sources you use. This is especially true when something as powerful as coffee is involved, as coffee has brought much wealth and prosperity to individuals throughout the history of coffee.

Coffee was discovered around 850 A.D. in the part of Africa now known as Ethiopia. According to one story that has been passed down through the generations, a sheep herder named Kaldi discovered coffee as he tended his sheep. He noted that his sheep became extremely active after eating the red cherries from a plant as they went from one pasture to another.

He ate a few of the cherries himself, and was soon as overactive as his herd. The story goes on to say that a monk passed by and scolded him for "partaking of the devil's fruit." However, the monks soon found themselves eating the same fruit to help them stay awake for their prayers.

Originally, the coffee plant grew naturally in Ethiopia. But once the people of Arabia became enthralled with coffee and transplanted plants to Arabia, coffee was monopolized by them. Later, countries beyond Arabia whose inhabitants believed coffee to be a delicacy guarded its secret and with caution began to siphon off coffee plants from Arabia.

The Arabian government prohibited the transportation of the plant out of the Moslem nations, so the actual spread of coffee was started illegally.

In the 17th century, Italian traders introduced coffee to the West and changed the history of coffee forever. Many Christians believed that coffee was the drink of the devil.

But in Italy, Pope Clement VIII drank and endorsed coffee against the advice of his advisors who wanted it to be considered part of the infidel threat. Because of his endorsement of coffee, it became acceptable as a Christian beverage and spread throughout the West.

Coffee Houses began opening in the mid-17th century in the Western world. The first coffee house opened in Italy in 1645, in England in 1652, in Paris in 1672 and in Berlin in 1721.

In 1668, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opened in England and eventually became Lloyd's of London, the best-known insurance company in the world. By this time, coffee had replaced beer as New York's City's favorite breakfast beverage.

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Dutch became a prominent force in the coffee industry with a coffee plant smuggled out of the Arab port of Mocha. The Dutch cultivated coffee commercially in Ceylon and in their East Indian colony of Java, which came to be the source of coffees' nickname.

However, the French stole a seedling and transported it to Martinique. Fifty years later, an official survey found 19 million coffee trees on Martinique, and eventually it’s estimated that ninety percent of the world's coffee spread from this one seedling.

The Dutch and French monopoly was broken up in 1727 when Brazil entered the fray. Lieutenant colonel Francisco de Melo Palheta was sent by the Brazilian government to arbitrate a border dispute between the French and Dutch colonies in Guiana. Not only did he settle the disagreement, but he also began an affair with the wife of the governor of French Guiana.

The dear lady bid the lieutenant colonel adieu with a bouquet in which she hid cuttings and fertile seeds of coffee that began the Brazilian portion of the history of coffee. By 1907, Brazil accounted for 97% of the world’s coffee production.

As the Industrial Revolution swept through Europe and the United States, coffee was changed forever. Hills Bros. became the first company to vacuum pack coffee, changing the coffee industry from a local one to a regional and even national one. Sanka was introduced to the United States as the first decaffeinated coffee. And Nestle learned how to freeze dry coffee and keep it fresher longer.

The most recent changes in the history of coffee come over the last sixty years. In 1946, the espresso machine was invented in Italy, giving rise to the Cappuccino.

And in 1971, Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place public market. And that ladies and gentlemen is a small and brief history of coffee, which I hope you enjoyed.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Article written by Randy Wilson and brought to you by http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com.

Tips Of The Day

- Coffee Berries were first cultivated in what is now known as YEMEN.
- In 1901 the first soluble instant coffee is invented by Japanese-American chemist Satori Kato of Chicago.
- Cafe Au Lait - It is a french coffee drink prepared by mixing coffee and steamed milk. It is similar to Italian Latte, but with coffee instead of espresso.
- Espresso, a recent innovation in the way to prepare coffee, obtained its origin in 1822.
- Coffee is the most popular drink worldwide with almost 2 bllions cups consumed every day.