Coffee beans are not beans at all but the seeds from the fruit of a coffee plant. There are two ways to remove these seeds, which are wet and dry extracting. Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world passed only by petroleum. It is also the most popular beverage.
Types of Coffee
The two main coffees grown for commercial use are Arabica and Robusta coffee. For a gourmet coffee, Robusta does not fit everyone's taste. Having double the caffeine of Arabica coffee, it lacks the aroma or taste. Arabica gourmet coffee is a superior grade coffee with fabulous aroma and a wonderful taste.
A gourmet coffee pod is a pre-packaged, pre-measured amount of sealed coffee that you drop into your coffee pod maker and just add water. In 30 seconds, you are drinking a fresh, perfect mug of gourmet coffee. No measuring of coffee necessary so this makes them very convenient and fast. Once the gourmet coffee is finished, simply throw the pod away. There are also tea pods for all the tea lovers that work the same way as the coffee pods.
When you get up in the morning, the very last thing you want to do is get out a filter, measure your gourmet coffee, measure the water and wait for the coffee to brew. This is almost torture for a person that cannot function without their first cup of gourmet coffee. Coffee pod makers are a wonderful invention that allows you to have a fabulous cup of gourmet coffee in 30 seconds. You fill the coffee pod maker with water, put a coffee pod in it and push a button. There are coffee pod makers that only make a single cup or some that make several cups. Half a minute later, you are drinking your rich, frothy gourmet coffee. Coffee pod makers are stylish and sleek and look great in a kitchen or breakfast nook.
Flavors of Gourmet Coffee Pods
You can get gourmet coffee pods in several brew strengths such as mild, medium and dark roasted. Although this coffee may cost a little more, it is well worth the extra money spent. Gourmet coffee pods come in many different and unique flavors and sizes such as 14 pod bags and 50 pod boxes. Here are some of the many flavors available:
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
How To Make The Perfect Espresso
Follow the five important steps below to produce fantastic tasting espresso.
Keep things hot
The key thing to remember is that espresso cools quickly as it is a small volume of liquid
Keep things hot
The key thing to remember is that espresso cools quickly as it is a small volume of liquid
Friday, August 14, 2009
How To Prevent Heart Disease And Improve Your Health By Eating The Right Foods
Eventually almost everyone will experience the problem of having high cholesterol but having high cholesterol as a result of a bad diet is simply inexcusable. For most of us it is nearly impossible to eat a totally healthy diet all of our lives since we don't have the resolve of Jack LaLanne who at over 90 years old has never eaten anything man made! Still it is vitally important that all of us learn to eat as healthy as possible for the health of our hearts and to have a chance at a longer life.
One thing we know for certain is that if you eat a diet that is high in saturated fats like those found in fatty red meats and cooking oils you are going to see an increase in cholesterol which is proven to be a major factor in heart disease. A recent study that was just released states that just being overweight a few pounds can contribute to heart disease, so you might want to start on that diet and exercise program now!
One simple thing that you can do to prevent heart disease is to eat more fish. Salmon, herring and sardines are all excellent sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Many other fish are good for heart health as well, although Omega 3 may help to get your cholesterol down to a healthier level easier. Even red meat lovers can learn to enjoy seafood and nuts for their main sources of protein.
Use monounsaturated fats such as olive oil to protect your heart, olive oil is an ideal choice for cooking, dressing, or even as a dipping sauce.
It is also well documented that eating a diet high in fiber will help to control cholesterol. Whole grain products are very high in fiber and also help to control sugar absorption which will go a long way to keeping your digestive system healthy.
Choosing the right carbohydrates is also important for heart health. You need to avoid high sugar food like candy, pastries, cakes and cookies and eat healthy carbohydrates like whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, and plenty of vegetables. As a matter of fact fruits and vegetables should be the core of a healthy diet. A simple rule of thumb to avoid processed foods is to do your shopping on the outside aisles of the grocery store.
As far as cooking methods go, frying is a total no-no. Stir frying in olive oil or canola oil is okay but you should never deep fry foods and that goes for eating out as well. Chicken is healthy and good for you if you remove the skin and bake the chicken instead of frying.
Making these changes will take time before they become habits but just remember that eating healthy is essential for a healthy heart and a long life.
One thing we know for certain is that if you eat a diet that is high in saturated fats like those found in fatty red meats and cooking oils you are going to see an increase in cholesterol which is proven to be a major factor in heart disease. A recent study that was just released states that just being overweight a few pounds can contribute to heart disease, so you might want to start on that diet and exercise program now!
One simple thing that you can do to prevent heart disease is to eat more fish. Salmon, herring and sardines are all excellent sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Many other fish are good for heart health as well, although Omega 3 may help to get your cholesterol down to a healthier level easier. Even red meat lovers can learn to enjoy seafood and nuts for their main sources of protein.
Use monounsaturated fats such as olive oil to protect your heart, olive oil is an ideal choice for cooking, dressing, or even as a dipping sauce.
It is also well documented that eating a diet high in fiber will help to control cholesterol. Whole grain products are very high in fiber and also help to control sugar absorption which will go a long way to keeping your digestive system healthy.
Choosing the right carbohydrates is also important for heart health. You need to avoid high sugar food like candy, pastries, cakes and cookies and eat healthy carbohydrates like whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, and plenty of vegetables. As a matter of fact fruits and vegetables should be the core of a healthy diet. A simple rule of thumb to avoid processed foods is to do your shopping on the outside aisles of the grocery store.
As far as cooking methods go, frying is a total no-no. Stir frying in olive oil or canola oil is okay but you should never deep fry foods and that goes for eating out as well. Chicken is healthy and good for you if you remove the skin and bake the chicken instead of frying.
Making these changes will take time before they become habits but just remember that eating healthy is essential for a healthy heart and a long life.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Coffee Harvesting: The Process
Are you an avid coffee drinker? If so, do you know how your coffee is harvested? Actually, most people have no idea where their favorite delicious drink comes from!
A coffee tree will produce its first full crop when it is about five years old. With the proper care and attention, it should produce consistently over the next 15 to 20 years. On average, most trees yield about 1 pound of coffee cherries annually.
At harvest time (this will vary depending on the region of the world the coffee is grown), the coffee trees are filled with coffee cherries. They will be ready for picking when they are bright red, glossy, and firm. An un-roasted coffee bean is basically the pit of the coffee cherry.
The coffee cherry has a skin that is very thick and has a slightly bitter flavor to it. The fruit under the skin is very sweet, having a texture very similar to that of a grape. Under the fruit layer is the parchment, which is covered by a thin, slippery, honey-like layer, called mucilage. This parchment serves as a sort of protective area. After removing the parchment, there are two translucent bluish-green coffee beans, which are coated with a thin layer called the silver skin. Most coffee cherries have two beans, but 5% to 10% of the time only one bean is produced. When a coffee cherry has only a single coffee bean, is called a peaberry.
The ripe cherries are harvested from the coffee tress by using one of the following methods: selective picking, stripping, or mechanical harvesting. Selective picking involves picking by hand only the ripe cherries from the tree and leaving behind the unripe beans to be harvested at a later time. On the other hand, stripping involves collecting the ripe and unripe cherries. The third method, mechanical harvesting, collects all the beans using a harvesting machine. The method used will depend on many factors, such as time, cost effectiveness, availability of workers, length of the harvest, difficulty of harvesting conditions, and availability of water.
After being harvested, the coffee beans must then be processed either by dry-process, wet-process, or the pulped natural method. In the dry-process, the coffee beans are allowed to dry while they are still in the cherry. This produces a coffee heavy in body - sweet, smooth and complex. A relatively new method is wet-processing. This process removes the four layers surrounding the coffee bean, which results in a coffee that is cleaner, brighter, and fruitier. The pulped natural method involves "pulping" a coffee bean, but emitting the fermentation stage to remove the silver skin. This method offers a coffee that is sweeter than wet-processed coffee, yet has an acidity of a wet-processed coffee. The pulped natural method can only be utilized in countries where the humidity is low.
Coffee is harvested during the dry season, which will vary from country to country and region to region. Coffee in Brazil, for example, can be harvested between March and October; however in Columbia it is harvested between October and February and then between April and June.
A coffee tree will produce its first full crop when it is about five years old. With the proper care and attention, it should produce consistently over the next 15 to 20 years. On average, most trees yield about 1 pound of coffee cherries annually.
At harvest time (this will vary depending on the region of the world the coffee is grown), the coffee trees are filled with coffee cherries. They will be ready for picking when they are bright red, glossy, and firm. An un-roasted coffee bean is basically the pit of the coffee cherry.
The coffee cherry has a skin that is very thick and has a slightly bitter flavor to it. The fruit under the skin is very sweet, having a texture very similar to that of a grape. Under the fruit layer is the parchment, which is covered by a thin, slippery, honey-like layer, called mucilage. This parchment serves as a sort of protective area. After removing the parchment, there are two translucent bluish-green coffee beans, which are coated with a thin layer called the silver skin. Most coffee cherries have two beans, but 5% to 10% of the time only one bean is produced. When a coffee cherry has only a single coffee bean, is called a peaberry.
The ripe cherries are harvested from the coffee tress by using one of the following methods: selective picking, stripping, or mechanical harvesting. Selective picking involves picking by hand only the ripe cherries from the tree and leaving behind the unripe beans to be harvested at a later time. On the other hand, stripping involves collecting the ripe and unripe cherries. The third method, mechanical harvesting, collects all the beans using a harvesting machine. The method used will depend on many factors, such as time, cost effectiveness, availability of workers, length of the harvest, difficulty of harvesting conditions, and availability of water.
After being harvested, the coffee beans must then be processed either by dry-process, wet-process, or the pulped natural method. In the dry-process, the coffee beans are allowed to dry while they are still in the cherry. This produces a coffee heavy in body - sweet, smooth and complex. A relatively new method is wet-processing. This process removes the four layers surrounding the coffee bean, which results in a coffee that is cleaner, brighter, and fruitier. The pulped natural method involves "pulping" a coffee bean, but emitting the fermentation stage to remove the silver skin. This method offers a coffee that is sweeter than wet-processed coffee, yet has an acidity of a wet-processed coffee. The pulped natural method can only be utilized in countries where the humidity is low.
Coffee is harvested during the dry season, which will vary from country to country and region to region. Coffee in Brazil, for example, can be harvested between March and October; however in Columbia it is harvested between October and February and then between April and June.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Don't Forget About Belgian Chocolate
When he got lost looking for a shortcut to India in the late 1400s, Christopher Columbus found the delicious treat known as chocolate in the New World. It is commonly believed that the ancient Aztecs were to have drunk chocolate a long time before anyone else in the world even knew of its existence. In its original formulation, it was a very bitter concoction created from the roasted seeds of cocoa and mixed with spices. In the Americas it was considered to be a sacred drink that was enjoyed by the Aztecs but only the very elite of their society could afford it. The Aztecs were not ignorant of the value of the cocoa bean and began using it as part of their monetary system and to buy their gold.
The treat that got its start in the New World is the same that would become known as Belgian chocolate, which is the original recipe that was kept secret by the Spanish Aristocrats. The nobility couldn't keep the success of the drink from spreading to other European countries however, and it became widespread. The European nobles experimented with the recipe and were the first to add sugar to it, which made it much more drinkable then the previously bitter drink originated by the Aztecs. Medical practitioners even professed that it cured certain diseases because it held such a high and sacred value. When chocolate arrived in Belgium it was considered to be a magnificent gift, due to all of the history that came with it and the legends of its medicinal effect that it was told to have. The Belgian confectionary created the praline filling for the chocolate in 1912, which was packaged to give out as special gifts to others. The delicacy soon became known as Belgian chocolate because of the unique filling the Belgians created in rich milk chocolate.
To make the special chocolate it is first taken from large pods that come from the cocoa tree, and then the cocoa seeds or beans are taken from the pods. The beans are then sun dried and delivered to the chocolate makers. Once the Belgians get the beans they roast them and crush them into the cocoa powder that they make the Belgian chocolate with. They then add the cocoa butter that comes from the beans and add that to the powder, sugar, and the milk powder.
The Belgian chocolate makers are very choosy with the cocoa powder that they allow for use in the making of Belgian chocolate and will only allow the finest quality to be used. They use the same discretion when it comes to picking the ingredients they use to make their chocolate filling that is known as praline. They make this product by hand so that they can be sure to bring out only the finest possible chocolate. The pride in their product also leads them to choose the cocoa beans by hand as well so that only the best possible source product is sued in the making of Belgian Chocolate.
The treat that got its start in the New World is the same that would become known as Belgian chocolate, which is the original recipe that was kept secret by the Spanish Aristocrats. The nobility couldn't keep the success of the drink from spreading to other European countries however, and it became widespread. The European nobles experimented with the recipe and were the first to add sugar to it, which made it much more drinkable then the previously bitter drink originated by the Aztecs. Medical practitioners even professed that it cured certain diseases because it held such a high and sacred value. When chocolate arrived in Belgium it was considered to be a magnificent gift, due to all of the history that came with it and the legends of its medicinal effect that it was told to have. The Belgian confectionary created the praline filling for the chocolate in 1912, which was packaged to give out as special gifts to others. The delicacy soon became known as Belgian chocolate because of the unique filling the Belgians created in rich milk chocolate.
To make the special chocolate it is first taken from large pods that come from the cocoa tree, and then the cocoa seeds or beans are taken from the pods. The beans are then sun dried and delivered to the chocolate makers. Once the Belgians get the beans they roast them and crush them into the cocoa powder that they make the Belgian chocolate with. They then add the cocoa butter that comes from the beans and add that to the powder, sugar, and the milk powder.
The Belgian chocolate makers are very choosy with the cocoa powder that they allow for use in the making of Belgian chocolate and will only allow the finest quality to be used. They use the same discretion when it comes to picking the ingredients they use to make their chocolate filling that is known as praline. They make this product by hand so that they can be sure to bring out only the finest possible chocolate. The pride in their product also leads them to choose the cocoa beans by hand as well so that only the best possible source product is sued in the making of Belgian Chocolate.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Green Tea Benefits for Skin
Any logical tea drinker will look at green tea and agree that it is good to drink, especially with the flavors that are available. However, green tea is much more than just flavored water in a cup. It has grown much faster and expanded its abilities to help you continue to be healthy. For those that are not convinced that this miracle in a cup is good for you, why not look beyond the benefits of drinking it. Green tea also benefits the skin, helping you to maintain a healthy and younger look.
When you apply the green tea plant to your skin, you will begin to notice a difference. One of the components that it has in it is an anti-aging ingredient. Those who use this natural extract on their skin are known for looking youthful. How is this achieved? This miracle tea in a cup has a special antioxidant that is in it. This antioxidant is used to clear cell damage on the skin, repairing what may have turned into wrinkles, blemishes, or other impurities.
Green tea benefits for the skin are not only with the anti-aging materials in them. If you want a natural sun screen, this may be the way to go. If your skin has been exposed to UV radiation, it causes the skin to become looser with oxidation moving in between the cells. Over time, the immune system that is working for your skin will slow down causing you to wrinkle from the sun. The green tea, when used with sun block, can help reduce or completely erase this damage. The cells that are affected by the green tea will become stronger and will work together, making the UV rays become a blemish of the past.
Of course, because this particular plant is an all in one ingredient, it will also make sure to care for those deeper and more damaging problems. Green tea will benefit the skin by helping to reduce or eliminate problems with skin disorders, such as warts, psoriasis, and rosacea. Another skin disorder that many of us have, acne, can also be eliminated by applying on some extra green tea extract.
If you want to have youthful looking skin without the blemishes, why not go natural. Green tea is known to benefit the skin in almost every way, leaving your face and body looking healthy, young and smooth. You can find the best way to care for your skin by simply finding the natural that was meant to help you look your best.
When you apply the green tea plant to your skin, you will begin to notice a difference. One of the components that it has in it is an anti-aging ingredient. Those who use this natural extract on their skin are known for looking youthful. How is this achieved? This miracle tea in a cup has a special antioxidant that is in it. This antioxidant is used to clear cell damage on the skin, repairing what may have turned into wrinkles, blemishes, or other impurities.
Green tea benefits for the skin are not only with the anti-aging materials in them. If you want a natural sun screen, this may be the way to go. If your skin has been exposed to UV radiation, it causes the skin to become looser with oxidation moving in between the cells. Over time, the immune system that is working for your skin will slow down causing you to wrinkle from the sun. The green tea, when used with sun block, can help reduce or completely erase this damage. The cells that are affected by the green tea will become stronger and will work together, making the UV rays become a blemish of the past.
Of course, because this particular plant is an all in one ingredient, it will also make sure to care for those deeper and more damaging problems. Green tea will benefit the skin by helping to reduce or eliminate problems with skin disorders, such as warts, psoriasis, and rosacea. Another skin disorder that many of us have, acne, can also be eliminated by applying on some extra green tea extract.
If you want to have youthful looking skin without the blemishes, why not go natural. Green tea is known to benefit the skin in almost every way, leaving your face and body looking healthy, young and smooth. You can find the best way to care for your skin by simply finding the natural that was meant to help you look your best.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
How to Find a Fantastic Local Tea House
If you really want to enjoy a fantastic cup of tea, you need to venture away from your home, skip past the grocery store, and instead find yourself a local tea house that can blow your mind with amazing teas that you have probably never before tasted. Enjoying a freshly brewed pot of tea in one of the various tea houses of the world can really open your eyes to the incredible world of tea. You will quickly learn that choices exists outside of the boxed blends that we find in our supermarkets and corner stores, and you simply cannot call yourself a tea connoisseur unless you visit at least a handful of tea houses.
Tea Houses are becoming more common in mid-sized cities and even small towns. Some tea houses may cater more to an adult clientele, offering light tea and high tea, with reservations required. Other tea houses may be more family oriented and require no advance reservations. Still other tea houses are designed for the younger set, and may be the perfect setting for a birthday party, a society tea for a young lady who is about to be presented, or a formal tea for a graduating student.
However, as amazing as the sensation of having a warm cup of tea in a tea house can be, it can be awfully hard to find a great establishment - especially if you are not really near any major metropolitan areas. After all, if you live in a bustling city like San Francisco or New York, you can practically walk out your front door and come face to face with one of the several tea houses in the city with just a few steps.
Digging around for tea houses in your local area if you are not terribly close to a bustling city can be a difficult prospect though - but it is possible to find them. This is where the internet really comes in handy. Simply visit a website called TeaMap and you will be whisked away to a site that is full of information about where to find local tea houses based on your zip code or state. From there you can plan full trips centered on visiting all of the most amazing tea houses you have ever seen. You will also be treated to great reviews by people who have actually visited the tea house you are considering, so you can know exactly what to expect.
Tea Houses are becoming more common in mid-sized cities and even small towns. Some tea houses may cater more to an adult clientele, offering light tea and high tea, with reservations required. Other tea houses may be more family oriented and require no advance reservations. Still other tea houses are designed for the younger set, and may be the perfect setting for a birthday party, a society tea for a young lady who is about to be presented, or a formal tea for a graduating student.
However, as amazing as the sensation of having a warm cup of tea in a tea house can be, it can be awfully hard to find a great establishment - especially if you are not really near any major metropolitan areas. After all, if you live in a bustling city like San Francisco or New York, you can practically walk out your front door and come face to face with one of the several tea houses in the city with just a few steps.
Digging around for tea houses in your local area if you are not terribly close to a bustling city can be a difficult prospect though - but it is possible to find them. This is where the internet really comes in handy. Simply visit a website called TeaMap and you will be whisked away to a site that is full of information about where to find local tea houses based on your zip code or state. From there you can plan full trips centered on visiting all of the most amazing tea houses you have ever seen. You will also be treated to great reviews by people who have actually visited the tea house you are considering, so you can know exactly what to expect.
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