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Coffee …Most Popular Beverage Of All Time
Long ago it is said that a lone shepherd and his flock came across a strange and mysterious plant growing upon a secluded and forgotten hillside. Before he could stop them some of his herd had began to gnaw away at this unusual berry. After about...
HAVE TIME FOR COFFEE?
Welcome to the neighborhood - why don’t you come over for coffee? Sound familiar? You bet! Can you entertain around a terrific cup of coffee - yes, indeed! Of course, your superb coffee must be accompanied by something that might include a wedge...
The curious coffee culture of Cape Town
Compared to major cities in Europe, coffee culture is something
that Cape Town seriously lacks. But perhaps only on the surface
of things. For what do you call the hoards of good looking
people who gather on trendy Kloof street on a daily...
The History of Coffee
Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world's most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy...
The perfect cup of coffee
(NC)—Making the perfect cup of coffee, with its wonderful mix of aroma, taste body and colour can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. Here are five steps to help you make the perfect cup of coffee.
1. Ensure you have the correct...
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Choosing That Perfect Cup Of Coffee
There used to be three choices for coffee lovers at their local supermarket: Folgers, Maxwell House, or the store brand. But in today’s world of Starbucks and the countless imitators it has spawned, how do you tell the difference between truly gourmet coffee and overpriced coffee barely above the store brand standard? How do you pick between all the different exotic flavors? How do you keep your coffee fresh once you’ve bought it? Below are some tips to help you brew that perfect cup.
1. First, if you’re going to pick what you like, you have to know what you like. It sounds obvious, but many coffee drinkers don’t know what “dark,” “full-bodied,” “nutty,” etc. actually taste like.
2. Speaking of what you like, did you know that the coffees that have “European names” (ie, “French Roast”) has nothing to do with the country of origin but the coffee style? French Roast coffee is generally bittersweet; Italian Roast is even darker and more bitter. Not surprisingly, American Roast is considerably less dark and less bitter. Many people enjoy darker roasts, but the darker the roast, the less you will enjoy the subtle flavors.
3. By contrast, coffees with “non-European” names are from that country. So Sumatra coffee, for example, is from the island of Sumatra, and so forth. The coffees from different areas all have slightly different flavors based on the different soil types (level of acidity and other factors).
4. Which is better – whole, or ground? A better question to ask is: How fresh is this coffee? Whether it is ground or not makes less difference than how fresh the coffee is. Choose a coffee (whole or ground) packaged in an airtight container. Porous containers, such as paper bags, will
allow coffee to go stale quickly. Once you open that container, your coffee starts to lose its freshness. This means if you’re buying coffee in bulk but you’re only drinking a cup per day, your coffee will be flavorless in six months’ time.
5. If you’re picking out whole beans at your local market, stay away from beans that are split, broken, or cracked.
6. And what about decaffeinated coffee? Can you still enjoy the same flavor and body as its caffeinated cousin? Although some restaurants serve a weak cup of decaf this is not a result of the coffee but of improper brewing. Allowing the coffee to sit out for a long time on the burner also causes it to become bitter and flat. By brewing a decaf cup in the proper way and by consuming it before it turns bitter, you can enjoy your cup of joe without the caffeine side effects.
7. And by the way, before you brew that perfect cup of gourmet coffee, make sure your coffee equipment is clean! There’s nothing worse than the residue of old coffee smell mixing in with your newly bought gourmet coffee. This is true for your coffee grinder as well as for your coffee maker – and especially if you enjoy testing different flavored coffees. If you do not clean your equipment regularly, your “hazelnut” coffee might just taste a lot like the “vanilla” coffee you had last week.
Enjoy!
About the Author: Rachel Medlock is a long-time coffee lover and runs the informational gourmet coffee site http://www.MyGourmetCoffees.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
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