Jeff asked:


Do you dream of waking up to the wonderful aroma of roasted coffee?  Most coffee lovers will definitely answer yes to this question, especially if the coffee were talking about its gourmet coffee.  The only problem with such wonderful dream is that for most people buying gourmet coffee on a daily basis is just not affordable, especially when a pound of gourmet coffee can be as high as $10.

So what can we do about this?  Do we throw the towel in and resign to the thought of only being able to buy this type of coffee for special occasions? Not at all! — There are many ways to work around this problem; one of them is referred to as coffee roasting.

Roasting coffee beans is not as complex as you may think. The advantages of roasting your own beans and making a gourmet cup of Java are that it is affordable and actually becomes the hobby of many coffee lovers. If all this sounds good to you let us go ahead and mention the many methods available for roasting your very own coffee.

Air Roasting

This is a popular method that relies on hot air in order to roast the beans.  People who choose to use this method will often buy air popcorn popper machines because they are easy to use and get the job done.  Compared to other methods, air roasting can be considered the best because it produces even roasts, the only problem with air roasting is that if you use an air popcorn popper you might only be able to roast 3 to 4 ounces at a time.

Oven Roasting

Unlike the previous method this type of roasting relies on heat generated by an oven, the problem with oven roasting is that you are not able to see the beans as they are being prepared, the oven will vent smoke and the roasting can be uneven.  Some people say that uneven roasting can add to the flavor of the coffee but if the oven produces results that are too uneven it will have negative effects.

Gourmet Coffee Roasters

If you want to get a true cup of Gourmet coffee then the best decision you can make is to purchase a machine that has been specifically designed to roast coffee beans using different modes.  You can purchase shade grown Gourmet flavored beans at a very low price (2-5 dollars) and then roast them at home with your own machine.  A few examples of Gourmet roasters are the iRoast, the Nesco roaster and the Gourmet roaster created by Hearthware.

In order to get the best taste from Gourmet flavored beans it is important that you use a precision roaster such as the ones mentioned before, there are many other brands and models that you can purchase but if they do not use a precision instrument you might end up over roasting your beans and you might end up with a funny tasting cup of Java.  Most of these machines can only roast small portions of green beans (1/2 cup to 1 cup) but the results are nothing short of amazing.

Peter Halpin asked:


From the time it was first uncovered, coffee has been one of the most popular drinks around the globe, mainly for it’s aromatic flavour and invigorating qualities.

Until recent times, coffee suppliers offered few alternatives other than your usual, short black, long black, latte, cappuccino, vienna and further choices among these. From mild Italian espresso to thick strong Turkish coffee, the choice of flavour was pretty much still coffee with milk and sugar.

But today’s coffee connoiseur has become far more sophisticated. Coffee now comes in just about any flavour, strength or combination to please even the most fastidious consumer. No longer are gourmet coffees only reserved for a rare treat, but an increasing number of people keep gourmet coffees on their shelves for any occasion.

So How do we Define Gourmet Coffee Anyway?

Gourmet coffee is simply regular coffee to which has been added compatible flavours that actually enhance its coffee aroma and taste. The basic coffee taste, texture, aroma and pick-me-up effect is still present, but now includes a hint of, let’s say, mint, caramel, bacon, vanilla, chocolate or any other tantalizing possibility. Add to that, the subtle variations in flavour and texture of coffee beans from selected areas of the planet with varying climates and elevation and you have the ideal combination for gourmet coffee.

This is what gives gourmet coffee its unique quality.

Most of us have at some time enjoyed a nice cup of coffee with something to nibble. It may be choc-mint buscuits, cheesecake, nuts, savoury snacks, pizza or any other imaginable delight. With a gourmet coffee, you can feel like you’re enjoying both, without actually consuming the food.

Where Can I Purchase Gourmet Coffee?

Gourmet coffee is available in most grocery stores but the most convenient way to access a wider selection, is to buy online. Numerous gourmet coffee websites are waiting for you to order from their extensive range.

Gourmet coffee has become a sought after gift idea. They’re great for housewarming parties and are the perfect business gift. Many online suppliers, such as Boca Java, offer gift arrangements which include not only the coffee, but also accessories to add to the appeal.

The definition of gourmet is a fine food or drink that has been approved by a recognized authority to be excellent. Today, the coffee industry is becoming more like the wine industry, where experts put their credibility on the line to evaluate quality. Bottom line is, if they say it’s good, it must be good. Gourmet coffee has earned its name.

One of the most highly priced gourmet coffees, is Jamaican Blue Mountain, mainly because it is so rare due to the effect of uncertain weather conditions on the crops. Its beans are not only used for brewed coffee, but are also the flavor base for the famous Tia Maria coffee liqueur. Most online suppliers of any standing will include Jamaican Blue Mountain on their menu.

The term “gourmet coffee” not only refers to just the coffee itself, but includes all of the aspects, activities, techniques and experience that produces that kind of coffee. From the selection of the beans, the masterful roast, adding unique flavour… to the final product. Gourmet coffee is the result of a complete and specialised process.

Can you smell the aroma now?

Stephanie Larkin asked:


The reports we hear and see about the benefits and risks of drinking coffee can be confusing. Some reports say that drinking coffee offers many health benefits. While other reports say that drinking coffee carries health risks. One week the gourmet coffee you love to drink is good for you, and the very next week it is bad for you.

A lot of the confusion begins with the caffeine content found in coffee. It is the caffeine that makes coffee such a stimulating drink. Caffeine gives you a quick energy boost and may even help you focus more on what you are doing and can help you remember details a little better. But caffeine has also been shown to cause health risks when consumed in large amounts. How much is too much is hotly debated in health circles, and a clear consensus on the allowable amount of caffeine that can be consumed daily without risking health, remains to be reached. Taking a more cautious stance on the suggested amounts of caffeine that can safely consumed however, many health experts do recommend a limiting of no more than 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day for coffee drinkers, and reducing caffeine intake from other beverages like teas and sodas.

Lost in the shadows of all the debating over caffeine in coffee are the health benefits that gourmet coffee, for example, offers. Gourmet coffee is derived from the seed or bean of the Arabica coffee plant. It has far less caffeine content than the coffee that is made from the seeds of other varieties of the coffee plant. The Arabica coffee plant is typically grown in elevations ranging from 1000 to more than 5,500 feet above sea level, and in regions with rich soils and climates that foster the healthy growth and development of this plant. Because of these conditions, the beans retain higher amounts of their healthy properties while less-desirable properties such as caffeine are reduced.

The gourmet coffee bean used in the brewing of gourmet coffee for drinking, is full of antioxidants that offer us protection against the radicals that are present in our bodies and that can make us sick and even make us more susceptible to major conditions like heart disease and cancers. The conditions under which the gourmet coffee bean is grown permits less use of pesticides which are harmful to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. When pesticides are used to control insect infestations and plant diseases, they can infiltrate the plant and remain there even after processing, although usually in lesser amounts. But consuming pesticides in any amounts from the foods we eat and the beverages we drink is not good for our health. They can cause serious and even deadly risks to our health when consumed regularly because the level of pesticides grows higher than what our bodies has natural defenses to fight. Other harmful substances are often added to foods and drinks made available for consumers to extend shelf life and enhance appearance, and these can harm our health as well.

The antioxidant properties in gourmet coffee can help the body to fight off the harmful affects of the pesticide residuals and added substances we ingest from the foods and beverages we consume. Antioxidants help the body to neutralize these radicals before they can develop into serious and deadly diseases. Other properties in gourmet coffee beans have been shown to reduce the risks for developing heart disease for many coffee drinkers who are at higher risk for heart disease.

Caffeine can of course give you a quick burst of energy and this is why many people drink coffee. But the other properties in the gourmet coffee bean and present in the brewed coffee we drink interact with chemicals in the brain to elevate mood, and improve powers of concentration and comprehension. These attributes are viewed as health benefits that can result from the consuming of gourmet coffee.

Drinking coffee has long been a social activity and sharing a cup of coffee with a friend or in a group setting benefits us by meeting the basic human need we all have of connecting socially with other human beings. In unfamiliar surroundings and settings, drinking coffee offers the comfort of something familiar to the coffee drinker, which can reduce the stress of being in a new place or with new people.

The health benefits gained by drinking gourmet coffee far outweigh the risks associated with caffeine consumption when you take care not to consume more caffeine than is recommended. Two or three cups of gourmet coffee a day should not present a risk to your health. You should be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming daily in other beverages and substitute decaffeinated versions of your favorite gourmet coffee and beverages to keep caffeine consumption levels under control.

boake moore asked:


Gourmet Coffee from Costa Rica: The Perfect Gift

Have you decided what to for buy for the coming Christmas?  The most difficult part of this is planning on gifts for your dear ones. People just fail to pick the right one for even the dearest person. This will no more be a big issue if you get hold of some really great gourmet coffee gift ideas. Let us have a look at some of the best ones.

The Monthly Delivery

 This is a truly great Christmas gift and will surely be liked by all. It comprises of free home deliveries of pure Costa Rican gourmet coffee for three to six months and sometimes even for a whole year. You can choose the variety according to your own likings. We can bet, this will be a really exclusive present.

Espresso Factor

 The regular users of gourmet coffee are probably the easiest persons to purchase for. And there are few who are not fond of an exquisite drink like coffee. Get your best friend some fresh coffee beans along with an espresso-maker. We promise, it will be within your budget and your friend will treasure it. Espresso-makers are available at all price levels, higher or lower. Choose one that you can pay for.

Gift Cards

 You can offer your cousins some gift cards or coupons having discounts on a buy at the nearby coffee shop. They will love to have such a gift, as saving $6 sometimes counts a lot. They will remember you whenever they will take a sip from the discounted coffee-cup.

 

boake moore asked:


Interesting gourmet coffee facts:

• The Boston Tea Party was planned in a coffee house – the Green Dragon Coffee House

• 27% of U.S. coffee drinkers and 43% of German drinkers add a sweetener to their coffee.

• The world’s largest coffee producer is Brazil with over 3,970 million coffee trees. Colombia comes in second with around two thirds of Brazil’s production.

• Hard bean means the coffee was grown at an altitude above 5000 feet.

• Arabica and Robusta trees can produce crops for 20 to 30 years under proper conditions and care.

• Most coffee is transported by ships. Currently there are approximately 2,200 ships involved in transporting the beans each year.

• In Turkey a husband who refused to provide his wife with the drink could be divorced by her!

• Germany is the world’s second largest consumer of coffee in terms of volume at 16 pounds per person. Second to the United States at 19 pounds per person.

• Over 53 countries grow coffee worldwide, but all of them lie along the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

• An acre of coffee trees can produce up to 10,000 pounds of coffee cherries. That amounts to approximately 2,000 pounds of beans after hulling or milling.

• The percolator was invented in 1827 by a French man. It would boil the coffee producing a bitter tasting brew. Today most people use the drip or filtered method to brew their coffee.

• With the exception of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, no coffee is grown in the United States or its territories.

• Up until the 1870’s most coffee was roasted at home in a frying pan over a charcoal fire. It wasn’t until recent times that batch roasting became popular.

• Each year some 7 million tons of green beans are produced world wide. Most of which is hand picked.

• The popular trend towards flavored coffees originated in the United States during the 1970’s.

• Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is the most satisfying cup of coffee – it donates all its profits to children.

October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.

• The first coffee tree in the Western Hemisphere was brought from France to the Island of Martinique in the 1720’s