Why I Prefer Espresso Over Drip

For my normal morning cup of Joe, I settle for two glasses of espresso. The preparation and cleanup of an espresso machine is more time consuming than a drip machine. Despite this aspect, I have integrated the cleanup into my breakfast routine so that the couple of minutes I take to prepare and clean the machine are not noticed.

1. Water content

The main reason I started to consume espresso was that typical coffee contained too much water. I did not enjoy being full of water for the morning part of my day. Four cups of espresso contain the same amount of water as one cup of coffee.

2. Caffeine content

There is not much of a reduction in the amount of caffeine found in one cup of espresso compared to a cup of coffee.

3. Flavor

I love good coffee. Espresso is one way to get the full flavor of the coffee. There is no paper filter to absorb and keep flavorful oils out of the coffee.

4. Warmness

I don?t enjoy hot coffee, but I do like to consume coffee fast. This causes a problem while using a drip machine. One doesn?t want to remove the carafe until brewing is done (doing so alters the flavor). Because of this, the coffee is very hot and takes time to cool in a coffee cup. Espresso cools much quicker and I can gulp it down when it is done brewing.

If you haven?t tried a cup of Espresso, you don?t know what you?re missing!

Matthew Payne is a contributing member of http://coffee-tips.quickprovider.com and http://articles.quickprovider.com – both high content filed article sites.

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30 September

A Good Excuse To Drink More Coffee

When I was in high school our principal, Mr. Watkins was an avid coffee drinker. And when I say avid, I mean nobody stood in between Mr. Watkins and his pot of coffee. Mr. Watkins day wouldn?t start unless he had at least a pot and a half of coffee in his belly. He was a bit high-strung, which the teachers that worked directly ender him blamed his constant one cup right after the other coffee drinking mentality. One day the teachers decided to secretly change his regular coffee to decaf in an effort to calm him down. It didn?t work. They didn?t take into consideration that he had just quit smoking weeks earlier. It wasn?t the coffee that made him that way, it was his nervous withdrawals from quitting smoking.

The truth is coffee has very little effects on heavy coffee drinkers like Mr. Watkins. For Individuals who regularly consume coffee/caffeine has no effect on blood pressure. For people who have not consumed caffeine for a certain period of time, drinking coffee can lead to a small, short-lived increase in blood pressure. In fact, if your a coffee drinker with high blood pressure, it wasn?t the coffee that made you that way. My research shows that stopping coffee consumption is of no benefit to people with mild hypertension. There is no evidence to suggest that continued consumption of coffee father compounds hypertension in any diagnosed patients. Actually, regular coffee drinkers don’t even have comparatively higher blood pressure than non coffee drinkers. As the body quickly becomes tolerant to caffeine?s effects on blood pressure.

You may ask, well, there’s no effect on blood pressure, but what about other conditions like cholesterol or palpitations, what about increased risk for certain types of cancers like ovarian cancer or bladder cancer? No, no, no. In general, people who drink coffee do not have higher cholesterol levels than people who obtain from coffee drinking. Heart palpitations? No. Research shows that individuals may experience palpitations(irregular heartbeats). Irrespective of whether they are consuming coffee or not. Ovarian cancer? No conclusive evidence that coffee/caffeine consumption increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Bladder cancer? In 1990, The International Agency For Research On Cancer evaluated coffee, caffeine, tea, and latte’, after assessing the research, gave coffee the classification 2B which is possibly carcinogenic to the human urinary bladder. Coffee was cleared in all other areas.

Honestly folks, I’ve done an awful lot of research on the effects of coffee and caffeine and I haven?t found anything to raise any suspicion or worry. My conclusion is Mr. Watkins had the right idea all along. So, drink up folks, it isn?t bad for you. And like the title says,? That?s a good excuse to drink more coffee

As always, I hope this article was both informative and entertaining. Thank you for reading and may GOD bless you always, and in always.

Larry Ford runs a website providing information for coffee. You can find it at http://www.eecoffee.com/

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19 September

A Perfect Cup Of Coffee

There are several steps and many factors that help to create the perfect cup of coffee. Not just one, brewing, ass many would assert. Coffee lovers strive to find the perfect cup of coffee, but are often eluded because adverse water conditions or burned beans keep them from their perfect prize. Making the the perfect cup of coffee depends on the following factors and circumstances.

The quality of the water used to brew the perfect cup of coffee is extremely important. One should use filtered, bottled, or distilled water. Removing minerals from the water that can adversely affect the flavor of the coffee is desirable for the end result. In addition to making your coffee taste better, it reduces the number of times you have to decalcify your brewing equipment. Over heated water (above the boiling point) makes bitter tasting coffee and water that is too cold makes weak coffee. Coffee drinkers should never use tap water

The quality of the beans depends on the country the beans come from, the variety of bean grown, the growing conditions in a particular year and the general climate, the method used to collect the beans, and how they were processed. The storage conditions of the beans on their long journey to the roaster are also a factor.

All of these factors have an effect on the quality of the coffee in your cup. Coffee can be like fine wine, imported beer, or single malt scotch in its complexity of flavor and aroma. The entire experience has dependence on a myriad of factors affecting the final product.

Those who appreciate the finer flavors of regional coffees and the effects that the environment has on a particular season?s crop are experts. Most individuals do not currently know anyone like this.

Most of us generally do not concern ourselves with the details of where our next half-pound of coffee is coming from. We are just looking for a good quality coffee roasted to perfection and prepared with skill and care.

The style of roasting that is used also determines a lot about the way a cup made from that coffee will taste. There are many grades of roast distinguishable by the color that the beans become when the roasting is complete and the taste of the coffee when brewed.

Coffee is traditionally roasted by placing the beans in a rotating drum over a flame or other heat source. The drum is rotated in to keep the heat even. Different roasts are produced by adjusting the roasting time. Descriptions of the roasting process are available elsewhere so there is no need to go into the details here.

The grind is also very important. This factor should not be underestimated. There are several factors to consider here. Firstly, the method used to grind the beans to make flavorful coffee in an efficient manner. Secondly, the size of the grind, from coarse to fine. Finally, consideration of the length of time the beans will be stored after they?ve been ground.

Measure your water at room temperature to be exactly six ounces per cup of coffee and use two tablespoons of grounds for each six ounce cup. A second method of measurement is to experiment with different amounts of coffee water until you get the balance just right.

Finally use clean equipment when roasting, storing, grinding, and brewing you coffee. You should wash everything with hot soapy water every time you use it. It may look clean if you just rinse, but it?s not. Coffee oils cling, taste bitter, and can ruin your perfect cup of coffee.

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16 September

Espresso 101 How To Choose Coffee Beans For Espresso

The coffee market offers a vast array of beans of every origin, in every degree of roast and grind. With so many options to choose from, how does one go about picking the best bean for making espresso?

It is best to start with the basics. Cappuccinos and lattes are variations on espresso. They differ only in their ratio of espresso to steamed milk. Neither requires its own separate kind of bean.

The inexperienced shopper could easily be fooled into thinking that there are countless assortments of beans to chose from and be overwhelmed. Sometimes, unscrupulous marketers with take advantage of this common myth so they seem to have a larger inventory. In reality, there are only two types of beans available commercially: Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica is a high altitude bean, grown at 2,400 feet above sea lever or higher, characterized by a smooth, yet slightly acidic, taste. It is usually grown in eastern Africa and Central and South America. Robusta grows in the lower altitudes of Southeast Asia, central Africa and Latin America and has a more potent, sometimes bitter taste.

There are many methods and opinions about the best way to roast beans, but the basic process involves exposing green, raw coffee beans to high temperatures, usually about 480 degrees Fahrenheit, for seven to 12 minutes. The heat alters the beans, manipulating their natural bitterness and acidity. The beans become more bitter and less acidic the longer they are roasted.

There is no one right way to roast or grind beans for espresso. In fact, espresso is usually made with a blend of beans of different colors and consistencies. It is not uncommon for different geographical areas to favor a specific blend. For example, in northern Italy, they prefer espresso roast in the medium range, while California tastes lean toward the darker, French roast.

You are not likely to find the freshest beans in a grocery store, and you can bet on that when in comes to pre ground coffee. The best you can do in that situation is pay close attention to the expiration date. You should have better luck finding fresh beans in a coffee house, especially one that roasts in house. Naturally, they will need to roast more of the most popular, fastest selling bean more often, and it is probably the most popular for a reason. Perfect freshness comes from grinding your own just roasted beans immediately before brewing.

Quality beans are a good place to start, but by no means is that the only factor to consider when making espresso. Other things to think about are the time lapse between grinding and brewing, the time lapse since roasting, the condition of equipment and water quality. What makes the best espresso will likely be an endless debate, but the endless options ultimately boil down to a matter of preference.

Corinne Waldon has written many articles on the subject of coffee. Corinne writes for The Coffee Site where you can find many gourmet coffee resources at your finger tips including coffee related forums, directories, reviews and more.

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7 September

Brewing The Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Brewing the perfect cup of coffee can be done by anyone. Knowing how to do brew coffee properly will allow you to enjoy your cup and allow for the natural tastes and flavors to come out.

Preparation
A clean machine
You will want to make sure that your coffee maker and pot are clean.

Brewing
Cold, fresh water
Using cold and fresh water from the start will insure that your coffee tastes good. Coffee is made up of mostly water, therefore this is a key step. Use a clean glass to pour the water into the reservoir. Do not taint the water by using the carafe to pour the water.

Premium coffee beans
Using premium coffee beans will give you the freshest and more flavorful tasting pot of coffee as well. Your beans should be stored in an air tight container. They should only touch air when they are being grinded and then promptly placed into your coffee machine.

Coffee Amount
Use around two rounded tablespoons of coffee per cup of water.

After
Remove the filter immediately
Allowing the filter to sit in your coffee machine means that coffee will continue to drip in to your freshly brewed coffee. Although the coffee is fresh in your carafe, the coffee dripping from the filter will be bitter. Thus, you could ruin a fresh pot of coffee.

Serve it right away
Coffee looses its flavor as soon as it hits the air. Serve your coffee fresh and you will be able to get the most out of it!

Matthew Payne is a contributing member of http://coffee-tips.quickprovider.com/ and http://articles.quickprovider.com – both high content filed article sites.

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8 August