Coffee Guide

Over the past 30 years marketers have tried thousands of tactics to sell things. We have heard the ?Your to smart to be without this product? tactic. We have heard the ?Everyone needs this product? tactic. We have also seen the way that TV sells products making them more appealing then they really are. Has the coffee industry followed such tactics? Sure it has! Do you remember Folgers little jingle? ?The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.? That ad made Folgers famous! So, is the term ?Gourmet Coffee? another sales tactic? No! Allow me to explain.

Coffee is grown all around the world, and because of the many differences in governments, cultures, and religions people do things differently in other lands. So, how is Gourmet Coffee made? When you acquire coffee beans from different regions they for the most part go thru a similar process. Beans are picked, dried, and sorted pretty much the same way. The differences are the climate and the elevation they were grown in, and the pesticides the farmers used to protect their crop. Those are just a few factors. We also need to consider the roasting process. The roasting process is as crucial to coffee as air is to our lungs. If you under roast your coffee your coffee may turn out weak, and if you over do it your coffee will taste burnt. So, where does the word Gourmet fit in? The hardest coffee to acquire today is the Jamaican Blue Mountain. The reason is due to the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. This coffee is the most sought after coffee, because of its rich taste and divine smell. When roasted correctly this coffee is probably the best tasting in the world. What other factors makes coffee Gourmet?

When Roasters add flavorings such as chocolate syrups, or caramel to name a few, these additives give your coffee a unique taste that is qualified as Gourmet Flavored Coffee. The definition of Gourmet is a fine food or drink that has been judged by an expert to be excellent. When coffee experts say that a certain brand of coffee is excellent then their credibility is on the line. It better live up to the hype or their opinion and reputation becomes as worthless as the dust on a windowsill. If an expert deems a product as excellent then it has to be good. Right? Well, it should. We live in an imperfect world, but Gourmet Coffee is legitimate. Many people around the world take pride in there coffee and when you find one that stands out you will find that it is in high demand. It cost more then regular coffee, but depending on your preference in many cases it is worth its weight in gold.

Where do you find Gourmet Coffee? The best place is straight from a Coffee Roaster, and there are thousands to choose from. They all have different techniques, recipes, and philosophies about coffee. The great thing about them is that they always have fresh roasted coffee. Some other places would be at a supermarket, but I highly advise against these places. The coffee is usually never as fresh as it should be. I hope that this article was able to help you understand that Gourmet Coffee is real, and not a clever marketing tactic.

Don is the owner of several free information websites and the sole proprietor of Java Jakes Gourmet Coffee Co. http://www.javajakes.com http://www.healthyinfosource.com http://www.egolfplace.com Visit these sites today and become informed.

One cold winter morning in a small town north of Chicago IL a man named Jim stands totally paralyzed. He just witnessed what appeared to be a sign that we are not alone in the universe. As he stands with his head looking up at the north sky and he tries to comprehend what just happened. It was a regular morning just like every other. The winter chill pierced the skin and made the body shiver just like it would every other January. The difference this time was the sky seemed to be dimmer. While on his way to work Jim stopped in for a cup of his favorite coffee, and he noticed something new a flavored coffee called Bourbon Truffle. He asked the clerk in the store ?Is this coffee made with real bourbon?? The clerk replied ?No! Just artificial flavoring!? Curious about the taste of this coffee Jim buys one large cup.

As he sips his hot cup of brew he notices that the flavor was unbelievable. It was as if there was a shot of Kentucky Bourbon in his cup. It had a hint of heavenly sweet chocolate that made this the best cup of joe Jim ever had. As he continued his journey he started to feel a little strange. His chest and arms were starting to throb. As he continued to walk to work he heard an ear piercing sound that made is head feel like it was going to explode. As he gazed into the dim sky he saw what appeared to be a round floating object. Stunned with amazement he stood motionless with awe-inspiring fear. The floating object seemed to have a glow about it that was definitely not of this earth. In an instant the object was gone. He rushes to work in a panic and he realizes that if he told anyone they would think he?s gone nuts. He takes his last sip of coffee and turns to throw the disposable cup in the trash. Before he clocks in he decided to confide his experience with a friend he believes he can trust.

?Carl? he calls out. ?Hi Jim!? Carl replies. ?I have to tell you something that I saw that you won?t believe.? Jim relates. ?What is it?? Carl asks. ?I have worked with you for about 4 years. Right?? says Jim. ?Give or take.? Carl replies. ?Would you say that I am in anyway the type who over reacts?? Jim pleads. ?Not at all. In fact, you are in my opinion the most sound person here.? Carl relates. Jim reveals his experience with caution to Carl. He knew that if anyone at work would believe him it was good ole Carl. Carl and Jim had been through a lot as co-workers and have accomplished things most said could not be done. You could say they had a great working relationship. As Jim tells his story Carl stands with a confused look on his face. ?Have you lost your mind?? Carl asks. ?Forget it!? Jim replies. ?You of all people know me and know that I would not make something like this up.? Jim demands. ?It just sounds so crazy.? ?Have you been under any stress?? asks Carl. ?Well, a little, but nothing traumatic? Jim pleads. ?The only thing that I have done differently this morning was I tried a new cup of coffee.? ?It was supposed to have artificial bourbon flavoring, and besides I only had one cup,? he explains.

Many people like Jim who seem to have close encounters with alien life try to reason with themselves as to what really happened. Was it really an alien encounter or just a great cup of coffee? We will let you decide.

Don is the owner of several free information websites and the sole proprietor of Java Jakes Gourmet Coffee Co.

http://www.javajakes.com
http://www.megainfosource.com
http://www.egolfplace.com
Visit these sites today and become informed!

Most coffee beans are grown in sub-tropical climates all over the world. The altitude and region can make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. The higher grown the coffee plant the better flavored coffee bean you’ll get. The fruit of the coffee plant can only be picked when it is perfectly ripe, not too early and not too late. What this means is a year round supply of ripe coffee beans giving you the best quality and most flavorful coffee all the time.

It is a well known fact that Kona produces some of the best coffee in the world. The Mauna Loa region on the west side of the big island is where the Island’s coffee plant flourishes. With the early morning sunshine, shade in the afternoon, and sufficient amounts of rainfall, growing conditions for the coffee beans are nearly perfect. Also, the volcanic soil and high altitude give this Kona arabica coffee plant everything it needs to thrive. All of these conditions are contributing factors in making this gourmet Hawaiian coffee world-renowned.

Once harvested, either by hand or machine, the picked beans are then dried and sorted. The green beans can now be shipped to the roasters or roasted immediately in preparation for your consumption. To optimize flavor and freshness have the beans roasted when you buy if possible. This is because once they have been roasted the flavor and aroma will deteriorate very quickly. However, vacuum sealing and freezer storage can slow down this process to some degree, giving you 6-8 weeks at the most to enjoy a real full flavored cup of coffee.

Although you can buy beans cheap at the nearest grocery store, you will probably think twice once you have tasted a cup of coffee brewed with freshly roasted beans! Sorry to say, but the coffee brands on the shelf just don?t stand a chance. By the time it reaches the store shelf a huge portion of the flavor is already lost. So for genuine gourmet flavored beans be particular who you buy from.

There are several reputable merchants online that will roast the beans when you place your order and have them shipped to you in a matter of days. This is probably the best way to buy if you don?t have a local shop that can roast the beans on the premises. This way you are assured authentic flavored coffee at its freshest.

Chris Rodriguez is the webmaster for http://www.1st-in-gourmet-coffee.com

We offer valuable tips on buying, roasting, and brewing coffee beans to get the fullest, most enjoyable cup of coffee. We also offer information on healthful green and black teas. For all your coffee and tea needs come and visit our website.

Forget the usual sugar and cream. Flavoring coffee is gaining popularity among hardcore connoisseurs. There?s nothing more alluring to the avid coffee drinker than the full-bodied taste of a great cup of Joe, but now there?s more to taste than just water, roast and grind.

The customary way to pre-flavor whole coffee beans is to suffuse them with natural plant derivatives, oils and extracts at a ratio of roughly half and ounce for every pound of beans. Warm beans absorb flavors more readily than cool ones, so freshly roasted beans will yield the best results.

Beware of retailers who try to disguise the inferior quality of their beans with false flavors. When in doubt, freshness can easily be gauged by appearance. Newly flavored beans will shine with natural oils; the ones that have been there a while with look dull and dry. Make sure to buy your beans from a highly regarded establishment, preferably one that feature in-house roasting.

If you prefer to flavor your coffee after it?s brewed, syrups are for you. Post-brew flavoring allows for more control over the sweetness and strength of a drink. Understanding the label is the most important step toward making and informed choice about which syrup to use.

The concentration of sugar and flavor in a syrup is called ?brix.? Syrups of the best quality have a brix of 60 to 70. The higher the number the more concentrated the mix. How much of the concentration is sugar and how much is flavor can?t be determined from the brix, but that information should be clearly stated in the label. Higher concentrated syrup may have a higher price, but it will last longer.

Preservatives and sweeteners are some other things to consider when purchasing syrups. Avoid syrups that are think and sticky. The extra sweeteners may be covering up a bad flavor. Sugar free and preservative-free products are gaining popularity, but sugar free doesn?t necessarily mean all natural and it?s important to remember that preservative-free syrups won?t have the shelf life of those with preservatives. Once again, reading the label will help you be sure what you?re getting.

Connoisseurs know there are pros and cons to both methods. Since syrups are added post brew, they obviously won?t leave residue or aromas behind in grinding equipment and puts more control in the drinker?s hands. Pre-brew flavoring cuts out all but negligible amounts of sugar, making it the preference of those who chose a healthier approach.

Feeling creative? Try flavoring your own coffee at home. Put warm, fresh-roasted beans in an air-tight container with vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, mint or any of your favorite extracts and spices, or adding a shot of your favorite liqueur.

Corinne is a regular contributor for The Coffee Site, a comprehensive coffee website. For information and resources on gourmet coffee online and gourmet coffee baskets visit The Coffee Site.