Perfect Coffees

Coffee Tips

2007-01-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a few coffee tips.

If you prefer your coffee weaker, make it full strength, then dilute it with hot water or milk. It will taste much better than trying to use less coffee.

Water softeners are great but not for your coffee. Artifically softened water will produce bitter tasting coffee. Since coffee is 98% water it makes sense to use pure and clean water with no artificial ingredients.

The best solution for keeping your coffee fresh and hot is transferring your coffee into a thermos or air pot coffee dispensor. This isolates the coffee from air, slowing down the oxidation process. The coffee will last up to 1 hour before you start losing the good flavor.

A good test for freshness of a coffee bean is to actually bite into the bean. If it has a crisp bite and a strong, full-flavored aftertaste, it is fresh. However, if it is chewy or bitter, it is not.

Freshly ground coffee makes a wonderful potpourri. The smell of coffee will mask the "foulest" of odors. Replace aromatherapy scents with something that a true coffee lover appreciates, that wonderful smell of freshly ground coffee.

When mixing desserts and coffees, the more plain the dessert, the lighter the roast of the coffee you may want to accompany it. Espresso goes well with richer desserts and lighter roasted coffees with less rich desserts.

If you want your coffee to stay hot longer, heat your coffee cup or mug with hot water and remove the water just before pouring in your coffee. This will keep your coffee much hotter a lot longer.

Never store your coffee in its original bag. Transfer your whole beans immediately into a ceramic or glass container with a rubber seal and preferably one that does not allow light through it. Air, light, heat and moisture are enemies of coffee.

Copyright © 2007 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and get top quality coffee travel mugs that will keep your coffee or tea hot and fresh until the last drop.

How To Choose A Coffee Maker

2006-12-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

Want to know how to choose a coffee maker? When you go to buy a coffee maker there are so many choices it's hard to know which one to pick.

To end up with a coffee maker that is perfect for you, you need to consider not only basic features, but some others you may want to keep in mind.

The first thing you need to decide in how to choose coffee maker is what type of filter you want. Drip coffee makers offer a basket type filter or a cone shaped filter.

As an example, Mr. Coffee brand coffee makers are known for basket type filters that swing out to put coffee in or take grounds out. With cone type filters you fill the coffee and take grounds out from the top. An advantage of cone type filters is they are less prone to spillage.

You may also want to consider a gold tone filter to give your coffee a richer taste. These fine gold screen mesh filters allow new flavorful coffee oils in your cup but they do require regular cleaning.

Another major consideration for how to choose a coffee maker is how convenient is the coffee pot to clean. For example, coffee makers with a pot that has a long and slender neck will be harder to clean than one with a wider opening at the top.

If your hand can easily fit inside the coffee pot, it will make cleaning the pot very easy. But if it's hard to clean with a small opening, you may clean it less often. That will affect the taste of your coffee over time due to the build up of oils and residue.

Another smart tip for how to choose coffee maker is look for the temperature your coffee will reach when brewing. The water temperature needs to be between 195 to 205 degree degrees Fahrenheit.

In general, the less expensive coffee makers do not reach these temperatures but the best brand names will advertise this. If you are looking for the best coffee maker for your money, this should be a consideration. After all, you want your coffee maker to make sensible tasting coffee.

It's easy to get really confused with all of the models and choices of coffee makers. So remember these tips the next time you go shopping so you'll know how to choose a coffee maker and get just the right one for you.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and get top quality coffee travel mugs will keep your coffee or tea hot and fresh until the last drop.

Coffee Humor

2006-12-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

You might be addicted to coffee if ...

Your T-shirt says, "Give me coffee and no one gets hurt."

You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.

Starbucks owns the mortgage on your home.

Your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.

You introduce your spouse as your coffeemate.

You can outlast the Energizer bunny.

You've ever built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.

You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.

You get a tax write off for all the coffee you bought.

You've carried your coffee cup into the shower with you in the morning.

You can "out-yip" your chihuaha.

You eat coffee jello.

All your kids are named "Joe."

You don't tan; you roast.

There's more grounds than soil around your garden plants.

You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.

You sleep with your eyes open.

You don't get mad; you get steamed.

Your t-shirt says "I haven't had my coffee yet. Dont make me kill you!"

You tell your boss "Coffee first then your mundane crap!"

If coffee no longer works and you are looking for the jumper cables.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles

A Coffee Gift Idea

2006-11-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Coffee gifts are quickly becoming very popular now days because so many people love gourmet coffee. So if you are looking for gift ideas for the holidays or shopping for another occasion, a coffee gift might be something to consider.

Coffee gift baskets are among the top sellers on the Internet for coffee gifts. That's because they are fun to receive and priced for any budget. Some of the more popular pairings with gourmet coffee are sweets and coffee mugs.

A coffee gift basket is ideal for a corporate or personal gift because they can be made up for any one according to what they like. Got a sports fan on your list? Just combine any sports items with a team mug or two with some gourmet coffee and it's a perfect gift.

The possibilities are endless combining almost anything with gourmet coffee. If you don't have the time to make up your own coffee gift basket, our site as well as many more on the Internet has an endless supply to choose from.

Here is another coffee gift idea. How about a membership to a monthly gourmet coffee club? Every month your gift recipient gets to experience a different gourmet coffee. What coffee lover wouldn't enjoy that?

Another great coffee gift is a quality travel coffee mug. Even if you go to Starbucks or any other gourmet coffee shop in the morning, just pour your hot coffee into your own travel coffee mug and you'll enjoy it a lot more. It sure beats those paper cups.

A coffee roaster is another unique coffee gift idea. A true coffee lover can roast their own coffee beans at home. Who ever gets this gift is in for a real treat because roasting coffee is fun and very tasty.

Coffee makers also are good coffee gifts because they are reasonably priced and can be shipped directly to the gift recipient. You can also find coffee accessories like coffee canisters and unique coffee mugs that make great coffee gifts.

Gourmet coffee sales continue to rise because so many people really enjoy drinking coffee. So the next time a gift giving occasion comes around, remember how many people love coffee. Consider a coffee gift and surprise someone with a tasty treat.

Starbucks Coffee Gifts

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles

Keurig Single Cup Coffee Maker

2006-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

The Keurig single cup coffee maker brews a single cup of fresh coffee or tea at the touch of a button. You never have to mess with grinding, measuring coffee or even the wet filter with a Keurig single cup coffee maker.

With this new single cup brewing system, you just insert a pre-measured K-Cup of freshly roasted, freshly ground premium Arabica bean coffee, push a button and 40 seconds later you have a delicious and fresh brewed cup of coffee.

The Keurig single cup coffee maker lets you choose one of four brew sizes and program the brew temperature with the easy to use controls. You can select 6, 8 or 10-oz cup size; or the new 12-oz. cup size.

Fill the larger 60-oz. removable water reservoir and set your brewer to remain on and ready to brew. Only Keurig brewers have the patented, state-of-the-art technology that precisely controls the brewing, water temperature; water pressure; brewing time; grind and quantity, to ensure consistently excellent full flavor.

The Keurig single cup coffee maker operation is also amazingly quiet. The K-Cup containers are nitrogen-flushed and sealed to keep out air, light and moisture, ensuring no loss of freshness. Each K-Cup is a mini brewer and contains its own high quality filter paper.

Your purchase includes a selection of 18 K-Cups to get you started; more K-Cups are readily available online or by phone in over 100 varieties of coffees, teas and cocoas.

The Keurig single cup coffee maker features include programmable on/off, adjustable water temperature, large LCD with blue back light and a removable drip tray that accommodates a taller travel mug.

All you have to do to brew a cup for using your own ground beans is order the stainless steel mesh K-Cup Reusable Filter Pack. The Keurig single cup coffee maker system has a platinum finish with chrome accents. It measures 12" x 10" x 13" and weighs 15 lbs.

If you are looking for a coffee maker that produces fresh coffees, teas and cocoas with one touch, the Keurig single cup coffee maker is the perfect choice.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and get coffee canisters that can make a big difference in the way your coffee tastes.

Gevalia Coffee Offer

2006-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard about the Gevalia Coffee offer with a free coffee maker but may not be sure how it works. So here is a simple explanation.

For new members of Gevalia Kaffee, all you have to do is try two pounds of Gevalia Coffee and receive a free 12-cup programmable Gevalia coffee maker as a special gift.

Then approximately every six weeks you will receive additional shipments of Gevalia coffee, which are four ½ lb packages.

Gevalia coffee offers you the opportunity to cancel this arrangement any time after receiving your introductory shipment without obligation to accept any further shipments.

The free Gevalia coffee maker is yours to keep regardless of your decision. You may also select different blends or types of coffee and change the frequency of your shipments at any time.

But what if you only want to try Gevalia Coffee and not join their coffee club? You can get all Gevalia Coffee for individual purchase without having to join the Gevalia coffee club here.

So whether you are looking for a special gift for a coffee lover and choose the Gevalia coffee offer with the free Gevalia coffee maker or just want to experience a truly wonderful coffee with no strings attached, Gevalia Coffee is a perfect choice.

Gevalia Coffee individual purchase

Gevalia Coffee Offer with coffeemaker

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles

How Much Caffeine Is In Decaf Coffee?

2006-10-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

If you drink decaf coffee, how much caffeine is really left? A lot of people drink decaf coffee because caffeine keeps them awake or their doctor has told them to stay away from caffeine.

While most decaf coffee has significantly less caffeine than caffeinated coffees, they are not totally caffeine free. Coffee must have at least 97 percent of its caffeine removed to qualify as decaffeinated coffee in the United States.

So around 5 milligrams of caffeine are still present in a 6 ounce cup of decaf coffee as opposed to the 100 to 150 milligrams in 6 ounces of brewed coffee. Tea has much less caffeine than coffee, so most decaf tea has even less caffeine than decaf coffee.

Coffee is always sold as decaffeinated rather than caffeine free. The difference between caffeine free and decaffeinated is decaffeinated means that the caffeine has been removed where as caffeine free means no caffeine has been added.

There are several methods currently used for decaffeinating coffee. They use everything from chemicals found naturally in fruits, water processes, carbon filters to carbon dioxide methods.

The caffeine from these decaffeination processes is remanufactured and used in medicines and soft drinks. Even though there is a slight amount of caffeine left in decaf coffee, the trace amount is not a significant problem for people who don't want the effects of caffeine in their systems.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and get proper coffee storage canisters that can make a big difference in the way your coffee tastes.

Sugar Free Fudge Recipe

2006-10-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

If you thing sugar free recipes are bland or boring, get ready for a surprise. This sugar free fudge recipe is one of the most delicious desserts you have tasted and you may think it's just too good to be sugar free.

One taste of this sugar free fudge recipe and you'll have to ask to be sure you are actually eating a dessert made with no sugar. If you are cutting back or can't eat sugar for medical reasons, it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy dessert.

For all of you fudge lovers here is a sugar free fudge recipe that is almost too good to be true.

Sugar Free Fudge Recipe

1 14 1/2 oz. evaporated milk
3 tbsp. cocoa
1/4 c. oleo
Liquid Sweetner to equal 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c. nuts
Combine milk and cocoa in saucepan. Beat well. Add oleo, sweetner,
salt. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients
except 1/4 cup graham crackers. Cool about 15 minutes. Divide
mixture into 32 balls. Roll in remaining cracker crumbs and chill.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This sugar free fudge recipe is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles

Monster Munch

2006-10-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

3 cup Puffed rice cereal
1 cup Dried apricots; chopped
1 cup Raisins
1 cup Dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
1/3 cup Margarine
1 lb Marshmallows; large
1/2 cup Peanut butter

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine cereal, apricots, raisins and peanuts.
In microwave safe 13x9 inch baking dish, melt margarine and
marshmallows on high 2 minutes.
Stir.
Add peanut butter.
Cook on high 2 minutes longer.
Stir until blended.
Add cereal mixture to dish.
Toss until well coated. Working quickly, with greased hands, form into balls, using about 1/2 cup mixture per ball.
If mixture begins to cool and harden, cook on high 30 seconds or until softened.

Copyright © 2006 AmazingEbooksOnline.com All Rights Reserved.

This recipe courtesy of Fun Kids Recipes Cookbook, a collection of 120 simple and easy to follow recipes that kids of all ages will enjoy.

Coffee Trivia

2006-09-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Coffee bearing trees are at their prime when they are between 7 and 8 years old.

Acidity in coffee commands a premium price because acidity in coffee provides brightness or point in the cup.

The jasmine-like, beautiful aroma of coffee flowers, carried by an off-shore breeze, can be smelled far out to sea as you approach a coffee port.

During the process of roasting dark coffee beans, coffee oil gathers in pockets throughout the bean and is forced out to the surface of the bean as moisture is lost giving the bean an oily appearance.

Coffee trees are actually bushes that have a total life of around 20 to 25 years, and can grow to over 20 feet in height.

Fresh, hot water, in fusion with the coffee, should be at 190º Fahrenheit for optimum brewing.

57% of coffee is drunk at breakfast; 34% between meals and 13% at other meals.

The world's largest coffee producer is Brazil with over 3,970 million coffee trees.

To remove mineral deposits in a tea pot or burnt spots on a coffee pot, put some ice cubes, cut-up lemon, and salt with a small amount of water, swish around and let sit overnight.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. Read more Coffee Articles.

Oolong Teas

2006-09-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what kind of delicious tea the Chinese restaurants serve? It's called Oolong tea and it is a traditional Chinese type of tea that falls somewhere in between green tea and black tea in flavor.

The four types of teas that come from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant are green, black, oolong, and white.

The word "oolong" in Chinese, means "black dragon" and when dried, the leaves have a black thread-like appearance. The many varieties of oolong tea all differ greatly in flavor.

The flavor of Oolong tea depends on how long the tea leaves are given to ferment. The Oolong tea fermentation process is carefully stopped when the leaves are still 30% red and 70% green. The most critical part in the production of oolong tea is knowing exactly when to stop the partial oxidation.

Because Oolong teas can have different degrees of oxidation, some are closer to black teas, while others resemble more of a green tea. A tea master grades the tea according to the flavor and unique characteristics of each batch at the final stage of processing. Then the tea is sorted, packaged and shipped.

If you would like to taste some of this amazing tea, it is recommended that you start off with an Oolong tea sampler. Once you find one you reaaly like, you can order more of your favorites. Enjoying the many wonderful flavors of Oolong teas at home, is a truely a pleasurable experience.

Oolong Sampler

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Travel Coffee Makers

2006-09-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Have you had enough of lukewarm coffee served in paper cups when you travel? Then a travel coffee maker might be something you may not have thought of. If you like fresh, hot coffee in a decent mug, then you might find this information interesting.

Travel coffee makers can tuck easily in your suitcase because they are not as bulky as a regular coffee maker. You can even take your own coffee if you are a serious coffee lover.

Most travel coffee maker brands brew the coffee directly into coffee travel mugs. That makes making a fresh cup quick and convenient without all of the mess. You can choose one that makes a single cup or two cups at once.

If you buy coffee at gourmet coffee shops, a travel coffee maker can pay for itself in no time. But the best part is, you are in control over how your coffee is made.

Even some expensive coffees at a gourmet coffee shops taste bad. On top of that you usually have to drink your coffee fom a paper cup.

If you are in your hotel room and want a cup of coffee, you don't have to figure out how to make a cup of coffee with the pot in the room. With your own travel coffee maker, your coffee is hot, fresh and in a decent cup that is enjoyable to drink from.

One consideration when buying a travel coffee maker is making sure the coffee travel mug that the coffee is brewed in is easy to hold and easy to drink from. There is a huge selection of travel coffee makers and getting the right cup to drink from is important.

Another consideration before you buy one, is make sure you know how your coffee is brewed so you'll know exactly what you are getting and there are no surprises. Your travel coffee maker should be easy to operate.

All you have to do is read the manufacturer descriptions carefully and choose one that works for your situation. No one likes to buy something and then be unhappy with it because they didn't realize it worked differently than they had pictured in their mind.

Once you get the right travel coffee maker you'll get spoiled because you don't have to put up with bad coffee in paper cups anymore. If you have had enough of lukewarm coffee served in paper cups when you travel, consider a travel coffee maker.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where we offer you travel coffee makers for making fresh, hot coffee when you travel or any where you are at.

Benefits Of Chocolate

2006-08-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

The chocoholics of the world may have something to celebrate. The latest news is there may actually be some benefits of chocolate. It's very possible that chocolate may be more than just candy.

Researchers have found that most people experience a pleasurable feeling after eating chocolate and they may have discovered some health benefits of chocolate too.

Scientists are working on identifying specific chemicals and chemical combinations in chocolate with hopes to better explain why these pleasurable responses happen.

The researchers found that chocolate contains over 300 known chemicals and a benefit of chocolate is it is a very efficient energy source for your body.

A single chocolate chip can provide enough food energy for an average adult to walk 150 feet. Many armies today issue their soldiers rations of chocolate containing over 80% chocolate solids to use in case of emergencies. Even Napoleon knew the benefits of chocolate and carried it on his military campaigns.

Cocoa, which is used to make chocolate, is used for a lot more than for just making candy. Recently there is news that cocoa contains a powerful mixture of health-enhancing antioxidants.

Cocoa comes from a rainforest herb technically known as Theobroma Cacao. Indigenous tribes in South and Central America have used the cocoa bean for thousands of years.

These tribes still use cacao to combat parasites, to counteract the effects of snakebites and as a general antiseptic. Western researchers are just beginning to recognize the powerful benefits of chocolate and the healing properties of this amazing herb, Theobroma Cacao.

Scientists are also studying the fact that chocolate may contain psychoactive compounds that create genuine chemical addictions that alter the mood of those who consume it.

So when people say they are addicted to chocolate, it's just possible they could be right. For chocohalics everywhere the benefits of chocolate is very good news. Let's just hope the FDA doesn't find out and try to regulate it.

This article courtesy of Chocolate Recipes For Chocolate Lovers Cookbook.

Coffee Facts

2006-08-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

The best way to preserve coffee, whether it's ground or whole bean is to store it in an opaque, airtight container with minimal air at the top.

If you use a coffee maker with an "interrupt brewing" option that allows you to sneak a cup in the middle of the brewing cycle, try to ignore it. The strongest coffee brews first, so the rest of your pot will be weaker and unbalanced.

The ideal temperature for coffee brewing is between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use metal filters instead of paper ones because metal filters allow more flavor-enhancing particles through.

If you run out of paper filters don't use paper towels because they are usually filled with bleaches, resins, and inks and will give your coffee a bitter taste.

Colloids, microscopic particles in coffee that are too big to fully dissolve, are what give coffee its texture.

Non-dairy creamer should be in the cup before the coffee, so coffee will not cool below 170 degrees, to allow the creamer to dissolve properly.

The strength of coffee refers to how much coffee there is in the brew, whereas the body is a measure of the richness or heaviness of the coffee taste.

Coffee is 98% water so using hard water will produce bitter tasting coffee. For best results use clean, filtered water.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com. All Rights Reserved.

These coffee facts supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Coffee Trivia

2006-08-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

To reduce wrinkles and improve their skin, the Japanese have been known to bathe in coffee grounds fermented with pineapple pulp.

Coffee beans are roasted because the carbohydrates in green coffee beans need to be heated to develop flavors.

Coffee is the only product wherein the fruit is discarded, and we consume the seeds, which are the coffee beans.

Many Turks drink a staggering twenty to thirty cups of tea per day.

Coffee has more than 60 different varieties.

The dried pulp from coffee cherries is often used as fuel for the heat needed to dry green coffee beans to their required eleven to twelve percent moisture content.

In the 18th century British coffeehouses boiled coffee which was often laced with eggs, mustard, and an assortment of other tasty treats to add flavor.

Green coffee beans nearly double in size during roasting, but shrink 16% by weight.

Roasted coffee beans give off carbon dioxide over a period of weeks.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com. All Rights Reserved.

This coffee trivia is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Mocha Ice Cream Pie

2006-08-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons hot milk
2/3 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 quart chocolate ice cream, softened
2 teaspoons instant coffee, dissolved in a teaspoon of water
1/4 cup chopped pecans
whipped topping
pecan halves and shaved chocolate, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
Melt chocolate and butter together, stirring to blend.
Stir hot milk into the confectioners' sugar; add to chocolate mixture and stir to mix well.
Stir in coconut.
Press mixture into the bottom and up sides of 9-inch buttered pie plate.
Chill in refrigerator.
Stir softened ice cream; stir in coffee and chopped pecans.
Spread in chilled pie shell, swirling top.
Decorate with dollops of whipped topping, pecan halves, and shaved chocolate.
Freeze mocha ice cream pie until firm.
Serves 6.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This recipe is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. If youwould like to read more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Roasting Basics

2006-07-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know how they roast coffee? This will give you a basic idea of how coffee is roasted and the most common roasting times.

Coffee is shipped unroasted and is called green coffee. It is stored in bags made of jute or sisal, or can be shipped in huge plastic-lined freight containers. About seven million tons of green coffee are shipped worldwide every year.

The roasting process starts with the green coffee beans being heated in large, rotating drums using temperatures reaching 550 degrees F. The tumbling motion of the drums keeps the beans from burning.

After about 8 minutes, the beans reach about 400 degrees F and actually "pop" like popcorn. They are now double in size and begin to brown as the oils within them start to emerge. This oil is called coffee essence or caffeol.

The chemical reaction of the heat and coffee essence is called pyrolysis, and this is what produces the flavor and aroma of coffee. A second "pop" occurs, about three to five minutes later, and means that the coffee beans are fully roasted.

Coffee roasting is an art and roastmasters use sound, sight and smell to determine when the beans are roasted to perfection and timing is everything. Coffee roasting is what determines coffee's final flavor.

The roasting time affects the color and flavor of the final brew, so the length of the roasting period depends on the type of coffee desired. Espresso is the darkest of all roasts being roasted the longest.

Here are some of the typical roasting times depending on the type of coffee you want:

7 minutes - lightly roasted; typical American mass-marketed coffee

9 to 11 minutes - medium roast; a full-bodied roast that is sometimes called "city roast"

12 to 13 minutes - dark roast; known as French or Viennese coffee; like the specialty coffees of the Pacific Northwest

14 minutes - darkest roast; known as espresso roast. The beans actually begin to smoke, and the sugars in the beans caramelize and burn.

Once the beans are roasted to perfection they are poured into a cooling tray.

Many coffee lovers are now buying green coffee beans and roasting their own coffee at home. Once you taste how vibrant and truly fresh coffee can be, it's easy to get hooked on home roasting.

The fragrance of coffee roasting is virtually a heavenly pleasure. If you are a true coffee lover, home coffee roasting is something you should try.

Home Coffee Roasters

Green Coffee Beans

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. More Coffee Articles.

Coffee Humor

2006-07-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

You might be addicted to coffee if ...

Your T-shirt says, "Give me coffee and no one gets hurt."

You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.

Starbucks owns the mortgage on your home.

Your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.

You introduce your spouse as your coffeemate.

You can outlast the Energizer bunny.

You've ever built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.

You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.

You dip your coffee cake in coffee.

You get a tax write off for all the coffee you bought.

You've carried your coffee cup into the shower with you in the morning.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

Coffee Humor is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Iced Tea Tips

2006-07-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Can you think of anything better than a cool glass of iced tea to quench your thirst on a hot Summer day? Here are some cool tips for making great iced tea.

A lot of people make sun tea in the hot weather because the sun mellows the flavor and produces a milder taste over traditional brewed tea. Just fill a glass jug or jar with clean, filtered water, add your tea bags or herbal tea bags, put a lid on the container and place in a sunny location.

Just let the tea sit for a few hours to slowly steep in the warmth of the sun and you've got a delicious batch of sun tea. Experiment with how many bags you need to get the desired strength you prefer.

Here a a few tips for making better sun tea. You might want to try using "family size" bags instead of a bunch of tea bags because it's less trouble and is faster to make.

Another tip for sun tea is put your tea out in the morning when it's not quite so hot. The lower temperature is not as likely to destroy the delicate oils and flavors of your tea.

If you end up with cloudy tea there is a remedy for that. To keep your tea clear, don't put your sun tea straight into the refrigerator after it's made.

Let it cool at room temperature first then put it in the fridge. Cooling sun tea too fast makes the tannin settle out, causing cloudy tea.

Hard water can also make your iced tea cloudy so use clean filtered water. If your tea is already cloudy, try adding just a little hot water to it. This won't always clear it up but will make it clearer.

The same goes if you start your iced tea in a kettle or brew it in a pan. Wait until the tea is room temperature, then cool it in the refrigerator. Making tea ahead of time usually produces better results.

If you sweeten your whole pitcher or batch of tea before you drink it, add the sugar or artificial sweetener while it is still hot. Sugar or artificial sweetener disolves much better while the tea is hot.

If you need your iced tea a little quicker you might want to use an automatic iced tea maker. Popular brands like Mr. Coffee, Hamilton Beach and Salton have several different models to choose from.

With an automatic iced tea maker you just add water, drop the ice into the pitcher, select brewing strength, add tea and press the power button.

Most of the automatic iced tea makers use tea bags or loose tea and brew a full pitcher of iced tea in about 10 minutes. The tea pitchers hold from 2 to 3 quarts of iced tea depending on the make and model.

Automatic iced tea makers are ideal for parties, backyard barbeques or even everyday use because you can always keep a fresh pitcher of iced tea handy.

A good tip for automatic iced tea makers is have plenty of ice around because you use a large amount of it to cool the tea. You may want to buy bagged ice because you don't want to wait for your freezer to make ice between batches.

The next time you want a refreshing glass of iced tea to quench your thirst, you'll know exactly how to make a perfect batch.

Automatic Iced Tea Makers

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

Article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and purchase Automatic Iced Tea Makers.

How To Compare Coffee Makers

2006-06-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Want to know the best way to compare coffee makers? Look for a design that is suited to the way you want your coffee to taste.

Most people mistakenly compare coffee makers only by their designs and not with the usage. With the wide range of coffee makers out there, thinking about a few key features before you buy coffee makers will ensure you end up with the perfect one.

The drip coffee maker is the most popular and you can choose between a manual or an automatic drip coffee maker.

The manual drip coffee maker allows a more flexible taste, and works by heating the water and then pouring it over the coffee grounds. Melitta is probably best known for these kinds of coffee makers.

An automatic drip coffee maker is by far the most popular and takes less work than the manual. Just pour the water in the reservoir; put the coffee in a paper or wire mesh filter and the automatic drip coffee maker produces the finished pot of coffee.

The new pod coffee makers are also becoming very popular. The coffee pod brewer falls in the middle of a drip coffee maker and an espresso machine. They make brewing coffee one cup at a time quick and painless with an easy-to-use coffee pod.

The process for brewing coffee is faster than with regular drip machines. Plus you only have to make a single cup at a time and that has it's advantages if you don't want to make a full pot.

The French Press is another coffee maker option but it takes a little more work. You mix course ground coffee beans with hot water and press the grounds to the bottom after it brews a few minutes. The French Press makes a strong but flavorful cup of coffee.

An espresso machine is another alternative but a little more costly because espresso machines are expensive. Some people will buy an espresso machine for parties and weekends while others prefer the strong espresso taste all of the time.

Each coffee maker has it's advantages and you have to decide when you buy coffee makers which one is best for your situation. Only you know how you like your coffee to taste and how much time and money you want to devote to that coffee falvor.

So when you go shopping for a new machine use these tips to compare coffee makers that are suited to your lifestyle.

Compare Coffee Makers

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

2006-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

For many years now, several benefits are attributed to drinking green tea. Today, researchers have come up with new proofs to justify the belief that green tea can be used as a treatment for obesity and for weight loss.

More than half of the American population have weight problems or are obese.

Conditions like these are almost always linked to certain complications like heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, gall bladder disease, and hypertension. Weight loss can aid in assuaging the symptoms of some of these conditions.

Scientists have tirelessly investigated on the weight loss benefits of green tea. They have found that green tea can actually enhance the total amount of energy spent by the body.

From their findings, they were able to deduce that green tea has great potential for a weight loss benefit.

Other researches were able to confirm the weight loss benefit of green tea. A recent study at the University of Geneva had the conclusion that, “Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se.”

Where before it was generally believed that the caffeine content in green tea is the reason for its weight loss benefit, this recent study deviated from that theory. Green tea has other substances in them that are helpful in weight loss.

The same team who conducted the study on green tea’s caffeine content and weight loss banded together in Switzerland to perform even more experiments.

They still came up with the same results – that green tea has several thermogenic attributes that make it perfect to use in any weight loss program.

Purchase Green Tea

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers and purchase Green Tea

"Bean" To Starbucks Store Online Yet?

2006-06-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you are a coffee or tea lover and haven't experienced the Starbucks Store online yet, you are in for a treat. Starbucks Store puts the gourmet in coffee beans and specialty teas.

Starbucks Store is a great place to buy coffee online and try different Starbucks blends at home.

Have you ever tried Tazo tea carried at Starbucks Store? Tazo tea flavor is wonderful and the effect is soothing.

Tazo tea is a one-of-a-kind tea you will find at Starbucks Store online. You do not need a specialty tea store if you are looking for a fine quality tea.

The Tazo tea carried at a Starbucks Store will meet the needs of even the most discerning tea drinker.

If you are loking for an excellent iced tea, Tazo black teas are a perfect choice. Once you taste this iced tea, you'll want to experience several Tazo tea black tea blends.

You can buy coffee online and also Tazo teas carried by Starbucks at Starbucks Store. This is a quick and easy way to get quality Starbucks Coffee and Tazo Teas delivered right to your front door.

These coffees and teas also make wonderful gifts for special friends and family members. How about ordering assorted Starbucks Coffees and Tazo Teas and making a custom gift basket for someone?

Now there is a fresh gift idea especially for someone who is hard to buy for. Imagine getting a custom gift basket and finding all of the unique little coffee and tea treasures in it.

Who wouldn't love to get that kind of a unique gift? So if you haven't "bean" to a Starbucks Store yet and you are a coffee or tea lover, make the trip soon. You'll love it.

Starbucks Store

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Iced Coffee Drinks

2006-05-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and that means it's time to make some delicious iced coffee drinks. Iced coffee drinks are a unique twist from soft drinks especially when you have friends over.

Besides, it's almost impossible for any get together to be boring when all that caffeine is running through everyone. So here are a few tips and ideas to make your iced coffee drinks a cool Summer hit.

Make sure you plan ahead by brewing your coffee ahead of time, so it will cool before preparing your iced coffee drinks. But don't leave it out for too long.

Once it's down to room temperature (3 to 5 hours) put your coffee into the refrigerator, to cool it for your iced coffee drinks.

You can also use a cold water method of coffee brewing if you prefer. There are cold brew coffee systems that work very well for this from Toddy .

Or you can soak one pound of coffee grounds overnight in 48 ounces of clean water. Next morning you have a liquid coffee concentrate that's perfect for iced coffee drinks. You can keep it for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Here are a couple of ideas to make your iced coffee drinks better. One way of keeping your coffee drinks tasting like coffee instead of getting watered down is to make coffee ice cubes. Just freeze some coffee ahead of time in a few ice cube trays.

Another idea is put a dollop of whipped cream on top for the finishing touch. For a real treat mix a little chocolate or fruit flavored syrup in your whipped cream to jazz up your drinks.

For a nice touch if you are serving up your iced coffee drinks while entertaining friends, shake them up with a cocktail shaker. If you give your drinks a shake instead of a stir it makes them extra frothy.

Just make sure you don't shake an iced coffee drink if you mix any fiz or club soda in.

If you would like some fantastic iced coffee recipes, we just put up a new page of them for you to enjoy.

Go to: Iced Coffee Recipes and try a few out.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more coffee articles go to: Coffee Articles.

Getting Coffee Stains Out Of Carpet

2006-05-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

We've all done it. When you spill coffee on carpet you think it's never going to come out. But the next time it happens use this trick to get the stain out.

Blot the coffee spill with a clean, white cloth to absorb all of the liquid you can soak up.

Then, mix a teaspoon of clear, mild liquid dish washing detergent with one cup of warm water.

Sponge the area with the detergent solution then blot with another clean, white cloth again.

Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup warm water. Sponge the spill area with the vinegar solution then blot again with a clean, white cloth.

Now sponge the area again with clean, warm water to rinse. Blot one more time with a clean, white cloth.

So the next time you have an accident try this trick so you can get back to enjoying your coffee.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Single Cup Coffee Brewers

2006-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Single cup coffee brewers are great for people who love coffee but don't need to brew a full pot. With the usual coffee brewer, it takes you more time to prepare coffee.

But with a single cup pod coffee maker, your coffee only takes 30 seconds to prepare. A single cup coffee brewer makes a fresh cup of coffee to go or to drink at home quick and easy.

That's why the pod coffee maker, which is a single cup pod coffee maker, has quickly become one of the leading coffee makers sold today. These pod coffee makers use a one cup coffee pod that looks similar to a round tea bag.

Each coffee pod has a measured portion of ground coffee or espresso, compressed between two biodegradable filter paper sheets. They are sold in different varieties of roasts from mild to medium and also decaffeinated.

To make a cup of fresh coffee, you just fill the single cup coffee brewer with water, put a coffee pod in the container, hit the button and thirty seconds later you have a great cup of coffee.

There are a lot of benefits for using single cup coffee brewers. They are easy to clean, convenient, mess free and provide a consistently delicious freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Most pod coffee makers are dishwasher safe and look great in your home. If you are looking at new coffee makers the single cup coffee brewers may be the perfect choice.

Single Cup Coffee Brewers

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Who Else Wants A Free Gevalia Coffee Maker?

2006-04-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Want a free Gevalia coffee maker? Just try one pound of Gevalia coffee and receive a 12-cup programmable Gevalia coffee maker as a special gift.

Here’s how the Gevalia coffee offer works: You will be sent two ½ lb packages of the Gevalia coffee of your choice and the free Gevalia coffee maker with the understanding that you will continue to receive additional shipments approximately every six weeks.

After your introductory shipment, the next shipment will arrive about one month later with the selections you have chosen in your initial shipment.

Then approximately every six weeks you will receive additional shipments of Gevalia coffee, which is four ½ lb packages.

You may cancel this arrangement any time after receiving your introductory shipment without obligation to accept any further shipments. The free Gevalia coffee maker is yours to keep regardless of your decision.

You can also select different blends or types of coffee and change the frequency of your shipments at any time.

You will be billed each time you receive a shipment. Prices may vary and a shipping and handling charge will be added. Your satisfaction is guaranteed or you may return the item for a complete refund.

The Gevalia coffee maker offer is only good for new members of Gevalia Kaffee. Limit one Gevalia Kaffee membership per household. Other restrictions apply.

Gevalia coffees are selected from growing regions around the world and roasted to perfection. Here are a few types of coffee that you can choose from.

  Roasts (premium blends roasted to perfection)

  Gourmet flavored coffees (eight blends in exotic flavors)

   European coffeehouse collection (exclusive coffees inspired by some of Europe’s most celebrated coffeehouses).

You can also select from whole bean, ground, caffeinated or decaffeinated. It’s easy to customize Gevalia coffee to your satisfaction.

You will enjoy the finest coffees in the world, delivered direct to your door. Gevalia believes that once you experience Gevalia coffee, you will become as loyal to their coffee as the Swedes have been for well over 100 years.

Start enjoying the great taste you deserve with the Gevalia coffee offer and get a free Gevalia coffee maker now.

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

How To Buy Coffee Makers

2006-03-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

When want to buy coffee makers there are so many choices it may make your head spin. But consider the type of coffee maker that best suits your needs and it narrows the choices down quickly.

If you need to buy a coffee maker it doesn't mean that you have to spend a lot of money or choose a model that takes up half of your available counter space.

If you have limited counter space consider choosing a spacesaver coffee maker.

A spacesaver coffee maker can be mounted under a cabinet or cupboard, using no extra space at all. A spacesaver coffee maker is a good choice if you have a small kitchen or just don't want to take up a lot of counter space.

You also may want to consider a thermal carafe coffee maker as a purchasing option. A good thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot for more than an hour without degrading the coffee flavor.

Your coffee pot will not have to sit on the burner to keep it hot and you have the convenience of taking the thermal carafe outdoors.

If you hate having to get the coffee ready each morning and would like to be awakened with the smell of coffee drifting through the house, consider purchasing a programmable coffee maker.

A programmable coffee maker is the perfect answer for those who want their coffee ready the moment they crawl out of bed or returning from a morning walk. A programmable coffee maker can provide fresh, hot coffee anytime you program the time for.

Just take a few minutes to consider the type of coffee maker that best suits your needs. Know exactly what you’re looking for before you buy your coffee maker so you'll end up with the perfect choice.

Buy Coffee Makers

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

South American Coffees

2006-03-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

South American countries provide the majority of the coffee consumed worldwide. That's because coffee plants require specialized climactic conditions to grow well to produce the most flavorful beans.

Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Peru have the right soil, altitude and climate to grow quality Arabica coffee beans.

Arabica beans, grow best in warm, humid climates at altitudes between 4000 and 6000 feet and produce quality aromatic beans that are used for premium gourmet coffees consumed around the world.

Though all coffee comes from the same species of plant, the climate and soils in different parts of the world can alter the taste of coffee grown there.

The word "Varietal" is a term used to describe the differences in taste of coffee grown in different geographical regions.

Coffee plants take on local characteristics due to soil, altitude, climate and other factors very similar to grapes grown in vineyards from different geographical regions.

For example, Colombia's coffees produce heavy body, low acidity, and rich flavor. Columbian coffee accounts for about twelve percent of the world's coffee consumption.

The highest quality of Columbian coffee is labeled "supremo". When blended with the next highest quality, extra, the coffee is called "excelso".

Peru is known mostly for organic coffee grown around the Apurimac River and elsewhere, which produces mild, flavorful and aromatic coffee mainly from the Chanchamayo and Urubamba valleys.

Brazil produces about a third of the world's coffee growing both Arabica and Robusto beans. Most of Brazil's coffee is "everyday" coffee because the Robusto beans it grows are of less quality than Arabica beans.

Robusta beans mean they are more "robust," or resilient to climactic changes, and grow best at low elevations up to 2500 ft.

Robusta coffee is rarely sold on its own because it is bitter and usually is blended with Arabica beans.

These blends are used for inexpensive canned and instant coffee. Robusta beans have almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica coffee.

Brazil does produce some high quality coffee in the São Paulo state, where coffee was first introduced to Brazil. It's called "Bourbon Santos" which comes from beans culled during the first four years of growing and is considered premium coffee.

Several other countries grow coffee plants but all coffee is grown within 1,000 miles of the equator. This ranges from the Tropic of Cancer in the north, to the Tropic of Capricorn in the south.

Next time you enjoy your cup of coffee, remember soil, altitude, climate and where it comes from has a lot to do with what you will taste in your cup.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Making French Press Coffee

2006-03-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

Making French press coffee is a way to enjoy an extremely robust and high quality cup of coffee. The best tasting coffee you have ever experienced is right at your fingertips.

Interested in making French press coffee? First, you will need a French press pot. Our site as well as other online sites have good selections of French press pots and we can ship one right to your front door.

Besides a French press pot, you will also need a good coffee grinder and a tea kettle to boil the water.

The taste differences between regular coffee and French press coffee is night and day.

Have you ever been to a fine restaurant and wondered why their coffee tastes so good? It could be because many fine restaurants use a French press to make their coffee.

Start by grinding premium coffee beans slightly larger than you would for drip coffee. Too fine of a grind will produce a bitter cup of coffee. If your grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak.

Some people even prefer to roast their own beans when making French press coffee. Many coffee connoisseurs prefer a dark roast when choosing coffee beans for this kind of brewing.

The coffee grounds are pressed through a screen to produce a very rich, full bodied coffee. The French press coffee maker has a plunger that is used to press the coffee grounds after they have been steeped.

Making French press coffee may take a little more time but the results are more than worth it. Many people swear by French press coffee and wouldn't make it any other way.

If you are looking for an extremely robust, high quality cup of coffee and have the right equipment make a pot of French press coffee. You're in for a treat.

Purchase
French Press Coffee Pots

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Travel Coffee Makers

2006-02-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

A travel coffee maker is perfect if you are tired of lukewarm cardboard tasting coffee when you travel. Just tuck a travel coffee maker in your suitcase and you can enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee almost anywhere.

A travel coffee maker is also an excellent idea if you need coffee in a hurry and do not need an entire pot. You can use a 2 cup coffee maker, drink one cup at home and take the rest with you in a travel coffee mug.

You can save money too because you can eliminate the higher priced gourmet coffee shops and brew your own cup to go.

The thermal carafe coffee maker whips up a cup of coffee in a thermal mug in just a few minutes. This is one of the best features of a travel coffee maker because the coffee goes directly into the thermal carafe and you are ready to hit the road.

Your coffee stays hot and fresh. Look for a thermal carafe coffee maker that has a contoured cup so it will fit your vehicle cup holder. Make sure the travel coffee mug is easy to hold and drink through.

You will be able to find a wide selection of travel coffee makers online at our site as well as other coffee-related sites. You can compare prices, brands and features online to select your favorite travel coffee maker.

Whether you plan to use the machine at home or on the road, a travel coffee maker is a great way to wake up and smell the coffee.

Travel Coffee Makers

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Travel Coffee Cups

2006-01-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

Why buy a travel coffee cup? If you like your caffeine to go and are tired of those Styrofoam cups that are too hot or paper cups that taste really bad, a good travel coffee cup is the perfect answer.

It used to be that finding a decent travel coffee cup was quite a dilemma, but not anymore. Perfect Coffees.com, as well as many other online sites, offer you a lot of choices to keep your coffee tasting fresh and hot whenever you are mobile.

A double-walled stainless steel coffee mug is great for any coffee drinker who gets tired of having to warm up their coffee in the microwave every fifteen minutes.

Good thermal travel coffee mugs also come in handy on trips. Instead of having to drink your coffee from plastic hotel cups or cheap gas station coffee holders it's nice to have your own travel coffee cup.

Travel coffee mugs also make great gifts because there are unique mugs for women or men. Perfect Coffees.com recommends double-walled stainless steel coffee mugs because they are very durable and keep your coffee or tea hotter longer.

So if you need to take your coffee with you to work, to a sports game, on vacation or wherever you go, a quality travel coffee cup is the perfect answer.

Travel Coffee Cups

Copyright © 2006 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Gourmet Coffee And Tea For Two (Or More)

2006-01-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

Gourmet coffee and tea choices today are extraordinary. If you are a coffee or tea lover or know someone who is, you are in for a real treat.

If you love gourmet coffee and tea you will find more choices available than you could ever imagine. Quality tea and coffee is available for even the most demanding connoisseurs and can be purchased in specialty shops as well as online.

If you look for gourmet coffee and tea online you'll discover sites dedicated just to gourmet coffee and tea. You will find hundreds if not thousands of choices.

If you are not sure what type of gourmet coffee and tea that you are looking for do a little research first. Many websites that have gourmet coffee and tea for sale also have good information about their coffees and teas.

You might want to be inventive and try a quality tea. When you buy tea online you often will have a choice between tea bags and loose tea.

Many tea lovers feel that loose tea is the only way to go. You will find fruity teas, black, green and white teas and many more.

When you buy gourmet coffee online you will be able find tasting information about all the choices before you buy. You may want to try a gourmet coffee from other countries or flavored coffees like Hazelnut, Crème Brulee, Coconut Cream or Chocolate Raspberry.

So go ahead and treat yourself to some wonderful gourmet coffee and tea or give some to a special friend or family member.

Gourmet Coffee And Tea

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Kona Coffee Beans - The Perfect Cup of Coffee

2006-01-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

For many discriminating coffee lovers, Kona coffee beans are the only choice for the perfect cup of coffee. The Kona coffee bean is grown in Hawaii so it is also known as the Hawaiian coffee bean.

Pure Kona coffee beans have been grown in Hawaii for over 150 years and are one of the most loved and appreciated coffee beans in the world. The weather conditions are perfect for growing coffee beans in Hawaii and this is one of the reasons that the coffee tastes so wonderful.

These Hawaiian coffee beans are handpicked to ensure that they are perfectly ripe for the best cup of coffee possible. The combination of these factors work together to create a perfect cup of coffee for the discriminating coffee lover.

Pure Kona coffee can be very expensive due to the demand for it along with the growing and cultivating process. To experience the true taste of pure Kona coffee, you need to make sure you purchase 100% pure Kona coffee from Hawaii.

Read the package to see how much of the coffee is Kona beans versus less expensive coffee beans from South America. When purchasing Kona coffee, beware of a package that says "Kona blend" on it.

Read the coffee description carefully to make sure that it is not a Kona coffee blend. Many blends only have 10% Kona coffee beans added to make it less expensive.

Coffee connoisseurs agree that Kona coffee is one of the most flavorful coffees in the world. Kona coffees full-bodied taste with just a hint of spice is meant to be enjoyed slowly rather than drank fast just for the caffeine kick.

If you enjoy savoring your coffee, then pure Kona coffee is one that will tickle your taste buds. To get the full experience of the Kona coffee bean, use only pure Kona coffee beans.

Now, sit back in your most comfortable chair and savor the best coffee that you have ever had with 100% Kona coffee beans. It really is that good.

Shop for Pure Kona Coffee

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Delicious Scones

2006-01-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup raisins (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and baking soda, and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt.
Cut in the butter.
Stir the sour cream mixture and egg into the flour mixture until just moistened.
Mix in the raisins.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly.
Roll or pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick round.
Cut into 12 wedges, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom.

Yields 12 scones.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This recipe is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Bunn Coffee Makers

2006-01-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

For years Bunn coffee makers have consistently made great tasting coffee, day in and day out for top restaurants and other businesses.

Now you can experience the same Bunn coffee brewer at home. Bunn coffee makers have always been at the forefront of the industry.

In 1957 Bunn invented the first paper filter for commercial coffee makers. Shortly after that Bunn introduced the first pour over Bunn coffee machine followed by the first ever drip coffee brewer for the home.

Every Bunn coffee maker is based on years of experience making commercial coffee brewers.

A Bunn coffee machine is the only coffee maker that utilizes a water reservoir to keep water hot and always ready to brew a pot of fresh, hot coffee.

The hot water, reservoir-style Bunn home coffee maker delivers quality coffee brewed to the exacting standards of fine restaurants worldwide in just three minutes.

These are just some of the reasons why Bunn coffee makers are better.

Stainless steel tank

Advanced sprayhead design

Brewing system thermostat

Vacation switch

Hot water always available

800 watt tank heater, 900 watts total.

10 cup decanter or Thermal Carafe (with Thermal Carafe brewer), coffee funnel, deliming spring and filters included.

Bunn is committed to high-quality construction, superior service and technical support, along with its long-standing reputation for innovation in the beverage equipment industry.

If you are looking to buy a home coffee maker, pod coffee maker
or a commercial coffee maker, Bunn is a choice you'll be happy with.

Bunn Coffee Makers

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This article is supplied by Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com where you can easily shop and compare the best coffee makers available at great values.

Online Coffee Store Shopping

2005-12-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

Finding and choosing a reliable and high quality online coffee store
in the sea of online sites can be a little like trying to find a needle in a haystack. For many people, however, the only way that they can find the best tasting coffees that they like is to look for them online.

Online coffee stores offer the best tasting coffees in the world without you having to travel the world to find them. This is one of the best ways for you to try many different varieties of coffee without having to go from store to store to find them.

When you are looking through the many online coffee store sites, try to find one that offers reasonable prices and shipping costs. The prices may vary widely from site to site, so it pays to look at several sites to get an overall idea of shipping costs and prices.

Many online coffee store sites will offer free shipping if you purchase a certain amount of products, so this may be one way for you to save, especially if you want to try several different varieties of coffee.

A good online coffee store will offer coffee selections from many different companies from all over the world so you can discover the best tasting coffee that you have ever had.

When you buy coffee online for the first time, you may want to purchase several different brands so that you can find the perfect coffee to savor. There are so many different flavors and varieties of coffee from all over the world and finding the best tasting coffee could only be one cup away.

Online coffee stores offer everything from coffee to hot chocolate to pastries, mugs and will save you money if you need to buy a coffee maker. If you want to buy coffee online, look for a site where you can find everything that you need at one or two good online coffee stores.

If you are ready to discover coffee heaven, a good online coffee store will deliver premium gourmet coffee right to your front door.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Gourmet Coffee Gift Baskets - A Perfect Gift Idea

2005-12-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

Looking for a gift idea? A gourmet coffee gift basket might be the perfect gift for anyone, including those people who are impossible to buy for. Anyone who drinks coffee will enjoy the many different varieties of gourmet coffee that are available.

The nice thing about a gourmet coffee gift basket is that you will be thought of each time that the coffee is enjoyed. This gift is sure to please your friends or family member for weeks or even months.

The coffee lover in your life will delight in getting to try different brands of gourmet coffee from around the world. Gourmet coffees are often only enjoyed when someones goes to upscale restaurants.

You've got to admit, there are some people that you do not have gift ideas for. Are they a coffee lover? If so, a great gift that they will enjoy over and over again is a gourmet coffee gift basket.

These great baskets are a wonderful gifts for birthdays, Christmas, business or just because. Gourmet coffees are sure to be a wonderful coffee gift idea for anyone.

Most coffee lover gift baskets also come with gourmet treats like cookies, biscotti, candies and even mugs. If you do not find a gift basket that fits the person that you are buying for you can create your own custom basket for them.

If you know that they enjoy certain kinds of coffee, then you can create a basket with coffee that they will like, homemade cookies or brownies, and a mug that fits the person's personality.

The options are endless when you are creating a coffee or tea gift basket. You only have to use your imagination to make a wonderful gift basket. A coffee or tea gift basket is a gender-neutral gift that both genders will enjoy.

If you need to purchase gifts for a large group of people, a coffee lover gift basket is a great all-around gift. Most adults enjoy drinking coffee and will delight in trying different varieties of coffee and other treats.

A great coffee gift idea is just to put together a nice selection of gourmet coffees and treats and wrap them up in a basket. Any coffee aficionado will love to try the many different varieties of gourmet coffee that are available.

If you need a gift idea for that person who has everything, then a gourmet coffee gift basket might be the perfect choice.

Coffee Gift Baskets

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Maker Buying Tips

2005-12-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some good buying tips to consider if you are looking to replace your aging coffee maker or giving one as a gift.

While the glass carafe is breakable, it still remains the most popular by far and is the easiest to clean.

A thermal carafe has the advantage of keeping your coffee or tea hot for a couple of hours without having to keep the coffee on a hot burner and slowly degrading the flavor.

Here is a buying tip if you or your gift recipient are dealing with limited counter space. Consider a coffee maker grinder that has both functions in one unit.

If you frequently entertain consider a dual coffee maker that features double brewers for brewing two pots of coffee simultaneously.

You can brew a lot of coffee at once or make one pot of caffeinated and one pot of decaf all at the same time.

Another good buying tip to consider is a new coffee pod brewer over a standard coffee maker. They are quick and convenient, provide variety, and require very little cleanup.

Coffee pod brewers use individually packaged pods of ground coffee, the pod machine quickly brews one cup of coffee directly into the cup or travel mug.

The individual pods provide users with the ability to brew a different coffee according to tastes.

Additionally, coffee pod brewers are also able to brew tea using preportioned tea pods.

If you are looking to buy a coffee maker or give one as a gift, hopefully these buying tips will make your choice a little easier.

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Christmas Cookies

2005-11-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup milk

ICING:
1 cup butter, very soft
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
(3 3/4 cups) confectioners' sugar
touch of milk

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.
Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda; stir into creamed mixture.
Mix in milk, stirring until a soft dough forms.
Cover, and chill for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick.
Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake in a preheated oven for 6 minutes.
Cool on wire racks.

To make the icing, in a large bowl, stir together 1 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla until it's smooth and creamy.
Gradually stir in sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in just a touch of milk, and mix until light and fluffy.
Keep the icing covered until you are ready to decorate.
Spread the icing evenly on top of the cookies.

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This recipe is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Gourmet Teas That You Can Enjoy

2005-11-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

Are you a gourmet tea lover? Gourmet teas are widely available online or in stores to help any discriminating tea lover find the premium tea that you are looking for.

Gourmet tea blends are a great way to add fun and zest to your tea drinking experience. There are so many different gourmet teas available that you can try new teas until you find the one that is perfect for you.

Gourmet teas are available from around the world. Wouldn’t it be fun to try teas from the Orient or other countries? An Online Gourmet Tea Store is a great source for you to find unusual teas to try from around the world.

If you are an adventuresome spirit, then you will love trying all of the different premium tea blends that are available. The varieties of tea that are available are endless. From green tea to Darjeeling tea, you are sure to find a tea that you will love to savor.

Gevalia Tea is one of the most loved tea blends in the world. It is handpicked for maximum freshness and flavor. All different varieties of teas have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

Green Tea has been used for its antioxidant properties and is also used to stimulate weight loss. Tea has been used to decrease phlegm, aid digestion, as a wart remover, for hypertension, and for many other medical conditions.

If you are looking for a gift for a birthday, Christmas, or for any other occasion, a gourmet tea basket is a wonderful gender-neutral gift. Premium teas are a great way to show someone that you appreciate them.

Gourmet tea baskets even come with treats like biscotti, chocolate chip cookies, scones, or other sweets. The loose tea gift sets usually come with a tea ball infuser and filters for your giftee to make a wonderful cup of tea that they will love.

Whether you are looking for some Earl Grey tea or Darjeeling, you are sure to find the gourmet tea that you can savor and one that makes your palate sing.

Gourmet Teas

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Savoring The Kona Coffee Bean

2005-11-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Coffee made from the Kona coffee bean is the only choice for many discriminating coffee lovers. The Kona coffee bean is grown in Hawaii so it is also known as the Hawaiian coffee bean.

Pure Kona coffee beans have been grown in Hawaii for over 150 years and are one of the most loved and appreciated coffee beans in the world. The weather conditions are perfect for growing coffee beans in Hawaii and this is one of the reasons that the coffee tastes so great.

These Hawaiian coffee beans are also handpicked to assure that they are perfectly ripe for the best cup of coffee that you have ever had. All of these factors work together to create a wonderful cup of coffee for the discriminating coffee lover.

Pure Kona coffee can be very expensive due to the demand for it and the growing and cultivating process. When purchasing it, beware of a package that says "Kona blend" on it.

Read the package to see how much of the package is Kona beans versus cheaper coffee beans from South America. Many blends only have 10% Kona coffee beans added to a less expensive coffee bean.

To experience the true taste of pure Kona coffee, you will need to purchase a 100% pure Kona coffee from Hawaii. Coffee connoisseurs agree that Kona coffee is one of the most flavorful coffees in the world.

Kona coffees full-bodied taste with just a hint of spice is meant to be enjoyed slowly rather than drank fast just for the caffeine kick. If you enjoy savoring your coffee, then pure Kona coffee is one that will tickle your taste buds.

To get the most of the flavor of your Kona coffee, you will want to try it black so that you can taste each of the different nuances that it offers.

To buy true Kona coffee you may need to ensure that you get 100% pure Kona coffee. Many of the online coffee stores offer several brands of Kona coffee but you need to read the description carefully to make sure that it is not a Kona coffee blend.

To get the full experience of the Kona coffee bean, you need to buy pure Kona coffee beans. So sit back in your most comfortable chair and savor the best coffee that you have ever had with 100% Kona coffee beans.

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Shop for Kona Coffee Beans

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Tazo Tea Company

2005-11-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

The Tazo Tea Company began in 1994 and is located in Portland, Oregon. Tazo, which means “river of life”or“ fresh,” is a premium tea that is known for its wonderful blend of quality teas that are flavorful and wonderful to savor.

Tazo teas are thought to be a wonderful health elixir for many different medical conditions and to simply rejuvenate your health. Tazo teas are premium teas that are carefully blended with herbs, spices, and fruits to create new and exciting tea blends.

Many of these tea blends go back thousands of years and some are newly created. There are over 80 different blends of Tazo tea for you to choose from. Whether you like a black or green tea, you are sure to find a Tazo tea that you will love.

There are many different fruit, herb, and tea combinations to decide between. This is one of the many reasons that people love trying Tazo tea blends. They are imaginative blends that are sure to please any tea lover’s palate.

Many of the blends are named for the location from where they are cultivated and the Tazo Tea Company ensures that their teas are made from the highest quality teas available.

The Tazo Tea Company is always looking for new and unusual teas to add to their repertoire. This is why their company is among the top selling tea producers in the world. Starbucks purchased The Tazo Tea Company in 1999 and that made it more popular than ever.

Tazo chai tea is known for its ayurvedic medicinal properties. Chai tea is a mixture of spices, black tea, heavy milk, and sweeteners. This tea is used as a treatment for colds and the flu, as well as many other medical problems. Chai tea has been widely used in India for thousands of years and is now used in the Western World.

Tazo green tea is used as an antioxidant, as a weight loss aid, and for many other medicinal purposes. Many countries have used the green tea blends for hundreds of years for many different health conditions including cancer.

The Tazo Tea Company is a widely known tea company, especially if you frequent Starbucks. Tazo teas are widely available online or in Starbucks stores across the world. If you are looking for a premium tea unlike anything you have ever tried then you will want to try one of the varieties that is offered by the Tazo Tea Company.

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Discover The Tazo Tea Company

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Why Coffees Vary In Taste

2005-11-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Coffee flavor can be affected by many things like the soil, climate and growing conditions of the plantation on which it was grown.

That's why different coffees from the same coffee-growing regions tend to have similar flavor characteristics.

Central and South America, Africa, and Indonesia are the three major coffee-growing regions in the world.

Coffees from Central or South America are the most balanced coffees you will find. These coffees are lighter bodied with higher acidity and sweet coffee flavors.

Coffees grown in Africa characteristically are medium bodied and medium acidity. They tend to have a light, wine-like, syrupy flavor that produces an interesting and satisfying cup.

Indonesian coffees are full-bodied, with low acidity and have earthy notes. Sumatra is one of the most popular coffees from this region. The smooth flavors of this unique coffee are hard to match.

Each of these regions produces unique and special coffee flavors in its own way. Try new coffees from each region and discover which one satisfies your personal taste.

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Coffee Storage

2005-10-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

Proper coffee storage makes a lot of difference in how your coffee tastes once you go to use it. Here are a few tips for storing coffee beans and ground coffee to keep your coffee tasting as good as possible.

For roasted whole bean coffee storage use an airtight ceramic canister that blocks light. The ceramic canister needs a rubber seal around the lid so air can not get inside.

Fill the ceramic canister clear to the top with whole bean coffee to keep the air inside down to a minimum. Roasted whole bean coffee will last one to two weeks, when stored this way at room temperature.

Stay away from plastic or metal containers because they can alter the taste of your coffee. If you use a clear glass canister, keep the light away by storing it in a dark cupboard.

The truth about ground coffee is that it will only store for a few days. But you should at least keep air away by using an airtight ceramic canister that blocks light.

This is why grinding your own beans is well worth the effort and it's also really simple. Trying to keep ground coffee fresh is next to impossible.

You'll even hear some people suggest freezing whole bean or ground coffee but here is why that is a bad idea. Water molecules not only attach to coffee beans and ground coffee but also to the packaging.

When the water comes into contact with the surface of a coffee bean, ice forms around it. Roasted coffee beans are porous, so when the ice melts, it deteriorates the taste and quality of the coffee.

So what about coffee storage in the refrigerator? Absolutely not. The constant cold mist in the refrigerator attaches to the whole bean or ground coffee and water is coffee's enemy during coffee storage.

Coffee storage at room temperature works well for coffee that you will use within one to two weeks of purchase if these elements can be eliminated.

Water
Light
Oxygen
Heat

If you want to always have good tasting coffee, buy whole bean coffee and grind it just before you make a fresh pot. Buy only the amount of coffee you can use up within one to two weeks.

Proper coffee storage will keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Lemonade Cake Recipe

2005-10-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for a really good lemonade cake recipe? Try this one and you'll everyone begging for another piece.

Follow the directions for one Pillsbury ® Moist Supreme Lemon Cake mix.

Add: 1 box lemon instant pudding mix, beating two minutes; then add ¼ cup
lemon juice and beat again.

Pour into a well-greased Bundt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees until done.

Cool 15 minutes, invert onto plate.

Glaze
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
½ cup milk
1 Tablespoon lemon juice.

Whisk the glaze ingredients together and pour over the warm cake.

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This recipe courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2005-10-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Looking for a chewy chocolate chip cookies recipe? These are so good you'll want to print it out because everyone will beg you to make them again.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.

Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.

Blend in the flour mixture.

Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven.

Edges should be golden brown.

Yields 6 dozen cookies.

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This recipe supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

3 Tips For Perfect Coffee

2005-09-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

Want to know how to brew a perfect cup of coffee? Here are 3 simple tips that will make a difference in every single cup you drink.

Tip #1 Clean Coffee Pot

A clean pot is essential and can make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. Old oils from previous batches of coffee and soap residue left on the pot makes coffee taste bad.

Baking soda and water work well for cleaning coffee mugs and pots. Be sure to rinse extra good so no residue is left behind.

Tip #2 Clean Filtered Water

The water you use for your coffee will affect the taste more than anything. Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that will affect the taste of your coffee.

Using stainless steel or gold mesh filters instead of paper filters will also make your coffee taste better. Paper filters release dyes, chlorine and bleach that affect taste. If you insist on using paper filters buy the unbleached, brown paper filters.

Tip #3 Use Fresh Quality Coffee

Quality coffee costs more but will consistently produce better tasting coffee.

For the best results use quality, whole bean coffee and grind the coffee beans just prior to use. You might think it's an inconvenience compared to ground coffee, but once you taste the difference you'll never go back.

If you still want to use ground coffee, make sure you use a good, drip grind coffee.

Use 2 level tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. This can be adjusted for individual taste preference. Make sure to spread the grounds evenly in the coffee filter so full brewing is achieved.

Drink your fresh coffee right away for the best flavor. Coffee will break down quickly if left on a heat source. Coffee should never be reheated or microwaved.

A clean, preheated air pot or stainless steel Thermos will keep coffee hot for about an hour without hurting the flavor.

If you follow these 3 simple tips you'll know how to brew a perfect cup of coffee.

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Bunn Pod Coffee Maker

2005-09-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Bunn introduces the My Cafe professional grade Bunn pod coffee maker for home or commercial use. This commercial-quality single cup coffee machine brews one 4 to 12 oz cup of coffee in approximately 30 seconds or one 4 to 12 oz cup of tea in approximately 54 seconds.

Since every cup of the Bunn pod coffee maker is prepared at the moment it is to be enjoyed, freshness is never an issue. And since each user can choose their own flavor and time frame, wasted coffee becomes a thing of the past.

This Bunn coffee brewer is great for offices, parties or any situation where variety, speed and freshness counts. Freshness, variety, convenience and efficiency are all benefits of the My Cafe Bunn pod coffee maker.

This professional looking single cup coffee brewer unit is perfect for home or commercial use and was designed by Bunn, the leader in commercial brewing equipment.

It is compatible with virtually all standard coffee or tea pod sizes 45mm to 65mm giving you dozens of brand and flavor choices. So coffee and tea-lovers can enjoy all of your favorite blends, estate-grown and decaf varieties conveniently at home.

The 5 cup removable water reservoir is easy to fill and features the Bunn coffee brewer's original hot water reservoir-style home brewing system that holds the water at 200 degrees F, SCAA s recommended ready-to-brew temperature.

My Cafe is a versatile brewer with a control panel that offers separate coffee and tea brewing buttons and selectable strength lever. The portion/volume control enables you to brew a single cup any size between four and twelve ounces of coffee or tea to your preferred brew-strength.

The Bunn coffee brewer's state-of-the art design also features a tea button with Pulse-Brew technology that simulates steeping action. It also conveniently accommodates most travel mugs so you can brew a mug to go.

Offering freshness, speed, and variety, this versatile coffee/tea maker measures 12-7/16 by 7-3/4 by 10-5/8 inches and carries a two-year limited warranty.

If you are looking to buy a bunn coffee maker for commercial or residential use, My Cafe professional grade Bunn pod coffee maker is a perfect choice.

My Cafe professional grade Bunn pod coffee maker

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Coffee Trivia

2005-09-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Count Rumford, an eccentric American adventurer who settled in Paris, France, perfected the French Drip Pot around 1800.

During roasting, coffee beans become 18-23% lighter and 50-100% larger.

Over one and a half billion cups of coffee are consumed each day around the world.

The word coffee has its origins in an old Arabic word "Qahwah" meaning wine.

Coffee pickers in Hawaii are among the highest paid in the world.

Only about 20% of harvested coffee beans are considered to be a premium bean of the highest quality.

The average annual coffee consumption of the American adult is 26.7 gallons, or over 400 cups.

Caffeine can be found in 60 different plants.

On May 11, 1926, "Maxwell House Good to the last drop" was trademark registered.

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Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle Recipe

2005-09-05T16:18:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent mocha trifle recipe you'll want to make over and over again.

Ingredients:

1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix
1 3/4 cups cold milk
2 (3.3 ounce) packages instant white chocolate pudding mix
4 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons warm water
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate covered toffee bars, chopped

Instructions:

Prepare brownies according to package directions.

Bake and cool completely.

Cut into 1 inch cubes.

In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding mix until mixture begins to thicken.

Dissolve coffee granules in water and stir into pudding mixture.

Fold in whipped topping.

In a glass serving bowl, layer one-third of brownie cubes, one-third of pudding mixture and one-third of candy.

Repeat layering until all ingredients are used.

Chill 30 minutes in refrigerator before serving.

Optional: decorate top with canned whipped topping swirl and shaved chocolate curls.

Makes 15 servings.

Print this mocha trifle recipe out so you can make it again because everyone will love it. Enjoy.

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This recipe from Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more informative coffee articles go to: Coffee Articles.

Starbucks Black Apron Exclusives

2005-08-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

In April of 2004 Starbucks introduced coffee like none other as the name suggests, Black Apron Exclusives. Black Apron Exclusives represents the best of the very best in a lineup of already outstanding coffees.

Black Apron Exclusives are rare, exotic and cherished coffees discovered by Starbucks coffee buyers. They are truly unique and inspirational finds that you will enjoy and treasure. These special coffees have delicate flavors that produce a precious sip of paradise.

Starbucks tasters go to the ends of the earth, literally, in search of a bean whose profound flavors and unique characteristics earn them the highest honor Starbucks can bestow.

Black Apron Exclusives coffee is only obtainable in small amounts. Regardless of origin, these coffees are the best of the exceptional, much like the black apron-clad individuals who inspired their name.

In a show of appreciation, participating farmers receive an additional cash award of $15,000 for their unrivaled contributions. Farmers earning this coveted distinction receive this award for their superior dedication to the craft.

Starbucks established the award program in an effort to improve social conditions for the coffee growers’ and their surrounding communities. Since its introduction in 2004, the Black Apron series has exceeded expectations both in flavor and in demand.

The limited batches make these rare coffees ones to be treasured and enjoyed for as long as Starbucks can keep them around. Coffees so precious and unparalleled that to miss them once could mean you’ll never experience them again.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

Starbucks Store

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Senseo Coffee Maker

2005-08-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

The Senseo coffee maker combines a unique brewing method from Philips with convenient Senseo coffee pods from Douwe Egberts. Senseo was one of the first to introduce pod coffee makers a few years ago.

Today, Senseo coffee makers have become one of the most popular pod coffee makers sold. One of the reasons is each individual cup is freshly brewed, so you're always sure of a pure and smooth taste.

To add a European touch, each cup is topped off with a frothy coffee layer, adding depth to your coffee experience.

The Senseo coffee maker is simple to clean because all of the parts of the pod coffee maker are detachable and can be conveniently cleaned in a dishwasher.

The pod coffee maker quickly brews one 4-oz. cup in 30 seconds, or 2 cups or one mug in 60 seconds. To make coffee you use Senseo coffee pods from Douwe Egberts containing gourmet coffees, specialty coffees and espresso.

You get the very best in flavor and aroma plus a frothy coffee layer that is rich and smooth. A Senseo coffee maker allows you to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee whenever you feel like it.

Senseo Coffee Makers

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Frozen Coffee Drink Recipes

2005-08-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is a perfect frozen coffee drink recipe. Use it for an after dinner dessert drink or treat yourself to a cool and refreshing coffee drink on a hot day.

3/4 cup strong coffee mixture, cold

2 cups ice

1 cup low-fat milk

3 tablespoons sugar

Make strong coffee with your coffee maker by brewing 2 rounded tablespoons of ground coffee for each cup.

Then, chill the coffee before making the frozen coffee drink recipe.

Put the cooled coffee mixture, milk, sugar and 1 cup of the ice in a blender and blend on high speed until ice is smooth.

Once the ice is smooth, add the second cup of ice and blend on high speed again until ice is smooth.

Pour into two glasses, and serve with a straw.

Makes 2 (16-ounce) frozen coffee drinks.

To make a caramel frozen coffee drink recipe:

Add 3 tablespoons of caramel topping to the recipe above.

Top with whipped cream and drizzle a little caramel over the whipped cream for a nice presentation.

To make a mocha frozen coffee drink recipe:

Add 3 tablespoons of Hershey's chocolate syrup to the recipe. Top with whipped cream and drizzle a little chocolate syrup over the whipped cream for a better presentation.

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This recipe is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Nestlé® Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie

2005-08-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for the Nestlé® toll house chocolate chip pie recipe you are in luck. Print this one out because it's a keeper.

Ingredients:

1 - (9-inch) unbaked(4-cup volume) deep dish pie shell thawed completely
2 - large eggs
1/2 - cup all-purpose flour
1/2 - cup granulated sugar
1/2 - cup packed brown sugar
3/4 - cup butter, (1 1/2 sticks) softened
1 - (6-oz.) cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - cup chopped nuts
1 - whipped cream or ice cream

Instructions:

Beat eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy.

Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar.

Beat in butter.

Stir in morsels and nuts.

Spoon into pie shell.

Bake in preheated 325°F. oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack.

Serve warm with whipped cream.

Makes 8 servings.

Served with your favorite cup of coffee or tea this Nestlé® toll house chocolate chip pie recipe makes a perfect and easy dessert.

This recipe is supplied to you by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

How To Clean A Coffee Maker

2005-07-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how to clean a coffee maker the right way? Drip coffee makers need to be cleaned at least once a month to keep your coffee tasting good.

Cleaning your coffee maker takes away hard water deposits, old oils from previously brewed pots and other impurities that can make your coffee taste bad.

A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water is the best way to clean a drip coffee maker. Mix a full pot of the vinegar and water mixture, pour it in your water reservoir and turn the coffee maker on.

Once the mixture has run completely through, turn the drip coffee maker off and let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. If you are cleaning a coffee maker that hasn't been cleaned regularly, repeat this step again with a fresh vinegar and water mixture.

Next, rinse the pot out thoroughly with warm, plain water. Then, fill the water reservoir again with clean water and turn the coffee maker on to start the rinsing process.

To make sure all of the vinegar and water solution is completely gone repeat the rinsing process one more time after letting the pot cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

This is how to clean a coffee maker the right way. Cleaning your drip coffee maker on a monthly basis will make it last longer and keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Tazo Tea “The River of Life”

2005-07-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

In 1994, the Tazo Tea Company was founded by Steven Smith after 27 years experience in the tea business. Tazo was created to reinvent tea by using quality ingredients to produce an exotic array of imaginative flavors.

Tazo Tea continues to expose consumers to ancient traditions of tea but presents them in a bold, interesting and intriguing way. Smith drew on his experience, creative inspiration and vast knowledge of teas and herbs to create a new level of quality.

They are over 80 unique tea, fruit and herb concoctions that make Tazo one of the most innovative tea brands in the world. It is with this combination of quality teas and botanicals and a controlled blending process that Tazo delivers the best tasting product available.

Founder Steven Smith is passionate about his tea making and believes that freshness and quality are the most important ingredients in blending tea. He has a vast knowledge of black and green teas along with botanicals and knows what flavors that each will produce. These teas combined with special spices are a result of his keen sense of taste and smell.

There are many varieties of teas and each is named for the district in which it is grown. All teas could come from the same bush but the processing is what makes them different.

Black teas are fully fermented and contain caffeine. Premium black teas are grown at high elevations for the best flavor. Their characteristics are a malty rich flavor and amber color.

Green teas are unfermented but often contain as much caffeine as black teas. They usually have a mild delicate taste and maintain a natural color.

Oolong teas are a combination between black and green teas. They are fermented but not as much as the black tea. They usually have a fruity flavor and a golden color.

Herbal teas actually don’t contain any tea at all and don’t have any caffeine. They are blends of flowers, roots, berries, fruit peels and seeds. For centuries the benefits of herbal tea have been used to enhance health and well being.

The name Tazo has roots in many civilizations. It has been known to mean “fresh” in several Hindi dialects. It was used as a toast to life by ancient Greeks. And to the Roman Gypsy’s it meant “river of life”.

Tazo tea has produced a unique product that creates an emotional connection with the consumer at many levels and is blended with an artistry that borders on magical.

All Blends Of Tazo Tea

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Starbucks Coffee Facts

2005-07-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Starbucks combs the world for the perfect combination of climate, soil, elevation, and agricultural practices that come together to produce a great coffee.

Starbucks searches for unmistakable regional flavors, what a French wine-maker would call goût de terroir, the taste of the place. At Starbucks, coffee is a fresh produce, not a commodity.

When the inevitable happens and a given coffee estate or region has an "off" year, they simply don't offer that coffee. They make this tough decision rather than offering a lower quality selection and buy coffee solely on its performance in the cup.

The coffee Starbucks buys is truly special, spectacular coffee. Their coffee buying team evaluates over one thousand "offer samples" each year.

The evaluation process includes roasting small batches of coffee and tasting these batches in a process called "cupping." Only a very few of these sampled coffees make the cut.

Starbucks coffee buyers spend approximately 18 weeks per year traveling to countries of origin. The purpose of these travels is not necessarily to buy coffee. The goal is to continue to learn about coffee and to strengthen relationships with growers and suppliers.

These relationships are critical to their future success. They solidify the company's role as champions of quality and progress at every level of the coffee business.

It is because of these relationships that Starbucks gets the first pick of the best crops worldwide. And thus Starbucks is able to procure the world's best coffee beans every year.

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Will Drinking Hot Tea Cool You Off?

2005-07-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

We've all heard it before, you mention that you're hot, and someone will point out that you can actually cool off by drinking hot tea.

The logic behind this claim, is that the hot tea makes you sweat and that helps cool you off. Does that sound right to you or do you think it's just a tall tale?

Rumors and stories like this get passed around for decades sometimes, but here is why it isn't true.

The amount of heat lost by sweating and evaporation will never exceed the amount of heat gained by the hot drink you've consumed.

Also, the extra heat makes your blood vessels near the skin dilate to help cool your blood faster. The nerves in your skin can sense this, causing you to feel flushed and warm.

It's true hot tea does make you sweat more, and will increase your cooling. But the amount of extra cooling won't be enough to offset the heating-up from drinking the hot tea.

So next time someone points out that you should drink hot tea in the summer, don't rush to put the kettle on. Grab a tall glass of iced tea, an iced coffee or lemonade instead.

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This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Trivia

2005-07-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

• 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.

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

• In 1827 a French man invented the percolator which would boil the coffee producing a bitter tasting brew.

• Coffee cherries usually contain two beans. Cherries with three beans are deemed to be a sign of good luck.

• In December 2001, Brazil produced a scented postage stamp to promote its coffee. The smell should last between 3 and 5 years.

• The coffee cherries turn from yellow to orange and then bright red, 6 to 8 months after flowering.

• One branch of the coffee tree can have buds, flowers, unripe and ripe cherries all at the same time.

• The traditional way to grow coffee trees is to grow compatible trees nearby, keeping the coffee trees from the sun.

• Most commercial coffees are roasted an average of 6-8 months before they reach the supermarket shelf.

More Coffee Trivia

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Caffeine Facts

2005-06-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun caffeine facts that you may enjoy.

The full chemical name for caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine

The chemical formula for caffeine is C8H10N4O2

Caffeine was first isolated from coffee in 1820

In its pure state, caffeine is a crystalline white powder

Caffeine can be found in 60 different plants

10g of caffeine is considered a lethal dose

Caffeine is the most potent chemical component in coffee or tea

Ninety percent of Americans consume caffeine in some form every day

Darkly roasted coffee has less caffeine than lightly roasted

A cup of tea averages about 30 mg because much less tea is used than coffee during preparation

The caffeine content of a cup of coffee averages about 75 mg

A cup of hot chocolate contains about 4 mg caffeine

Cola drinks contain about 35 mg caffeine

Caffeine in coffee won't help someone sober up if they have had too much to drink

Caffeine is a mild stimulant

Caffeine is contained in many foods

75-150 mg of caffeine elevates neural activity in many parts of the brain

Caffeine can increase the power of aspirin and some painkiller medications

Caffeine is used to stimulate breathing in the treatment of apnea in newborn babies

Caffeine is typically found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, and       colas

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These caffeine facts supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online.   For a free monthly coffee newsletter with facts and coffee articles go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Starbucks Travel Mugs

2005-06-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a good stainless steel travel coffee mug, Starbucks travel mugs will do the job with style. In my previous article, Tips For Choosing The Perfect Travel Mug, I give you several tips to consider before you purchase any travel mug.

I recommend only stainless steel travel coffee mugs because they give you much better value for your money. Starbucks travel mugs have a double-insulated wall and are made of quality 18/8 stainless steel, making them virtually unbreakable.

A stainless steel travel coffee mug will keep your coffee or tea hotter for a longer period of time. Stainless steel also cleans up easier and faster than plastic travel mugs.

Another reason I like Starbucks travel mugs is they are designed with a non-slip bottom and only the best travel mugs come that way. You don't want your coffee or tea to spill or fall if you let go of your starbucks coffee mug. Starbucks travel mugs bottoms all come with a non-skid surface so your Starbucks tumbler or coffee mug won't slide around.

There are three Starbucks tumblers to choose from if you want your Starbucks coffee mug to fit a cup holder in your car. The
Starbucks 16-oz. Swirl Grip Tumbler,
Starbucks 16-oz. Travel Tumbler and the Starbucks 16-oz. Lucy Travel Tumbler come in three different styles.

Starbucks coffee mugs also come as desktop wide bottom travel mugs if you don't have a cup holder or prefer a desktop style mug. The
Starbucks 12-oz. Trek Desktop Mug and the
Starbucks 16-oz. Desktop Tumbler are shorter and broader with wide bottoms for maximum stability.

A good travel mug is a must when you need to take your coffee or tea with you on the road. These Starbucks travel mugs are a good value for your money and Perfect Coffees.com only recommends the mugs we know you'll be happy with.

If you are looking for the very best way to keep your favorite beverage hot or cold longer when you fly out of the door, consider a Starbucks travel mug.



Starbucks Travel Mugs

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This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online.   For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Seattles Best Coffee

2005-06-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Seattle's Best Coffee was born with the name Stewart Brothers Coffee. The founder, Jim Stewart, had purchased the roaster and learned how to roast coffee. They used the finest beans and roasted to achieve a bold and full flavored cup that was also smooth and mellow.

Another store was soon opened at Pier 70, on Seattle's waterfront. Their coffee had attracted tourists and Seattle's residents, because Stewart Brothers Coffee was very different and highly sought after.

In those days, the Northwest was such a hotbed of competing coffee styles that a local restaurant held a taste-off to crown "the best cup of coffee in Seattle." Much to their delight, their little coffee company took first place. To celebrate the occasion, they officially re-named the company "Seattle's Best Coffee."

Seattle's Best Coffee has grown globally and is considered to be the best cup of coffee available and the best choice for many hotels, restaraunts and other venues.

On July 14, 2003 Starbucks Corporation, the leading retailer roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, announced that it completed the acquisition of Seattle Coffee Company from AFC Enterprises, Inc. which includes the Seattle's Best Coffee® and Torrefazione Italia® Coffee brands.

Starbucks Coffee is committed to offering the highest quality coffee while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. By keeping Seattle's Best Coffee at the excellent standards it was founded on, Seattle's Best Coffee will continue to remain one of the finest coffees available.

Today Seattle's Best Coffee offers a coffee conniseur a wide range of blends and flavors.Light Roast Coffee
If you are experiencing Seattle's Best Coffee for the first time you may want to start with Columbian, which is a light roast blend. Columbian is a coffee for people who want a well-balanced, classic coffee flavor that still has bold tastes and smooth flavors. The beans come from a collection of small farms throughout Colombia, grown in a climate of moderate rainfall and sun. Seattle's Best Coffee custom roasts the beans to produce a light and lively flavor, aroma, and body. We believe their Columbian is one of the finest coffees to come out of South America.
Medium Roast Coffee
If you want a medium roast coffee with more body and more character we recommend Seattles Best Blend.
This award-winning coffee is Seattle's Best Coffees' signature blend and this is the coffee that started it all. It is enticing, has a highly memorable aroma and proves irresistible to many. It comes from the perfect blend of Indonesian, Central, and South American coffees and is brought to life with a medium roast to bring out the "nutty" sweetness of the beans.

Another medium roast we recommend is Breakfast Blend. Here's an exceptional wake-up coffee that won't let you down. This full-bodied Breakfast Blend is teeming with exotic flavors and subtle nuances. Made from an exotic blend of Indonesian beans, it features a hint of dark chocolate and an incredibly smooth finish.

Other Seattles Best Coffee medium roasts include: Henry's Blend
which has a great full body, a slightly heavier texture and a deep dark brown color. Whether used for drip or espresso, Henry's Blend is easy to recognize by its full, sweet aroma.

Tazza d'Oro is a magnificent, custom-roasted espresso blend with a rich, golden aroma. As an espresso it offers a compact, spicy beginning with a sweet chocolate flavor and long, lingering finish. Exceptionally smooth, enjoyably sweet, the gold standard for espresso or rich brewed coffee.
Dark Roast Coffee
For those who enjoy a bolder, deeper flavor, Seattles Best Coffee offers some excellent dark roast coffees.

Post Alley is a combination of earthy Central American and sweet Indonesian treasures. This lively blend features a bold aroma, spicy roasted flavor and rich, chocolatey finish.

French Roast This dark roast is blended for people who like rich, strong coffee with a punch. The flavor is intense and hearty and it creates a complex, intensely roasted cup. Sure, Seattles Best Coffee French Roast is an acquired taste, but to coffee lovers who really seek a powerful brew, it's a memorable experience cup after cup.
Flavored Coffee
If you enjoy flavored coffees Seattles Best Coffee has created blends that are irresistably delicious.
Made using the finest ingredients, these flavored coffees are fat-free and make the perfect cup for breakfast, mid-day or dessert.

Hazelnut Cream turns an ordinary cup of coffee into a delicious treat with a creamy, nutty taste. Sip this tantalizing Hazelnut Cream flavored coffee and enjoy one of life's distinctive pleasures.

Creme Brulee is rich and distinctive, with a caramel sweetness, and is a peaceful getaway from an otherwise busy day. The bold flavor and smooth taste of Seattle's Best Coffee is the perfect compliment to the rich Creme Brulee flavor.

Chocolate Toffee offers you the taste sensation of coffee, chocolate and buttery toffee. The bold flavor and smooth taste of Seattle's Best Coffee is the perfect complement to the wonderful Chocolate Toffee flavor and is recommended for any time of the day.

Get ready to enjoy two of the world's greatest flavors, coffee and Cinnabon®. Cinnabon®-flavored coffee is rich and buttery, with a distinctive flavor of spicy cinnamon. Sip a cup and enjoy one of life's true pleasures.

Unwrap the secrets of Very Vanilla Javanilla. Combine smooth and bold coffee flavor with richly exotic vanilla and you have one of coffee's perfect partners. Javanilla, a very vanilla-flavored coffee is richly rewarding and made using the finest ingredients from around the world. Breakfast, break-time or served with dessert, Seattle's Best Very Vanilla Javanilla is a special treat in every cup.
Organic Coffee
Seattles Best Coffee offers Organic coffees grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Then they are roasted at their certified organic facility and certified Organic by Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Organic Breakfast Blend
is a remarkable blend that offers the best of all worlds: a powerful flavor, full finish and hearty aroma. Perfect for getting the day off to a great start. Breakfast Blend's beans come from shade-grown organic plantations in Costa Rica, Sumatra, Guatemala and Peru.

Organic House Blend is full-bodied, complex and hearty. This versatile, well-rounded blend can be enjoyed as drip, espresso or press brewed coffee any time of the day. Organic House Blend beans comes from shade-grown organic farms.

Organic Seattle's Best Blend is their popular signature blend, medium-roasted to bring out its nutty sweetness, and is now offered with their certified organic coffees. For those who loved their Organic Tierra Verde, this is the same blend, now with a new name. This excellent quality coffee has been Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA, an independent nonprofit organization which monitors and certifies Fair Trade products in the United States.

Organic Sumatra uses organic growing methods to enhance the earthy, full-bodied flavor of this medium-light Indonesian delight. It's delicate cocoa-like finish makes an exotic treat.

The excellent quality of Fair-Trade Certified Organic French Roast has been Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA. It has a full and dark roasted flavor, an intense aroma, low acidity and a full body.

The dark roasting of Swiss Water Decaffeinated Organic Twilight Blend gives it the intense flavor and hearty aroma you love without all the caffeine. Swiss Water decaffeinated coffees are produced using the unique and patented 100% chemical free Swiss Water Process which maintains the coffees' distinct origin characteristics.

There are many great coffees roasted in the world, but only one offers the bold flavor and smooth taste that is Seattle's Best Coffee.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

New York Style Cheesecake Recipe

2005-06-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

New York style cheesecake recipes are made with a combination of cream cheese and Italian cheese cakes made with ricotta cheese. In the early 1920s, this particular silky style of cream cheese was developed in the New York area.

New York style cheesecake recipes were introduced by Jewish delicatessens in New York City. Arnold Reuben Jr., owner of the legendary Turf Restaurant at 49th and Broadway in New York City and a descendant of immigrants from Germany, claimed his family developed the first cream cheese cake recipe. Reuben’s cheesecake was so good, it won a Gold Metal at the 1929 World’s Fair.

The superior qualities that make Reuben’s classic New York style cheesecake are a graham cracker crust, a creamy texture, and distinct lemon flavor that is firm but light in density. Below you will find his Classic New York Style Cheesecake recipe.

Classic New York Cheesecake

Crust:
Heavily coat 10-inch spring form pan with cooking spray
1 1/2 cups commercial graham cracker crumbs
5 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. honey
1/4 cup sugar

Mix ingredients together with hands until well blended and crumbs appear moist. Pour into pan. With hands, spread evenly across the bottom and pat down firmly.

Filling:
5 8-ounce bars cream cheese, at room temperature
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. confectioners' sugar
11/2 cups sugar
grated rind of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp. orange liqueur
3/4 tsp. vanilla
2 egg yolks at room temperature
5 eggs at room temperature

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place first five ingredients in large mixing bowl and beat on high until they are completely blended. Add vanilla and 2 yolks, and beat again. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Pour into prepared pan. Batter will fill pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Top will be golden. Lower oven temperature to 200 degrees and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until top browns, cake feels bouncy to the touch, and a toothpick tests clean. Cool to room temperature. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Yield: 16-20 slices

The history of cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. The first recorded mention of cheesecake was when it was served to the athletes during the first Olympic Games held in 776 BC. Centuries later, cheesecake appeared in America. The recipes were brought over by the immigrants.

If you ask a New Yorker, the only true cheesecake makers and connoisseurs are in New York. Every New York restaurant has their own version and thus the cheesecake from New York has been re-named New York cheesecake.

Here is another famous New York style cheesecake recipe.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate

2005-06-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

Serendipity frozen hot chocolate is a signature dish at the Serendipity 3, New York. Nestled in the heart of the upper east side of New York, Serendipity 3 is a general store and restaurant combined with a coffeehouse and soda fountain. They serve the most famous dessert in New York, which is Serendipity frozen hot chocolate.

Serendipity New York was founded by Stephen Bruce and his two partners, Calvin Holt and Preston “Patch” Caradine in 1954. Stephen Bruce has been constantly asked to divulge his secret about his Serendipity frozen hot chocolate recipe. Jackie Kennedy even wanted to serve the dessert at a White House event but he would not even give his secret away to her.

Serendipity frozen hot chocolate is an icy-chocolate type of dessert served in a fishbowl-shaped goblet, topped with whipped cream, shaved chocolate accompanied with a spoon and two straws. The frosty creation is made with more than 14 kinds of chocolate and exotic cocoas blended into a rich slush. This famous dessert is pure chocoholic heaven.

One taste of this frozen concoction and Oprah wants to, “dance on the chandeliers!” The Queen of Daytime TV has named this one of her, “Favorite Things.” Now after 50 years, the Serendipity frozen hot chocolate secret recipe has finally been revealed. The Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York City has actually given out the recipe so you can make this unbelievable chocolate drink at home. It’s very simple.

Serendipity frozen hot chocolate recipe created by Serendipity 3 Restaurant.

INGREDIENTS

6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates

2 teaspoons of store-bought hot chocolate mix

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

3 cups of cups of ice

Whipped cream

Chocolate shavings

Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and slowly add ½ cup of milk until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender, place the remaining cup of milk, the room-temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

If you would like to make this even more simple you can buy a Serendipity frozen hot chocolate gift box online. It comes in a whimsical box that includes two pouches (four servings) of the chocolate-cocoa blend mix, one signature goblet, a souvenir spoon and colorful straws. Just add milk, the chocolate mix, lots of ice and blend. It makes a perfect gift for any chocolate lover or splurge and buy one for yourself. You're worth it.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Kopi Luwak - The Most Expensive Coffee In The World

2005-06-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kopi Luwak coffee comes from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an area well-known for its excellent and exotic coffee.

There is a small animal native to the area called a Paradoxurus. That's actually the scientific name, the locals call them luwaks. They live in the trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry.

While the coffee bean is in their stomach, it undergoes fermentations until finishes the journey through the digestive system, then exits. The still-intact beans are collected from the forest floor, cleaned, then roasted and ground just like any other coffee.

While the process is not pleasant to think about it produces a rare gourmet coffee that is said to be like no other. It has a rich, heavy flavor with hints of caramel or chocolate and the body is velvety smooth.

The average total annual production is only around 500 pounds of beans. Because of the rarity of this exotic coffee, the price is outrageous. The current cost for a pound of Kopi Luwak is around $300 or more.

If you can even find it, some will sell it by the cup. But you won't likely find it at your local coffee shop. Those who enjoy this unusual and rare gourmet coffee are paying for the sheer enjoyment of the rare delicacy of Kopi Luwak coffee.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Juniors Cheesecake

2005-05-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Juniors cheesecake restaurant was founded in 1950 by Harry Rosen, and named Juniors after his two sons, Walter and Marvin. Harry and Eigel Peterson, the master baker, hit upon the secret formula for Juniors cheesecake recipe and it has been part of the Rosen family for three generations.

Juniors cheesecake New York is actually located in Brooklyn and is a favorite restaurant of many New Yorkers. It was rated #1 by New York Magazine in the 1970’s and people started to come from all over for an award-winning slice. In 1982, Governor Mario Cuomo declared May 27th as Junior’s Restaurant Day.

In 1989 Juniors cheesecake became available through mail-order and can now be ordered from their website. It can be shipped frozen anywhere in the United States. Each 8” large Juniors cheesecake arrives in a special, stay-fresh container guaranteeing freshness.

Today customers still come from all over to have their favorite slice of famous cheesecake. For over 50 years the saying is still true: You haven’t lived until you’ve had cheesecake at Juniors.

For those of you that want the juniors cheesecake recipe here is the Juniors Famous No. 1 Cheesecake recipe.

Pure Cream Cheesecake -- "The Best of the Best".

1 recipe Thin Sponge Cake Layer (see below)

For Cream Cheese Filling:
4 (8-ounce) packages regular cream cheese, at room temperature
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 extra-large large eggs
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F (180*C) and generously butter a 9-inch spring form pan. Make the batter for the sponge cake as the recipe directs. Evenly spread the batter on the bottom of the pan and bake just until set and golden, about 10 minutes. Place the cake on a wire rack to cool (don't remove it from the pan).

2. While the cake cools, make the cream cheese filling: Place one 8-ounce package of the cream cheese, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Then beat in the remaining 3 packages of cream cheese.

3. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat in the remaining 1 1/3 cups of the sugar, then beat in the vanilla. Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating the batter well after adding each one. Blend in the heavy cream. At this point mix the filling only until completely blended (just like they do at Junior's). Be careful not to over mix the batter.

4. Gently spoon the cheese filling on top of the baked sponge cake layer. Place the spring form pan in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about 1-inch up the sides of the pan. Bake the cheesecake until the center barely jiggles when you shake the pan, about 1 hour.

5. Cool the cake on a wire rack for 1 hour. Then cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until it's completely cold, at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove the sides of the spring form pan. Slide the cake off the bottom of the pan onto a serving plate. Or if you wish, simply leave the cake on the removable bottom of the pan and place it on a serving plate. If any cake is left over, cover it with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Thin Sponge Cake Layer for Cheesecake

One suggestion: keep an eye on this cake while it bakes. There's not much batter, so it needs only about 10 minutes of baking -- only enough time for the cake to turn light golden and set on the top.

1/2 cup cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
3 extra-large eggs, separated
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 drops pure lemon extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F (180*C) and generously butter a 9-inch spring form pan. Sift the cake flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.

2. Beat the egg yolks together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed for 3 minutes. Then, with the mixer still running, gradually add the 1/3 cup of the sugar and continue beating until thick light-yellow ribbons form in the bowl, about 5 minutes more. Beat in the vanilla and lemon extracts.

3. Sift the flour mixture over the batter and stir it in by hand until no more white flecks appear. Then blend in the butter.

4. In a clean bowl, using clean dry beaters, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high speed until frothy. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the whites should stand up in stiff peaks but not be dry). Stir about 1/3 cup of the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites -- don't worry if a few white specks remain.

5. Gently spoon the batter into the pan. Bake the cake just until the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched, only about 10 minutes (watch carefully). Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack while you continue making the cheesecake filling. Do not remove the cake from the pan.

Serves 12 to 16.

Source: From the cookbook, "Welcome to Junior's! Remembering Brooklyn With Recipes and Memories from Its Favorite Restaurant".

Enjoy Juniors cheesecake one way or the other, you won’t be sorry.

For those of you that can’t make it to Brooklyn but would like to taste this award-winning cheesecake, it can be shipped frozen anywhere in the United States. You haven’t lived until you’ve had Juniors Cheesecake.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Gevalia Coffee Offer

2005-05-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Try one pound of Gevalia coffee and receive the Gevalia coffee offer as a special gift. The offer includes a 12-cup programmable Gevalia coffee maker.

Here’s how the Gevalia coffee offer works: You will be sent two ½ lb packages of the Gevalia coffee of your choice and the Gevalia coffee maker with the understanding that you will continue to receive additional shipments approximately every six weeks.

After your introductory shipment, the next shipment will arrive about one month later with the selections you have chosen in your initial shipment. Then approximately every six weeks you will receive additional shipments of Gevalia coffee (four ½ lb packages).

This arrangement may be cancelled at any time after receiving your introductory shipment without obligation to accept further shipments. The Gevalia coffee maker is your to keep regardless of your decision. You may also select different blends or types of coffee and change the frequency of your shipments at any time.

You will be billed at the time of each shipment. Prices may vary and a shipping and handling charge will be added. Your satisfaction is guaranteed or you may return the item for a complete refund.

This Gevalia coffee maker offer is only good for new members of Gevalia Kaffee. Limit one Gevalia Kaffee membership per household. Other restrictions apply.

Gevalia coffees are selected from growing regions around the world and roasted to perfection. Here are a few types of coffee that you can choose from, Roasts (premium blends roasted to perfection), Flavored coffees (eight blends in exotic flavors), European coffeehouse collection (exclusive coffees inspired by some of Europe’s most celebrated coffeehouses).

You can also select from whole bean, ground, caffeinated or decaffeinated. It’s easy to buy Gevalia coffee and customize it to your satisfaction.

Enjoy the finest coffees in the world, delivered direct to your door. Gevalia believes that once a customer experiences Gevalia coffee, they will become as loyal to their coffee as the Swedes have been for well over 100 years.

Take advantage of the free gevalia coffee maker now and begin enjoying the great taste you deserve with the Gevalia coffee offer.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase specialty gourmet coffee, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Coffee Bean Roasters

2005-05-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

The coffee bean roaster is fast becoming a “must have” in today’s kitchens. The flavor and freshness of coffee when it is roasted in small batches at home is when coffee is at its best.

Roasted coffee is very susceptible to oxygen damage when it sits on store shelves and in café bins for days or weeks at a time. It spells disaster for creating stale, flavorless coffee.

Today, the coffee bean roaster is a coffee enthusiasts dream, bringing the freshness and quality of roasting fresh gourmet coffee at home. It is the beginning of a new era in coffee history and a major step in the return to great tasting coffee.

Many people are surprised to learn how easy and fast it is to roast their own specialty coffee beans at home. There are basically two types of home coffee roasters: fluid bed roasters and electric, radiant heat drum roasters.

Fluid bed roasters are like hot air popcorn poppers. They have a glass-roasting chamber so you can watch as the beans are roasted and stop it at the desired roast. These are good for beginners and a great way to get started in home roasting.

The radiant heat drum roaster is more like the professional coffee roasters use. These do not allow you to watch as the beans are roasted so you have to roast by smell or sound.

How about a roasting party? Home roasting is fun and you can try some of the best coffees in the world and roast them just the way you like them. You can even create your own custom blends.

Get ready for an amazing treat. Your coffee drinking experience will never be the same once you taste the fresh gourmet coffee you made with your coffee bean roaster. “Enjoy”

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

Purchase coffee bean roasters and roast your own fresh gourmet coffee at home.

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee online, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to:Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Peets Coffee and Tea

2005-05-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

Alfred Peet opened his first Peets Coffee and Tea store in Berkeley, California in 1966. Coming from Alkmaar, Holland, Mr. Peet grew up around the family’s coffee and tea business.

He worked in Indonesia for the tea trade after World War II. He then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at age thirty five and later opened his first shop with a style distinctively learned from his family background.

Peets Coffee and Tea shops have been a Berkeley institution now for over 38 years. His first store was a few blocks from the University of California. Peets is known as the “grandfather of specialty coffee.”

Today they continue to maintain traditional values of hard work and attention to detail that is essential to keeping their exceptional standards for quality and freshness.

Many variables affect the way the fresh roasted bean coffee tastes. Their highly trained roasters monitor air temperature and humidity to guarantee quality. Peet’s roasters sample each batch of coffee to make sure the roast tastes right.

They consider it crucial to achieve consistency in taste. The roasters combine beans in appropriate proportions to bring out the flavorful and distinctive characteristics to maintain the signature flavors their customers expect.

Peets has grown considerably since the opening of that first store and they now have locations not only throughout California but also Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Austin and Denver.

They have implemented new ways to sell their coffee and tea such as buying coffee beans online. Their products are also available in specialty food and grocery stores and even in fine restaurants and hotels.

Today, their values remain the same as when they began in Berkeley, California. Peets coffee and tea still delivers the highest quality products and remain committed to their passion for sharing the love of coffee and tea with you.

Copyright © 2005 Perfect Coffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

Purchase all flavors and blends of Peets Coffee and Tea

This article is supplied by Perfect Coffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee online, tea, cups, mugs, coffee makers, delicious desserts and sugar free desserts online. For a free monthly coffee newsletter with articles like these go to: Perfect Coffees.com Newsletter

Pure Kona Coffee

2005-05-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Pure Kona Coffee is gourmet coffee grown only on the Island of Hawaii. It is grown on the dark volcanic lava rock slopes of Kona which is located on the west side of the Big Island. The area where Kona coffee is grown is approximately one mile wide by thirty miles long. It is situated between two volcanoes, Hualalai and Manua Loa and the elevation ranges from 500 to 3000 feet.

This unique island microclimate distinguishes pure Kona coffee from all other coffees. Special care is taken throughout the process of creating Kona coffee beans. The sunny mornings, cloud-covered rainy afternoons and mild nights create ideal growing conditions for the best Kona coffee.

The coffee trees thrive in the fertile volcanic soil and are naturally shaded by the mango and macadamia nut trees. This allows Kona coffee beans to mature slowly and flourish in ideal conditions.

Kona coffee beans are hand picked, pulped, dried, hulled then sorted by size and shape. It is dried in the warm Hawaiian sun and then roasted depending on the desired results. A good roasting process can make a big difference in taste. Roasting is referred to as an art form by many in the coffee trade.

Dark roasts are typically French Roast, Italian, or Expresso. Medium roasts include Vienna. Flavored coffee is usually sprayed immediately after roasting for the best absorption of flavor. Just after roasting the oxidation process begins and coffee is at its freshest point.

Kona coffee beans are grown and processed with attention to every detail. This creates an end result of extraordinary coffee, delicate yet rich in flavor and aroma. This level of quality has made pure Kona coffee one of the most highly famous and valued coffees in the world.

Buy Kona Coffee

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Campfire Coffee Recipes

2005-04-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Want to know a few secrets to making a good cup of campfire coffee? There are lots of recipes for making coffee in a plain pot over a campfire or for your camping coffee pot. Try a few varieties to see what suits your taste the best. Here are a few good recipes to get you started so your morning or evening brew tastes good every time.

Traditional Campfire Coffee Recipes

Recipe 1.  Bring two quarts of water to a good, rolling boil in a camping coffee pot. Take it from the fire and add 2 handfuls of fine ground coffee. Keep in mind that whoever makes the coffee will change the results of this traditional recipe. Steep for 4 minutes. The secret to good campfire coffee is adding a few tablespoons of cold water to the mixture after steeping. This settles the grounds to the bottom. Then pour slowly to keep as many grounds out of your cup as possible.

Recipe 2.  Add 6 teaspoons of ground coffee into a camping coffee pot, and pour 3 pints of cold water over the grounds. Put the pot on the fire and bring it to a boil. Take it off the heat and let steep for 3 minutes. Don't forget the secret. Add those few tablespoons of cold water to the mixture after steeping to settle the grounds. This makes about 6 cups of good campfire coffee.

Campfire Perculator Coffee Pot

Recipe 3.  This is the most common method of making campfire coffee. Start with 1½ tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee for each 6 oz of water when using a perculator coffee pot. Here is a trick if you end up with grounds in your coffee. Poke a hole in a regular coffee filter and put it in the perk basket. Watch the percolator for the coffee color. The longer it perks the stronger your coffee will be. A perculator coffee pot takes practice but they make great campfire coffee.

Good Tip

If you use unpleasant lake, well or tap water your coffee will never taste very good. Coffee is 98% water so using good water will make all of difference in good or bad coffee. Bring good water with you and you will enjoy your campfire coffee a lot more.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Starbucks Coffee Company

2005-04-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

In 1971 Starbucks Coffee Company was founded in Seattle, Washington by three businessmen who had a love for coffee and tea and wanted Seattle to have access to it.

The Starbucks Coffee Company grew slowly and by 1981 had 4 retail stores and a roasting plant that sold whole bean coffee in Seattle.

In 1983 the marketing manager had a vision of re-creating the magic and romance behind the Italian coffee bar and wanted to test out the concept of selling espresso by the cup. When Starbucks Coffee opened its 6th store in downtown Seattle, the idea was a hit and within 2 months the store was serving over 700 customers a day, out selling the whole bean locations by 3 times.

In 1987, the owners of Starbucks Coffee Company decided to sell the business along with the name and it was bought by a group of local investors for $3.7 million.

In the next few years investors were told they would open 125 Starbucks coffee stores in the next five years. Starting from a base of 17 stores in 1987, the company expanded quickly to Vancouver, Portland and Chicago.

By 1991 Starbucks had moved into the mail-order catalog business, licensed airport stores and expanded into California.

In 1992 the company went public. After the initial public offering, Starbucks continued to grow at a phenomenal pace. Within 5 years the number of Starbucks Coffee stores grew tenfold, with locations in the US, Japan and Singapore.

Starbucks initiated several successful product and brand extensions including offering coffee on United Airlines flights. They began selling premium teas through its Tazo Tea Company. They distributed whole bean and ground coffee to supermarkets through an agreement with Kraft and premium coffee ice cream with Dreyers. Starbucks even sold CDs in its retail stores.

Starbucks began turning its name into a household word not through advertising but through word of mouth. In fiscal 2004, Starbucks opened a record 1,344 stores worldwide. The once a small regional roaster, Starbucks Coffee Company, now has more than 9,000 locations in 34 countries serving approximately 20 million customers a week.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Specialty Gourmet Coffee

2005-04-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

Specialty gourmet coffee is a very hot commodity in today’s market. The consumption of gourmet coffee has steadily grown with consumers enjoying the more sophisticated tastes of the specialty gourmet beans.

Specialty gourmet coffees, or some times called premium coffees, are exceptional coffee beans grown only in ideal coffee-producing climates. These coffee beans have unique characteristics because of the soil they grow in and tend to have very distinctive flavors.

Specialty gourmet coffee has a balanced flavor and richer taste than the standard mass-produced coffee. These coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

In the 1974 issue of the "Tea & Coffee Trade Journal", Erna Knutsen first used the term ‘specialty coffee’ to describe these coffee beans that are produced in special microclimates with these distinctive, exceptional flavors.

In 1982 the Specialty Coffee Association of America was created by coffee professionals to help set quality standards for the specialty coffee trade.

Since the 1990’s the growing popularity of the coffee houses and specialty gourmet coffee retailers, have made gourmet coffee one of the fastest growing food services markets in the world. In the United States alone, it nets approximately $8.5 billion a year.

Some have compared specialty gourmet coffee to wine. The aromas and flavors have similarities in how the consumer connects with the two beverages. The characteristics of gourmet coffee however, are more complex. The coffee bean is more dependent on altitudes, climate and soil variation than with the grapes used for wine.

The history and tradition of the specialty coffee grower makes this a very complex beverage. So pour yourself a cup of your favorite specialty gourmet coffee, sit back and enjoy, you deserve it.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Cupping For The Fun Of It

2005-03-21T20:45:00.000-08:00

Coffee cupping is a method to compare the different characteristics of a coffee bean. Cupping lets us compare different coffees against each other to evaluate the uniqueness between them. This information can give us a better understanding of each different region and their basic tastes.

Having a coffee cupping party at home is a great way to socialize and enjoy coffee while evaluating and sharing thoughts on the different blends. It can be fun and a sense of adventure discovering flavors and nuances you never thought existed in a cup of coffee.

Gather some coffee lovers together with a small cupping supply and let the fun begin.

Coffee cupping is not difficult and will take some practice and patience but the reward will give you invaluable knowledge about coffee.

Your cupping supply will consist of the following :

1. Fresh filtered water, not distilled or softened.

2. A coffee scoop that holds 2 tablespoons.

3. Small cupping cups that hold 5 ounces each

(3 for each sample; if cupping 3 coffees you will need 9).

4. Small rectangle plastic trays to hold beans; 1 for each coffee.

5. Cupping spoons that are deep for holding samples and slurping.

6. Whole Bean Coffee; enough for 3 cups each-six tablespoons.

To Begin:

· Bring water to rolling boil and let stand.

· Put your cups on the table in 3 groups of 3 each.

· Using your scoop measure 1 scoop of beans per cup.

· Grind coffee beans to a fine consistency and put in cup.

Make sure to grind each coffee to the same fineness and clean the grinder after each grinding.

Start by sniffing each of the coffee samples then begin pouring water just off the boiling point on the grounds. Allow the coffee to steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Using your spoon gently break the crust and take time to smell the coffee at this point. Once the crust is broken gently stir the coffee to allow some of the grounds to sink. Any left on top should be scooped out and thrown away.

After cooling slightly start slurping the coffee from the spoon. Let it splash over your entire palate letting your taste buds experience and acknowledge each flavor. It’s fun to see how many funny sounds you can make while slurping.

You could even make a game of it to see who can make the funniest sounds. Hold the coffee in your mouth without swallowing and swish it around and begin to realize all the different taste sensations. At this point, spit the coffee out and begin sharing your experience and thoughts with the rest of the group. There are no right or wrongs just opinions.

For many beginners evaluating coffee with other coffee lovers will open your eyes and your taste buds to flavors in coffee that you might have missed. It is a fun way to share a new understanding and appreciation for coffee cupping and enjoy it all at the same time.

This article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Uses For Used Coffee Grounds

2005-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

Do you toss your used coffee grounds in the trash? We found a few uses for them in ways you might not have thought of.

Mix coffee grounds with the soil in your garden and flower beds, and let them help enrich the soil.

Sprinkle coffee grounds around your garden to eliminate cutworms, ants, slugs and snails.

A mixture of coffee grounds and sugar fed to a potted plant and watered regularly, will revive houseplants that have turned yellow in winter.

To get rid of ants in the lawn, mix a pound of coffee grounds in 1 quart of hot water and pour this on anthills. Red ants, which make big hills, will require a big dousing.

Use grounds around the top of the soil in houseplant pots, or mix it with potting soil before planting and your plants will love it.

Use steeped grounds and a cotton swab to touch up furniture scratches.

To get rid of bad refrigerator smells, dry your grounds on a cookie sheet and place 1/2 cup in a small open bowl on each shelf.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

How to Make RestaurantQuality Coffee At Home

2005-02-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to taste so good?

First of all, restaurants are in the business of pampering you so they devote much more time to the perfection of a good cup of coffee. Sometimes I'll remember a restaurant just because of their excellent coffee.

So what are their secrets and how can you duplicate this recipe at home? It may surprise you to find out that the French Press brewing method could be the secret in achieving that restaurant quality taste.

Most fine restaurants use a press pot, also known as the French Press, which produces an extremely rich cup of coffee.

Press pot coffee is coffee steeped for 3-4 minutes between 195 to 205 degrees F. It produces a thicker and much richer taste than an auto-drip machine can produce.

A disadvantage of the French Press is it may leave trace amounts of coffee sediment. But the rich taste more than makes up for the small amount of sediment at the bottom of your cup.

So first, start off with a quality medium roast coffee, which is what most restaurants use. I can give you a couple of good recommendations.

Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend, Starbucks Breakfast Blend or Starbucks Sulawesi Coffee are 3 excellent choices. These are full-bodied coffees yet very smooth tasting. They are some of our best sellers at Perfect Coffees.com and work well for French Press brewing.

You want to grind the coffee beans slightly larger than you would for drip coffee. Too fine of a grind will produce a bitter cup of coffee. If your grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak. A quality grinder is the best thing you can do to improve the taste of French press coffee.

Remove the plunger from the press pot and put 1 rounded tablespoon of coarse ground coffee per each 6oz. of water into the pot. You can adjust this to your own taste.

Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that affect the taste of coffee.

Boil the water and remove it from the heat for five minutes before you pour it. This will give you the 195 to 205 degree water that is ideal to brew with. Now pour the 195 to 205 degree water over the ground coffee.

Stir the coffee to get total saturation of the grounds then place the plunger on top of the pot and let the coffee steep for 3 to 4 minutes.

Depress the plunger slowly to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot.

Serve all the coffee in the pot after the 3 to 4 minutes of steeping. Otherwise the coffee will keep getting stronger.

If you have any left, you can always transfer it to a clean, preheated air pot or a stainless steel Thermos. This will keep the coffee hot about an hour without hurting the flavor.

The French press brewing method definitely takes more time but gives us the result we are looking for. Restaurant quality coffee in the comfort of your own home.

Buy French Press Pots

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Pod Coffee Makers - A New Breed of Coffee Maker

2005-01-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

There's a new process for brewing coffee that has sparked a whole new breed of coffee makers. Pod coffee makers are becoming very popular and some are wondering if the drip coffee makers are going to soon become obsolete.

The pod coffee makers fall in the middle of a drip coffee maker and an espresso machine. The boiler of the pod coffee maker rapidly heats the water and drives it through the coffee grounds. By using light pressure, the brewing process is faster than with regular drip machines.

In order to maintain the precise amount of pressure and water flow through the coffee, pre-packed coffee pods are used. This ensures that the coffee is packed to the proper level for optimum brewing.

This brewing process produces a nice foamy layer on the top of your coffee that adds a luxurious touch. Not quite the crema you get on espresso, but close.

You brew one cup at a time, and the whole process takes only one to two minutes from when you turn on the machine, to drinking your fresh coffee. You just flip open the machine, place in a coffee pod, close it and hit the brew button.

With a pod coffee maker, you no longer have to settle for stale coffee sitting on the warming plate, nor do you have to sit and wait for a pot to brew.

It's perfect for the individual who craves a java fix but doesn't want to make a whole pot that will go to waste.

Each coffee pod has a measured portion of ground coffee or espresso, compressed between two biodegradable filter paper sheets. They are sold in different varieties of roasts from mild to medium to decaffeinated. So you can brew each individual cup to any desired coffee drinkers taste.

Coffee pods are easy to use, convenient, mess free and provide a consistently delicious freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Top Pod Coffee Maker Recommendations

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Torrefazione Italia Coffee

2005-01-24T14:22:00.000-08:00

"Toray-fot-see-ohnay" - Italian for place where coffee is roasted. Torrefazione Italia Coffee was created and brought to the United States by second-generation coffee roasters from Perugia, Italy.

With cafes in Vancouver BC, Portland, Chicago and Dallas, Torrefazione has a blend for every coffee lover from lighter roasts with sweet notes to darker blends that are bold and rich.

Torrefazione Italia Coffee is for coffee lovers who prefer full-bodied and intense flavor and is served by fine restaurants, hotels, and cafes throughout the world.

The blends they currently offer are:

Milano Blend - Lightly roasted, this delicately aromatic blend is incredibly smooth and mild, with a slightly nutty flavor and sweet finish.

Napoli Blend - This dark roast is rich and spicy, with hints of caramel and other exotic flavors.

Palermo Blend - Torrefazione Italia's darkest roast is full-bodied and rich, with velvety textures and soft, delicate flavors.

Perugia Blend - Wonderfully rich, with a heady aroma and smooth flavor notes, this fullbodied Perugia Blend™ is a tribute to the coffee-roasting art developed by Torrefazione Italia founders two generations ago.

Pisa Blend - Bright and full-bodied, this blend also features a rich, buttery texture that is wonderfully smooth and mellow.

Sardegna Blend - Medium-bodied, spicy, smoky and indulgent, this blend delivers all the pleasures of a dark roast.

Venezia Blend - Elegant and sophisticated, with a fragrant aroma that is earthy and sweet, this blend combines subtlety and snappiness for a very memorable cup.

Decaffeinated Montecatini Blend - Torrefazione Italia's only decaffeinated blend delivers smooth textures and a spicy aroma.

Their authentic roasting style and expert blending create a coffee experience that is truly unforgettable. It's offered to you in both whole beans and those already ground.

We invite you to experience a taste of Italy and discover Torrefazione Italia Coffee.

Buy Torrefazione Italia Coffee

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Tips

2005-01-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Here are some interesting coffee tips.

•  Never store coffee in its original bag. Transfer your whole beans immediately into a ceramic or glass container with a rubber seal and preferably one that does not allow light through it. Air, light, heat and moisture are enemies of coffee.

•  DO NOT freeze your coffee beans! Contrary to what you may have heard, never store your coffee in the freezer, especially the refrigerator as this develops moisture around the bean.

•  To get rid of bad refrigerator smells, place a small open bowl with 1/2 cup of ground coffee on each shelf and leave it there for a couple of weeks. The coffee will absorb the odors and leave a clean smell. Throw the coffee away afterwards because it is totally undrinkable.

•  If you or your guests like chocolate, try serving your coffee with a square of chocolate on the saucer which can either be eaten separately or added to the coffee.

•  If you want your coffee to stay hot longer, heat your coffee cup or mug with hot water and remove the water just before pouring in your coffee. This will keep your coffee much hotter a lot longer.

•  The best way to clean everything from your brewer to your cups is with a mixture of baking soda and water. Be sure to rinse, rinse, and rinse again so no residue is left behind to spoil the coffee flavor.

•  If you make a dessert that calls for coffee, you might consider using decaf. Desserts are usually eaten later in the day and those requiring coffee may contain a considerable amount of caffeine for the late afternoon or evening eater.

•  When mixing desserts and coffees, the more plain the dessert, the lighter the roast of the coffee you may want to accompany it. Espresso goes well with richer desserts and lighter roasted coffees with less rich desserts.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Organic Galapagos Island Estate Coffee

2005-01-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

The Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles from Ecuador in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Coffee trees flourish in the clean pure climate on the San Cristobal Island Estate in the Galapagos Islands and produce some of the world's best organic coffee beans.

Declared by UNESCO "Patrimony of Humanity", Galapagos Islands law prohibit the use of chemicals and other pesticides.

Galapagos Island Estate Coffee organic coffee beans are larger in size, extremely rare, and unbelievably come from the same coffee trees that were planted by the French explorers more than 130 years earlier.

While supplies last you can order this truly one-of-a kind tasting coffee.

If you like specialty coffee, treat yourself to this delightful, medium body, balanced, coffee with an intriguing finish.

This unique coffee is unlike any other coffee, from the most exotic place on Earth.

Order Galapagos Island Estate Coffee

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Tips For Choosing The Perfect Travel Mug

2005-01-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

A good travel mug is a must when you need to take your coffee or tea with you on the road. There are many different types of mugs available, so here are a few tips to consider before you purchase one.

Travel mugs are offered in both stainless steel and plastic with plastic being the least expensive.

Even though stainless steel initially costs more, it will give you much better value for your money.

Plastic mugs can break when dropped and they don't keep your coffee or tea hot nearly as long as the stainless mugs.

You can expect superior performance from a stainless steel travel mug keeping your coffee or tea hot for about an hour. If you are looking for the very best way to keep your favorite beverage hot or cold longer, look for a mug with stainless steel double wall insulation.

Stainless steel also cleans up easier than plastic and the plastic liner over time will absorb coffee or tea. This build up will affect the taste of your beverage and the only way to remedy it is to buy another travel mug.

If you still prefer a plastic travel mug, make sure it has a stainless steel liner. The advantages of a stainless steel liner are you won't feel the heat on the outside of the mug and you have a variety of colors to choose from.

You should also decide if you want your travel mug to fit a cup holder in your car or if you want it to have a wide bottom for stability.

The advantage of a travel mug that fits a cup holder is you don't have to hold onto it. Just make sure the dimensions of the mug will fit your holder.

If you don't have a cup holder or don't like to use one, you need a travel mug with a wide bottom.

Look for a non-slip wide bottom because not all of them come that way. You don't want it to slide if you let go of the travel mug.

Next, what kind of a lid do you prefer? The lids that snap on can sometimes come off if the travel mug tips over or is dropped. Screw on lids are better because they stay on no matter what happens and that's the idea of a travel mug to begin with.

Also, consider how the beverage hole will be covered and uncovered when you want to drink. Do you like a flap over the drink hole that snaps shut or do you prefer a slide that stays open or closed? Then there is the Press'N'Sip lever design that opens when you push on the spring loaded lever and closes when you let go.

Travel mugs come in a variety of volume sizes too. If you only drink a small amount, consider a smaller 8 oz. travel mug. On the other hand, if you want a large amount of coffee or tea to drink, consider a larger 16 or 20 oz. travel mug.

Once you get the travel mug that is just right for your tastes, hand wash it instead of putting it in the dishwasher. Sometimes soap residue gets left behind either in the lid or in the travel mug and no one likes that kind of surprise. So be sure to rinse it extra good so all that you taste is the rich flavor of your coffee or tea.

If you leave your travel mug in the car while at work, store it away from direct sunlight. That way the hot sun magnified by the windows won't damage the rubber seals in the lid.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you shop for a travel mug so when you fly out of the door with your favorite hot beverage, it will stay in the mug and remain hot until the last drop.

Copyright © 2004 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. Buy the perfect Travel Mug.

The Mystery of Decaffeinated Coffee

2005-01-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

Caffeine has become America's most popular drug by far. 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another every single day. Most of it comes from drinking coffee.

But if you're a coffee lover who prefers to avoid caffeine, you can still enjoy a cup of coffee that delivers rich flavor with decaffeinated coffee.

It's how the caffeine is extracted from coffee beans that is a mystery for most of us.

These are some of the methods currently used for decaffeinating.

Direct Contact Method

In the direct contact method the beans come directly in contact with decaffeinating agents, such as methylene chloride, after being softened by water or steam. Caffeine is removed by directly soaking the materials in the methylene chloride.

Indirect Contact Method

With the indirect contact method a water and coffee solution is used to draw off the caffeine. The solution containing the caffeine is then treated with a decaffeinating agent, such as ethyl acetate, and mixed back into the beans for reabsorption of the flavorings.

Sometimes this method is referred to as naturally decaffeinated because ethyl acetate is a chemical found naturally in many fruits.

Water Processing

This process is similar to the indirect method, except no chemicals are used. The coffee beans are soaked in hot water then the solution is passed through a carbon filter to remove the caffeine.

Swiss Water Process

In the Swiss Water Process method, the caffeine is still extracted with carbon filters but the beans soak in hot water that is saturated with coffee flavor. The result is caffeine removal without removing the coffee flavors.

It's referred to as Swiss Water Process because a Swiss company originally developed and patented the procedure.

Carbon Dioxide Processing

With this method the beans are soaked with water-softened materials in highly compressed carbon dioxide. The small caffeine molecules are extracted from the beans allowing the larger flavor molecules to remain untouched. This method retains the best overall flavor of all of the methods used.

Not all of the caffeine is completely removed with any of these current methods. To qualify as decaffeinated coffee in the United States, coffee must have at least 97 percent of its caffeine removed.

Coffee beans are decaffeinated before they are roasted because that's when it has the least effect on the beans flavor.

The reason decaffeinated coffee costs more is because of the additional labor, equipment and material needed to remove the caffeine.

So what do they do with all of that caffeine? The extracted caffeine is manufactured and used mostly in medicines and soft drinks.

As an example, the caffeine content in soft drinks mainly comes from the caffeine extracted from these decaffeination processes. The kola nut accounts for less than 5 percent of the caffeine in cola drinks.

For the past 30 years scientists have done extensive research on coffee and the effects of caffeine. New research has even shown that caffeine has many positive effects.

Some of these effects include more energy, the ability to concentrate better and has even been used as an appetite suppressant.

But not all scientists agree with these findings and coffee and the effects of caffeine will continue to be thoroughly researched.

There will always be a market for decaffeinated coffee because some people just love their coffee without the caffeine buzz.

The rest of the 100 million regular coffee drinkers either love their coffee for the wonderful flavor or enjoy the effects of a caffeine boost. For most of us, I'm sure it's a little of both.

Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article courtesy of Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Drink Basics

2004-12-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

When you enter a coffee house, you have a multitude of drink choices like latté, cappuccino, straight shot and caffé mocha just to name a few.

Sometimes knowing what to order can be overwhelming unless you know what you are getting. After all, who wants to pay an outrageous amount of money for a mystery drink that you may not even like?

So Best Coffee Makers Online has come to the rescue, and after you read this, you'll have a basic understanding of how the most popular coffee drinks are made and what they are made of.

Most coffee drinks start with espresso and espresso is just coffee that is brewed a certain way. It is finely ground to almost a powder then very hot water is forced through the grounds under intense pressure.

The brewing process is timed so that the flavorful and aromatic oils are extracted from the coffee and not the bitter components. This produces a strong flavored, but not bitter, concentrated shot of coffee.

Straight Shot
The straight shot refers to espresso coffee and the secret to good espresso is the extraction time, volume, and golden crema which is a thick light brown layer of frothed coffee oils that float on top of a properly extracted espresso.

The short shot or ristretto is extracted to a volume of three-quarters of an ounce. The shorter restricted pour magnifies the essence of the coffee and the chance of any bitter elements being extracted is minimized. If you have ever ordered an espresso shot in Europe they usually serve the ristretto.

The long shot or lungo is extracted to a volume of one and one-half ounces.

The double shot is a 2 ounce shot using twice as much coffee in the portafilter.

The correct way to serve a straight shot is to extract it directly into a warmed demitasse cup. The warm demitasse cup will keep the straight shot warm and prolong the crema. A straight shot is best enjoyed immediately after brewing.

It is rare to see people drinking straight shots of espresso in the US. Most people here drink variations using steamed milk mixed with the shots to make the different coffee drinks listed here.

Espresso Macchiato
The Espresso Macchiato starts with a shot of espresso and then a small amount of foamed milk is spooned over the shot. Macchiato in Italian means "marked," as the espresso is marked with foam.

Espresso Con Panna
This is an Espresso Macchiato using whipped cream in place of the foamed milk. The drink gets its name Con Panna which means "with cream."

Caffé Americano
The Caffé Americano is a drink similar to American brewed coffee. It is made with a single or double shot of espresso combined with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water out of an espresso machine. The result is a very smooth cup of coffee that is much hotter than brewed coffee.

Cappuccino
Cappuccino is made with a fluffy, wet foam, mixed with espresso coffee upon the pour to create a blend of the two flavors. Cold milk is essential, as is expertise in the foaming process. Cappuccino has a large volume of foam making it a light weight drink and less filling.

Caffé Latté
Caffé Latté is similar to the cappuccino but with much less foam and more steamed milk. A latté is made by holding back the foam with a spoon while pouring the frothed milk from the steaming pitcher. The caffé latté is completed by being topped with a small amount of the held back foam.

Caffé latté gets its name from the addition of coffee to milk. For an iced latté, cold milk is combined with the espresso and then the ice is added.

Caffé Mocha
A caffé mocha is made by adding powdered or chocolate syrup to a hot shot of espresso and blended. Steamed milk is then be added to the espresso-chocolate mixture and usually it is topped with whipped cream.
Iced mochas are made with cold milk and the ice added after the coffee and chocolate have been blended.

Flavored Coffee Drinks
Some popular coffee flavors are: vanilla, Irish creme, almond, hazelnut, caramel and fruit flavors such as orange and raspberry. These drinks usually start with a flavored syrup that is mixed with hot espresso and stirred. Then steamed milk is stirred in like in a latté.

An iced version of these flavored coffees made with cold milk instead of steamed makes a delicious cold drink in the summer months.

So now that you know what's in the basic coffee drinks, try one you haven't tasted yet. Who knows, you might find a new favorite.

Copyright © 2004 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

3 Simple Tips For Making Perfect Coffee

2004-12-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

Want to brew the perfect cup of coffee? Here are 3 simple tips that will make a difference in every single cup you drink.

Tip #1  Clean Coffee Pot

A clean pot is essential and can make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. Old oils from previous batches of coffee and soap residue left on the pot makes coffee taste bad.
Baking soda and water work well for cleaning coffee mugs and pots. Be sure to rinse extra good so no residue is left behind.

Tip #2  Clean Filtered Water

The water you use for your coffee will affect the taste more than anything. Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that will affect the taste of your coffee.

Using stainless steel or gold mesh filters instead of paper filters will also make your coffee taste better. Paper filters release dyes, chlorine and bleach that affect taste. If you insist on using paper filters buy the unbleached, brown paper filters.

Tip #3  Use Fresh Quality Coffee

Quality coffee costs more but will consistently produce better tasting coffee.

For the best results use quality, whole bean coffee and grind the coffee beans just prior to use. You might think it's an inconvenience compared to ground coffee, but once you taste the difference you'll never go back.

If you still want to use ground coffee, make sure you use a good, drip grind coffee.

Use 2 level tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. This can be adjusted for individual taste preference. Make sure to spread the grounds evenly in the coffee filter so full brewing is achieved.

Drink your fresh coffee right away for the best flavor. Coffee will break down quickly if left on a heat source. Coffee should never be reheated or microwaved.

A clean, preheated air pot or stainless steel Thermos will keep coffee hot for about an hour without hurting the flavor.

If you follow these 3 simple tips, every cup you brew will be perfect coffee.

Copyright © 2004 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

Coffee Maker Buying Tips

2004-12-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to replace your aging coffee maker or giving one as a gift, here are a few tips for you to consider before you make your buying decision.

The glass carafe is by far the most popular and is very easy to clean.

A thermal carafe has the advantage of keeping your coffee or tea hot for about an hour without having to keep the coffee on a hot burner and slowly degrading the flavor.

If you or your gift recipient are dealing with limited counter space, you might want to consider a coffee maker that includes a grinder.

If you frequently entertain consider a coffee maker that features dual brewers for brewing two pots of coffee simultaneously.

You can brew a lot of coffee at once or make one pot of caffeinated and one pot of decaf all at the same time.

The new pod brewers are another consideration over a standard coffee maker. They are quick and convenient, provide variety, and require very little cleanup.

Pod brewers use individually packaged pods of ground coffee, the pod machine quickly brews one cup of coffee directly into the cup or travel mug. The individual pods provide users with the ability to brew a different coffee according to tastes.

Additionally, pod brewers are also able to brew tea using proportioned tea pods.

Copyright © 2004 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea

2004-12-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years. But recent studies are just starting to unlock these ancient secrets of green tea.

Today, a great deal of research is being carried out about green tea health benefits and the findings are very exciting.

Here are just a few medical conditions that drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful with:

Cancer
Rheumatoid arthritis
High cholesterol levels
Cardiovascular disease
Infection
Impaired immune function
Controlling high blood pressure
Lowering blood sugar

Researchers believe the real secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in EGCG which is a powerful anti-oxidant. EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

A University of Purdue study recently concluded that a compound in green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Red wine has been long studied because it contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

But researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese and French men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent of them are smokers.

Research also indicates that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

But the health benefits of green tea don't end there. Green tea has been found to inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

New studies have actually shown that green tea can even help you loose weight. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition performed a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

It has also been shown that drinking green tea can give your body a greater ability to fight infection and kill bacteria.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay. Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque and aids the immune system with its antifungal properties by improving digestive function.

You may be asking if other Chinese teas offer similar health benefits. But the answer is no. Although green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the way green tea is processed is what sets them apart.

Green tea leaves are steamed, and that prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which converts the EGCG into other compounds. This process makes oolong and black teas much less effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

So how much green tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the health properties of green tea.

While some companies selling green tea say that ten cups per day are necessary to reap the maximum benefits, a University of California study on the cancer-preventative qualities of green tea concluded that you could probably attain the desired level of polyphenols by drinking two cups a day.

The research of this ancient beverage continues, and it may take decades to unlock all of the secrets it holds. Although green tea should not be considered to be a magic bullet, researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising.

Copyright © 2004 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers Online where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what you're looking for at great values. For more articles like these go to: Coffee Articles.

A Guide To Starbucks Roasts and Blends

2004-12-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Starbucks® Coffee knows the perfect cup of coffee starts with only the best beans. Finding and purchasing the best green beans in the world is the first step that differentiates them from the rest of the coffee industry.

They are well-known for exceptionally high quality coffees, care in selection, and expertise in roast. Each coffee is selected for the defining qualities that distinguish its origin. This careful selection process illustrates Starbucks passion for buying and roasting the world's best coffee.

Starbucks combs the world for the perfect combination of climate, soil, elevation, and agricultural practices that come together to produce a great coffee. When searching for coffees, they ask these questions. Which coffees from a given location best represent the perfect intersection of climate and skilled horticulture? It is a search for unmistakable regional flavors, what a French wine-maker would call goût de terroir, the taste of the place.

At Starbucks, coffee is a fresh produce, not a commodity. When the inevitable happens and a given coffee estate or region has an "off" year, they simply don't offer that coffee. They make this tough decision rather than offering a lower quality selection. They buy coffee solely on its performance in the cup.

The coffee Starbucks buys is truly special, spectacular coffee. Their coffee buying team evaluates over one thousand "offer samples" each year. The evaluation process includes roasting small batches of coffee and tasting these batches in a process called "cupping." Only a very few of these sampled coffees make the cut.

Starbucks coffee buyers spend approximately 18 weeks per year traveling to countries of origin. The purpose of these travels is not necessarily to buy coffee. The goal is to continue to learn about coffee and to strengthen relationships with growers and suppliers.

These relationships are critical to their future success. They solidify the company's role as champions of quality and progress at every level of the coffee business. It is because of these relationships that Starbucks gets the first pick of the best crops worldwide. And thus Starbucks is able to procure the world's best coffee beans every year.

Harvesting Starbucks Coffee

At harvest time, coffee trees are laden with bright red coffee cherries. Ripe coffee cherries are cranberry. An unroasted coffee bean is simply the pit of the coffee cherry.

The skin of the coffee cherry is very thick, with a slightly bitter flavor. The fruit beneath the skin, however, is intensely sweet. The texture of this layer of fruit is similar to a grape. Beneath the fruit is the parchment, covered with a thin, slippery, honey-like layer called "mucilage."

The parchment of the coffee cherry serves as a protective pocket for the seed, much like the small pockets that protect the seeds of an apple. Removing the parchment, two translucent bluish green coffee beans are revealed, coated with a very thin layer called the "silverskin."

While most coffee cherries contain two beans, 5 to 10 percent of the time, only one bean is produced in the cherry. This is called a "peaberry."

The Starbucks Roast®

Starbucks is passionate about the way they roast their coffee. It's called the Starbucks Roast®. It's more than a color: it is the cumulative, positive, and dramatic result of roasting each coffee in a unique way, helping each one reach its maximum flavor. The color can be duplicated, but the taste cannot.

All roasters, including Starbucks, roast green coffee beans by heating them in a large rotating drum. After about 5 to 7 minutes of intense heat, much of their moisture evaporates. The beans turn a yellow color and smell a little like popcorn. After about 8 minutes in the roaster, the "first pop" occurs.

The beans double in size, crackling as they expand. They are now light brown. Very sour one-dimensional flavor notes are dominant, while more complex coffee flavors haven't yet developed. Many roasters stop the roasting process after the "first pop".

After 10-11 minutes in the roaster, the beans reach an even brown color, and oil starts to appear on the surface of the bean. At this roasting time (different for each coffee, but usually somewhere between 11 and 15 minutes), the full flavor potential begins to develop in the beans, bringing all of their attributes into balance.

The "second pop" signals that the coffee is almost ready. The moment that the coffee is released into the cooling tray is a memorable one. The smell of freshly roasted coffee fills the air, along with the sound of applause created by the final clapping of the "second pop." Starbucks roasts all of its coffees to the "second pop".

To Blend or Not to Blend

Starbucks procures both single-origin coffees and regional blends from around the world. Single-origin coffees showcase what is possible in individual coffees. Blends weave together coffees from different origins to create a taste tapestry for your tongue. Some coffees are purchased solely for blending while others are purchased as single-origin offerings.

Single-Origin Coffees

Starbucks offers specific, individual coffees from 10 to 15 different countries. Each of these coffees displays an assortment of distinctive flavor characteristics. Starbucks calls these "single-origin" coffees.

The term "varietal" is often misused. Arabica is one species within the genus of coffee (robusta is another species). Each species has varieties ranked underneath it, and there are many varieties of arabica coffee trees.

While "varietal" is a botanical term, "single-origin" is a geographical term, and the most accurate way to describe coffees from a specific country. As green coffee beans are often grown by multiple farmers and then mixed at their place of origin, a "single-origin" coffee from a specific geographical area may have coffee beans from multiple varieties of arabica plants.

An example of a pure, single-origin coffee is Colombia Nariño (Supremo) . This Colombian single-origin comes from the province of Nariño, a rugged, mountainous area known for active volcanoes and natural beauty. "Supremo" denotes the largest bean size classification for grading and sorting coffee in Colombia. Its dry, nutty flavor and smoothness is the best coffee from this area of South America, and is exclusive to Starbucks.

Starbucks Blends

In addition to great single-origin coffees, Starbucks core lineup also includes blends of different single-origin coffees. The blends as a group make up a significant percentage of Starbucks whole bean coffee lineup, and each is as special in its own way as the most exotic single-origin coffee. There are many reasons to blend coffee.

Starbucks strives to showcase the signature style of a particular growing region, as in House Blend or to combine various qualities found in different regions into a harmonious, balanced whole. Whatever the case, each Starbucks blend offers a cup of coffee that no single-origin coffee can duplicate.

Dark Roast Blends

Starbucks also offers three dark roast blends: Espresso Roast , Italian Roast, and French Roast. These blends vary both in constituent coffees and roast intonation. Espresso Roast is the foundation of the company's beverage business, while Italian Roast and French Roast are among Starbucks more popular coffees.

Starbucks Coffee Growing Regions

Most of the world's coffee is grown between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn on plantations in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

Africa and Arabia

From the mountainous eastern half of the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula come some of the world's greatest coffees. The coffees from this region are alluring and complex, sometimes causing even seasoned specialty coffee drinkers to wonder who dropped the blueberries and spices into their cup. Some of our favorites are Kenya Coffee Beans , Ethiopia Sidamo Coffee Beans and Arabian Mocha Sanani Coffee Beans. They have intense berry or floral aromas and flavors of berries, citrus fruits, cocoa, and spice.

Latin America

Central and South America produce more coffee, by far, than any other growing region. The beans grown here are generally light- to medium-bodied with clean, lively flavors. They are prized for their tangy brightness and consistent quality. Both these features make them ideal foundations for blending. Coffees from this region include: Organic Shade-Grown Mexico, Guatemala Antigua, Colombia Nariño (Supremo).

The Pacific

Often called Indonesian coffees because most of the beans from this region are grown in that country. These coffees are on the opposite end of the taste spectrum from the Latin American coffees. They are typically full-bodied, smooth, earthy, and occasionally feature herbal flavor notes. These are the 'heavyweights' of the coffee world, providing deep, sturdy 'low notes' when used in blends. As single-origin coffees, they are perennial favorites. Starbucks Indonesian coffees include: Sumatra, Sulawesi and Komodo Dragon Blend which is a blend of wholly Indonesian coffees.

Starbucks is dedicated and passionate about buying and roasting the world's best coffee.