A Brief Overview of Gourmet Coffee

The word Gourmet is used to refer to the fancier grade, cut, or quality of many of the foods and beverages we consume. Gourmet foods and drinks have long been associated as the regular fare for the rich and famous who can afford the higher pricing that often accompanies many of these finer food and beverage versions. Coffee is a beverage that has been available in cheap, regular and gourmet versions for a long time and the consumption rate of coffee among people from around the world continues to increase every year. Gourmet coffee may have once only been served in the finest dining establishments and found being served mostly in the homes of the upper class, but gourmet coffee is widely available and affordable to a variety of people and is found in a variety of settings today.

Coffee is made from coffee beans which are found within the berries that develop and ripen on a number of smaller evergreen bush plant species known as the Coffea plant. After ripening, coffee berries are harvested, and then undergo a processing which also includes drying them. It is the coffee beans that remain after the processing and drying of the coffee berries. The beans are then roasted to various degrees which cause them to change physically and in the tastes they produce. Finally, the coffee beans are grinded down into a fine consistency that is commonly known as coffee grounds, and packaged and shipped to destinations around the world where consumers can buy and brew coffee grounds to make coffee in commercial, hospitality, institutional, and residential settings. Some people prefer to grind their own coffee beans before brewing them for coffee. Packaged coffee beans that have not been ground can be purchased in stores and ground using the grinding mills that are made available in most of the stores selling them, but also with grinding machines in the home.

The two most commercially grown species of the coffea plant that produce the coffee beans used to make the coffee that the world’s population consumes, are Robusta and Arabica. Gourmet coffee is made from the top tier coffee beans from the arabica coffea plant. These top tier arabica coffea plants are typically grown at very high altitudes (above 3000ft) with ideal soil and climate conditions. The coffee beans produced have fuller flavors, are more aromatic, and have less caffeine in them than other varieties of coffee beans such as Robustas. The coffee beans of arabica coffea plants grown at lower altitudes are still noted among consumers as having richer flavors than the flavors produced by Robusta coffee beans, but it is only the top tier arabica coffee beans that are considered to be Gourmet, and thereby from which gourmet coffee is derived.

Coffee bean grounds and coffee beans that have not been grinded down need to be stored in air-tight containers and kept cool in order to protect them from losing their flavor. The containers that coffee is typically sold in are not the most ideal for storing coffee for a long period of time. When you arrive home after purchasing coffee grounds at the store, consider transferring the fresh coffee grounds to appropriate storage containers to extend its shelf life and full flavor.

Coffee can be brewed in many ways such as boiling, pressuring, and steeping. Most of us brew our coffee using automatic coffee brewing machines and percolators which use gravity to pull hot water through coffee grounds where the hot water mixed with the oils and essences of the coffee grounds empties into a liquid holding container below. Filters are used to keep coffee granules from being emptied into the carafe or liquid holding container from which the brewed coffee can then be served from because most people do not want to drink the coffee granules. Coffee granules can be very bitter once the flavor able oils and essences have been removed through the brewing process. Plants and flowers love coffee grounds though for anybody who is looking for a greener alternative of what to do with coffee grounds after brewing instead of just throwing them in the trash.

Of course, Gourmet coffee beans are only the beginning to creating a truly gourmet coffee experience for many gourmet coffee drinkers. Some people are quite content with drinking their gourmet coffee black, without adding anything like milk, creamer, sugar or other sweeteners or flavorings, to their coffee. While many others want to enhance their gourmet coffee and drinking experience with tasty additions like milk that is whipped into a froth, sweeteners, and mixing in other flavors like chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and mint, to name just a few. Big name coffee chains sell a wide variety of gourmet coffee with different tasty additions and flavors to appeal to gourmet coffee lovers. However, brewing gourmet coffee at home is usually much cheaper, and you can add what you want to your coffee to satisfy your refined, gourmet tastes.

Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the food and beverage industry such as Gourmet Coffee | Tazo Tea

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Finding the “best of the Best” in Coffee

Tips for Finding Perfect Premium Coffee. . .

There is coffee and THERE IS COFFEE! You likely know about the generic quality coffees you find at the supermarket, using the inferior Robusta beans. And, in contrast, there is the alternative: the coffee regularly termed Gourmet Coffee you buy direct from roasters around the country. Popular large volume roasters, like Starbucks as well as most of the the smaller roasters dispersed about town, essentially utilize this far better grade, high altitude, shade grown Arabica bean.

That being said, and broadly known by all nowadays, how can you siphon out the crème de la crème of gourmet coffee beans to purchase?

To begin with, letâ??s hone in specifically on taste. Nowadays, coffee has become a â??drink of expertsâ?â?¦

evolved into an art of reflection! Weâ??ve begun to savor our coffeeâ?¦flavor identify and define the subtle hints and nuances, as well as the qualities that identify the beanâ??s continent of origin. You as a coffee drinker, can begin to explore and experience the undertones of your coffeeâ??s region, but better yet, begin to revel in the independently specific flavors of the bean defined by the specific hill and farm where itâ??s grown. Coffee Cupping: Defining Coffee by its â??Underlying Flavorsâ?

There are, nowadays, a limited number of coffee roasters that independently test their coffee beans for taste observations and aromas. These beans are graded and assessed just like fine wine. This activity is called Coffee Cupping or Coffee Tasting. Professionals known as Master Tasters are the assessors. The procedure involves deeply sniffing a cup of brewed coffee, then loudly slurping the coffee so it draws in air, spreads to the back of the tongue, and maximizes flavor.

These Master Tasters, much akin to wine tasters, then attempt to measure in detail, every aspect of the coffeeâ??s taste. This assessment includes measurement of the body (the texture or mouth-feel, such as oiliness), acidity (a sharp and tangy feeling, like when biting into an orange), and balance (the innuendo and the harmony of flavors working together). Since coffee beans embody telltale flavors from their region or continent of their origin, cuppers may also attempt to predict where the coffee was grown.

There is an infinite range of vocabulary that is used to describe the tastes found in coffee. Descriptors range from the familiar (chocolaty, sweet, fruity, woody) to the conceptual (clean, vibrant, sturdy) to the wildly esoteric (summery, racy, gentlemanly).

Following are a few key characteristics as defined by Coffee Geek. (http://coffeegeek. com/guides/beginnercupping/tastenotes) Key Characteristics Acidity: The brightness or sharpness of coffee: It is through the acidity that many of the most intriguing fruit and floral flavors are delivered, and is usually the most scrutinized characteristic of the coffee. Acidity can be intense or mild, round or edgy, elegant or wild, and everything in between. Usually the acidity is best evaluated once the coffee has cooled slightly to a warm/lukewarm temperature. Tasting a coffee from Sumatra next to one from Kenya is a good way to begin to understand acidity. Body:

This is sometimes referred to as â??mouthfeelâ?. The body is the sense of weight or heaviness that the coffee exerts in the mouth, and can be very difficult for beginning cuppers to identify. It is useful to think about the viscosity or thickness of the coffee, and concentrate on degree to which the coffee has a physical presence. Cupping a Sulawesi versus a Mexican coffee can illustrate the range of body quite clearly. Sweetness: One of the most important elements in coffee, sweetness often separates the great from the good. Even the most intensely acidic coffees are lush and refreshing when there is enough sweetness to provide balance and ease the finish. Think of lemonadeâ?¦starting with just water and lemon juice, one can add sugar until the level of sweetness achieves harmony with the tart citric flavor. It is the same with coffee, the sweetness is critical to allowing the other tastes to flourish and be appreciated. Finish:

While first impressions are powerful, it is often the last impression that has the most impact. With coffee the finish (or aftertaste) is of great importance to the overall quality of the tasting experience, as it will linger long after the coffee has been swallowed. Like a great story, a great cup of coffee needs a purposeful resolution. The ideal finish to me is one that is clean (free of distraction), sweet, and refreshing with enough endurance to carry the flavor for 10-15 seconds after swallowing. A champion finish will affirm with great clarity the principal flavor of the coffee, holding it aloft with grace and confidence like a singer carries the final note of a song and then trailing off into a serene silence. Coffee Buying Caveat

Buying coffee simply by name instead of by taste from your favorite roaster (in other words buying the same Columbian Supreme from the same â?Joeâ??s Cuppa Joe Roasterâ?) definitely has its pitfall! According to Coffee Review, â??Next year’s Clever-Name-Coffee Company’s house blend may be radically different from this year’s blend, despite bearing the same name and label. The particularly skillful coffee buyer or roaster who helped create the coffee you and I liked so much may have gotten hired elsewhere. Rain may have spoiled the crop of a key coffee in the blend. The exporter or importer of that key coffee may have gone out of business or gotten careless. And even if everyone (plus the weather) did exactly the same thing they (and it) did the year before, the retailer this time around may have spoiled everything by letting the coffee go stale before you got to it. Or you may have messed things up this year by keeping the coffee around too long, brewing it carelessly, or allowing a friend to pour hazelnut syrup into it. â?

Your savvy coffee-buying alternative is to look for roasters who buy their beans in Micro-Lots- smaller (sometimes tiny) lots of subtly distinctive specialty coffees. According to Coffee Review, â??These coffee buyers buy small quantities of coffee from a single crop and single place, often a single hillside, and are sold not on the basis of consistency or brand, but as an opportunity to experience the flavor associated with a unique moment in time and space and the dedication of a single farmer or group of farmers. â? Coffee Review: Coffee Ratings

And finally, look out for the very small community coffee roasters that will submit their coffees to be 3rd-party evaluated by Coffee Review and other competitions for independent analysis and rating. Coffee Review regularly conducts blind, expert cuppings of coffees and then reports the findings in the form of 100-point reviews to coffee buyers. These valuable Overall Ratings can provide you with a summary assessment of the reviewed coffees. They are based on a scale of 50 to 100.

http://www. coffeereview. com/about_us. cfm Bottom line for a certain premium purchase: To find the coffee that will ascertain most flavor satisfaction, seek out beans that been independently reviewed and rated. This approach will, without a doubt offer you the advantage of being able to choose the flavor profile suits you best in a bean. Whatâ??s more, it gains you certainty in quality due to its superior rating. The higher the rating, the better the flavor. True premium coffees start from the upper 80â??s. By finding a roaster that consistently rates within the 90â??s will ultimately buy you the best java for your buck!

About The Author Michelle Faber is owner of Gourmet CoffeeXpress, the “Ultimate Website Gallery”, showcasing the creme de la creme in gourmet coffees, & teas, and artisan chocolates, desserts & gifts.
Within this gallery, you can find incredibly high quality items, and many designer styled products. Gourmet CoffeeXpress offers distinctive products for gift-giving and personal pleasure with world-class service. Please visit Gourmet CoffeeXpress at http://www. gourmetcoffeexpress. com
Visit http://www. gourmetcoffeexpress. com to indulge in the world’s most EXTRAORDINARY Gourmet Tea, Coffee and Desserts.

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How to Sample a New Gourmet Coffee

Gourmet coffee pros know what they like in a gourmet coffee and have a set habit to both smelling and tasting a new gourmet coffee. Others wont try a new gourmet coffee in a foreign country.

They deliberately slurp the gourmet coffee and swirl it all around the surface of the tongue and mouth. They want to obtain the full experience of the taste, the unique combination of sensations in the nose and on the tongue. Note to Readers: The taste profiles and characteristics discussed in this article apply to drip gourmet coffee. Flavor characteristics and descriptions will change with alternate brewing processes.

For all intents and purposes, our sense of smell and sense of taste are inseparable. Without our sense of smell, our taste sensations are limited. The tongue detects 4 basic sensations: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Most of what we experience as taste depends upon our sense of smell.

The tasting experience begins before you brew – with the grinding. When you inhale the aroma of ground gourmet coffee, you experience the first impression of its flavor – its Fragrance which alos comes out as you brew it. Aroma refers to your first encounter with a gourmet coffee when it’s brewed – literally, the first contact of water and gourmet coffee. Lastly, there’s a gourmet coffee’s Nose. Take a sip of gourmet coffee. As soon as it reaches your tongue, it stimulates taste and simultaneously releases aromas inside the mouth.

Follow the lead of the experts: allow your sense of taste and smell to mingle. Enjoy the tactile feel of the gourmet coffee on your tongue.

Now that you’ve taken a good whiff and your first sip, it’s time to let your tongue do the talking. Of all the facets of gourmet coffee, Taste is the most complex to discuss and to explain or to make any sense – its like describing the most beautiful woman you ever dated. Most experts concentrate on three elements Body, Acidity, & Balance. Body: A gourmet coffee’s lipid or “oily” quality creates the tactile sensation of Body or “mouth feel. “

Acidity: Naturally occurring acids in the beans combine with natural sugars that produce a sweetness that gives certain gourmet coffees a sharp pleasing tang or piquancy.

Balance: Think of Balance as a harmony of the many sensations yielded by a fine gourmet coffee. A “balanced” gourmet coffee is one whose flavor characteristics are all at the proper level for that variety. A quick note on Acidity: Don’t let the term scare you. Acidity does NOT refer to pH levels discussed in high school chemistry class. It is not like hydrochloric acid or stomach acid. The gourmet coffee grown at the top of the mountain taste the bests while coffee grown in Africa or Asia is not actually coffee but a strongly flavored hybrid tea. You appreciate a gourmet coffee’s Body on the tongue and the roof of your mouth. Acidity produces some of the pleasurable and distinctive sensations we enjoy when tasting gourmet coffee.

Now, back to our brew! After a sip is swallowed, the mouth and tongue retain a minute residue of gourmet coffee. This sensation produces the Aftertaste, the sensation that lingers on the palate. It is similar to the concept of “finish” in wine tasting. Aftertaste can vary considerably according to the gourmet coffee’s body we mentioned Body as a primary characteristic. You appreciate a gourmet coffee’s Body on the tongue and the roof of your mouth. It is a distinctly tactile sensation, and is sometimes called simply “mouth feel. Drinking a new gourmet coffee is just like a new wine taste testing. Burgundies are sometimes said to be “heavier” than most other reds and whites. The difference is not weight. Rather, Body is the texture and consistency, the thickness or slipperiness of the gourmet coffee.

A good cup of gourmet coffee represents the collaboration of many highly trained artisans – growers, professional tasters and roasters all working together to create a fine product. So, let all your senses work together to enjoy the fruits of their collaboration!

One good turn: about the gourmet coffee wheel. Much as wine tasters have created a wine tasting wheel to use an agreed upon terminology, professional gourmet coffee tasters use the Gourmet coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel to grade gourmet coffees. This flavor wheel is designed for the trained pallet of a professional. Professional “cuppers” use this guide when buying gourmet coffee and for creating “taste characteristic profiles” of the gourmet coffees. Most of us would be better off not to worry so much about our gourmet coffee or our wine tasting abilities. The Flavor Characteristics chart is for use by the average “Joe”. It is a simplified method of charting your favorite java’s characteristics. The flavor descriptions that are most commonly used are defined below.

Know thyself: what flavors appeal to you? Here are some specific desirable flavor characteristics of gourmet coffee and the types of gourmet coffee that are associated with those characteristics.

Bright, Dry, Sharp, or Snappy – typical of Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Kenyan.

Caramels – candy like or syrupy, typical of Colombian Supreme.

Chocolaty – an aftertaste similar to unsweetened chocolate or vanilla. Typical of Costa Rican, Colombian Supreme and the House Blend.

Delicate – a subtle flavor perceived on the tip of the tongue.

Earthy – a soil characteristic, typical of Sumatran.

Fragrant – an aromatic characteristic ranging from floral to spicy, typical of Costa Rican, Sumatra Modeling and Kenyan.

Fruity – an aromatic characteristic reminiscent of berries or citrus.

Mellow – a round, smooth taste, typically lacks acid, typical of Colombian, Sumatra Modeling, Whole Latti Java and Organic Mexican.

Nutty – an aftertaste similar to roasted nuts, typical of Colombian and Organic Mexican.

Spicy – a flavor and aroma reminiscent of spices typical of Guatemala Huehuetenango.

Syrupy – strong, and rich, typical of Sumatran.

Sweet – free of harshness, typical of Colombian.

Wildness – an unusual, gamey flavor, typical of Sumatran.

Church coffee – harsh without much flavor

Winery – an aftertaste reminiscent of well-matured wine, typical of Kenyan, Guatemalan.

You will soon realize that Costa Rica has the best gourmet coffee – the perfect balance of flavor and smoothness – lots of flavor without the bitterness found in gourmet coffee. The Columbia gourmet coffee and the Brazil gourmet coffee are a close second as they deliver more flavor they tend to get slightly bitter and can lave an aftertaste of the gourmet coffee. The Africa gourmet coffee is harsh and the Asian gourmet coffee is sour, while the other Latin America gourmet coffee lacks full body and taste.

But have fun discovering for yourself as you sample and taste gourmet coffee from around the world. Now if we could only get our church coffee to sample some good gourmet coffee and learn how bad church coffee is. Once you have set values and methods you can better define which gourmet coffee you like but more importantly why you like the gourmet coffee.

And we hope a more educated gourmet coffee will understand better why Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is the best gourmet coffee in Costa Rica and the best gourmet coffee served in America. Mission Grounds: Gourmet coffee for gourmet coffee drinkers and gourmet coffee experts.

The finest Costa Rica tasting gourmet coffee available. And the only one exclusively helping children around the world. The best church coffee. The gourmet coffee bean to drink. Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee http://www. missiongrounds. com – sure to win your gourmet coffee taste tests

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Differences in One-cup Coffee Makers

For many years, coffee makers were just that. They would brew a pot of coffee, which was then poured into several different cups. However, in recent years, there have been advancements in coffee makers, and the most popular new type of coffee makers is one cup coffee makers. Not surprisingly, these coffee makers make one cup of coffee at a time. These machines are very popular because many people enjoy being able to make one cup of coffee at a time. There are several different types of one cup coffee makers out there on the market today.

One of the initial advances one-cup coffee makers offered were smaller coffee pots, which saved time and unused coffee grounds. These smaller coffee pots only hold enough water for one cup of coffee at a time. An individual would add a spoonful of coffee, and wait a few moments for the pot to percolate. This allows a person to make only one cup at a time.

However, there are many more advancements one-cup coffee makers have to offer than just smaller decanters. One of the biggest challenges was that it was often difficult to measure out the amount of coffee needed for one cup of coffee. Due to this difficulty, the pod type coffee makers were born. The pod coffee makers were a way for people to have one cup of coffee, and not have to worry about deciding how much coffee to put in their one cup coffee makers.

With a pod coffee maker, a person puts in enough water to have one cup of coffee. Then, instead of putting loose coffee into the coffee maker, a pod is put there instead. The pod is constructed out of coffee-filter material, with the pre-measured coffee inside of it. The pod is placed into the coffee pot; hot water is run through it, creating the perfect cup of coffee.

There are also one-cup coffee makers that make coffee directly into the mug. These coffee makers use portioned packets or pods to have just the right amount of coffee grounds. The mug is part of the coffee maker itself. Hot water is poured into the coffee maker, and the coffee is percolated directly into specially made mugs that attach to the coffee maker. These coffee pots are very easy to use and very convenient. However, if the coffee mug is lost or broken, the entire coffee pot cannot be used. Some of the brands have replacement coffee mugs that can be purchased.

There are many reasons that a person might want to use a one-cup coffee maker. With the pods and portioned packets, a person can choose one single type of coffee each day. A husband can have one type of coffee while a wife has another type of coffee. Also, a person can have only one cup of coffee at a time. Many people prefer this because they do not have to wait for an entire pot of coffee to brew. Usually, one cup coffee makers brew the coffee in a matter of minutes.

The revolution of one cup coffee makers has led to an influx in the coffee market in general. In the past, flavored coffees and specialty coffees were not sold as much because people did not want to make entire pots of different coffees.

However, with the advent of the one-cup coffee makers, specialty coffee brands are introducing new products all the time. Different flavors can be alternated with little effort, and this feature is one that many individuals greatly prefer. Some people enjoy one-cup coffee makers because it allows them to experiment with different kinds of coffee without purchasing a whole bag of coffee grounds. Also, if they do not like the flavor, a one-cup coffee maker does not create too much waste. The common perception is that people are more likely to try various kinds of coffee when they only have to try one cup at a time. In this environmentally conscious world, this thought process makes perfect sense. Also, a person is much more likely to try out different types of coffees if they can purchase variety packs of many different types to use in their one cup coffee makers.

As with many other popular products, there is an evolution in how a product is brought to the consumer. In this case, less is certainly more, and coffee-lovers everywhere are enjoying this advancement one cup at a time.

About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the food and beverage industry such as Keurig | Keurig K Cup

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Why Coffee Pods are the Best Coffee Solution for the Office

Many employers often wonder what their employees want, besides a raise of course. The answer might be surprising. A number of Fortune 500 companies have discovered that one of the most treasured perks they provide for their employees is something they might never expect – coffee! A break room well-stocked with a variety of coffees and other beverages is high on the list of perks that employees are looking for. More and more employers are finding that the very best way to give their employees something they will enjoy is by bringing coffee pods into the employee break room.
Coffee pods first made their appearance on the market about a decade ago. At the time, they were expensive and there were few varieties available. The critics were not kind about the coffee either, but all that has changed. Today, coffee machines that use coffee pods are among the most popular office coffee machines on the market, and with good reason. Why choose coffee pods for your office break room? Take a look at what some of the best makers of single serve coffee makers with coffee pods offer your office.
Consistently Good Coffee
Previously, many workers felt ‘office coffee’ was synonymous with mud. No matter how good the coffee you started with, it soon turned into oily black sludge. That was partly because the pot inevitably sat on the burner and scorched the coffee, and partly because the machine just didn’t get cleaned often enough. With coffee pods, those issues are grievances of the past. Each pod is pre-measured with the precise amount of coffee, tea or cocoa to make one perfect cup at a time. Also, because you are only making one cup at a time, there’s no coffee to turn to burnt sludge in the bottom of the pot. The coffee maker does not pick up all the oils from the brewing process either, meaning that you get fresh, clean coffee every time around.
Easy Cleanup
Coffee pods also mean no more messy drips and grounds on the counter of the break room. The coffee grounds are completely contained in the pod. When the coffee is done, you just eject the pod and throw it away. Your coffee room will stay clean, making it a more inviting place for your workers to brainstorm and work together.
Save Money
When the best coffee in town is right there in the break room, your employees are far less likely to wander off looking for a coffee shop. More time at the office and less time spent standing in line waiting for a cappuccino at the local shop is good news for you. Your employees will be happier and more productive. At the same time, they will be saving money on all those specialty coffees bought over the counter. Even if you decide to establish a coffee fund, they will be paying far less per cup for coffee pods at the office than they will for a paper takeaway cup from the local shop.
Everyone gets what they like!
One of the best things about replacing the office coffee pot with a single cup brewer and a coffee pod system is the selection of beverages available in coffee pods. With selections of coffee ranging from light breakfast blends to full-bodied espressos, everyone in your office can have the style and flavor of coffee that they like best. Coffee enthusiasts can find flavored coffees among varieties such as vanilla, hazelnut, mocha and even blueberry. Even better, most of the single serve coffee systems that use coffee pods are not confined to just making coffee. Depending on the supplier you choose, you may be able to also receive an assortment of flavored teas and gourmet hot chocolate drinks as well.
The Best Coffees Available
As single cup coffee makers have gained acceptance and popularity, the selection of coffees available in coffee pods for brewing has grown exponentially. The biggest reason for that is the number of nationally known fine coffee roasters who have jumped on the bandwagon to offer a variety of their coffees in pod form so that you can enjoy the same coffees that you love at the coffee shop. Among the coffee roasters who now offer their coffee in pods are Seattle’s Best, Starbucks, Melitta and Baronet. Java One offers a wide variety of coffee blends, and Senseo, makers of the Senseo single serve coffee system offers their own line of a dozen different coffee varieties that range from a light, tart Brazilian that will please most American palates to their latest gourmet offering, a rich, sweet, dark coffee appropriately named Café Noir, with just a hint of chocolate in the finish.
Your office staff will appreciate the investment in a coffee pod brewing system. A coffee pod system can pay for itself in happier workers and increased productivity, and your staff just may vote you supervisor of the year.

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the food and beverage industry such as a Coffee Pod

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Coffee Pod Makes a No Mess Perfect Cup

Coffee pods look like round tea bags which contain the right amount of pre-packaged coffee beans, encapsulated in a paper pod. Designed for usage with single-serving coffee-makers, it allows the savoring of the flavor of your first cup. Pod brewing grows quickly due to the many top brands of coffee manufacturers that ensure a no-mess experience, for a perfect cup of coffee. Coffee pods look like round tea bags which contain the right amount of pre-packaged coffee beans, encapsulated in a paper pod. Designed for usage with single-serving coffee-makers, it allows the savoring of the flavor of your first cup. Coffee Pods have a specially formulated filter paper which aims to maintain the freshness of ground coffee. It is circular in shape, and weighs from 8 up to 12 grams, with a 57mm up to 61mm in size. Oxygen is being removed in ground coffee in order to ensure the quality of the product. Moreover, coffee pods have a variety you can choose from. This is with regards to its brew strength. This includes: ? Mild roast – a mild and delicious aromatic blend taste ? Medium roast – a natural and harmonious taste with a mild and balanced aromatic blend ? Dark roast – a smooth, full-bodied and robust blend. Coffee machines helps in the process of extracting the coffee pods. This is in balancing the ratio of coffee into the water in order to produce a rich frothy cup of coffee. Historically, as far as 1000 AD, the introduction of coffee has become a part of the daily living in several countries. Since then, coffee has been transformed into many varieties. Hence, the birth of instant coffee finally took its toll in the year 1901. Producing 97% of the worlds output, Brazil became the world’s largest producer of coffee since 1907. By 1920, America consumed 70% of the worlds coffee production. Coffee pods come with different types. Such are: ?decaffeinated ?flavored ?dark ?medium ?light Packs to choose from are as follows: ?all Pod Sampler Packs ?All Tea Pods ?All Pods Now, manufacturers of coffee-makers help in ensuring the compatibility of coffee pods with certain coffee makers in the market. Manufacturers which introduced patented coffee makers with easy methods of brewing for different brands of coffee pods include the following: ?Senseo ?Melitta One ?BUNN List of branded coffee pods are as follows: Pod Coffee by Brew 1. Aloha Island Chocolate Macadamnia Nut Pod Coffee 100% Kona Aloha Island Chocolate Macadamia Nut is a rich chocolate flavored coffee. A 100% Estate Kona Coffee with the right amounts of macadamia nut flavors. It is a medium roasted coffee with low acidic content. It is also pesticide free. It only costs $20. 75. 2. Aloha Island Light Roast Pod Coffee 100% Kona A 100% Kona coffee KONA_PODS that has a smooth texture and exquisitely flavored whole bean Kona. It is a light roast type that one can enjoy with a single serving of pod brewer, with a low acidic content and no pesticide. It’s on sale price is $20. 75. 3. Aloha Island Magnum Opus Diamond Private Reserve Pod Coffee 100% Kona Aloha Island Magnum Opus Diamond is a very special tiny portion of the crop that qualifies as a Diamond selection of coffee. It is somewhat woodsy and smoky, making it rare and extraordinary. It has a 12 capacity box that is smooth. It is also called “dessert coffee”. Aloha Diamond Pod Coffee is 100% Kona coffee and it is a light roast type which is low in acidity and has no pesticide. It only costs $22. 95. 4. Aloha Island Magnum Opus Gold Pod Coffee 100% Kona Aloha Island Magnum Opus Gold is 100% Pure Kona coffee which is very smooth, very rich and has an excellent depth of flavor. In order to develop the exquisite flavor and quality, selecting the top grades from the plantation and roasting it carefully is an excellent choice for daily morning and afternoon coffee breaks. It is also a medium roast coffee that is pesticide free. Plus, it possesses low acidity content. It only costs $19. 95. 5. Aloha Island Magnum Opus Platinum Pod Coffee 100% Kona Aloha Island Magnum Opus Platinum is made from a round-shaped and small coffee bean. This is manufactured in the big island plantation of Hawaii. It is 100% estate Kona coffee it possesses low acidity and no pesticide content. It is also a light roast type that has 12 pieces inside its box. It only costs $21. 95. 6. Aloha Island Variety Pack 100% Kona Flavors of this type include: ?French Vanilla ?Espresso roast ?Chocolate Macadamia Nut ?Decaf ?Dark roast ?Medium roast ?Light roast ?Hazelnut Aloha Island Variety Pack has 12 pieces inside its box. It only costs $23. 95. 7. Baronet Galapagos Pod Coffee Baronet Galapagos Pod Coffee is grown from San Cristobal in Galapagos, only 600 miles from Ecuador. It is an exceptional, medium roasted, organic chemical and pesticide free coffee that possesses buttery sweetness, making it silky and full. It only costs $10. 75. 8. Baronet Pod Coffee French Roast Decaf A dark roasted coffee with a full body blend of the South and Central Americas. Its on sale price is only $5. 90 for every sleeve of 18 pods. 9. Baronet Pod Coffee Mint Chocolate Chip This is a smooth, rich chocolate with refreshing mint taste. It is much better than an ice cream. It is also a light roast coffee that consists of 18 pods per sleeve. Its on sale price is only $5. 90. 10. Dallmayr Crema d’Oro Coffee Pods This is a delight as Café Crema. It is a balanced blend of the finest beans. It is also a medium roasted coffee equipped a gentle technique in order to produce a fine light-velvety crema. It only costs $ 4. 85 for each. Its box has 16 pieces. 11. Fratello Christmas Morning Coffee Pods Fratello Christmas Morning Coffee is a rich festive creation with orange and cinnamon. It is a lightly roasted coffee with 18 pieces of pods in a box. 12. Fratello Coffee Pods Yemen Moka Sanani Single Estate It is vibrantly fruity, rich, earthy, light roasted and fresh flavored coffee equipped with a blueberry finish that will really surprise one’s taste buds. It is of the best quality. It is also a consistent coffee which is grown in the highland regions of Sana’a in Yemen. It only costs $8. 50. 13. Fratello Dixie Voodoo Coffee Pods Fratello Dixie Voodoo is an Indonesian coffee blend, with a bold spicy flavor. It is also a dark roasted coffee with a smooth and dark unsweetened bakers chocolate taste. It only costs $5. 99 for every pod. One box of this type contains 18 pods. 14. Fratello Eggnog Coffee Pods A light roasted coffee that is equipped with traditional eggnog of rich rum and spices. It only costs $5. 99. It has 18 pods inside its box. 15. Fratello Gingerbread Coffee Pods Fratello Gingerbread is a lightly roasted coffee pod with a warm spicy flavor of gingerbread and molasses. It only costs $5. 99. It contains 18 pods per box. 16. Fratello Nicaraguan Org. FT Coffee Pods This is a medium roasted coffee with mild acidity content, along with hints of tobacco and chocolate. Its on sale price is $5. 99. It has 18 pods per box. 17. Fratello Spiced Buttered Rum Coffee Pods The Fratello Spiced Buttered Rum has a buttery warm flavor, with just the right touch of actual spices. It is a lightly roasted type. It has 18 pods per box. It only costs $5. 99. 18. Java One Pod Coffee Estate Costa Rican Java One has a unique flavor and intense aroma, making it a well balanced taste. It is a medium roasted type of Costa Rican coffee. It only costs $5. 35. It has 14 counts per box. 19. Java One Pod Coffee Hazelnut Crème This is from 100% Arabian beans, making it unique, light roasted and having a touch of a hazelnut nutty flavor. It is smooth and subtle, along with sweet flavors which can be enjoyed as a delicious end meal. It only costs $5. 35. 20. Lavazza House Blend Premium Coffee Pods Lavazza House Blend is made up of 100% Arabica. It is from the Brazilian region, making it fruity and with a flowery aroma. It is also a light roasted coffee with 18 pods per box. Its on sale price is only $8. 99. 21. Melitta Southern Pecan Pie Pod Coffee This is a lightly roasted coffee, having a blend of toasted pecans, sweet maple and cinnamon. Its standard measurement is 9 gram / 55mm pod and it’s Price is only $4. 99. 22. Reunion Island Maple Creme Coffee Pods This is a medium roasted blend with a smooth flavor of maple cream, making it better tasting. Its on sale price is $7. 50. It has 25 counts per box 23. Wolfgang Puck South Pacific Dark Pod Coffee Wolfgang Puck South Pacific has an elegant blend of all natural coffee, usually from the tropical Pacific Rim. It is a medium to dark roasted coffee type. Its on sale price is $8. 90. It has about 25 counts per box. All coffee pods can be used within 2 up to 3 weeks after opening. Maintaining its freshness is what makes coffee pods different from other kinds of coffee preparations. There are many factors that contribute in making or producing a perfect cup. People usually judge a good cup of coffee with its flavor and crema. However, there is always a good way of preparing this, along with an easy cleanup and measuring devices, which will surely satisfy a coffee drinker. It is definitely money well spent. If you want a convenient, great tasting, and time saving coffee experience, you should try a cup of pod coffee.

For more information on coffee pods please visit our website.

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What to Look for When Choosing a One-cup Coffee Maker

Single-serve coffee systems and one cup coffee makers were first introduced in the late 1990s, and have become more and more popular with each passing year. If you are considering a one cup coffee maker for your house or office, there are a number of things you should consider in making your decision. Types of Single Serve Coffee MakersThese days, a one cup coffee maker is more than a just a miniature drip coffee maker. There are many different kinds of coffee makers that only make one or two servings of coffee at a time. They include some of the oldest types of coffee makers in the world – the French press and the steam mocha pot, for instance. However, when most people refer to one-cup coffee makers today, they’re talking about automatic coffee makers. These fall into two different types of machine – a drip coffee maker that serves up one cup of coffee at a time, or the so-called single-serve coffee systems that use pods, cups or some other sort of special delivery system for coffee. The first thing to consider when deciding on a single cup coffee maker is whether you’re willing to be limited in your choice of coffee. The major brands of single serve coffee makers – Senseo, Tassimo, and Keurig – all require that you use coffee that is specially packaged for their machines. If a wide selection of coffees is important to you, or if you have a specific favorite, you’ll either want to be sure that the coffee maker you choose offers your favorite brand of coffee or choose a standard drip coffee maker that brews a single cup at a time. What to look for: One-Cup Drip Coffee MakersThere are only a few considerations if you’re choosing a one-cup drip coffee maker. They include:Does the coffee maker require paper filters, or does it use a permanent filter?Does the coffee maker dispense coffee into a regular sized mug?Can the height be adjusted for a larger mug or does it come with a thermal travel mug for easy dispensing?Can you make two or more cups immediately after one another?Can it be set to start your coffee automatically on a timer?What to look for: Single Serve Coffee SystemsAll single serve coffee systems have a number of things in common – they all have a reservoir to hold water, a boiler or heater to heat water, and some sort of specially designed coffee-and-filter combination through which the water is either pumped or dripped to extract the coffee. The major difference between the brands is in the coffee holder/filter mechanism. Each of the major brands uses a different kind of system. Coffee Pod SystemsMany of the single serve coffee systems use coffee ‘pods’ (sometimes called coffee pads in other markets). The pods are an all-in-one coffee and filter arrangement that most often look like a large, round tea bag. There are standard pod sizes for single serving, double serving and espresso pods, and the better coffee pod systems will include coffee baskets to fit each of the three sizes so that you can use the coffee maker with the widest variety of coffees. In addition, there are products on the market that allow you to create properly sized coffee pods using any brand of coffee. The results are variable and it can be time-consuming to make your own coffee pods, though, so you may want to be certain that your favorite coffee is available in pods before choosing one of the coffee pod systems. Single-Serve Coffee Brewing SystemsIn addition to the pod systems, there are several one cup coffee systems that use a patented, proprietary ‘mini-brewer’ that is sized to fit their machines. The most popular of these are the Keurig brewing system, the Senseo and the Tassimo brewing system. Each of them uses a very similar mechanism for making your coffee. You simply drop one of the pre-packed pre-measured coffee ‘cups’ or ‘discs’ into the coffee maker, hit a button and wait. The cup or disc contains both the coffee and the filter. The machine is designed to force water through the disposable brewer and dispense it directly into the cup. When your cup is finished brewing, you simply remove the spent brewer and toss it out – no dealing with messy grinds, and since the coffee never touches any part of the machine, you can easily make multiple cups of coffee in different flavors and roasts without worrying about crossing flavors. The biggest thing to consider when choosing one of the coffee brewing systems is whether the coffee that you prefer is available in packages that fit your machine. Currently, Keurig’s K-cups seem to come in the largest variety, with more flavors and roasts being added frequently, but each of the major brands is affiliated with one of the world’s major coffee roasting houses. One further consideration when choosing a coffee brewing system is the cost of the coffee. As a general rule, you will pay more for coffee when you’re buying capsules, cups or pods for single serve machines, and in most cases, you have to order your coffee through the manufacturer. Also, few of them are sold in supermarkets or groceries.

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the food and beverage industry often discussing specific brands such as Tassimo

The Perfect Espresso Maker For You

Being a coffee lover means having to expand out and build an appreciation for espresso. Many coffee drinkers will also get regular cups of espresso. So, if you want to make sure that you are experiencing everything you can in regards to coffee make sure that you incorporate some espresso into your drinking habits. Buying espresso at coffee shops can get quite expensive. Besides, you will not have the control that you would have if you were to make your own espresso. That is why it is a necessity to own your own espresso maker.

First of all, let us give a background on what type of coffee espressos are. To make an espresso, you use the same kind of coffee beans as any other coffee. The great difference lies in the coffee grind and in the brewing process. Generally, the bean grind on espressos are finer. The brewing is done not just by any means but with a strict standard in the forcing of hot water though the coffee grounds at extremely high pressure. Now, you might think that it is not so important to know the process and the requirements of making a good espresso cup as you can always buy one at the nearest coffee shop. Well, while this is true, there is a great difference between spending a lot for commercial coffee every single day and having your own espresso maker at home.

When it comes to the kinds of espresso maker, you can either have the pump driven, the piston driven or the steam type. The piston driven espresso maker requires an operator to pump a lever to pressurize hot water and let it pass through the fine coffee bean grind. The term pulling a shot is actually coined through this process as an operator would need to pull the lever in order to create a shot of espresso. This original espresso maker has made way for the newer kind, called a pump driven espresso maker. Instead of using manual pull force, a motor-driven pump pushes the pressurized water into the coffee bean grounds. This is the type used in most commercial coffee shops nowadays. The third kind is the steam-driven which is a machine that simply uses steam to force hot water to create strong shots of coffee.

Now that you know the force behind an espresso maker, then it can be easier for you to search for the right one for your own needs. Needless to say, it is your type of machine that can lead you to one within the right budget. The steam-driven espresso maker is generally the cheapest one. But this does not mean that an espresso cup made from a steam espresso maker would always make a cup of coffee that is below normal standards. You can get a high end coffee maker even with the steam driven ones and get yourself a satisfying brew anytime you want it. However, if you have more budget set aside then getting a piston or a pump espresso maker would give you stronger cups.

Make sure you make room on your kitchen counter. As a coffee drinker you will definitely will be filling the extra room on your counter with an espresso maker. Enjoy!

John Ulonka can often be found enjoying a steaming cup of espresso at the local beanery. Besides enjoying the latest blends, John has a site with reviews of straight razor blade, as well as a review of Straight Blade Razor.

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What is a Coffee Service and Why are They Beneficial?

A coffee service is commonly touted as one of the best perks that you can offer your employees; and one of the best ways to add positively to the company experience for your customers and your clients. Why a coffee service? And precisely what IS a coffee service? Coffee Services Come in Many Flavors When working with a coffee service, run-of-the-mill flavors such as French Vanilla and Cinnamon Hazelnut coffee flavors are just the beginning. There are several different standard kinds of coffee services, and each coffee service provides different services and equipment to your office. Each of them also offers benefits, both in general and specifically for your office. Full Office Coffee Service Most coffee service companies provide a free coffee machine – or more than one machine, depending on the needs of your company, as part of their service contract. You pay nothing for the coffee machine as long as you purchase a minimum specified amount of coffee and other supplies from the coffee service company. The coffee machines supplied run the gamut from basic Bunn Coffee-matic pour-over coffee pots to elaborate high-end espresso machines that make multiple kinds of hot drinks, usually dispensing one cup at a time. If you opt for a full coffee service contract, the supplier will generally set up an automatic delivery schedule of coffee, teas and other beverages, commonly referred to as consumables. Some may also include such supplies as water filters for your coffee machine, bottled water, automatic coffee machine cleaner, coffee filters, disposable coffee cups and napkins. Most likely, you will be assigned to an account manager who will be available to discuss your coffee service needs if you find that you are ordering too much or too little coffee. When you use a coffee service to provide coffee for your office and customers, you reap some very tangible benefits, and a few intangible ones. Here are just a few of them. 1. Your coffee expenses are far easier to track when you use a coffee service If you are providing coffee to your employees and customers for free, it is a legitimate business expense. When you use a coffee service, you only have one expense stream to track, the bills from the coffee service. Compare that to tracking the receipts from the food service, from the supermarket, the replacement coffee machine when the old one failed, the box of tea. It will save your bookkeeper a lot of aggravation and time, and probably save you some money on your taxes. 2. You don’t have to worry about running out of coffee or coffee supplies when you use a coffee service When you sign up with a coffee service, you could set up automatic regular deliveries of coffee and supplies. No one has to think about ordering coffee, and you should never run out of coffee again. That means no sending out your secretary to pick up filters at the last minute so you can serve coffee to an important client, or rooting around in the break room cabinets to find a leftover coffee pod. 3. It costs you nothing for coffee machine maintenance Since you do not own the coffee machine, you do not have to worry about maintenance. In many cases, the coffee service supplier will attend to routine maintenance chores, or at least remind you when it is time to do them. More to the point, if the machine just quits working, the coffee service provider will generally replace or repair it almost immediately. The same holds true if the coffee carafe gets knocked off the counter, no more hunting around for hours, or buying a new coffee maker because the carafe broke. 4. You have a wide choice of coffee machine options with a coffee service Most office coffee services feature a full range of coffee makers and coffee machine options. The most popular are single-serve coffee makers that allow each of your employees or customers to make their favorite kind of coffee, tea or even hot chocolate. They can supply machines for any size office or retail operation. Even if your company decides that it can’t foot the entire bill for your employees’ coffee habit, there are coffee services that can provide you with vending machines, but not the “old school” vending machines that dispense watery brew. The new coffee vending machines dispense gourmet coffee in different flavors, as well as hot chocolate and hot water for tea. Using a vending machine in conjunction with a coffee company allows you to offset the cost of providing coffee for your office by collecting a small fee for the coffee sold. If the thought of using a coffee service sounds intriguing, coffee services can be found in just about every city as well as online. Contact a sales agent or account representative from a local coffee service to find out more about the benefits of using a coffee service for your office or business.

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about tips for living and saving money, often offering suggestions about certain services to try such as office coffee.

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How to Save Money by Using a Coffee Service

There are many excellent reasons why a company would choose to provide coffee for its employees, customers and clients, but can you really save money using a coffee service? When you count in all of the costs associated with providing coffee for your business, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out just how cost-effective it can be to use a coffee service for your office coffee needs. Take a look at some of the obvious, and not so obvious, cost benefits of using a coffee service as opposed to providing the same coffee and machine on your own. The Cost of the Coffee Machine When considering the cost of the coffee machine, be sure to evaluate your office’s needs in terms of cups of coffee served per day. If you’re making more than two or three pots of coffee a day for your office or company, chances are that a coffee maker designed for use in a home kitchen just won’t do. While you may not need a coffee machine designed for restaurant or coffee shop use, you do need one that will handle higher traffic than the typical kitchen coffee maker or you’ll be replacing the coffee machine every few months. A coffee maker that can handle the typical office or business traffic will easily cost you upwards of $150-$200, while a top-of-the-line coffee machine or a coffee vending machine can easily run into the thousands of dollars. By contrast, most office coffee service companies provide a high quality, professional coffee maker for free as long as you contract to buy a minimum amount of coffee and supplies through their service. The Cost of Coffee through an Office Coffee Service Office coffee service companies tend to buy their materials from coffee suppliers in large quantities. These companies are usually able to get a discounted price for the coffee that they buy. In general, you won’t pay more for coffee bought through an office coffee service than you would if you bought the coffee at your local supermarket or through a coffee subscription service. There are, however, many other ways that you’ll see savings when you buy coffee through a coffee service. – Coffee ordered from a coffee service is delivered directly to your office on a pre-determined schedule. That means that no one has to spend time shopping for coffee and no one has to run out in the middle of the day to buy coffee because you’ve run out. – Generally, the coffee service will deliver coffee packaged in pre-measured pouches just right for making one pot of coffee. That helps you control the amount of coffee that’s used per pot, potentially saving you money on every pot of coffee. – If you choose a single serve coffee system, your potential savings are even greater. Because your employees will be making coffee to order, one cup at a time, you won’t be pouring old coffee down the drain because it’s become undrinkable. In addition to the savings you’ll get by choosing a coffee service, you’ll also be serving better coffee. You won’t be brewing up ground coffee that’s gone stale in the can or the bag because your coffee will be in vacuum packed pouches or cups until just before you brew it. Save Money on Supplies and Equipment through an Office Coffee Service Your coffee supplier will also offer a range of coffee making equipment and supplies to mix with your coffee. That means that you won’t be paying supermarket prices for cream, milk, sugar and creamer for office use. Similar to the coffee, you’ll be able to purchase office coffee supplies through your coffee service in individual serving packets, which is both more sanitary and more economical. You won’t be throwing away cream or milk that’s gone bad in the refrigerator, or running down to the store to pick up another quart of milk before a big meeting. Those supplies also include napkins, coffee cups and stirrers. Disposable coffee supplies are optional, of course, but could be an enormous boon if you regularly serve coffee to clients or customers. Save Money on Repairs, Service and Replacement One expense that’s not often counted when you’re calculating the cost of providing coffee at the office is the cost of maintenance. A coffee machine requires regular maintenance and cleaning in order to continue making good coffee. A broken coffee carafe often means buying a new coffee maker because it can be difficult to replace the carafe with the right size. When you use an office coffee service, your service provider takes on the responsibility for maintaining and servicing your machine on a regular schedule. If your coffee machine malfunctions, the coffee service will replace or repair it, often within 24 hours so that you’re not left without a functioning coffee machine for your employees and customers. Depending on your contract with the coffee service, those replacements may be at no cost to you, or at a very nominal cost. An office coffee service isn’t right for every office, but if your company provides coffee for employees or for customers and clients, it’s an option well worth exploring. If you’re considering using an office coffee service, the points above can help you make a realistic analysis of your possible savings.

Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about the office environment and ways to improve productivity such as utilizing an office coffee service.

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