Coffee, What Is Its Origin?
Nothing perks up a lazy day like coffee. What is this brown colored fluid made of and why can't some people survive a day without consuming even just a sip of this stimulant?
Coffee, normally taken heated, is brewed from the coffee plant's roasted seeds, called coffee beans. Considered the second-most traded commodity in the world, after petroleum, coffee is hailed as modern man's chief source of caffeine. How he gets that additional burst of energy. The perceived benefits and hazards of this potent drink continues to be the subject of discussion among coffee drinkers worldwide.
How did the term "coffee" come into being? Coffee is identified by many names among various peoples of the world. It came to England in 1598, via the Italian "caffe." The Turkish term for it is "kahveh", while the Arabic term is "qahwa." Its birth place is still unknown, although some believe that the drink possibly came from the Kaffa region of Ethopia. There the precursor of coffee, the plant initially named "bunna", is found.
Did you know that coffee consumption was banned in Mecca in 1511, and also in Cairo in 1532? Due to coffee's huge popularity, the law was made obsolete soon after. From then on, as the result of the trading efforts of the British and Dutch East India companies, coffee found its way to Europe in the sixteenth century.
One of the two main species of the coffee plant is "Coffea Arabica". Its name implying that its origin came from the Arabian Peninsula. But it is native to Ethiopia. Although the Arabica is more sucptical to disease, coffee lovers think it to be more flavorful than "coffea canephora" (robusta). Canephora produces twice as much caffeine. However, the later is proven to be a natural insecticide and stimulant, growing in places where the former cannot grow. Thus, it is used as an inexpensive substitute for Arabica in commercial coffee blends and in most instant coffee products.
Compared to Arabica, robusta is more bitter tasting, with a slightly burnt-rubber smell and taste. Robusta of finer quality is used in espresso blends to produce a foamy effect and for better affordability. As a result, Italian espresso blends are made from dark-roasted Robusta.
A number of blend varieties are so popular and in demand that they can cost a higher price. Some examples include the Jamaican Blue Mountain and Hawaiian Kona coffees. Often, these beans are combined with other, less-expensive varieties and the term blend is added to the label. Some of these include "Blue Mountain Blend" or "Kona Blend".
So stop the morning blues with an adrenaline-pumping sip of this favorite drink of caffeine addicts worldwide.
To get more espresso making tips, visit Dave Owen's site "Espress Making Facts And Info". You will find many ways to brew the perfect cup of espresso and improve your health.
Shopping for an Espresso Machine? Here's a selection at affordable prices:
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De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker List Price: $140.00 Sale Price: $69.00 Used From: $68.99  |
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Enjoy delicious espresso made your way with De'Longhi's pump espresso and cappuccino maker. You can choose to brew ground espresso or E.S.E pods with the unique patented dual filter holder. The choice is yours, making your espresso truly made to order... |
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Mr. Coffee ECM160 4-Cup Steam Espresso Machine, Black List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $34.89 Used From: $29.99 |
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Makes delicious espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes. Powerful milk frother. 4-Cup capacity: 20-ounce. Per shot. Removable drip tray. Easy to pour decanter. Removable frothing aid. On/off indicator light. |
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Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Tablets, 100 Tablets List Price: $18.13 Sale Price: $12.69 |
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Cafiza espresso machine cleaning tablets, 100 1.2g tablets per jar |
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Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine List Price: $59.99 Sale Price: $59.19 Used From: $47.64 |
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Experience the full taste of espressos, cappuccinos and lattes. The Capresso 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine features an exclusive Coffee/Steam Selector that makes it easy to control both brewing and steaming, allowing the user to adjust coffee strength to their personal taste... |
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Espresso Tamper 50 & 60 Mm Sizes Cast Alloy Hand Coffee List Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $5.00 |
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Description: This sleek cast aluminum alloy Coffee Tamper fits beautifully in the hand. This was designed by a professional barista to tamp down espresso. You will love it in your kitchen or coffee bar and it also makes an ideal gift for the discerning coffee drinker!! One side is 50mm the other is 58mm Color: aluminum Content: cast aluminum alloy Measurements: 50mm top diameter and 58 mm diameter on the other side, and 2... |
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March 24 2010 03:29 pm | coffee