A Coffee Bean Grinder Guarantees Freshness

True coffee lovers know that fresh ground coffee tastes best. And that's why so many coffee aficionados are now using their own coffee bean grinder to get that fresh taste every day in their homes.

There are several advantages to grinding your own coffee beans, but perhaps the most important (besides freshness) is that you have complete control over how fine the grind is. If you know your coffee, you know just how important that is. So perhaps you're now at least a little bit curious as to how you grind your beans.

If you haven't tried grinding your own beans yet, maybe you think it's hard to do. It isn't. Or maybe you think it's a messy process. Again, this simply isn't correct.

The only argument that "holds water" is that it's just easier to open a can and start brewing. And while this is true, once you taste the difference between store bought coffee in a can and freshly ground beans, you'll realize quickly just what you've been missing.

The reason freshly ground beans taste better is because as soon as the grinding is done, the beans will naturally begin to lose some of the aroma and flavor. And the longer they sit, the more they will lose. If you brew them immediately after grinding, your cup will always taste and smell better.

So what kind of grinder should you get? There are two popular types on the market. You can get either a blade grinder or a burr grinder.

Blade grinders are less expensive. Basically they function like a blender, only smaller. They use the blades inside to do the grinding. And while these are still better than buying your coffee in a can, they do not produce the best results. When you grind coffee beans you want to get a large surface that can be exposed to the hot water. The greater the surface exposure, the more oils and flavor will be extracted. Blade grinders do not produce an even grind, especially the less expensive models. The result is that most coffee experts consider them inferior.

Burr grinders meanwhile are typically used in high quality coffee houses because they give a much better grind. The burrs, or metal discs, are spaced to precise specifications, giving you a grind that is more even. A more even grind means a better cup. And it doesn't matter what type of coffee you like best because these grinders are adjustable. So if you like Turkish drip or automatic drip, you can set your burr grinder to give you the grind you like best.

Not everybody likes their coffee the same way. In a lot of ways, perfect coffee is very subjective. But something every coffee lover can agree on is that freshly ground coffee just tastes better. So really, whether you get a burr or blade coffee bean grinder, you'll always end up with a cup of coffee that is better than what you currently drink. Try it once and you may never again buy a can of coffee that is already ground.

And it's just a simple kitchen appliance that will make that first cup in the morning worth getting out of bed for.

February 28 2009 | coffee | No Comments »

Food Tips – Choosing Your First Outdoor Barbeque Grill

There are thousands of options available to you when you are purchasing your first grill. It may seem overwhelming, but knowing the difference it each type of grill will help you.

Charcoal grills are one of the most used types of grills. Charcoal grills utilize charcoal and lighter fluid to heat up and cook your food. Charcoal grills come in all shapes and sizes, and vary in cost.

Charcoal requires you to buy charcoal and lighter fluid each time you cook with it. It must also be cleaned out each time. Charcoal grills come in small sizes, which are ideal for apartment dwellers or people with small homes. Once you have used your charcoal grill, you can clean it, and store it away. Propane grills are also useful for someone in small areas, since they can come in smaller sizes.

Propane grills use propane gas to cook your food. If you want to quickly cook foods while still maintaining a grilled flavor, you may want to consider Propane grills. Natural gas grills are a little more complicated then smaller grills, so they require more room. Natural gas grills are meant to hook up directly to your home?s natural gas line, and can cook meat in record time.

Smoker Grills are used when flavor is the number one priority. Smoker grills use wood to slow cook your meat. Flavor can be controlled by using different types of woods. A couple of factors should be consider when you go to purchase your first grill. Remember, apiece type of grill comes with its advantages and disadvantages, so you must weigh your options and decide what is right for you.

Barbeque grills can range from extremely cheap to very expensive depending on the type and features available on it. If you are looking for a cheaper grill, then you should probably consider a charcoal grill. While larger charcoal grills are available, smaller grills can be purchased for as little as $10 to $15 at your local department store. Propane grills are slightly more expensive, starting around $100 dollars. A smoker grill is slightly more expensive then a propane grill at about $130 each. Natural gas grills on the higher end of cost. Typically these types of grills start at about $300. Multiple fuel grills are the most expensive at about $450 and up. Multiple fuel grills allow you to grill using one or a combination of fuels.

If you are concerned with flavor, you first choice should be a charcoal or smoker grill. Both of these grills allow you to replicate a true ?smoked? flavor. Smokers are especially nice because you can also control the flavor by changing the type of wood or wood chips you use. This is good if you are wanting to slow cook your meat. If you are wanting to cook something a little quicker, you may want to stick with the charcoal grill. A Charcoal grill will cook quickly if you want it too, and it will still provide a good ?smoked? taste.

Finally, the space you have acquirable should be a consideration. When you grill is not in use, you must have a proper place to store it. Charcoal and Propane grills are saint for smaller areas such as apartments and city homes. If you have a large amount of space available, then you may want to consider the larger options.

February 27 2009 | coffee | No Comments »