Coffee Is A Commodity

One of the most popular beverages in the world is coffee.It was first discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia sometime around the year 800. It then spread to other countries in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.In terms of dollars traded, coffee ranks second in the world, with oil ranking first. The entire coffee growing region of the world is locating between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The cultivation of coffee has become an art form in a few places in the world.While Brazil grows the highest volume of coffee in the world, Southeast Asia produces the most expensive coffee.It is called Kopi Lewak, and the ripest coffee beans are eaten by a Common Palm Civet and then passed through the digestive system.The outer shell of the beans is digested, but the inner bean is not. The beans are then picked up off the ground and processed. It is the opinion of coffee aficionados that Kopi Lewak is the best coffee in the world, and worth the cost. It costs about 600 dollars a pound, or roughly 50 dollars a cup.

Lots of different blends and roasts of coffee are available.Some of the most popular are the dark rich roasts and of course decaffeinated.However there is a new trend emerging toward low acid coffees. Coffee beans contain tannic acid along with other acids. While these acids have benefits to the body, some people find them hard to digest, particularly those with acid reflux disease.Since acid softens tooth enamel dentists often recommend that patients limit their intake of coffee and tea. One of the finest low acid coffees on available is Tyler’s Coffee. This wonderfully robust Arabica is roasted in Arizona with a state of the art process that produces a rich smooth coffee.Tyler’s coffee was started by a very bright 13 year old boy in Tucson, Arizona.Today Tyler’s coffee makes one of the smoothest low acid coffees on the market.

Coffee goes through an intensive process between being grown and being brewed.When coffee plants produce coffee pods, they resemble cherries since they are red in color, and by the time they plant produces its first pods it is already 3 years old.Farmers are not after the coffee cherries, but the two coffee beans that grow inside like peanuts in a shell.To prevent over fermenting the beans must be processed quickly after being picked.Wet processing beans is the most common way to get the beans out of the shells, and they will go through the process several times.

After processing, the beans are then sorted and shipped to the roaster.The roasting process is the most important part of making coffee.It determines the flavor of the end product and it takes a very experienced roaster to turn out a fine coffee. Raw coffee beans are a light green color and taste somewhat bitter, but by roasting the flavor is developed, from mild roasts to rich dark roasts, to some that are so dark they taste almost burnt.

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November 19 2008 | coffee | No Comments »

Choosing a good Coffee Roaster

Coffee roasters vary in almost every way from extremely technical to very simple. The cost varies as greatly as the styles you can choose from. Certain manufactures are trusted to make a quality product and these are not always the most expensive. But in addition to quality and cost there are other factors to be considered.

How much involvement do you want?

Some people just have a bit of the chemist in them. They like to mix and stir, whir and measure. Roasters vary along this dimension. Some simple stove top models are basically just a sauce pan with a tight lid and a special handle.

The simple models seal tightly to keep the heat and steam inside. They have a handle specifically made to allow you to swirl the beans and the steam keeping everything in motion so that the beans do not cook to the bottom and the heat is evenly distributed.

There are certain features you cannot do without. A temperature gage, for example, is necessary to maintain the proper temperature at all times.

Other roaster models need almost no help from you. The instructions give you the amounts. Then you simply attach the cover and wait.

This sophisticated type of roaster has everything built in and removes all guess work. It has a temperature gage which constantly monitors the heat and adjusts itself accordingly. There is no need for stirring because there are built in mechanics that keep the hot air circulating and the beans in perfect motion. These models even shut themselves off when the beans are ready.

Even the fanciest high tech roasters do nothing for the inevitable cloud of smoke in the room that goes along with roasting coffee.

Efficient air circulation and heat

Air roasters work by rotating hot air in through the beans while also keeping the beans in motion. This will roast your coffee beans evenly and in some models even clean away the unwanted residue left over when the shell of the bean expands and bursts.

Many models are made of glass so that you can see what is happening and roast to the extent that you want. On many roasters you can make that determination before you begin to roast because they have settings where you can indicate whether you want a dark roast or a light roast.

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November 13 2008 | coffee | No Comments »