To start off with you should always try to find an espresso maker that includes a hot water dispenser and of course a cup warmer. It may sounds obvious but you like to be able to have your espresso nice and hot whenever you want it.

Ideally on most of the espresso machines the facility for the cup warmer is on the top of the machine. This makes it very easy to just keep your cup there to keep the espresso warm.

In the same way you want to have a hot water dispenser so that you have a constant flow of hot water for your espressos and you do not need to be messing with the kettle all the time.

Another vital feature that you should always have on your espresso maker is the strength control function. This function lets you select how strong or weak you prefer your espresso. So you could have different strengths whenever you like.

Many people also like to make sure that the espresso maker has its own water filter with it. This is one way of ensuring that all the impurities that can be found in the water supply do not get into your espresso and spoil the taste.

Obviously these filters require cleaning or even changing at regular intervals but surely this is not difficult when you consider that your espresso will taste much better with pure clean water.

Finally your espresso maker has to have the facility for frothing. With this frothing wand or canister you can make excellent espresso, cappuccinos or even lattes if you wish.

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Coffee was originally thought by European explorers and scientists to be a chewable energy source from Ethiopia. It is believed to be that shepherds first noticed their goats eating the coffee berries. They ended up smashing ripe berries and mixing them with fat from animals and turning them into gummy round little pellets.

This mixture of fat and coffee berries gave Ethiopians a portable and easy to make energy source. Most noticeably, soldiers would be issued these pellets to eat as energy supplements. In no time, these little pellets became a staple food. The cherries could also be eaten whole and had a good amount of caffeine.

There is even evidence that Ethiopians used this tasty berry to make wine. Coffee was also found to be used on the Arabian peninsula for food as well. It wasn't until later that Arabs started drinking these little energy bullets.

The earliest form of coffee being used as a beverage came well before 1000 A.D. The method was to soak coffee hulls in cold water. After some softening, the hulls were fire roasted and then boiled in water. The end result was a pale yellow liquid that could be used ingested as a stimulant.

This remained the main way to make coffee well through the first millennium into the second one. Simple drying and boiling of yellow liquid was what coffee consisted of.

During the 1400's, coffee changed forever. While looking for new ways to store coffee, researchers experimented with sun drying the beans.

After the beans were dried, they would roast them over a hot fire, and then smash them up and put the grounds in hot water. And that basic process is the foundation for the way modern coffee is produced. Now, coffee beans are second only to oil in terms of traded commodities, and is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It has a long history of energizing people, and thankfully we don't have to eat slimy coffee bean pellets anymore.

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One of the places I chose to mention was a new establishment near my apartment that genuinely served up the best cup of coffee I've ever tasted. He had never tried this place, but insisted that the best cup of coffee I'll ever have was at a place near his house in California. He even promised to mail me some beans.

These were so good in fact that he would have them delivered to his home. He couldn't imagine drinking anything else at this point and he even craved it while he was away.

As a big fan of the drink myself, I decided that I was going that to try this coffee if there was any way that I could. This wouldn't be too difficult, as he quickly offered to mail me some once he got home.

Just a week later, I was lucky enough to receive this package. I excitedly opened it up to see a bag off coffee beans from Blue Bottle coffee, and they smelled absolutely great.

The bag of beans even came with instructions about how to filter drip the best possible tasting cup. I followed their directions word for word and ended up with my first cup just a few minutes later.

You're probably wondering about the verdict. Is San Francisco's Blue Bottle coffee as good as the hype it gets? Well, if you run an online search, you'll see scores of people swearing up and down by this coffee.

While I'm not sure that it's the best I've ever had, I'd place it in my top three. My number one is still the local establishment near my apartment, but anyone with a lack of good coffee around should definitely look into some Blue Bottle coffee.

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Very recently, I saw a new coffee maker in my neighborhood that I decided to try out. Little did I know that I would soon drink a cup of the best coffee I had ever tried.

While Stumptown Coffee Roasters was formerly a coffee maker with a presence limited to the Pacific Northwest, the a personal move by the founder to the East coast has led to a New York presence.

It seems that everything on the menu may very well be great. I've heard others say this, and the theory has proved true thus far. The coffee is higher grade than anything you'll find at Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, and it's hard for me to go back to those after trying Stumptown's roast.

Interestingly enough, the prices aren't much higher than those that you'd find at a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. This is a great thing when you consider the difference in the quality of the beans. One negative is the fact that they only accept cash, though I don't know if that's specific to the location I've been to.

Amazingly, Stumptown Coffee Roasters almost has a cult-like following. Those who've tried it swear by the brand and refuse to drink any other kind of coffee.

Many reviewers online state that Stumptown makes the best cup of coffee out there. Some of these people happen to be from Seattle, considered by many to be the mecca of all coffee.

I can only envy those on the West coast who've been fortunate enough to have a Stumptown in their city for the last decade. As for me, I'll definitely be making the most of my new found obsession.

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Two of the most popular brands in the nation are Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. In bigger cities, you can't go a few blocks without seeing one of the two and there are branches of each present in both towns as well.

There are those who claim that Dunkin Donuts is better, and they're fiercely loyal to the brand. Others feel just the same way about Starbucks. Which is the better option of the two? Let's have a look.

We're going to look at Starbucks first here. They say that Starbucks could one day outnumber McDonald's in terms of locations, which goes to show the strength of the brand. Aside from their coffee, they've branched out to various foods and other drinks.

While people generally approve of the food, in no way does it compare to the coffee. Though they definitely enjoy the taste of the coffee, many people love the caffeine that one cup packs in. Starbucks offers up some of the strongest coffee out there.

There may be less caffeine in Dunkin Donuts drinks, but many coffee drinkers have no problem with this. They don't feel that they need the caffeine kick that comes with a Starbucks coffee. They also appreciate the generous servings at Dunkin Donuts. For the same price, you can generally get a few more ounces to drink.

Dunkin Donuts clearly wins the value war between the two brands, and they also win the flavor battle. The coffee menu at Dunkin Donuts is a bit more varied, and those who like flavored coffee may prefer this.

Now that we've looked at the facts, you may be wondering which company offers better coffee? In taste tests, you might be interested to know that more people prefer Dunkin Donuts. However, you're looking for caffeine and something a bit more gourmet, Starbucks might be your answer.

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How great is the smell of roasted fresh coffee beans brewing as it works its way up the steps and into your bedroom? It starts to seep into your nostrils and all of a sudden you perk up a little bit. Instead of waking up grumpy, you already have a smile on your face in anticipation of the perfect cup of coffee.

It all starts with the beans. If you have lousy coffee beans, you have not shot at getting a great cup of coffee. There are hundreds of different varieties out there and it will be a matter of preference as to what you actually like. One person may rave about Jamaican Blue Mountain while Sumatra may be your favorite. It would be great if there was a simple method of figuring out, but tasting is the best way to find your favorite.

For the perfect cup of coffee, you'll want to start with whole roasted fresh coffee beans that you grind yourself. By the way, you should only buy small quantities of whole beans, maybe enough for 1 or 2 months at a time and keep them in an air tight container to preserve freshness.

If you prefer to buy your coffee on the way into work, you more than likely stop at the same place each and every day. There is no shame in this as the power of the perfect cup is something that is undeniable. Be it Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, Wawa or McDonald's, your favorite is often a cup that you will drive miles out of your way to make sure you are getting what you want.

When you are brewing your coffee at home, the coffee maker is just as important as the coffee bean. Go cheap and you are lucky to ever truly enjoy all the flavor that your roasted fresh coffee bean has. The optimum temperature for brewing is 200 degrees and you at least want to make sure that your machine does that or close to it.

On your quest for the perfect machine, do a lot of research and don't believe everything you read. If you want an honest opinion, go to a neutral reviewing site or check out forums that are aimed at coffee lovers. Even after all of that, you are still going to want to taste a cup before you buy it. Most decent sellers will have machines of various types up and brewing so you can try the coffee from the machine.

If you are a true coffee lover, you may find that you will travel to the ends of the world to make sure you get the perfect cup of coffee. You are probably also the person that goes away on vacation and drives the wait staff crazy because there is never a cup that is good enough to satisfy your desires. It's okay, there are plenty more out there just like you!

More and more consumers are realizing the need to evolve with the times to get green smart. Growing organic produce is the ultimate starting point for such environmentally friendly projects, thus the increase in the popularity of organic beverages.

The best organic coffee beans are grown in Africa. The farmers plant their coffee trees in naturally mulched and composted soil under other vegetation such as banana trees. Here the coffee plants flourish as the other vegetation provide shelter from direct sunlight and heavy rain allowing just enough light and rain through for the coffee trees to grow healthy and strong without added hormones and chemicals. Non-synthetic pesticides may only be used in terms of the organic growing organizations regulations.

Coffee beans enjoy a very large market share and are of highest value to traders with an estimated 70 Billion US Dollars trade value capacity. In previous years pricing had been manipulated and farmers were easily paid peanuts for their efforts and hard work, but with continued economic development, minimum prices for the beans have been set, counteracting the harsh effects of dips in the business cycle.

When ready for harvesting, seeds are carefully picked from the coffee trees as a tree produces a mere 2.20 pounds of coffee beans per year. The beans are soaked in water until no pulp is present around the seeds. The seeds are then dried in the sun and weighed. After the weighing, the seeds are prepared for their long journey across the world to various coffee drinking countries. The seeds are sacked and re-weighed where it's then stored in special organic produce store rooms and safe guarded until auction and final shipment is done.

A downside to organic produce is the scarcity of the products. Organic foods have a tendency to be associated with higher prices to consumers due to the products' steeper pricing in relation to conventional products. Prices are higher due to various direct and indirect influences such as low yields, higher labor requirements, business start-up financing and additional land needs.

Organic coffee farmers have to comply with strict International rules and regulations prescribed by independent organic organizations, Fair Trade and KNCU (Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union). Compliance with these directives entail recognition for producing and supplying high quality coffee beans of international standards, which in turn assist the farmers of organic coffee beans to tap into global markets.

Farmers of organic coffee beans and their nations make a commitment to changing their lives for the better by taking positive actions in countries often labeled as third world. By participating in farming of organic coffee beans, these farmers are helping to build up their communities, establish better health care and education opportunities as well as creating brighter economic futures.

Are you a loyal coffee lover? What better way to energize yourself every morning than sipping a cup of coffee. Coffee has the power to boost your mood and make yourself active the entire day, thanks to its unique aroma and taste. Besides the quality and kind of coffee you're drinking, the kind of cup you're using can make your coffee experience even better. If you like drinks with strong flavors such as espresso, then you'll enjoy it all the more if you drink it in espresso cups.

Also known as demitasse cup, an espresso cup is a very small cup that can hold two to three ounces of liquid. Its size is ideal for holding an espresso shot. Why use a cup made exclusively for espresso when any kind of cup will do? Coffee still tastes like coffee no matter where you put it-in a teacup, mug, or even paper cup. However, using an espresso cup can make a big difference when drinking coffee. It also serves both aesthetic and functional purposes.

Typical cups for espresso are good at maintaining the heat of your drink for hours, meaning you can have your espresso steaming for a long time while you're having a business meeting or a casual meeting with your friends at home.

Coming in various designs, an espresso cup can make your coffee drinking a very exciting daily habit. Also, you'll love serving your guests with your special blend of espresso when it's served in stylish espresso cups.

Espresso cups are made of different materials to suit every coffee lover's taste. You can choose from cups made of ceramic, stainless steel, and glass, among others.

The most widely used cup is the ceramic espresso cup. You can pick a set of ceramic cups with either classic designs or beautiful art prints or paintings. If you prefer elaborate designs for your ceramic cup, your choices include Dutch blue, Italian, and Victorian styles.

Stainless steel espresso cups are for those who favor functionality over appearance. Cups made of stainless steel are becoming popular, as they can keep coffee hot even if you leave it for quite a while.

You may want to get an espresso cup made of glass, which is available in different colors and accents such as chrome-plated handles.

Whatever material of espresso cups you select, ensure that you get only the best ones. Also, make sure that the cups you'll purchase have excellent features such as durability, fade resistance, and double layering for keeping liquids hot for a long time.

Now who would have thought only a few years ago that anyone could order coffee online without even getting up from your chair! Long seen as the sole province of the gourmet or specialty market, exotic coffee beens from around the world are now readily available to you purchase with the click of a button.

While talking of a coffee "bean", did you know that coffee beans are in fact not beans as in a vegetable, but a cherry like fruit and the pit of the coffee cherry consist of two beans that are flat on the one side and concaved on the other? In addition, did you know that coffee beans are the second most exported product in the world?

There are indeed hundreds of flavors you can treat yourself to when you order coffee online. It is wise to note that although there are so many flavors available, it does not mean there are so many types of coffee beans. There are just two types of coffee plants, Arabica Coffee and Coffee Robusta, which are used to grow coffee for the use by the commercial coffee trade of which the Arabica Coffee plant supply 75% of the global coffee bean demand.

Surely, when you search through the sites to order coffee online, it will be clear that vast amounts of blends are available to order. Nevertheless, ask yourself the question; will you be able to imagine the taste of the coffee if you have only a description to read? If you find yourself in a specialist coffee shop, you smell the different flavours of the variety of coffee blends and can determine in a sense how it will taste like. But when you order coffee online, all you have is your imagination and the description.

Due to the popularity of selling coffee online, you can be assured that when you order coffee online, you will be able to select from the best coffees available. These coffee merchants are well aware of the taste preferences of their clientele and do their best to accurately describe each blend or flavor and typical only roast from green beens just before sending out your order.

As if this trend of ordering coffee online needs any helping hand on the marketing thereof, most online coffee shops ship each day using express or two day mail and frequently offer discounts on the first order you place with them. Frequent buyers are rewarded with additional savings when they order coffee online.

When you order coffee online, it would be safe to say that you are probably looking for blends that you just can't find in your regular supermarket. Even if you had access to a retail specialty shop, you'd expect to pay premium prices. That is where online shopping shines, you have the luxury of shopping around for the lowest price, which will generally be well bleow what you'd have to pay at a retail establishment.

A quality cup of coffee according to the experts is only as good as the coffee equipment used to brew it. Although the quality of coffee does also depend on a few other variables too. For instance, the amount of time elapsed since the beans were ground, and roasted, as well as the quality of the actual coffee bean will affect the taste.

Freshly roasted and ground coffee is a great deal better than coffee which has been ground and allowed to grow stale. So you will need a coffee grinder to get the best possible quality out of your coffee. A coffee bean roaster would be great if you can manage it. A lesser quality coffee bean which is freshly ground is much better than a high quality coffee which is ground and allowed to go stale.

Coffee grinder equipment comes in several different models, obviously by several different manufacturers, and in order to get the best possible cup of coffee, you have to have freshly ground coffee. A coffee shop should definitely keep one grinder for decaf and another for regular coffee. Decaf coffee drinkers are not going to appreciate a rush of caffeine from their morning cup of coffee.

The be all and end all of coffee equipment has got to be the espresso machine. These are manufactured by many coffee equipment companies and are designed to make espresso the correct way at home.

There are basically three types of espresso machine, the semi-automatic, automatic or "super" automatic. While most people have a preference for the automatic espresso machine, this is because they are able to be programmed to cut off a shot within a certain period of time and timing is what makes for a good espresso. Twenty three seconds seems to be the agreed up limit for making an espresso, and this is often difficult to judge with semi-automatic coffee equipment.

Super automatic espresso makers do everything for you, they grind the beans, tamp and pull the espresso shot, switch off and in most instances even get rid of the used coffee grounds. Not only are they high tech and works of art, these coffee machines are a source of fascination for espresso lovers everywhere, and they also cost a great deal of money. However for the coffee fanatic, price is no object when it comes to high quality coffee equipment.

Always buy a machine that is easy to have serviced locally and has parts available. It is easy to get drawn into the glamor of "looks" but when your espresso coffee equipment breaks down, you need to be able to get repairs done as quickly as possible, preferably before the withdrawal symptoms start!