Java Jim

May 27, 2010

Kopi Luwak – The Gourmet Coffee Treasure

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: , , , , , — Mike Oliver @ 5:36 am

Kopi Luwak is a highly prized coffee which originates from Indonesia, in fact the name comes from the Indonesian name for coffee, Kopi, and the name Luwak which they give to the Common Palm Civet, a weasel-like animal which is responsible for the production of these unique beans.

The Luwak live on a diet of fruits, including the coffee ‘cherry’, as well as insects and small mammals. The coffee cherries grow high up in the trees, and each one contains two beans; the civets eat the cherries whole, although they do not digest the beans, which travel through their digestive tract and emerge untouched. It is known that the stomach enzymes of this animal allow a unique fermentation method which results in the special taste of the coffee bean.

The beans are collected from the ground by local farmers, who thoroughly sanitize them then dry them in the sun, thus removing any remaining fruit from the beans. They are then sold to dealers to be distributed to manufacturers, who produce this wonderful Kopi Luwak coffee, known also as civet coffee or weasel coffee, for it to be savored by connoisseurs worldwide.

Kopi Luwak coffee is unique, with a rich hearty taste that has hints of chocolate or caramel: Often described as earthy, musty and exotic; it has a rather syrupy body and is extremely smooth. Because this coffee is so rare and unique, it carries a very high price tag, coffee aficionados anywhere will tell you it is an experience not to be missed.

Theories abound, around how it was possible for this exquisite discovery to have been made? Perhaps it was a native who couldn’t be bothered to climb trees and decided to collect the beans that were strewn among faeces on the ground. Maybe somebody did it as a joke originally, then chanced upon this wonderful flavour. It is doubtful we will ever find out for sure, but whoever was behind the discovery deserves our thanks for this unique, delicious brew.

If you consider yourself a coffee expert, or even a serious coffee drinker, you should make it your mission to sample Kopi Luwak coffee at least one time; treat yourself to this unique, exotic brew and discover for yourself how truly special and delicious it really is. There is no doubt that once you have made the discovery, you will definitely want to repeat the experience. It’s rarity and price mean that it is not going to be on sale at the local coffee shop, but it is available to buy online, or from specialist coffee suppliers.

Want to find out more about Kopi Luwak visit this website that features 3 different varieties of the best coffee in the world .

categories: kopi luwak, civet coffee, gourmet coffee, best coffee, exotic coffee, best coffee

February 8, 2010

Espresso Making.

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Thomas Goldman @ 3:02 pm

Espresso is a type of coffee. It is currently most popular in southern area of Europe and some parts of S. America. It was invented in Milan, Italy, around the beginning of the 20th century and initially was produced using pressurized steam, although many methods of making it now use pressurized hot water.

This type of coffee is typically twice as concentrated as other types of coffee and due to this concentration is used as a base for many other types of coffee including the famous cappuccino as well as mocha, latte and macchiato. However, it is commonly served in much smaller portions than regular coffee which means that the actual amount of caffeine per cup is typically less than with other coffees.

The espresso is sometimes served in a pre-heated mug or glass. This helps retain the warmth and the “crema” which is the foam on top and is typically a reddish-brown color.

Many people see coffee beans marketed as “espresso” and thus believe that it’s a different type of bean used than for other coffees. This is not true, as an espresso can really be made using any variety of coffee beans. It is a good idea to try a variety of different beans to make your espresso to see which you like the best, or you could find information on which beans are used to make your favorite espresso on sale. Espresso is not a particular roasting level of beans either, so make sure you try a variety of roasts.

The espresso originally came to America to Cuban communities in Miami. It is now common in America and even more popular in Australia. From Miami, the drink spread to Seattle, and from there across the rest of the USA, spreading as the well-known brands of coffee shops spread. At the time of writing, North Beach, San Francisco is one of the areas where the espresso is particularly popular.

There are many sub-types of espresso with slightly different methods of creation. The Americano is a diluted form made by adding an equal quantity of hot water, and was preferred by American soldiers in the first world war. The cappuccino was traditionally made using one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third microfoam. American variations on the cappuccino typically add more foam and more milk resulting in a less concentrated drink.

Want to find out more about Espresso, then visit Thomas Goldman’s site on how to choose the best Espresso Machines and coffees for your espessos.

January 22, 2010

Learn To Make Good Coffee

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: , , , , , , , — Paul Smith @ 7:17 pm

Even though making a cup of coffee might seem as one of the easiest thing to do making a great cup of coffee is something that takes a bit of expertise and insight in the world of the bean.

What most people don’t know is that everyone can make a good cup of coffee with not much effort. All you need is a good recipe and some basic coffee making equipment and you can make a cup of your favourite coffee at home.

You should avoid getting used to drinking substandard coffee. If you learn how to make good coffee and appreciate the things that a good cup of coffee has to offer then you will realize how great this seemingly simple drink can be.

The most basic thing one should learn about coffee is that there are many ways that can be made and also the types of coffee one buys at coffee shops can be made at home as well. For example, an Americano is just a normal coffee. An Americano is an easy coffee to make, all you need is good espresso, hot water and milk if you like.

Cappuccino is one of the most popular gourmet coffees but it is fairly simple to make. All you need is water and coffee and frothed milk. You can make a shot of espresso using your coffee machine and then just add the frothed/steamed milk on the top. You will either need a source of steam or you can froth the milk in a small pot.

There are many types of coffee that you can choose to make. None of them are difficult if you know your recipes. Don’t hesitate to learn about the types of coffee just get some recipes and start experimenting. It is easy to make good coffee even the specialty kinds.

If you are in Toronto and you like coffee then you should visit a Coffee Shop Toronto. Making good coffee is an process that baristas at Toronto Coffee shops have mastered.

September 17, 2009

How to Choose the Best Coffee Bean for Home Brewing

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: , , , , , , — Arthur Cundy @ 5:57 am

If you ask two people what the best coffee is, you will more than likely get two different answers. This is because everyones taste buds are different and what you like may not be palatable to someone else. However, there are some common things to look for to find the best coffee bean for your cup of coffee.

Before you do anything, make sure you go out and get a coffee bean grinder. Getting pre-ground coffee is doing nothing more than settling for second best. It doesnt matter how good the coffee is, if you get it in anything other than a whole bean, you are taking away from the true flavor and setting for second best.

You should also be buying the beans in a vacuum sealed bag. If they are not sealed in this manner, the air will continue to break down the bean and over time, its natural flavors will diminish. You should also invest in a foodsaver system so you can reseal the beans after you have opened them up.

Once you start looking at the actual beans, try and stick with Arabica beans for the best flavor. This has a much smoother and well rounded flavor than the Robusta bean. Most big name coffee shops as well as the neighborhood gourmet shops will use this type of coffee bean for their brews.

Robusta does not drink well because it is a bitter bean. Think back to the days of the old percolator pots that your parents used to put on the stove and you will be able to recollect the bean that we are talking about here. This is actually popular in Italian shops because it has a huge boost of caffeine, but for better flavor, stick with the Arabica bean.

Last but not least, if you are able to get your hands on fresh roasted beans, buy them. If you are able to get them right out of the roaster and seal them up, you will be getting a cup of coffee like nothing that you have ever tasted. The bean will lose flavor the longer it is out of the roaster so if you can get it closer to the end of that process, you are getting the best possible flavor available.

As we said, everyone will like a different flavor in their coffee. However, regardless of the flavors you like, all of these standards will come into play to make sure you are getting the best possible bean available for the kind of coffee that you like. Follow these guidelines and your next cup of coffee will probably be your best cup of coffee.

Are you a coffee lover? Then check out Arthur’s blog, Cafe-List.com, for more information on things like how to brew the best coffee and the best coffee machines.

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