food and drink « Java Jim

March 9, 2010

Why Do We Drink So Much Coffee?

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: beverages, Coffee, drinks, food and drink, home, hot drinks — Kevin Collins @ 3:17 pm

Did you know that around the globe we drink over a billion cups of coffee on an average day? That is billion not million – which is a whole lot of coffee! Everyone seems to love this simple little drink, but why is that? Let’s look at the top reasons here:

Caffeine - Ah yes, this has to be the first and main reason why people drink coffee. Now not everyone drinks coffee for the kick it gives you, I got off that rollercoaster years ago and only drink decaffeinated now, but only something like 10% of coffee consumed is decaff.

Caffeine is actually a stimulant which is why people love it so much. When you wake up in the morning and you have to drag yourself out of your comfy bed and down into the cold kitchen, then people like to have a quick ‘pick me up’ to get them started on their way. After you drink your coffee and the caffeine kicks in then your tiredness falls away and you feel alert and ready to face the day. Caffeine also raises your dopamine levels (like an amphetamine does) which makes you feel good, another reason people love it!

The scary thing is that caffeine is actually classed as a psychoactive drug, and you can get addicted to it. The ‘high’ that people experience from a cup of coffee is only shortlived, around an hour or so in a typical coffee drinker. After that then you start to crash and will feel worse than before you had a cup, so then most people go and grab another cup to pick themselves up again.

Taste - In a world dominated by sugary, carbonated beverages, then it is nice to have something like coffee which is more of a savoury taste. It is something entirely different to other kinds of drinks, which makes it more appealing.

Social reasons - Coffee is so popular that almost everywhere you go you’ll be offered a cup, it is part of the social side of our lives, we all get together round a good brew and have a chat. Plus you can get it almost anywhere now so you never have to struggle to get a cup.

Temperature - If we didn’t have tea and coffee then what other hot drinks would we enjoy? Maybe hot chocolate, but that is not really a drink you can enjoy throughout the day. So the fact that coffee is hot is a big selling point, I love to have a warm drink on a cold winters day, there is nothing better.

There is no doubt that the world is in the grip of coffeemania, and these are the reasons why. I think that as time progresses then we’ll only grow to love this drink more, and now I’m off to get a cup of coffee?

A great way to make real coffee is with a vacuum coffee maker, it makes a great tasting brew and it is fun to watch! If that sounds good then you might want to consider a Bodum Santos coffee maker.

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February 28, 2010

Top Guide Of Coffee Maker

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: appliances, Blogs, business, Coffee, food and drink, gifts, Home And Family, Kitchen Improvements, recipes, Retail, Sales — Angela Johnson @ 10:25 am

Coffee is a beverage that is certainly well-known the world over, liked by a lot of people and the coffee machine is commonplace in lots of households. From the basic little coffee machine which brews a decent cup of coffee to the higher power coffee and Espresso makers there is a big difference in just how long they keep working, how well they work as well as if they can keep the coffee warm enough.

When buying a espresso maker there are some very simple questions to ask to help you to narrow down the field quite a lot. Even though budget could possibly be a factor, spending more on a espresso maker that work well in your own circumstances could be worth the cost.

Just how much java do you consume on one occasion? If you simply consume a cup or two then you should look at a smaller expresso machine like a one cup coffee maker or perhaps a 4-cup coffee maker.

However if you drink coffee during the day or have many hours in between mugs then a model which includes a carafe is probably more suitable because these units preserve as much of the original brewed quality as possible. Coffee that might be many hours old sitting on a burner has a tendency to turn bitter and these types of units can retain full flavor of the coffee by removing it from the heat.

What number of gadgets do you want in your coffee machine is another issue to take into account.

Certain coffee machines come with built in mills which add to convenience and avoids additional cost for those who desire freshly ground coffee. You must balance the benefits with the added cleanup that could be necessary to keep that coffee maker in excellent condition.

On the other hand, programmable coffeemakers using electronic timers can be a great asset to those that must have a mug of coffee before they are able to effectively function. In that case, the coffee may be made ready to brew the night before and then turns on auto-magically at a pre-programmed time. When you must have that first cup of coffee early, the small extra cost may balance out simply by beginning your day out right.

Most coffee makers today serve a single function or a couple,primarily a good mug of coffee to begin the day out right. Whatever you add to them helps make the espresso experience quite a bit easier or perhaps more unforgettable. Espresso machines are needed for that delicious and quite strong coffee drink.

How easy the coffee machine is to clean ought to be a factor. You should think of that in advance of getting one as a good cup of java calls for a clean coffee maker.

Then, your choice is all about capacity, extra supplies and just how long the machine lasts. You can even check reviews online and determine if the machine with all the features is one that you would like or if you ought to continue searching.

Balance the extras against the life and the convenience of a coffeemaker and then find one that can make just enough, warm enough, and also the perfect taste for you at just the right selling price. Great coffee can make your day.

Angela Johnson comes from CA, U.S.A. She has written several articles on coffee maker . You may want to check out her other guide on flavia coffee tips, and stainless steel coffee maker guide!

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February 20, 2010

Discover How To Make Aromatic Powder From Coffee Beans

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: Coffee, drinks, food, food and drink, home — Timothy Castle @ 4:28 pm

Coffee doesn’t exist in the shape that we are used to purchasing it in at the stores. Coffee comes in the form of green coffee beans that grow on the coffee plant. These green coffee beans are then picked up from coffee plantations and are sent to places to be roasted, ground and finely crushed to make the coffee powder that you are use to buying at your local shop. The techniques that Green Coffee Beans Endure there is a process that these green coffee beans must go through before they become coffee powder.

First the beans must get picked from the coffee plantations. This is frequently done by hand by staff who receive payment for each basket that they pick. Then, since coffee beans have a fruity flesh that at once wraps round the coffee bean, when they are gathered this flesh must be removed right away. This is done by soaking the beans, scouring them and then mechanically rubbing the bean.

Once the green coffee bean is free from its fruity flesh it is then cleaned with water. This is done to remove any of the fruity flesh which will still be sticking to it, as well as any extra sugars that are on it. The beans are then dried by spreading them over an enormous concrete or rock plane where they’re dried by a combo of the air and direct daylight. After the beans have been dried it’s time for the beans to be put into classes that are based on the color and the dimensions of the coffee bean. Any beans that are discolored, rotten or damaged are removed from the other beans at that point.

When the beans are ultimately dried, they’re then roasted. This process is vital if you would like a savoury coffee. At this time, the coffee bean will essentially expands to nearly twice that of what its primary size was. It’ll also change color and density as it takes in heat. The color turns to yellow and then to a light cinnamon brown. At about that point the coffee beans will begin to crack, just like popcorn does.

As coffee is grown in different parts of the planet, varying climate conditions and other things also play a part in the way the beans are processed. The final product is then crushed into the savoury coffee powder which we are used to seeing.

For more Information about coffee, please visit Timothy Castle’s Coffee Recipes, Tips and Resources Site.

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February 5, 2010

Know More about Gaggia Coffee Machine To Make Yourself A Good Coffee

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: beveages, cappuccino coffee maker, Coffee, coffee grinder, coffee machine, coffee maker, drinks, espress coffee maker, food, Food And Beverage, food and drink, gaggia coffee machine, gaggia espresso machines — Zac Taylor @ 6:04 am

You go nuts over cappuccinos and espresso, but don’t find it reasonable enough to spend tens and thousands of dollars on them every time you go out. So what’s the way out? If you ask me, then I would advise you to bring home a Gaggia Coffee Machine. No I’m not kidding; you can really save quite a few dollars by eliminating those middle men out there in the coffee shops!

By bringing home a coffee machine you can enjoy your favorite cup if espresso at your own pace and that too from the comforts of your home. The Gaggia Coffee Machine is a remarkable addition to your kitchen. I don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about the price tag once you take into consideration the benefits that you get from this machine.

Consider that with one time investment on your part, you will then be able to enjoy your coffee throughout your lifetime for free. Gaggia Coffee Machine is one of your best choices that provide the highest qualities of coffee throughout your life.

These kinds of coffee machines provide all different of models for you to choose from. For example, you can look for the basic machine that only provides you a single shot of espresso for your day. On the other hand, if you are willing to spend more money on the coffee machine, you can get more additional features from it. Therefore, you should set your budget and go for the one that fits to your needs.

You can shop around at your local kitchen appliances stores for your coffee machine. However, I will highly recommend you do some research on the Internet first such as eBay. Online shopping is a great platform where you could find your favorite machine without wasting your time. Simply you can just sign up an account at eBay and type in the keyword on the search box. You can then find the best coffee machine that best suits to your needs with cheapest price available.

You may also want to buy a froth maker and milk steamer on the different models of coffee machines. You task won’t come to the end simply by purchasing one coffee machine. No matter what type of coffee you plan to make, you also need to buy a blender in order to make this work.

Blended beverages such as frappachinos require you to mix the espresso shot along with flavorings, ice and cold milk together. For the hot drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos, you will need to use froth maker and milk steamer in order to make these beverages have the same taste as the one you get from the coffee shop.

If you have your own coffee machine at home, you can try to mix and match with your drinks. Do you think you can experiment your drinks at the coffee shop by only paying tens and thousands of dollars? With your own coffee machine, you can experiment all different kinds of drinks yourself and make your friends proud of your own espresso.

Zac Taylor has been writing articles on product reviews for more than 4 years. Please visit his latest review on Gaggia Coffee Machine and Gaggia Grinder for your choices.

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