Gourmet Coffee

The term “Mocha Java” is thrown around haphazardly in the coffee world, but it actually refers to a specific blend of beans. Not to be confused with a café mocha—which is a latte with chocolate—the Mocha in Mocha Java refers to an Ethiopian port for shipping coffee. Conversely, the Java is a reference to the island of Java, which is located in Indonesia.

Mocha Java coffee is a blend of beans from the two counties. Coffee beans from Ethiopia have a distinctive citrus flavor that meshes perfectly with the rich, full-bodied coffee of Java. The Mocha Java blend has a deep, full body while maintaining a medium roast and balanced acidity.

It’s understandable in this economic climate that you’d search for way to save money. Many people are cutting back in ways they wouldn’t normally expect. Something like a morning cup of cofffee has people busting out their calculators and determining what a cup of joe before work will set you back on a monthly basis. Making your own coffee in the morning is an easy way to save money, but many people are intimidated by the prospect.

In my experience, one of the main deterrents for people who are considering to brew their own coffee is the assumption that it won’t compare to the beverage they order from their local coffee shop. And while you may not be able to replicate the drink exactly, advancements in home brewing technology allow anyone to create delicious coffee beverages. Just be sure to purchase premium 100% Colombian coffee or another quality product and grind the beans yourself, as this will ensure the freshest flavor.

In lieu of a traditional wedding, my fiancé and I decided to take our nuptial on a beach in Hawaii. We had originally planned to get married in my hometown of Des Moines, but when we started considering the cost of the venue, dress, cake, catering…it just didn’t seem like a practical way to celebrate the rest of our lives together. In order to bring some of our closest relations, we allocated some of the money we had set aside for the wedding to help with airfare and accommodations.

Our ceremony took place on the beach, with my uncle performing the ritual. After the ceremony, we had dinner at a local restaurant and spent the rest of the night—and the week—enjoying ourselves at a secluded resort on the Big Island. I wanted to be sure that all of our guests left with a lasting memento of our ceremony, so I created Hawaiian-themed wedding favors, complete with everything from macadamia nuts and espresso coffee beans, to a picture frame adorned with seashells.

Coffee is certainly an acquired taste, and when I first started drinking the beverage on a regular basis, I was repulsed by the acidic flavor. But, like many people, I choked down coffee every morning in order to give my body a much needed jolt of caffeine. After a while however, I developed a passion for java and I found myself consuming several cups each day.

It quickly became apparent that my body was being inundated with caffeine, and I often had trouble falling asleep at night. Instead of kicking my coffee habit altogether, I decided to start adding decaf coffee beans to my machine later in the day. Now I can still have a boost of caffeine in the morning and switch over to decaf in order to get to bed at a reasonable hour.

During the dog days of summer, no one feels like a steaming hot cup of coffee. But that doesn’t mean one has to give up their favorite winter beverage during the summer. Many cold drinks can be made with coffee. For a frosty treat, try making an almond flavored coffee milkshake. Here’s a great recipe to try:

Ingredients
~ 3 cups coffee ice cream
~ ½ cup milk
~ ½ cup chilled almond-flavored coffee
~ ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in an electric blender; blend mixture until smooth. Serve immediately.

There’s nothing better than a relaxing Saturday morning. Unlike Sunday mornings, there’s no worry of having to be at work the next morning. It’s just you, your newspaper and your steaming cup of hot coffee. If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe you can try your coffee with a kick. Here’s a coffee recipe that will knock your socks off:

Sassy Mexican Coffee
~ 1 oz. coffee-flavored liqueur
~ 5 oz. hot black whole bean coffee
~ 1 ½ oz. whipped cream
~ 1 tsp. sugar

Pour coffee and liqueur into and Irish cup and sweeten to taste. Gently float the cream on the top and sprinkle with grated chcolate.

Like most American workplaces, my business would be much less productive if coffee were removed from the equation. From the moment the day starts, employees are lining up in the break room to get their morning dose of caffeine. I’ve noticed that my administrative assistant, Rebecca, is constantly refilling her insulated coffee thermos. It seems to bolster her chipper attitude and impressive work ethic.

That’s why I was inspired to buy Rebecca a coffee-themed gift for her birthday earlier this year. I searched online for a collection of beans from gourmet coffee brands and stumbled across one with a bold selection of beans from around the globe. Watching my assistant open the gift, I knew I had made the right choice.

Coffee is not just any ordinary beverage, it is a mood pick-me-upper. People who love drinking coffee attest that starting their day with coffee means starting their day right. It is no surprise that coffee is a well-loved drink all over the world. Coffee can be appreciated in different beans and different blends.

The secret to delicious coffee lies in the roasting. Europe is known for its delicious coffee blends. Cafes are seen everywhere, particularly in Italy. Although the origin of coffee is in Africa, it is the Europeans who have popularized coffee as a sophisticated drink. The beans have to undergo strict European coffee roasting procedures to create great tasting blends. Roasting controls the acidity, flavor, aroma, and body of the coffee. You can choose from full roast, mild roast or medium roast, depending on your taste—my personal favorite is French roast coffee.

On every street corner, you will almost always find a café. Coffee drinking has become a national past time. But if you love the taste of coffee but don’t necessarily like the effects of caffeine in your system then drinking decaf is the alternative. And because some people don’t react well to regular decaf coffee, gourmet decaf coffee is fast becoming popular. It allows you to enjoy the taste of coffee without compromising your health.

Some researchers say that the normal decaffeination process uses chemicals to remove the caffeine from the bean and therefore poses more of a health risk.  Organic decaf coffee does not undergo the same process. It uses only pure Swiss water to separate the caffeine.  So it is completely healthy.  No adverse side effects.  Just 100% great coffee flavor without the jolt of caffeine.

Some people might think that Seattle, or even Starbucks is where coffee originated. Of course they are wrong, coffee actually first appeared thousands of miles away in Ethiopia. But this wasn’t the modern origin of coffee that we know and love-just the beans. Historians aren’t sure whether or not ancient Ethiopians knew how to harvest the drink from the beans.

We do know, however, that Arabians have consumed coffee since the mid-15th century. At this time coffee beans made their way from Addis Ababa, to Mecca and Medina into the Arabian Empire. It was there that the beans were crushed, steeped in hot water and consumed for their energizing effect.