Gourmet Coffee

Coffee exported from Colombia accounts for about 12% of the world’s coffee (by value) and is imported by a great many countries around the world.  Colombian coffee began in the early 1800s, and Colombians began trading the coffee with other countries in the mid 1800s.  The coffee is grown in the lush soil of the Amazon rainforest; a location that provides a habitat to a majority of the world’s animal and plant species.  The harvesting process for Colombian coffee is also quite unique, and involves several hundred individuals hand picking the berries, packing them, and sorting them. 

With the environment where they are grown and the care that goes into their harvesting, roasting, and packaging, it’s no wonder that Colombian coffee is considered the best all over the world.  When purchasing Colombian coffee, you’ll want to ensure that it is 100% Colombian, otherwise you’re only getting about half the full effect! 

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people around the world, however, with modern medical advancements the condition is livable and treatable.  With proper care, the effects of diabetes can be mitigated to the point where it’s barely noticeable.  Depending on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, insulin injections might be necessary.  However, with all diabetics, eating healthy is a central part of wellness.  It’s important to avoid consuming excessive sugars, and also to make sure that you eat regular and full meals.  It also might be necessary to avoid caffeine by switching to decaf coffee, and avoid Starbucks all together. 

By monitoring your eating and dieting habits, it’s likely that your blood sugar won’t ever dip too high or too low and cause a diabetic reaction.  With diabetics, consistency is key in dieting, eating, and exercising habits. 

Though it’s hard to conceive for most of us, sometimes there’s that person that just doesn’t like the taste of coffee beans.  However, it’s not uncommon for that person to want the benefits caffeine to help wake up in the morning.  While taking a huge dosage of sugar with your coffee from a mocha or cappuccino can resolve in a crash later, some delicious flavored coffee beans can curb the unpleasant taste of coffee beans.  For the person who doesn’t like coffee, you might consider chocolate flavored coffee, or coffee with vanilla bean extract to help wake up in the morning, and not make your face scrunch in disgust! 

There’s also the option of cream and sugar, but remember, when the coffee content becomes less than about 70% of the total drink, you’re basically just drinking sugar.  Some coffee drinks prepared by baristas can have more calories than a large soda! 

Recently I thought of a great idea. Let me give you a little background on the story: My son is a child prodigy; his athletic ability is beyond human comprehension. Usually I don’t tell people this; but this time I will let it slip. I often believe he was sent from the heavens to make my life better. He does have one problem however, his feet stink!

He plays so many sports and he’s always sweating up a storm. My nose pays the price! I have searched high and low for a solution to his problem. I have only found one thing that works – coffee beans! I simply put a handful of these fragrant beans in each of his gym shoes and they totally mask the stench. Now I can look forward to the smell of coffee beans.

Coffee beans are roasted to bring out their inherent flavor, and the beans will yield different flavors at various levels of roasting.  The first level, a light roast, is often called a cinnamon roast, and occurs after a few minutes of roasting when the beans start to pop or crack.  The medium roast, also known as a city roast, has a sweeter taste than the light roast, and occurs a short minute or two afterwards.  The full roast, also called an Italian roast, occurs again a few minutes later as the oil of the coffee bean will begin to rise to the surface and give the bean a soft glisten.  The full roast is a spicier flavor, and exhibits the full aroma and flavor of the roast and the beans.  The final roast, called the French roast, gives the beans a more bitter flavor. 

French roast coffee tends to be common in the country of its naming, but less so in the United States.  However, French Roast beans are available for those who like them.  The lightest roasts are common in brands like Folger’s, while the darker roasts are more reserved for specialty coffees.

Organic coffee is coffee that is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. An organic production system will replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.

To be certified and sold in the United States as organic coffee, it must meet a few requirements:
the coffee must be certified by a U.S. Department of Agriculture accredited agency, farmed for three years without the use of synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances, and maintain a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, the depletion of spoil nutrients, and to control for pests.

Colombia is world-renowned for its high quality coffee.  In truth, the country produces about 12% of the world’s annual coffee crop, coming in second only to Brazil, who produces about 25%.  The top importers of Colombian coffee are the United States, Germany, Japan, Holland and Switzerland.

A full-bodied Colombian roast coffee is a special treat for anyone who loves a good cup of joe.  One of Shalina’s Eye Openers, Colombian coffee is available in a variety of roasts and styles for to satisfy your every coffee craving.

When you hear the words Mocha Java, do you think of a big iced drink with a dollop of whipped cream on the top?  Mocha Java coffee is actually a combination of sharp, fruity Mocha beans from Ethiopia and rich Java beans from Indonesia.  Together, these premium coffee beans can result in a smooth, medium- to full-bodied flavor without parallel.    All coffee beans originated in Mocha, a city in Yemen, and the city name forever became tied in with coffee.  When coffee came to Europe, chefs realized that it was not only a refreshing drink, but also gave desserts a certain pop.  In North America, cooks combined coffee with chocolate for that region’s version of mocha flavor. 

Mocha Java coffee will stimulate your palate, open your eyes and start your day with a blast of robust flavor.

There are two basic types of coffee grinders: burr and steel blade. Burr grinders tend to be more expensive, but make a better cup of coffee. Many companies make both types to suit all customers.

The burr coffee bean grinder design is the best for most brewing; they consistently get high marks in coffee grinder reviews. The grinding process results in less heat, which results in more flavor. Burr grinders can be adjusted for different degrees of fineness, which allows you to get the consistency you want. Each burr grinder has its own range as far as the different fineness settings, with some better for an espresso machine and others for a traditional drip coffee maker. Check when purchasing to be sure you’re getting the right grinder for your needs.

Blade grinders use steel blades and have electric motors to grind coffee beans. The degree of fineness is determined by how long the machine is left on during the grinding process. More heat results from this process, which results in a loss of aroma and flavor in the finished product. A blade grinder is less expensive and for this reason are most often used in homes.

The history of coffee has been recorded as far back as the tenth century. During that time, coffee remained largely confined to Ethiopia where its native beans were first refined; Ethiopian highlanders first cultivated coffee beans.

However, the Arab world began expanding its trade horizons, and the beans moved into northern Africa and were mass-cultivated. From there, the beans entered the Indian and European markets, and the popularity of the beverage spread.