Archive for November, 2009
Organic Farming Methods in Kona, Hawaii
Posted by admin in Organic Farming on November 30th, 2009
Kona Coffee is only produced along a narrow corridor on the west coastal slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii. This location has a climate that is ideally suited to the cultivation of coffee (Coffea Arabica) which is thought by many, to be one of the most sought after coffee beans in the world. With such a small growing area, Kona coffee is produced by approximately 800 farms, averaging 5 acres apiece, allowing for a multitude of choices for the consumer.
This leads us to the subject of utilizing organic methods and practices in the production of this limited commodity. Organic coffee recently has increased in popularity, due to many contributing factors, chief among these are synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and GMO (Genetically Modified Foods) among other health concerns. Many of the farmers in Kona have opted to farm organically, choosing several certification agencies to oversee their methods and practices to assure the customer of organic purity. Using these methods and practices does reduce the quantities of this coffee, as commercially available fertilizers exponentially increase crop yield dramatically. This in turn, further limits the supply of an already small output of this precious delicacy, known as Kona coffee.
Some of these certification agencies do allow the use herbicides, such as Round-Up, used to eradicate weeds around the coffee fields, timed to allegedly dissipate before the fruit production. However, most organic Kona coffee farmers have opted to use biological controls, such as manual removal, ruminants and fowl to regulate unwanted plants between their coffee trees. Read the rest of this entry »
A Buyers Guide to Single Cup Coffee Makers
Posted by admin in Coffee Maker on November 16th, 2009
Brewing the ideal cup of coffee has been reduced to a simple, but precise, formula. First, use freshly ground beans then use hot water under high pressure, and brew the coffee within a very short time-frame (30-60 seconds).
This is almost universally considered to be the ideal means for extracting the optimal flavor and aroma of coffee, and has been adopted by connoisseurs, restaurants, hotels and coffee houses around the world.
With a simple press of a button we can brew our own ideal cup of coffee using this same process. Using an automated single cup coffee maker, coffee beans are ground just prior to brewing while high pressure pumps force hot water through the coffee grounds to insure optimal flavor and aroma, leaving behind bitter tasting chemicals.
Several manufacturers have created a series of single cup coffee makers that will brew authentic espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, long crema coffees, even hot chocolate and tea, with a push of a button, perfectly every time!
With some of the available models you can make espressos with up to two double shots at a time. You can also make coffee up to 16 oz. at a time. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Make Better Office Coffee
Making a flavourful cup of coffee should be the culinary expertise of every coffee lover. Even when you are in the office, a steaming and aromatic cup of coffee should be made easily. However, some of us have trouble creating the perfect blend of coffee in the office.
If you virtually hate the brewer you have in your office because it produces bland results or it breaks down all the time after using it, you should consider purchasing your own personal coffee machine. There are a lot of these sold in the market and they are usually cheaper than the full-sized ones. Also, they occupy a small space in your cubicle.
You can even choose one that is not operated by electricity such as a French press coffee brewer. According to many java enthusiasts, if you want a flavourful cup of coffee, get a French press brewer as this usually produces the most flavourful cup of Joe.
Once you have purchased your personal brewer, here are the things you can do:
Step 1: Purchase your favourite coffee beans and have it ground to a coarse consistency. A French brewer does not use filter so finer coffee grounds might easily fall into the brew basket. If you purchased the standard size of brewer, a good measurement is 8 tablespoons of grounds and then later, you will fill it up with water close to the brim.
Step 2: If it has a digital timer, you can set it up to 4 minutes timer settings and then press the start button. Once done, you can now fill it up with water. Just leave an inch of allowance to the top so it will not spill when you put the plunger. Water should be hot already, preferably around 200 degree Fahrenheit. The grounds will easily dissolve if you use hot water.
Step 3: To help the infusion of coffee grounds with water further, you can use a spoon to stir it up quickly. Stir until all bean grounds are moist or wet. If you purchased a freshly ground pack of beans, you will see foam forming on the surface when you stir it up.
Step 4: Now place the plunger and then the lid. Wait for the timer to go off before you push the plunger. If you have set it up to 4 minutes timer option, it will brew for 4 minutes. Afterwards, you can already pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee.