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Top 5 Best-Selling Coffee Makers

Breakfast Blend — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:23:10 +0000

Coffee is the number one breakfast drink the world over. There are very few places that do not serve this staple and that is a very good thing to say the least. So many people depend on this drink for that bit of energy in the morning to get through the day and of course there is some big business when it comes to coffee and the coffee maker. The business that surrounds this part of the world is big and more and more people are trying to get in on it. This means that there is more than enough competition to make the best in coffee maker products that the world has seen. This is an important thing to a good many people as the coffee maker is the number one appliance in their home.

Bunn is the best-selling coffee maker currently on the market. For a good many years the company was not making products for the home, but instead only those for the many businesses that served the drink. This has all changed as the Bunn company has seen the demand for their top quality coffee maker products for the home. This has brought new levels of financial stability to the company and they are enjoying the success overall.

Senso makes a great coffee maker as well and they are second only to Bunn in terms of quality and sales. This is normal when you see the many products that they offer. Some of the finest makers are brought out by this company and there are a good many people who make the best coffee with them. They are a staple in the restaurants across the world as well.

Cuisinart is a big name in the small home appliance world and their coffee makers make that statement as well. While they have not always been in this business, they are making a mark across the world with the new lines. Many people trust this company more than many others because of the attention to detail and quality that they have always had.

Keurig is one of the newer players in the coffee maker game but that does not mean they are anything but great. They have makers that will do just about everything for you and they are of the best construction to boot.

Krups is a fine company that does offer some fine coffee makers. There have been a few problems with the company as they were plagued by some recalls when they tried to out-source some of the products and took a big hit in the process.

By: Monice Dulcinea

About the Author:

Click here for more information about green tea, health solutions

Coffee Bean Roaster

Drinking Coffee – Common Questions About Related Health Concerns

Breakfast Blend — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:10:52 +0000

Drinking coffee is as common as eating and has become almost a national pastime since it punctuates many important events such as dinners, banquets, socials, and home gatherings. Whole businesses are made around this product such as coffee houses, delis, bars and donut shops. Manufacturers would be lost without coffee beans to process into its many forms that include not only the hot beverage, but injected into other food items such as pies, cakes, ice cream, energy drinks and smoothies. There is an endless stream of products that us some form of the coffee bean to enhance, flavor and provide a shot of caffeine to eager consumers.

With so much use of coffee beans over the last 50 years, there are many questions that are asked by consumers as to the use and/or abuse of the product. There are conflicting statements made by health professionals all the time as well. Research has been conducted while consumers continue to use the product in some form or other. There is no denying that coffee is a powerful manufacturing product because it is a favorite among people worldwide. Obviously, it is here to stay. But what about the many questions that are often asked about its use? Here are a few important questions and some answers given by coffee experts that may offer you some information when deciding whether or not to drink that extra cup of coffee or eat that coffee laden ice cream pie.

Q: Are all coffee products natural or are there any chemicals used to process them?

A: It is undeniable that many chemicals are used to process many gourmet blends and flavored coffees. Companies use propylene glycol to flavor beans after roasting. This chemical is necessary to inject various flavors into the beans. If you are looking to drink coffee or use coffee products without chemicals, you would best stick with organic coffee beans and do your own grinding and blending.

Q: Does decaffeinated coffee still retain some caffeine?

A: Yes, generally, all decaffeinated coffee still retains some caffeine although most is removed. Generally, between 97% to 99% of decaf coffee is without caffeine.

Q: Are chemicals used to decaffeinate coffee?

A: Yes, a solvent called methylene chloride is used to remove most of the caffeine. Another method is to wash away the caffeine with charcoal and water. There is some concern about whether or not the solvent is completely washed away before packaging or if some residue will be ingested by consumers. By using the Swiss method of removing caffeine by passing it through charcoal and water can alleviate concerns about chemicals. Obviously, you will lose some flavor by decaf methods. If you want to go completely chemically free, you can try an organic, green coffee bean that has not been treated that will give you as close to the taste of a ‘real’ cup of coffee as you will find, but with very little caffeine. It is also a bit more expensive.

Q: Is it possible to make low acid coffee if you have stomach problems from drinking regular coffee?

A: Yes, if you suffer from problems such as acid reflux, you can purchase some ‘low acid’ coffees, but there is a method called Toddy Cold Brew System that purports to make coffee with over 60% less acid than typical coffee. You don’t have to purchase processed low acid coffee which may also have chemical residues and may not taste as good.

Q: Could drinking coffee cause a heart attack?

A: There are many medical opinions on this subject and it is best to heed the general warning that drinking too much coffee is not good for anyone because it can cause general anxiety symptoms to worsen which cause the heart rate to go up sometimes. That said, a recent study also reports that drinking coffee in moderation can actually be good for heart health.

These are just a few of the questions that come to the mind of many coffee lovers who want to continue to enjoy their hot beverage every day if possible. Obviously, coffee in its many forms will continue to be a part of the worldwide culture. As with any beverage or food, its wise to consume in moderation without giving up one of life’s simple pleasures.

By: P.S. Orr

About the Author:

P.S. Orr has been writing articles for 6 years on a variety of topics of interest. Come visit the latest website at http://www.singleservecoffeemakerstore.com/ which helps people find the best deals on travel coffee makers and more information about gourmet coffee machines.

Lavazza Coffee

History of Lavazza Coffee

Breakfast Blend — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:58:24 +0000

Luigi Lavazza began the tradition of quality associated with Lavazza coffee beans when he opened a grocery store in 1895 that sold coffee. Lavazza’s claim to fame is that he was the first coffee maker to incorporate a variety of different beans into his java to create blends. Even today, Lavazza is known for its decadent blends made from beans around the world. Lavazza utilizes both Arabica and Robusta coffee in its blends; some are a mixture of Arabica and Robusta coffee while others feature 100% Arabica. Arabica and Robusta coffees are grown in many locations around the world; Robusta is found primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere while Arabica is found worldwide, mostly in areas of high altitude.

In addition to creating the first coffee blends, Lavazza can claim another feat: the first coffee company to offer their java in vacuum-sealed packages. This revolutionary packaging was first introduced in the 1960s. By then, Lavazza had transitioned from the grocery business to devoting 100% of the company toward coffee. In Italy, where Lavazza originated, it dominates 45% of the coffee market.

In addition to producing world-renowned coffee, Lavazza also creates single-serving machines for both home and commercial use. The Lavazza Espresso Point machine and Lavazza Blue are two excellent ways to ensure you are enjoying your Lavazza beans to their fullest. Both machines utilize special Lavazza espresso pods, or single-serving cartridges, to guarantee the perfect amount of grounds per cup. Lavazza’s coffee offerings include Crema e Aroma, Caffe Crema, and its decaffeinated blend called Dek.

Lavazza’s company history is as rich as the flavor of its coffee. The next time you are craving a cup of gourmet coffee, consider the excellent quality of Lavazza coffee beans, originating in Italy, one of the premiere locations for coffee.

By: Steve Turley

About the Author:
Steve writes about Lavazza coffee beans and Illy espresso

Gourmet Coffee Beans

Coffee: Bean Storage Issues

Breakfast Blend — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:48:33 +0000

There is much debate over how people should store their coffee beans. This article hopefully address some of these issues for you in a clean cut and straight forward manner.

So you’ve read a great article in your local town’s newspaper telling you of all the benefits of home ground and made coffee. So you took the insights found in the article and went ahead and bought some coffee beans of all varieties, from Vietnamese, to Jamaican, and others.

But the question now is, how are you going to store all of these coffee beans without causing it them to suffer in quality and taste? Unfortunately it is widely practiced where coffee beans are stored in a freezer in hopes to retain it’s freshness.

However the opposite normally holds true. The best environments to preserve beans are in a dark, moisture-free, and cold place. The problem with freezers is that it doesn’t fulfill the moisture-free criteria. Placing your unused coffee beans in a freezer will result in it’s natural oils being tarnished and even destroyed as a result of the surrounding moisture seeping in.

Your best bet is to not buy in bulk, but to buy in smaller quantities. An amount that you can finish in a week in other words.

By: Steven Sarsgaard

About the Author:

Superb coffee thermos http://www.coffeesure.com coffee-thermos products can be requested from our web site.

Gourmet Coffee Beans

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Brushed Chrome Fully Automatic 12 Cup Grind & Brew Thermal Coffeemaker Kit

Breakfast Blend — Sat, 29 May 2010 10:57:09 +0000

Easily brew up to 12 cups of great-tasting coffee with this 24-hour fully programmable coffeemaker. The unit comes equipped with a built-in burr grinder, which automatically grinds beans right before brewing, and its grind-control function makes it easy to program the amount of coffee to grind--from 2 to 12 cups. In addition, its strength selector allows for choosing from strong, medium, or mild coffee. The unit's bean hopper holds up to a half pound of beans and comes with a sealed lid to prevent moisture. Other highlights include automatic shut-off after brewing, a grind-off option, and an integrated 2- to 4-cup feature, as well as a Gold tone commercial-style permanent filter and charcoal water filter to remove impurities, and a brew-pause function for sneaking a cup midbrew. A 12-cup (5 ounces each) double-wall insulated thermal carafe comes included, which seals in heat and freshness so the last cup tastes as good as the first. The coffeemaker measures 10-2/3 by 8-4/9 by 16-1/4 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty. --Plus-- Two White Coffee Mug's & Two Demi Spoon's

Espresso Machine Reviews

Breakfast Blend — Sat, 29 May 2010 10:55:31 +0000

Espresso and the preparation of espresso is nothing less than an art. It cannot be denied that espresso making machines form the very heart of this art, and therefore are an item of constant review by experts as well as coffee drinkers. Some of the best espresso makers in terms of consistency, taste of product and common durability are:

Delonghi Magnificia Automatic Espresso Machine: Available at around $600, this super-automatic espresso machine can make a variety of espresso. It can make espresso, cappuccino, coffee or even latte with this machine. The machine has a self-cleaning system, which works automatically. Also, it is a beans-to-brew system, which grounds the beans immediately.

Rancio Silvia: The Rancio Silvia has periodically been hailed as one of the best value for money machines. It is made up of durable steel and has a forged-glass-boiler. It has a twelve-ounce boiler capacity and can prepare steam in 20 seconds. A double shot of espresso takes 40 seconds on an average and it can steam four ounces of steam within 20 seconds. It is available at around $500.

Krups Allegro FND111: The Krups Allegro FND111 is one of the entry-level espresso makers in the market. This steam-driven-espresso maker is simple to use and doesn’t require a huge investment. This machine is available at around $50. However, it is sometimes said that Krups machines do not prepare a genuine espresso, because they cannot maintain the required pressure.

Gaggia Carezza: The Gaggia Carezza works as well as the other higher-end espresso machines. However, the main difference between the expensive ones and Gaggia is the plastic housing, as opposed to the steel housing that expensive machines have.

By: Seth Miller

About the Author:

Espresso Machines provides detailed information on Automatic Espresso Machines, Best Espresso Machines, Commercial Espresso Machines, Espresso Cappuccino Machines and more. Espresso Machines is affiliated with Espresso Equipment.

Espresso Coffee Machines

Coffee – Bean Growing

Breakfast Blend — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:08:46 +0000

For a tree grown in over 70 countries, from Indonesia to Brazil, it’s curious how narrow a range of conditions is required to produce quality ‘beans’ and how relatively small the total output is.

The word ‘beans’ is deliberately in single-quote marks, since the thing that gets roasted and ground to make the drink isn’t really a bean at all, it’s a seed.

In particular, it’s the seed of a fruit that grows on trees that can easily reach twenty feet or more. Some wild varieties grow to over 45 feet or 15m. Most of those seeds come in a pair, though there is a variety that produces only one (the peaberry). The berry resembles a cranberry, with a sweet pulp covered by a membrane called a silverskin.

In a band around the equator from approximately 25 degrees north or south, comes the overwhelming majority of the world’s coffee output. Temperatures of between 60F (15C) and 70F (21C) are best as is rainfall of six inches per month or more.

Loamy, good-draining soil is needed and also helpful is high humidity – plenty of mist and cloud at the high elevations, over 3000 ft (915m) for the good stuff. At these elevations the oxygen content is lower, so the trees take longer to mature.

The robusta, or coffea canephora, goes into making the majority of coffee because it can be grown at lower altitudes and is more disease resistant. But it’s the high-altitude coffea arabica that forms the base of a gourmet cup.

Diffuse light and moderate winds are helpful, both of which are sometimes produced by deliberately growing in the shelter and shade. By contrast, wine grapes like hot sun and lots of it.

Once planted, the tree takes about five years to mature to first crop and even then a single tree will only make enough for about two pounds (1 kilogram) of coffee.

Those two pounds equal about 2,000 beans, (correct or not, it’s the standard term), usually hand-picked by manual laborers. Manual they may be, but ignorant they are not. Coffee bean harvesting is a skill developed over time, where the picker learns to select good beans and discard the bad. Bean by individual bean. That’s only one reason coffee is high priced.

The trees have broad, dark green leaves and produce a flower that resembles Jasmine. Some – in Brazil and Mexico, for example, – blossom over a six to eight week period. In countries that lie along the equator such as Kenya and Colombia, though, a tree can have mature berries growing alongside still ripening ones. That’s part of what makes picking such a specialty.

Blossom to harvest may cover a period of up to nine months depending on the weather and other factors and the cycle will be carried out for the life of the tree – about 20-25 years. With the best cultivation technology, a good harvest will be between 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) and 8,800 lbs (4,000 kg) per hectare. (One hectare is about 2.47 acres.)

From these inaccessible regions, where conditions are harsh, the berries are brought down and processed to make up the world’s second largest commodity (by annual dollar volume).

So, the next time you savor that brew, give a thought to the long journey it traveled to reach your cup. It might make that high price seem less steep.

Coffee – A History of Adventure Around The World

Breakfast Blend — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:04:13 +0000

Beer may be the oldest man-made brew, with wine a distant second. Beer recipes are at least as old as 6000 BC, but the oldest wine-making processes date ‘only’ from about the turn of the first millennium.

Their younger cousin, coffee, arose a few hundred years later, though no one knows how old the plant itself is. Some archaeological evidence shows that humans were eating the berries as long ago as a hundred thousand years.

One legend says that a goat herder in Ethiopia observed his charges eating the red berries from a nearby tree and became excited. Trying them himself, he too felt a great lift. By 600 AD that magical berry, and the brew made from drying and grinding its seeds, had found its way to what is now Yemen, on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula.

Stories tell of a native of India smuggling the precious seeds of the tree out of Arabia around 1650 AD, then planting them in the hills of Chikmagalur. Arabian law forbade the exporting of beans that could germinate, effectively controlling coffee trade for centuries. Whether myth or history, the fruit of those seeds now forms a third of India’s large coffee output.

Europeans – the British, Dutch, French, and others – spread the beans to other countries during their travels. The Dutch were responsible for its introduction to Java in the 18th century. From those plantings, history tells us, came the famed tree coveted by France’s king, presented to him as a gift.

Louis XIV of France, finding the tree didn’t tolerate frost well, had a greenhouse erected to supply him with the beans to make the brew he so savored. It is said that from that source came the cultivars used in Central and South America.

Reaching Martinique around 1720, sprouts were planted and grew well in the hot Caribbean clime. From the thousands of trees that resulted, some were transported to Mexico where the product now forms one of their largest exports.

Making its way to French Guiana around the same time, the tree grew well in that steamy atmosphere. Seeing an opportunity, a rascal named Francisco de Melo Palheta solicited the aid of the governor’s wife to smuggle seeds out of the country. As he prepared to part for Brazil, the lady handed him a bouquet of flowers containing the illicit beans.

Brazil is now one of the largest coffee producers on the planet.

From Brazil the seeds complete the circle, making their way in the late 19th century to Kenya and Tanzania, not far from their original home in Ethiopia. Six centuries to return home is a long journey and an excellent excuse to rest and have a cup.