How to Clean Up Your Coffee Pot

People who like using natural products to clean cooking and drinking items, have used this simple system for years with great success. It is easier to clean the coffee pot at the same time as cleaning the coffee maker with vinegar. You can, of course, heat the vinegar on the stove top and clean the pot or glass carafe if that is all you need or want to do.

Vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution since it is nontoxic, has no noxious fumes and easily rinses with water. Plus, it is inexpensive and you most likely already have some in your kitchen pantry. Use white vinegar preferably, a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. White vinegar is fairly colorless which makes it good for removing the dark "coffee ring" that begins to form on the pot after regular use. Apple cider and red wine vinegar do not work as well as white vinegar does for cleaning a coffee pot.

To clean a coffee pot that has a stubborn coffee ring, leave it soaking for 24 hours. Pour enough vinegar to fill the pot so it covers the ring. Use undiluted vinegar this time. Put the lid on it, move it aside where it will not be disturbed. The next day, scrub and rinse it. Repeat the same steps as often as needed until satisfied with the results.

The exact same procedure can be used to clean anything that holds coffee. For example, mugs, carafes, canister, coffee grinders, coffee makers, and anything else that comes in contact with soluble coffee. The same vinegar solution is an excellent cleansing solution for the outside of the pot and other kitchen appliances. It helps remove fingerprints and gives appliances a little extra shine.

If you like to recycle, you can pour the vinegar and water solution into a plastic container with a lid and reuse several times before finally discarding it. No refrigeration required. Discard the solution when it gets dark or soiled after reusing it about two to four times.

Because coffee tastes better with a clean coffee maker and a clean coffee pot, we recommend following these directions:

• Pour enough vinegar to fill the coffee maker with it instead of water as normally done for coffee brewing. Use a 50/50 water to vinegar mixture.
• If you prefer to use just vinegar, that works fine as well.
• Put the coffee pot in the coffee maker just like you do when brewing coffee. Turn the coffee maker "on."
• Some people recommend using a paper filter, others prefer not to do that. This is a personal choice.
• Once the pot is filled with the vinegar and water mixture, turn it off and let it cool. Pour the solution back into the coffee maker or back into the pan if doing the coffee pot only.
• Go through the whole process one more time.
• Pour out the vinegar mixture and run two pots full of water through the coffee maker to remove the vinegar residue.
• Pour the coffee pot out again and fill the sink to half full with warm water. Add some dish soap, stir and put the coffee pot in the soapy water.
• Scrub the pot with a soft kitchen brush or a sponge to remove any rings, marks or debris missed.
• Rinse with warm water instead of cold water to prevent possibly cracking the glass.
• Towel dry the pot and run it through the dry cycle in the dishwater. If you prefer not to do this, then simply dry very well with a clean towel.

How to Clean Up Your Coffee Pot

People who like using natural products to clean cooking and drinking items, have used this simple system for years with great success. It is easier to clean the coffee pot at the same time as cleaning the coffee maker with vinegar. You can, of course, heat the vinegar on the stove top and clean the pot or glass carafe if that is all you need or want to do.

Vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution since it is nontoxic, has no noxious fumes and easily rinses with water. Plus, it is inexpensive and you most likely already have some in your kitchen pantry. Use white vinegar preferably, a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. White vinegar is fairly colorless which makes it good for removing the dark "coffee ring" that begins to form on the pot after regular use. Apple cider and red wine vinegar do not work as well as white vinegar does for cleaning a coffee pot.

To clean a coffee pot that has a stubborn coffee ring, leave it soaking for 24 hours. Pour enough vinegar to fill the pot so it covers the ring. Use undiluted vinegar this time. Put the lid on it, move it aside where it will not be disturbed. The next day, scrub and rinse it. Repeat the same steps as often as needed until satisfied with the results.

The exact same procedure can be used to clean anything that holds coffee. For example, mugs, carafes, canister, coffee grinders, coffee makers, and anything else that comes in contact with soluble coffee. The same vinegar solution is an excellent cleansing solution for the outside of the pot and other kitchen appliances. It helps remove fingerprints and gives appliances a little extra shine.

If you like to recycle, you can pour the vinegar and water solution into a plastic container with a lid and reuse several times before finally discarding it. No refrigeration required. Discard the solution when it gets dark or soiled after reusing it about two to four times.

Because coffee tastes better with a clean coffee maker and a clean coffee pot, we recommend following these directions:

• Pour enough vinegar to fill the coffee maker with it instead of water as normally done for coffee brewing. Use a 50/50 water to vinegar mixture.
• If you prefer to use just vinegar, that works fine as well.
• Put the coffee pot in the coffee maker just like you do when brewing coffee. Turn the coffee maker "on."
• Some people recommend using a paper filter, others prefer not to do that. This is a personal choice.
• Once the pot is filled with the vinegar and water mixture, turn it off and let it cool. Pour the solution back into the coffee maker or back into the pan if doing the coffee pot only.
• Go through the whole process one more time.
• Pour out the vinegar mixture and run two pots full of water through the coffee maker to remove the vinegar residue.
• Pour the coffee pot out again and fill the sink to half full with warm water. Add some dish soap, stir and put the coffee pot in the soapy water.
• Scrub the pot with a soft kitchen brush or a sponge to remove any rings, marks or debris missed.
• Rinse with warm water instead of cold water to prevent possibly cracking the glass.
• Towel dry the pot and run it through the dry cycle in the dishwater. If you prefer not to do this, then simply dry very well with a clean towel.

The Health Benefits in a Cup of Coffee

Drinking coffee daily is a normal routine for more than 108 million Americans consumers, including the majority of US adults and a growing number of children. Is this habit good for our health or is it harmful?

Coffee has been the subject of research for decades and the results consistently show that coffee is more healthful than harmful. Research takes place daily on coffee, caffeine and health around the world. Hundreds, if not more, of new studies are published every month by scientists and research institutes worldwide.

Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine. Both of these substances have health and anti aging benefits. Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals. These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.

The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports them. For example:

ASTHMA RELIEF: caffeine can help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is not available. Did you know that a single dose of pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine? This is the equivalent of a hefty cup of coffee.

CAVITY PROTECTION: caffeine can prevent cavities because of a compound called trigonelline which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste. Trigonelline has both anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties that help prevent dental cavities from forming.

CHOLESTEROL: a paper filter is worth a "pound of cure" or so. There are two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, that raise cholesterol levels. During the brewing process, paper filters capture these substances. Paper filters, in this case, help in the prevention of harmful cholesterol levels. Coffee drinkers who drink non-filtered coffees such as "lattes," which do not use paper filters, may want to reconsider their choice and frequency of beverage for their own health benefit.

CIRRHOSIS: coffee drinkers have up to 80% reduced risk to suffer from cirrhosis than non coffee drinkers. People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less liver damage as compared to those who do not. The reduced risk of alcohol cirrhosis may be associated with the phenolics and related substances in coffee.

DEMENTIA: drinking coffee during middle age may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the risk of dementia in the elderly. Coffee drinkers at midlife have a lower risk for dementia or Alzheimer's later in life than people who drank little or no coffee at midlife. Moderate coffee drinkers had up to a 65% decrease risk of contracting these conditions as compared with low coffee drinkers.

GALLSTONES: certain compounds in coffee may help prevent liquid stored in the gallbladder ("bile") from crystallizing or hardening. This is what causes gallstones and obstructs the bile duct, a narrow tube which leads from the gallbladder to the intestine. Gallstones are painful and patients can experience fever and jaundice. Coffee drinkers have almost a 50% reduced risk of suffering from gallstone disease as compared to non coffee drinkers.

HEART DISEASE: People who smoke and are heavy coffee drinkers have less heart disease as compared to those who do not. Drinking coffee as part of a healthy and balanced diet is not associated with the development of cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerotic disease, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias and hypertension.

MENTAL ALERTNESS: caffeine enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine's effect on brain receptors, enabling a better energy uptake.

MALE FERTILITY: caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm "motility." Motility is the speed at which sperm moves. Since sperm hyperactivity is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE: antioxidants and caffeine have health and anti-aging benefits. Antioxidants repair the damage to cells caused by free radicals. People who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may be one mechanism through which the brain cells in Parkinson's disease are protected. Based on this and other evidence, Parkinson's drugs are being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. However, it seems that coffee protects men better than women against Parkinson's disease. This is because estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized and estrogen captures those enzymes.

TYPE 2 DIABETES: drinking one to three cups of coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. Drinking six cups or more each day can reduce men's risk up to 60% and women's' up to 30% as compared to non coffee drinkers. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as Chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Coffee also has minerals such as magnesium. All these components improve insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and lower blood sugar.

The good news about coffee and health keeps getting better. Coffee and caffeine are recognized for their positive health benefits and potential functional food attributes. Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you.

Go ahead and drink coffee. In the process, you will derive some health benefits. Enjoy a cup of Panama Boquete specialty coffee!

The Health Benefits in a Cup of Coffee

Drinking coffee daily is a normal routine for more than 108 million Americans consumers, including the majority of US adults and a growing number of children. Is this habit good for our health or is it harmful?

Coffee has been the subject of research for decades and the results consistently show that coffee is more healthful than harmful. Research takes place daily on coffee, caffeine and health around the world. Hundreds, if not more, of new studies are published every month by scientists and research institutes worldwide.

Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine. Both of these substances have health and anti aging benefits. Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals. These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.

The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports them. For example:

ASTHMA RELIEF: caffeine can help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is not available. Did you know that a single dose of pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine? This is the equivalent of a hefty cup of coffee.

CAVITY PROTECTION: caffeine can prevent cavities because of a compound called trigonelline which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste. Trigonelline has both anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties that help prevent dental cavities from forming.

CHOLESTEROL: a paper filter is worth a "pound of cure" or so. There are two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, that raise cholesterol levels. During the brewing process, paper filters capture these substances. Paper filters, in this case, help in the prevention of harmful cholesterol levels. Coffee drinkers who drink non-filtered coffees such as "lattes," which do not use paper filters, may want to reconsider their choice and frequency of beverage for their own health benefit.

CIRRHOSIS: coffee drinkers have up to 80% reduced risk to suffer from cirrhosis than non coffee drinkers. People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less liver damage as compared to those who do not. The reduced risk of alcohol cirrhosis may be associated with the phenolics and related substances in coffee.

DEMENTIA: drinking coffee during middle age may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the risk of dementia in the elderly. Coffee drinkers at midlife have a lower risk for dementia or Alzheimer's later in life than people who drank little or no coffee at midlife. Moderate coffee drinkers had up to a 65% decrease risk of contracting these conditions as compared with low coffee drinkers.

GALLSTONES: certain compounds in coffee may help prevent liquid stored in the gallbladder ("bile") from crystallizing or hardening. This is what causes gallstones and obstructs the bile duct, a narrow tube which leads from the gallbladder to the intestine. Gallstones are painful and patients can experience fever and jaundice. Coffee drinkers have almost a 50% reduced risk of suffering from gallstone disease as compared to non coffee drinkers.

HEART DISEASE: People who smoke and are heavy coffee drinkers have less heart disease as compared to those who do not. Drinking coffee as part of a healthy and balanced diet is not associated with the development of cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerotic disease, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias and hypertension.

MENTAL ALERTNESS: caffeine enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine's effect on brain receptors, enabling a better energy uptake.

MALE FERTILITY: caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm "motility." Motility is the speed at which sperm moves. Since sperm hyperactivity is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE: antioxidants and caffeine have health and anti-aging benefits. Antioxidants repair the damage to cells caused by free radicals. People who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may be one mechanism through which the brain cells in Parkinson's disease are protected. Based on this and other evidence, Parkinson's drugs are being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. However, it seems that coffee protects men better than women against Parkinson's disease. This is because estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized and estrogen captures those enzymes.

TYPE 2 DIABETES: drinking one to three cups of coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. Drinking six cups or more each day can reduce men's risk up to 60% and women's' up to 30% as compared to non coffee drinkers. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as Chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Coffee also has minerals such as magnesium. All these components improve insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and lower blood sugar.

The good news about coffee and health keeps getting better. Coffee and caffeine are recognized for their positive health benefits and potential functional food attributes. Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you.

Go ahead and drink coffee. In the process, you will derive some health benefits. Enjoy a cup of Panama Boquete specialty coffee!

Try Bananas Foster Float Coffee

In fact, it originated from the New Orleans dessert, and it is a combination base of the following:

1. Cinnamon
2. Bananas
3. Brown Sugar
4. Brandy

When I first drank this coffee, the triple-treat pleasure combination create an extraordinary delicious sensational taste, which I quickly share with all my friends.

So, you might wonder what are the characteristics of Bananas Foster Float Coffee. This is it.

The pleasing aroma with exceptional and interesting flavor, it has the smooth taste and a pleasant roasts which attracts our mouth feel and body.

People who tried this coffee indicated that they never get enough of it. It is something like having a dessert at anytime throughout the day. The flavor it offers is so exceptional that makes coffee lovers a memorable experience. If you love bananas, this coffee would be best suitable for you!

You can drink this coffee at anytime you like and it can compensate as a dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. It is also a great gift that you could give to your friends who love to drink coffee as well.

If you love to drink coffee, this is one of the flavors that you should try and you could experience just like having dessert in a mug. In addition, it is a highly rated coffee flavor by its customers including myself who had experience it.

Besides the taste, Bananas Foster Float coffee also offers a very cheap price in the market today. It is one of the best coffee flavors that you definitely worth for you to try!

Try Bananas Foster Float Coffee

In fact, it originated from the New Orleans dessert, and it is a combination base of the following:

1. Cinnamon
2. Bananas
3. Brown Sugar
4. Brandy

When I first drank this coffee, the triple-treat pleasure combination create an extraordinary delicious sensational taste, which I quickly share with all my friends.

So, you might wonder what are the characteristics of Bananas Foster Float Coffee. This is it.

The pleasing aroma with exceptional and interesting flavor, it has the smooth taste and a pleasant roasts which attracts our mouth feel and body.

People who tried this coffee indicated that they never get enough of it. It is something like having a dessert at anytime throughout the day. The flavor it offers is so exceptional that makes coffee lovers a memorable experience. If you love bananas, this coffee would be best suitable for you!

You can drink this coffee at anytime you like and it can compensate as a dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. It is also a great gift that you could give to your friends who love to drink coffee as well.

If you love to drink coffee, this is one of the flavors that you should try and you could experience just like having dessert in a mug. In addition, it is a highly rated coffee flavor by its customers including myself who had experience it.

Besides the taste, Bananas Foster Float coffee also offers a very cheap price in the market today. It is one of the best coffee flavors that you definitely worth for you to try!

Making Delicious Coffee with French Press Coffee Maker

The history of the French press coffee maker may give you an idea of the reasons for its growing popularity. The French press pot has a history of brewing the richest coffee most people have ever enjoyed.

Starting in the mid 1800's balance brewers and vacuum pots were introduced. Although plunger or press brewing systems existed, the ability to make a tight enough plunger/filter was not there. Consequently the coffee was brewed accompanied by grounds in the cup. It wasn't until the 1900's that the press pot started to increase in popularity and show up in stores. Later in the 1900's stainless steel pot and filter were introduced.

The best press pot coffee is made with freshly ground coffee. Your choice of coffee grinder can make the difference between a superb cup of coffee and a so-so cup of coffee. With the coffee press pot, you want large chunks of coffee as opposed to the fine grind of espresso. The proper grinder will give you an even grind and will make the coffee the same size, consequently each morsel will react in the same way to the water and the process.

If the coffee is too finely ground, the press is much more difficult to operate. Most coffee reviewers will recommend a cone type grinder to achieve the even course ground coffee you will enjoy in your French press pot. Other types of grinders will produce uneven grounds and ultimately cause grounds to be the last swallow of that cup. That is not what you are trying to achieve. Sludge free coffee is much more enjoyable. If you don't mind a little sludge in the bottom of your cup, you can purchase a less expensive grinder. Don't buy cheap, buy quality.

Another consideration is the filter that you use. There are nylon filters and metal filters. The metal filters will require a course grind of your coffee, similar to coarse pepper from a pepper mill. The nylon filters can better handle an uneven grind or one that is actually too fine for the best taste from the French press coffee maker.

While shopping, consider the coffee you purchase and the water you use. The coffee you use should not be freshly roasted. Because of the carbon dioxide present in early roasted coffee beans, the amount of foam will be larger and therefore go over your filter causing a bit of sludge in your cup of coffee. The larger your pot, the more foam will be produced and consequently the more grounds you will have in your finished product. Not good.

If the water coming out of your faucet tastes terrible to you, so will your coffee. Areas of the country with strong sulfur taste or other undesirable tastes will want to use bottled water to achieve the best tasting coffee that has ever traveled over their lips and taste buds. You would not invest in a French press coffee maker and fine coffee beans and ultimately skimp on the quality of water that you use to brew the pot.

Brewing a Perfect Cup of Coffee

A great cup of coffee is awesome. It not only smells great, but it tastes great and you can enjoy sipping it for a long time. Many enjoy the slight stimulant effect of the caffeine, and modern day caffeine free varieties are pretty tasty as well if you prefer. You can add milk, cream, or sugar as you prefer, and have it made strong such as espresso or a weaker variety if you prefer.

I like single cup brewers myself so that each cup is made to order and perfectly fresh. It's very hard to beat a small French press but there are other good types too and partially it comes down to preference. I've used several and the French press is perfect for me. Make sure it is clean before starting.

You'll also need water. The tap water may be fine or it may not be. I find most tap water is acceptable but in some areas it may be off tasting. For example the water in my office is very mineral laden and tastes bad so I use jugs of inexpensive water from the market or bring jugs from home. Bad tasting water will make bad tasting coffee and it is primarily water after all!

The beans are also important. Tastes vary a lot here, but you want freshly roasted and ground beans. There is no way instant or coffee in a can will match fresh, any more than frozen fish sticks can match the taste of stunningly fresh fish. I'm always trying new beans as I enjoy variety too.

What type of mug do you prefer? I like a ceramic mug, maybe 16 ounces or so, and I fill it with very hot water first so that my coffee stays hot a long time. I'll also occasionally use a metal travel mug in the car.

So, you've made a great cup, how to enjoy it best? Some may prefer to just sit and think, but I usually kill off a few emails as I'm drinking. I prefer to wait after the kids and wife are gone so I can enjoy it in relative peace and solitude as compared to the mayhem of getting three kids fed, three lunches made, and them off to the school bus in time. You however may prefer drinking it during mayhem and upheaval. Like many details, what is perfect for you is up to your own individual tastes and desires, and that's great!

Making Delicious Coffee with French Press Coffee Maker

The history of the French press coffee maker may give you an idea of the reasons for its growing popularity. The French press pot has a history of brewing the richest coffee most people have ever enjoyed.

Starting in the mid 1800's balance brewers and vacuum pots were introduced. Although plunger or press brewing systems existed, the ability to make a tight enough plunger/filter was not there. Consequently the coffee was brewed accompanied by grounds in the cup. It wasn't until the 1900's that the press pot started to increase in popularity and show up in stores. Later in the 1900's stainless steel pot and filter were introduced.

The best press pot coffee is made with freshly ground coffee. Your choice of coffee grinder can make the difference between a superb cup of coffee and a so-so cup of coffee. With the coffee press pot, you want large chunks of coffee as opposed to the fine grind of espresso. The proper grinder will give you an even grind and will make the coffee the same size, consequently each morsel will react in the same way to the water and the process.

If the coffee is too finely ground, the press is much more difficult to operate. Most coffee reviewers will recommend a cone type grinder to achieve the even course ground coffee you will enjoy in your French press pot. Other types of grinders will produce uneven grounds and ultimately cause grounds to be the last swallow of that cup. That is not what you are trying to achieve. Sludge free coffee is much more enjoyable. If you don't mind a little sludge in the bottom of your cup, you can purchase a less expensive grinder. Don't buy cheap, buy quality.

Another consideration is the filter that you use. There are nylon filters and metal filters. The metal filters will require a course grind of your coffee, similar to coarse pepper from a pepper mill. The nylon filters can better handle an uneven grind or one that is actually too fine for the best taste from the French press coffee maker.

While shopping, consider the coffee you purchase and the water you use. The coffee you use should not be freshly roasted. Because of the carbon dioxide present in early roasted coffee beans, the amount of foam will be larger and therefore go over your filter causing a bit of sludge in your cup of coffee. The larger your pot, the more foam will be produced and consequently the more grounds you will have in your finished product. Not good.

If the water coming out of your faucet tastes terrible to you, so will your coffee. Areas of the country with strong sulfur taste or other undesirable tastes will want to use bottled water to achieve the best tasting coffee that has ever traveled over their lips and taste buds. You would not invest in a French press coffee maker and fine coffee beans and ultimately skimp on the quality of water that you use to brew the pot.

Brewing a Perfect Cup of Coffee

A great cup of coffee is awesome. It not only smells great, but it tastes great and you can enjoy sipping it for a long time. Many enjoy the slight stimulant effect of the caffeine, and modern day caffeine free varieties are pretty tasty as well if you prefer. You can add milk, cream, or sugar as you prefer, and have it made strong such as espresso or a weaker variety if you prefer.

I like single cup brewers myself so that each cup is made to order and perfectly fresh. It's very hard to beat a small French press but there are other good types too and partially it comes down to preference. I've used several and the French press is perfect for me. Make sure it is clean before starting.

You'll also need water. The tap water may be fine or it may not be. I find most tap water is acceptable but in some areas it may be off tasting. For example the water in my office is very mineral laden and tastes bad so I use jugs of inexpensive water from the market or bring jugs from home. Bad tasting water will make bad tasting coffee and it is primarily water after all!

The beans are also important. Tastes vary a lot here, but you want freshly roasted and ground beans. There is no way instant or coffee in a can will match fresh, any more than frozen fish sticks can match the taste of stunningly fresh fish. I'm always trying new beans as I enjoy variety too.

What type of mug do you prefer? I like a ceramic mug, maybe 16 ounces or so, and I fill it with very hot water first so that my coffee stays hot a long time. I'll also occasionally use a metal travel mug in the car.

So, you've made a great cup, how to enjoy it best? Some may prefer to just sit and think, but I usually kill off a few emails as I'm drinking. I prefer to wait after the kids and wife are gone so I can enjoy it in relative peace and solitude as compared to the mayhem of getting three kids fed, three lunches made, and them off to the school bus in time. You however may prefer drinking it during mayhem and upheaval. Like many details, what is perfect for you is up to your own individual tastes and desires, and that's great!

What You Want to Know about Organic Kona Coffee Farming

On the Big Island of Hawaii, one of the finest coffees in the world is produced. This coffee, named Kona coffee, is meticulously cultivated by approximately 800 farms. The majority of the farms are 3 to 10 acres. The size of these farms certainly would not be considered Kona coffee plantations, but small dedicated farmers, artisans in the production of this gourmet coffee. Many Kona Coffee farmers have opted to grow their coffee organically to preserve the pristine condition of this beautiful Island.

Fertilization, is a simple necessity, yet critical to the grower and equally important to the consumer. First and foremost, the organic methods and practices of these farmers promote natural processes and maintain a balance between coffee production and the environment. The benefit to the grower is sustainability, cost reduction and the knowledge that no artificial contaminants are on their farm. The value to the consumer is the fact that Kona Organic coffee is free from; GMOs, pesticide and herbicide residuals and petroleum based fertilizer impurities.

While the technique of organic farming is an age old practice arising out of need, the modern philosophy has touted higher production and profit, through chemicals and bio-engineering.

Which brings to the subject at hand, organic fertilization programs, practiced by Kona coffee farmers. Several methodologies and systems are employed to meet the nutritional requirements of the Coffae Arabica trees of Hawaii. The first weapon in the Kona farmers arsenal is composting, the collection of pulped coffee cherries, vegetation from pruning, weeding and chipping, amassed in a pile and through nurturing and cultivation of microbes, breaks the material down to it's chemical constituents. These mounds of future fertilizer are moved daily and kept moist. When the majority of the plant material has decomposed it is either worked into the soil or placed around the coffee trees to conserve moisture. The compost is rich in nutrients and together with the soil boosts plant health.

A more recent innovation has been the making of organic Teas, this is an approach practiced in one form or another, by our fore fathers for centuries. The process entails the utilization of farm animal manure, enclosed in a burlap bag and suspended in water. The micro-organisms present in the environment break down the fundamental components of the necessary nutrients required by the trees. Our farm applies further enhancements to this basic formula. We aerate the brew continually and add additional ingredients to enhance both nutritional levels and beneficial micro flora reproduction. We add organic alfalfa feed, this assures an enhanced nitrogen concentration so critical to the coffee cherry production. We also add a few cups of molasses for the addition of its available mineral density. And finally we use kelp for its trace minerals. This mixture is allowed to steep for a month or two, and applied before the first flowering and throughout the year.

These methods assure the consumers a pure cup of coffee that is unblemished by man-made chemicals and equally delicious Kona Coffee.

Coffee Making Process

For most people getting their daily fix of coffee means going to the local coffee shop and buying a latte right? In most coffee shops they use commercial espresso machines to prepare your coffee but there are a number of other ways to make coffee. One of the most common ways you would know about is Drip fed coffee. The process of making coffee like this is really easy. Its a very simple and cheap process as you can by the machines from any decent electrical or home-ware store. Ground coffee sits in a chamber in the machine and then hot water is slow fed through the grinds drip feeding you brewed coffee into a handy little jug ready for you to serve.

Another very common and simple way of making coffee is to use a French Press or the plunger pot. This simple little device comes a simple jug which is filled with water and ground coffee (together). As the water boils it brews the coffee, then you press the plunger down a filter separates the grinds from the water leaving you fresh brewed coffee. Okay, so they're the common ones. Now lets move onto a less common method that maybe you don't know about.

One very different way is to use a vacuum pot. This is a pot with two chambers, a lower chamber and an upper one with a filter in between. Water goes in the bottom chamber ready to be heated and coffee grounds go in the top chamber. It is then placed on heat (hob or stove etc), and as the water heats up and as it does it is forced up through the filter and mixes with the coffee grinds. When you take the vacuum pot from the heat the lower chamber starts to cool it then allows all the brewed coffee to come back down through the filter into the bottom chamber. This keeps the coffee grinds in the top chamber and leaves you with coffee in the bottom chamber!

What You Want to Know about Organic Kona Coffee Farming

On the Big Island of Hawaii, one of the finest coffees in the world is produced. This coffee, named Kona coffee, is meticulously cultivated by approximately 800 farms. The majority of the farms are 3 to 10 acres. The size of these farms certainly would not be considered Kona coffee plantations, but small dedicated farmers, artisans in the production of this gourmet coffee. Many Kona Coffee farmers have opted to grow their coffee organically to preserve the pristine condition of this beautiful Island.

Fertilization, is a simple necessity, yet critical to the grower and equally important to the consumer. First and foremost, the organic methods and practices of these farmers promote natural processes and maintain a balance between coffee production and the environment. The benefit to the grower is sustainability, cost reduction and the knowledge that no artificial contaminants are on their farm. The value to the consumer is the fact that Kona Organic coffee is free from; GMOs, pesticide and herbicide residuals and petroleum based fertilizer impurities.

While the technique of organic farming is an age old practice arising out of need, the modern philosophy has touted higher production and profit, through chemicals and bio-engineering.

Which brings to the subject at hand, organic fertilization programs, practiced by Kona coffee farmers. Several methodologies and systems are employed to meet the nutritional requirements of the Coffae Arabica trees of Hawaii. The first weapon in the Kona farmers arsenal is composting, the collection of pulped coffee cherries, vegetation from pruning, weeding and chipping, amassed in a pile and through nurturing and cultivation of microbes, breaks the material down to it's chemical constituents. These mounds of future fertilizer are moved daily and kept moist. When the majority of the plant material has decomposed it is either worked into the soil or placed around the coffee trees to conserve moisture. The compost is rich in nutrients and together with the soil boosts plant health.

A more recent innovation has been the making of organic Teas, this is an approach practiced in one form or another, by our fore fathers for centuries. The process entails the utilization of farm animal manure, enclosed in a burlap bag and suspended in water. The micro-organisms present in the environment break down the fundamental components of the necessary nutrients required by the trees. Our farm applies further enhancements to this basic formula. We aerate the brew continually and add additional ingredients to enhance both nutritional levels and beneficial micro flora reproduction. We add organic alfalfa feed, this assures an enhanced nitrogen concentration so critical to the coffee cherry production. We also add a few cups of molasses for the addition of its available mineral density. And finally we use kelp for its trace minerals. This mixture is allowed to steep for a month or two, and applied before the first flowering and throughout the year.

These methods assure the consumers a pure cup of coffee that is unblemished by man-made chemicals and equally delicious Kona Coffee.

Coffee Making Process

For most people getting their daily fix of coffee means going to the local coffee shop and buying a latte right? In most coffee shops they use commercial espresso machines to prepare your coffee but there are a number of other ways to make coffee. One of the most common ways you would know about is Drip fed coffee. The process of making coffee like this is really easy. Its a very simple and cheap process as you can by the machines from any decent electrical or home-ware store. Ground coffee sits in a chamber in the machine and then hot water is slow fed through the grinds drip feeding you brewed coffee into a handy little jug ready for you to serve.

Another very common and simple way of making coffee is to use a French Press or the plunger pot. This simple little device comes a simple jug which is filled with water and ground coffee (together). As the water boils it brews the coffee, then you press the plunger down a filter separates the grinds from the water leaving you fresh brewed coffee. Okay, so they're the common ones. Now lets move onto a less common method that maybe you don't know about.

One very different way is to use a vacuum pot. This is a pot with two chambers, a lower chamber and an upper one with a filter in between. Water goes in the bottom chamber ready to be heated and coffee grounds go in the top chamber. It is then placed on heat (hob or stove etc), and as the water heats up and as it does it is forced up through the filter and mixes with the coffee grinds. When you take the vacuum pot from the heat the lower chamber starts to cool it then allows all the brewed coffee to come back down through the filter into the bottom chamber. This keeps the coffee grinds in the top chamber and leaves you with coffee in the bottom chamber!