How to Buy Good Quality Coffee?

Oh, there is truly nothing more frustrating than buying coffee that is not as good as it seemed. It can definitely ruin your day to take a sip of a cup of Joe that doesn't live up to its reputation, so you do need to make sure that you heed these purchasing tips when buying your coffee for home use.

First of all, find out the roast date. This is something important for you to understand the freshness of the roast of your coffee since coffee should be consumed 10 to 14 days after roasting. As a rule of thumb, it is not a good idea to purchase coffee from a grocery store because it will be stale. Also, if you are someone that drinks decaf coffee, it is best to purchase from a roaster because decaf coffee can sit on the grocery store shelves for up to six months because it is less often purchased. Shocking! As a rule of thumb, it is best to enjoy your coffee a few days after it has been roasted, and make sure to seal it in an opaque, airtight container for maximum freshness.

The next tip is to grind what you will brew. You also must freshly grind your coffee beans every time that you brew because freshly ground coffee beans will go stale within 30 seconds. This is imperative to protect the essential oils within the coffee beans since they will become damaged when they are oxidized and exposed to air. Once the essential oils are damaged, there goes the flavor of your coffee along with it. As soon as you grind the coffee beans, they will start to lose their natural flavors. There are different grind consistencies necessary for various brew methods. As an example, if you are using an automatic coffee maker, the grind consistency should be medium, like granulated sugar. If you are using a French Press, the coffee grounds need to be very coarse. You will need a very fine ground for espresso or Turkish coffee that is similar to a powder.

Lastly, make sure to store your coffee beans with the right method to have a better taste in your brew. Although rumor has led many people to store their coffee beans in their freezer, do not do it! Coffee beans are porous and delicate, and they will absorb the flavors of what is around them. The coffee can begin to taste bad if you have fish or other foods in your freezer, and freezing coffee will also damage the essential oils to completely ruin the natural flavors of the coffee beans. You must store your coffee beans in a dry and cool location in an airtight and opaque container.

So there you have it! These are the best methods for storing your coffee beans so that you can protect their delicate flavors and constantly enjoy a delicious and rich cup of Joe. Even these subtle changes will make a dramatic difference in the coffee that you buy, and you will notice a much fresher flavor in your cup of Joe!

The Best Single Serve Coffee Makers

Single serve coffee makers are my favorite. I can make a cup of coffee whenever I need one and they really only take about 2-3 minutes to make. Now, the downfall with your regular based coffee makers is that you're going to find out that you're going to have to wait 20 minutes and half the time, you're going to have to let the pot go to waste.

You will want to just think about this one for a second. Think of the times when you have wasted, say 6 cups? You could have had 6 cups of coffee in the future. We all know that coffee grounds and filters cost a few bucks, so why think of saving?

They are great for dorm rooms, apartments, and even homes. Sure, if you're going to be feeding the whole office, you're going to have to get a commercial based one, but if not, let me give you the upsides, as well as the downsides.

The Upsides...

• Quick and easy: Most of them are going to make your pot within 5 minutes.
• Very clean: Many use a permanent filter where you don't even have to worry about replacing them. It's going to ease the waste.
• Solo cups: Instead of measuring the grounds and doing things such as that, you're going to find that some come with individual pods, making it super easy to measure out.

The Downsides...

• Not enough cups: If you have a party and people want to drink some coffee, this won't do the trick.
• Not as many features: Some have all the features that you want, but they are going to cost an arm and leg, but many complain that they want more. This is a personal choice though.

Now, onto the top 5. There are many brands that make individual coffee makers. You're going to find some such as Black and Decker, Cuisinart, as well as a few others make great makers that are going to work for you. Check out a few mentioned below, as they may be what you're looking for.

1. Keurig B40 (around $120)
2. Black and Decker DCM18S (around $20)
3. Keurig B70 (around $170)
4. Delonghi Drip Maker (around $50)
5. Brew N' Go by Black and Decker (around $27)

Tips for Making the Perfect Latte

Making a perfect latte is actually really easy, provided you have some basic equipment and know what you're doing. A latte is made up of two ingredients; milk and espresso coffee. For the milk, ideally you will need a steaming wand, something that shoots steam into a pitcher of milk, creating something that is known as microfoam. You can however still achieve almost the same effect using a microwave or saucepan and stovetop, and a small, very low cost foaming wand.

The espresso is critical, so make sure that if you can only afford one piece of kit, you get a decent espresso maker. They take on all different shapes and sizes, ranging from things like the pod based machines offered by almost all of the major manufacturers, to your more traditional coffee shop style portahandle machines where you literally pull your own shot of espresso.

To begin with, froth your milk. Many people often assume that you start with the shot, but you want to be able to add your shot to your drink as quickly as possible, so don't waste time leaving the shot on the side to get cold or stale. You want to literally pour it, add it to the drink and serve, so start with your milk first. You want to heat the milk up to around 65 degrees C and at some point you will want to do a small bit of frothing.

It's worth pointing out the difference between a cappucino and a latte however. A cappucino is one third steamed milk, one third foamy milk and one third coffee. A latte is about one eighth coffee and about six eighth steamed milk, with maybe one eighth foamy milk to top the latte off. Bear this in mind when you are heating up your milk!

Once you have your milk hot and good to go, you want to pour a shot. The way you do this will vary depending on your machine. It might require grinding some beans, tamping them off in the portahandle and pulling a shot the traditional coffee shop way, or it might just involve putting a pod in the machine and pushing a button. Either way, you need to add your espresso to the mix! The ideal brewing time for an espresso is between 18 and 21 seconds. If you let the drink brew for less than that, if will come out watery, if you let it brew for longer than that, the coffee becomes burnt and overly bitter tasting.

Finally, take a tall latte glass, add your hot milk and pour in your shot. Stir to mix up well, and serve!

Chocolate Covered Gourmet Coffee Beans

Chocolate covered gourmet coffee beans make truly interesting and unique gifts for men whether the man belongs to you or to someone else and the caffeine it contains will kick start the man too.

Unique corporate gifts for men are harder to find than for women, but you can solve that problem, by making up your own unique gift basket that contains the following.

• Commercial one cup coffee maker, with a special message engraved on it or your company logo or both.
• A variety of gourmet coffees, the selection available is huge since there are seventy coffee producing countries and the coffee from each country has its own distinct flavor.
• A personalized coffee mug, the variety is endless and the ready available messages on these mugs are funny, inspiring even romantic or you can have your company logo placed on the mug if you cannot find something that is to your liking.
• Last but not least add the chocolate covered gourmet coffee beans to your gift basket, the possibilities are endless, you can make your own, which will really make it a very unique gift for him or you can buy some.

Wrap it elaborately with, beautiful gift paper that fits the occasion, cellophane and bows, remember to add a beautiful card. You can make it even more unique by making your own card from handmade paper, there are many sources available online and offline that will show how. This gift basket will be well received as a unique Christmas gift for him, unique gifts for men of all ages, stages and positions and your unique gift basket will even be appreciated as a unique birthday gift.

If this gift is meant as a unique birthday gift for the sunshine of your life, you can make a wonderful dinner for two at home and really go wild and elaborate on the coffee theme of your gift basket or reserve a dinner for two at your favorite restaurant. Restaurant owners are very helpful and go out of their way to help you create an evening that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Restaurant owners have a lot of experience in creating special evenings for special occasions, do not be afraid to ask for some help to ensure that you get more than your monies worth.

Chocolate Covered Gourmet Coffee Beans

Chocolate covered gourmet coffee beans make truly interesting and unique gifts for men whether the man belongs to you or to someone else and the caffeine it contains will kick start the man too.

Unique corporate gifts for men are harder to find than for women, but you can solve that problem, by making up your own unique gift basket that contains the following.

• Commercial one cup coffee maker, with a special message engraved on it or your company logo or both.
• A variety of gourmet coffees, the selection available is huge since there are seventy coffee producing countries and the coffee from each country has its own distinct flavor.
• A personalized coffee mug, the variety is endless and the ready available messages on these mugs are funny, inspiring even romantic or you can have your company logo placed on the mug if you cannot find something that is to your liking.
• Last but not least add the chocolate covered gourmet coffee beans to your gift basket, the possibilities are endless, you can make your own, which will really make it a very unique gift for him or you can buy some.

Wrap it elaborately with, beautiful gift paper that fits the occasion, cellophane and bows, remember to add a beautiful card. You can make it even more unique by making your own card from handmade paper, there are many sources available online and offline that will show how. This gift basket will be well received as a unique Christmas gift for him, unique gifts for men of all ages, stages and positions and your unique gift basket will even be appreciated as a unique birthday gift.

If this gift is meant as a unique birthday gift for the sunshine of your life, you can make a wonderful dinner for two at home and really go wild and elaborate on the coffee theme of your gift basket or reserve a dinner for two at your favorite restaurant. Restaurant owners are very helpful and go out of their way to help you create an evening that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Restaurant owners have a lot of experience in creating special evenings for special occasions, do not be afraid to ask for some help to ensure that you get more than your monies worth.

Two Sweet Coffee Recipes

Honey Butter with Hazelnut Latte Recipe

Honey Butter mixing with Hazelnut, are you sure is a good combination? Try this out yourself to find out.

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (tall glass)

1. 2 tablespoons of Hazelnut syrup
2. 1 tablespoon of Honey Butter
3. 1 shot of organic espresso
4. 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation

1. Take an empty blender cup and pour all the ingredients into the cup.
2. If you like cold latte, you can add in few cubes of ice before you start to blend it.
3. Blend it for 1 minute until all well mixed.
4. Bring an empty tall glass and pour your latte into the glass.
5. You can enjoy your cup of latte now.

 
Classical Honey Butter with Cinnamon Latte Recipe

This latte is for someone who likes Cinnamon mixing with coffee. If you are belong to that group, try this out and you will like it.

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (just nice for one tall glass)

1. 1 tablespoon of honey butter
2. 1 shot of organic espresso
3. 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk
4. 3 to 5 ice cubes
5. 2 tablespoons of Cinnamon syrup
6. 1 small tablespoon of Cinnamon powder as garnish

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation

1. You need an empty blender cup to pour all the ingredients except cinnamon powder which we need to use at the later stage.
2. Start to blend it for 55 seconds until all evenly mixed.
3. Take an empty tall glass and pour the latte into the cup.
4. Spread the cinnamon powder on top of the glass as garnish.
5. You can now serve your latte.

Two Sweet Coffee Recipes

Honey Butter with Hazelnut Latte Recipe

Honey Butter mixing with Hazelnut, are you sure is a good combination? Try this out yourself to find out.

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (tall glass)

1. 2 tablespoons of Hazelnut syrup
2. 1 tablespoon of Honey Butter
3. 1 shot of organic espresso
4. 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation

1. Take an empty blender cup and pour all the ingredients into the cup.
2. If you like cold latte, you can add in few cubes of ice before you start to blend it.
3. Blend it for 1 minute until all well mixed.
4. Bring an empty tall glass and pour your latte into the glass.
5. You can enjoy your cup of latte now.

 
Classical Honey Butter with Cinnamon Latte Recipe

This latte is for someone who likes Cinnamon mixing with coffee. If you are belong to that group, try this out and you will like it.

Ingredients
Enough for 1 person (just nice for one tall glass)

1. 1 tablespoon of honey butter
2. 1 shot of organic espresso
3. 0.75 cup of low fat steamed milk
4. 3 to 5 ice cubes
5. 2 tablespoons of Cinnamon syrup
6. 1 small tablespoon of Cinnamon powder as garnish

Equipments Needed
Espresso maker and electronic blender

Steps for preparation

1. You need an empty blender cup to pour all the ingredients except cinnamon powder which we need to use at the later stage.
2. Start to blend it for 55 seconds until all evenly mixed.
3. Take an empty tall glass and pour the latte into the cup.
4. Spread the cinnamon powder on top of the glass as garnish.
5. You can now serve your latte.

You Have to Know about the Health Benefits and Risks of Coffee

Are you the type of person who just has to have your morning cup of coffee before you can get started on your day? If so, you've probably thought about the possible health consequences of drinking coffee. It may even cross your mind every time you pour yourself a cup, if you're anything like me.

Coffee tastes great and it provides some definite benefits to those who drink it, including significant boosts in energy. And there are hundreds of millions of people around the world who just wouldn't want to live without it.

Research has shown that drinking reasonable amounts of coffee makes a person feel more aware and focused, leading to increased productivity. If you feel yourself lagging behind at work, you might benefit from drinking a cup of coffee sometime.

It's clear that coffee can give us a mental boost, but unfortunately it's still unclear whether it has a positive effect, a negative effect, or no effect at all on physical health. Coffee drinkers are likely to insist that it's a harmless and innocent beverage, but others say that it can cause a variety of health problems.

Some research has shown that coffee does play a part in raising blood pressure levels when consumed regularly. It also increases heart rate, and these two effects together can frighten many people into avoiding coffee.

However, the same research points out that for such ill effects to be caused by coffee, an individual would have to consume large amounts over a long period of time. A cup a day, or something in that range, likely won't cause any health problems.

It seems that anti-oxidants are coming up more frequently when people discuss the health ramifications of coffee. Some more recent studies have shown that coffee beans contain anti-oxidants. It's not hard to believe that coffee could contain some helpful compounds, as it's made from all-natural coffee beans. We've known for awhile that red wine has similar health benefits.

Whatever your beliefs on coffee, it's still important to consume it in moderation, as with any food or beverage. Even if something hasn't been definitively proven to be unhealthy, it's still easy to overindulge and have too much of one thing. Always be careful with stimulants such as coffee, especially as you grow older.

Arabica Coffee, the Best Commercially-Produced Type of Coffee in the World

Arabica coffee is widely-regarded as the best commercially-produced type of coffee in the world. It is known to be the first type of coffee ever consumed by humankind. Most of the coffee you drink comes from Arabica plants, which are grown all over the world. This plant is most associated with Africa and the Middle East, but is now found in the coffee-growing regions of Latin America, as well. Its beans produce one of the most popular beverages in the world, in all its various incarnations. The plant that produces it, however, can be quite fragile.

The Arabica coffee tree is grown on plantations from regions as far apart as Brazil, Java and Ethiopia. This plant is a tree, which produces a berry that contains, at its center, the coffee bean. In Java, plantations are able to harvest at any time of the year, due to the climate. Latin America has more pronounced seasons, and many of the plants in this region are only harvested once a year. There are other varieties of coffee, as well, such as Robusta. Generally, however, the Arabica plant is considered to produce the superior brew. It has some other advantages, as well.

Arabica coffee, depending upon the roast, can have low levels of caffeine. While many coffee drinkers indulge in the beverage specifically for the caffeine, there are a growing number of people trying to cut back on the amount that they consume. Arabica has lower levels of caffeine than the other types of commercially-produced coffee. Remember that lighter roasts generally have more caffeine in them, as well, and that these beans are available at all levels of roast, making them good choices for those who need their caffeine intake cut down, but not out.

Arabica coffee is one of the most important cash crops in the world. It constitutes a major export of several Latin American and Asian nations. There are also a number of nations which are dramatically increasing their exports of either this coffee or Robusta, and the produce of the farms that grow this plant is popular among investors. The plant is actually native to the nation of Yemen but, since that time, it has moved all over the world. The plant, however, is a lover of mountain climates and most plantations are located in areas where there is a rather rugged landscape.

Arabica Coffee, the Best Commercially-Produced Type of Coffee in the World

Arabica coffee is widely-regarded as the best commercially-produced type of coffee in the world. It is known to be the first type of coffee ever consumed by humankind. Most of the coffee you drink comes from Arabica plants, which are grown all over the world. This plant is most associated with Africa and the Middle East, but is now found in the coffee-growing regions of Latin America, as well. Its beans produce one of the most popular beverages in the world, in all its various incarnations. The plant that produces it, however, can be quite fragile.

The Arabica coffee tree is grown on plantations from regions as far apart as Brazil, Java and Ethiopia. This plant is a tree, which produces a berry that contains, at its center, the coffee bean. In Java, plantations are able to harvest at any time of the year, due to the climate. Latin America has more pronounced seasons, and many of the plants in this region are only harvested once a year. There are other varieties of coffee, as well, such as Robusta. Generally, however, the Arabica plant is considered to produce the superior brew. It has some other advantages, as well.

Arabica coffee, depending upon the roast, can have low levels of caffeine. While many coffee drinkers indulge in the beverage specifically for the caffeine, there are a growing number of people trying to cut back on the amount that they consume. Arabica has lower levels of caffeine than the other types of commercially-produced coffee. Remember that lighter roasts generally have more caffeine in them, as well, and that these beans are available at all levels of roast, making them good choices for those who need their caffeine intake cut down, but not out.

Arabica coffee is one of the most important cash crops in the world. It constitutes a major export of several Latin American and Asian nations. There are also a number of nations which are dramatically increasing their exports of either this coffee or Robusta, and the produce of the farms that grow this plant is popular among investors. The plant is actually native to the nation of Yemen but, since that time, it has moved all over the world. The plant, however, is a lover of mountain climates and most plantations are located in areas where there is a rather rugged landscape.

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!

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!