Coffee 2 Tea

Although I’m now an outspoken advocate of organic espresso coffee, I certainly didn’t start out that way.  The newfound coffee snob in me tells me to say I started out with a refined palate, but I actually started out drinking Folgers. I thought what the heck, it’s cheap and I could drink it everyday at a minimal cost.

Then my coffee tastes started to kick in and I began drinking more and more coffee outside of the house. That’s when I realized that coffee wasn’t just about caffeine; there was an amazing depth of flavor to take into consideration. I began to research the various coffee options available to me and I haven’t looked back since.

It used to be that if you wanted gourmet coffee you had to be prepared to scour local specialty stores and make a considerable investment, but not anymore. Now there are coffeehouses on every corner offering an assortment of premium beans from exotic locales around the globe. If you go to one of these franchise locations, however, you are still liable to pay a pretty penny.

The internet has become the premier source for discount gourmet coffee. The variety of coffee available online is staggering, allowing you to customize everything from the variety of beans you want, to the level of the roast. No matter where you are located, you can get premium Arabica beans delivered straight to your door.

In our society, French vanilla tends to be put on a pedestal above other varieties, but do you know what—if anything—actually sets it apart from the competition. Although the term “French vanilla” is thrown around somewhat liberally, it really is a specific type of custard used for making ice cream. French vanilla has a strong, natural vanilla taste and flavor, using the whole beans in lieu of artificial flavoring.

You’ll notice tiny black specks interspersed in your French vanilla, and these are actually the inside of the vanilla bean, which aren’t typically utilized in cheap imitation vanilla products. Despite the fact that French vanilla is actually the custard for ice cream, the moniker is now used to describe a variety of flavorings and household products. So unless your French vanilla cappuccino was made with ice cream custard, you’re really drinking a knockoff.

When it comes to coffee, we all want the finest beans fresh ground for that rich flavor. Most people wake up with their coffee, and overall, it sets the tone for the whole day. Thus, the morning coffee can be the most essential part of the day, and the best coffee to drink in the morning is organic coffee. Coffee that is certified organic comes from natural beans grown with no pesticides or chemicals, and no matter what the roast, it just tastes better than commercial coffee.

Perhaps the best part about organic espresso coffee is the fact that purchasing it is not condoning acts that ravage the environment and companies that use pesticides and chemicals. Organic food not only tastes better, but it’s better for humans and better for the environment. Give up those commercially grown beans and drink coffee with organic coffee beans; the way it was meant to taste!

There is a litany of things to consider when purchasing your coffee beans, but the most important distinction is between Arabica and Robusta coffees. Arabica coffee has a vast array of varieties, ranging in flavor from sweet to somewhat acidic. The Arabica plant requires a specific climate and conditions to prosper, so cultivating the plant effectively can be a challenge. This combination of superior taste and difficult farming inflates the price of these premium beans.

The Robusta plant can grow in a wide variety of climates and produces a harsh tasting bean. Because of this, Robusta is universally considered the lower grade of coffee. Robusta beans are typically used for economical coffee products and blended with Arabica beans to lower the cost of higher quality varieties.

Espresso may sound like an up class, sophisticated beverage, but it is fairly similar to traditional coffee. An espresso is made using the same beans as traditional coffee, the only difference being in the brewing process. Instead of drip brewing, espresso coffee is made by using pressure to push the water through the coffee grounds.

This process results in a more concentrated beverage, giving a richer, truer coffee flavor. Since the beverage is has more of the grounds in the final product, it also has a thicker consistency than a standard cup of coffee. People drink espresso as is and it is used in a variety of other beverages, such as cappuccinos.

Most people think that a cappuccino is an overtly sophisticated coffee drink when in reality it is actually quite simply. Chances are that you have even tried a cappuccino unwittingly without knowing what it was actually called. At its most basic level, a cappuccino is just espresso with hot and steamed milk.

While this is the dictionary definition, there is now a litany of variations on this classic Italian beverage. Cappuccinos are available with a huge array of exotic flavor add-ins and combinations. Vanilla and chocolate are two of the most common, but the simple ingredients in this staple coffee beverage leave a lot of room for innovation and interpretation.

Drink to a healthier you. Choose healthy alternatives to promote total wellbeing. Opt for organic coffee grown the old-fashioned and natural way. These are far from those coffees raised using forced growth. Instead, they are pesticide-free and were grown without any herbicides or chemicals.

Organic coffee is grown with only pure and natural fertilizers combined with careful nurturing up to their full maturity. Choose from these fantastic 100% organic variants:

~Columbiano supreme
~Peruvian
~Sumatra mandheling
~Espresso

There is a lot to learn about coffee.  The terms Robusta and Arabica for instance, which are often mentioned in the same breath as coffee, cannot be defined by many coffee drinkers.  The two are actually the foremost varieties of coffee being grown today. Robusta, which contains more caffeine than Arabica coffee beans, ranks lower in quality and comprises about a fifth of the coffee produced worldwide.  Arabica coffee is more prevalent, accounting for more than 70% of the world’s coffee business.  It is also more superior in taste and aroma. These days most people consider Arabica a gourmet coffee.

Green beans and organic beans are two more terms associated with coffee.  Simply put, green beans are coffee beans that have yet to be roasted.  In contrast, organic coffee beans come from coffee plants grown naturally and sans the use of pesticides. Coffee retailers purchase them raw then have them roasted and packed just before transport and delivery for maximum freshness.

All coffee drinkers love the rich, distinct aroma of their favorite brew.  They savor cup after cup of this hot beverage daily, most often in the morning or after meals.  Not all however, like the caffeine that comes with coffee.  Studies have shown that caffeine, when consumed, can cause wakefulness and increase heart rate, which some people look on unfavorably.

Thankfully, there is decaf coffee so no one has to give up his or her daily coffee habit.  Decaf espresso beans for example, are made from the highest quality Arabica beans, are roasted dark, and taste awesome, but contain no caffeine.  Many other gourmet coffee blends have decaf versions and have retained their appetizing aroma and flavor even without caffeine. Health-conscious individuals would appreciate receiving decaf coffee as gifts.  So give one or several bags today to people you care about. Choose from whole bean, drip grind, or French press, in half pound, one pound or five pound packs.