If you don’t always make your coffee pods (see how to make your own coffee pod), you may want to buy them on sale: Save 15% when you purchase any eligible Senseo coffee pods
Though making coffee pods are cheaper, this is great when you don’t have time or simply want making coffee to be super easy.
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If you love tea or someone you knows loves tea, here is a fantastic tea deal. Through June 30th, you can Save 50% on Select Bentley’s Tea Chests
These teas are already discounted, and you get an additional 50% off. A beautiful gift, at a fantastic price. Remember to use promotional code TEAGIFT5. What a thoughtful Father’s day gift!
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If you think all coffee tastes the same, you are mistaken. Much of the final taste of coffee depends on the drying and roasting process. DO you like a light roast or a dark roast best? To find out, first you need to learn a bit about coffee roasting.
Sometimes, the coffee beans are subjected to a wash at the beginning of the drying and roasting process. Since the beans come in different types and densities, some of them float while others sink. This allows them to be sorted easier. The wash also helps to clean the beans and remove the outer fruit. Other processors use a drying process which is more expensive and takes more time.
Wet-processed beans tend to have a greater acidity than dry-processed beans do. Exactly how much acidity is desired depends on individual tastes. One thing is certain though, some acidity is better than no. If your morning cup had no acidity at all it would taste lifeless and flat.
During the first stage of the roasting process, the green coffee beans
As they reach temperatures of 338-392F (170-200C), the carmelization process begins. If the beans do not have the proper moisture content to begin with, then carmelization will not work properly and the final brew will not come out well.
When the beans get to about 400F (205C), the beans begin to get bigger. They wind up being about twice the size they started out at. They also turn light brown and lose around 5% of their weight. The beans will lose around another 13% of their weight and give off CO2 gas by the time they get to temperatures of around 428F (220C).
The next major milestone in the process is 446F (230C), at which point the beans turn a medium-dark brown color and develop an oily sheen. This is also called the ’second crack’ phase, because the beans often make a loud popping noise.
It’s very easy to burn the beans at that point in time. The roasters have to be careful not to overdo the roast. Over-roasting allows oxygen to mix with the oils on the outside of the beans and remove good flavors and leave a burnt taste in their place.
Coffee roasters have to take great care during the entire roasting process if they want the best possible outcome. So many acids, flavors and aromas are produced during the process that the slightest error could cause a completely different end result. Each coffee bean should, with a lot of skill and a bit of luck, produce just the right balance of flavors.
It is also important that coffee have good body. The word ‘body’ actually refers to how coffee feels on your tongue when you rub it against the roof of your mouth. The body of a cup of coffee is determined by its fat content. The fat content is largely determined by how the beans are grown and by the way the beans were roasted.
Dark roasts
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If you are in the market for a mechanical coffee roaster then you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are many Coffee Roasters
First, decide how much you want to be involved in the roasting process. If you enjoy mixing and stirring and measuring, you may want to get a simple stove-top model. Those are generally just saucepans with special handles, which have a crank, so you can stir the beans as they roast. Stirring them keeps the air flowing through the pan and prevents the beans from burning. Stove-top roasters should have tight lids as well. They should also have thermometers in the lids. Temperature control is very important as you are roasting.
If, on the other hand, you are only interested in the finished product, you may want to get a more expensive model that can do everything for you. Such models allow you to just put in the beans, close the lid and walk away until it’s done. Such models have thermometers, rotating canisters to provide proper air flow, timers and other options for your convenience.
It is critical that your coffee roaster be able to circulate air well and heat each bean in a uniform way if you want to get a consistently good roast. The most common air roasters accomplish that goal well. They work quite a bit like a popcorn popper does. Some models can even filter out the excess chaff that occurs when the coffee beans expand.
NO matter what type of coffee roaster you choose, one of the most important things you need to consider is visibility. You need to be able to see the beans as they roast if you want to fine-tune the procedure to your individual tastes.
You should also consider the amount of green coffee beans you are likely to be roasting. If you live alone and do not get much company you may want to get a small roaster. If you tend to host frequent parties then a large roaster might be a good choice for you.
Also, the roasting process inevitably creates some smoke, so it’s important to keep your roaster in a well-ventilated area.
So, no matter what your coffee roasting needs are, there’s a roaster out there for you. Do a bit of research and, in no time, you’ll be roasting the perfect green coffee beans
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If you love drinking tea like I do, you’ll want to take advantage of this great tea sale. Simply buy $29 or more and Save $10 on Celestial Seasonings Tea
From the above link, you can buy 2 cases of herbal tea w/ Amazon prime free shipping for $20.54. That ends up being approximately 1.72 per box — a fantastic price! An even better deal, if you enjoy Organic Black Tea
Mix and match to your hearts content and get wonderful discounted tea!
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We’ve found a nice coffee sale. Buy your coffee discounted by $10 why you buy from $10 Discount on Mr. Coffee
If you would like higher quality, rainforest alliance certified coffee, these 28% off Timothy’s World Coffee, Extra Bold Rainforest Espresso, K-Cups for Keurig Brewers
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I found this on youtube - a nice how to make mocha video! The mocha coffee recipe is both tasty and easy! Basically, it is how to add the right amounts of chocolate and spices in your coffee so they mix well, don’t clump and don’t overpower each other. The coffee video doesn’t make fancy coffee like in the earlier videos on this site, however, it tastes great.
Actual mocha recipe used is:
Mocha about 4 servings What you need:
1 1/2 cups strong coffee,
4 teaspoons chocolate syrup,
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon,
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg,
1 tablespoon sugar,
1/2 cup whipping cream
Put 1 tsp of syrup into each coffee cup, Mix cream, with 1/4 tsp of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.
Place the last 1/2 tsp of cinnamon in coffee, and stir.
Pour coffee into cups, stir to mix in syrup, top with whipped cream mixture
Remember, the quality of your mocha will depend on the quality of your ingredients!
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If you love coffee, you know how delightfully delicious it can be. What you might not know, though, is that there are many ways to use coffee in cooking. Recipes containing coffee can offer you whole other ways to enjoy your daily coffee fix.
When you are cooking with coffee, remember that, as with any recipe, fresh ingredients are important. You should always buy freshly ground coffee
Coffee is often used in desserts, but it can be used in other foods as well. Here are some of our favorite coffee recipes:
Espresso Brownies:
In a sauce pan, heat a quarter teaspoon of salt, a stick and a half of butter and a cup of sugar. Then add four ounces of chopped, semi-sweet chocolate and a teaspoon of vanilla and stir the entire mixture until it is melted. Then add a tablespoon of your favorite dark roast or substitute two teaspoons of espresso granules if you like. Then stir everything until it is well mixed.
Next, transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and allow it to cool just a bit. Then, while it’s still warm, fold in a cup of flour and three eggs. Then, pour the entire mixture into a baking pan and bake it for about 30 minutes. When done, allow it to cool a bit and then enjoy!
Black Russian Cake:
Add a cup of vegetable oil, a package of chocolate pudding, a half cup of creme de cacao and four eggs to your favorite dark chocolate cake mix. Then, add half a cup of Russian coffee (1 oz of vodka, 1/2 oz of Kahlua, 5 oz of hot black coffee) to the mix.
Then simply beat the mixture until it is smooth and pour it into a tube pan. Bake it for 45 minutes in a 375F (190C) oven and there you have it!
Coffee Meatloaf Sauce:
If you think coffee is only good in desserts, think again.
To make a coffee meatloaf sauce, which is becoming increasingly popular in Australia especially, blend 1/4 cup of water, a tablespoon of instant coffee and 1/2 a cup of ketchup with equal amounts of your favorite dry red and Worcestershire sauce. Then, add an ounce of margarine, two tablespoons each of lemon juice and vinegar and finish up with some brown sugar.
Meanwhile, cook the meat for 30 minutes. Then add the well-mixed sauce and bake everything for another 45 minutes at 375F (190C)
Aside from these simple coffee recipes, you can even mix a cup of sugar and a cup of double-strength Columbian coffee and heat it in a sauce pan and stir constantly to create coffee syrup.
Whether you like muffins, breads, candy, cookies, ice creams, cocktails or pies, there’s a recipe out there for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little and do some research to come up with your own personal favorite coffee creations!
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The history of black tea could rightly start with the debate of what could be the ancient beverage. Tea
Who had the idea of putting the leaves of Camilla sinensis into hot water to make a brew is better left unanswered? Perhaps it could have been an accident or some experiment.
History of Vedas of India, the most ancient literature of world and Ayurveda textbooks along with ancient Chinese texts are replete with the use of other herbs as hot infusion or decoction. Historians suggest the great likelihood of the start of use of black tea in China almost over 5000 years ago.
The fondness of black tea spread rapidly because of its good taste and health benefits. The Ch’a Ching, written by Chinese ex-monk Lu Yu, has the mention of various popular methods of preparation of tea of 800 A.D. Gradually Buddhist monks, particularly Yeisei, spread the word about tea in Japan and it soon had royal favor.
Seventeenth century witnessed the black tea conquering the globe. The Portuguese and other western voyager came in contact with Oriental shores. They delighted with this all new beverage unheard of in their native countries. When they returned home in early 17th century, their treasures included the precious tea leaves. They multiplied their fortune rapidly with the then-expensive novelty.
During mid 17th century, Britain finally joined and imported tea from China and the East Indies. As is obvious now, it became so popular that afternoon tea is now strongly associated with that Britain.
With the merger of both the major importers of tea, John Company and the East India Company, tea reached every nook of the globe with their monopoly. By the end of the 17th century tea imports were 40,000 pounds.
Gradually with increasing popularity, the novelty had become a commodity. Over 240,000 pounds were imported into England in 1708 and the leaves were being sold in common food shops in Holland and France. Most of Europe doesn’t have the right climate to grow its own tea. The drink that had been imported and made popular by royalty was now consumed by nearly everyone.
At the same time, tea was becoming popular in other nations around the world. The Russian Tsar Alexis received several chests as a gift in the early 17th century. By the end of it the Russians were engaging in regular trade with China across their common border. The price of tea had been very high due to long travel of thousand of miles. Despite all odds, the practice spread throughout society and tea could be found in every samovar.
The United States had a little ‘ceremony’ called the Boston Tea Party. As an act of protest against the heavy-handed British government, Americans protested by dumping large quantities of the good into the Boston harbor. In reaction, the British government closed the port and troops occupied the city. The resulting revolution changed the history of world as we all know.
Be a part of history and delight yourself with fine cup of tea today!
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Have you ever wondered how healthy your coffee-drinking habit is? The answer may lie in how much you drink.
In the last twenty-five years there’s been a major increase in research about the effects of coffee on the body. Most likely, this research boom has been caused by a rapid growth in the amount of coffee being consumed throughout the world. Amazingly, over 400 million cups are consumed around the world daily.
There’s been a decades-old debate about whether coffee is hazardous or beneficial. The old concerns mostly revolved around the fact that coffee is a stimulant, so it can potentially cause slightly increased heart rate and irregular heartbeats. New research shows that, actually, those effects are short-lived and the benefits could far outweigh the risks.
For instance, some research shows that if you drink more than four cups a day it could reduce your risk of colon cancer. That could be considered good or bad though. Drinking that much coffee may reduce your cancer risk, but it may also create other issues. Luckily there are other health benefits to coffee, which don’t require you to drink quite as much of it.
For example, the antioxidants in coffee can reduce the risks of heart disease. While that’s a good thing, scientists point out that the same effect can be gained from eating fruits and vegetables and the fruits and vegetables also provide key vitamins and minerals, which coffee does not.
Studies in China and America, as well as Scandinavia, show that drinking coffee can possibly reduce the effects of such things as Parkinson’s disease, type-2 diabetes, and asthma. Similar studies also indicate that coffee can reduce the risks of kidney stones, gall stones and other digestive problems. Drinking coffee in moderation can even assist fertility a bit because studies have shown that sperm swim longer and faster when exposed to small doses of coffee.
Like many other things, coffee is good in moderation. However, there are usually risks involved in having too much of a good thing. Drinking too much coffee does have some possible side-effects.
While drinking a little coffee can possibly help your fertility, drinking too much coffee can actually cause fertility problems. Drinking too much coffee can also increase your risk of developing coronary heart disease because coffee adds homocysteine too your bloodstream. Homocysteine, recent studies show, increases the possibility of coronary heart disease.
Similar studies have also shown that coffee increases the bad cholesterol in your bloodstream (LDL-cholesterol). Coffee contains cafestol, which raises cholesterol levels. The good news is that cafestol is mainly a concern for those who drink coffee that has been made by the European method of boiling coffee beans in water. Most Americans prefer to percolate or filter their coffee. If you are among those, you do not need to be as concerned, because those methods help to remove cafestol.
If you happen to be a female coffee drinker, you should definitely be aware that drinking coffee can cause you to lose more calcium. Losing calcium can cause you to have less dense bones. Drinking too much coffee can also increase your risk of developing urinary incontinence problems.
If you feel that you are drinking too much coffee, you may want to substitute herbal tea for a cup or two a day. Green Tea is said to have beneficial side effects while still having some caffeine. If you want less caffeine, try drinking decaffeinated coffee or herbal tea.
The bottom line is that it’s up to you to decide if the benefits of coffee outweigh the risks to you personally. There are many factors that can come into play when you make that decision. So, as you drink your morning latte, ask yourself how it makes you feel.
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