Coffee and Tea

Have you ever wondered what determines why some coffee beans make it into your local shops and others don’t? Well, coffee graders ensure that you receive the best possible coffee.

A ‘Green Coffee Seller’ is a person who helps to grade the coffee when it is green (before the roasting process). Graders have to look for a large variety of traits when they choose suitable coffee beans.

What Does A Great Coffee Bean Look Like?

Two of the biggest traits a grader looks for are size and shape. If some beans are larger than others they will not all roast at the same speed, which will cause an inconsistent flavor in the coffee. As for color, differences in color usually mean that the beans are either dried differently or mixed from different cultivars. That can be a major problem because beans need to be separated by region and cultivar if the final product is to be the best possible brew.

Coffee beans undergo a drying process soon after they are picked. The drying process is designed to keep the beans from fermenting.

Ripeness

Coffee beans can have a brown coating called a ’silverskin’, known as a ‘fox bean’ in Brazil, after they’ve been dry processed. However, under ripe beans can also have a silverskin. There’s a simple way to tell the difference though. The silverskin can be easily rubbed off if the bean has been dry-roasted properly. If the silverskin doesn’t rub off, the bean is not ripe enough. An under-ripe bean leads to a sour tasting cup of coffee.

There are many types of art in the world. Drying coffee beans is one of them. Sometimes, processors try to cut costs or save time by using harsh drying processes. If the beans are not turned often enough during the drying, or if they are dried too quickly, it can cause the beans to become discolored.

Drying Process

On the other hand, if the beans are dried correctly, they will go through a lengthy process of being first dried on a ‘patio’ and then mechanically dried several different times. Usually, beans that spend a few short sessions in the dryer come out superior to those that stay in the dryer for one long period of time.

All of these things are things that a coffee grader needs to be on the lookout for. Also, they look for things, such as beans with white edges, which is a sure sign that the beans were either not dried well to begin with or else they were stored improperly after drying.

Wonderful Aroma

Like everyone else on the planet, a good grader also smells the coffee beans. As you know, if you drink coffee on a regular basis, good coffee will smell fresh. Graders also try to detect other odors, such as smoky or musty odors, that might be left over from the time in the processing center.

So, the next time you’re about to take a sip of your favorite cup of coffee, take a minute and thank the graders who make sure it’s the perfect cup!

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We found a great coffee deal on delicious fair trade, organic beans: Save 35% on Larry’s Coffee Beans — simply enter code LARRYBEA at checkout.

These beans are normally a good price .. but at 35% they are the least expensive we have found for the quality! Sale ends Sept 30, 2009.

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Rooibos is actually a tisane or herbal tea as it is derived from a plant Aspalathus linearis and not from Camellia sinensis. The literal meaning of the Afrikaans word Rooibos is red bush. Despite the botanist’s difference, it is well known as a form of popular tea worldwide and thus affirming the Shakespeare’s writing, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’

About the Plant

Rooibos plant is a shrubby bush with thin and needle like leaves. Leaves produce a light, sweet and delicious brew with a difference in color. The light red color lets its drinkers enjoy a nice change from green or brown color of traditional teas.

South Africa, the native place of Rooibos bush, had witnessed the great relishing of its population with this wonderful brew for centuries. During World War II the import of Asian teas had been restricted. So millions of people had to look elsewhere to find their afternoon cup of tea.

Farmers in Cedarberg mountains used to harvest the low-volume seeds to get their Rooibos drink that had gained popularity all over the world. Finely chopped leaves are left in South African sun to dry.

The original Rooibos green leaves turn red after fermentation process. Fermentation is a kind of oxidation process in tea processing that bears no resemblance with chemical fermentation used to manufacture alcohol where sugars are fermented to make alcohol. The oxidative fermentation of leaves makes them ready to yield a delectable drink.

Health Benefits

The great taste of Rooibos is fortified by Mother Nature with other benefits as well. Rooibos possesses antioxidant properties without having caffeine. This caffeine free drink can be used freely by persons suffering from hypertension. The cancer preventing elements are intact even without caffeine. The low tannin content allows you to enjoy several cups without any concern of poor digestion, constipation, lower absorption of iron and other minerals from intestine.

Immunity boosting property is also found in Rooibos by some researchers. Stomach cramps are also relieved with its use. Persons suffering from Kidney stones can also enjoy it as it is free from oxalic acid. So you can assume Rooibos to be a recipe or remedy for health.

You may find the product labeled Herbal Allergy tea, owing to its reputed ability to aid allergy sufferers. Or it may be labeled Red Bush and available in the section used to treat skin disorders, such as eczema.

But, again, by any other name it is still a wonderful addition to the tea tin. And that’s a tradition that is worth maintaining.

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Most people aren’t aware of how good their lives really are. They take their food and drinks for granted, assume that they need to have expensive electronic items, and buy expensive clothing. Most people don’t even stop and think about where these items come from and who is making them. Until fair trade coffee became available, most people didn’t understand how their items were produced.

Healthy Choice

Some coffee shops offer organic fair trade coffee instead of the regular coffee brands. Health-conscious consumers quickly caught on and started buying this organic coffee. Some of them had questions about what fair trade coffee was and why it was different from other types of coffee. While some thought it was just the coffee brand name, it’s actually something more important.

Helping Others

Coffee farmers have very difficult lives. The world economy makes the price of coffee change from day to day, so these farmers are especially susceptible to price changes and problems with their crops. If the crop is bad one year, these coffee farmers can be put out of business. Fair trade coffee is a coffee that ensures the farmers and other people involved in coffee making are being treated and paid fairly. It’s a good way to make sure the money you pay for your coffee is not helping to exploit these hard-working farmers. People who buy fair trade coffee are helping to make sure that these farmers can keep their businesses and earn a good living.

Best Coffee

Many people might not understand what is going on and may not realize why fair trade coffee is important. Every year, many of these coffee farmers lose their businesses to changes in the economy and other problems. When they lose their businesses, they have to work for larger companies that exploit their labor for less money than they earned previously. This means that their lifestyles change and they are unable to feed their families. The farmers are treated very badly. Instead of buying from large companies, fair trade coffee is bought right from the farmers. This is important, especially for people who want their money to support ethical business practices. Fair trade coffee is also delicious, making it an easy choice for any coffee lovers.

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Where do coffee beans come from? Well as we all may know coffee beans are actually the seed of the coffee plant. Coffee beans are mainly consisted of endosperm which contains approx 0.8 – 2.5% caffeine, and to your surprise or not this is the main reason which these plants are popular.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world, coffee beans are a major business in an import export for some countries.

There are many types of coffee beans which obliviously come from the coffee plant, these include Coffea Arabica, Coffea benghalensis, Coffea canephora, the list just keeps going, and there are aprox 12 main varieties of coffee beans.

What Coffee machines to choose, well personally I like the Ascaso i-Steel UNO shown here http://www.bestcoffeebeans.co.uk/ascaso-i-steel-pm-espresso-machine-with-intergrated-grinder-620-p.asp this coffee machine has a beautiful Stainless Steel body and has all the gadgets that a high class coffee machine should have and more. This coffee machine also has a flat wheel grinder which is excellent there is no need to constantly refill the grinder as it has a 1.3 pound storage hopper for the coffee beans.

I think that this brand is one of the best choices to choose as it will get the job done, and coffee beans deserve to go into this coffee machine without a doubt.

In my experience of coffee beans and coffee machines I have found that there are many to choose from, each of us all have our own specific taste in coffee beans and also choosing the right coffee maker can be hard, but I can make it easier for you by going to this site and check for yourselves coffee machines the name says it all!

We know that we can’t afford four to five hours for drinking tea like people who enjoy it in Japanese tea ceremony of legendary fame. Then what could be a better way of enjoying a fine cup of tea for the average busy guy who can’t spare more than a few minutes of his time?

The tea bags have come to rescue the person with the target of a few minutes to a great cup. Tea bags were first introduced by Thomas Sullivan who sampled different teas by enclosing them in cloth bags so that his prospective customers could select a tea. The original intention was that customers will open the bags and then prepare the tea as usual.

Perhaps some lazy fellows have tried it otherwise without opening the bag, but by dipping the sample bags in a cup of hot water. This unusual method was soon became popular and became hit as a sensational discovery as it enabled persons to drink the tea to last drop without having any leaves in their mouth.

It’s Not The Bag – It’s The Quality And Freshness

After more than 100 years of introduction of tea bags, the bags and the tea have seen a great change. Finer, stronger and lighter bags are now available. They have to pass through stringent health standards and quality control. Perhaps all changes are not better ones. Many times, the content of bags had suffered in quality.

Some tea bag manufacturers used the left-over tea, called fannings. This scrap of tea leaves is processed to fill thousands of tea bags. As these low quality bags made their way into the end consumer kitchen, he would have to consume a low quality tea for a higher price. It might have been compared to stale tea by some.

Another blow to tea bags came in 1970s when “natural” became the buzz word and products that came from plants were adored by the public. Tea certainly qualifies to be natural. As a result, loose leaf tea was looked on as a superior alternative. And, in many cases it is.

Fine Loose Teas

Hundreds of fine loose leaf teas are imported from various parts of globe. Loose leaf teas from China, India, Japan, and elsewhere can be as pleasing to the connoisseur as a fine wine. The gentle jasmine from China stacks up well against a sweet orange tea from Turkey. Or, one may enjoy an outstanding mint tea from Africa. Our favorite place to buy such quality teas is: Amanzi Tea

Again, tea bags emerged without being a symbol of earlier low quality. Many vendors have evolved from the granola days to combine the high quality of a loose leaf tea with the convenience and other benefits of a bag. Though they often go by the more elegant name of “sachet,” it’s still tea in a bag. But the difference is that the tea is of the utmost quality and is sold fresh. That difference is important.

So, retain your busy lifestyle when you must. But take a few minutes on occasion to celebrate your efforts. Treat yourself to a truly fine cup of tea, and enjoy it without a dozen distractions. You’ve earned it.

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There are many ways to make a cup of coffee. Did you ever wonder what makes one method different from another? Maybe you are wondering which method is the right choice for you. If so, a quick history lesson may help you decide.

Coffee Percolators

It all originated with the coffee percolator. Way back when, typical housewives who needed a quick pick-me-up in the morning, or, more likely, needed to give their husbands a quick pick-me-up in the morning, would stare at their percolator as it heated the water. As the water heated up the pressure would build and force it up a tube. From there, the water was forced over a basket full of coffee grounds. As you can imagine, this did not make for the world’s greatest cup of coffee.

Drip Coffee

The first major advancement in coffee brewing technology came in the 1970’s. It was in the 1970’s that the drip method became a dominant brewing method. It was a simple and inexpensive brewing method involving dripping boiling water over coffee grounds, which were over filter paper in a plastic cup. The resulting brew would then drip down and collect in a glass coffee pot. Even today, this is one of the more common methods for brewing a quick cup of coffee.

Pre-packaged packets of coffee came along later. What would a walk down coffee memory lane be without them? There’s something to be said for the convenience of having just enough coffee ready to go any time you want. Along with the pre-packaged coffee, came more gadgets, buttons, dials and spouts all designed to give coffee brewing a bit more versatility and variety.

Espresso Makers

For the more advanced coffee drinker, the 1990’s were the idea time. Along came the espresso machine. The espresso machine, a European creation, quickly became all the rage. Espresso machines use a finely ground dark roast, which hot water is run through to produce an especially flavorful and aromatic brew. As Americans began to get used to espresso machines, they also began to update them and fine tune them, reducing costs.

Once espresso came along, people rapidly started experimenting with different machines and additives. Soon cappuccino and latte arrived on the scene. Cappuccino and latte are espresso with milk added to it. The difference between the two is the coffee to milk ratio.

French Plunger Method

Another interesting brewing option is the French plunger method. The french plunger method involves a glass cylinder with a rod through it and a handle at one end and a filter at the other. The coffee grounds are placed in the container and nearly boiling water is then poured over them and allowed to steep until the plunger is pressed. Once pressed, it produces a very full-bodied brew.

Vacuum Brewing

One of the most unusual brewing methods is vacuum brewing. Vacuum brewing works in much the same way as percolators do, except vacuum brewing utilizes two metal or glass bowls stacked on top of each other. When the bottom bowl is filled with water and heat is added, the water rises into the upper bowl. When the heat is taken away again it creates a vacuum effect. The vacuum effect pulls the hot water through the coffee grounds and back into the lower bowl. The vacuum method makes an excellent show at a party and, since it can be performed right at the table, it makes an especially fresh brew for the guests.

No matter which method of coffee brewing you use, chances are you have ancient ancestors to thank for it. Coffee brewing, in some form, has been around for centuries. The Turkish Ibrik is perhaps one of the oldest coffee brewing techniques. It uses heated water in a copper container and finely ground coffee which is then poured without filtering. Needless to say, it produces a very strong cup of coffee!

Find The Brewing Method You Enjoy Most

Any method of coffee brewing is bound to bring its’ own unique flavor to the party. You will probably need to experiment with quite a few techniques before you find that perfect cup. Don’t think of it as a chore though. Taking a walk back through the history of coffee is a great adventure for any true coffee connoisseur.

The controversy whether tea is older than other beverage like coffee, beer or wine could not be solved easily. The tea supporters consider it to be the oldest drink while beer supporters argue that the use of beer is supported by 10000 years of history while tea is supported merely by 5000 years.

Let us put controversies aside! When we use common sense, we have to accept that tea is the oldest drink. The leaves of tea or several other herbs had been used worldwide by thousands of tribes. The preparation of tea is simple in comparison to more complex preparation of beer or wine.

How Popular is Tea?

All right, tea is the oldest drink and let us find out how popular it is all over the globe. The enormous popularity of tea could be gauged by its annual worldwide production targeting around 2 billion pounds. And realize that how many cups of tea we make with one pound of tea. Year in and Year out, we consume 2 billion pounds of tea every year.

How Much Caffeine is in Tea

Even though tea leaves have 1-3 % of caffeine that is two times or more than coffee beans. But the net amount of caffeine in a single cup of coffee is 100 mg that is considerably more than 60 mg in a cup of tea. The difference is due to preparation methods – coffee beans or powder dissolve completely in a mug whereas tea is only partly utilized.

Is Tea Healthy?

The health benefits of coffee and tea are the result of many similar compounds. Antioxidants,…………….. Caffeine has also shown its beneficial effects on body and mind when used in moderate amounts.

Why do people use tea with such great fondness? It couldn’t be history or economics or science or medicine behind tea. Perhaps tea is simply a wonderful drink, perhaps tea fulfills the various demands of masses.

When is Best to Drink Tea

Whether you want a robust pick me up in the morning, or a relaxing hot cup at night, tea is – dare we say it – perfect. It clears out the cobwebs and at the same time relaxes. Iced or hot, green or black (or Oolong, which is in between), or even red or white (yes, they exist), tea tastes great and makes you feel wonderful.

Drinking tea has been a perpetually delightful personally and socially right from the unknown nooks of past to modern times. People do use other drinks like beer or coffee or wine as well but none is close to tea. We can find something like beer ceremony in very few cultures except college students occasionally.

Tea ceremonies are not exclusive to Japan. English love tea every afternoon. Many clubs are devoted to tea in New York. East and West have many differences and tea is one definite measure to bridge that gap. But all over the world – China, Turkey, Russia, Australia, the U.S. and the UK, and all the points on the map in between enjoy a cup of tea.

Enjoy Tea

So wherever you are, you can now have a Wu Yi in a Yixing clay pot or a Rooibos in a Danish glass cup. You can enjoy a lemon grass tisane or even a blueberry vanilla Ceylon. What you can’t do, if you are among the over one billion tea drinkers in the world, is to resist a perfectly brewed cup of the world’s finest drink – Tea.

I love discovering new teas! So when I came across a sunny store that only sells teas (and tea equipment) — I just *had* to visit. So here is my review of Amanzi Tea – and my delightful explorations.

Wide Selection

They have a wide variety of teas that both look, sound and taste scrumptious: Vanilla Coconut, Lychee Pomegranate, and Strawberry Magic. Besides the standard premium teas they have a large number of options including: immune system, weight loss, energy power and digestion friendly. (There are many more!)

Tea Gift Packages

For those looking for a Mother’s day or Father’s Day present, tea is a wonderful gift! The tea gift packages for Mom from Amanzi Tea are currently 25-30% off! There are 3 options:

• To Your Health Mom… — health teas that taste wonderful with a nice mug – VERY affordable!
• The “I Love You Mom” Gift Set — a tea, chocolate, mints and more that all seem mouth-watering!
• “I REALLY Love You Mom!” Gift Collection.– Tea, a tote, a tea maker and more. Currently 30% off!

Tea Equipment

From tea tongs, timers, makers and tea pots, they have it covered. I really like their store and I think you will too! It is nice having such a good selection and so many yummy choices!

So if you are looking for a tea gift or simply some great loose tag, try Amanzi Tea.. and drink it up with pleasure!

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Buying iced coffee from starbucks to cool off in the summer is fun — but being able to make your own can save you lots of money. Here is how to make perfect summer drinks using iced coffee recipes:

Step 1) Add your preferred flavoring syrup to your cup first.

Step 2) Add espresso or coffee

Step 3) Add ice or ice cream

Step 4) Add desired creamer (unless you added ice cream above)

Tips:

* If you make ice cubes from coffee your drink won’t get watered down.

* If using ice cream, be sure your ice cream is made with real cream as it will taste much better.

* High quality coffee beans make better drinks.

* Freshness counts. Fresh coffee beans will make better tasting coffee.

* You can a wide variety of toppings that are often available at coffee houses when at home such as: whipped cream, chocolate shavings, nutmeg or cinnamon.

So enjoy your iced coffee and save money while doing it!

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