Archive for the ‘Coffee’ Category
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, yet it is not a country that comes to mind when the average consumer thinks of coffee. The South American countries are much more synonymous with coffee production but coffee did not come to these countries until the early 1700’s, nearly a thousand years after it was discovered. As legend has it, Ethiopian coffee was originally discovered around 600 A.D. by a young boy tending goats. It is not known when the name coffee was applied to the strange plants but an interesting legend places it around 900 A.D.
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If you love coffee, you are probably consistently searching for that perfect cup. Well, the perfect cup starts with the perfect bean. And the perfect bean is largely based upon the combination of soil quality and climate. So when you think of the perfect country for coffee bean growth what comes to mind? Probably, somewhere tropical. A place with regular rain and sun. If you are like most people you will undoubtedly say “Brazil”. It’s true, Brazil is the biggest dog on the block accounting for a whopping one-third of all coffee bean production. Its climate is ideal for coffee bean production. It’s no wonder they hold top spot. But, do they make the best bean?
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How Many Types of Coffee Are There?
Cappuccino, Espresso, Frappuccino or Cafe Latte – There are a myriad of coffees available, on the grocery store shelves and in coffee shops, from all around the world! But how many types of coffee are there?
The Coffee Drink Types Explained From A -Z:
• Cafe con Miel – Made with a single shot of latte, honey and vanilla or cinnamon flavoring.
• Cafe de Olla – Made with cinnamon, cloves, piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) and strong dark roasted coffee.
• Cafe Mocha – One third espresso, two thirds steamed milk and topped with a milky froth and chocolate powder – is a mocha coffee. It was named after the lost principal port of ‘Mocha’ in Yemen. Have you tried an iced Mocha yet? Read the rest of this entry »
Growing in Eastern and Central North America from New York and Ontario, West to Minnesota and South to Kansas, Tennessee and Oklahoma, the Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a moderately large canopy tree belonging to the legume family. It is known by several other names, such as American coffee berry, Kentucky mahogany, nicker treet, or stump tree.
The Kentucky coffee tree was pitted against the Tulip Poplar for the distinction of being named Kentucky’s state tree. It eventually lost to the Tulip Poplar (also called Yellow Poplar or Tulip Tree) in 1994 but still retained the title of “unofficial Kentucky state tree.”
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There are many varieties of coffee in the world, but only two are used for 97% of the worlds supply: Arabica and Robusta. The highest quality blends of coffee consist of 100% Arabica beans. Lower quality, less expensive blends may have some proportion of Robusta beans, or they may consist entirely of Robusta.
Arabica beans produce a superior taste in the cup, being more flavorful and complex than their Robusta counterparts. Robusta beans tend to produce a bitter brew, with a musty flavor and less body, and are sold to less discriminating consumers. They are also higher in caffeine than Arabica beans, fueling the addictions from which many of us already suffer.
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