Coffee is a dark beverage that originates from a fruit grown from the coffee plant.http://www.thegardenhelper.com/coffee.html Coffee is harvested, usually by hand, when it is ripe, as red coffee cherries. The fruit must be processed within twenty-four hours to ensure good flavor.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evCf7YYZk3w To make the coffee drink; beans must be dried, roasted, then ground and brewed with hot water.
History of Coffee
Coffee originated in Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula and began to be enjoyed as a beverage in Europe around the 17th century. European and Scandinavian countries, originally Holland, began harvesting the crop at about this time as well.http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=68 The coffee plant spread throughout the Mediteranian, Carribean and equatorial regions of the globe.
Coffee is the world's second most valuable commodity for developing countries. Brazil grows one third of the world's coffee, exporting three times as much as the next most productive country, Vietnam.http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/guatemala.mexico/facts.htmlFair Trade organizations, established by the Dutch in 1988, assist smaller, local farmers and growers worldwide in receiving more equitable prices for the crops they grow and sell in competitive world commodity markets.http://www.mahalo.com/fair-trade
Coffee, Caffeine and Health
The caffeine in coffee makes it a controversial beverage among health researchers. A cup of coffee can contain from 65 to 175 mg of caffeine depending on the way it is prepared.
However, doctors and medical researchers who follow studies on coffee consumption note that overall, drinking coffee may have more health benefits than risks, including possibly reducing the risk of a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease and colon cancer.http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food
Ways to Serve Coffee
- Espresso: A strong coffee that is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans. This creates a thick and rich liquid that is very strong. Usually served in small amounts. http://www.thebeanery.com/news/coffee-definitions
- Cappuccino: A drink that is usually made of 1/3 Espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 frothed milk added on top. Powdered cinnamon is sometimes sprinkled on top.
- Café au Lait: Made by having a proportion of 1/3 Espresso and 2/3 steamed milk . This is often flavored with various coffee syrups.
How to Make an Espresso Con Panna
Learn how to make an Espresso Con Panna with Ryan Morris for Flying Saucers. Morris grinds the beans and tamps the grounds for the perfect espresso. The extracting time for a double espresso is 18 to 22 seconds. If the color of the espresso is dark, the grind of the is off and should be redone before serving. Whipped cream is added as a sweet contrast to the bitterness of an espresso.
Coffee Companies
Don Francisco's Coffee
Starbucks
Gavina
- Nespresso.com: Coffee Company Website
- Worldflavors.net: Coffee Company Website
How to Make Espresso
Learn how to make espresso with barista Ryan Morris. He grinds the espresso at the time of making the drink so it is fresh. The espresso grounds are tamped twice with two levels of pressure. Moore shows what color the espresso should be and mentions an espresso which looks like black coffee is not prepared correctly and should be remade.
References
Fast Facts
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World Top 10 Coffee Producing Countries
In order of amount produced; Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, India, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Ivory Coast and Uganda
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World Top 10 Coffee Importing Countries
In order of amount imported; the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Netherlands
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Types of Coffee
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Fair Trade Coffee
Coffee certified by the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO) or one of the world fair trade federation groups
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Harvesting
The best way to harvest ripe coffee is to hand pick the coffee cherries
