5 Crimes Against Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee shops in San Francisco and New York are famous for serving phenomenal house-roasted coffee, prepared using meticulous methods. But founder James Freeman maintains that if home brewers just avoid common mistakes, it doesn’t take much to brew a great cup at home. “People think it’s so hard and difficult, but just a few simple things can really make a big difference,” he says. Here, Freeman explains how to bypass the five worst crimes against coffee. Given his perfectionism, chances are you’re committing several of them. Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman. Photo © Clay McLachlan/ ClayPix.com.

“Make sure you choose a coffee with a roast date, not a ‘best by’ date. Preferably, that date should be no longer than a week ago. Then use it up, share it with friends, or buy smaller bags so you move through it quickly. Sometimes lightly roasted coffee can be good for a couple of weeks after opening, but in general, fresher is better.”

“Buy whole-bean coffee. Ground coffee gets stale really easily. Buying a grinder just isn’t that hard: It’s not that expensive, and doesn’t take that long. If you’re doing the pulse-and-shake method on a cheapo blade grinder, I think you’re still better off than buying pre-ground coffee that’s been sitting in a bag for a week or God knows how long. And there are better options that are getting cheaper—Hario, Porlex, Zassenhaus and Baratza make some good grinders that are not that expensive.”

“Don’t buy a coffee pot with a plug. If you’re going to make coffee, make it yourself. There’s the symbolic layer: Do you want to entrust something so important to a machine? And then there’s the brass tacks layer, which is that almost every machine doesn’t make very good coffee. I love the shininess, the slipperiness, the cleanness of a good pour-over made with a paper filter or a cloth filter.”

“Don’t rely on your eye, and don’t rely on volumetric measurements—they’re just not accurate. Buy a gram scale and weigh your coffee, weigh your water. You’re going to be so much more in control of your brewing ratio.”

“Don’t buy a national brand if you can help it. We’re lucky enough that a lot of people want to have our coffee shipped, but I think more and more, people are opening up little roasteries and doing interesting things. You’ll be less apt to see coffee as a commodity, and more apt to see it as something that’s precious and has been meticulously cared for, from when it’s grown far away to when it arrives in your cup.”

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5 Crime against coffee

Blue Bottle Cafe in San Francisco and New York are famous for the phenomenal House-roasted coffee, prepared with meticulous methods used. But founder James Freeman said that avoiding home Brewers only common mistakes, not much, it take to brew a great Cup at home. He says "people think it is so hard and difficult, but a few simple things can really make a big difference,". Here, Freeman explains how to work around the five worst crimes against coffee. In the face of his perfection, that they are to commit several of them chances. Blue bottle coffee founder James Freeman. Photo © clay McLachlan / ClayPix.com.

"Make sure to choose coffee with a roast, not" best by "date. Preferably should then no longer than a week ago. Then you consume, share it with friends, or buy smaller bags so that you move quickly through them. Sometimes lightly roasted coffee can be good for a few weeks after the opening, but generally fresher is better."

"Buy whole bean coffee. Ground coffee is obsolete really easily. Purchase a grinder is not so difficult: it is less expensive and not so long. If you blade grinder do the pulse-shake method for a cheapo, I think you're still better than buying the coffee, which was sitting in a pocket for a week or God knows how long. And there are better options that are cheaper - Xeslana Porlex, Zassenhaus, Baratza make some good Mills, which aren't that expensive. "

"Buy no coffee pot with a plug. If you're going to have coffee, make it yourself. It is the symbolic level: you want to trust something as important to a machine? And then there are the nails layer, that is, make almost any machine not very good coffee. "I love the gloss, the smoothness, the cleanliness, the a good casting-about a fabric filter or a paper filter."

"Rely not on your eye and not exclusively by volumetric measurements - they are just not right. Buy a scale and weigh your coffee, weigh your water. You'll be so much more control over your brewery. ratio"

"Buy any national brand if you can avoid it. We are happy that many people want to have delivered to our coffee, but I think more and more people that open small roasters and do interesting things. "They are less suitable to see coffee as a commodity and more inclined, to see it as something is precious and has been maintained carefully, if it is far away to built his in your cup arrival."

View the original article here

5 Crimes Against Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee shops in San Francisco and New York are famous for serving phenomenal house-roasted coffee, prepared using meticulous methods. But founder James Freeman maintains that if home brewers just avoid common mistakes, it doesn’t take much to brew a great cup at home. “People think it’s so hard and difficult, but just a few simple things can really make a big difference,” he says. Here, Freeman explains how to bypass the five worst crimes against coffee. Given his perfectionism, chances are you’re committing several of them. Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman. Photo © Clay McLachlan/ ClayPix.com.

“Make sure you choose a coffee with a roast date, not a ‘best by’ date. Preferably, that date should be no longer than a week ago. Then use it up, share it with friends, or buy smaller bags so you move through it quickly. Sometimes lightly roasted coffee can be good for a couple of weeks after opening, but in general, fresher is better.”

“Buy whole-bean coffee. Ground coffee gets stale really easily. Buying a grinder just isn’t that hard: It’s not that expensive, and doesn’t take that long. If you’re doing the pulse-and-shake method on a cheapo blade grinder, I think you’re still better off than buying pre-ground coffee that’s been sitting in a bag for a week or God knows how long. And there are better options that are getting cheaper—Hario, Porlex, Zassenhaus and Baratza make some good grinders that are not that expensive.”

“Don’t buy a coffee pot with a plug. If you’re going to make coffee, make it yourself. There’s the symbolic layer: Do you want to entrust something so important to a machine? And then there’s the brass tacks layer, which is that almost every machine doesn’t make very good coffee. I love the shininess, the slipperiness, the cleanness of a good pour-over made with a paper filter or a cloth filter.”

“Don’t rely on your eye, and don’t rely on volumetric measurements—they’re just not accurate. Buy a gram scale and weigh your coffee, weigh your water. You’re going to be so much more in control of your brewing ratio.”

“Don’t buy a national brand if you can help it. We’re lucky enough that a lot of people want to have our coffee shipped, but I think more and more, people are opening up little roasteries and doing interesting things. You’ll be less apt to see coffee as a commodity, and more apt to see it as something that’s precious and has been meticulously cared for, from when it’s grown far away to when it arrives in your cup.”

View the original article here

Gourmet Flavored Coffee From Cafes to Countertops

Coffee has been a flavorful way to experience camaraderie and enjoyment for centuries. From ancient Africa to modern cafés to countertop coffee makers, this rich treat has been an important beverage for many people.

The birth of coffee in Africa and Middle East seems distant but everyone relates to gourmet flavored coffee today. From grabbing a cup on the way to work to savoring a cup with dessert, it is served throughout the day. While drinking java alone is pleasurable, often java is part of socializing. It is served at work, at meetings and at social gatherings. From klatches to specialty bars, sharing a cup is an excuse to gather.

In decades gone by, a great cup of coffee meant going to your local diner or stopping by a friend's house after a fresh pot was percolated on the stove. It accompanied long conversations at the counter with the waitress and other patrons. Women gathered in the afternoons after they did their chores to share freshly perked cup and conversation before the children came home from school.

Over the past three decades, coffee got more sophisticated. As technology evolved, so did its presentation. Posh coffee houses sprouted up across the nation offering gourmet beans and exotic brews. Today many houses are known as coffee bars where patrons sit down to sip and socialize. Often patrons bring home their favorite varieties of gourmet coffee and tea to make at home.

The home java experience has also evolved through the years. Everyone can remember the silver coffee percolator grandma used to make when we were children. Our parents made it in a simple drip maker. Today there are a variety of machines used at home to create irresistible concoctions including espresso and cappuccino. A French press is used to make a full-flavored brew from gourmet coffee beans. Use a single serve maker if you live alone or just want one fresh cup.

Coffee drinking was simple when your only options were cream, milk and sugar. Today there are lots of flavors and types to choose from. Do you want a mocha espresso or hazelnut cappuccino? Would you like yours hot or iced? How about decaf? Much like fine wine, people often choose their brew based on the foods accompanying it.

You can even grab a cup on the go. Instant brew is made in minutes with coffee granules and boiling water. Chilled bottled versions are a refreshing pick-me-up on a warm day. No matter how or where you decide to get it, coffee is always a delicious and energizing treat.

To explore delicious gourmet coffee beans to brew at home make sure to visit Intelligentsia Coffee. Order gourmet coffee and tea online or find a local Intelligentsia coffee bar where you can be served gourmet flavored coffee.

Facts About Gourmet Coffee Franchises

One of the greatest current franchise opportunities is with a gourmet coffee franchise. However, there are some facts you should take into consideration first before deciding to pursue this opportunity investment.

In fact, because gourmet coffee franchises have became such wonderful opportunities, they risk running into the problem of startling market saturation. This factor, as well as other things will affect which type of franchises you should evaluate. We will discuss these factors in this article.

First I want you to consider this - in the past five years, while coffee consumption as a whole has stayed the same, gourmet coffee consumption has almost doubled! That is why it has been such a ripe opportunity.

When you consider that the cost to create gourmet coffee is minimal it means that the profit margins are unnaturally high. Now add in that demand is bigger than ever and you get one of the most competitive industries in the business market. This means that you have to have your druthers about you if you're going to make a gourmet coffee business work.

What you want to look for are market opportunities to exploit. The best opportunity to exploit is to find an area that is currently untapped by any gourmet coffee shop or franchise. If you can determine that the logistics would work for a franchise in that area, and there is little to no competition, you're in a prime opportunity. In this instance I would urge you to quickly invest.

The other market opportunity to exploit is where there is a steady stream of competition, but you feel you can improve upon the competition and offer a better choice to the consumer. Competition is not necessarily a bad thing; it proves that there is a demand in that area.

However, it is not easy to take away someone else's share of the market. To do so will require that you have such a compelling advantage that they will choose you, a stranger, over someone that they currently trust to provide their gourmet coffee to them.

In this case, you either have to look for a share of the market segment that is currently not being catered to, but would like to be catered to, or come in with a very big competitive advantage to offer to an existing market segment.

Consider these facts and then determine if a gourmet coffee franchise to be right for you. If you can make it work for you, it should be a very lucrative investment.

You can find out more about a Gourmet Coffee Franchise as well as much more information on everything to do with coffee franchises and coffee businesses at http://www.CoffeeFranchiseBusiness.net

Gourmet Coffee Gift Baskets - The Perfect Gift For Any Coffee Lover

Gift giving can be a daunting, even nerve racking task. How do you decide what to give your office secretary or your best friend who has everything? If they drink coffee then why not give them a gourmet coffee basket? You can purchase one online or at your local gift shop or you can make it yourself and add your own special touch.

Gourmet coffee baskets are wonderful gifts to receive. They typically contain an assortment of flavored coffees and cappuccino's, sweet treats to enjoy with the coffee and much more. Before you start putting together your gourmet coffee basket, assemble your items.

Items

* Basket - this can be any size you want as long as it will hold the items

* Basket Fill - to make the basket pretty use a colored shredded filler. This can be purchased or you can shred your own using a shredder and colored paper.

* Basket Wrap - your local arts and crafts store should carry clear wrap made for baskets that shrinks to fit the basket when heated with a hair dryer

* Coffees: Your local grocer or gourmet shop should carry a wide variety of flavored coffees. You can usually get them in sample sizes. Get as many as you want for the basket.

* Creamers: A fun addition to the basket, you can get individual sized flavored creamers in liquid form that do not need refrigeration or you can purchase powder forms in flavors as well.

* Sweetener: If you find flavored sweeteners, they make a unique addition to the basket; however they are not widely available. Some online coffee retailers carry them.

* Coffee Mixes: There are many companies that carry coffee and cappuccino mixes, for example General Food International Coffees. These make perfect gift basket additions.

* Sweet Treats: Everyone loves sweet treats, especially with their fresh, hot coffee. Biscotti can be found individually wrapped for adding to the basket. You can also purchase specialty cookies and individual sweet cakes.

* Flavored Stirrers: If you really want to make this basket a treat, make some flavored stirring spoons to add to your basket. These are simple to make and really make your basket stand out.

To make flavored spoons - Melt dipping chocolate. Dip plastic spoons into chocolate. When dry seal in small candy bags (available at your local craft store). Your friends will be delighted with your creativity.

* Mugs: What coffee basket would be complete without a pretty mug to enjoy the coffee from? Choose the mug based on the recipient. For example, a coffee gift basket for the teacher might include a mug with 'Teachers are Special", for the golfer you might find a mug shaped like a golf ball. This makes the basket uniquely theirs and show you put thought into making it.

* Book or other novelty: Add something special to the basket. If you know the person likes to read, add a novel or daily devotional. They can enjoy a cup of coffee while they read their new book. Or maybe they like music. Toss in a relaxing CD. These are just ideas, this is your gift, and you can spend as much or as little as you want.

Assembly

To assemble your gift basket, fill the bottom of the basket with colored filler then situate your heaviest items in the middle. Arrange other items creatively around this item. Wrap in the shrink wrap and secure with a bow. Your basket is now ready for giving to your favorite person.

Gourmet coffee baskets make thoughtful gifts for the coffee enthusiast in your life. You can be as creative as you want to be or you can order one pre-made. Making it yourself assures that you are happy with the arrangement, either way, it is sure to be a delightful gift.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides information on gourmet coffee gift baskets for Gourmet Coffee Guide - http://gourmet-coffee-guide.info

The Many Kinds of Gourmet Coffee!

These days the world of gourmet coffee is quite vast with many options to choose from. These delicious beans can be purchased from a plethora of online retailers, in coffee shops, specialty stores and organic food and coffee stores. They can range in price from quite reasonable of around $10 per pound, up to close to $600 per pound for the finest and the rarest. The key to finding great gourmet coffee is knowing what you like to drink!

One of the most common gourmet coffees on the market is Colombian Supremo. This is a gourmet coffee blend that is characterized and made unique by its canvas of ripe fruit expressions. It is described as wonderfully clean, and the rich berry tones are accented by lovely nutty notes. This coffee is typically roasted medium, that is full-bodied and perfectly balanced. This coffee is the perfect every day coffee as it is very reasonably priced as well.

Kona Coffee hails from the glorious land of Hawaii, off the Kona Coast, hence the name Kona Coffee. The mix of sun, cool, and mist on a daily basis are the perfect location to grow the coffee. The Peaberry Kona is smaller in size than the typical Kona bean, but they are twice as robust in flavor. The Peaberry is often more expensive than the typical bean. Roasted in medium, it has a milder taste but still delivers the distinctive Kona taste on the palate.

Another gourmet coffee option is Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. This coffee is grown in the eastern end of the beautiful island of Jamaica in the Blue Mountain range. Cool conditions are perfect for harvesting the coffee, like the Kona beans. This coffee is full-bodied and well balanced. It is loved by coffee purveyors and connoisseurs.

Guatemala Antigua Gourmet coffee beans are again, grown in the perfect location. Located on the mountain slopes of Guatemala, over 4,000 feet about sea level, these beans come from soil that is mineral rich, retaining vast amounts of moisture. The coffee that is produced from this mountainous range is known to be some of the best in the world. It has complex aroma and flavors and is delightful on the palate.

Regardless of what region you choose, the most important factor may be the roasting level. Light, medium and dark roasts are offered in all gourmet offerings and blends. Light is a subtle taste, medium is a bit richer and more robust, and dark is the most robust of all, having the strongest notes. I find that I prefer a nice medium roast - it showcases all the notes of the coffee perfectly.

Christine Rankin is a professional writer who provides information on coffee for Gourmet Coffee Guide - your premiere online resource for fine coffee!

Gourmet Flavored Coffee is Gaining Acceptance

Coffee is much loved by people from all walks of life. Every coffee lover will soon develop an acquired taste for certain coffees. Today, coffee is a well-accepted drink by many because advanced processing techniques allow a reduction of bitterness and brought about an enhancement of taste, aroma, and flavor. While some people perceive gourmet coffee to be coffee of highest quality and should not be flavored, this is a matter of personal preference. In fact, many people equally enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of flavored coffee. It helps to note that there are a myriad of flavors to choose from. Therefore, gourmet flavored coffee is gaining popularity and acceptance, even among coffee connoisseurs today.

The history of flavored coffee was not limited to recent years because Middle Eastern travelers have long introduced flavored coffee through the addition of spices and other enhancers. Today, common flavors used include vanilla and hazelnut. In fact, both types of coffee are loved by consumers worldwide and are often bestselling products in different coffee companies. Besides that, there are other fruit-based flavors to choose from such as banana, blueberry, and raspberry. This goes to show that gourmet coffee is just as well-received as other types of coffee, if not more popular. The drink can also complement a particular desert of food, depending on the type of flavor. The world of coffee has never been so colorful prior to the introduction of flavored versions.

Not only flavorful, such coffees are also highly aromatic. The infusion of smell and taste should be done perfectly so as not to mask the original characteristic of coffee. Since flavors are added, will it contain higher levels of fat or calorie? In fact, most of these coffees are fat-free and calorie-free. However, if this is a concern, you can always check with the company. Gourmet flavored is a good choice for those looking forward to sample the different tastes has to offer.

At the end of this article, I'd like to share cool Gourmet Coffeeswebsite with more information on Gourmet Flavored Coffee. Visit for more details.

Gourmet Coffee - Variety and Choice

The words "Gourmet Coffee" are coming up in conversation more often these days. Is there any substance to it or is it just a term some elite coffee snobs have come up? What makes a coffee "gourmet" and who decides this? This article attempts to sift through the hype and give some straight facts.

As an adjective, gourmet is defined as: Referring to fine food. So, gourmet coffee is fine coffee, that doesn't help narrow it down much more. It may be stating the obvious, but what makes a coffee fine is its taste. There are five primary taste sensations; salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami (savory). Understanding how these sensations apply to coffee is not important to the majority of us. What's important is our preference; what tastes good, bad and to what degree. People have huge variations in preference. A coffee you may love, I might hate. C'est la vie!

This variation in preference is where gourmet coffee fills a need. Gourmet coffee offers choice and variety. These choices come in countless combinations of international coffee beans, varying degrees of roasting, flavoring and preparation.

International Coffee Beans

International coffee is probably the biggest factor in gourmet coffee; it's the starting point for variety and choice. From a purest point of view the bean's original flavor should play a bigger role than artificially flavored coffees or specialty coffee drinks.

Coffee is international by nature, even though all the world's coffee beans are grown within 1000 miles of the equator - from the Tropic of Cancer in the north to the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. Two varieties make up nearly all of the beans; Arabica and Robusta. Arabica contains less caffeine, it is the most popular and it grows between 1,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Robusta contains the most caffeine and grows at lower elevations.

South American, Central American and Caribbean coffee beans for the most part are lighter in body than other regions, a bit sweeter and slightly more acidic. These beans are often described as smooth and nutty. Central American varieties are not usually as sharp as the South American. African and Middle Eastern coffees often have a more medium body and what can be described as a wild and syrupy feel. African beans are strong, sharp and assertive. The majority of the world's Robustas are grown along the African coast. Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Indonesian coffees are almost completely Arabicas. Characteristics include spicy, heavy body and low acidity.

Flavored Coffee

Flavored coffees become popular in the 1990s but can be traced back centuries ago to the Turks, who used a unique method of preparing coffee that is still popular in the area today. Spices like clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom were added to flavor the coffee. People typically have strong feelings towards flavored coffee; they love it or prefer to let the natural flavor of the bean to prevail.

Coffee is typically flavored by adding flavor oils to the beans after roasting and prior to grinding. Flavoring oils are combinations of natural and synthetic flavor chemicals which are created by flavor chemists. There are also liquid flavors which are added to coffee during preparation much like adding cream or sugar. Flavored coffees are generally classified into four categories:

Spice based flavors - like cinnamon. Fruit based flavors - like coconut or raspberry. Chocolate based flavors - like chocolate mint. Nut based flavors - like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nut. Cremes - like Irish Creme or French Vanilla.
Specialty Drinks and Preparation

There seems to be a million ways to prepare coffee these days; Dark roast, light roast, espresso (and all its derivatives), regular coffee, with cream and sugar or simply black. Coffee preparation is a topic that's been the subject of many other articles. However, like all facets of gourmet coffee the theme of choice and variety applies.

Most of the fancy coffee drinks start with espresso, which is just coffee that is brewed a particular way. The beans are finely ground to an almost powder consistency then very hot water is forced through the grinds at high pressure. Some examples of Espresso based coffee drinks are Espresso Macchiato, Espresso Con Panna, Caffé Americano, Cappuccino, Caffé Latté and Caffé Mocha. Specialty coffee drinks are becoming very popular but most people still drink regular coffee optionally adding different amounts of cream or sugar.

Summary

The bottom line is Gourmet Coffee offers today's selective coffee drinker choice. These choices come in the form of beans farmed around the world, flavored coffees and vast array of specialty drinks and preparation techniques. Some people drink coffee only as a means to an end, to wake up! More and more people are starting to take notice of the flavor. People's taste evolve, many people start out drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar and overtime take less or even drink it black. With all the choices available, why not try something new for your next coffee.

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to the The-Best-Coffee-Maker.com and his favorite coffee is an Italian dark roast from a quaint local cafe that roasts its own beans. For information and resources about coffee makers and gourmet coffee visit The-Best-Coffee-Maker.com

How To Enjoy Delicious Quality Gourmet Coffee At Home

Coffee is a favorite beverage around the world. Morning, noon, or night a fresh cup of coffee is satisfying. In recent years we have been introduced to a wide array of coffees include gourmet. Gourmet coffee is considered gourmet because it is freshly ground from the coffee beans. Learning to make a great cup of gourmet coffee at home is deeply satisfying and simple as long as you keep in mind a few simple tips.

For the best flavor you should purchase whole coffee beans from specialty shops only. Although larger grocery stores are starting to carry coffee beans, the specialty shops beans tend to be fresher and therefore have more flavors.

When you grind your coffee beans only grind enough for current needs. This will keep the coffee fresh longer. If you don't have a grinder and buy the ground coffee, keep it in an airtight container. I t is important to close the bag or container tightly to keep the aroma in the coffee. Keep the coffee in a cool dry place, if you keep it in the refrigerator or freezer keeps it away from foods which produce a strong odor. The flavors may mix making the coffee bitter tasting. Try to use you coffee up in a few days to two weeks since coffee loses flavor quickly.

Water from the tap is fine although some people swear by fresh bottled spring water. No matter which type of water you choose, always use the coldest water possible. Water contains more oxygen the colder it is making the coffee richer and more flavorful. Do not use distilled water as it produces a flat cup of coffee.

Measuring your coffee is more a matter of taste than anything else. Generally it is recommended 1 teaspoon of coffee for every six ounces of water. Don't trust the measurements on your coffeemaker. Measure out the water to get the best tasting gourmet coffee.

When brewing, the best cup of gourmet coffee is brewed using the manual drip method, a French press pot, or a vacuum pot. Traditional drip pots do an okay job but vary greatly from each other. Some of the best coffeepots are quite expensive but well worth the money. Your coffee should only be kept warm on the burner for twenty minutes, after that it will become bitter. You should brew your coffee no more than five minutes before you plan to drink it, after that transfer the coffee to a thermos or carafe.

Drinking gourmet coffee black will preserve the most flavor. Using creamer in your coffee will produce a richer creamier taste. Skim milk will not change the taste much unless you add a lot, therefore is not recommended. If you would like to add sugar raw sugar will add sweeter flavor than white. For artificial sweeteners Splenda is recommended as other sweeteners will add a bitter taste to your coffee.

Making a gourmet cup of coffee at home is pleasing and easy to do. The flavor and aroma will satisfy you as well as stepping into your favorite specialty shop. Enjoy your gourmet coffee to the fullest by following these tips!

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Delicious Gourmet Gifts [http://www.deliciousgourmetgifts.com] at [http://www.deliciousgourmetgifts.com]

Gourmet Coffee Gift Baskets - A Fine Cup of Brew

Coffee makers, auto timers and espresso machines wake us up to the aroma of fresh brew. Gourmet coffee gift baskets invite us to sit down and relax a minute before the hustle and bustle of the day begins.

We reach for the Italian specialty cookies in the creative basket and the morning paper, catching up on the latest local and world events. That first cup of joe sends us a personal message that it is going to be a great day for us.

Coffee lovers seek out shops for gourmet coffee blends, flavors, decaf and instant to gratify their tastes. Gourmet hot and cold brews comes with options of adding flavors, cream, and spices, constituting a coffee lovers heaven. You will find, gourmet coffee gift baskets add scrumptious Italian specialty cookies, pastries, chocolate stir spoons and more to increase an already pleasurable experience.

Gourmet coffee gift baskets are specialty gifts for the coffee lovers we know. Gourmet flavored and straight lace coffees are added to creative baskets, along with an assortment of biscotti (Italian specialty cookies), pastries, caramels, and even bon bons. These delightful goodies make special gifts for friend, family, co-workers and clients.

Have you ever wondered how to brew a good pot of coffee? Here are a couple of examples that may make you want to get up earlier, just to enjoy that fine cup of joe.

1. When brewing a pot of coffee, experts recommend two tablespoons of coffee for each six ounces of water. The coffee is best when brewed with filtered water and sipped immediately. Some say the coffee may be poured into a thermos and kept no longer than forty-five minutes for the best flavor, while others recommend cowboy coffee or campfire coffee as being the best brew of all.

2. There are no special pots or gadget to use when brewing cowboy coffee. Start with cold water in a can or enameled pot and add one tablespoon of ground coffee for every cup of water. Bring the water to a boil and remove it from the heat, add a splash of cold water to settle the coffee grounds. Let the coffee stand for a couple of minutes and enjoy the rich flavorful brew.

Being a coffee connoisseur goes back for centuries. People have enjoyed coffee for almost as long as creative baskets have been around. In the Book of Exodus baby Moses was placed in a basket of rough bulrushes coated in pitch and floated down the Nile River by his mother.

In today's world, we still weave, mass manufacture, and use creative baskets for delivering food products to friends and neighbors. Gourmet coffee gift baskets are one way to stay in touch with history, even if the word 'gourmet' was not in our vocabulary years ago.

Your recipients can enjoy a cup of that brew while relaxing and reminiscing about the historically fun times they have had with you. They would enjoy being enticed by a sip of the morning brew in gourmet coffee gift baskets, while devouring their delicious treats. This is one way to let your friends know they are going to have great day.

Shirley Bass invites you to visit her shop and see for yourself the delicious edible delights [http://www.giftbasketjewels.com/index.html] that Gourmet Coffee Gift Baskets [http://www.giftbasketjewels.com/gourmet_gift_baskets.html] deliver. Treat your friends to a cup of the joe today! Caring about the people, you care about at GiftBasketJewels.com

From Simple To Extravagant Gourmet Coffee Gifts!

I rely heavily on gourmet coffee gifts around the gift giving season. These make for the perfect gifts to give to friends, relatives, coworkers and neighbors! Chances are, they love coffee and giving a gourmet coffee gift is the perfect idea! These gifts can range from very simple - under $10 to quite extravagant, depending on your budget and gift strategy. Today in this article we will focus on a few great gourmet coffee gift ideas!

The first, most simple, gourmet coffee gift idea would be to give a $10 gift card to a local coffee shop. This is a great idea so that the recipient can choose what they would like to purchase! Perhaps it will be a couple different specialty coffee drinks, a travel mug, or a delicious pound of gourmet beans. Whatever they choose, you know they will be satisfied. This is also a great gift for non-coffee drinkers as they can pick up some bakery items or other drinks, such as specialty teas, that are not coffee-related.

If you are looking for something a little more special, think about giving a small set. This is perfect for coworkers, or perhaps even a boss you actually like! I like to get a cute coffee mug, fill it with a couple small bags of one-pot sized flavored coffee, and include a small gift card as well. The great thing about this gift is how versatile it is. I like to get special mugs, for instance I have a coworker who loves flowers, so I purchased a mug with yellow roses on it. The ideas are endless and the result of this gift is perfectly lovely!

When thinking about a more over-the-top or extravagant gourmet coffee gift, think about purchasing or putting together a beautiful gourmet coffee gift basket. This is actually a very fun gift to make, and of course to receive! I like to purchase a beautiful wicker basket from a local craft store. While I'm there I make sure to pick up some cellophane wrapper and beautiful big bow! Next comes the really fun part - filling the basket! This is where creativity shines. I like to stuff it with a couple different kinds of coffee, a few coffee mugs, gourmet syrups and sugars and a baked pastry item or two. I also like to stuff in a couple non-food related items such as coffee-themed stationary, stickers, pens or other items!

Christine Rankin is a professional author who provides information on gourmet coffee and more coffee topics for Gourmet Coffee Guide.

Buy Gourmet Coffee Online for Convenience and Lower Prices

Nothing in this world is static. Everything changes. There was once a time, for example, when Chinese emperors have the sole right to eat the best food their empire's resources can offer. Commoners were not allowed to cook, much less taste, imperial dishes. This practice lasted for many centuries. But then again, things changed. The Chinese Empire crumbled and imperial cuisine recipes are now widely available to any Chinese cooking fan armed with a laptop and high speed internet connection.

The same thing happened with gourmet coffee. From being the monopoly of city-based high-end coffee houses and large coffee chains, coffee has gone through a change. Gourmet recipes have long been held in the confines of cafes and coffee enthusiasts' worn out notebooks. Everything changed when the internet came. There are thousands of sites nowadays where an ordinary coffee drinker can learn the secret of making excellent coffee. And the best thing of all is that everybody these days can order gourmet coffee with the click of a mouse.

Why would a person buy and make his own high-quality coffee when he can just go to Starbucks or any other coffee shop to take a sip of his favorite fancy latte? The obvious logical reason is money.

Sure, new amazing gourmet recipes are constantly being offered by coffee shops. But the downside to all of this is that prices of this coffee never seem to stop climbing up. Unless you have a very lucrative salary, drinking gourmet coffee in a high-end shop would be a wallet-draining luxury.

Just think of the possibilities of making your own cup of quality coffee instead of buying it for $3.99. Much has contributed to the pricey tag of coffeehouse gourmet coffee; labor, for one thing, would probably account to about a quarter of the price. In contrast, making your own cup of coffee would only cost $0.25 to $0.50, according to the well known coffee price calculator formulated by Erika Lim from Caffeine Central (Seattle, WA).

So if you have the habit of drinking a cup of $3.99 worth fancy store-made coffee per day, it would mean that you are spending roughly $1456.35 on your coffee alone in one year. A thousand bucks is a lot of money these days. Heck, you can even buy a new high-quality laptop with that kind of money. That is the amount of money that you will drain out of your pockets if you keep on buying coffee from fancy chains. But if you would make your own daily cup of coffee, the approximate yearly cost would not exceed $200.

The numbers speak for themselves: the difference is huge.

But why buy online when you can just go to the supermarket? After all, gourmet coffee has long been sold in supermarkets. One main reason is that online coffee retailers offer the same quality products for a lesser cost. This has been made possible because online retailers usually procure their product straight from coffee producers.

Another good reason why you should buy gourmet coffee online instead of visiting the supermarket is that you will get the assurance of getting a fresh product instead of one that has been lounging in supermarket shelves for eons. Even if the label says gourmet, coffee would not necessarily taste good. Freshness is one huge thing that counts when making great tasting coffee.

Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. Please visit his latest website about gourmet coffee at Coffee Bean Reviews, with information on finding the best ways to Buy Gourmet Coffee Online, with ideas and discussions that any coffee lover would be interested in.

Have Fun With Gourmet Coffee Beans!

Being a total gourmet coffee addict, I truly can not think of a better Christmas gift than gourmet coffee beans! OK, well maybe a gourmet coffee basket, but of course the beans would be the star. Choosing to give gourmet coffee as holiday gifts is a great idea for any coffee-loving friend, relative or even boss! I know my boss loved the coffee I gave her on Boss's Day, and I scored big points that day!

Another great thing about giving this gift is the number of choices you have at your fingertips. If you go to your local mom and pop coffee shop, Starbucks, Java Dave's, Whole Foods or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf you are sure to find a plethora of delicious blends and beans right at your fingertips. Even at the local grocery store I am able to choose from over 50 different kinds and varieties of coffees! Everything from a robust, dark coffee bean to a light flavored blend is simply an aisle away.

The last few times I have been invited to a friend's house for a dinner party or get together, I have stopped by the local mom & pop coffee shop and picked up a bag of delicious beans. It is always a great hostess gift! Even if the host or hostess does not drink coffee themselves it makes a great gift for when guests come over. It is also a great idea to get some decaf gourmet beans as some people cannot handle the caffeine of a normal cup of Joe.

This year, as Christmas is right around the corner, I'm making small gourmet coffee gift baskets for my friends and some close co-workers. I went to the dollar store and found some great wicker baskets. I fill the baskets with a pound of coffee, some sweet treats such as biscotti or caramel candles, and include a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop. It makes a great gift wrapped up with pretty paper and a bow on top! It also looks like a I spent a lot of money and time to make these, and that makes me feel good.

In the world of coffee, you truly cannot go wrong going with a gift of gourmet coffee beans! I'm hoping that I get lucky this year and will be on the receiving end of one of those gifts. Oh well, if not, I can always make my own!

Christine Rankin is a professional writer who provides information on gourmet coffee beans for Gourmet Coffee Guide - your premiere online resource for fine coffee!

Specialty Gourmet Coffee

Specialty gourmet coffee is a very hot commodity in today's market. The consumption of gourmet coffee has steadily grown with consumers enjoying the more sophisticated tastes of gourmet coffee beans.

Specialty gourmet coffee, sometimes called premium coffee, is exceptional coffee beans grown only in ideal coffee-producing climates. These coffee beans have unique characteristics because of the soil they grow in which produce very distinctive flavors.

Gourmet coffee has a more balanced flavor and richer taste than the standard mass-produced coffee. Gourmet coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

In the 1974 issue of the "Tea & Coffee Trade Journal", Erna Knutsen first used the term 'specialty coffee' to describe these unique coffee beans that are produced in special microclimates with these distinctive, exceptional flavors.

In 1982 the Specialty Coffee Association of America was created by coffee professionals to help set quality standards for the specialty coffee trade.

Since the 1990's the growing popularity of the coffee houses and specialty gourmet coffee retailers, have made gourmet coffee one of the fastest growing food services markets in the world. In the United States alone, it nets approximately $8.5 billion a year.

Some have compared specialty gourmet coffee to wine. The aromas and flavors have similarities in how the consumer connects with the two beverages. The characteristics of gourmet coffee however, are more even complex than wine. The coffee bean is more dependent on altitudes, climate and soil variation than with the grapes used for wine.

The history and tradition of the specialty coffee grower makes this a very complex beverage. So pour yourself a cup of your favorite specialty gourmet coffee, sit back and enjoy, you deserve it.

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The Art of Roasting Gourmet Coffee Beans

The coffee roaster performs the most critical step in creating gourmet coffee. A master roaster is a skilled craftsperson with the experience to bring out the best qualities of the coffee beans during the roasting process.

The roasting process is extremely important to coffee.

The word gourmet applies to a food or drink judged to be excellent. Usually this is based on experts' professional knowledge, expertise in trade practices, understanding of product preparation and opinion.

The term gourmet coffee applies to select specialty coffee beans that are roasted to perfection.
A master roaster knows from experience acquired over the years how to roast to the correct degree in order to bring out the beans' characteristics. The result is a taste that is unique and extremely enjoyable.
Gourmet coffee is always prepared with select specialty coffee beans roasted fresh when ordered. It is ground to the correct fineness or coarseness for the brewing method used.
These freshly roasted coffee beans are immediately packed (unless they are ordered flavored) and shipped to the customer to brew and enjoy. Brewing should start with fresh cold water heated to the correct temperature.
It is true that coffee beans can be purchased by the pound in person, by mail, by phone, from a catalog or online.
However, coffee bought from stores, grocery store whole bean hoppers or even popular shops with prepackaged brands on the shelf ready for sale does not compare to coffee freshly ground from a roaster.
Gourmet coffee is more expensive than the standard supermarket or other readily available brands, but there is simply no comparison in the quality and taste of the coffee.
The old adage "you get what you pay for" is very true. Spending the extra money is well worth the lasting gratification from taste and aroma.
To make your own gourmet coffee at home, always start with the beans. Buy from a source that will roast and ship fresh coffee on demand. Your palate will become sensitized to excellence in flavor in a similar way as wine connoisseurs are to great grapes.
There are always many coffee varieties from which to choose depending on Geographical Indications that identify the source and serve as pseudo-trademarks. For example, some of the most admired bean varieties include Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain, and Sumatra types.

When you purchase coffee ask about the recommended methods for grinding, brewing and storing your coffee so you have the best gourmet coffee experience with each sip. In the end, gourmet coffee is defined by the quality of the specialty coffee beans, whether green bean, roasted bean or prepared beverage.

Coffee adds to the quality of life of those who are involved in its cultivation, harvesting and marketing. For the consumers who drink it, gourmet coffee delivers lasting satisfaction and enjoyment.

In today's fast paced life, sipping a cup of gourmet coffee and listening to a favorite musical melody can be the highlight of the day!

Are you now ready to enjoy freshly roasted coffee?

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com

© Copyright - Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

What Is Gourmet Coffee?

Over the past 30 years marketers have tried thousands of tactics to sell things. We have heard the "Your to smart to be without this product" tactic. We have heard the "Everyone needs this product" tactic. We have also seen the way that TV sells products making them more appealing then they really are. Has the coffee industry followed such tactics? Sure it has! Do you remember Folgers little jingle? "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup." That ad made Folgers famous! So, is the term "Gourmet Coffee" another sales tactic? No! Allow me to explain.

Coffee is grown all around the world, and because of the many differences in governments, cultures, and religions people do things differently in other lands. So, how is Gourmet Coffee made? When you acquire coffee beans from different regions they for the most part go through a similar process. Beans are picked, dried, and sorted pretty much the same way. The differences are the climate and the elevation they were grown in, and the pesticides the farmers used to protect their crop. Those are just a few factors. We also need to consider the roasting process. The roasting process is as crucial to coffee as air is to our lungs. If you under roast your coffee your coffee may turn out weak, and if you over do it your coffee will taste burnt. So, where does the word Gourmet fit in? The hardest coffee to acquire today is the Jamaican Blue Mountain. The reason is due to the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. This coffee is the most sought after coffee, because of its rich taste and divine smell. When roasted correctly this coffee is probably the best tasting in the world. What other factors makes coffee Gourmet?

When Roasters add flavorings such as chocolate syrups, or caramel to name a few, these additives give your coffee a unique taste that is qualified as Gourmet Flavored Coffee. The definition of Gourmet is a fine food or drink that has been judged by an expert to be excellent. When coffee experts say that a certain brand of coffee is excellent then their credibility is on the line. It better live up to the hype or their opinion and reputation becomes as worthless as the dust on a windowsill. If an expert deems a product as excellent then it has to be good. Right? Well, it should. We live in an imperfect world, but Gourmet Coffee is legitimate. Many people around the world take pride in there coffee and when you find one that stands out you will find that it is in high demand. It cost more then regular coffee, but depending on your preference in many cases it is worth its weight in gold.

Where do you find Gourmet Coffee? The best place is straight from a Coffee Roaster, and there are thousands to choose from. They all have different techniques, recipes, and philosophies about coffee. The great thing about them is that they always have fresh roasted coffee. Some other places would be at a supermarket, but I highly advise against these places. The coffee is usually never as fresh as it should be. I hope that this article was able to help you understand that Gourmet Coffee is real, and not a clever marketing tactic.

Don is the owner of several free information websites and the sole proprietor of Java Jakes Gourmet Coffee Co. [http://www.javajakes.com] [http://www.healthyinfosource.com] [http://www.egolfplace.com] Visit these sites today and become informed.

Gourmet Coffee Stores

Gourmet coffee stores have come a long way in the last ten to twenty years. These days they are virtually around every corner, and offer many more things than just coffee. From coffee to tea to baked pastries, there is something for every palate and craving at these wonderful shops! Also, these places offer a wonderful setting to relax, read, or do work on a laptop.

My favorite gourmet coffee store is one where you can relax! My girlfriends and I started a coffee club called "Coffee Talk". This is where we meet at the local coffee shop to talk about life, munch on delicious pastries, and of course, drink some wonderful beverages. Some of the girls in the group do not care for coffee, so they drink tea instead. It is a fabulous setting to relax, enjoy company and fill our bellies! Our favorite baked offerings are cakes, muffins, croissants and brownies.

Gourmet coffee stores and shops are a huge industry. While it takes up to $50,000 just to open a coffee kiosk, the shops and stores are a big investment! Although the investment is great, many people have made a killing at this industry. Some of the major shops are Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Gloria Jean's. As some drinks are upwards of $5, there is typically a huge mark-up. However, many people (myself included) are willing to pay the big bucks for a gourmet delight.

My favorite gourmet coffee shop is Starbucks. I just love their coffee and the relaxing ambiance they offer. My favorite drink to get is an Iced Dirty Chai Latte. In case you are not familiar with a "Dirty Chai" it is simply a Chai Tea with espresso. Another thing I love about Starbucks is the great bags of coffee, mugs, sweet treats and other wonderful small gifts you can purchase. They make a wonderful last-minute stop for impromptu birthday and office party gifts!

Also, I find these places are great for studying, working, or just relaxing away from home. It seems like every time I visit one of these shops I end up talking to someone or chatting with a stranger. Many single people find these are great places to meet new friends and potential dates! So if you are looking for a relaxing place, with great food and drink, and the possibility of meeting new friends try out your local gourmet coffee store!

Christine Rankin is a professional writer who provides information on gourmet coffee stores for Gourmet Coffee Guide - your premiere online resource for fine coffee!

Gourmet Coffee - Of Kopi Luwak and Peaberry

For centuries, from the trade ships of Columbus to those of Cheng Ho, the Chinese Merchant fleets, Gourmet Coffee have reigned the seas as one of the key merchant commodities most actively traded across the continents. You start to wonder what makes the Gourmet Brew so attractive that the coffee culture over the centuries and round the globe. It has become the epitome of coffee culture elegance and chic. Good food cannot do without a cup of gourmet brew, with some costing 65 dollars a cup. Now cost is any indication of the brew, that cup of kopi luwak is the most expensive and best tasting cup of gourmet coffee indeed.

Yet, there is somehow no true and exact definition it. More than half of the packages define their products as gourmet simply for advertising purposes. It is arbitrary to say the least. There are however a few criteria to guide you from weeding through the advertising jargon for the true gourmet coffee.

Coffee bean origin is one critical factor in determining your gourmet brew. Note that it is the key geographical growth locations which give your coffee its distinctive flavor, as this has got to do with the original soil. The mineral rich volcanic soils of Hawaii give a very different taste sensation compared to those from Africa or South America. Coffees grown within an exclusive plantation yields better quality control.

Special cultivation and processing methods give the coffee bean its uniquely individual flavors. Take for instance the Peaberry beans are in actuality a mutated form of the coffee bean while the highly coveted Kopi Luwak is that of civet cat coffee diet excretion.

There are ways to buy gourmet coffee, the most efficient of course is buying them online. But execute caution as to the authenticity of the sites and their services. Get word of mouth testimonials from fellow coffee drinkers. An authentic coffee club provides great samplers packages, overnight courier gourmet coffee service, members forum and tasters parties, and much more. And not to mention you can also get special member discounts for all your purchases.

So the next time you are thinking of gifting to a fellow coffee drinker, think gourmet coffee.

So Check out Gourmet-Coffee-Gifts.net [http://gourmet-coffee-gifts.net] for the Best Gourmet Coffee Treats. Remember, any time is the best time for Gourmet Coffee Gifts [http://gourmet-coffee-gifts.net/find-the-best-gourmet-coffee-gifts-know-the-preferences-and-coffee-habits/]

An Introduction To Gourmet Coffee

Over five hundred billion cups of coffee are consumed each year making it the most popular drink on this earth. For centuries, this aromatic, spirit-lifting drink has been the beverage to serve at any and all events. Many board meetings and friendships have thrived over a cup of coffee. Extracted from the seed of cherries growing on coffee trees, coffee is grown extensively in fifty-three countries across the equator.

Specialty gourmet coffee is very popular among coffee drinkers today. As a matter of fact, statistic show that it is one of the fastest growing food retailers netting approximately $8.5 billion a year. People enjoy the taste of the sophisticated beans used in the making of this delightful gourmet drink. The beans are grown at very high altitudes on Arabic trees and feed on volcanic ash. A cool climate and lots of moisture result in a high quality bean group. The soil the beans are grown in produces the very distinct flavors of the gourmet beans. Gourmet coffee has a more balanced flavor and richer taste than the standard mass-produced coffee. The beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is very strict to help keep the quality high. To help keep standards high, the Specialty Coffee Association of American was created in 1982, for the specialty coffee trade.

You can find gourmet coffee in most grocery stores, specialty shops, restaurants and coffee shops. If you are a true connoisseur, you might compare gourmet coffee to a wonderful bottle of wine.

Gourmet Coffee provides detailed information on Gourmet Coffee, Gourmet Coffee Beans, Gourmet Flavored Coffee, Decaf Gourmet Coffee and more. Gourmet Coffee is affiliated with Gourmet Coffee.