Archive for March, 2009

Roasted Coffee Beans : A Few Interesting Facts

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

The roasted coffee bean, with so many different kinds of roasted coffee bean to contend with is not surprising to learn that many coffee drinkers in reality don’t really know about these differences. Perhaps the rather fancy roasted coffee bean names add to the confusion and also because many people roast their own coffee beans; this leads to a common lack of true knowledge about the roasted coffee bean.

Modern Technology

No doubt there is nothing quite like the taste of drinking freshly brewed coffee, nevertheless modern technology has advanced far enough to make it possible for the new varieties to not lose their freshness which can last for as long as about two years, which is a big change from the previous methods that kept coffee beans fresh for just a month.

With technologies such as the one began by Illy (one of the leading producers of coffee in Italy) making things very interesting it has now become critical to learn more about modern roasted coffee beans so as to be able to judge different varieties and then choose the best one. Typically, there are three different varieties of the roasted coffee bean: medium, light and full. The last named refers to a roasted coffee bean that is obtained from allowing the bean to not go past its first crack. Such a roasted coffee bean is light in its body and has high acidity and is generally almost flavorless.

The medium roasted coffee bean is generally roasted a bit longer than is the case with light variety and these are categorized as American, full city and regular as well as breakfast, and the most well known brand selling such coffee is of course Starbucks.

Once the roasted coffee bean is allowed to go  beyond its first crack it is known as full roast and this kind of bean has a heavy body and its aroma too is very strong and the same is the case with its flavor. Included in the different categories of full roasted coffee bean are the high and Italian espresso roast or Viennese. To enjoy this kind of roasted coffee bean you will need to first acquire a taste for it though not too many Americans seemed to have developed a liking for this version except in the Northwestern regions of the US.

Raw coffee bean was first recorded back in the ninth century, it was recorded in the highlands of the Dark Continent’s region known as Ethiopia. And, these raw beans have also being cultivated in other African countries including Arabia, Yemen and in Egypt where roasting of the beans was quite a common practice.

For more information on coffee beans and all things coffee visit www.lovelycupofcoffee.com

 

Delight Someone with a Tea and Coffee Gift Basket

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets

No matter what occasion you have coming up when you need to buy a gift for someone, you’ll be able to browse online and find a selection of gift baskets that will delight them. If you are looking for a gift for someone who loves gourmet teas and coffees, you will find tons of great gift ideas. Gift baskets have become grown in popularity over the last several years to the point where there are more opportunities to buy them online and the choice of themes have grown dramatically. Gift baskets are, after all, very convenient to give, filled with lovely foods and gifts, and priced to fit any budget.

You know that there’s nothing like a fantastic cup of hot coffee or tea to cheer someone up and give them a brighter outlook on the day ahead. That’s why almost anyone would love to receive a basket filled with exquisite coffees and teas as well as all the fabulous snacks that come with them. Maybe you’d like to send a special basket that includes a delicate bone china teapot. You can do it! Or maybe you’d like to send the ingredients for a romantic coffee for two with adorable ceramic mugs. You could do that also!There is a special thrill that a person gets when they receive a gift basket or other unique container overflowing with items that they enjoy.

The snack foods that you’ll find tucked inside coffee and tea gift baskets aren’t the grocery store variety treats, either. Instead, all of the snack items are specialty products from around the world including scones from England, Italian biscotti, and French crepe suzettes. These aren’t the kinds of snacks that you can find just anywhere, and added to some of the world’s greatest teas and coffees, they make a truly spectacular gift that will be remembered long after the treats are gone.

Tea and coffee baskets are appropriate for any occasion. Everyone needs an excuse to sit down and have a peaceful cup of coffee or tea and some delightful snacks. You can send a thoughtful basket to all ages of adults for occasions like baby showers, anniveraries, birthdays, graduations, holidays or any other occasion you could think of. Without going overboard on price, you will let that person know you care for them.