Coffee Information

Those Elusive Coffee Beans!


With the spread of various coffee beans into our lives, it can be more and more difficult to discern what you're buying at the market. And that's not surprising given the sheer numbers game.

From what we know, there are more than 6,000 types of coffees beans in the world, with at least 25 major types of beans underneath that. When it comes down to it, though, the three most commercially important types of beans are Arabica, Robusta, and Kona.

Kona is extremely small commercially compared to Arabica and Robusta, but is extremely expensive and therefore important economically. Kona beans are grown in Hawaii.

Kona offers average bite and body but is in high demand worldwide because of its powerful aroma. These coffee beans are rarely blended with others because of their high desirability in and of themselves.

Arabica coffee beans account for over 60% of coffee production worldwide. The Arabica plant is a large bush and is very susceptible to frost, disease, and pests. Because of this, its beans are more expensive.

Arabica can be used in its pure form or used as the base for coffee blends with Robusta. Arabica has a delicate flavor and is used to add body to the coffee when used in blends.

The flavor of Arabica beans varies widely according to the region of the world where they are grown. Indonesian beans produce the richest, most full-bodied cup of coffee. Hailing from Java and Sumatra, the brew is a good dessert coffee and very suitable to flavoring with cream and sugar.

Arabica beans grown in Central and South America offer moderate body and aroma. Most breakfast blends are made with American coffees, as are most flavored coffees.

By contrast, Robusta coffee accounts for almost 40% of world production. Robusta differs from Arabica in that it's much easier to grow and is resistant to disease and weather and is therefore cheaper.

However, this does not necessarily mean that a coffee blend with Robusta is lower quality than pure Arabica - coffee blends are designed to bring out the best in different flavors. Robusta has a strong flavor and is used to give 'kick' to coffees.

Robusta doesn't vary in flavor as widely as Arabica does. It was first discovered growing naturally in the area now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Growers in Africa produce a coffee of medium aroma and body. If you like very flavorful coffees, you will like those from Kenya and Tanzania.

Now that you understand the basics of coffee beans, the question turns to which type of beans are right for you. It really depends on with what you're planning to serve the coffee. If you're serving with breakfast or a dessert of fruit and sorbet, beans from East Africa (particularly Kenya and Ethiopia) or Mexico will best complement the food.

If you're going to offer your guests light desserts like cakes, cookies, or pie, the beans of Guatemala and Cololmbia will warm up the food with their slight acidic tendancy. With rich desserts like truffles, trifles, and tiramius, Indonesian coffee beans are full-bodied and smooth enough to perfectly offset the dessert.

Another key point to consider is how much coffee you'll need. These high quality beans shouldn't be bought in bulk and should instead be purchased so that you have just enough for your immediate need.

They should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week or in the freezer for up to a month.

To discover what beans are best for your daily cup of joe, conduct a taste test. Brew several types of beans seperately. Pour each in its own cup.

Pick up each cup individually, smell the coffee, and then slowly sip and taste the coffees. Later, take a sip or two when it's cooled, as many coffees change flavor as they cool.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has more articles on coffee such as Colombian Coffee, Coffee and Alzheimers, and Coffee Breaks.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

HispanicBusiness.com

Starbucks counter at Borders to close
Maui News, HI - 3 hours ago
Wheatman said officials with the coffee chain were "going to do everything we can" to retain the employees of the closed stores. "Most of these stores are ...
Station Square Starbucks to close, coffee giant says Bizjournals.com
27 Starbucks Closing in Minnesota - List of Coffee Shops in ... Associated Content
3 area Starbucks to close Ocala
2TheAdvocate - NewsOK.com (subscription)
all 839 news articles


AA meets: High on coffee, cigarettes
Times of India, India - Jul 19, 2008
WASHINGTON: More than a million Americans who attend the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) programme end up drinking more coffee and smoking more cigarettes than ...
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings mean more coffee, cigarettes Thaindian.com
all 7 news articles


Times Online

The Bucket List inspires copycat rush for using coffee tins as ...
Times Online, UK - 1 hour ago
Amid the hustle and bustle of life, one is guaranteed to find peace in a cup of coffee. Now, it seems, it is also possible to find eternal rest in the tin. ...


The barista, the blogger and a very bad day
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 7 hours ago
A blogger seeking an "altered'' drink at a purist's coffee shop drove both men to the boiling point. Strong coffee elicits strong feelings -- and bitter ...
Battle Over Coffee Brews on the Blogosphere Switched
Coffee controversy boils after ice refused United Press International
all 14 news articles


Free coffee brings out lovers of Starbucks
Trading Markets (press release), CA - 9 hours ago
The reason: Starbucks was giving free coffee on the island. Though the coffee shop at 200 Crandon Blvd., had been open for about three weeks, Starbucks held ...
Peet's eyes US grocery growth as Starbucks shuts cafes Reuters
all 6 news articles


Making do with fewer Starbucks
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 18 hours ago
The effect on the Twin Cities will be light -- the average citizen will still be within six minutes of a $4 cup of coffee at all times. ...


Mulling Things Over with a Cup of Coffee
VillageSoup Belfast,  USA - 4 hours ago
In one pot, he placed carrots, in the second pot, eggs and in the third coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. ...


John W. Schoen
MSNBC - 3 hours ago
For those readers who fear the worst ? and believe the best place for cash is a coffee can buried in the back yard ? keep in mind that if you're not earning ...


KATU

Fla. cop canned after Starbucks accuses him of demanding free coffee
USA Today - Jul 17, 2008
Starbucks manager Angie Cato tells the paper that she offers free drip coffee to police officers when they're on the clock. The paper says:
Police Officer Fired Over Free Coffee Demands Local6.com
Cop fired; Starbucks says he took fancy coffee Trading Markets (press release)
Florida Police Officer Fired For Demanding Free Starbucks Coffee AHN
WZTV - ShortNews.com
all 370 news articles


War Memorial coffee morning next Saturday
Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News, UK - 6 hours ago
By James Beal THE Highbridge War Memorial Trust is holding a coffee morning at Southwell House, Highbridge, on Saturday, July 26. ...

Coffee - Google News

home | site map
© 2006