John was a career professional in his mid-thirties. On the outside, it seemed as if he had everything going for him. But John had a secret. He had hemorrhoids and was desperate to find a good hemorrhoids home treatment.

After doing some research online, John looked at his diet first. He realised he often drank alcohol and some days seemed to practically live on coffee! He was also prone to eating on the run, especially his favorite fast food.

So John started to make some changes to his diet. He cut down on his alcohol consumption so he was only drinking a beer or two once per week. Then he started cutting down on his coffee intake. Instead of drinking coffee, he tried herbal teas for a hemorrhoids home treatment instead and was surprised that they tasted okay.

Then John looked at exactly what he was eating every day. Out went the fatty, greasy, salty food and in came fresh fruits, vegetables and wholemeal bread. He started taking a healthy chicken and salad sandwich to lunch instead of eating greasy take out.

John started making his own dinner at home, cooking from scratch, for a hemorrhoids home treatment. He discovered he actually preferred his own cooking to grabbing whatever he could while on the run.

Then John started taking regular exercise. He got up 30 minutes earlier every morning so he could go walking.

Two weeks after he started his new regime, John realised he was actually experiencing hemorrhoids pain relief! But he knew that in order to hopefully get rid of his hemorrhoids for good, he needed to stay on his new lifestyle course indefinitely.

But if you want a super fast, super effective treatment for bleeding hemorrhoids, then visit http://www.InstantHemorrhoidRelief.info to cure hemorrhoids naturally within 48 hours without side-effects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penelope_Ashdowne

If you want hemorrhoid pain relief, then you need a plan. Follow these 4 easy steps and get rid of hemorrhoids as soon as possible!




1. Try a sitz bath

Sitz baths can be very helpful as a hemorrhoids home treatment. You can do it in a regular bathtub or a special sitz tub you can buy from the pharmacy. Soak your butt area for 10-20 minutes in plain warm water. If you're soaking in a regular tub, squat so only your butt and feet get wet. Be careful not to slip in the bath. Standing on a rubber bath mat that's in the bath is very helpful to prevent slipping. Have a sitz bath three to four times daily to help manage hemorrhoids pain relief.

2. Cut out alcohol and coffee

A lot of people think that alcohol and coffee aren't good for hemorrhoids. Why not drink plain water instead? It's the best thing you can drink and is beneficial for overall good health.

3. Get regular exercise.

It's quite possible that hemorrhoid sufferers also have sluggish systems. So get your body moving by embarking on 20-30 minutes of exercise four to five times per week. Even walking for 20 minutes is really helpful hemorrhoids home treatment and will really help your circulation to get going.

4. Increase the amount of fiber in your diet

Constipation is often a cause of hemorrhoids. Constipation is caused by a lack of fiber in the diet. So eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to keep constipation at bay to help get rid of hemorrhoids. A high fiber diet is a really good hemorrhoids home treatment. But if you're eating a lot of fiber you need to drink plenty of plain water to help your system digest all that added fiber.

So now you have 4 easy steps for hemorrhoids pain relief.

Let Robin Huone show you a super fast, super effective treatment for hemorrhoids at http://www.InstantHemorrhoidRelief.info that cures hemorrhoids naturally within 48 hours without side-effects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Huone

Hemorrhoids can be so hard to deal with. They bleed, they itch, and they hurt every time you sit down or even move. This problem is a very common one, but that doesn't make it any better for you. While some people don't always even feel them, there are many people who have hemorrhoids that are very painful, and if you are dealing with painful hemorrhoids, no doubt you would like to learn about some hemorrhoid treatment tips that will help you feel a whole lot better. Tired of dealing with the pain? Well, here are a few simple hemorrhoid treatment tips that can really help you out.

Tip #1

Don't Lift Heavy Objects - It's important that you don't lift any heavy objects if you are dealing with hemorrhoids. This is one of the most important hemorrhoid treatment tips to keep in mind if you want to get rid of the pain of dealing with hemorrhoids. When you lift something that is very heavy, you strain your muscles and often the veins in your rectum as well. So, just avoid lifting anything heavy if at all possible to try to give yourself some relief from the problem.

Tip #2

Avoid Certain Drinks and Foods - Another important tip for hemorrhoid treatment is to make sure that you avoid certain drinks and foods that may exacerbate your problem with hemorrhoids. Coffee and alcohol are two drinks that can actually make your hemorrhoids worse, so stop drinking them. Also, eating nuts or spicy foods can also make you have more problems as well. So, make sure you avoid things that may make them feel even worse.

Tip #3

Talk to Your Doctor if You Get Worse - If you end up getting worse, it's important that you talk to your doctor as soon as possible, especially if you've been having problems for more than a week. If you are dealing with severe pain, bad bleeding, or seepage, you should let your doctor know as well. He'll be able to help you figure out which hemorrhoid treatment will work the best for your particular problem.

Tip #4

Try an Over the Counter Hemorrhoid Treatment - There are a whole host of different hemorrhoid treatments out there that you can purchase over the counter. From creams to liquids, there are many ones that you can try out. However, you may want to talk to the pharmacist before you pick one for you, since they can help you pick one that won't clash with your current medications and let you know which ones really work the best.

Tip #5

Use Some Ice - If you happen to have hemorrhoids that are on the outside of your anus, one hemorrhoid treatment tip that may help you out is ice. Consider using a nice ice compress, since they may help you get rid of some of the swelling so it is easier to sit and a whole lot less painful for you as well.

John Lim, the founder of http://www.hemorrhoids-help.com, is an alternative health expert with more than 7 years of experience in natural hemorrhoids treatment tips. Please visit http://www.hemorrhoids-help.com for more free information about hemorrhoids home remedy & relief.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim_Cher_Sern

Coffee lovers know that there is nothing quite like grinding your own coffee beans. From the aroma coming from the grinder to that first sip of piping hot, freshly brewed coffee the entire experience is sheer pleasure to the taste buds.

Today's grocery stores typically carry many flavors of coffee beans. You can purchase them there and grind them as well if you like. However, for the best coffee flavor you should purchase your own grinder and grind them at home. There are several reasons for this.

Grinding your beans at home assures you that you are only getting your coffee beans only and not residual coffee grounds from everyone who has ground coffee before you. In your home you will be cleaning your grinder between uses, in the grocery store you have to rely on the machine to self-clean. Another reason for grinding your coffee beans at home is freshness. The best coffee is brewed from beans that have just been ground. Pre-grinding allows some of the flavors to escape.

Grinders

There are basically two types of coffee bean grinders available, a blade grinder and a burr grinder. Blade grinders are the least expensive, starting around $10 - $15 dollars while burr grinders start around $50. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for and with coffee grinders the difference is in the taste of the coffee. Your choice will depend on how much you are willing to pay for the grinder and how sensitive your taste buds are to the resulting product. If possible try finding a sample coffee ground from each one to make your comparison.

A blade grinder uses a single blade that moves in circular motion much like a blender blade. Blade grinders tend to heat the coffee beans as they grind them which can result in a scorched taste and a loss of flavor. If you use a blade grinder you should grind in short bursts rather than a long grind that goes on for a minute or more. This insures that you aren't scorching the beans as they grind.

Burr grinders use a grinding wheel and a stationary surface for grinding the beans. Burr grinders create a much more evenly ground coffee with no scorching or heating of the coffee beans as they grind.

Burr grinders come in the wheel burr or the conical burr. The wheel burr is the less expensive of the two but can be very noisy and messier. The conical burr is the best coffee grinder but will cost you more. It is quieter and less messy than the wheel burr and doesn't clog as easily.

Types of Grinds

If you look at the commercial grinder in your local grocery retailer you will see that it is labeled with many different settings. These setting correspond to how you are going to use your coffee, such as drip coffee maker, espresso maker, percolator and more. Not all home grinders are labeled like this and you will need to practice how long you grind the coffee to reach your desired grind. This is particularly true with blade grinders as the grind is determined more so by the amount of time the beans are ground. Where burr grinders have settings.

There are three basic coffee grinds: fine, medium and coarse. Most household coffee makers work fine with a medium grind. The amount of time in the grinder determines the grind.

Coarse: Coarse ground coffee works best in percolators. To achieve a coarse grind the coffee beans should only be ground 5-10 seconds at most.

Medium: Medium ground coffee is the suggested drip coffee makers or a French Press. This usually takes 10-15 seconds in the grinder, using short burst to avoid scorching.

Fine: A very fine grind is used for espresso makers. This grind takes 25-30 seconds and must be done in short bursts to prevent scorching. If using a blade grinder you should shake the grinder between bursts to achieve a uniform grind.

Fresh ground coffee beans can't be beat for a wonderful cup of coffee. Many people who don't drink coffee like the aroma fresh ground beans give off. Purchasing a grinder doesn't have to be an investment that breaks the bank and you can impress your friends with a perfect cup of joe.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on coffee grinders for Coffee Grinders 101, providing information on a variety of grinders and offering the best coffee sites on the web!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_V_Chapman

You might be wondering why coffee beans need to be roasted and what the advantages of buying them green and roasting them at home are.

Unroasted beans contain the same protein, caffeine, and acids that roasted coffee has, but far less flavor.

Roasting the beans in an organic coffee roaster is what gives you the flavor and smell that makes coffee the most popular beverage in the world.

The reason for buying them green and roasting them at home is simple. The green beans are more stable, which gives them a much longer shelf life.

By roasting them yourself, at home, you are assured of always having the freshest tasting coffee, roasted to your particular tastes.

There are many different ways that coffee can be roasted. If you have a hot air popcorn popper, you can use it to "air roast" your coffee. Air roasting is a fairly quick process that will evenly roast your beans in ten minutes or less, without scorching them.

This is done by cooking them in the hot air stream, the same way it would pop the corn. You can also buy organic coffee roasters, which are called fluid bed roasters, that will air roast your beans.

But that is only one of the various ways of roasting a coffee bean. You can try roasting it simply in a pan. This is done much the same way popcorn was made before the automatic popcorn poppers came into being.

This method would be called "conduction roasting," because the burner heats the pan and conducts that heat to the coffee beans.

It requires a lot of attention, and you have to keep shaking the pan, or you will be scorching your beans. It isn't easy at first, but with practice you should soon be able to roast the coffee evenly, which will keep you from having that burnt taste when you grind and brew your coffee.

It will make an acceptable cup, but you may choose to bite the bullet and purchase an organic coffee roaster.

"Radiant drum roasting" is yet another way to roast your organic coffee beans. You can roast more coffee beans at a time, but here is a disadvantage to a drum roaster.

You are not able to observe the beans while they are heating and tumbling in the drum, so you have to depend on the smell to know when they have been roasted to your desired tastes.

They also smoke a bit more, so you make want to do the roasting in this organic coffee roaster outside or in the garage.

Free Coffee Recipes and much more! Check out http://www.MyOrganicCoffeeBeans.com/ for everything coffee, including where the Who *Really* Provides the Organic Coffee Beans and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_J_Easton

There is a common misconception that if you buy your coffee whole bean that it will be Gourmet, but the fact is, whole bean is not necessarily better if it is not fresh. While it does last quite a bit longer it does not last forever. Whether you order ground coffee fresh or even whole bean fresh roasted you will be absolutely amazed at the difference of taste and smell of it. It's definitely a different experience then your local Starbucks or Barista and if you never have tried coffee fresh roasted, then you definitely are missing out.

Fresh VS Store bought

Lately there has been many companies marketing this idea of Gourmet. I even saw that Folgers has marketed "Gourmet" now. This is fine, but if you want a real true experience in coffee you must have fresh roasted coffee there is nothing like it and if you are looking for that special cup of Joe, well its not in the stores, it's definitely online, and don't be fooled if they vacuum seal it or don't roast it fresh then they are not worth the money.

So what is better Ground or whole bean? Well to me it really doesn't matter as long as it is fresh, a lot of times it's inconvenient to grind your own beans and it does taste that much better. So it's really a matter of convenience, if you order fresh roasted coffee that is ground, then you don't have to grind it yourself, or if you order fresh roasted whole bean you can store it for a little longer, but again it's really a matter of ordering it fresh.

My advice is to order less at a time maybe 5 lbs or so and that way you will know that you will be getting the best cup possible.

How to freeze coffee properly

The first thing is you must have fresh coffee, whether it is ground or whole bean coffee as long as it is no more than a couple of days since it has been roasted, the sooner the better though.

Before we begin the idea is to freeze the coffee not keep it cool. It's just like soda you can freeze it, but when kept in a refrigerator it becomes flat, this is the same with coffee you can freeze it, but for some reason it goes stale quicker in the fridge...

The preparation

First take you coffee out of the bag and place it in preferably in a mason jar type container or you can just keep it in the same bag, but it is better to be in mason jar, then make sure that your freezer is cold enough freezers with defrosters sometimes are not cold enough. You can set your coffee in a deep freezer where it will freeze as quickly as possible.

The benefits

Coffee is frozen quickly and in the right conditions can be fresh for even up to 2 months, people will not even notice the difference the coffee will taste just like it has just been roasted...

When pulling the container out, take as much as you need and then place the rest back into the freezer...

Storing without freezing...

You can store coffee properly and it will keep its peak freshness up to 2 weeks. It's easy take your coffee place it in a mason jar that is lined with a paper towel and place in a cool dark place, not the refrigerator.

Never vacuum seal

One thing to try to avoid is vacuum sealing and plastic ziplock bags
and you should be OK..

Why are some flavored Coffee better than others?

Most flavored coffee beans have flavoring oils sprayed and mixed with the beans after roasting. These coffee flavor oils are many times a combination of natural and synthetic flavor chemicals.The difference between good flavored coffee is not about the process because almost every company uses this same process, the difference is in the coffee beans and packaging process. Most companies use Arabica Coffee for their coffee flavorings, the problem with this is that Arabica Coffee while being great for different roasts and blends, the potency and strength of the coffee is not suitable for flavoring.

That is why most flavored coffee smells so good, but tastes horrible, we only use 100% Columbian Coffee Beans ensuring that the coffee keeps that flavor and coffee taste in the bean ensuring that your flavored tastes just like it smells. Another reason why most store bought flavored coffee lacks is the packaging process. Most flavored coffee is vacuum sealed, while this may keep the coffee fresh it strips it of it's flavor that is why we only roast our flavored coffee to order so that we don't have to vacuum seal your coffee. It's always fresh and full of flavor.

Not only that if a company does not advertise that it's flavored coffee is sugar free never buy it, because many companies use sugar to supplement their flavor, which is a dirty trick in my opinion.

If you want to know more about the process of flavoring I can explain it completely let me know, but I think you get the picture.

So I hope this helps and allows you to find that great cup of coffee...

James is the owner an independent distributor of Gourmet coffee.
You can visit at... http://www.coffeebeans4u.com
or visit my blog at jarafinc.wordpress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_D_Lim

This article is going to describe the good and the bad qualities of coffee pod machines.

If you love your coffee then chances are you will really enjoy a coffee pod machine. These machines are just like your regular coffee makers except that they have much more features in them and they cost a lot more money as a result as well.









These Coffee machines were basically designed to be able to produce coffee almost instantly and very easily. All you have to do is insert the coffee pod and turn the machine on. The rest basically takes care of itself.

You are also good to need to buy coffee pods if you own a coffee machine like this.

Lots of these machines come with many features that can prove to be very useful. Some of these coffee machines allow you to brew both espresso and coffee. This saves you the trouble of having to buy more than one coffee machine.

Some of these machines even allow you to brew multiple cups of coffee at once. This is great for social get togethers and other scenarios when you need coffee really fast.

The cleanup is almost virtually nothing as the coffee pods are disposable. All you need to do once it is done cooking your coffee is throw it out. It is as easy as that.

The only problem with coffee pod machines is that they are a little bit more expensive than other types of coffee makers.

If you love to drink coffee, then a coffee pod machine might be right for you. If you only drink coffee occasionally then you may want think about if it's really worth it to go all out on a coffee machine.

For more information on coffee pod machines, and espresso coffee pods, visit these pages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Ganion

What actually makes a Kona coffee farmer, who are they, why are they doing it, or just for the mental exercise: Could I too become a filthy rich, days-in-the-sun, surfing, shooting-the-breeze Hawaiian coffee farmer? This is a highly subjective, behind the scenes explanation of the most pressing question folks seems to have on their minds when they meet one of us coffee dudes. So for the sake of it, let's categorize:


Cherry farms

are often held by the same family over three or four generations. These farms originated to provide additional income to the day jobs working the sugar cane fields in the 19th century. The high number of children and grandparents enabled the owners to do the unpaid hard coffee field work in the mornings, evenings and Sunday's. Most Kona coffee is grown in the vicinity of family farmer's residences; planted between rocks in irregular patterns, ranging from 100 to 1,000 trees per acre, often interspersed with other crops and some shade trees. Nearly all is sold as freshly picked coffee cherries to large processors, who also throw in a few bags of free fertilizer. The parcels range between 1 to 5 acres and are often leased in 40 year terms. This is and always has been the backbone of the Kona coffee industry. None of the farmers has to worry too much about government inspections regarding pesticide or herbicide usage, or coffee quality standards. The cheap lease of the land, which requires some agricultural practices to be obtained, justifies the small profit. Living and housing in Hawaii is expensive and the rural lifestyle eases the financial burden a bit. Most cherry farmers have a Japanese, Philippine or Hawaiian background and reside in the South Kona district. Age group: 50 - 90, 2 to 3 family generations under one roof. Many are members of the Kona Pacific Farmers Coop and not linked to any farmers organization. No web presence or farm tours offered.

Coffee Plantations

in Kona are increasing in size, but there are only a few names in this category. All are owned by corporations or individuals with financial backing from the mainland. Their sizes range from 20 to 60 acres, and often contain other outlying parcels. In this production system recommended seedlings are used, the rocky land is being bulldozed, row planting, proper cover crops, mulching, manuring, weeding, and pruning methods are practiced. Nearly all use chemical fertilizers and herbicides as they are purely profit driven. Their coffees are always inspected and certified by the State. Yet most of their harvested coffees end up as highly profitable "10% Kona Blends" to duped tourists, who believe this coffee being pure Kona beans. The rest is sold to green coffee brokers in Japan and the US mainland. In addition to their own production they buy from smaller farms freshly picked coffee cherries at a fluctuating per pound price. They also process and grade coffee for farmers lacking the required big equipment. When buying from them always look for their expensive private labels, otherwise you'll get the coffee pooled from many farms. Traditionally these large plantations in Hawaii went bust in recessions because of their high overheads. Cherry farmers may not get paid by them on time, but can i.e. hibernate through the current recession by simply neglecting their orchard for a season or two. Owners and managers are nearly all long time Caucasian residents of Hawaii, who are experienced with the local political culture. They organize in the Hawaii Coffee Association and Hawaii Coffee Grower's Association to maintain the faulty legal status of the Kona Blend laws. Age group: 35 to 65; 'good old boys' networkers; SCAA members and exhibitors; all offer guided farm tours, farm stores, and professional websites. Their Kona coffees and Kona Blends have a strong presence in US mainland and Hawaiian stores.

Gentlemen farms

or "Snowbird farms" grow coffee on their properties as a hobby, as a tax incentive or because a vacation property is zoned as 'agricultural'. One can completely relinquish the actual work to one of the larger plantations, who then in turn provide some roasted coffee upon request just in case the owner wants to sell a few bags under his/her own label. These types of farms are not really meant to be profitable but this doesn't indicate if their coffees are good, bad or excellent. Some are organically cultivated. Some even sell their well-cared for coffee below costs. The owners have other sources of income and only reside part time in Kona. Under US tax law a property qualifies as a 'farm' when generating more than $1,000 in sales p.a. Gentlemen farmers are mostly Caucasians who strife for living a calm, easy Hawaiian life and have a story to tell when asked for what they are doing all day long. Geographically in the North Kona district centered around Holualoa. The 55 to 80 year old group consists of retired, married couples, single women. They have no professional affiliation or only nominally memberships at the Kona Coffee Council and the Kona Coffee Farmers Association. Some have websites and generally no farm tours are offered by them.

Boutique farms

are yet another category but constitute the fastest growing segment. The vertical integration of the growing, processing and direct marketing to the customer and owning all means of production is essential. A small profit margin is indeed possible but it needs a multidisciplinary approach by the owners to keep any outsourcing to a bare minimum. About a quarter of them practice organic farming and they are environmentally concerned. Yet the combination of advancing age, hard physical labor and lack of computer literacy are challenging for many. But also big egos nurtured in prior high flying professions stand in their way: farming makes you humble but not instantaneously. A number of these farms default during the current recession, because their owners overlooked that equipment needs to amortize and public awareness of Kona coffee was always low. Building a solid customer base for a farm takes approximately 5 years. Learning the ins and outs of coffee farming about 3 years+. This group of farmers sees the faulty Kona Blend law as the largest stumbling block to a higher price for Kona coffee. Yet they oppose quality control and state inspections of their product, which doesn't fly with the government. Owners are mostly mainland Caucasian and are sometimes married into Hawaiian families with various ethnic backgrounds. One can meet a colorful assortment of the human species in this group: The aging hippie, the retired colonel, the liberal professor, the activist lawyer, the Silicon Valley mini tycoon. They organize occasionally and challenge the legal status quo of the legislature. Age group: 40 to 75, couples, gay couples, single women, single guys. Affiliation: Kona Coffee Farmers Association or none. Mostly homemade web stores, shop presence in a few Hawaiian stores, farm tours offered upon requests.

There you have it. None of this background info indicates that a particular Kona coffee tastes better than the other! As long as it's not a 'blend' or fake of course. The border lines between the categories are also not so well defined as one farm can be a 'boutique' but also offers processing. Or it could appear like a large plantation with managers and all, but is held afloat by the partnership income of a big time law office in L.A. Or a fourth generation Japanese cherry farm made it successfully into the cyberage with a dazzling website.

Kona coffee beans grow regardless and despite of the local politicking on their behalf. A coffee tree doesn't judge its farmer by skin color, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or prior profession. Just if it gets its leaves properly tickled from time to time...

Joachim always tries to tickle the leaves of the BLUE HORSE KONA COFFEE trees the way they like it. This ancient Polynesian farm land in South Kona was developed from pure cherry farming into a boutique/family farm, but also offers wet processing and sun drying to neighbor farms.

http://www.bluehorsekona.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joachim_Oster

Brewing the ideal cup of coffee has always been a challenge for all coffee addicts around the world. And the most controversial question that lingers within the minds of these coffee lovers is why brewing coffee at own home doesn't yield the same great taste that can be enjoyed from the elite group of coffee chains like Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, etc.

The answer is so easy but would require great act to achieve. For it is not just the quality of the coffee beans that you were grinding or the proportion of ingredients that matters alone but moreover, an in-depth consideration is needed as well on the type or kind of coffee pot or coffee maker that you will be equipped on the brewing process.

There are tons of brewing pots and coffee carafes that were introduced to the global market uniquely designed to meet the needs of different households. And every coffee fanatic should acquire vast knowledge on the type of coffee pot that is suitable for his/her preferences.

The major advantage between using thermal pots rather than vacuum pots is that the latter often fails to control the proper temperature of heat on its warming plates which frequently resulted on burned or over-brewed coffees.

Furthermore, this type of brew pot when properly used can keep your coffee warm for quite a long time without the threat of additional heat.

And it is very untrue as what most people perceived that thermal coffee makers are a lot more difficult to clean than those with the other types of coffee pot.

Because as long as you have a good Coffee Maker Cleaner and Stain Remover in your homes, the taste and aroma of your coffees and teas will never be sacrificed and unachieved.

To sum up, a real coffee lover doesn't only know how to drink coffee from his/her mug. Because a genuine and self-confessed coffee addict understands how to appreciate coffee not only through his/her mouth but most importantly, through his/her heart and mind.

If you find this article interesting, then check out more coffee makers articles or read more about coffee pot in Ebenezer Heng site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ebenezer_Heng

A high quality delivered coffee for a business coffee service requires a minimal roast to delivery time frame. Whether the roaster is office coffee provider or just the supplier, the product must be roasted, packaged and delivered within days, not weeks.

The problem with most services available to businesses is that the product delivered for a vending coffee is often quite lengthy. To preserve the characteristics defined in this article, the time from roaster to business consumer must be within two to seven days. This time frame enables a reasonable consumption period where the coffee's unique taste characteristics are preserved.

For the novice coffee drinker, there are four primary taste profiles described and categorized for Specialty Arabica gourmet office coffee. These include: Acidity, Aroma, Body and Flavor. Flavor can be further broken down into Balance, Range, Complexity, Richness and Finish.

Acidity

The measure of a coffee's acidity is different from the use of the word typically associated with food products. In coffee acidity is a positive trait that is a measure of the acid content after brewing. A proper level of acidity will give a level of tartness that gives the coffee a pleasant result when in the proper balance with the beans natural sweetness. Because of the consumer's negative association with the word acidity, this characteristic in coffee is often described using terms that include brightness, sharpness, briskness and dryness.

Aroma

The pleasant aroma that is enjoyed by consumers of high quality gourmet office coffee is a result of the gasses being released during the brewing process. The various aromas are described as spicy, fruity, floral, earthy and herby. It is the combination of characteristics that will enhance the coffee's ultimate aroma.

Body

This characteristic is a result of the texture as experience in the mouth. You can easily notice the thickness of the body, which can include more undesirable variations that include gritty or oily in the brewed coffee. Because of various preferences, you can find office coffees that have very full, full, medium or light body.
Blends usually result in the best overall quality as highly desirable aromatic coffees can often be light in body, while full bodied coffees can often have more bitter qualities. With the right combinations of roast profiles and quantities, very unique results can be achieved by the master roaster.

Flavor

It is only after the brewed coffee is in the mouth is flavor experienced. This is the true measure of a quality gourmet office coffee. The combination of acidity, body and aroma comes together to give the coffee lover a unique experience for that specific coffee as compared to any other.

Descriptions of a coffee's flavor vary widely, but the basic terms include: Balance, Complexity, richness and range.

Balance measures the levels of characteristics compared with each other.

Complexity measures or reveals the more unexpected nuances of the sensations and flavor during drinking.

Richness measures the levels of body, aroma and flavor experienced by the consumer.

Range relates to the range of flavors that expose themselves in the mouth.

The aftertaste is what is referred to as "finish" in coffee tasting circles. These are the characteristics that are experienced after the coffee is swallowed. This sensation can be very pleasant as when there is a fruity, spicy or chocolaty aftertaste, or very unpleasant when there is a bitter taste or what is called in the industry a "cow shed" taste.

The Master Roaster is much like a chef who must account for all of the possible characteristics that will please the consumer of the product. A high quality office coffee service roaster is just as critical to providing high quality business coffee to our nation's business community.

Author, Steve Josephs is a marketing consultant and CEO of Intellidon Marketing Solutions, whose family office coffee service business, the Great American Coffee Company, http://www.GourmetOfficeCoffee.com, is a premier Specialty coffee roaster and office coffee service provider in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan business community.

Copyright 2009 The Great American Coffee Company and Intellidon Marketing Solutions, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reprints are permissible when this Copyright statement and website link are included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Josephs

As any coffee connoisseur will tell you, the only way to greatly improve the taste of your coffee is to invest in a dedicated coffee grinder.

The reason is relatively simple, in that the coffee grounds purchased from your local store are likely to already be past their best, even before you open the packet. This is because the coffee grounds have already been exposed to air and therefore started to oxidize, thereby already ruining the taste of your coffee before you have even started to make it.

The only real viable way to prevent coffee oxidization is to grind your own coffee beans. This will give you the best possible tasting coffee because the outer shell of the bean safely protects the insides from air exposure.

So now we know that using a coffee grinder is the best way of making that perfect cup of coffee, it's just a case of popping down to the nearest dealer and investing in one right? Well unfortunately it's not quite that easy, as with most things in life there are a few different types that we will discuss.

The Blade Grinder:

Probably the cheapest type of coffee grinder you can purchase, the blade grinder basically slices the coffee bean into smaller pieces over-and-over again. However, due to this method the beans will vary in size and therefore will not be suitable for cover lovers looking to making espresso or coffee requiring a uniform grind.

Also, because the blade spins very fast, heat is transferred directly to the bean potentially resulting in the coffee tasting very bitter and destroying the taste.

The Crusher Grinder:

As the name suggest this type of grinder will quite literately pulverise the coffee bean in an attempt to produce an even grind. However, this happens infrequently and all too often the coffee grounds are produced in varying sizes which as previously discussed is less than ideal. However, a crusher grinder is still a huge step-up from store bought grounds and will give you a better tasting brew.

The Burr Grinder:

There are two types of burr grinders, the flat base burr and the conical burr. Widely considered the best way to make coffee, the conical burr is able to rotate at far slower speeds than a flat based burr and therefore does not emit the same levels of heat that will potentially destroy the flavour.

Unfortunately, these are the most expensive types of grinders available. However, if you love coffee it's a highly recommended investment that will ultimately give you years of coffee drinking pleasure.

For more information of conical burr grinders including the highly acclaimed Krups Coffee Grinder KM7000 make sure you visit us today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Funge

Coffee lovers everywhere are realizing that in order to make the most flavoursome cup of coffee you need to first start with the right coffee. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? But where a lot of coffee enthusiasts come unstuck is when they mistakenly buy pre-manufactured grounds as opposed to actual coffee beans.

The main problem with buying coffee grounds is that they are already likely to have deteriorated by being exposed to the air for a given period. This results is the coffee grounds oxidize and therefore will potentially ruin the taste, and all this before you have even started...

The only way to almost guarantee a perfect cup of coffee is to use coffee beans and grind them yourself. The outer-shell of the coffee bean safely protects the contents from air exposure so you can grind the exact amount of coffee you need without having to worry about ever destroying the taste.

All that remains is to decide on what kind of coffee grinder suits you best. There are three main types to choose from, burr, crusher and blade.

The Crusher Grinder.

Simply put this type of grinder compresses the coffee bean just like a vice and although responsibly cheap the crusher grinder is unable to produce a uniform grind which is essential for many coffee brews including espresso.

The Blade Grinder:

If you after a way to improve the taste of your coffee, but not looking to spend a fortune doing so then a blade grinder might just be what you're looking for. These types of grinders rotate very fast to chop the coffee beans over and over. The main problem with a blade grinder is because it does rotate fast the potential of passing heat directly to the coffee is high. This can result in the coffee tasting very bitter or even burnt.

The Burr Grinder

If you can afford one then a burr grinder is the choice to make. There a two types to consider, the flat burr or the conical burr variant. Both are very good at producing an even, uniform ground that is capable of producing Espresso and even Turkish coffee.

Of the two grinders the conical burr is the undisputed king, thanks largely to it being able to grind coffee extremely slowly and evenly. Whatever coffee grinder you decide upon, you can be sure that your brew will taste far better than any pre-bought coffee grounds.

Coffee lovers everywhere realize that conical burr grinders make a perfect cup of coffee everytime. One such example is the highly rated Rancilio Rocky Doserless coffee grinder. For more information make sure you visit us today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Funge

Have you too been hearing sad and stressful reports about the woes of coffee drinking? I am here to tell you that those are rumors, and they are definitely not true because coffee has been getting a bad rap that it doesn't deserve. This is primarily because there was a study done on coffee drinkers, who were also smokers, but that fact was neglected. Kind of fishy... Nonetheless, the results of the study showed that those coffee drinkers had incredibly poor health, which is precisely because they were also smokers, though that information was not released.

Now let's get on to the good stuff, here are the top five reasons why you never need to give up coffee for the rest of your life!

1. Coffee is chock-full of antioxidant benefits that will make you able to drink to your health. What exactly do antioxidants do? Well, they work to prevent free radical damage and disease from harming all of the cells in your body, meaning that you will be less likely to show signs of premature aging or illness. This is the number one way to keep your body strong for a longer period of time!

2. Java is known to reduce the risk of colon cancer when it is consumed on a daily basis, normally at 2 to 3 cups per day. This may primarily be because of the antioxidant benefits, but it still works to reduce the risk of colon cancer for male and female coffee drinkers alike.

3. Java is going to help you work out stronger, smarter, and faster. It also blocks chemicals that cause soreness in your muscles, so you be will less likely to have inflammation in your muscles after a workout, making it all the more enjoyable for you. Plus, with the caffeine boost, you will be able to perform in your workout for much longer because you will have increased energy and stamina.

4. If you are looking for some babies in the near future, coffee has been known to increase fertility in men, which is perfect for any couples who are trying to start a family. Isn't it fantastic to think that your average cup of Joe can give you some added Mojo to procreate?

5. Java has also been known to prevent Alzheimer's because it strengthens the blood brain barrier, which is normally weakened in Alzheimer's patients. This means that regular coffee drinkers can count themselves as the lucky ones who are less likely to suffer from this disease as they get older because the blood brain barrier will be strengthened in their body, making them less susceptible to dementia.

Truthfully, I can think of many more reasons as to why I would pour myself my morning cup of Joe, but these five certainly don't hurt, especially when we are talking about health! Coffee has had a bad reputation for far too long, so it is wonderful to know all that it has to offer as an antioxidant filled beverage to start your day.

For the best flavored coffee with a great selection, check out Mark Ramos' website, The Coffee Bump.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Ramos

Tropical vegetation growth is steady year round - if one species has a dormant month, there's another one ready to take its space immediately. For a tropical farmer it means a never-ending battle against nature taking control: cutting, weeding, whacking, clearing, ripping, mowing, pruning, breaking, picking. Vastly different than in the temperate climate zone where distinct seasons allow, even demand, more organized work.

What's called 'pruning season' in Kona coffee land is actually a matter of life and death for the trees. A coffee tree can kill itself by overbearing, and our region is known for producing the highest amount per tree and the largest beans anywhere in the world. So in this very unique, more than ideal Kona coffee tree climate one doesn't destroy, but creates by cutting things off.

The last beans are picked, pulped, dried and securely packed away in the storage rooms to age for a few months. The trees look literally wasted - many branches are stripped of leaves, sporting barren, broken twigs, a few forgotten coffee cherries dangling somewhere at the top, mostly dried up to what we call 'raisins'. New green shots sprout on those old, bent over, spent arms. If left to themselves, cultivated kona typica trees will soon return to be tall, wild unsightly shrubs with lots of new wood, but little coffee to harvest from.

It's the way a tree grows on its own and a coffee farmer tries to tame this very nature year round to make it behave 'unnatural'; meaning giving more fruit than it would need to produce to help its species survival.

Not much different from a vintner or apple orchard owner: The plant should conclude that it's best to produce as many fruits as possible. Every year. We farmers fool them into thinking that there is an abundance of fertile space, water and right amount of sun around, by carefully pruning, fertilizing, watering and adjusting shade trees. Keeping the right bugs around and the wrong ones away. Protecting the soil from erosion and the winds from breaking its branches. Bringing in beehives to pollinate or even observing moon phases to up the yields in spiritual ways, if one is so inclined. All comes down to that if the tree is happy, you'll harvest some very, very happy beans from it.

When I walk out there to trim the old branches from our 2,500 trees it's the dry season in Kona. Sunny days from dusk to dawn with barely a gentle breeze. None of the usual afternoon clouds rising from the ocean along the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano. One wants to catch the first light at 6 AM till about 10 when it gets really hot. And after 4PM till 6 when it cools down again. Because it is hard work, and it needs careful, concentrated examination of each trees' unique constellation of branches: Which ones to cut and which ones not to. Then a short burst of energy with a very sharp handsaw to cut the 3" wide, about 5' long old or withered branches off. Selecting one or two new shoots, which should not be damaged by the saw blade. The other ones are being broken off at the base, or 'suckered' as they call it here. Then it needs dragging the cutoff branches out to the nearest path, two or three at a time, mostly uphill over rocky terrain. Stumbling, cursing, getting scratched, a tad more cursing. Piling them up where the wood chipper can reach them easily.

After ten trees, twenty or so branches one is drenched in sweat. Then it gets nasty with the crab spiders, which love to spin their orbs in this season. And they cling to a sweaty neck or forehead when dragging the branches out. Short legged arachnids they are, their pea size bodies accumulate mostly underneath ones shirt collar. Where they decide to bite you. Somewhere in pain level between a mosquito and a bee; but no visible redness or swelling. Those come from the spider mites, which fall down from the top of the dried branches and itch for days after having burrowed into your skin.

In a while the tangled mess of the post harvest orchard opens up and one can see the spacing of the trees, the beautiful, shy kalij pheasants running around, find a forgotten wooden picking hook from the harvest season, an empty burlap bag which was never filled with coffee cherries, slowly deteriorating in the rains.

On a good day I prune and sucker about hundred trees. And drag, pile up the branches where the chipper can get to it. Then my concentration wanes and I make mistakes by cutting off a wrong branch, or missing a few. The beauty of farm life is that there's always something else to be done, screaming for attention, a different muscle to use, a different way to focus, or something stupid or repetitive activity for a change. Should I deal with HTML code on our website or the jeeps transmission fluid problem? Mow the lawn or prep the soil analysis for the Agricultural Service lab?

A well-pruned coffee tree gives an optimum amount of coffee cherries. It utilizes the air and space surrounding the leaves and branches fully. Pruning is to understand the inherent architecture, the metabolism of the tree; foreseeing the next few month's growth and the next 2 year's direction a branch will take; helping bent over branches to steady themselves by weaving them into the adjacent twigs. The thick gnarly, many times altered stump of an old growth Kona coffee tree is a piece of art in itself. A tree cut back over 120 pruning seasons simply is a bonsai piece in its own way: Full of cuts, swellings, holes, stumps, twirls and turns - a symphony in wood. They say 'form follows function', here the function is shaped by forming, shaping the growth.

A coffee tree is pruned at knee height, from where the branches are easily bendable towards the pickers during harvest. The first generations of Japanese Kona coffee farmers preferred climbing on ladders and let the verticals grow up to 10, 15 meters. Accidents by toppling down with a thirty pound basket of coffee cherry strapped to the waste was common. It's not a cushiony fall on Kona lava rocks and an hours worth of work is spilled between the dirt, stones and leaves. Those days on the ladder are gone thanks to more finessed pruning methods their children developed when they took over the farms. It still isn't easy labor, but looking at a happy, smiling coffee tree sporting it's new seasonal hair, err... 'branch' cut is very much so.

Joachim Oster is a Kona coffee farmer in Kealakekua, Hawaii (near Captain Cook). And not a barber by any means. But he noticed that happy trees grow happy beans, which make for a darn good cup of coffee! Order your Kona coffee farm direct because it's fresher, cheaper, and more fun as well.

http://www.bluehorsekona.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joachim_Oster

From past has brought to vary medical research correlating coffee consumption to an increased risk for non-fatal MI (or heart attack) Several of the studies had varying range of outcomes with some showing very strong correlation and others weak.

Many negative health myths about coffee drinking may now be transformed into validated health benefits.The coffee’s positive affect on the body is its possible cancer-protective properties, possibly due to its naturally occurring and brewing-produced antioxidants.Scientific evidence now suggests that moderate coffee consumption 3 to 5 cups a day may be associated with reduced risks of certain disease conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, kidney stones, depression, and others. Some research strongly links coffee’s properties to protect blood vessels from dilating as one possible mechanism that brain cells use to defend against Parkinson’s disease. One cup of coffee a day may as much as halve the risk of developing this disease