When coffee is grown organically, it is just so much better for the coffee farm land as well as for all of the land that surrounds the coffee farm. Water quality is improved for the entire area where organic coffee farms operate.

Of course, buying organic coffee can be a real challenge for organic coffee producing companies. Most coffee farms grow their coffee beans with the help of fertilizers and pesticides. Organic coffee farms are small and usually family operated or are cooperatively owned farms where income as well as tools, mills, mulches, and organic methods of raising organic coffee beans are shared. The idea of organically grown coffee beans is to produce higher quality coffee beans that simply produce a better tasting cup of coffee.

Organically grown coffee beans are raised in the shade. A lot of shade over the coffee trees produced by larger trees that actually make a canopy above the coffee trees means that the sun can’t bleach out the nutrients that are naturally in the coffee beans. It also helps to prevent pests and prevents the depletion of the topsoil.

Those who are not very concerned about the environment still look for coffee that has been made from organically grown coffee beans for one very simple reason. The entire organic process means that the coffee beans will simply produce a better tasting cup of coffee, and a better tasting cup of coffee is a universal pursuit of happiness.

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How many different kinds of coffee do you suppose are available around the world today? I don’t know, either, but there isn’t much doubt that hundreds of thousands would be a guess that was not far off the mark.

Just go look on the shelves of your local supermarket. My goodness! There are dozens of brands and several choices of roasts for each brand. There are coffees that are made especially for drip coffee makers. There are coffees that are prepackaged and ready to be put into coffee makers. There are single servings. It’s mind-boggling, and you haven’t even scratched the surface yet — the coffees on the shelves of your local supermarket aren’t even the gourmet coffees.

To find the gourmet coffees, you will need to visit a coffee specialty shop or go surfing on the web. Now the choices are REALLY mind boggling. Unless you already know which gourmet coffee you are looking for, you will need to have some good information before you buy. It might even be a good idea to buy a “variety” package that includes several different gourmet coffees and give yourself the opportunity to try before you buy.

Some gourmet coffees have very high acidity. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Only your taste buds can decide. Some people prefer high acidity coffee, while others do not. Is the acidity a good thing or a bad thing? Well, some say that acidity causes stomach problems, and others say that the acidity is what makes the coffee a cancer fighter of the first order and what gives it the unique taste.

Some gourmet coffees, particularly those from the islands, have an earthy taste that isn’t present in coffees from other regions. Some coffees, particularly those from Jamaica, are so smooth they make you want to cry. It all depends on your own individual likes and dislikes.

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Universal Idea?

Of course, the universal idea is that by freezing foods and even coffee beans, you can ensure that such items will last longer while also being able to retain their freshness. Thus, on the face of it, freezing is a great way to store things such as fruits, vegetables and meats as well as breads as they will prolong the life of such items. In addition, freezing also preserves the minerals and vitamins found in foods and thus is a good method – but only for foods.

The trouble is that when you begin storing coffee beans in a freezer it may not work in this case because coffee beans are averse to moisture and light as well as air and heat. The problem is that when you freeze your coffee beans it may actually rob the coffee beans off their flavor since coffee beans have already been roasted to improve their flavor and the cold will affect the taste of the unfrozen coffee.

Coffee beans are actually porous and though freezing works well with other foods, when it concerns coffee beans the porous nature of the coffee beans makes them absorb flavors from other foods kept in the freezer and so when you then drink your unfrozen coffee, it may actually end up having a garlic flavor!

Furthermore, the same porous nature of coffee beans makes them absorb moisture which will make the beans lose their flavor and also when you place and replace the coffee beans from the freezer it will cause absorption of moisture. Thus, if you feel that you want to use the freezer when storing coffee beans, makes sure that you only use the freezer just one time.

Even then, when storing coffee beans in a freezer you also risk losing the aromatic oils contained in roasted coffees and that in turn will rob the coffee beans off their flavor which is another reason why you need to think again when it concerns storing coffee beans in your freezer.

The best thing you can do for storing coffee beans is to buy just enough coffee as is required for personal and family use and which will be consumed in not more than two week’s time. That way, you won’t have many problems with where to store your coffee beans.

Roasting Your Own Beans

Roasted coffee beans are achieved by exposing the green coffee beans to heat and waiting for the sugars in the beans to come out. The first step to having your very own roasted coffee beans is to pick the beans that you wish to home roast. There are actually just a few kinds of coffee that are quite popular. Arabica is one of the most highly utilized coffees because of the flavor.

After choosing the beans that you wish to make roasted coffee beans with, you have the option of choosing when to roast your beans and how many to roast. You can actually roast the whole lot and then store the roasted coffee beans somewhere cool and dry. Do not grind them all at once because grinding the coffee releases the natural flavors. It is better to grind them in batches for your brewing pleasure because freshly ground beans have more flavor compared to those which have already been ground and stored.

To make tour own roasted coffee beans, pick an appropriately sized pan for roasting the beans. Make sure that there is still some space left for turning the beans for an even roasting. Unevenly roasted coffee beans will create a weird flavor of green, unroasted beans and fully roasted beans. Turn on the heat at low to medium and start to continuously move the coffee beans around the pan to promote even cooking or roasting.

At around 15 minutes, your roasted coffee beans will have a glazed or greasy look. This is because of the oils and sugars that have been released by the exposure to heat. The roasted coffee beans can no be safely transferred to a flat surface covered with tissue to absorb any excess oils or moisture. When the roasted coffee beans are cool enough to touch, you can place them in an airtight container for storage although some people don’t mind if their roasted coffee beans are exposed to the air. This is because the flavor is locked in due to the roasting. The process of grinding the coffee beans will release the flavor and make it ready for brewing.

• Get Organic Green Coffe Beans, Fresh from Puerto Rico

What is Gourmet Coffee?

Gourmet coffee can also be referred to as premium or specialty coffee. What separates it from supermarket brands are the gourmet coffee beans. These beans get their unique flavor from the place in which they are grown. Most coffee experts agree that the best beans grow in the rich soil on the slopes of volcanic mountains. A high altitude and moist climate are also factors in producing the best gourmet coffee beans. These beans actually get their distinctive taste and aroma from these special growing conditions, drawing out the best of the soil and environment in which they are planted. What that means to you is a superior taste.

Perhaps at this point an explanation is needed about coffee blends. Most of the traditional coffee you will find on supermarket shelves is really a blend of different coffee beans plus some additives to improve the taste. Gourmet coffee beans are pure, taken directly from the plants that have received the best of nature and that were grown in the most ideal conditions upon earth. Gourmet coffee beans from Hawaii, Costa Rica and Jamaica are among the most notable.

Yes, these beans are more expensive than a store-bought brand, but they are worth the extra price. In fact, some coffee manufacturers are trying to lure the true coffee connoisseur with imitations of Hawaii’s Kona coffee. But one sip of the imposter will be enough for a coffee lover to spot the difference. The gourmet coffee beans from Hawaii have a rich taste that is also low in acid.

The Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica is prized among many coffee drinkers. These gourmet coffee beans have an intense taste with a fruity flavor. One cup of this coffee will convince you of its superior and matchless quality. As with any product, you get what you pay for. And with these coffee beans, you get the richness of Mother Nature in every cup. Gourmet coffee beans are a treat that you shouldn’t pass up. These beans will enhance your coffee drinking experience and take your taste buds to the next level of excellence.

Fresh Coffee Beans Company

If you are looking for the finest fresh coffee beans, you should definitely check out the Fresh Coffee Beans Company. They are a company that wants to ensure that their customers will all be enjoying great coffee every day. Coffee is their passion and they are proud to offer home coffee roasters for a range of different budgets and a variety of needs.

They never keep coffee beans longer than a week so you are always ensured the newest, freshest beans on the market.

Misty Ridge Coffee Beans

Another company offering fine, fresh coffee beans is the Misty Ridge Coffee Roasting Company. If you appreciate excellent coffee made from fresh roasted coffee beans in local coffee houses then you will definitely want to visit the Misty Ridge Company. They offer a fantastic variety of premium coffee and coffee blends direct from the source.

They actually only roast enough coffee beans to sell fresh every week so you know that you are getting the best possible coffee, each and every time.

The Mad Roaster

Another great company for coffee beans is The Mad Roaster. They are all about fresh coffee, and what makes them so different from most other coffee companies is that they do small batch roasting. By roasting in small batches they are able to make minute adjustments as needed to temperature, roasting time, heating rate, and so on.

This means that they make the highest quality brews of coffee, each and every time. They roast in small batches so that the best taste of each single bean comes out.

They offer a wide selection of gourmet coffee beans, and even advice and tips on how to brew your coffee and some great coffee recipes that you can use right at home.

The important of using fresh coffee beans is undeniable, and whether you are brewing coffee for a group of people or just a cup for yourself at home, you will want to make sure that you come up with the finest, freshest tasting coffee, which can only be done by using the freshest coffee beans you can find.

1000 years ago, with coffee trees growing in southwest Arabia the Arabs, came up with the idea of roasting the beans found inside the sweet tasting coffee cherries. It was then that the coffee bean drink was born.

How Flavored Coffee Beans Came to be

Most people think that flavored coffee beans are a modern discovery. In reality however, the tradition of flavoring one’s coffee is as old as time immemorial. Some hundred years back coffee in the middle east was not just black or white. The Middle Eastern would flavor their coffee with nuts and spices to give its flavor an added boost.

Companies have capitalized on the modern world’s clamor and dependence on coffee. Brilliant marketers preyed upon the consumer’s craving for every single flavor that nature can offer. Before, coffee was spiced up by adding different flavored syrup imaginable. The usual syrup flavors are strawberry, dulce de leche, hazelnut, amaretto, Irish crème, almond, French vanilla and a whole lot more.

Today, with all the technological advances flavored coffee beans are made by coating the coffee with the desired flavor during the roasting process. Because it is coated, the flavors actually extend the bean’s shelf life. As pointed out, flavoring ones coffee is not a new trend, but the boom in gourmet coffee has increased the popularity and hungry for the most exotic flavored coffee beans.

The Perfect Bean

To make a great tasting flavored coffee bean, the right kind of bean used is crucial. A single bean is flavored by compounds such as aromatic oils, sugars, organic acids, mineral salts, carbohydrates, and other chemicals that include caffeine. Those mentioned are just a few of the 800 diverse compounds which lend coffee beans its intoxicating taste and aroma.

The essence of the bean’s taste is an evidence of the region it was grown in and the roasting process it underwent. Generally Arabica coffee beans are used to make flavored coffee beans due to its bitterness and low levels of acidity.

Incidentally the Arabica is also considered as the best coffee variety that ever existed. The Arabica is highly prized and the earliest type of coffee that was cultivated by man. The Arabica is used and not the Robusta bean because Robusta is harsher, not as mild, not as aromatic, and not as enticingly tasty. There are some coffee manufacturers who aim for a more interesting mix; they combine different kinds of beans from different regions to create a highly individualized blend.

What Makes The Organic Peruvian Coffee The Best?

There are two things that contribute to the amazing and unparalleled taste of organic Peruvian coffee – one, it is organically grown since 1700 AD and the technique that the farmers use has been handed over by word of mouth from generation to generation; and two, there is no interference yet from modern technology on any of the 110 thousand coffee farms in Peru. The combined effect of these two factors is that the organic Peruvian coffee has a remarkable taste the richness of which no one has yet been able to copy.

The farms where the coffee is grown are small, about 2-3 acres each where the farmers work hard to uphold the amazing quality of the crop using exclusively indigenous methods. Each farm is equipped with a micro-wet milling system which is yet another effort to keep Peru free form any type of chemical pollution.

The coffee crop is cultivated in between trees so it is shielded completely from the sun. The organic Peruvian coffee is grown completely in shade. The beans are picked over a period of five months, i.e. May to September by hand. The next step, pulping, is also done by hand after which the beans are stored in huge fermentation tanks which helps in cleaning them. Lastly, the coffee beans are transported to the market where about 80 percent is exported.

Though the organic Peruvian coffee is considered to be the best money could buy and is in high demand all over the world, the farmers who grow this coffee were until recent past still struggling for their sustenance because they were unorganized and incapable to protect their rights or have a say in the price of the coffee they sold.

Today, assisted by cooperatives the Peruvian farmers are poised to become the second largest supplier of organic coffee in the world. The Cooperative and Fair Trade networks have empowered the farmers to receive what is rightfully theirs, i.e. recognition for producing the best coffee in the world and the price due to such quality crop.

Next time you are in the super market look up organic Peruvian coffee and check it out. It is said that once you taste this coffee, you would never be able to enjoy any other type of coffee. Are you willing to take up this challenge?