February 24th, 2009 by Ned Marks
Drinking fairtrade organic coffee is one of the best ways to contribute to poverty alleviation all over the world. Fairtrade organic coffee is produced by small farmers in many developing countries all over the world. Most of these farmers are what we call “subsistence” farmers who get barely enough income to feed and clothe their families.
Several of these small coffee farmers live in hinterland areas where development is very slow and life is often very hard. Since farming is the only way of life that most of these people knew, most members of the family work in the family’s coffee farm tending to trees and handpicking coffee beans off the tress from sunrise to sunset.
What is Fairtrade Organic Coffee?
Small coffee farmers often find it very hand to compete with those giant coffee producers. To help these small farmers to compete with bigger and more powerful coffee farmers, international development organizations such…
Read the rest »
January 25th, 2009 by Ned Marks
Although espresso coffee is gaining in popularity, there is still a bit of confusion about the type of beans needed for this beverage. Technically, espresso is not about the coffee bean, but is about the way this drink is made. Now that’s not to say that the coffee beans used for espresso are not important; actually the opposite is true. Because of the way espresso is brewed, the types of beans used are vitally important to the overall taste of this coffee.
The Coffee Bean Connection
Espresso coffee is all about hot water and coffee beans. But it’s the way these two ingredients are put together that spells the success of this drink. Espresso coffee needs hot water, around 90 degrees centigrade. The temperature of the water is critical, because if it’s too hot, the resulting drink will be bitter, and if it’s too cold it will be sour. When the temperature is just…
Read the rest »
January 22nd, 2009 by Ned Marks
The popularity of the organic Peruvian coffee has put Peru on the world map. Many people would not have heard much about this tiny country which is located in South America squeezed between Ecuador and Chile without the intervention of their coffee, which is today considered to be the best.
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…
Read the rest »
October 20th, 2008 by Ned Marks
The term certified organic coffee is often seen on some labels. The question often asked is what does it really signify when a coffee product has this on its label? There are so many labels in the coffee industry that points out that a certain brand of coffee is organic. In reality, some coffee products are only partially organic because some manufacturers have also mixed in other substances that may have been processed using chemicals.
Many coffee producers have adopted the term organic to have better sales especially since many consumers are now very aware of the impact that organic products have on the environment and our bodies. The importance of having a certified organic coffee label or anything similar is necessary to assure the general public that the product is safe.

Read the rest »