10,418 Starbucks

On Tuesday, in Coffee Retailers, by Coffee Lover!

So, I’m sitting here at Beaner’s having a conversation with a fellow coffee addict.

He asked me how many Starbucks there are now…a quick check of Google brewed up this statistic: 10,418 locations.  Check Google Maps for one (or more!) near you.

According to Wikipedia, Starbucks is the world’s largest chain of coffee shops. Founded in 1971 as a coffee bean retailer, then acquired in 1987 by Howard Schultz, Starbucks has acquired and built coffeehouses all over the world. In addition to drip brewed coffee and espresso beverages, Starbucks shops also serve tea and bottled beverages, pastries, and ready-to-eat sandwiches.

Enjoy!

 

Fresh Gourmet Coffee

On Tuesday, in Gourmet Coffee, by Coffee Lover!

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It’s rich, full-bodied taste is a daily necessity to millions of people. Of course, coffee is not only loved for its taste. The caffeine kick is needed by many to start the day. But if you are a true coffee lover, fresh gourmet coffee has a taste that can’t be beat.

Luckily, it’s easy to get a hit of fresh gourmet coffee almost everywhere. There are coffee shops on almost every street corner and quality coffee beans are sold in many specialty shops as well as supermarkets.

“Fresh” is the key to fresh gourmet coffee. Coffee simply does not improve with age — it should be used within six months of production. Some of the large coffee distributors include old coffee beans in their mixes to reduce the cost. Needless to say, this practice also reduces the flavor.

Fresh gourmet coffee costs a bit more than regular supermarket coffee. That’s because it’s made from high quality Arabica coffee that has been hand-picked in processed. Commercial grade coffee is made from the cheaper Robusta coffee which has an inferior taste and texture than Arabica.

Commercial grade coffee is also machine picked and processed which means that foreign substances such as twigs and leaves find their way into the finished product. When you buy fresh gourmet coffee, you are assured of the quality and taste.

You have many choices when it comes to fresh gourmet coffee. Each coffee growing region produces a uniquely flavored coffee bean and the processing method to also determines the final taste of the coffee. The roasting method in particular determines the kind of coffee taste.

Fresh gourmet coffee should be ground just before brewing. You need a coffee grinder in your home if you want to the best tasting coffee possible. A good-quality coffee maker is also a necessity when making great tasting coffee.

Hans is author of the Coffee Specials and Gourmet Basket section at http://Steaks-Guide.com

 

How to Make a Good Cup of Coffee

On Tuesday, in Coffee Brewing, by Coffee Lover!

There is one thing that most adults love first thing in the morning, a cup of good coffee. Nothing tastes better than a hot coffee, that is made well. There are a few things that go into great tasting coffee. I will explain what it needs to give you what you want, the best coffee possible.

First off, is the coffee grind, this is very important for a number of reasons. For starters you should realize that  the finer the coffee grind, the more flavor that can be extracted from the same volume. It’s important to buy the grind as fine as possible, or if you own your own coffee grinder that you grind it properly.

It is also important for you to follow the instructions outlined with your coffee maker or espresso machine. You should measure the water and coffee according to the number of cups you need to make, this will ensure you are adding the right amount of water in conjunction with the coffee grind.

Another tip to consider, that many people don’t realize is that if you reheat your coffee it will have a bitter taste. Coffee always tastes best when it is freshly made, reheating it the next day will give you less than favorable results. I was mentioning the right amount of water to use, but it’s also to important to use the right type of water.

To get the best possible taste, you should use cold water that has been filtered through a water filter. Some people recommend actually using ice when brewing coffee, this is also supposed to enhance the flavor, never tried it myself though. After the coffee is brewed, you add sugar but how much and what type?

I recommend using light brown rather than refined white sugar, personally I think it gives the coffee a more enhanced flavor. Some people enjoy a little bit of milk in their coffee, make sure to warm up the milk, cold milk detracts from the hot coffee experience. I have also read that adding just a pinch of salt to the coffee grounds will actually enhance the coffee flavor, this method is supposed to  take out the bitterness out of your coffee. I haven’t used that tip as of yet.

And remember to clean your coffee machine thoroughly after after each and every use this will also give you a better tasting cup of coffee. Lastly, the type of coffee bean you choose is very important. The coffee beans that you choose should be well roasted, not burned!
For the best results I prefer to use 100% arabica beans, but this is just personal preference more than anything.
R Gazzo is a writer, providing info on all types of one cup coffee makers.

 
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