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What is Coffee? It is a seed from inside a cherry. Coffee trees are evergreen and grow to about 7 metres, but are pruned to about 3 metres so they can be picked more easily. The 2 main species of coffee trees are coffea arabica and coffea robusta. Arabica beans produce superior coffee. Robusta is thought to be inferior, but is sometimes used in blends, especially espresso. Coffee is the world's most popular beverage and second only to petroleum in terms of dollars traded. This massive industry employs over 20 million; over 5 million in Brazil alone. |
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How is Coffee produced? The coffee plant produces clusters of small white flowers, which last a few days, then coffee cherries appear. They ripen from yellow to dark red in 6 to 9 months. The cherries are picked by hand. The fruit is then removed from the seed by either drying them in the sun (the natural process) then dehusking them in a machine, or by soaking them (the wet process), which produces superior washed beans. The green beans are then dried, sized, sorted, graded and selected, usually by hand. The green beans are then bagged and sent to roasters around the world. As well as the altitude, weather, soil, seed stock etc. all the processing greatly affects the coffee. |
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Where does Coffee come from? The 3 major growing areas are Latin America & the Caribbean islands, Africa & Arabian Peninsula, and Indonesia. Some is also grown in India, Hawaii and Southeast Asia. It grows in areas from sea level to 6,000 feet. Arabica coffee is said to originate from Ethiopia, and robusta from the Congo. |
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Is Coffee healthy? Drinking coffee in moderation is said to be perfectly safe. Research has shown that it can also have some benefits. Coffee can help asthma sufferers, but care should be taken that too much caffeine causes over-stimulation. Coffee may also reduce the risk of kidney stones, gallstones and colon cancer. Coffee also contains antioxidants. More research into this is needed, but antioxidants are thought to have several health benefits. |
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What about Caffeine? The effects of caffeine are much debated. High intake has been linked to anxiety, digestive and cardiovascular problems. Research has also shown however, that caffeine can be a useful stimulant and even reduce depression and anxiety. |
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Espresso Espresso is coffee brewed using pressure, a method invented in Italy. Espresso can be used to name a blend of coffee suitable for the method and can also refer to the type of roast. Espresso coffee is made from the strong liquid produced and is usually drunk black. |
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Cappuccino Cappuccino is coffee with a frothy milky "hood" (the name taken from Cappuchin friars who wore hooded robes). Traditionally it is made with a third espresso, a third frothed milk and a third hot steamed milk. |
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Roasting - coffee is roasted for
different lengths of time giving different flavours: Medium roast - speciality roast used for most of our coffees, the subtle flavours of the coffee can all be experienced! Espresso - a dark roast ideal for espresso making. Italian - a very dark roast. French - the darkest roast, when beans become nearly black with quite a smoky flavour. |
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Websites for information on coffee www.cosic.org.uk - UK based Coffee Science Information Centre www.coffeetea.about.com - US Tea & Coffee site & newsletter www.coffeeuniverse.com - US Coffee information site |
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