Choosing Your Next Coffee Maker

A coffee maker is an electric appliance that produces brewed coffee automatically, consisting of a hotplate, coffee pot, filter basket, and water reservoir. When it comes to coffee makers there are many, many to choose from. But if you are a coffee lover, you are probably very discriminating in your preferences so it's worth your time to do your analysis.

But first, determine what you want in a coffee maker. Are you satisfied with going to the nearest box store and picking one up for about twenty dollars? That's fine, they make a decent cup of coffee. Or maybe you're looking for something with a bit added style. Something that will fit into your kitchen decor nicely. Or something of best quality that will outlast the 20 buck special.

What options are essential to you? Should it have a clock built in that will allow your coffee to be ready and waiting when you hit the kitchen? Programmable coffee makers are a type of coffee maker that is becoming additional more popular not only in the workplace, but in homes as well.

Another type of coffee maker that is gaining popularity is the single cup type. Whether you just need one cup of Joe to start the day or you are trying to limit your caffeine intake by fixing just one cup at a time, the single cup coffee makers are an excellent solution. They are also accomplished for the stay at home types who may just want a single cup mid-day and don't want to make a whole pot. They also are available in a programmable version.

There are many ways to brew your coffee using the ever-reliable coffee maker. Decaf and coffee types that contain caffeine can be equally as appealing to the taste buds. For an analysis of more coffee subjects, visit http://www.fmcoffee.com.

As you begin your analysis of coffee makers, the first thing that you need to think about is what kind of coffee drinks you want to make. Do you prefer regular coffee, espresso, latte, or cappuccino? Espresso makers create a powerful and strong coffee that can really wake you up in the morning. But maybe that's not you cup of tea. Just know that there are unique and different types of cappuccino, espresso and coffee makers on the market.

If you are a gourmet coffee drinker, you may want to opt for a Cafetiere. A Cafetiere is a French coffee maker that is also known as a French press. Since no filters are used, this coffee pot makes rich, strong coffee. But beware: if you are not going to serve the coffee immediately, avoid using a Cafetiere. If left to sit, your coffee will continue to brew and you will be left with a coffee that is very bitter.

So weather it's a single cup style, a traditional coffee maker, an espresso, capuccino, or latte type, enjoy your down time with a terrific coffee. And here's a bonus: once you have a new coffee maker, you will be able to save time and money by spending less time waiting in lines at the coffee shop.

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Vietnam Coffee Output to Rise in Year, USDA Unit Says

Coffee production in Vietnam, the world’s second-biggest producer, will rise 7 percent next year because of favorable weather, a U.S. Department of Agriculture unit said. Output will increase to 18.7 million bags in the 12 months starting Oct. 1 from an estimated 17.5 million this year, the USDA’S Foreign Agricultural Service said in report posted today on the agency’s website. Vietnam produced 18 million bags in the year that ended Sept. 30. A bag weighs 60 kilograms (132 pounds).

Production will increase “due to reasonable rainfall during the coffee-blossoming period and the current drought of the dry season not yet reaching a critical point for coffee trees in the major coffee-growing areas,” the service said. Projected output is down this year because of early torrential rains, the attache said.

Robusta coffee accounts for 97 percent of the country’s total output. Arabica production is projected to rise because of the expansion of growing areas, the service said.

Arabica is grown mainly in Latin America and brewed by specialty companies including Starbucks Corp. Robusta beans, used in instant coffee, are harvested mostly in Asia and parts of Africa.

Brazil is the biggest coffee grower.

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Coffee Makers For Different Coffee Types

There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, stumbling to the kitchen and finding your favourite coffee brewed and waiting for you. Of all the drinks in the world, coffee seems to have universal appeal. But if you have ever travelled you quickly discovered that one person's coffee can be quite different from another's. A World Wide Business--Coffee Types

Coffee is grown on five different continents and dozens of countries around the world. There are coffee plantations in Columbia and much of South America. There are hundreds of plantations in Africa. The growing region expands to the east and west including the West Indies, Sumatra, and Java.

All of the coffee growing regions are in tropical zones within 30 degrees or so of the Equator. While all coffee grows in bean form, there are different types or varieties of coffee plants, hence the many different coffee types.

Roasting and Brewing

Although plant variety can affect the taste of coffee, the way it is handled following harvesting has a great deal to do with the flavour as well.

Some coffee beans are naturally roasted. These generally produce the darker and bitterer tasting coffees. The sun does the roasting and then the grinding and brewing take care of the rest of the flavourful attributes.

There are many different recipes for a great cup of coffee and variations on how they are served. The cooking methods require specific kitchen gadgetry to help make the best rated coffees.

>From Coffee Makers to Cappuccino and Espresso

There are different types of cappuccino, espresso and coffee makers on the market. Each of these appliances is designed to make specific coffee types. Cappuccino is a rich, dark coffee whose recipe originated in Italy. It is a milder version of Espresso, but not as light as "city" coffee.

Espresso is made by high heat and pressure which produces a thicker and more potent cup of coffee.

This is usually served in much smaller cups and quantities because of how strong it is.

Electric machines are making their way from the restaurant into many home kitchens. The cleaning and care including the job to decalcify are made easier by the popularity of stainless steel appliances. There are coffee makers also that do all of the jobs of creating the perfect mug of coffee right on your counter top and even while you sleep. The grind and brew combination machines are the ideal way to get the freshest cup of coffee possible.

Decaf and coffee types that contain caffeine can be equally as appealing to the taste buds. An important fact to remember is that just because a coffee type taste strong, it does not necessarily contain more caffeine. On the other hand, a decaf cup of coffee will taste and smell just as good, but without the health concern of having too much caffeine. The process with all of the new recipes available at coffee shops, restaurants and even at home, it is possible for anyone to make the best rated coffee around. This includes caffeine and decaf varieties.

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Nescafe speciality coffees recalled

Nescafe has announced a voluntary recall of its Alta Rica, Cap Colombie, Suraya and Espresso soluble coffee range, contained in a specific type of 100g glass jar with a distinctive black plastic sleeve. The recall is being made since there some of these jars may be susceptible to breakage during the delivery process to customers. Only the 100g jars of these coffees are potentially affected.

Nestle said in a statement that the quality and safety of its products was a non-negotiable priority for the company. Consequently, although there no such incidences were reported in Malta, Nestlé Malta decided to recall the range as a precaution. People who had one of these coffees should return it to Nestlé Customer Care Centre, Pantar Road, Lija or freephone 8007 2209 for further information. The returned product would be replaced by an alternate product of the customer’s choice. Nestle Malta apologised for the inconvenience caused.

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Coffee culture continues to make headway into China

Just 10 years ago, any foreign java junky looking for a fix while walking the streets of Beijing would have had to walk far - and they would have had to walk wide.

How things have changed. In just a decade, the number of coffee outlets in the sprawling Chinese capital has jumped from less than 1,000 to more than 8,000, according to the China Coffee Association, and more are opening each month.

The number of companies roasting coffee for the market has similarly jumped from around 20 to 140 today - and from working their way through an average of 400 kilograms of beans per month, they are churning through more than 400 tons each as they work to satisfy the country's new coffee cravings.

Starbucks, of course, has been quick to move and are finalizing international plans for their first "made in China'' coffee blend, called "South of the Clouds.''

After first rolling out the blend in mainland China last year, the company tested the waters with the new product in Hong Kong over the Chinese New Year period in February and says that all it was "overwhelmed'' with the response.

Similar test runs were held in both Singapore and Malaysia and the company is now gearing up to have its "South of the Clouds'' blend situated on its shelves throughout Asia, alongside blends from Africa and Latin American by 2011. The company has an estimated 370-odd coffee shops throughout mainland China - and more than 100 in Hong Kong.

The scenic Yunnan province - situated in southwestern China - annually produces about 30,000 tonnes of its green (or unroasted) coffee beans, which accounts for 98 percent of China's total coffee output.

In Hong Kong, sales of Yunnan beans account for between 1.5 to two percent of the 3,875 tonnes of green coffee beans imported each year.

Traditionally, the city has been a unique market for the product due to the fact that Hongkongers have long enjoyed sipping on a drink they call "Yin Yang," which is a 50-50 mix of milky tea (made with condensed milk) and coffee and which sets you back around HK$15 (1.5 euros).

In mainland China, though, the most prized brew continues to be the kopi luwak, or civet coffee, which is made from beans that have been ingested - and then discharged - by the Asian palm civet. A cup of this heady brew will set you back around 200 yuan (24 euros).

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How office coffee breaks make staff work harder

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that that caffeine helped improve workers' memory and concentration as well as reducing the number of mistakes they made. For those on long overnight shifts.

It has a similar effect to taking a “power nap”, the findings, published in the Cochrane Library journal, suggest. The researchers also suggested that drinking coffee could help reduce accidents at work, traffic crashes involving people at the end of long shifts and even medical errors by doctors on call for long periods of time.

The team reviewed the findings of 13 separate studies from around the world involving shift workers, mostly in their 20s, in simulated working conditions. Volunteers had been asked to perform tasks to test their memory, concentration, use of words and reasoning while two of the trials measured how prone they were to making simple errors.

Some were given caffeine while others were given a placebo to compare the effects.

The tests were then repeated when the volunteers were exposed to other factors such as bright lights or allowed to take a nap.

In memory, reasoning and concentration tests, those who had been given caffeine all scored moderately better than those given a placebo.

The effect could be seen irrespective of whether they drank a cup of coffee, an energy drink, took a caffeine pill or ate food with a high caffeine content.

Although there was little difference between the results of those given a cup of coffee compared with those allowed to take a nap overall, one study showed that those given caffeine made fewer errors.

Katharine Ker of the London School of Tropical Medicine in London, the lead researcher, said: “The results of the trials suggest that compared to no intervention, caffeine can reduce the number of errors and improve cognitive performance in shift workers. “It seems reasonable to assume that reduced errors are associated with fewer injuries, although we cannot quantify such a reduction.” The team called for more research to measure the effects of caffeine on older people.

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Coffee lovers to cough up more for a cuppa

Brisbanites may soon have to stump up an extra 25 cents for their daily coffee fix. Coffee suppliers say they have been battling rising costs for a number of months - and it appears consumers will have to foot the bill. Brisbane's Merlo Coffee told brisbanetimes.com.au it had been holding off on increasing prices, but financial pressure had finally forced their hand."We've seen prices of our coffee beans steadily increasing for the past 18 months," a Merlo spokesperson said.

Costs have also skyrocketed for sugar, cocoa and milk powder, as well as shipping and packaging, suppliers say. Merlo is expected to raise the cost of an average coffee by 25 cents soon. Over the last two weeks, the price of `dry' coffee has gone up about $1 per 1 kilogram bag.

"Coffee bean prices have been going up for a while," co-owner of supplier Di Bella Coffee, Gianna Di Bella, said. She said the global price spikes had put pressure on several cafes, with those who source multi-national brands facing the most difficulty.

Ms Di Bella expected coffee prices would steadily increase over the next five years. Campos co-owner John Ronchi said they relied on variable international prices, rather than a fixed rate. Prices are set to increase even further as of July 1, with the introduction of wage increases for hospitality workers.

As part of the changes, many cafes will have to pay their casual staff penalties of 20 per cent extra on Saturdays and 50 per cent on Sundays. "To cope, the cafe owner will have to pay the staff with the increased coffee price," Ms Di Bella said.

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