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Starbucks coffee is one of the top names in the coffee industry, producing high-class beans, brewing accessories and building coffee shops worldwide. However, Starbucks coffee started out the same as any other business — with a few shops and enough products to sell.
The history of Starbucks coffee began in Seattle around 1971 when three friends (Zev Siegl, Gordon Bowker and Jerry Baldwin) opened their small shop and began selling freshly roasted coffee beans and brewing accessories. It branched out to six outlets throughout Washington around 1980, when Zev Siegl sold out in pursuit of other ventures.

Howard Schultz and His Vision

In 1982, a plastics salesman named Howard Schultz was hired as head of the marketing department of Starbucks coffee. During a trip in Italy around 1983, Schultz found himself obsessed with Italy’s coffee beans and industry, which started his idea of setting up a coffee shop in the United States. Unfortunately, Baldwin wasn’t too excited about Schultz’s idea, but he did let him test the idea by implementing a small espresso bar in one of the Starbucks stores. Because of its immediate success, Schultz opened up his own store named “II Giornale”.

It was only in 1987 that Shultz started a worldwide name for Starbucks coffee when Baldwin decided to sell the company for $3.8 million. Schultz convinced several investors of his vision — 120 Starbucks outlets for the next five years. He converted the six Starbucks shops into coffee houses and changed the name of II Giornale shops into Starbucks.

In 1992, the Starbucks coffee shops in operation totaled 165, exceeding Schultz’s original vision. Today, over 8,000 cafes in thirty countries are in operation with annual revenues of over $7.5 million.

Starbucks Coffee Liqueur

Starbucks coffee liqueur is the company’s “adult-only” version of their line of coffees. Sold in 750 ml bottles, the main idea of the company is to sell the liquor, their coffee and the name Starbucks into one. The product itself comes from 100 per cent Starbucks coffee combined with 20 per cent alcohol. This line of liquor-coffee product is a result of a joint venture with Jim Beam Brands, which is a major player in the wine industry. The reason for the marketing of this product was due to a Starbucks survey that revealed that over 50 per cent of their loyal clients consumed coffee liquors.

Starbucks coffee has collaborated with other companies, such as Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Pepsi-Cola Company. With the company’s collaboration with Jim Bean, Starbucks coffee reports that their DoubleShot remains the number one in the liquor-coffee category.

With the production of high-class coffee beans, brewing accessories, coffee makers and espresso machines as well as the collaboration of different top players in other industries, Starbucks coffee continues to produce well-known products that both loyal patrons and new coffee drinkers love. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Starbucks Coffee Resource.

With the number of choices in coffee that are available to consumers it only makes sense that coffee cups are also a large seller among consumers. Most people have a favorite coffee cup and why that cup is a favorite is a matter of personal preference and function for the coffee drinker. When choosing a coffee cup for yourself you must consider both your lifestyle and your taste.
What Kind of Coffee Cup Is Right for Me?

If you are a one cup a day coffee drinker then it’s not too difficult to grab whatever coffee cup that is in the kitchen cupboard and fill it with coffee. However, if you drink coffee like most Americans then you need more than just any old cup; you need one that fits both your personality and your coffee drinking habits.

Travel Choices

Travel coffee cups are becoming increasingly popular among coffee drinkers because they are able to keep the coffee warm a bit longer than a regular cup and they are made to be taken in the car or wherever you might be headed without making a mess. The travel coffee cup is also a good choice for parents with small children as it reduces the risk of a child grabbing a hot coffee cup and burning themselves because the travel coffee cup has a lid that fits securely.

Traditional Choices

For the more traditional coffee drinker there is always the good heavy coffee cup to bring about feelings of comfort and peace. A stoneware coffee cup helps keep the coffee warm yet is still warm to the touch on a cold winter morning. It is not recommended to put very hot coffee in a porcelain or thin material cup due to risk of burns. If you are going to choose a coffee cup that isn’t a heavy material always be careful when picking it up as the heat can reach the outside of the coffee cup very quickly.

When choosing a coffee cup that you will be using on a regular basis, make a point of choosing material, color, and the ability to fit in your hand comfortably. This is because in a way this is about to become a long term relationship for you and you want something that you will be able to cherish and enjoy for many cups of coffee to come. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Cup Resource.

Coffee tables have been a staple of living and family room furniture for generations because of the beauty and functionality of the pieces that can grace the front of your sofa. When it comes to entertaining, a coffee table is an absolute necessity in allowing your guests to have a spot to set drinks and appetizers. For the family unit, these tables become a center for games and puzzles, and can often double as a storage cabinet for music and movies. There is no doubt that a coffee table is a handy piece of furniture for your home. However, selecting the right table in terms of style and function can be easier said than done. By keeping a few basic guidelines in mind when shopping for a coffee table, you can be sure that you will find the most useful and beautiful piece for your room.
The Size of a Coffee Table

There are some basic rules of thumb to consider when selecting the best coffee table for your room. Size must be one of the first considerations, and it is not a bad idea to take measurements of your room before heading out on your shopping trip. Pack that tape measure to take with you as well, since a table that looks great in a showroom might be the completely wrong size in your own living room. The most common height for a table like this is between 16 and 18 inches, but it is not completely unheard of to have a table as high as 21 inches. The key to selecting the right height is in the measurement of your sofa. A table should either be the same height as the sofa that it will sit in front of, or perhaps an inch or two lower. The length of the table should equal about two-thirds of the length of your sofa as well.

The Style of the Table

Once you have a good idea of the size of the coffee table that you will be shopping for, you can begin to consider style. Sometimes style is tied into functionality, which means that if you need a place to store electronic equipment or games, you might want to look for a table that includes built in storage. This can consist of cabinets or drawers that are incorporated into the base of the table, or shelves that can hold large baskets that will hold plenty of family stuff. If you are on the hunt to expand the storage in your room, a wood table might be your best bet. However, don’t rule out an ottoman with a removable lid, since these can soften the contours of the room while providing plenty of storage as well. An antique trunk can also provide a stylish alternative for drink placement and plenty of room for storage.

A coffee table can provide function and add style to your living or family room. With a few basic guidelines in mind, you can find the perfect table for your home. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Table Resource.

Coffee has become a booming business today, and the ground beans that fill the metal coffee cans just don’t cut it for many coffee connoisseurs any more. Avid coffee drinkers want their brews made from beans that are fresh, robust, and grown and roasted to perfection. But how many coffee lovers are well-versed in what happens to a coffee bean from the time it is grown until it ends up in your coffee maker at home? The process of growing and roasting coffee beans is a long and complex one, but the result of beans grown and harvested properly is a delicious cup of coffee every time. It is a good idea to be at least a little familiar with the process to know how to select the best coffee beans to put into your morning cup.
Where do Coffee Beans Grow?

While there are many countries throughout the world which grow coffee beans, the majority of our beans come from Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and Mexico, respectively. Coffee trees are a bit persnickety about the sunlight, moisture and temperatures that they require to grow well. Plants that are grown at higher altitudes tend to yield more flavorful beans, since the lack of oxygen in these areas offers the plants a longer time until harvest and allows the flavor to develop more fully. Coffee beans are distinguished by whether they grow in a high or low area, the flavor of the beans and the aroma. Arabica beans tend to have the most flavor and aroma, while Robusta beans offer an earthier aroma and taste.

Keeping Coffee Beans Fresh

When you head to the store to buy your coffee, keep in mind that freshness of the beans is subject to when they were roasted. If you can buy your coffee beans on the day of roasting, or perhaps the day after, you will enjoy the freshest coffee possible. It is always best to buy your beans whole and grind them yourself on the day that you will use them. If you don’t have a grinder or you prefer to grind a few day’s worth at once, you can store your coffee in the freezer to help keep your coffee beans as fresh as possible until you use them. If you like to order your coffee beans from companies on the Internet, you can ask the company about its policies in shipping and roasting. Some companies will ship out beans the day that they are roasted to ensure the maximum freshness possible. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Tables Resource.

A lot of people enjoy drinking coffee; these coffee lovers do not find anything better smelling than the smell that comes from coffee roasters as beans are being freshly roasted. However, most of the average coffee drinkers are more than willing to allow their local coffee house or their preferred coffee producer to do the roasting for them.
This is most likely because roasting your own coffee beans only became an option recently when small, computerized coffee roasters came onto the market. These are a lot friendlier than commercial coffee roasters but they do cost a lot. Plus, it is also difficult to roast your own beans because you want them to retain their flavor.

So, the question remains…

Who Needs Coffee Roasters?

Some coffee enthusiasts are actually interested in all of the different aspects that go into making a perfect cup of coffee for themselves to enjoy. If you are this type of a person, than these new, smaller, computerized coffee roasters could be a perfect addition to your kitchen. They will allow you to choose the type of bean for brewing and then make sure that it is roasted just right. With this machine on your countertop you can make sure that your beans have the proper amount of heat applied to them for just the right amount of time.

You do need to know that this is a difficult procedure though and it can leave your beans devoid of flavor. So, you will need to practice this hobby for quite some time before you create your perfect roast. However, this is not as complicated as it is in the commercial world. Nevertheless, it is still time consuming, which is why this is not for everyone.

Therefore, if you are happy with the brand of roasted coffee that you purchase for brewing, from your local supermarket or gourmet coffee house, you should continue to purchase it from them. After all, you can still create a great cup of coffee without being involved in the entire process. On the other hand, if you are concerned about having the perfect bean for brewing, and would like to get more involved in the process, then this is definitely the way to go. It will lower your cost and provide you with a great cup of coffee that has been roasted in a way that you would like it to be. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Roasters Resource.

There is nothing better than a fresh cup of coffee except maybe a fresh cup of coffee from freshly ground beans. There was a time when everyone bought their coffee already ground but today finding a coffee grinder on your neighbor’s kitchen counter is becoming the norm. With so many choices on the market; it is hard to decide what coffee grinder is right for you.
Blade Grinder

There are two kinds of coffee grinders that are readily available to the average consumer - the burr grinder and the blade grinder. The blade grinder is the less expensive of the two and while it does a decent job of grinding the beans it doesn’t always grind them as fine as some might like and the grounds are uneven in size which can affect the flavor and strength of your coffee.

Burr Grinder — Wheel vs. Conical

The burr grinder is a bit more expensive but it allows for a more consistent grind and a consistent flavor in your coffee. There are two types of burr grinders and while they both grind the coffee well, the wheel burr is more noisy and messy than the conical burr. The latter does the same job with less noise and less clean up afterwards. The conical burr is recommended for flavored or oily beans.

Coffee grinders come in various shapes and sizes to suit any décor and they also vary in price from as low as under $20 up to hundreds of dollars. Keep in mind expensive does not always mean better; consider what your grinding needs will be in advance and then compare the coffee grinders that offer the features you are looking for before purchasing anything. There are many sites that offer a great deal of information on the latest coffee grinders along with reviews and opinions of many different brands and styles.

A coffee grinder can be an appliance that will last you many years if you are careful when selecting the right one instead of picking up the first coffee grinder that you run across or picking the one that looks pretty. While you want an attractive grinder, you also want one that is practical for you. Take your time and find the right one for you and then brew the best cup of coffee you will ever enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Grinder Resource.

If you are an avid coffee drinker, then chances are you are familiar with espresso coffee. This particular type coffee is very concentrated, has a strong flavor and the consistency is usually much thicker than your average coffee.
Espresso coffee is usually enjoyed alone with a rich, bold taste that stands up very well on its own. It has a distinctive aroma which is similar to freshly ground coffee, only richer. Many people like to enjoy a cup of espresso coffee in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. The concentrated flavor and caffeine level serves to give you an energy burst, especially if you are feeling sluggish after a big meal.

Espresso coffee involves extracting only the best parts of the coffee bean by using water and pressure. You can purchase machines for the home that will produce some surprisingly good espresso coffee. It is best if you do some research before purchasing one of the machines since they offer different ways to extract the coffee bean flavor. The cheaper home machines usually put out a bitter tasting espresso which is not that great to drink. By paying a little more for a quality machine you will find that the difference in the taste of the espresso is well worth the difference in price of the machine.

Enjoying the Perfect Grind at Home

Learning how to produce a great cup of espresso coffee will take practice and patience. Creating that special blend will take a lot of hands-on tasting experience. There are websites that offer suggestions and help with this process.

Espresso is quite often dark roasted which will turn out bitter. A light roast is usually sweeter and offers the best aroma. Espresso is best if brewed within four days of roasting. The grind is also an important factor in flavor. Typically espresso is ground finer than regular coffee. The best taste is achieved when it is brewed just after the grinding process. This is when you get the maximum benefit of aroma and taste.

Water temperature for brewing espresso coffee is usually best if it is just under the boiling point. This prevents the coffee from having a bitter flavor. When looking to purchase an espresso machine you should always look to see what temperature water the machine produces. This is a very important factor when you are looking for great taste.

The taste of espresso is also added to many other drinks to provide richness and flavor. Frozen espresso drinks are becoming a very popular item at specialty coffee stands. Espresso syrup is also used to flavor ice cream. For those people who really love coffee, espresso will be something they feel they must experience on a daily basis. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Espresso Coffee Resource.

A steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee is certainly the best way to start your day. Sipping coffee with your friends is considered the best way to start a conversation. Add to it the fact that drinking coffee has many positive effects on our health and well being. With its rich taste, appetizing smell and benefits, coffee has become a part of our modern day life.

Coffee is a beverage that is prepared from roasted coffee beans. Coffee beans from different places have their distinctive characteristics like flavor, caffeine content, body or mouth feel, and acidity. To turn the coffee berries and its seeds into roasted coffee, a lot of processing and human labor is required. The processing of coffee involves Picking, Defruiting, Drying, Sorting, Aging and Roasting.

Benefits of Consuming Coffee

The caffeine in the coffee acts as a stimulant. “Coffee Breaks” are taken during office hours to revitalize oneself. Coffee is consumed by students while preparing for exams because it makes them more alert and even boost the learning abilities and powers of reasoning. Coffee helps to improve alertness and attention and removes tiredness.

The effectiveness of painkillers, especially those taken for migraine, is increased by drinking coffee. It can rid some people of asthma.

In men, it can reduce the occurrence of gallstones and gallbladder disease. Coffee may help to reduce the risk of a number of diseases and ailments that includes Type II diabetes, Parkinson’s, colon cancer, cirrhosis, depression and much more.

Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease. Coffee represents by far the largest source of valuable antioxidants in the diet.

Coffee Recipes

A steaming cup of coffee is the best way to energize oneself. For superior taste, cold coffee with different flavors is consumed. Expresso, Doppio and Macchiato, Long Black, Caffe Freddo, Latte and Cappuccino are some of the varieties that will be a treat to your taste buds.

Healthy Coffee Recipe:
Mocha (hot) 4 servings
Ingredients: -
· 2 Cups Coffee
· 1/3 Cup Cocoa
· 2 Cups Milk
· ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
· ½ Cup Whipping Cream
· Dash Cinnamon

Procedure: -
· Mix milk, cocoa, sugar, and coffee in a saucepan.
· Constantly stir while medium heating until it simmers.
· Mix the vanilla after removing from heat.
· Pour it into cups and add the whipped cream and cinnamon on top.

Coffee is the early morning energizer that helps you to begin your day in high spirits. Next time when you take a “coffee break”, think of its benefits, you will perhaps relish the taste even more!

Article Source: http://top1k.com

Before you go ahead making fancy coffee drinks, you should master the art of making espresso shots, because virtually all coffee recipes contain them. Once you have perfected your espresso making you can increase your selection with some of the recipes described below.

Espresso

This is a single 1oz shot of coffee made with 7g of finely ground coffee extracted at between 18 and 25 seconds. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry, there are many espresso makers you can buy that will do most of the work for you. The espresso shot is the basic ingredient for most coffee recipes. Here are some ideas:

Americano (from America) - An espresso shot diluted to taste with hot water.

Romano (from Rome) - Espresso shot served with a twist of lemon.

Corretto (meaning correct or proper) - Espresso shot with grappa.

Doppio (meaning double) - A double shot of espresso.

Macchiato (meaning marked or spotted) - A shot or two of espresso with just a spot of frothed milk on top.

Iced Espresso - A double shot of espresso over crushed ice.

Cappuccino
A cappuccino is made with one part espresso and about three parts of frothed milk poured over top.
Café Latte

A Café Latte is much milkier and creamier than a cappuccino. Make with one part espresso with at least five parts of steamed milk with only a small amount of froth on top.

Cafe Latte Fredo
This is an espresso mixed with cold milk in the same proportions as a Cafe Latte and shaken vigorously with ice in a cocktail mixer.

Cafe Mocha
Made with one part espresso and one part chocolate syrup with two or three parts of frothed milk. You can also top with whipping cream.

Espresso con Panna
Made with one shot of espresso and topped with a tiny amount of whipping cream.

Espresso Granita
Made with one shot of espresso mixed with a teaspoon of soft brown sugar and a splash of brandy. You freeze the mixture, then crush it and served in a parfait glass with whipping cream.

Article Source: http://top1k.com

Coffee is a beverage, served hot or with ice, with or without cream and sugar, prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. These seeds are almost always called the coffee bean. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in adults today.

The coffee bean, itself, contains chemicals which are mind-altering (in a way some find pleasing) to humans as a coincidental result of their defense mechanism; those chemicals are toxic in large doses, or even in their normal amount when consumed by many creatures which may otherwise have threatened the coffee beans in the wild.

A coffee bean from two different places usually have distinctive characteristics such as flavor (flavor criteria includes terms such as “citrus-like” or “earthy”), caffeine content, body or mouthfeel, and acidity. These are dependent on the local environment where the coffee plants are grown, their method of process, and the genetic subspecies or varietal.

Some well-known arabica coffee beans include:

* Colombian - Coffee was first introduced to the country of Colombia in the early 1800’s. Today Maragogype, Caturra, Typica and Bourbon cultivars are grown. When Colombian coffee is freshly roasted it has a bright acidity, is heavy in body and is intensely aromatic. Colombia produces about 12% of the coffee in the world, second only to Brazil.

* Colombian Milds - Includes coffees from Colombia, Kenya, and Tanzania, all of which are washed arabicas.

* Costa Rican Tarrazu - from the Tarrazu Valley in the highlands outside of San José, archetypal estate coffee is La Minita.

* Guatemala Huehuetenango - Grown at over 5000 feet in the northern region, one of the most remote growing regions in Guatemala

* Ethiopian Harrar — from the region of Harar, Ethiopia

* Ethiopian Yirgacheffe — from the area of the town of Yirga Cheffe in the Sidamo (now Oromia) region of Ethiopia

* Hawaiian Kona — grown on the slopes of Hualalai in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii.

* Jamaican Blue Mountain — From the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica. Due to its popularity, it fetches a high price in the market.

* Java — from the island of Java, in Indonesia. This coffee was once so widely traded that “java” became a slang term for coffee

… and more.

Some coffee bean varieties are so well-known and so in-demand that they are far more expensive than others. Jamaican Blue Mountain and Hawaiian Kona coffees are perhaps the most prominent examples. Often these coffee beans are blended with other, less expensive coffee beans and the suffix “blend” added to the labelling, such as “Blue Mountain blend” or “Kona blend” even though they only contain a small amount of the coffee bean mentioned.

One unusual and very expensive variety of robusta is the Indonesian Kopi Luwak and the Philippine Kape Alamid. The coffee bean is collected from the droppings of the Common Palm Civet, whose digestive processes give it a distinctive flavor.

Article Source: http://top1k.com