Mountain Perks Coffee » coffee beans

Why Is Mountain Grown Coffee So Good?

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:51:10 +0000

Many companies who tout their coffee on television talk about how their coffee is mountain grown. This has probably left you wondering, “Is mountain grown coffee really that much better?” The short answer is yes, mountain grown coffee has a much better flavor than coffee grown elsewhere.

There are many factors to delicious coffee and one of the more important factors is the climate in which the coffee is grown. Coffee that is grown naturally generally has a better flavor than coffee beans that were grown in full sun with the aid of fertilizers. Partial sun is also a great environment for the coffee to grow at the best rate. Beans from coffee trees grown in full sun tend to not have as desirable flavor as those from trees grown in the shade. The higher elevations of the mountains keep the coffee plants at around 70 degrees which is a prime growing environment for coffee.

Probably the most desired coffee is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. At a price of $26-$40 per pound, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee isn’t just expensive, it comes with a beautiful, well balanced flavor with medium acidity and perfect body. The unique soil and perfect climate conditions in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica are unrivaled throughout the world. The geology and topology of this area provides the ideal location for coffee growth, but the area is fairly small which lends to higher prices in coffee.

Coffee trees not only grow best at high altitudes, but the beans they produce are much higher quality than beans from a coffee tree growing in other conditions. Since many coffee trees grow best in shade, plants that grow in shade produce better flavored beans than those in full sun.

Coffee trees also grow best with moderate winds. Areas that meet the needs of coffee trees are usually tropical and sub-tropical environments as these areas also experience heavy rain which is also necessary for the growth of perfect coffee beans.

What’s The Difference Between Coffee and Espresso?

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:52:31 +0000

Many people do not understand the difference between coffee and espresso. There are actually very distinct differences between the two. Espresso is actually just a way of preparing coffee and coffee is really just a beverage made from roasted coffee beans. Espresso is made by forcing hot water at a high pressure through finely ground coffee. “Coffee” in the sense of your average cup of joe (or drip coffee,) is made by the use of gravity to move water through coffee grounds. The coffee beans used to make a regular cup of coffee are the same beans that are used for espresso.

Drip coffee is made by pouring hot water onto ground coffee. Steam and pressure are involved in the process of making espresso. Because of how espresso is prepared, it cannot be matched by drip coffee. Espresso is much stronger than a regular brewed cup of coffee which lends to its use in many popular coffee drinks. While the differences seem small, espresso is much more desirable than drip coffee in coffee drinks because it has much bigger flavor in a smaller volume. If drip coffee were used in a fancy coffee drink, after all is added, the flavor of the coffee would taste kind of watered down. This is why espresso offers much more convenience versus drip coffee for coffee shops and cafes.

Coffee ground for espresso is extremely fine. It is also as fine as dust, whereas coffee ground for drip coffee is not as fine. Those who make espresso tightly pack the coffee and then the espresso machine forces approximately 1.5 ounces of hot water through the finely ground coffee. Drip coffee makes use of coarsely ground coffee. This process also makes use of hot water. One myth about espresso is that it contains a ton of caffeine. A shot of espresso contains no more coffee than a cup of drip coffee. In fact, a cup of drip coffee contains more caffeine!

The Right Grind for Different Coffeemakers

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:37:07 +0000

Everyone who loves coffee naturally looks for the way to get the best cup of coffee. There are many ways to do this. Some people buy a special coffee maker so that they can get the best flavor possible from coffee beans. While a special coffee maker is a great idea, those who’ve invested in a coffee maker should understand how different ways of grinding coffee effects how the coffee tastes. Also, certain types of coffee makers perform best when a certain type of coffee ground is used with it. For example, a coarse grind works best for french press coffee makers and percolators. A medium grind works well for an auto drip coffee maker. Thus, a really fine grind works the best with an espresso maker.

It is important that when brewing coffee that the freshest roast of coffee is used and that the correct grind is used based on the kind of cup of coffee that is desired. Those who wish to brew espresso should use a very fine grind of coffee beans. This grind is so fine it is often the same consistency of dust.

Those who wish to brew a regular drip cup of coffee should use a medium grind so the coffee isn’t too bitter as it would be with a fine grind, but isn’t watered down tasting as it would be with a coarse grind like the grounds used for a french press coffee maker. This, by no means, means that coffee brewed from a french press tastes watered down, it just shows how different grounds work with different coffee makers.

There are three grind categories when it comes to coffee and these are fine, medium, and coarse. The differences between them are simple. For example, the finer grinds don’t need to be in contact with water as long as the coarser grinds, this is why this type is perfect for espresso. Medium grinds are used for regular drip coffee makers and coarse grinds are used for french press. Each grind works with a certain type of coffee maker in order to allow the coffee maker to brew the perfect cup of coffee.