The Ins and Outs Of Coffee Bean Roasting
How many mornings do you wake up to a fresh pot of coffee? Or maybe you stop at the local coffee shop for a special blend that you like? Either way, we drink a lot of coffee, but many times we do not realize everything that goes into the process. With an automatic compact espresso machine you can still create the same taste and flavor found in many coffee shops. It is not always the machine you are using that makes that happen, but the roasting process the coffee beans went through. Here are some interesting facts and information on how coffee is commercially roasted.
What is roasting:
When coffee is roasted, the physical and chemical composition of the coffee changes. Unroasted beans have proteins, acid and caffeine, but there is no flavor. By roasting the beans the necessary chemical reactions take place to create a deliciously smelling bag of beans. Heat during roasting will turn the carbohydrates and fat into oils and then the moisture and carbon dioxide is burned off and the acids break down. At this point the common coffee flavor is created.
Determining factors:
After coffee is roasted, the less time the coffee spends being distributed, the longer the shelf life will be. Most of the coffee we drink is roasted in large batches on a commercial basis. However, consumers can roast coffee themselves, which means they have more control over the flavor and freshness of the coffee and beans. Also, now that the coffee has been roasted to perfection, you don't want it to be ruined with packaging. Before coffee can be vacuumed sealed, it needs to de-gas first for several days to make sure that the CO2 is gone. There are special canisters with pressure release valves and foiled sealed bags that work as well, so that the coffee can be packaged sooner and still release the necessary gases.
Coloring of beans:
There are 8 main stages to the coffee bean process. The coffee beans start out green and end in a light to very dark brown.
- The green beans are raw as they are put in the roaster.
- As the roasting process begins the beans start to pale.
- Next they turn a yellow color as the beans are losing water in the form of steam.
- When they are tanning and starting to turn brown, there is a cracking or popping noise heard, known as the crack.
- Beans begin to turn a darker brown, from the sugars and the browning reaction.
- The first crack is complete and the coffee bean is smoother now.
- The bean has darkened considerably and the second crack is heard. The bean is very smooth.
- If roasting is continued, all the sugars caramelize and the bean becomes very dark, almost black.
Types of coffee depending on when the roasting process is stopped:
- at stage 4, this is considered a City Roast, which is mild, because of the shorter roasting process. Depending on how long stage 4 is, there can also be a City Roast plus. This variation depends on how long the roasting takes.
- at stage 5 a Full City roast occurs. A stronger flavor, since the bean is darker now.
- by stage 7, you have a Vienna or Light French Roast.
- by stage 8, the bean is dark and this is a Full French Roast.
Remember, every time you go to your favorite coffee house, they may have a professional coffee cappuccino espresso machine; however the beans are just as important. No matter what type of coffee you like, the roasting process is an integral part of receiving that delicious taste you are looking for in every cup you brew or buy. Even when doing an espresso machine comparison and deciding which machine to use, having the best roasted beans will increase the chances of every cup being a pleasure to drink.
Article by Andréanne Hamel
Comments (0) 12.21.2008
Coffee Art Paintings
Enjoy Drinking Coffee? Maybe You'd Enjoy Making Coffee Art Paintings Too!
Drinking and enjoying coffee is a pastime that people partake in all over the world. The aroma, flavor, color, and different drink concoctions are all part of the enjoyment of this delicious beverage. However, many people have begun exploring coffee as a medium to express there artistic side as well, creating paintings and other art work for home decorating or even going so far as having their work placed in art galleries. They've figured out a different way to put their automatic coffee espresso machine to another use.
Continue reading Comments (1) 11.12.2008
Espresso Machines Help You Pull the Perfect Shot
By Andreanne Hamel
Pulling the perfect shot of espresso can be daunting to newcomers. Many have tried, and many have failed. But thanks to the advent of automatic machines, it’s easier than ever to get the strong, aromatic brew that espresso is famous for.
Of course, quality is everything. The perfect cup begins with good beans, freshly ground to a very fine consistency. Once that’s done, the brewing process can begin. Home brewers have a wide variety of styles to choose from. Some require more skill than others. The more automated the espresso machine, the more likely users are to produce a perfect cup right away.
Semi-Automatic to Super-Automatic
A semi-automatic espresso machine combines the user’s decisions with the machine’s pre-programming. The user grinds the beans, measures out the right amount of coffee, and determines the proper water volume. Once this is done, they let the machine take over the brewing process. After the hot water has been passed through the grinds, the built-up pressure inside the machine is released through a collection of valves. With a little luck, the finished product is a dark, delicious cup of espresso.
Businesses that serve a high volume of customers prefer even greater automation. Perhaps they don’t have time to train new employees to become skilled baristas. In this case, a super-automatic espresso machine is the best espresso machine for the job. Coffee sellers simply load the machine with beans and water and let the automated processes do all the work. The machines grind the beans, measure out the coffee, brew it, and dispense it into cups. Some even use turbo wands to produce frothed milk while the espresso is brewing. An initial investment in a super-automatic can save plenty of time and money in the long-run.
General Tips
To make sure your shot is the best it can be, always start with high quality roasted beans. Grind them right before you make the espresso for the freshest and strongest aroma. Some experts recommend using hot water that hasn’t quite reached the boiling point. Others insist that, for best results, the water should pass through the grinds for a full 25 seconds. It’s mandatory to leave the cream, the frothy byproduct of the brewing process, with the rest of the espresso for a rich and authentic flavor.
It used to take a lot of practice to pull the perfect shot, and many people still take pride in their manual brewing skills. But for newcomers, semi-automatic and super-automatic espresso machines are a good choice. Espresso machines commercial and residential are offering more automation than ever, placing that perfect brew at one’s fingertips with as little as the push of a button.
Comments (0) 08.09.2008
How Do You Drink Tea?
Tea, it's the second most consumed beverage in the world, beaten only by water. It has a place in almost every culture on earth, and has been drunk for what historical documents suggest to be over 5,000 years.
There are four main types of this beverage which are white tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu long tea or brown tea), and black tea. However, each type of tea comes from the same species of plant called Camellia sinensis, and it is the processing that the tea leaves go through which determine what type they will ultimately become.
Many studies show that there are a number of health benefits that can be obtained by drinking tea. This beverage has many goodies floating around it like antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols which can shield our immune system, prevent certain tumor growth, and aid in a healthier heart. One study out of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that drinking green tea can help abate esophageal cancer, while another from Pace University reveal that drinking black tea can help destroy oral virus such as herpes, as well as prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis, and skin infections.
Having mentioned all that, the way we drink tea can strongly influence not only the health benefit aspects, but also another that goes unnoticed...the flavor benefits. Many folks drink tea simply because it taste great, and not just for benefits. I happen to be one of them!
There are two main methods of brewing tea, loose leaf style, and by tea bag. But only one method will give you ultimate tea flavor and benefits!
In America, just about 90 percent of folks brew their tea by tea bag and remain unaware of the true way tea is meant to be enjoyed. Even drinking white and green teas that are in iced tea form in bottles sold in stores does not provide the same taste and benefits. The reason is because tea bags consist of fannings (or tea dust) which happens to be the lowest grading of tea. All the natural oils and nutrients that give us that great flavor and health benefits are in little abundance in these dried up tea particles. And as for the chilled teas in bottles, well, they are loaded with sugar so noticing the subtle taste in the mix is hard.
Steeping tea using whole loose leaves brings out a whole new beverage loaded with more healthy benefits and much more flavor since these leaves still have most of their oils. I'll never forget my first cup of loose leaf, and till this day I have enjoyed over 100 varieties, with hundreds more to explore. Trust me, loose leaf tea is the way to go, it offers more varieties and drinking pleasure over any tea bag!
Now that we've discovered loose leaf brewing, there are a couple of other factors on taste. First, make sure that your tea is young, that is, loose teas are best enjoyed within the first six months of the flush. Second is about what kind of water you will be using to brew it. Good water makes great tea, so avoid plain tap water since the impurities will influence the taste and instead use either natural spring water (not distilled), or well filtered water.
Pay attention to the steeping time that came with your loose leaf tea since over steeping can lead to a bitter cup due to the excess release of tannins. Water temperature is also important! White and green teas are delicate, so be sure to let the boiling water cool down for around 30 seconds before pouring. For brewing oolongs and black teas adding boiling water is fine since the leaves are more oxidized and "tougher".
So if you're a tea bag dunker, I hope this article introduced you to something new, and the next time you hear that whistle from the kettle you ditched that tea bag! If so, years of loose leaf drinking enjoyment await you, along with a healthier lifestyle!
Learn More Interesting Facts About Tea.
Comments (3) 11.07.2007
