Sunday, April 25, 2010

Novelist Johnny Ray's hunt fo the best coffee blog

Award Winning Novelist Johnny Ray's quest to find the best blogs and video promotions.


When it comes to coffee blogs which ones are you favorites? What does it take to become a great blog. What keeps you coming back? Today I will be surfing the web in the hunt for an answer. Please let me know what your thoughts are today. I will try to summarize all of the comments in a post in a few days. I have a list of my blogs here http://www.sirjoh.org/bloglist.
I'm also interested in blog videos as well. I love to know how people plan to brand their name or product to make it stand out.
Now, time for me to do some surfing, I hope you will help me on this web surfing Sunday.

Johnny Ray
Award Winning Novelist

Monday, February 15, 2010

Coffee shops

You have to love St. Petersburg,Florida and the endless number of coffee shops. I think we must have 2 or 3 per block. and it is good to see the various kinds of coffee and have the ability to make various friends. I know some people are like me and want to experience every kind of coffee made and others have their favorite and will try nothing new.

What I plan to discuss today is the various types that have been discovered recently. I want to know which new experiences you have discovered. I'm always on the hunt for a new more exotic brew.

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Why select organic coffee now

Organic Coffee Beans - Why You Should Make the Switch Now

Author: Damen Choy: the Coffee Expert

We see a lot of organic coffee beans available in the market. Are they worth it? Here is a look at some of the reasons for making the switch to organic coffee beans.

The Future of Agriculture

From all indications, the future of agriculture lies with organic farming. For the consumer, this means healthier produce. Organic farmers make use of sustainable farming processes and avoid the use of dangerous chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These harmful substances are known carcinogens.

In order for produce to be certified as organic in the U.S., it must pass strict requirements by an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For organic coffee beans, these requirements include proof of being grown in an area that is proven to have no exposure to prohibited pesticides and chemicals for at least 3 years. Additional requirements for certification include a sustainable crop rotation plan which avoids soil depletion and pest control through non-chemical methods.

Try a New Organic Lifestyle

It's becoming easier these days to adopt an organic lifestyle, since organic products are now more common in the market. Your diet can now include all kinds of organic foods, from milk to meat to fruits and vegetables. There is no question that lowering your exposure to deadly chemicals and pesticides is vitally important to your health. It's only natural to make organic coffee beans part of your organic lifestyle.

Respect the Earth

Many farmers who grow organic coffee beans also make a commitment to protect the earth in other ways besides avoiding pesticides and chemicals. Many plant their coffee under trees in the rainforest, rather than clearing the trees. This helps preserve the diverse bird population that calls the rainforest home.

Are Organic Coffee Beans more Expensive?

If all the arguments for avoiding pesticides and helping to preserve the fragile rainforest haven't convinced you to buy organic coffee beans, you should give them a try because they taste great. You may think organic coffee beans are significantly more expensive, but this is not the case. You can find organic coffee with prices comparable to non-organic online and at many stores. You will feel good knowing that you are getting less exposure to harmful substances and helping to protect the planet at the same time.

Last but not the least, check if you are buying organic coffee beans from reputable third party. You want to be sure you're getting the real thing.

About the Author:

Damen Choy, editor of Coffee Bean Direct Coffee-Bean-Direct.com provides timely information about the coffee market, as well as tips and ideas for coffee lovers and their friends, who can find great java-related gifts for the coffee enthusiasts in their lives. Visit bulk coffee bean to learn about the many benefits of buying coffee in bulk for yourself and your loved ones.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Organic Coffee Beans - Why You Should Make the Switch Now

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

It's all about the coffee bean.

Coffee Beans: A Guide for The Aspiring Gourmet

Author: Damian Papworth

There's more to drinking coffee than just walking into a shop and asking for a small, medium, or large cup of whatever the house blend is. The amount of time and effort it takes to grow and harvest coffee beans around the world deserves a little more respect from the average consumer, especially since the delicate taste you get has nothing to do with the barista at Starbucks, and more to do with faraway volcanic slopes and mountain ridges.

Yes, what really makes coffee taste great are the beans themselves, or the special regions in countries around the world where the weather gets together to create the perfect growing environment. To learn a little bit more about the world's different coffee producing regions, as well as the most popular beans, you needn't look any further than this handy guide, which will teach you how to make the best possible pot of coffee around just by learning which brands to select.

Sulawesi Toraja Kalossi

One of the most popular and rare varieties of Arabica coffee around, these coffee beans grow at extremely high altitudes on the island of Sulawesi. The coffee is full-bodied, slightly more acidic than the similar Sumatra blend, and known for its fruit and dark chocolate undertones. As far as Malaysian coffee goes, this is one of the finest beans coming out of the area, and it commands high prices.

Ethiopian Sidamo

Didn't know that one of the birthplaces of coffee was in Ethiopia? Well it was, where for hundreds of years, brewing the beans has been an important part of cultural and religious ceremony alike. Now, the different coffee producing regions in Ethiopia export their world-famous coffee, and no blend is quite as great as Ethiopian Sidamo, a single origin version of Arabica coffee grown in the Sidamo Province of Ethiopia. The beans themselves are small and grey in color, when unnroasted, but once prepared after the harvest, the flavor is unlike anything else. Deep, aromatic, and almost spicy, the coffee has a distinctive floral aroma and a taste that's not entirely different from fine red wine or dark chocolate.

Ethiopian Harrar

One of the oldest coffee beans used, Harrar coffee beans grow only in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia, and require sorting and processing done entirely by hand, due to the brittle nature of the bean. The bean itself is medium in size, but has a distinct flavor that most people compare to an expensive glass of fruity red wine. The aroma is equally pleasant, and Ethiopian Harrar beans are sold in many gourmet stores around the world.

Santos

Leave it to Brazil to make one of the most interesting coffee beans in the game. Instead of high acidity, like so many other varieties of Arabica coffee, this bean instead produces a light-bodied brew with surprisingly low acidity. The hot, humid climate in Brazil is what makes the beans so low in acidity, and the lower growing elevation means that harvests can be timed to when the fruit on the plant still smells sweet, which carries over into the beans once roasted.

It's important to realize how popular blends are within the world of coffee, too. Sometimes, one of these beans tastes even better if it's offset with another, perhaps one that compliments that aroma or allows for more complex undertones of flavor. Mixing beans to produce the perfect cup of coffee is nothing new, and if you're looking to really get into the intricate world of coffee beans and their distinctive flavors, go ahead and get a bean grinder, and start the experimentation process at home.

Regardless of how or where you're shopping for your coffee, please take a moment to consider whether or not it is fair-trade. The world of coffee harvesting is tough stuff, and most of the people who do it never receive proper financial credit for the amount of time and effort they put in. With different fair-trade companies around the world, many of which are easy to buy (just walk into Whole Foods or Trader Joes and ask), it makes giving credit where credit is due a whole lot easier of a task.

About the Author:

Damian Papworth recently tried an 8 cup coffee maker. It was an excellent way to end his dinner party. As such, he launched the One Cup Coffee Makers website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Coffee Beans: A Guide for The Aspiring Gourmet

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