The History of coffee is as colorful as that of the human civilization, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It is shrouded by legends and story that dates back up to a thousand years. What is certain though is that coffee was originally found in Ethiopia and Yemen. At that time only the leaves and flowers were brewed into a tisane and drank by the natives.
1000 years ago, with coffee trees growing in southwest Arabia the Arabs, came up with the idea of roasting the beans found inside the sweet tasting coffee cherries. It was then that the coffee bean drink was born.
How Flavored Coffee Beans Came to be
Most people think that flavored coffee beans are a modern discovery. In reality however, the tradition of flavoring one's coffee is as old as time immemorial. Some hundred years back coffee in the middle east was not just black or white. The Middle Eastern would flavor their coffee with nuts and spices to give its flavor an added boost.
Companies have capitalized on the modern world's clamor and dependence on coffee. Brilliant marketers preyed upon the consumer's craving for every single flavor that nature can offer. Before, coffee was spiced up by adding different flavored syrup imaginable. The usual syrup flavors are strawberry, dulce de leche, hazelnut, amaretto, Irish crme, almond, French vanilla and a whole lot more.
Today, with all the technological advances flavored coffee beans are made by coating the coffee with the desired flavor during the roasting process. Because it is coated, the flavors actually extend the bean's shelf life. As pointed out, flavoring ones coffee is not a new trend, but the boom in gourmet coffee has increased the popularity and hungry for the most exotic flavored coffee beans.
The Perfect Bean
To make a great tasting flavored coffee bean, the right kind of bean used is crucial. A single bean is flavored by compounds such as aromatic oils, sugars, organic acids, mineral salts, carbohydrates, and other chemicals that include caffeine. Those mentioned are just a few of the 800 diverse compounds which lend coffee beans its intoxicating taste and aroma.
The essence of the bean's taste is an evidence of the region it was grown in and the roasting process it underwent. Generally Arabica coffee beans are used to make flavored coffee beans due to its bitterness and low levels of acidity.
Incidentally the Arabica is also considered as the best coffee variety that ever existed. The Arabica is highly prized and the earliest type of coffee that was cultivated by man. The Arabica is used and not the Robusta bean because Robusta is harsher, not as mild, not as aromatic, and not as enticingly tasty. There are some coffee manufacturers who aim for a more interesting mix; they combine different kinds of beans from different regions to create a highly individualized blend.
Which Countries Grow the Best Coffee Beans?
If you are like me and you love coffee, you are probably consistently searching for that perfect cup. Well, the perfect cup starts with the perfect bean. And the perfect bean is largely based upon the combination of soil quality and climate. So when you think of the perfect country for coffee bean growth what comes to mind? Probably, somewhere tropical. A place with regular rain and sun. If you are like most people you will undoubtedly say "Brazil". It's true, Brazil is the biggest dog on the block accounting for a whopping one-third of all coffee bean production. Its climate is ideal for coffee bean production. It's no wonder they hold top spot. But, do they make the best bean?
Ironically, coffee bean production did not start in Brazil. It actually began in Ethiopia. Even though they can still be seen there they're popularity has spread. Today you can find coffee beans being produced in many countries throughout the free world. Matter of fact, there are now about seventy some countries officially growing coffee beans. Unfortunately, only a few of these countries actually have the most ideal situation for producing beans of a high quality. Aside from Brazil, some of the most popular destinations for coffee bean production are Columbia, Indonesia, Hawaii and Mexico.
We must not forget that aside from climate and soil quality, the altitude at which beans are grown has a significant impact on their quality. The higher they are grown the better. With this in mind we must give some attention to Columbia. They certainly produce some of the best beans in the world. However, its poor economy and underdeveloped infrastructure makes transport to processing plants difficult. Therefore, I am sure we are not seeing the best that that country has to offer.
If you have ever had Hawaiian coffee, you probably will swear up and down that it is the best in the world. Well you could be right. Even though they don't produce large quantities Hawaii's volcanic ash, large amounts of rainfall and hot sweltering sun create the perfect environment for production. There is, also, probably something to the small quantities they produce. The small crafted feel no doubt enhances Hawaii's mystic as a supreme coffee bean producer. Much like we see here in the states with regards to small-batch Bourbons.
Lastly, a very popular place that could possibly win the best coffee bean award would have to be Indonesia. The countries humid climate is ripe for perfect growth. Also, they have taken the production of coffee beans to new heights. They use very advanced technologies that help them grow beans in remote places like Java and Sulawesi. Coffee is so popular from this area that we often euphemistically refer to our coffee as a "Cup of Java".
Both Charlie Reese & Scott Richards are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Charlie Reese has sinced written about articles on various topics from Psychic Readings, Wedding Gowns and Wedding Bells. Charlie Reese enjoys talking about cake and coffee. He also enjoys giving readings and. Charlie Reese's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
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