Supreme Bean

Supreme Bean has been roasting and blending some of the finest high quality coffees since 1996. Supreme Bean coffee is not just a business, it is a passion, and the desire to produce the highest quality coffee is an obsession of theirs. This formation of this company was the result of three people who share a passion for coffee. They find the peak roast or “sweet spot” in each individual coffee to make them work together as blends or showcase them as single origins. At the Supreme Bean they just don’t approach coffee roasting like everyone else, they believe that great coffees are very similar to great wines. To make a fine wine you need the perfect grapes, the same goes for the coffee and coffee beans. Utilizing a custom built coffee roaster that maximizes airflow while creating gentle, ambient heat, the result is coffee that is fully developed, sweet and amazingly flavorful. With this mentality you are sure to get some of the best coffee around from Supreme Bean.

1. Skip the coffee shop and start from home

Your coffee grinder is one of the most important weapons for taking your mornings back over. There are two kinds: Burr & Blades. The one with the metal Blades is typically cheaper in price and great for coffee beans, but do not give you as much control of your grind as Burr grinders. Burr grinders on the other hand are made for those who want to perfect how fine or thick their coffee espresso is, which is ideal for espresso lovers. Avoid being mislead by the bells and whistles of max. capacity and insane turbo power. The simpler, moderately priced machines will last a lifetime.

2. Dosing off a little

When making coffee or espresso, dosing references the grinders ability to Dose (grind) the basket of beans to freshly grind the coffee. You want to make certain that once you dose (grind) the beans that you do not let them sit for more than a minute. This is due to the powerful oils that are encased within the bean. Upon being ground up they are released and lost forever. The longer the grinds sit, the more flavors escape diluting the taste of your cup.

3. How much

You want to ensure that you are pouring enough grinds in the filter to balance the water in your machine. Many people put in too much ground, which will alter the sweet flavors and transform them into a bitter sharp taste. This part depends on the coffee machine and filter size – so read the Specs. Although they are estimations, they will give you a good idea for where to start. For espresso, remember you are going to need more than one shot assuming you like more than one sip of coffee in the morning. For coffee, you want to balance the water and grounds so not to have an overpowering of either one.

4. Water content

You must use filtered water for coffee and espresso. If your water content is saturated with minerals or over oxygenated than the flavor can come out burnt or a little off. The best method is to taste a small sip of water before pouring it into the machine.

5. How Fast

The goal for a machine, especially espresso machines, is to heat up to certain temperature and be released to the grounds so that its speed and heat does not over/under do the grounds flavor. You do not want a slow heating machine because the grounds will lose their flavor. The catch 22 is having one that heats too quickly and it burns your coffees taste. It should take about 30 seconds (give or take) for your cup to be made once the machine starts.

6 Cleanliness is key

Depending on your machine, this is one of the best things you can do for making your next cup taste even better. Simply trash the old grounds (or bury them outside), clean the filter and wash out any used accessories. Leaving you machine unclean can leave a rancid taste that will spoil your cup. Get in a routine and cleaning can take under a minute!

You coffee from grind to finish should take only a few minutes. A great cup of coffee can ensure that you start your day off right. We all know that slightest problem in the morning can throw a wrench in the whole day. So start yours off right, look forward to your mornings and give your day a little kick in the pants. Even doctors are starting find that coffee has some pretty interesting health benefits tied to it.

]]> http://www.livelovecoffee.com/mornings-rediscovered/feed 0 http://www.livelovecoffee.com/coffee-tips http://www.livelovecoffee.com/coffee-tips#comments Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:18:45 +0000 admin http://livelovecoffee.com/?p=157 Q:  What is the best temperature to brew coffee?

A:  You want to brew your coffee between 190 and 200f

Q:  Is the type of water important?

A:  Water is the second most important aspect of the brew.  Be sure to use clean water preferably distilled water.  This insures freshness.

Q:  When should I grind coffee beans?

A:  Be sure to grind the coffee just before use.

Q:  Where should I store the coffee beans?

A:  Be sure to store the coffee beans in a dark cool place.

Roaster of exotic artisan coffee, featuring high caffeine rocket fuel coffee.
www.z-coffee.com

Location: Kealakekua, Hawaii
Started: A few years ago
Aloha Island Farms is the private Kona coffee plantation of Aloha Island Coffee Company. Located near the village of Kealakekua in the famous Kona coffee-growing region on the Big Island of  Hawaii, on the slopes of the volcano Mauna Loa.

The volcanic soil, hot tropical sunshine, cool shade each afternoon, and rainfall that occurs during peak growing times,produces a coffee that is naturally low acid and has an exceptionally smooth texture.

The Kona coffee of Aloha Island is planted, nurtured, picked and processed by hand.

There is no production line involved with the 100% pure Kona coffee of Aloha Island. Each coffee selection is handcrafted with patience and care.

Many factors come into play in producing a consistantly high quality grade of Kona Coffee each and every year.

The following are closely monitored to ensure this great coffees taste

• Soil conditions
• fertilization
• water
• PH

Coffee beans are hand picked and carefully processed.

When Jim Robinette and Anita Harrington retired to the Big Island of Hawaii a few years ago, little did they dream they would apply all the skills they had gained through careers in manufacturing and technology to the growing of the absolute best Kona coffee.

“We had always admired the flavor of pure Kona coffee on our many visits to Hawaii” says Jim. “But living here, we soon realized this is a very special product that would benefit from the application of time-honored methods of Total Quality Management”.

We love the story of buying some property on Hawaii and making the time honored tradition of making Kona Coffee even better, and we’d also like to point out the Kona coffee used in the Kona Coffee pods from Aloha Island is harvested entirely by hand and pesticide free. YES!

The Kona coffee of Aloha Island is a labor of love and reflects the heart and soul of the Big Island of Hawaii and the people who live and work at Aloha Island Farms.

Location: New Jersey
Started: 9 Years Ago

Reason: The desire to introduce customers to an array of gourmet hand picked,
whole leaf teas and herbals sourced directly from growers around the world.

Mission: bring tea lovers in all corners of the United States and Canada fresh seasonal teas with abundant flavor and intoxicating aromas that will delight them daily.

Founder: Sophie Kreymerman’s – She was known for her tea, which she purchased from local Chinese markets.

Idea: Open a teashop, with a little computer in the back to do a bit of internet business.

Really took off when son Michael left his tech job and came home to mesh his business knowledge. This allowed Adagio Teas to reach beyond the local blocks. Choosing a name for the company: From Michaels knowledge of the search engines in the late 90’s they need a name also had to appear at the top of the alphabet (the way search engines of the late 90’s prioritized their searches). A brief read through the first few pages of the dictionary and Adagio was found. Sophie and Michael began filling orders from the tiny basement of their 3-bedroom starter-family-size ranch home. The first $10,000 shipment quickly filled the garage.

Adagio offered about 20 varieties of tea to start. 10 flavored, 3 blacks 3 greens and 3 oolongs. Nothing exotic – very basic. In about 18 months, the number were enough force adiogio to move out of their basement. The 10,000 sq ft space was found and moved into in September 2001 – Adagio’s former site in Clifton NJ. The old 4-story warehouse was formerly a silk factory with a now paved-over baseball diamond in the back, where in the 20’s the Yankees once played the “Clifton Silk Socks” on Sundays (a day that they were not allowed to play on in New York).

This first Adagio warehouse was on the top level, which required a 72-step walk up to the offices. In 2002 it was realized the extra space would be needed. If Adagio were only going to be an online tea company, they would have stayed in Clifton. But they continued to grow. With products such as the IngenuiTEA, AnTEAdote and a line of realiTEA teabags that are being sold in stores, the company needed the extra space. Adagio is no longer just a direct-to-consumer company, and retail opportunities are developing on a daily basis. Adagio is also in the process of developing its own glassware line, and the space will be needed for thousands of teapots, cups, pitchers and warmers.

Adagio Teas is now housed in a 26,000 sq ft warehouse in Garfield NJ, and has begun shipping from a 24,000 sq ft warehouse in Fresno CA. They now employ about 12 people – which may seem small but is a lot more than 3! At this time, I am happy to report that Sophie has returned to working part-time. The rest of her week is spent being a grandmother to Ilya’s newborn daughter, Sencha Genna Kreymerman. Hope she likes tea!

Because of the strength of the drink, an espresso is often used to make other forms of coffee drinks, such as mochas and lattes. One of the more important things when making an espresso is the temperature at which it is served. It is best to use the shot of espresso within 2 or 3 minutes in order to insure quality and taste.