Commercial Coffee Makers
July 17, 2009
Coffee houses are popular joints in the modern society and the phenomenon is widely prevalent throughout the world. Coffee houses of Turkey are probably the earliest examples of social drinking of the beverages. Kiosks, restaurants and coffee bars were places where people used to assemble to have coffee or other refreshments. But today no such specific places are required to install a modern coffee vending machine. This can be placed anywhere without any formal infrastructure. Even narrow corridors in the premises of public offices, cinema halls, educational institutions and commercial malls are enough for setting up of coffee vending machines which are intended for mass consumption.
When coffee became favourtie beverage of the people many machines were developed to prepare and serve the drink in large scales. Innumerable versions of coffee are now consumed all over the world in tune with the tastes and preferences of the connoisseurs. There are regional and national specialities of coffee consumed by people irrespective of race or nationality. Commercial coffee machines with innovative features are produced and marketed by leading manufacturers. Some of them are completely automatic and programmable.
Whether it is Espresso or Cappuccino there are machines to mix and serve them at the touch of a button. Special features are incorporated, not only to make the process easy, but also to make the product tasty. A good example is the use of burr grinders instead of blade grinders. Blade grinders burn the beans due to the heat and friction and adversely affect the taste of the product. In the bean to cup model, beans will be ground and boiling water will be pumped into it offering uniform spread of moisture and temperature.
Commercial machines are equipped with features like automatic grinders and water filtration system. Unlike the household machines, commercial machines are to be connected to perennial water source. One of such product, Novo Milano is provided with two hot plates and two Pyrex decanters which has the capacity to hold 24 cups of coffee. It will take only five minutes to brew twelve cups of beverages. Another product, WMF 1000 Gastro coffee machine has accent on quality and taste in the technology adopted in it.
Machines with capability to pour out different varieties of coffee simultaneously are incorporated with State-of-the art- technology. Pressurised boilers pump steam into the fine variety of ground coffee, to produce superior quality coffee with enhanced flavour and aroma. One of the leading manufacturers of commercial coffee machines has brought out a unique product which can produce about 4 gallons of superior quality coffee of any desired category within an hour.
The machine requires no plumbing and is a portable unit. Specially designed decanters are attached to meet the special requirement of enhanced capacity. Bunn, Bravilor, Gaggia, Garraways are some of the commercial machine makers of repute in this context. There are machines which are capable of producing 500 cups of coffee. Such machines are completely automatic and programmable. Krups, Keurig, Braun, Jura are also well known brands in the commercial coffee maker segment.
Working Of Bean To Cup Coffee Makers
July 16, 2009
The process of coffee making has become mechanized and fully automated. Since the evolution of coffee machines, substantial changes have taken place in the technology adopted. Unlike the drip coffee machines, bean to coffee makers have provisions to process the beans before brewing the beverage. Inbuilt grinders in the machines make the job easier.
Beans will be ground to the required level of consistency before the brewing process is commenced. Heating elements are provided to heat the stored water. Milk also will be heated to the required level. To make cappuccinos or lattes, cold milk stored in the machine will be converted into frothy milk when steam is pumped to it. The process is simple and fast. The machines are programmable and with a single touch of button various categories of coffee specialties can be prepared.
Leading manufacturers have developed innovative products to make coffee brewing effortless. Gaggia, Delongi, Krups, WMF are a few of them to point out in this context. Whether it is Espresso, Café latte or Cappuccino there are bean to cup coffee machines which are fully equipped to pour out the exact product. The beans deposited in the hopper of the machine will be processed automatically. What the user has to do is to choose the relevant programme.
The advantage of the machine is that it has an integrated system to encompass all the processes involved in coffee making. The machine is also equipped to produce different varieties of coffee as mentioned above. The beans are getting roasted and grounded in the built-in grinder. The machine automatically monitors the coarseness or consistency of the ground coffee beans. Hot water will be mixed with the prepared coffee grounds to percolate. Machines are equipped with specially designed boilers to provide hot water and steam.
Digital display in all modern machines help the users to make sure that the programme chosen is the appropriate one. Indicators on the display screen will show the different stages of coffee making. There are indicators to monitor the level of water, stock position of coffee grounds etc. Various types and models of bean to cup coffee machines are available in the markets. The levels of automation will be different and the consumers have to choose appropriate models to suit their requirements. A WMF product is programmed to produce about twelve international coffee specialities and is capable to provide 50 cups of coffee per cycle. There are provisions to adjust the pressure of water that is to be pumped into the coffee grounds to ensure superior quality, flavour and aroma. Temperature of the water is important in this context. The machines are equipped with facilities to control the temperature of water or milk. The users can choose either milk or milk froth according to the requirements.
In almost all latest bean to cup coffee makers, there are provisions for automatic cleaning and de scaling of interiors effortlessly. Residues of milk or coffee will be flushed out to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. Other features include filtering of the water to make it free from suspended impurities. Some of the latest machines have provisions to soften the water which can enhance the taste of coffee produced.
Coffee Specialties
July 15, 2009
Coffee is a favourite beverage of the people with a universal appeal. It is cultivated, processed and consumed all over the world. And there are many variants of the product with diverse tastes, colours and contents. The connoisseurs of coffee prefer to choose their own favourite versions. Every country or region in the world has developed their unique specialty drinks combining coffee with other ingredients. As markets always respond to the demands of the consuming world, innumerable products are being introduced to cater the diverse needs of the people. Like other foods and beverages, new coffee recipes are developed in conformity with the preferences of different regions. Such combinations are known under trade names or nomenclatures, very often identifying them with the country or region where it is evolved.
It is a welcome development that innumerable versions of coffee products are available today much to the delight of coffee lovers. As far as coffee markets are concerned they extend beyond the political and geographic boundaries. Ultimately there are many international coffee specialities available wherever we go. A Costa Rican speciality is served in Japan and the Italian coffee products are accessible to Indians and Chinese. Espresso coffee is well known through out the world for its aroma. Espresso with milk and crème is known as Cappuccino. The caramel brown milk coffee and Ristretto are favourite choice of many in the East.
Special machines are also designed and developed in response to the demands for different coffee varieties. One of the latest coffee machines is capable of mixing and pouring out 12 international coffee specialities. Whether it is hot or cold, bitter or sweet there are machines to prepare and serve them. A Jamaican or Hawaiian specialty can be obtained from a single vending machine. A prominent coffee supplier in UK is offering more than forty flavours of coffee in eight categories. De-caffeinated coffee is also available to those who are health conscious.
Names and nomenclatures given to some brands are often confusing to the users. The regional and linguistic slants need not bother the coffee lovers. In taste and flavour, many combinations of such beverages are liked by all irrespective of their nationality. According to the London based International Coffee Organisation, coffee is the second largest commodity (after oil) traded in the world today. This trend indicates the popular acceptance of coffee in this globalized world. Some people always stick to a particular flavour or version, but there are many others who prefer changes. They probably get bored of drinking the same variety of beverage regularly. Innumerable choices are available to them in the markets.
Internet is a good source to look for plethora of choices available to coffee lovers. Online dealers have several coffee specialities to offer. Whether it is Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato the market can supply them on demand.
Countries And Their Coffee Blends
July 14, 2009
Coffee is cultivated in more than 70 countries in the world. But the quality, flavour and taste vary from one region to another. The art of blending coffee originated out of the gourmets’ preferences for newer tastes and flavours. Blending is the process in which two or more varieties of coffee are mixed in a specific proportion and processed to obtain a particular flavour which is distinctively different from the parent breeds. Chemistry is very important to achieve perfection. Many permutations and combinations are made use of in the process of blending. As a policy, the brand owners maintain secrecy about the details of compositions of their blends.
There are innumerable coffee blends produced and marketed throughout the world. Efforts are still being made to bring out unique blends to cater the growing markets. Consumers crave for new tastes and flavours in their quest for novelties. One of the products for example is Nestlé’s Nespresso which is de facto Espresso coffee in a capsule. Blending results in bringing out new flavours. Coffee seeds from Central American countries like Brazil, Cost Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua are blended with Ethiopian breeds to develop unique categories of coffee blends. There are cases where the coffees produced in two different places in the same region have different qualities. Arabica coffee grown in Cuba differs in taste and flavour from the same category of coffee produced in Bolivia. Qualitative differences in Indian and Indonesian coffee products are examples of diversities within the same geographical region. In all coffee producing countries both Arabica and Robusta varieties are cultivated and used for blending.
The fact remains that people in various countries or regions prefer their own unique blends or tastes. Many multi-national companies have introduced several combinations that are widely sought after by consumers all over the world. Continental roast coffee and Indian coffee are two entirely different entities and are of different characteristics. Both have enormous demand in all the continents. Assortments of various blends are also available under famous brand names.
The process of blending is a very complicated job. Taste and flavour of coffee harvested in different seasons in the same regions vary due to the changes in the climatic and soil conditions. Therefore appropriate changes are to be adopted in the blending techniques to obtain optimum results. Qualitative differences in the same variety of coffee harvested in the same region but in different seasons will necessitate changes in the chemistry involved in the blending process. Rare blends such as Wilkinson’s Blue Mountain, Café Rio Blend, Continental Roast coffee etc are familiar names in the European markets.
Internet shopping is ideal to find out different blends of coffee available in the contemporary markets. The consumers will be able to gather information about latest introductions of coffee blends of various countries from the websites and can choose unique and rare blends from plethora of choices available.
Science Of Coffee
July 13, 2009
People who drink coffee enjoy its taste, flavour and aroma, but never bother to seek the science behind the popular beverage. 
The drink that acts as a stimulant has many therapeutic properties. It is known as an antioxidant and can offer relief to those who suffer from cardiovascular ailments. There are experts who claim that coffee is a good antidote against asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Even though there are contradictory views on this subject, there is no scientifically established evidence to indicate that coffee can cause health hazards.
Coffee is a natural product that contains chemical substances, some of which are volatile. Scientists have identified innumerable elements in coffee. The coffee bean has been subjected to detailed studies for finding out its composition. It is found that its contents vary depending on the location of the plant, climate in the region, condition of the soil, chemical composition of the fertilizers and pesticides used etc. Even the methods of cultivation and drying of the seeds make impacts on the quality as well as the contents of the seeds. Roasting causes structural changes in the coffee beans. The moisture contents in them evaporate because of the heat and release carbon dioxide.
Consequently sugars and amino acids make substantial changes in the texture, colour and flavour of the coffee. The temperature maintained during the frying process is very important. Inadequate heat as well as excessive temperatures can alter the characteristics of the coffee. It is matter of precision and expertise. If the beans are subjected to very high temperature than the required level, aroma and flavour will be adversely affected due to some chemical reactions taking place in the raw seeds.
Roasting time is also a vital factor in the process. Temperature control maintained during the determined duration of roasting will ultimately result in the quality of the product as far as its flavour, aroma and colour are concerned. The beans undergo qualitative changes in their colour and contents. They lose weight and become dry. Coffee oil will be released to complement the taste and flavour. Another substance present in the coffee beans is caffeine (about 1.1 to 2.2 percent) which according to some experts can cause health hazards to the users. It is an alkaloid or a nitrogenous organic compound. The irony is that while caffeine is considered as an anathema by some experts as mentioned above, some others attribute therapeutic qualities to it.
From the early periods of history, humans found that coffee is an energy boosting beverage. Efforts to identify the elements that contribute to this unique characteristic of coffee continued for centuries. Many of the physical properties and chemical contents of coffee have been identified by scientists. Research is still continuing to discover the amazing properties of coffee in the best interests of mankind.
