COFFEE POD BRANDS

There are so many different brands of coffee pods from which you can choose. Some single serve coffee machines like the Philips Senseo and the Black & Decker Home Cafe are compatible with a variety of coffee pod brands. No matter what kind of coffee you enjoy there is something to suit your taste.

Some companies who make coffee pods such as:
1. Aloha Island
Coffee which is produced by Aloha Island comes from the Kona region of Hawaii's big island. Low in acid and free from pesticides, the delectable 100% Kona from this brand is available in a variety of tempting flavors. Your choices include Chocolate Macadamia and French Vanilla.

2. Folgers
Folgers coffee pods can be used with various machine including the Black & Decker Home Cafe. Folgers coffee pods such as Classic Roast, Classic Roast Decaffeinated, French Vanilla and 100% Colombian.

3. Home Cafe
These coffee pods come in many delicious varieties and are suited to the Black & Decker Home Cafe single serve machine.

4. Lacas Passion Cafe
The plantation grown Arabica coffee beans imported by this brand are of the highest quality and comes in a variety of delightful flavors.

COFFEE PODS

Coffee pods or known as coffee pads are pre-packaged ground coffee beans in their own filter.

A variation coffee bags, were developed to provide the convenience of instant coffee but maintain the flavor of brewed coffee. They consist of a gauze bag containing a mixture of instant coffee and finely ground roast coffee, which is to be steeped in hot water for approximately five minutes.

The advantages of coffee pods are their ease of use and consistent results. All the work is already done with coffee pods, absolute freshness, exact weight, exact grind with no spoilage and no mess.

INDONESIAN COFFEE

Indonesia is currently the fourth largest producer of coffee in the world. Indonesia is blessed with an ideal geography for coffee growing.

Arabica coffee production in Sumatra began in the 18th century under Dutch colonial domination, introduced first to the northern region of Aceh as well as in the Lake Toba region to the southwest of Medan.

Coffees from Sumatra are known for smooth, sweet body that is balanced and intense. Occasionally, Sumatra coffees can show grater acidity, which balances the body. This acidity takes on tropical fruit notes and sometimes an impression of grapefruit or lime.

Sulawesi coffees are clean and sound in the cup. They generally display nutty or warm spice notes, like cinnamon or cardamon. Hints of black pepper are sometimes found. Their sweetness, as with most Indonesian coffees, is closely related to the body of the coffee. The aftertaste coats the palate on the finish and is smooth and soft.

Balinese coffee is carefully processed under tight control, using the wet method. This result in a sweet, soft coffee with good consistency. Typical flavors include lemon and other citrus notes.

Coffee pods.

ORGANIC COFFEE

Coffee that has been grown according to organic farming standard and techniques, without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides is called organic coffee.

Organic coffee refers to the way coffee, food and fiber, are grown and processed. Organic coffee production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenished soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent, pesticides and fertilizers. Organic coffee is minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the food.

Organic foods protect from heart disease and cancer, as they contain phenolic compounds. Organic food ensures high food quality, which other conventional foods cannot give. Organic food is natural and fresh.

Indonesian coffee.

COFFEE HISTORY

Coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi. One day he noticed his goats frolicking around in an unusually spirited manner. He observed that they were also eating the berries of a nearby shrub.

Here is a time line of the history of coffee from the UTNE READER, Nov/Dec 1994, by Mark Schapiro:
Prior 1000 A.D.

Members of the Galla tribe in Ethiopia notice that they get an energy boost when they eat a certain berry, ground up and mixed with animal fat.

1000 A.D.
Arab traders bring coffee back to their homeland and cultivate the plant for the first time on plantations. They also began to boil the beans, creating a drink they call "qahwa".

1453
Coffee is introduced Constantinople by Ottoman Turks. The world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han, is opened there in 1475.

1600
Coffee introduced to the West by Italian trader, grabs attention in high places.

1607
Captain John Smith help to find the colony of Virginia at Jamestown. It's believed that he introduced coffee to North America.

1645
First coffeehouse opens in Italy.

1652
First coffeehouse opens in England.

1668
- Coffee replaces beer as New York's city's favorite breakfast drink.
- Edward Lloyd's coffeehouse opens in England and is frequented by merchants and maritime insurance agents.

1672
First coffeehouse opens in Paris.

1690
With a coffee plant smuggled out of the Arab port of Mocha, the Dutch become the first transport and cultivate coffee commercially, in Ceylon and in their East Indian colony-Java, source of the brew's nickname.

1721
First coffeehouse opens in Berlin.

1727
The Brazilian coffee industry gets its start.

1773
The Boston Tea Party makes drinking coffee a patriotic duty in America.

1886
Former wholesale grocer Joel Cheek names his popular coffee blend "Maxwell House".

Early 1900's
In Germany, afternoon coffee becomes a standard occasion.

1901
The first soluble "instant" coffee is invented by Japanese-American chemist, Satori Kato of Chicago.

1920
Prohibition goes into effect in United States. Coffee sales boom.

1938
Having asked by Brazil to help find a solution to their coffee surplus. Nestle company invents freeze-dried coffee. Nestle develops Nescafe and introduces it in Switzerland.

1940
The US imports 70 percent of the world coffee crop.

1971
Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market.

Organic coffee.

THE RISK OF COFFEE

Although there are signs that coffee may be beneficial, caffeine does affect some cardiovascular functions. It can cause increased blood pressure, a higher heart rate, and even an irregular heartbeat in some consumers. In some cases, it might even raise the risk of heart disease.

Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day, may increase the risk of heart problems. In fact, a new study suggests that even two six-ounce cups of coffee a day may increase blood test values that measure inflammation.

Two cups of coffee a day is considered an acceptable amount. Caffeine does not become a problem until you start consuming an excessive amount of it. As your body gets used to caffeine, it becomes addicted to it.

The maximum amount of caffeine you should consume a day should be no more than 100 milligrams. It is recommended that if you drink more than this, you try to cut back. If you are sincerely addicted to caffeine-related products-it is recommended to take vitamins to help regain the nutrients you lose.

Coffee History.

COFFEE HEALTH EFFECTS

Coffee contains several components which are known to affect human body chemistry. The coffee bean itself contains chemicals which are psychotropic for humans as a defense mechanism of the coffee plants.

One of the coffee component is caffeine, which is a mild stimulant, and in some people coffee drinking enhances alertness, concentration, and mental physical performance. Although it contains a wide variety of substances, it is generally accepted that caffeine is responsible for many of coffee's physiological effects. Because caffeine influences the central nervous system in a number of ways and because a small number of people may be particularly sensitive to these effects. Caffeine is not recognized as a drug abuse and there is no evidence for caffeine dependence. Some particularly sensitive people may suffer mild symptoms of withdrawal after sudden abstention from coffee drinking.

Coffee has a much higher total in-vitro antioxidant activity than other commonly consumed beverages. This is due in part to intrinsic compounds of coffee such as chlorogenic acid, in part to compounds formed during coffee bean roasting such as melanoidins and in part to as yet unidentified compounds. Antioxidant have associated with controlling cell damage. They are also thought to dampen inflammation in the body.

Type 2 diabetes is lower among coffee consumers. Coffee also can reduce risk of gallstones or liver damage, discourage colon cancer, and improve endurance and cognitive function.

The risk of coffee.