Cheese On Your Coffee, Anyone?
Uh, I don’t know about that. I mean, my second favorite drink in the whole wide world is coffee (first is water – yeah I am boring) and I can’t get enough of various types of cheese (check my last grocery bill and you’ll see LOTS of different cheese in there). I have not really thought of mixing the two together, have you?
This girl in Canada, Laura Perry, thinks otherwise and judges of the Eastern Regional Barista Championship in Montreal agree with her! The story featured in Ottawa Citizen narrates her victory:
Mascarpone cheese is not the first ingredient the average coffee drinker would put into an espresso. But Kanata’s Laura Perry is no ordinary coffee aficionado, using the unusual concoction to win the Eastern Regional Barista Championship this week in Montreal.
The 22-year-old’s victory will make her the only Ottawa resident to compete in October at the Canadian National Barista Championships, the Grey Cup of competitive coffee-making in Canada.
The drink, named Mascarpone Macchiato, is a shot of espresso marked with a bit of steam milk. It is blended with a variety of ingredients, including whipped mascarpone cheese, sugar cane and cinnamon bark.
For those who wince at cheese and coffee, Perry says she uses mascarpone for its light cream qualities. “It doesn’t really taste like cheese.”
For someone who likes cheese, I am pretty ignorant about a lot of types and I have not heard of mascarpone before. I found this at Wikipedia:
Mascarpone is a triple-cream cheese (though more accurately a lightly-whipped cream) made from crème fraîche, denatured with tartaric acid. Mascarpone is milky-white in color and is easily spread. When fresh, it smells like milk and cream. It is used in various dishes of the Lombardy region of Italy, where it is a specialty. It is a main ingredient of tiramisu.
I feel a bit stupid as I love tiramisu but now I understand how mascarpone can go well with coffee. I wonder if we’ll ever get to taste the likes of this coffee?
Starbucks’ Pike Roast
I have not had the chance to try Starbucks’ attempt at a mellower flavored coffee but a reader of ours, Anna Brew, has brought it to our attention. It seems that Pike Roast is a new blend that is the result of customer reactions to Starbucks’ traditional blends. According to Consumer Reports, the typical Starbucks coffee is burnt and bitter. Now, with the Pike Roast, this is what Consumer Reports has to say:
The result is a mellower flavor that our three expert tasters and other CR staffers, who sampled the blend at a dozen U.S. stores on the East and West coasts, described as generally mild, “with very subtle floral notes, a hint of cocoa-like aromatic, and a medium roast impression.” Generally, they found Pike Place Roast to be “a smooth cup of coffee with some bitterness, but not particularly complex.” Because the flavor is so mild, our experts said, adding dairy or sweeteners might overwhelm the coffee. To experience the full flavor of the brew, you might want to drink it black, our testers suggest.
What can I say? First of all, I never really did agree with their report that Starbucks coffee is burnt and bitter. I have always thought well of Starbucks’ coffee. If I were part of the company, I would be thinking – first it was too bitter now it is too mild! Well this is what I think – as long you know you are making good coffee and you are satisfying majority of your customers, then don’t fix what isn’t broken!
Anna is right – too much drama! Let’s just enjoy coffee now, shall we?
Too Many Choices=Quality?
I have always loved variety. Whatever it may be, having the same set of choices time and again makes me feel bored after a while. Then I realized, sometimes, I get a yearning for the old set of choices. Sometimes, the “old” things just can’t be beat.
I had this realization while I was reading an editorial by Burle Pettit on the Lubbock Journal Online. He was on a roll – ranting about how there are so many choices in the market today. We have all sorts of flavors, all sorts of sizes, packaging, and what not. What he can’t find, though, is the original product that he loves. He talks about all sorts of products but rants largely about one thing – coffee.
WHERE ALL THIS really bugs me is in the area of coffee.
Man and boy, I have grown up drinking Folgers - regular ol’ every day Folgers. Nothing against Maryland Club or Maxwell House, mind you, I just liked Folgers better. I suppose that goes back to my upbringing.
The point is that Folgers now makes every strength and flavor of coffee you can dream up … every flavor except one, that is. They don’t make Folgers that tastes like the Folgers that hooked me on the product. Now the company will tell you that what they package as Classic Roast is very close to the original. Hey, what is it they say about “close,” that it counts only in horse shoes, washers and hand grenades.
I feel what he feels – though not about Folgers. The truth is, sometimes, when I go to restaurants and coffee shops, and I order a cup of coffee, I just want the real bold taste of plain coffee. I have had several disappointing moments when the coffee didn’t taste as I was expecting it too. Watered down, overly flavored concoctions – they have tons of these, each store with their own versions.
Where can we find good old plain coffee? Come visit my kitchen – I have some brewing most of the time!
Guatemalan Coffee: Nueva Alianza
For the socially conscious coffee lover, the best way to enjoy one’s coffee would be if the beans originate from fair trade practices. In today’s society wherein the less fortunate are being stepped on by the “haves,” it is sometime easy to just ignore the ills of society. Guatemalan coffee – fair trade, I should say – was brought to my attention by one of our readers who recently went on a trip there.
Brian Rogers and his wife went on a trip together and stumbled upon the little town of Nueva Alianza in Guatemala. In their travel blog, they featured this town, their history, and the good coffee that they produce. This incited me to do more research on Nueva Alianza coffee. As it turns out, there is more to this coffee than the beans themselves.
Reading up on the Comunidad Nueva Alianza (I suppose in English this is Nueva Alianza Community), I was impressed at how the families of the community were able to surmount the obstacles that had beset them for generations. They were preyed upon by a landlord and at some point, they banded together to stand up to the unfair practices. Today, the community is owned and ran by the same forty families who withstood the test of time. They are part of a cooperative which grows organic coffee and all the proceeds of their efforts are divided between the community members.
It is really impressive how they reached the point where they are right now. According to Brian Rogers, though, this kind of success is not common. There are countless other coffee farmers who have experienced the same problems and didn’t travel the same road as the Nueva Alianza members. For the Nueva Alianza community, however, their story is something that they would cherish and is something that would touch the rest of the world – through their coffee.
Ugly Is As Ugly Does
You may be wondering what the title has to do with coffee. Well, I was thinking the same thing when first visited Ugly Mug Coffee. I actually heard about it from a reader, Cathy Yingling, who pointed our way to the site. Unbeknownst to me (and maybe some of you as well), Ugly Mug Coffee is a supplier of coffee quite popular in Memphis.
Aside from the name – which is definitely attention-grabbing – what sets Ugly Mug Coffee apart from conventional brands? You can read all about it in their web site but I’d like to post something here which hit a chord within me:
The Life Ugly.
There are those who claim to trade fairly just to fool you into having a clear conscience along with your cup.
We’re not fooling anybody. Never even try.
It’s not easy, but we select the purest beans in a way that’s 100% fair to growers, not “just enough that we can claim to be fair.” One Hundred Percent. A fair trade price means farmers can feed and clothe their families. It means they receive adequate healthcare, and can give their kids educational opportunities.
Turns out that mission is some huge amount of work. We’re willing to do it. All you have to do is brew a bag now and then.
Life is indeed ugly and some times, when the going gets rough, it is my mug of coffee (which is not ugly by the way) that helps me get going. Then again, knowing that the coffee I am drinking is not harming other people along the way makes it even better, doesn’t it?
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
When talking about the best kinds of coffee in the world, it would be inevitable that Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would be mentioned. This is because it has become one of the most sought after kinds of coffee in the world. What exactly is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?
It is a kind of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, hence its name. The most interesting aspect of this kind of coffee is the fact that it lacks a bitter taste and has a very mild flavor. Of course, there are people who do not appreciate this aspect but there are always those who enjoy coffee with this flavor.
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is grown in the eastern part of Jamaica, 5,500 feet above sea level. Of course, coffee is grown for local production in this area as well. However, the Jamaican Coffee Board, recognizing the importance of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee to their economy, has laid down certain restrictions for the exportation of their coffee. In fact, according to the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee site:
The Jamaican Coffee Board reserves GRADE 1 beans for export only as a green, unroasted coffee. The higher the grade number, the bigger the bean size. This dictates any roasted coffee coming directly from Jamaica is usually a mix of Grade 1, 2 and even 3. The Board refers to this mix as “Triage”. If you seek the finest Blue Mountain Coffee, insist only on Grade 1 beans.
How much should you expect to pay for this coffee? It depends on where you get it but do expect to pay about $30 for 16 oz of whole roasted beans.
Herbal Coffee
This might be old news for some but I thought it is still worth a post. Ever heard of Ganoderma Coffee? If I remember correctly, we had a post on a specific brand of this coffee way back in 2006. Click here to read more.
Anyhow, Ganoderma Coffee is supposed to be a healthier alternative to the regular coffee. What makes it special as compared to ordinary coffee is that it contains extracts of the herb Ganoderma Lucidum, which is actually a mushroom. It is purportedly a “miracle herb” and can be found in many East Asian countries.
So what miracles can this herb perform? Among many things, it is supposed to bring beneficial results for those who are suffering from diabetes, hypertension, liver problems, and even high cholesterol problems. Ganoderma Lucidum is also great for those who have trouble falling asleep at night.
Proponents of Ganorderma Coffee claim that it tastes just as good as regular coffee. I would honestly have to disagree as my first sip of the coffee was a disappointment! I could taste the strong coffee flavor – that was good – but there was an off taste to it. I suppose that was the mushroom extracts. Then again, I am only one person. The success of this coffee has been noted in many countries and it has gained quite a following. I suppose, then, that you would have to taste it for yourself before you can make a judgment. I suggest buying in small quantities first and then getting more if you like it.
Iced Coffee Not Hot?
Coffee is usually known to be best served when hot. But for the innovative and creative minds of coffee lovers, the prickly heat of seasons such as summer would get them to think of new ways to enjoy the usual hot beverage that opens the eyes of sleepy people. That has totally changed today in the world of coffee.
Everyone is aware of such new brews, especially for people who have tried out the cold Starbucks drinks like frappuccino and ice blends. These are clear examples of new ideas brought out in the market. To top it all off, they are hits in the regions and have made other coffee manufacturers and shops create their own drinks as well.
Hence the initial notion of coffee being solely good when hot has been slowly disintegrating. Hot or cold, coffee can be enjoyed depending on the preference and want of people who love to drink a good coffee brew.
Technorati Tags: coffee blends, coffee, iced coffee, frappuccino
Why People Prefer Coffee with Jelly Drinks?
Every item, drink or food that is presented in the world today will always have its impact on people. People always look for something new. Adding whipped cream, caramel syrup and even this new entry in the market, that of which have been termed coffee jelly, will always arouse the curiosity of people in any region.
Coffee jelly is something that is not different from the usual jelly bits that people would consume. The only difference is that of its color and appealing coffee flavor. There is no nutritional additives that would make coffee different from the usual beverage that a person would consume. It is more of a person finding some new ways of enhancing their drink wherever they may be.
One can say that such would be more of a psychological attribute towards drink or food consumption. But with regards to new food and beverage preferences, people will always find something different to make such things addictive to the average consumer.
Technorati Tags: coffee, coffee jelly, starbucks, coffe drink, dessert
Wake-Up Call and Coffee
All people have to sleep some time and all people have to stay awake as well. This is what the caffeine in coffee brews offer, especially the black brewed coffee known to give that extra kick to wake up the drowsy eyed person.
Offices store coffee for a reason. It is not primarily because your boss would want a cup every time he walks into his office. It is a necessity for people who need to work hard on routine work and at times during extended hours to get the job done. Deadlines are the easiest underlying culprits to which people need to resort to drinking coffee to keep them awake.
It has been proven over the years that coffee wakes up minds. But the consumption level should also be monitored since excess intake may lead to nervous misalignments and may be bad for the overall health of a person especially if he abuses his health and lacks the necessary sleep to recharge his normal stored energy.
Technorati Tags: coffee, caffeine, black coffee
