INSTANT COFFEE FACTS

  1. The first instant coffee was developed by an English chemist living in Guatemala.
  2. After experimenting he launched the product called Red E. Coffee in 1909.
  3. Instant coffee was popular during the Second World War.
  4. Spray drying came before freeze drying for instant coffee. Fresh brewed coffee was sprayed into a drying chamber in which all liquid evaporated leaving only a powder which was instant coffee.
  5. In the 1960's freeze drying instant coffee was perfected.

    DECAFFINATED COFFEE

    Until the mid 1990's decaffinated coffee was considered to be bitter and tasteless. The process has improved for making decaffinated coffee so has the taste. Now approximately 30% of sales is decaffinated coffee.

    The process used to decaffinate coffee is either water or chemical. Both processes are similar. The beans are softened by first steaming them then when the beans swell to twice their size they are placed in a chemical water solvent bath for decaffeination. The process tries to remove as much caffeine as possible but not the flavor.

    With the Swiss Water method of decaffination water is used instead of chemicals. The water is filtered through activated charcoals this is where the caffeine is filtered out. This process is more expensive than the chemical method so it is used less frequently. Brewing tips

    TIPS FOR READING COFFEE LABELS

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    There are blends, dark roasts and single origin coffees. It is helpful to have some information on the differences when you are shopping for gourmet coffee.

    BLENDS: A blend is a combination of coffee from different countries. Many people think all coffee are blends but over 80 percent are single origin or from a specific country.

    DARK ROASTS: Most dark roasts have the word roasts in the name. It is how long the coffee beans are roasted that determines the flavor and color. Some general guidelines lighter roasts are called Vienna or Full City by many roasters. There are coffees that are roasted to medium dark. The darkest roasts are called French, Italian or Expresso.

    SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEES: This is coffee that come from one country and also usually represents a region of the country such Jamaican Blue Mountain for instance.



    SOME INTERESTING COFFEE LINKS:

    All Dressed in Black


    The Absolute Authority


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    Wire Java Fanatic