Starbucks musings

Here is an article for your enjoyment. It is timely as I sit at Starbucks, drinking burnt coffee and paying for WIFI!

Coffee Sensation

Over the past year, I have discovered an ancient mystery from Ethiopia. It is a beverage that is rich and stimulating, and one that I not only enjoy, but I must admit I may have a slight addiction to. I brew it every morning, and greet it like an old friend. This companion that I set off on my daily adventures with is none other than coffee.

I had to find out more about this dark brown beverage and what I discovered was fascinating. First, coffee beans are really seeds. They come from the center of coffee berries which are removed after they are handpicked. The seeds are then fermented to remove the remaining mucous like material left from the berry. The seeds are then washed to remove the residue which results in coffee waste water. You would not want to pour that sludge into your coffee cup, although there a few gas stations that I may have bought it from.

Once the cleaning process is completed, the beans are sorted and dried. Traditionally they would be placed out on a patio and raked until they are dry, but most large coffee companies have machines that use industrial hairdryers to dry the beans. The beans are green at this stage and can be shipped this way or are roasted right away. You can buy home roasters and roast your own coffee. I am dedicated to my tasty but not to that level of addiction yet.

In the roasting process the beans are brought to a temperature of at least 200 degree Centigrade. This is when the magic happens. Moisture evaporates the bean, oils are formed to add taste and aroma, and the starches begin to caramelize to give coffee beans that nice brown color. The length of the roast has an effect on the color and helps determine the labeling of the coffee.

Here is where things get tricky. The darker the roast, the smoother the taste because there is less fiber and a more caramelized, sweet taste. Even more interesting is that the longer that a coffee is roasted, the less caffeine it contains, the lighter the roast, the more bitter the taste and the more acids it contains. I am a dark roast kind of guy. I have a sensitive stomach and harsh acids often turn to a sour stomach.

The decaffeination process occurs before a coffee is roasted. Most every process of decaffeination of coffee requires a lot of water and a solvent such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Methylene chloride is used in paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint remover manufacturing, metal cleaning and degreasing. Ethyl acetate is a little less toxic and is used in paints as an activator or hardener and is present in confectioneries and perfumes.

There is some confusion about the indirect process of decaffeinating coffee called the “water process.” This process does use the before mentioned solvents, but in a less direct way then some methods, but they do use them none the less.

There is only one process called the Swiss water Process that does not use solvents to decaffeinate their coffee, they instead used activated carbon filters as part of the process. In order for a coffee to be termed decaffeinated in the United States it must contain less than three percent caffeine. In Europe it must be ninety nine percent caffeine free, which the Swiss process is capable of producing. There are a few different companies that use the Swiss Process such as Starbucks and Seattle’s Best. You can look up on your favorite coffee’s website to see if they use this chemical free process.

So I checked my local supplier of my favorite coffee and had questions about organic and free trade coffees. Organic means the beans are grown without the use of chemicals and pesticides. This gives a better tasting and healthier coffee option.

Fair trade is something that is very important and is a deciding factor in what coffee I purchase. Most coffee is grown in poor countries around the world especially in South America. The farmers are often paid a poor wage for their hard work and dedication to growing and hand picking coffee berries. The Fair trade movement makes sure that these producers and workers are paid a decent wage in order to promote sustainability and self sufficiency. If a coffee does not have a fair trade logo, then the workers that picked them are paid wages that keep them poor and vulnerable to large international companies.

Be careful in buying coffees from companies that offer a particular blend of coffee that is fair trade because the rest of their coffees are not. They have one blend in order to make consumers believe that they have fiscally responsible practices. Coffee to me has a spiritual component to it. All of the people who have worked hard to bring me my steaming cup of Joe have placed their energy into their work and hence into my cup of coffee. If they are starving and have lost hope of a better life, this energy also goes into my coffee. Unfair trading processes are like spiritually raping those who are scraping to put food on their families table.

I noticed that my local coffee joint served coffee that tasted different than other coffees. It was smooth, had low acid and had a wonderful nutty flavor to it. I took bags of the coffee home and put them in my Mr. Coffee but could not get that same flavor. What was I doing wrong?

I found out that they used a process called French Pressing. This was different than a regular coffee maker that used a filter. I bought a small French press and brought it home. The coffee I used a course ground and I pour boiling water over it. The press has a plunger that actually compressed the coffee to ring out the flavor. In four minutes I had the perfect cup of coffee. It did not burn the coffee or release any bitter flavors or acids. The press was less than $20.00 but was the secret to great tasting coffee.

Five Reasons to Drink Coffee

1. It tastes great. I drink mine black but on rare occasions I may add a little cream. There are so many different flavor combinations that people have their own favorite way of making it. Try French pressed Ice coffee, I drink it all summer.

2. It has few calories; in fact a regular cup of black coffee has only two calories. It is all the cream, sugar and flavorings that add all of those extra calories. Try drinking black coffee for awhile, you might develop a taste for it.

3. It is comforting. On a cold morning there is nothing better than a hot cup of coffee. It warms your soul from the inside out.

4. It is a social drink. All across the world there are coffee houses. These are places that people sit and sip their coffee while talking, laughing, arguing and in my case writing.

5. There are some health benefits to coffee. There is some scientific research that suggests that coffee can help headaches, asthma, diabetes, Parkinson’s and tooth cavities.

Five Reasons to consider not drinking coffee

1. Caffeine is a drug and a poison. In the decaffeination process, the caffeine that is removed is often sold to pharmaceutical companies. While it can aid in keeping you alert, there are thousands of calls to 911 about caffeine overdoses. Caffeine can be especially dangerous to your pets and babies.

2. Coffee can raise your blood pressure. It is not certain exactly how it does it but the most likely culprit is the caffeine. Those with chronic or acute high blood pressure should not drink any caffeinated beverages.

3. It is not good for the world economy if you do not buy fair trade coffee. Just say “no” to the large irresponsible companies by not buying their coffee.

4. If you not drinking organic coffee or are drinking decaffeinated coffee that was not created by the Swiss Water process, you are consuming dangerous chemicals and pesticides. These can be dangerous to your immediate health and can lead to chronic disorders including Cancer.

5. It can make you feel bad. Many people complain of headaches or stomach upset after drinking coffee. Everyone’s biology is different, but if you do not feel well after drinking coffee, consider changing the brand, the process, the roast or consider not drinking it all. Although I would feel sad for you because I love coffee.