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What to Look for in a Coffee Maker
An Old-Fashioned Coffee Klatch
Back in the dim and dusty past, women didn't hold jobs outside the home. I know that is hard to believe, but it is true. One income was sufficient for a household to live on. Children were cared for by their mothers at home, while the father worked and earned the living to support the household. My, how times have changed!
Now, understand that running a household was a full time job in those days. The modern conveniences that we all take for granted didn't exist. Washing machines weren't automatic, clothes were dried on clothes lines, and the only canned goods that were available were those that the mother had canned and stored herself. Life wasn't easy, and social occasions were few and far between. That is why women participated in old-fashioned coffee klatches.
Coffee klatches were most often regularly scheduled events. A group of women would gather at the home of one and enjoy coffee, sweets, and conversation for a short period of time once every week or so simply for social contact.
Today, we have our modern versions of the old-fashioned coffee klatch. Today, however, men as well as women participate in them and, of course, they aren't called "coffee klatches" now. Still, coffee drinking is a social affair. It is one that is practiced all over the world in one form or another. People gather for social or business reasons, and you can be almost certain that coffee will be the beverage that is offered. There may be other beverages, but coffee is almost always included.
Perhaps the connection between social contact and coffee drinking stems from the old-fashioned coffee klatch. Our grandmothers and our grandmothers were on to something important…coffee drinking is social.
See Also:
The Joy of a New Coffee Maker
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Kings Queens and the Coffee Bean
Decaf Coffee
Caffeine is a natural substance that is found in coffee. Caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine is what helps to wake us up in the morning as we sip that first cup of coffee. It is what gives us that little added boost in the afternoon when our energy is flagging.
There is research that "proves" that caffeine is bad for us and good for us. It has been determined that caffeine is a stimulant, and some researchers see that as a good thing; while others see it as a bad thing. It is true that caffeine is somewhat addictive and there are those who are deeply opposed to anything and everything that might possibly be addictive in any way.
My point is that the caffeine might be called the "active ingredient" in coffee. So, of course, it can be removed. When the caffeine is removed from coffee, though, most of the taste goes with it. Coffee that has had its caffeine removed is called "decaffeinated," or "decaf."
There are at present two basic ways in which caffeine is removed from coffee. The two processes for decaffeination are known as (1) European Process; and (2) Swiss Water Process.
The European Process uses methylene chloride to wash the coffee beans. The chemicals absorb the caffeine. The beans are then washed to remove the chemical, roasted, and ground. The European Process actually leaves more flavor in the coffee beans, but there are those (surprise) who object to the use of chemicals.
The Swiss Water Process for removing caffeine from coffee beans is a multi-step process that only uses water and steam. The Swiss Water Process, however, removes more than just the caffeine from coffee beans. Many of the oils are also lost in the process, and the coffee made from beans that have been decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process is pretty much tasteless. |
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Gourmet Coffee Gifts
I have friends who merely like coffee, and then I have friends who are true coffee lovers but are stuck on only one kind of coffee. I also have a few friends who are real coffee lovers and who also have adventuresome taste buds. They are the ones who go to Starbucks and order a different coffee every time. This last group is the one that I send gourmet coffee gifts to.
Coffee, you see, is a universal beverage. Coffee is served in some form in almost every country on this planet. Coffee that is served in different parts of the world bear little resemblance to one another, and yet they are all coffee. Coffees made from coffee beans that are grown in different regions of the world have tastes that are unique. For example, a Jamaican Blue coffee bears no resemblance to Turkish coffee.
Those who are real coffee lovers are much like wine tasters. They can take a taste of coffee and tell you where the beans were grown. Only real coffee lovers who have adventuresome taste buds can appreciate a gift of gourmet coffee, and they will not only appreciate it, they will love it!
Gourmet coffee gifts can be purchased at real brick-and-mortar specialty coffee shops in most large cities around the world. Gourmet coffee gifts can also be purchased online and then delivered to the recipient that you name. Gifts of gourmet coffees make wonderful gifts for coffee lovers for Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or for any gift-giving occasion.
Choosing gourmet coffee lists can even be an interesting experience for the gift giver. He or she is likely to find gourmet coffees that they will want to try for themselves as well as give as gifts to their coffee-loving friends.
Related Topics: Coffee and Health,
The Health Benefits of Coffee, The Cost of Coffee
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