Coffee Bean

It is believed that the coffee plants were first cultivated commercially in the Arab world in the fifteenth century. Here coffee was widely consumed by the populous but condemned by the Islamic leaders because of its supposed intoxicating effects. As coffee traveled from Constantinople to Venice, and from there to Vienna and other European nations, it was banned everywhere. At first coffee beans were sold by pharmacists and then by coffee houses which became popular for revolution and enlightened thinking. Even today there is controversy surrounding coffee as to whether it is good for the health or not and a new study seems to be published each week either defending or condemning this drink.

When picked coffee beans are green and do not acquire the familiar brown color and intoxicating aroma until they are roasted. Commercial coffee beans belong to two main groups, Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica beans are named for the Arabs who first grew them and are the better of the two. Robusta beans have twice the caffeine of Arabica beans but fewer flavors.

Supermarket coffee blends are usually made up of mostly Robusta beans with a few Arabica to add some flavor. On the other hand most coffee beans sold in coffee specialty shops are Arabica. Africa, Indonesia and Central and South America are the three main regions where coffee is grown. But there is a small amount grown in the Hawaiian Islands and some in Yemen on the Red Sea. Africa, the birthplace of coffee still grow coffee with wild flowers that coffee lovers prize. The prized of these are the true Mochas. Named after the Yemeni Port from which the coffee was once shipped to the rest of the world. Today the word Mocha has come to mean a flavor combination of coffee and chocolate, but actually has nothing to do with Mocha beans which are rare and expensive.

How to Keep Your Beans Fresh

According to an article reviewed by National Coffee Association U.S.A (NCAUSA), the most excellent way to keep your coffee beans fresh is to keep it “sealed (airtight) and cool”. Preserving the freshness of coffee beans could be a complex task, because freshness gets worn out very quickly in unwarranted air, moisture, light or other wise heat. So keep your coffee beans in sealed glass or ceramic jug and then put it in a chilly as well as in the dark place. If you obtain your coffee beans in a bag or a container, which is not airtight you would have to put them in a sealed container and use them as quickly as possible.

Quantity to Be Purchased

You could purchase any quantity of coffee you want, providing you are going to use it within three or four weeks after you open it. The mainly momentous thing you should to keep in mind is about purchasing large amount is this: Once the coffee bag is unsealed it needs to be used within three or four weeks. Store it in a sealed jug during that time. Airtight bags or cans are fine; you just require keeping them in a cool and dark place.

Freezing of Coffee Beans

You may come across many special articles and effective opinions on freezing your coffee beans. Here are few things you require to remember: Beans are very durable by their own nature. When you are freezing coffee beans you are in fact locking it in humidity and stopping the chemical process. Once you take away those beans from freezer, you are letting them thaw out completely: this would take for about 4 hours. Further do take care to keep away from moisture buildup on the exterior on your coffee beans, this is known as abridgment and occurs when warm moist air comes in contact with a freezing surface. So, in a short – avoid freezing, but if you do, follow our dos and don'ts and you would preserve your freshness of coffee beans.