So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Sunday, May 1, 2011

The Bean Reborn: Coffee

By James Pynn


Much has been written about the humble coffee bean, but this delight has transcended the everyday to become something exquisite. For most Americans, coffee is no longer a staple torn from a tin can. No, for many people, coffee has become a luxury imported from jeopardized rainforests and secluded mountaintops. Most Americans would fervently give up their cup of Folgers for something more authentic.

As a consequence of entities like Starbucks and CBTL, espresso coffee capsules and single cup coffee machines have displaced the old hot plate coffee machine. Americans no longer cook their coffee -- they prepare it fresh, drink it promptly and even have a penchant for espresso. The industry has changed radically and so have American customers.

In the distant past, proper coffee fanatics only had Europe to look to. The best Italian and German brands had the designer bean trade cornered. That's generally no longer the case. Nearly every medium-sized city in the States has a local roaster. Plus, each one of these roasters has something unique to offer the typical consumer. Organic, shade grown, imported directly from Chiapas -- the modern coffee drinker need never suffer a bad cup again.

It is remarkable how the designer coffee bean and espresso capsule made their way from the welcoming commercial caf to the humble home kitchen. The old adage of "Give the people a taste of the good stuff and they'll want to make it themselves" has never been more appropriate. It's no longer enough to pay for espresso when the same espresso can be prepared and enjoyed at home. Together with the right machines and beans, every kitchen can become a caf.

What's strange is how convenience and culture have combined in the form of the single cup coffee machine. Espresso is no longer the sole realm of the roaster or barista. Now you can stroll into the local store and walk out with a fine quality brand of bean. Usually, the machine will do all the work. The days of the manual shot are not dead, but they are best left to the specialist. Meanwhile, there is much coffee enjoyment to be had at home.




About the Author:



No comments:

If You Are Unable To Be There But Want To Show You Love Them Then Send -