Gourmet Coffee Shop

Sunday, July 31, 2005 -----

Small Batch Roasting


How cool. I knew Bello Montana had the best fresh roasted coffee I've ever had, and I knew they didn't roast the beans until I placed my order.

However, what I didn't know, it that they use a small batch roasting process. Meaning they can do very small amounts of roasting at the time of the customer's order which saves on wasted product, which in turn saves the consumer money when they purchase this fantastic fresh roasted coffee. I think the beans in the grocery store bins look so sad and dried out now that I've had fresh roasted coffee, and seen how robust that the coffee beans look.

The fresh roasting process and fast delivery time seem to really work for holding in the flavor of the beans. I have never had such great coffee and even my mailman has asked where I get that aromatic coffee from.

My neighbors have all shown up to borrow coffee, something that has never occurred around here. So, I know this coffee is a hit!

::  Posted by: ~Just Me Again  at 11:19 PM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Saturday, July 30, 2005 -----

Leaping Goats Fresh Roasted Coffee

We got our bag of fresh roasted Leaping Goats Blend coffee and it's certainly something to leap about! Just to show what complete and utter coffee geeks we really are, we used a french press to make a pot of this wonderful coffee. If you've never used a french press to make your coffee before, click the link and you'll see how it's done.

It has a very light and smooth bodied taste that is just wonderful. We immediately had to both have a slice of carrot cake with this fantastic coffee, so I guess it induces cravings for yummy desserts too!

I'm getting a different kind of coffee from Bello Montana about every week to see which kind I like best. I'm up all night sloppin' de paint so I drink alot of coffee and I can truly say I know the good, bad , and ugly of coffee.
I'll post whatever I think about it here. I did America The Beautiful Blend last week. So far, that one is my personal favorite.

If you have a blend you like - leave me a comment - let's compare coffee!

::  Posted by: ~Just Me Again  at 3:00 AM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Friday, July 29, 2005 -----

Are You A Coffee Addict?

Take this fool-proof quiz:

When you wake up in the morning, DO YOU...

1. Think about sex?

2. Think about coffee?

3. Think about SEX but have COFFEE?



::  Posted by: Bello Montana Roasters  at 2:19 PM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Thursday, July 28, 2005 -----

Drip Coffee


Drip coffee. Filter drip, manual drip, auto drip, anything that uses gravity and a filter to make coffee. A lot of coffee snobs eschew filter drip coffee, and I'm probably just as guilty as the rest at fostering the idea that filter drip equals low quality. I've also fostered the idea that filter drip is no where near as exciting or "sexy" as espresso is. I hope I can change that perception, if only just a bit. Drip coffee sometimes gets maligned - I'm as big a cause of that as anyone - but it can be simply amazing, when done right.

Here is the recipe:

• 6 ounces of fresh pure water, heated to between 195 to 205 degrees
• 2 Tablespoons fresh roasted, just ground coffee
• A turbulent brew time of at least 4 minutes
• RESULTS: 1 great cup of coffee

Saturday, July 23, 2005 -----

The Moka Pot


Or, also known as, Stove Top Espresso. This device, while unable to brew true espresso, can produce very, very full-bodied cups of coffee. The results, always seem rich and robust. Moka pots come in many different shapes and sizes. They are made of either aluminum or stainless steel. My personal recommendation would be the purchase of a stainless steel model as it is easier to clean and maintain.

The device contains two halves, a gasket, and a fluted filter basket. Water is poured into the lower half, and coffee of medium coarseness is placed in the metal basket. The basket is then inserted into the lower half. The upward half, containing the gasket and a screen, is screwed to the lower half.

With a medium-high heat, the water boils and forces the un-boiled water up the flute, into the grounds. The extracted coffee is then forced up past the screen, up another flute, and pours out the sides into the upper chamber. The pot can be taken off the heat or the heat minimized when the brewing is almost finished.

If purchasing a new moka pot, plan ahead by purchasing a couple extra replacement gaskets. These brewers may come in shapes that may not resemble the above description but indeed, perform the same.

::  Posted by: Bello Montana Roasters  at 8:39 AM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Friday, July 22, 2005 -----

America The Beautiful Blend Is Just Beautiful!


Even if you have been drinking coffee for 30 plus years as I have, and I thought I had purchased the "best" coffees. I now realize that was completely subjective. I thought I had experienced fresh roasted coffee on vacation in Hawaii. I have a friend that owns a chain of coffee shops here in lovely, exotic Toledo, Ohio and I thought I had an "in" for the best coffee. Now that I have tried Bello Montana's fresh roast coffees - I was so wrong!

I tried the Espresso Blend a while back - it was great.
This past week I tried America The Beautiful Blend. I thought Espresso was my favorite roast, but this is by far the smoothest, richest coffee I have ever experienced.

I took the sage advice of someone that knows coffee far better than myself, and I invested in an airpot and it not only keeps the coffee warm (I'm one of those crazy folks that love hot coffee even when the temperature has soared). The airpot also keeps air away from your coffee so it tastes fresh brewed all day.

Speaking of handy gadgets for coffee making, I just bought a french press and I can not wait to try it out! I've had coffee (just that sad, dried up long ago roasted beans you get at the grocery store) made in a french press, but never fresh roasted coffee, I know it is going to be so fantastic.

::  Posted by: ~Just Me Again  at 10:34 PM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Saturday, July 16, 2005 -----

Let's Talk About Grinders


If you love coffee, you probably already know that grinding your own beans is the single most important thing you can do to improve your coffee experience at home. Grinders are relatively inexpensive, however getting the right kind of grinder is very important.

Basically there are two general types of grinders; Blade Grinders and Burr Grinders. Here is how they are different:

Blade Grinders are somewhat like your counter-top blender. They are comprised of a small container with a sharp set of blades in the bottom. You place your coffee beans in the container and turn it on. The longer you run the grinder, the finer the coffee is ground.

Burr Grinders work much like a wheat grinder. The beans enter the grinder through a hopper and then are run through a set of "burrs". The burrs are positioned a set distance apart and the beans are ground to a size determined by the distance the burrs are set. To adjust the coffee's grind, you simply adjust the settings.

OUR RECOMENDATION: Never expect a blade grinder to give you the grind consistancy that you need for a great cup of coffee. The Burr Grinder is the right grinder for coffee. You can always know that your coffee will be ground to a even consistancy when you use a Burr Grinder.

Click Here for a source for an inexpensive Burr grinder.

::  Posted by: Bello Montana Roasters  at 8:08 AM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

Friday, July 15, 2005 -----

French Press

To taste coffee in a whole new light, you may want to pick up a French Press coffee pot. The Austrailians simply call it a "Plunger". The French refer to it as a piston or a melior. In the UK, they call it a cafetiere. What ever you want to call it is fine. What's important to know is that its operation is simple and it produces a stronger coffee than other devices. The great thing is that you absolutely control the amount and temperature of the water AND the amount of coffee grounds... all of which are essential for a great cup of coffee.

Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the brewing water, coffee brewed with the French Press captures more of the coffee's flavour and essential oils, which often become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filters. It is usually stronger and thicker and has more sediment than drip-brewed coffee. Because the used grounds remain in the drink after brewing, French pressed coffee should be served immediately so as to not become bitter from over-extraction.

Coffee for use in a French Press should be of a consistent, coarse grind. The use of a burr mill grinder gives a more consistent grind than the whirling blade variety. The ground coffee should be more coarse than that used for a drip brew coffee filter, and far coarser than that used for espresso.

Give it a try!

Thursday, July 14, 2005 -----

No Refrigerators!


If you are wondering about the refrigerator, it is a no-no for coffee. Since the temperature is generally around 37 degrees, the water that is inside doesn't freeze. It is a cold mist that lingers on the coffee and there are even more scents and flavor molecules floating around. Liquid water is coffee's worst enemy during storage (and oxygen is water's number 1 ally in their combined fight against coffee). Under no circumstance would I ever recommend using the refrigerator for storing coffee.

Storing coffee at room temperature is the most convenient method of storage. It works well for coffee that will be consumed within one to two weeks of purchase.

When storing at room temperature certain environmental factors to be minimized and eliminated if possible.

• Oxygen
• Water
• Excessive Heat
• Direct Sunlight
• Other flavors

All of these factors will destroy the coffee's flavor. A great device for mitigating these factors is a ceramic canister that holds 1/2 lb. to 1lb. of coffee. The canister should have some sort of sealing mechanism that does not allow air to circulate. There is a fundamental rule of physics that states that matter can not occupy the same space as other matter. So keeping your coffee filled to the rim of this container will minimize the possibility of negative elements corrupting your coffee.

Just Tried Bello Montana's Espresso Roast Blend

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 -----

Coffee

Why do I love it? Because it is something special, it provides multiple benefits: Not only can it act as a liaison between sleep and consciousness (for me it is absolutely necessary for this or the transition is near impossible), it can also warm you up on a cold day, provide a great first date, business meeting, get-together with old friends, etc. All someone has to say is "Let's meet for coffee," and the discussions can begin. While "Let's do lunch" is appealing for some, coffee can be more professional and more intimate at the same time. Whether with a glass of cold ice tea, alone, black, sweet, creamed, mixed with cappuccino, finely roasted, or whatever a restaurant or home has to offer, coffee can be a great start to any day or end to any night. I'm not sure how to teach someone to allow coffee to become their passion because for me it comes naturally, just experiencing the warmth, flavor and friendliness of it should be enough for any sane person to fall in love with it and crave it morning, noon and night.

::  Posted by: Bello Montana Roasters  at 1:07 PM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

I Love Coffee

Why Coffee?

Coffee is not a beverage

Monday, July 11, 2005 -----

A Kiss From God

Coffee is a kiss from God. In the course of a day, God provided both daylight and night. Realizing that the daylight wasn't enough for some "special" people, he gave us the gift of coffee. It extends our day, energizes our bodies, lifts our spirits and lightens our load.

::  Posted by: Bello Montana Roasters  at 9:02 PM
::  0 Comments -- Post a comment
::  Email this article to a friend:   

My Friend

Archives

July 2005   August 2005   September 2005   October 2005   November 2005   December 2005   January 2006   February 2006   March 2006   April 2006   May 2006   June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006   October 2006   November 2006   December 2006   January 2007   February 2007   March 2007  

Coffee.

Roasted fresh, delivered to your door.