Gourmet Coffees

2013-08-17T08:25:00.002-04:00

Kona Peaberry Coffee is finally back in our warehouse this week. This was a Volcanica Coffee customer favorite and a top seller. It also was rated as a topo coffee by Food & Wine Magazine but due to a worm in the Kona crop the quantities were greatly reduced and the price shot up. The price is $59.99 per pound and it is in limited supply.

Costa Rica Coffee forecast is revised up for 2010/11

2010-07-07T07:10:00.002-04:00

MILAN - Costa Rica slightly increased its estimate for the 2010/11 coffee harvest on Monday citing favorable weather and improved fertilization, the national coffee institute, or Icafe, said.

According to the institute, the country will produce 1.66 million 60-kg bags of Costa Rica Coffee in the season which begins in October, around a 12 percent increase year-on-year and up from an earlier forecast.

The most expensive coffee in the world

2010-01-17T07:14:00.002-05:00

The Kopi Luwak Coffee beans are the most expensive coffee in world. It has a lot of controversy surrounding it because the beans are actually excreted from a cat called the palm civet. The palm civets like to eat the red coffee cherries. They only the ripest, reddest cherries so they are naturally great coffee pickers for what will be harvested into the most expensive coffee in the world.

The intestines of the cat give the bean a bitter, complex taste in this natural fermentation process. The seeds or coffee beans are passed through their digestive system. After the palm civet poops it out the local pickers collect the beans from the crap. They are then sent for washing to remove the impure parts surrounding the coffee bean. The supplies are very limited which makes this the most expensive coffee.

You can read more about the most expensive coffee at the Kopi Luwak Coffee page and it sells for $349.99 per pound.

Costa Rica Coffee Sales are down 14% this year

2009-06-19T17:31:00.002-04:00

Costa Rica coffee industry has logged contracts for 1,468,523 bags in sales through June 5, reports the Costa Rican Institute, or Icafe. This is 14% less than sales through the equivalent period last year, when 1,698,295 bags had been sold by June 5.

The volume of the 2008-09 crop sold to date is estimated at about 92% of Costa Rican coffee output from this harvest, Icafe said, adding the figure includes forward sales locked in months before the start of the 2008-09 cycle on Oct. 1.

The volume of 2008-09 crop from Costa Rica sold to date were fixed at an average price of $1.3886 a pound, below the average $1.4085 for coffee from the 2007-08 crop logged into contracts at this time last year.

One of the finest coffees from this country is the Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee. No sales data on this variety is available.

Costa Rica Exports up in 1Q 2009

2009-02-03T04:57:00.002-05:00

MILAN – In the first quarter of the 2008/09 coffee year (Oct 2008 – Jan 2009), exports of Costa Rica Coffee rose 6.6% compared with the equivalent period in the previous crop cycle, reported yesterday the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, or Icafe. Shipments from the central American producer reached 324,003 bags in the above mentioned period, up from 303,992 bags in 2007/08. However, exports slowed considerably in January marking a 15% decline to 119,340 bags down from 140,655 bags in the same month of 2008.

Harvesting operations are in full swing, but harvest pace has been lagging about 5% behind last year’s volumes, local reports say. Output is expected to drop by 2.9% in 2008/09 to 1.822 million bags, from 1.876 million bags in the 2007-08 period, said Icafe last month. The Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee variety is bringing in a higher price to the farmer due to the demand by coffee enthusiasts.

Tanzania Coffee Board encourages coffee renovation, new farming methods

2009-02-03T04:50:00.002-05:00

MILAN –The recently elected chairman of the Tanzania Coffee Board Adolph Kumbulu has called on coffee farmers to replace the old coffee trees with a new high- yield variety recommended by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (Tacri) that can produce up to two kilograms of coffee beans per plant annually.

The Coffee Board has called on commercial nursery dealers to make mass production of the new variety seedlings to meet farmers' demands. Kumbul is meeting all the industry stakeholders to discuss problems and challenges facing the sector. In addition to the renewal of plantations, the Coffee Board is calling on the introduction of modern farming methods to increase volumes and produce better grade coffee.

Producers are struggling with higher inputs costs that have led to a drastic drop in outputs in the northern zone. One of the finer varieties is the Tanzania Peaberry Coffee which brings a higher price to the farmer due to the demand.

Drinking coffee could reduce cancer risk

2009-01-07T05:21:00.002-05:00

Here is an interesting study that proves yet another positive side effect from drinking coffee:

MILAN – A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that drinking coffee could reduce the risk of developing oral cancers. The study was conducted in Japan. In this country, per capita consumption is relatively high and Japanese men also experience comparatively high incidences of esophageal cancer.

Dr. Toru Naganuma of Tohoku University, Sendai, and his colleagues wanted to examine whether the consumption of coffee provided any protective effects from these cancers. Researchers studied 38,000 people aged 40 to 64 with no prior history of cancer. During 13 years of follow up, 157 cases of cancer of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus developed. Those who drank one or more cups of coffee per day had half the risk of developing these cancers compared with people who did not drink coffee, according to the study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. They note that the reduction in risk included people who are at high risk for these cancers, such as drinkers and smokers.

"Although cessation of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking is currently the best known way to help reduce the risk of developing these cancers, coffee could be a preventive factor in both low-risk and high-risk populations," the researchers wrote in their article.

Estate Gourmet Coffee Beans

2008-12-12T20:42:00.001-05:00

This is a list of our extensive Estate Gourmet Coffee Beans:

Coffee Beans - Our complete selection of the various gourmet coffee beans offered by Volcanica Coffee. Our gourmet coffee beans are grown in rich volcanic soil at high mountain elevations.

Costa Rica Coffee - Volcanica Original - Smooth, silky and rich flavor like no other. With a light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance, Volcanica Costa Rica Original gourmet coffee beans are a world-class coffee with a full-body and excellent acidity.

Costa Rican Coffee Tarrazu - Volcanica Reserve - Bold and rich flavor to pick you up. From the Tarrazu region in Costa Rica, one of the most highly regarded coffee-growing areas. One of the world's greatest gourmet coffee beans with its light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance.

Blue Mountain Coffee - Very full flavor with prominent fruit flavors. The Rolls-Royce of coffee regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. A full flavor: it has balance, fruit, and acidity and provides all the satisfaction one could want with a strong and intense aroma.

Kona Coffee - Volcanica Gran Reserve - The champagne of Kona coffee. This is the most exclusive of all the Kona gourmet coffee beans with only 5% of the crop producing the Peaberry variety, highly prized for its smooth, full flavor and low acid content.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Volcanica Kona Gold - Hawaiian Kona Coffee is deliciously rich, medium-bodied and slightly acidic coffee with a heady aroma and complex and winy taste. It has a full, smooth flavor and is also great for every day drinking.

Decaf Gourmet Coffee - Kona Decaf Coffee - Decaf Gourmet Coffee with a deep and rich volcanic flavor. Decaffeinated with the Swiss water method. The Kona coffee flavor can be described as smooth, intense aroma, nutty and luscious without the caffeine. Medium roast.

Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - The original Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Very full flavor with prominent fruit flavors. The Rolls-Royce of coffee regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. A full flavor: it has balance, fruit, and acidity and provides all the satisfaction one could want with a strong and intense aroma.

Colombian Supremo Coffee - Grown high in the Colombian Andes and is famous for it's smooth pleasant acidity, smooth finish, nutty overtones and rich medium to full body.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Extra Fancy - Full and rich Kona flavor from the Hawaii Islands.Very flavorful and full-bodied, a rich coffee with a mellow character and a delicious taste.

Sumatra Mandheling Coffee - Sumatra Mandheling Coffee is a rare Indonesian coffee that is delightfully smooth with a rich heavy body, low acidity and an exotic flavor with an intense syrupy aftertaste and an earthy richness.

El Salvador Coffee - El Salvador Coffee is from the Santa Barbara Estate and is a rich full bodied coffee with a smooth, sophisticated flavor and an intense aroma. An exceptional fine cup of coffee that is aromatic and clean.

Guatemala Antigua Coffee - Guatemala Antigua Coffee is grown in the Antigua district at high altitudes in rich volcanic soil. This coffee is has heavy body, lively cup and subtle smoky spicy overtones. The finest Guatemalan variety.

Panama Coffee - Panama Coffee is grown in the highlands of Panama and has the perfect combination of soil and environment to grow coffee and as a result, Panama produces outstanding beans.

Mexican Coffee - Mexican Coffee provides outstanding coffee beans characterized by medium acidity, a sweet smooth body and flavor with a hint of fresh roasted hazelnuts. A truly clean balanced cup.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee is unusual in that the bulk of the crop is gathered from wild coffee trees giving this coffee a truly exotic flavor with pleasant acidity. A hard variety to find.

Kenya AA Coffee - This meticulously prepared East African coffee is famous for its rich body, pleasant vibrant acidity, fragrant aroma and winy aftertaste with overtones of berries and citrus. A favorite of coffee tasters.

Yemen Matari Coffee - Yemen Matari Coffee is the world's oldest cultivated coffee and is characterized by its full body, winy cup and overtones of chocolate. This coffee is grown in mountainous regions at altitudes exceeding 4,500 feet.

Peaberry Coffee

2008-12-12T20:39:00.001-05:00

We also added a few more Peaberry Coffees:

Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee - Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee is the selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with a rich and intense flavor. An intense smooth cup.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee - Blue Mountain Peaberry is the most prized and sought after in the world. A famous refined rich taste and sweetness.

Colombian Peaberry Coffee - Colombian Peaberry Coffee has careful selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with an intense flavor. The best from Colombia.

Kenya Peaberry Coffee - Kenya Peaberry Coffee is the selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with an intense flavor that jumps out.

Brazil Peaberry Coffee - Brazil Peaberry Coffee is famous for its smooth flavor, complex intense aroma, rich body and a hint of dry spiciness and sweetness.

Cameroon Peaberry Coffee - Cameroon Peaberry Coffee is grown with abundant sunshine on the African Continent. A mellow, aromatic and rich full bodied character.

El Salvador Peaberry Coffee - El Salvador Peaberry Coffee is from the Santa Barbara Estate. A rich full bodied coffee with a smooth, sophisticated flavor and an intense aroma.

Tanzania Peaberry Coffee - Tanzania Peaberry Coffee is grown on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. A rich body, an intense flavor with mellow winy overtones.

New holiday gourmet coffee flavors

2008-12-12T20:31:00.001-05:00

We have added new holiday gourmet coffee flavors. We are now up to 95 different coffees when just a few months ago we only had five!

Christmas and Holiday Flavored Coffee

Eggnog Flavored Coffee - Eggnog Flavored Coffee has a great smooth nutmeg and cream flavor. Bring back the tradition with your coffee.

Gingerbread Flavored Coffee - Warm up your Christmas and holiday with our Gingerbread flavored coffee. This is a holiday pastry delight.

Java Jingle Flavored Coffee - Java Jingle lets you have a cup of eggnog topped with vanilla bean and warm buttery rum.

Mistletoe Mocha Flavored Coffee - Mistletoe Mocha flavored coffee has a rich blend of chocolate with a hint of mint for that Christmas feel.

Gourmet Coffee Stocking Stuffers - Gourmet Coffee Stocking Stuffers are four 2 oz surprises of our popular holiday coffee flavors.

Pumpkin Spice Flavored Coffee - Enjoy pumpkin pie in your coffee…well just the flavor. This is not a seasonal selection and is available all year long.

Rudolph Peppermint Stick Flavored Coffee - Rudolph with his red nose delivered this himself with all the red and white stripes of candy cane flavor.

Sleigh Bells Vanilla Flavored Coffee - A warm and creamy flavor of vanilla bean, sprinkled with just the right amount of caramel.

Christmas and Holiday Decaf Flavored Coffee

Gingerbread Flavored Decaf Coffee - Warm up your Christmas and holiday with our Gingerbread flavored decaf coffee. This is a holiday pastry delight to get you in the Christmas mood.

Eggnog Flavored Decaf Coffee - Eggnog Flavored Decaf Coffee has a great smooth nutmeg and cream flavor. Bring back the tradition with your coffee.

Java Jingle Decaf Flavored Coffee - Java Jingle lets you have a cup of eggnog topped with vanilla bean and warm buttery rum for that Christmas feel.

Mistletoe Mocha Flavored Decaf Coffee - Mistletoe Mocha flavored decaf coffee has a rich blend of chocolate with a hint of mint for that Christmas feel.

Pumpkin Spice Flavored Decaf Coffee - Enjoy pumpkin pie in your decaf coffee…well just the flavor. This is not a seasonal selection and is available all year long.

Rudolph Peppermint Stick Decaf Flavored Coffee - Rudolph with his red nose delivered this himself with all the red and white stripes of candy cane flavor.

Sleigh Bells Vanilla Decaf Flavored Coffee - A warm and creamy flavor of vanilla bean, sprinkled with just the right amount of caramel.

New Decaf Gourmet Coffee

2008-11-29T21:31:00.001-05:00

And last but not least, we have added a large selection of decaf gourmet coffees. Here are some of the selections with links to more:

Decaf Gourmet Coffee

New Gourmet Coffee Blends

2008-11-29T21:30:00.001-05:00

These are some of our new coffee blends:

Coffee Blends

New Gourmet Flavored Coffees

2008-11-29T21:29:00.001-05:00

We have now included new gourmet flavored coffees. Please check out some of our varieties:

Gourmet Flavored Coffee

New Gourmet Coffee Additions

2008-11-29T21:24:00.002-05:00

We have added over 80 new coffee varieties to Volcanica Coffee. Here are some of what now have in stock in estate and peaberry coffees:

Estate Coffee

Peaberry Coffee

Costa Rica Coffee Exports Up 6.7%

2008-09-04T21:07:00.000-04:00

San josé – According to the Costa Rica Coffee Institute (Icafé), exports from

this Central American nation rose 6.7% in August to 92,633 (60-kilogram) bags. This compares with exports of 86,819 bags in August 2007, the tenth month of the 2006-07 crop cycle.

Total Costa Rican coffee exports from Oct. 1, 2007, through August 2008, were up 7.4% to 1,539,697 bags compared with exports of 1,434,096 bags in the October-August period of the 2006-07 harvest year.

Part V - Time to Update all of the Available Gourmet Coffee Pages

2008-08-10T20:55:00.000-04:00

Gourmet Coffee Beans

Gourmet Coffee Beans - The home page for Volcanica Coffee

Coffee Beans - Our complete selection of the various gourmet coffee beans offered by Volcanica Coffee. Our gourmet coffee beans are grown in rich volcanic soil at high mountain elevations.

Burr Coffee Grinder - The finest burr coffee grinder on the market is the Cusinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. This elegant burr coffee grinder with brushed stainless steel has a container to store your beans at the top.

Coffee Recipes - A collection various recipes to enjoy gourmet coffee. Some hot, some cold and some exotic.

Free Coffee Sample - Get a free coffee sample of Costa Rica Coffee. This free coffee sample is for one ten cup pot of coffee.

Part IV - Time to Update all of the Available Gourmet Coffee Pages

2008-08-10T20:53:00.001-04:00

Gourmet Coffee Gift Sets

Coffee Gift - Looking for the unique gift that will make them feel special? Share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift box.

Signature Coffee Gift Box - Coffee Gift Box - Each Signature Coffee Gift Box includes one pound of finest Volcanica Coffees

Coffee Gift Basket - Looking for that unique gift that will make them feel special?
Share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee gift basket.

Part III - Time to Update all of the Available Gourmet Coffee Pages

2008-08-10T20:52:00.000-04:00

Informational

About Us - Volcanica Coffee Company - It all started with frequent trips back to our homeland in Costa Rica. For some reason, coffee in Costa Rica had tremendous flavor and aroma.

Guarantee & Contact Us - If for any reason you or those who received your gifts are not wholly satisfied with them, we will replace them or offer a full refund.

Security & Privacy Guarantee -Buy Gourmet Coffee Online - Your online credit card transactions are secure with Volcanica Coffee. We use Secure Socket Layering (SSL), the industry-standard encryption technology that ensures safe Internet transmission of your personal information.

Volcanica Coffee Press Releases - Our list of previous press announcements that have been issued to the public and news wires.

Gourmet Coffee Gift Wrap - Give a remarkable gourmet coffee gift from Volcanica Coffee. To make it even easier for you we offer gift wrapping for $3.95 per item.

Help Tsunami Victims - Please help the relief efforts for the victims from the Tsunami. We are very concerned at the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that has hit many parts of Asia and east Africa including one of the great coffee growing regions of Sumatra.

Buy Costa Rica Coffee - One of the finest coffees in the world with a smooth and rich taste.

Costa Rican Estate Coffee - One of the finest estate gourmet coffees from the highly regarded Costa Rican Tarrazu region.

100% Kona Coffee - 100% Kona Coffee from the big island. This is the pure 100% Kona Coffee famous through out the world as one of the finest gourmet coffees.

Pure Kona Coffee - Pure Kona Coffee from the big island. This is the pure Kona Coffee famous through out the U.S. as one of the finest gourmet coffees.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Beans - Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Beans that are 100% pure. Imported directly from the Jamaican Blue Mountains, these coffee beans are the most famous gourmet coffees in the world.

Customer Testimonials - We are very proud that we have a long list of customer that rave about Volcanica Coffee.

Seasonal Offerings

Valentine's Day Coffee Gift - Valentines Day Coffee Gift - Looking for the unusual gift that will say I love you? This Valentine's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Mother's Day Coffee Gift - Mothers Day Coffee Gift - Looking for the unusual gift that will say I love you Dad? This Mother's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Father's Day Coffee Gift - Fathers Day Coffee Gift - For the unusual gift that will say I love you Dad. This Father's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Volcanica Gourmet Coffee E-Mails - Here you will find the archive of past e-mails sent to customers with special offers and offerings.

Part II - Time to Update all of the Available Gourmet Coffee Pages

2008-08-10T20:49:00.002-04:00

Coffee Tips

Coffee Tips - Here are some quick coffee tips to help you make a good cup of coffee.

How to Make Coffee - Tips on how to make coffee so that you will get the most out of your Volcanica gourmet coffee beans.

How to Brew Coffee - The basic principal that is common to all types of brewing methods is to soak ground coffee in hot water to extract the flavor and aroma. Since the drip coffee method is the most popular method, this article will focus on brewing the best cup from your drip coffee maker.

Grinding Gourmet Coffee Beans - The type of coffee grind that you use is important in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using. The objective is to get the most flavor out of the ground beans when infused with hot water. The fast rule of thumb is the faster the infusion the finer the grind.

Perfect Cup of Coffee - Like anything else in life there is bad, just okay and then there is perfect. To get to perfection you really need the knowledge on how to do it and the motivation.

Time to Update all of the Available Gourmet Coffee Pages

2008-08-09T18:11:00.002-04:00

Periodically (I think the last time was 2 years ago...sorry) we let our readers know all of the pages on the Volcanica Gourmet Coffee website. This will be be a few different blog entries.

Coffee Articles

Information and articles related to the origins of Volcanica gourmet coffee beans and the coffee industry.

Shade Grown Coffee - The Volcanic coffees from Costa Rica and Kona are all shade grown coffees and have been verified that they comply with this designation. We personally inspect our farms to verify they are incompliance.

Specialty Coffee - Specialty Gourmet Coffee - There are two major types of coffee beans species but for coffee connoisseurs only the Arabica beans qualify as Specialty coffee. Arabica beans are the only ones to be drunk on there own, unblended.

Gourmet Coffees - As a rule the Arabica coffee beans provide the majority of gourmet coffees. The Robusta beans are valued for their high yields and resistance to disease and are widely used in commercial blends.

Best Gourmet Coffee - The best gourmet coffee is from single-source Arabica beans that originate from the slopes of volcanic mountains. The rich volcanic soil combined with the high altitude and abundant moisture from the clouds produce a remarkable coffee that cannot be matched by any other variety.

Coffee History - Exactly where and when coffee was first discovered and cultivated is not known, but some authorities believe that it was grown initially in Arabia near the Red Sea about 675 AD.

Gourmet Coffee Beans Blog - Posting of articles and comments regarding brewing tips, recipes, trivia all about the world of gourmet coffee.

Gourmet Coffees Blog - Another Blog but with news and more information on the coffee industry.

Gourmet Coffee Blog - An older Blog with posting of articles and comments regarding specialty and gourmet coffee.

Roasted Coffee Beans - Roasting coffee beans is considered an art, as the roaster needs to determine when the process has brought the beans to their peak of flavor.

Costa Rica Gourmet Coffee - Costa Rica coffee is full-bodied coffee with a deep, pungent flavor, excellent acidity, and a hint of smokiness. Beans grown in Costa Rica are the result of a unique combination of climate, elevation and soil. Just right - you can taste the special care that goes into every cup.

Fair Trade Coffee - At Volcanica Coffee we believe in Fair Trade Coffee which means paying our coffee suppliers a fair wage. This is not your typical company buying the good grade and cheap grade coffee on world markets then blending them together and calling it gourmet coffee.

Tarrazu Coffee - Located at the more remote lands up the Pirris River basin in the Tarrazú Highlands, this Tarrazú county Estate represents the Costa Rican Tarrazú coffee character, where the coffee is clearly farmed for quality and not quantity, and the altitude is clearly in the cup.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee - Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought after coffees in the world. This "Rolls-Royce of coffee" has been satisfying coffee connoisseurs around the globe for more than two centuries and is famous for its exquisite flavor.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - This extraordinary coffee is grown in the majestic Blue Mountain range in Jamaica reaching approximately 7,402 feet at the highest peak, thus making it is one of the highest grown coffees in the world.

Types of Gourmet Coffee Bean - For the coffee drinker there are two major types of coffee beans. The Caffea arabicais the Arabica bean which is the quality coffee of the world. Arabica coffee is the only coffee that is to be drunk and enjoyed without being blended with other types of beans.

Remove a Coffee Stain - Coffee Stain Removal Tips - How to remove a coffee stain is not as difficult as it may seem. The problem with coffee stain removals is that most people will wait until the item goes through the laundry several days later.

Iced Coffee Recipe - A Cool Way to Enjoy Coffee during the Hot Months. Iced coffee is an excellent summer refresher but it has not received the attention as its cousin Iced Tea primarily because of careless preparation.

Caffeine Content - Drug makers have to label the amount of caffeine content in their offerings, but food and beverage companies don't. This list of familiar products shows how fast your dose can add up.

Coffee and Exercise - Many of us start their work out in the early morning so there have been questions as to whether it is okay have a cup before your work out.

Healthy Coffee - Health Benefits of Coffee - Several studies have linked coffee with reduced risks of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Coffee Effect on Blood Pressure - A fourth grade science project with the hypothesis "I think that a person's blood pressure will increase after they drink coffee.

Coffee Health Benefit - Coffee can Easily be Part of a Healthy Lifestyle - Have you noticed that medical opinion about coffee is changing? Many doctors who once warned against coffee are having to reverse their opinion in the face of new research. In fact, there are many studies now that tout the health benefits of coffee drinking rather than the health risks associated with the caffeine in it.

History of Coffee Beans - Coffee had been declining in popularity for a number of years. Chalk it up to inferior grades of coffee beans that proliferated from the 1950s on or to social revolution. The young people of the sixties hadn't embraced coffee drinking the way previous generations had. Rather than gather in diners for coffee, young people cruised the local hangout with paper cups of crushed ice and cola.

How to Make Good Coffee with Better Water- In many parts of the United States, water may have been potable, meaning it was disease-free and safe to drink, but that didn't mean it tasted good. That bad taste in a glass of water translated into an off taste in anything cooked, with water added, and beverages like coffee brewed with water.

Low Acid Coffee - Some consumers are on acid diets from their doctors or are looking for coffee that will not upset their sensitive stomachs or teeth. But coffee is actually very low on the acidic scale and there are many other types of drinks to avoid before looking for low acid coffee.

Coffee Social Gatherings - Some consumers are on acid diets from their doctors or are looking for coffee that will not upset their sensitive stomachs or teeth. But coffee is actually very low on the acidic scale and there are many other types of drinks to avoid before looking for low acid coffee.

Costa Rica Coffee Plantations - The infrastructure needed to export coffee to Europe lead to the creation of the large coffee plantations controlled by a few wealthy land owners.

Costa Rica Cofffee Bean Crop seen down 5.5% in 2008/09

2008-08-07T08:04:00.001-04:00

According to estimates by the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, or Icafe, Costa Rican coffee production in the next harvest cycle (2008-09) is likely to drop 5.5% to 1,773,451 bags compared to a total output of 1,875,977 bags in the previous cycle.

Exports from the 2007-08 harvest, meanwhile, are still on track to reach 1,709,710 bags, up 16% from 2006-07 exports of 1,471,742 bags, an Icafe official said.

Starbucks tests $1 coffee, free refills

2008-01-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

"Tall" and pricey is becoming "short" and cheap at the world's largest gourmet coffee chain as it grapples with a cost-conscious consumer and competition from fast-food outlets.

Starbucks Corp. confirmed yesterday it is test marketing a smaller, cheaper $1 (U.S.) cup of coffee, as well as free refills, at some U.S. stores.

The chain that made millions selling high-priced designer brew said the new "short" coffee comes in an eight-ounce cup and is available at some Seattle outlets.

No decision has been made yet about bringing the product to Canada, a spokesperson for the company said yesterday.

Starbucks also said it frequently tests new products, but doesn't comment on the results until it makes a final decision. The move is not indicative of any new business strategy, the company added.

However, it comes amid increased competition from low-priced fast-food outlets and signs that financially strapped U.S. consumers are "trading down" to cheaper retail outlets.

The gourmet chain grew to 15,000 stores worldwide mainly on the strength of large, customized brews that are priced accordingly.

But now cheaper chains, such as McDonald's, have moved more aggressively into the category.

McDonald's has plans to add coffee counters to as many as 14,000 U.S. locations.

The suggested retail price in the United States for a slightly larger 10-ounce cup of premium roast coffee at McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts is $1.07 (U.S.) and $1.39, respectively, those companies said yesterday.

Shares in Starbucks lost nearly half their value last year as problems in the U.S. mortgage and credit markets dampened consumer spending.

The company also shuffled its senior management team, bringing back chair Howard Schultz as chief executive officer, and vowing to close underperforming stores and boost international expansion. Two-third of its outlets are in the United States.

In New York yesterday, the price of coffee fell on the futures market as many traders sold on fears the global economy is headed for a recession.

"Large hedge funds are saying, `Everything is going down – get me into cash,'" said Jaime Menahem, a broker with Alaron Trading Corp. in Miami. "There's no confidence in the economy."

Coffee for March delivery fell 3.7 cents, or 2.7 per cent, to $1.313 a pound on ICE Futures U.S., formerly known as the New York Board of Trade. The price for coffee has dropped 3.6 per cent this month.

Hurricane recovery to cost Jamaica $23 billion

2007-10-05T20:35:00.000-04:00

Kingston - Nearly $7 billion has been earmarked by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration to continue the Government's reconstruction and recovery efforts for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Total damage due to the effects of the hurricane has been estimated at $23 billion. Of this amount, total loss to the private sector is $16 billion, while damage to the public sector is set at $7 billion.

The agriculture sector suffered an estimated loss of $3.7 billion, with domestic crops accounting for $904 million of that amount. The Government will contribute $260 million to this sector through the provision of seeds, fertilizer relief, fruit tree crop assistance, support to the banana sector, the coffee sub sector and fisheries.

Coffee Health Benefit

2007-09-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed that medical opinion about coffee is changing? Many doctors who once warned against coffee are having to reverse their opinion in the face of new research. In fact, there are many studies now that tout the health benefits of coffee drinking rather than the health risks associated with the caffeine in it.

Sure, massive intake of caffeine, or any other substance isn't good for you, but moderate intake, the way most people drink coffee, isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can even have specific benefits for your health.

Read the entire article on coffee health benefit.

History of Coffee Beans

2007-09-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, people the world over enjoyed coffee before a certain Seattle establishment opened its first storefront. In fact, the history of coffee drinking is a history of social discourse.

What the little company with the cute name from Washington state did was introduce new generations to the world's favorite beverage. Coffee had been declining in popularity for a number of years. Chalk it up to inferior grades of coffee beans that proliferated from the 1950s on or to social revolution. The young people of the sixties hadn't embraced coffee drinking the way previous generations had. Rather than gather in diners for coffee, young people cruised the local hangout with paper cups of crushed ice and cola.

Read the complete article on the History of Coffee Beans.