Espresso Or Cappucino - How To Add Some "Oomph" Into Your Cuppa!

"Oomph is the intricate inner feeling of that touch of power, unexplained yet real, that comes with the drinking of coffee"

I had been a long term tea drinker, preferring tea to any other beverage for years, until one day, I had a new assistant. I was working as a dealer representative for stocks and shares at that time, and that means in a really stressful environment, being in the trading room all the time. So taking some time off to catch a cuppa and to be back to trading and watching the trading screens for the best prices was the perfect break anyone could hope for.

My new assistant was a young lady in her mid twenties, and it was interesting to see her prepare her drink.

No, she wasn't a tea drinker like me. Instead, she was a coffee fan, perhaps even an addict to coffee, you may say. On her first day at work, she took out of her handbag three packs of instant coffee 3 in 1 - namely instant coffee, sugar and non-dairy creamer, and then proceeded to empty the three packs into one cup,adding hot water, making a strong coffee. She wasn't through yet, because she also opened another pack of chocolate powder and sprinkled the chocolate powder on to her hot coffee, creating a tremendous aromatic smell that pervaded the trading room.

That was some "oomph" in her coffee.

After a period of three months, I found I was suddenly drinking coffee myself and wasn't a pure tea drinker anymore. It was a subtle conversion process, and soon I found I really need that coffee in the afternoon trading session.

Now, looking back, I have learnt a lot of techniques to add more "oomph" to my cup of coffee.

One way is to enhance the taste with some special add-on ingredients.

My most popular add-on ingredient is powdered ginseng. Ginseng is the traditional chinese herb which is a root, and american ginseng is preferred to korean or chinese ginseng. This herb makes one alert when taken, and is normally taken to strengthen one's immune system or body. You can get the ginseng powder from the Natural Herb Store or in the form of capsules that you can empty into a cuppa when you need the "oomph".

Be reminded that the ginseng root powder carries a somewhat bitter taste. So don't equate quantity with more "oomph". You just add sufficient to give you the enhanced aroma and the "oomph" you need.

Another way is to add the "tongkat ali" root powder, which may be slightly harder to obtain. This root is from an original plant in Malaysia and is a well researched herbal root with aphrodiasic features. The aborigines of the tropical jungles of Malaysia use this to enhance their "maniless" and this they prove by having big families. Commercially, you can get a bottle of this Tongkat Ali powder under the brand name "Power Root" throughout the world. Just add a small pinch and you will find the difference in your taste and feel the subsequent well-being.

Now you can have that extra edge and "oomph" when you next take your coffee, irregardless whether it is an espresso or a latte.

By Peter Lim

Gourmet Coffee Beans: The Choice Is Clear

Gourmet coffee beans are that delicious step most vital to creating that morning cup of java. Whether your choice a regular or decaf, coffee beans are those little beans that when ground, boiled, and seasoned to perfection, make our early morning experience more lively and exciting. Of course, not one coffee bean will ever suit everyone, but thanks to coffee bean manufacturers, there is a coffee bean suited to every taste. Around the world, the choices associated with a good coffee bean is determined by the selections of the population served. However, there are a few selections that are universal.

All gourmet coffee beans are created from selected Arabic coffee beans. Only Arabic coffee beans have the quality necessary for gourmet coffee beans. Arabic coffee beans are grown in selected high, dry, and hot zones around the world. Only these such conditions allow for the perfect Arabic coffee bean that is perfect for gourmet coffee. The opposite is true of the Robust bean. The Robust coffee bean is not the same high quality as the Arabic and therefore is not appropriate for gourmet coffee beans.

All gourmet coffee beans are handpicked. Gourmet coffee beans are always handpicked at the peak of ripeness to insure that they arrive fresh to the coffee drinker. Machinery damages the delicate coffee bean. Therefore, the only option is to handpick each bean. Although handpicking takes significantly more time and effort, the coffee bean manufacturers believe that the consumer deserves only the best.

The coffee retail shops worldwide specialize in providing the coffee drinker only the best for the valued customers. Coffee retail shops offer specialized coffee to their many customers: each with their own individual tastes and favorites. Along with the specialized coffee is the flavored gourmet coffee. With flavors such as Vanilla Mocha and Minty Caramel Chocolate, gourmet coffee shops enjoy tantalizing their coffee drinkers. Many coffee shops will create unique names for their gourmet coffee beans. Then, once named, will package the coffee beans in an appropriately labeled package.

Gourmet coffee is big business. Worldwide, millions of coffee drinkers either buy their own coffee for personal use, or they choose to go to a favorite coffee shop to purchase their daily cup of java. Either choice brings billions of dollars annually to coffee manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and shops. Keeping up with popular flavorings and coffee types allows the coffee industry to stay on top of the customers needs; in essence, keeping up with popular trends in coffee, allows the coffee industry to make additional millions each year in coffee and coffee products.

The important factor in any good coffee is how much you enjoy your coffee when you consume the product. If you are happy with what the coffee industry provides you with, you will keep buying their products. Whether you like flavored or natural, whole beans or ground, Dark or light, smooth or robust, the coffee industry will surely provide you with a coffee bean that will tantalize your sense and keep you coming back for more.

By Tana Ticer

Blue Mountain Coffee Beans

Blue Mountain coffee beans are widely thought to be the pinnacle of coffee. With unmatched taste, richness, and completeness, most who try the blue mountain coffee agree it is one of the best blends in the world. As such, Blue Mountain coffee makes a fantastic gift to any coffee lover, and it is ideal for special occasions.

Unfortunately, Blue Mountain coffee is not the easiest to get. Because of the limited area that the beans grow (the Blue Mountains in Jamaica) the quantities produced are limited. The coffee has also undergone some controversy through its life, starting with the Japanese investing heavily in the industry, causing what many believed to be an overproduction of the coffee, and a subsequent drop in it's quality. The bean was traditionally wet-processed, which took more time than the short-cut versions implemented at a growing number of mills. Blue Mountain coffee became more readily accessible, but the quality dropped.

The Blue Mountain coffee bean has since been making a come back to its previous excellence (and in truth, it was never really a bad roast) through the efforts of the Jamaican Coffee Board. They began allowing individual coffee farmers to produce their own coffee (rather than sending it through a central processing farm) which has resulted in some distinct Blue Mountain area blends. While all the beans are Blue Mountain, there can be subtle differences depending on which estate you buy from.

Which unfortunately brings up another tricky item when buying Blue Mountain beans - many places will do something like put a small percentage of Blue Mountain beans in with another bean, and call it Blue Mountain. They can then sell this much cheaper than real Blue Mountain costs, which fools people into buying inferior coffee. The best way to protect yourself? Make sure that the coffee you buy has the Jamaican Coffee Board seal on it. You can also tell by the price - if it seems like its cheap, it probably isn't pure Blue Mountain. Just remember that you get what you pay for.

By Adrian Titus