Gourmet Coffee

Gourmet Coffee
Executive Summary about Gourmet Coffee by Alison Cole

Gourmet Coffee. Everyday, people all over the world wake up to the invigorating experience of the exceptional beverage called coffee. The popularity of coffee can be judged by the fact that its consumption amounts to about a third of that of tap water in North America and Europe. Most gourmet coffee brands are beyond the reach of the common masses and are marketed exclusively to the affluent.

With countless gourmet coffees in the market, one needs not only a watchful eye but a discerning taste to spot the real gourmet from the fake. But where do gourmet coffees originate?
The Arabica coffee beans are the main source of gourmet coffees which contain far less caffeine than coffee made from inferior varieties. Gourmet coffees from Arabica coffee beans boast of a finer aroma, richer flavor, and more body than those made from Robusta beans. The limitation on the production of gourmet coffees is altitude - Arabica coffee requires a high mountain, cool and wet, subtropical climate; as well as rich soil. These growing conditions need less pesticides, which reduces contamination of the environment. Thus Arabica coffees can't be grown just anywhere. And while gourmet coffee is lower in caffeine than other types, it is highest in antioxidants.

Companies often use deception to confuse the coffee-drinking public as to the superior quality of their gourmet coffees. Problems arise when, for instance, the Kona coffee blend contains only a small amount of Kona coffee beans and the rest is from other sources such as Robusta beans, thereby minimizing the coffee experience. The volcanic regions create the most wonderful gourmet coffees, owing to their rich volcanic soil, which adds a deep and flavorful taste to the coffee.