Traditionally, almost all coffee was shade grown.  The coffee plant in its natural state isn’t very tolerant of direct sunlight; thus most coffee plants grow best under the shade of a canopy of trees.  In an ideal setting, the leaves from the overhanging trees would decompose and compost into the soil, creating a rich, moist soil in which the coffee plants thrive.  Furthermore, the trees overhead provide a home to native birds that eat many insects which would otherwise threaten the coffee plants.  Coffee grown in this type of environment would need little to no fertilizers or pesticides to grow; rather, it would grow quite well on its own.

In 1972, scientists developed a new hybrid type of coffee plant.  This new plant boasted a much larger crop of beans than traditional coffee plants, and in addition, the crop was easier to harvest because the plant remains small in size.  Soon, coffee farms around the world were converting to the new hybrid plant.  In turn, coffee farms cut down their native forests to provide direct sunlight for the hybrid coffee plants.  Out of the some 6 million acres of coffee-producing land around the world, it is estimated that 60% of that land has been deforested since 1972 as a result of hybrid sun coffee plants.

The loss of forest on coffee plantations has created numerous problems.  First, the migratory birds that lived in these trees no longer have a habitat.  It is estimated that the population of migratory birds has declined 20% over the last ten years, mostly due to loss of habitat.  The lack of trees not only interrupts the bird population.  It has a direct impact on the entire ecosystem of an area.  A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that shade coffee plantations support a significant number of other species of animals and insects.  For example, the study noted that one tree on a shade coffee farm in Costa Rica was home to 27 different species of ants and 126 species of beetles.  When the shade trees disappear, so do other animals and insects, upsetting the fragile balance of the natural ecosystem.

Another problem with sun grown coffee is the enormous amount of synthetic chemicals required to grow it.  Because there aren’t as many native birds present to eat the insects, pesticides are required to keep the insect population down.  Sun coffee plants are also treated with chemical fertilizers, because there is no canopy of trees present to provide organic matter that would naturally enrich the soil.  Furthermore, plantations growing sun coffee must also rely on the use of herbicides to keep down the weeds that grow in the increased sunlight (shade coffee plantations don’t have as many problems with weeds, because the weeds don’t grow well in the shady conditions that the coffee plants favor).

All these chemicals that are required to farm the hybrid sun coffee plants create an enormous amount of runoff, which poisons downstream waterways due to runoff and threatens the health of workers on the coffee plantations.  The lack of trees has also created serious soil erosion problems.  It has become clear that this type of coffee farming is not sustainable.

Traditional shade growing, however, is a self-sufficient and sustainable farming method.  It promotes increased biodiversity and requires little to no fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.  The Smithsonian Institute’s Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) is working to raise awareness and promote shade grown coffee through a certification process.  Look for coffees that feature the SMBC’s “Bird Friendly” seal of approval, or if you cannot find such coffees, simply look for those that specify shade grown conditions.

The only way to address this problem is through consumer demand.  Every purchase of shade grown coffee helps restore natural shade grown coffee farming methods.  Coffee drinkers and bird lovers unite, and buy only shade grown coffee!

I would like to offer this page as a directory of local coffee shops around the world. If you own a coffee shop then you should be here. If you want to promote your favorite coffee shop then put them here too. If your shop is online and a retailer of coffee beans, you should be here too.

I have looked on multiple web sites for a basic version of this cake. I cannot seem to find a basic recipe. They all seem to have friut or something added. My soon to be mother in law is supposed to make the best Coffee/Crumb Cake ever and she will not give up the recipe. This is my fiance’s favorite but every recipe I show him he says that it is not it. Any help on this one would be mucho appreciated!!!

If you are new to spread betting on coffee and other softs then it is always a good idea to have an overview of the basics of the market.World Coffee ConsumptionIn 2007 coffee consumption came to 123 million 60kg bags, representing a 1.63% year-on-year increase. America was the largest consumer of coffee representing over 17% of the market. Brazil was the second largest coffee consumer and accounted for more than 13% of global coffee consumption.US coffee consumption over the past five years has varied between 20 and 21 million bags. However Brazilian consumption has been growing at an average rate of 5% per annum over the past five years, with 2007 growth surpassing the average and growing 6.4% to 17 million 60kg bags. Assuming coffee consumption growth in America remains at current levels, then Brazil could surpass America in being the world’s largest consumer within the next five years.Germany, Japan, Italy and France are the next major coffee consuming countries; each country consumes between 4% and 8% of total world coffee consumption. Together, the six countries consumed a total of 65 million bags in 2007, accounting for 53% of the world’s coffee consumption.Consumption VariablesAs Anthony Grech of IG Index reported earlier this year “It is important to note that consumption, or demand for coffee, depends on the price and currency strength in the producing country, versus the importing country’s currency. In addition, consumer tastes, number of substitutes and population growth are some of the major factors that influence demand.”Input Cost VariablesAccording to the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) the weakening US dollar and soaring price of oil in 2007 and first half of 2008 has increased coffee production costs. In order to help counter the problem of rising costs in the coffee supply chain, Brazil and Colombia, the largest coffee producers, have been implementing compensatory schemes. The Brazilian authorities recently renewed their ‘PEPRO’ programme, which aims at supporting coffee prices through auction sales, and the Colombian government has been reimbursing coffee growers up to 24% of their annual fertiliser costs. Such government compensatory schemes are likely to continue supporting coffee supply. Coffee Production GrowthOn a global scale, the ICO predicts that world coffee production in crop year 2008/2009 is to rise by around 3% to 127 million 60kg bags.Supply and DemandThe rate of consumption has been growing at an average of 2% pa over the past five years. Assuming that consumption continues to grow at the same rate then it could rise between 125 million and 126 million 60kg bags in 2008/2009 and to 127 million and 128 million bags by 2009/2010. This is roughly in line with the estimates provided by the ICO, which predict world consumption to reach 125 million bags in 2008/2009 and 127 million bags in 2009/2010. Coffee Pricing and QualityNote that if you are spread betting on Coffee that there are two types of coffee that you can trade; Robusta and Arabica.Robusta is the lower quality coffee and accounts for approximately 40% of world coffee production and is more likely to come from Vietnam and Indonesia. Arabica is the higher quality coffee, accounts for 60% of world coffee production and is more likely to come from Brazil and Colombia.You can trade coffee and get live coffee trading charts at companies like IG Index and Financial Spreads.Spread bets carry a high level of risk to your money and may not suit all forms of investor. You can lose more than your initial investment so make sure you only speculate with capital that you can afford to lose. Likewise make sure you understand the risks involved and seek independent financial advice where necessary.

This coffee shake is a thick and chilly delight, flavoured with coffee and chocolate.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup coffee, strong and cold
1 cup cold milk
10 ice cubes
1/3 pkg of instant pudding mix (chocolate)
2 tbs cocoa powder
Hazelnut creamer, to taste
Sugar, to taste
PREPARATION:
Combine everything in a blender, and blend until ice is crushed and shake is thick.

Black? With cream? Sugar? Ahh, the choices we have to face when making coffee. These are but a few of the choices we have to take every morning as we prepare to make even bigger choices as our day goes on. Albeit this little choices, we overlook that thing that makes us think about this choices - the coffee machine.
Commonly known as the coffee maker, a coffee machine is one of the most usual kitchen appliances we see at any household. It is used to brew coffee without having to boil water in a separate container. While there are many different types of coffeemakers using a number of different brewing principles, in the most common devices, the common coffee machine uses this basic principle: coffee grounds are placed in a paper or metal filter inside a funnel, which is set over a glass or ceramic coffee pot. Cold water is poured into a separate chamber, which is then heated up to the boiling point, and directed into the funnel.
Coffee preparation is a very tedious process. Ground coffee beans are available in the market, ready for brewing. Thanks to the coffee machine, we skip the long process of brewing coffee, in place of a worry-free morning topped with a cup of coffee. Heck, we can even add a dash of whipped cream.
A useful tool in the kitchen, the coffee machine is more often than not taken for granted. Why? We tend to take for granted things which we usually utilize everyday. Imagine a world without coffee machines. Just imagine your household without a coffee machine, or a Starbucks without their coffee makers. We can’t rush off to work with a cup of coffee then. There will be a mile-long line in the Starbucks counter, because without them coffee makers, preparing coffee is just going to take a lot longer.
Let’s just thank technology for devising the coffee machine. Today you can even buy professional espresso coffee machines for your home. It is really convenient to have these great lattes whenever you want to. In case you are a big coffee drinker, then a cool coffee machine is well worth its weight in gold. What kind of espresso machine you have at the moment? If you have none, then do you know what coffee machine to buy?
There are various brands of coffee machines available in the market. Choosing the best really depends on the person buying the product. One may go for the visual design of the machine, others rely on the name of the brand itself. There’s Bunn, Mr. Coffee, Black & Decker, and many others. The Internet offers various reviews for different brands of coffee machines. However, the final decision on which coffee maker to purchase still depends on the buyer.
Coffee has been one of the greatest discoveries in our lifetime. The beans grounded, roasted and brewed serves as our catalyst for the day that looms ahead, and also serves as that thing that perks us up when we need that boost any time, any day. The coffee machine, on the other hand, is one invention that complements the discovery of coffee. Although the method of drip-brewing, roasting, grounding has been present since the 19th century, the coffee machine invented in the early 20th century has helped improve the brewing process drastically.

I have found plenty recipes for ice coffee where you just pour ingredients over coffee but i am looking for one that you blend with ice for an icy coffee treat.

The coffee bean is a member of a family of herbs that have been used in China for years. Although the fact that the coffee bean is an herb is often overlooked, there are several benefits to ingesting this herb.

Ideas and information are often provided in clubs so that, as a member, you get to enjoy exclusive benefits for products and items such as coffee. You’ll get the latest coffee reviews as well as hear about which brands are doing their ethical part for the coffee growers such as fair trade deals meaning that you know that your money is not only ending up in the pockets of the company and its shareholders.
Joining a coffee club can be a fun way to make friends all over the world. You’ll be able to learn new things about coffee that you probably never knew. This is also a great way of getting coffee information and sharing a coffee with people who appreciate this wonderful bean.
You’ll also be able to exchange some interesting coffee recipes that will enhance your coffee experiences. Your love for the coffee bean will be reaffirmed. The reason why coffee clubs exist is so that people can use them as a portal of information for finding ethical coffee and for learning about how this bean is grown and where the best coffee can be found.
The coffee club is also an important place about knowing how the natural environment of coffee affects its taste. In this you will learn about the different types of coffee beans that go into making coffee. Furthermore you are also provided with information of which type of coffee has certain characteristics such flavor, acidity, boldness and which might be better for your tastes. This will help your enjoyment of coffee and might lead you on an experimental journey.
It is also about helping people find some companionship, as most coffee clubs are not all about coffee. They are about people sharing ideas and becoming part of an appreciated community. It can sometimes be hard to a find a niche for something that you are interested in and coffee, although loved all over the world, might not be so celebrated.
Online Coffee Clubs
Joining a coffee club couldn’t be any easier as most are now online. The wonderful thing about this is that as a member, you get the benefits of joining such as discounts and you can meet other members offline. This makes for fun conversations as well as fun interactions. You can make some new companions who share your passion for coffee and therefore you can have interesting experiences, as you will meet members from all over the world. The aim of a coffee club is to make coffee more than just a beverage and into something that will make your life a bit more interesting and enjoyable.
Some of the more popular online gourmet coffee clubs you can check into are Gevalia Kaffe, illy caffe, Boca Java, Green Mountain Coffee and others. You’ll also find coffee and espresso machines, coffee gifts and gift baskets as well as collector quality coffee cups and other related items.

I’ve used a lil strong coffee to melt chocolate.
Have you used coffee in recipes? Wanna share?
What about the coffee grinds? Have you used them in your garden or something? Please share.