Learn About Different Coffee Types

There is a type of coffee, called Fair Trade coffee, that is produced a little differently than other types of coffee. By "produced differently", we do not mean that the beans used are inferior, or that the coffee produced will be different. The purpose of Fair Trade coffee is to protect coffee workers, and any coffee grower or producer in this organization agrees to make sure that the people who harvest and sort coffee products are treated fairly.

In the United States, we consume a great deal of coffee. Most people can't imagine starting their day or finishing a meal without a cup of coffee. But we never give a thought to how coffee beans are produced, harvested and shipped. We just drink it and take all of that for granted. But maybe we should think about fair treatment for coffee workers.
In many areas of the world, coffee workers are treated unfairly. Large plantations hire laborers at paltry wages and then expect them to work long, backbreaking hours in the sun.  Plantations that are part of Fair Trade Coffee have agreed to respect coffee workers' rights.  They agree to meet certain minimum standards for working conditions and worker compensation.

The organization behind Fair Trade Coffee tries to educate the coffee consumer so that he will be encouraged to buy products that are not being produced by exploited laborers. Fair Trade Coffee encourages consumers not to buy products they do not certify, and they will not certify a product if it comes from a producer who has unfair conditions.
The concept is that American coffee drinkers will not want to support a company that mistreats its workers, any more than the American consumer wants to buy clothing that is produced in sweatshops. Excellent products for your coffee, your cappuccino or your espresso are available from producers who treat their workers fairly.

As a matter of fact, some people have referred to exploitative plantations as "sweatshops in the fields". And even the small farmer who sells his coffee bean to big exporters is treated unfairly since he gets very little pay for the coffee, even when rates are high. This leads to poverty and destitution in the countryside.
If you believe that it is wrong to support organizations that do not treat their workers fairly, it is time for you to start paying attention to Fair Trade Coffee labels. You can find very good quality coffee that is endorsed by this organization.

You can go to the Fair Trade Coffee website, and you will find a list of producers who are part of their agreement and have been certified to be fair to their workers. Dean's Bean brand is just one example of how you can enjoy your cup of morning mocha while you make sure that the people who worked so hard to bring it to you are not being treated unfairly.

All About Latte Art

If you are already a pro at brewing espresso, you may want to consider the options available to you in latte art. This is something that is done competitively by expert baristas, but the good news is that you can learn a few simple techniques to achieve the same results yourself at home!
First of all, it is important to start out by brewing an impressive shot of espresso as the base for your latte art. Brew this directly into a large mouth cappuccino cup, which can range from small to large in size. It is very important to have a wide mouth on the espresso cup, which will allow you to better develop the design with the space available. One helpful tip if you are just starting out is to practice your design using water, which will help you to get comfortable with pouring and the movements of the wrist involved. One of the greatest keys to perfect latte art is to pour at a gradual speed so that the design can be created with milk atop the espresso. However, this skill can also be achieved by using water to practice.
After you have steamed your milk and brewed your espresso, you can get ready to pour. It is very important to have the right position when pouring, and you can start out by holding the cup at an angle, where the back part of the cappuccino cup is slightly raised. From there, start to pour your steamed milk into the center of the espresso in a straight stream. For balance and accuracy, you can keep the edge of your metal pitcher resting on the edge of the cappuccino cup as you pour.
Once the cup is roughly halfway full, start to shake the pitcher side to side to create leaves in the milk pattern. This is the motion of your wrist used to throw the milk to create the latte art. Continue to shake your wrist gently back and forth, while still pouring the milk into the espresso. This should create a pattern of leaves on top of the espresso, and after you have shaken your wrist about four times, you can start to move the metal pitcher back toward you, while still shaking side to side.
The important thing to remember is that the pouring and shaking motion is somewhat slow, and it is not necessary to rush as you pour. Slow and steady will win the race, and it will help you to develop a gentle rhythm as you create your latte art. From there, you are almost finished with your latte creation, and you can complete the pattern by elevating your metal pitcher to pour through the milk to create the stem of the leaves.
Of course, practice makes perfect, and any professional barista has the opportunity to create hundreds of drinks on a daily basis. Continue to practice your latte art for your own personal drink creations, and it will give you the chance to develop a wonderful skill to impress your family members and friends!