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If you are like me and you love coffee, you are probably consistently searching for that perfect cup. Well, the perfect cup starts with the perfect bean. And the perfect bean is largely based upon the combination of soil quality and climate. So when you think of the perfect country for coffee bean growth what comes to mind? Probably, somewhere tropical. A place with regular rain and sun. If you are like most people you will undoubtedly say “Brazil”. It’s true, Brazil is the biggest dog on the block accounting for a whopping one-third of all coffee bean production. Its climate is ideal for coffee bean production. It’s no wonder they hold top spot. But, do they make the best bean?

Ironically, coffee bean production did not start in Brazil. It actually began in Ethiopia. Even though they can still be seen there they’re popularity has spread. Today you can find coffee beans being produced in many countries throughout the free world. Matter of fact, there are now about seventy some countries officially growing coffee beans. Unfortunately, only a few of these countries actually have the most ideal situation for producing beans of a high quality. Aside from Brazil, some of the most popular destinations for coffee bean production are Columbia, Indonesia, Hawaii and Mexico.

We must not forget that aside from climate and soil quality, the altitude at which beans are grown has a significant impact on their quality. The higher they are grown the better. With this in mind we must give some attention to Columbia. They certainly produce some of the best beans in the world. However, its poor economy and underdeveloped infrastructure makes transport to processing plants difficult. Therefore, I am sure we are not seeing the best that that country has to offer.

If you have ever had Hawaiian coffee, you probably will swear up and down that it is the best in the world. Well you could be right. Even though they don’t produce large quantities Hawaii’s volcanic ash, large amounts of rainfall and hot sweltering sun create the perfect environment for production. There is, also, probably something to the small quantities they produce. The small crafted feel no doubt enhances Hawaii’s mystic as a supreme coffee bean producer. Much like we see here in the states with regards to small-batch Bourbons.

Lastly, a very popular place that could possibly win the best coffee bean award would have to be Indonesia. The countries humid climate is ripe for perfect growth. Also, they have taken the production of coffee beans to new heights. They use very advanced technologies that help them grow beans in remote places like Java and Sulawesi. Coffee is so popular from this area that we often euphemistically refer to our coffee as a “Cup of Java”.

Making a quality cup of coffee is truly an acquired art. There are specific ingredients, and parameters if you will, that are required in order for the Java creation to be delicious. Basically, anything that calls for combining coffee grounds with hot water is considered to technically be known as coffee, but there are specific key elements for brewing a cup of a particular type of coffee known as espresso. This article will touch a bit on what exactly espresso is and how to put these elements together to make a delicious shot of this coffee concoction.

Espresso, which is also known as café espresso is a highly concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot, but not bubbling, water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a very fine sandy-like powder. Developed in Italy, the defining characteristics of this rich caffeinated beverage is a much thicker consistency than drip coffee served typically in a shot glass.

An important element to making espresso is temperature. Espresso is brewed using water that is heated to a temperature between 190* F and 195* F. A thermostat in any quality espresso maker will ensure that it’s at proper temperature and maintain the level of heat needed throughout the brewing process. Although espresso is brewed with water temperatures exceeding 190 degrees, that doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature of your shot will be that hot when you go to shoot it. Generally, the temperature will be quite less and more enjoyable for consumption.

Another key element to espresso making is pressure. When we’re talking about pressure in relation to espresso, there are actually two variables we need to look at: tamp pressure and brewing pressure. Tamp pressure is the amount of pressure used to compact the coffee grounds before brewing. Brewing pressure is in relation to the hot water forced through the coffee grounds. The pump inside every espresso machine is designed to produce the exact measurements of pressure, so this isn’t something you’ll need to control yourself.

Despite some confusion, on a per-volume basis, espresso contains approximately three times the caffeine content as regular brewed cup of coffee. Luckily, today a wide range of high-quality home espresso equipment can be found in specialist kitchen and appliance stores, online vendors, and department stores - to avoid the high prices at specialty coffee shops. So if you’re looking for an intense power-packed shot of caffeine, espresso might be just the pick me up you’re looking for!