Gourmet Coffees

Kona Peaberry Coffee is finally back in our warehouse this week. This was a Volcanica Coffee customer favorite and a top seller. It also was rated as a topo coffee by Food & Wine Magazine but due to a worm in the Kona crop the quantities were greatly reduced and the price shot up. The price is $59.99 per pound and it is in limited supply.

MILAN - Costa Rica slightly increased its estimate for the 2010/11 coffee harvest on Monday citing favorable weather and improved fertilization, the national coffee institute, or Icafe, said.

According to the institute, the country will produce 1.66 million 60-kg bags of Costa Rica Coffee in the season which begins in October, around a 12 percent increase year-on-year and up from an earlier forecast.

The Kopi Luwak Coffee beans are the most expensive coffee in world. It has a lot of controversy surrounding it because the beans are actually excreted from a cat called the palm civet. The palm civets like to eat the red coffee cherries. They only the ripest, reddest cherries so they are naturally great coffee pickers for what will be harvested into the most expensive coffee in the world.

The intestines of the cat give the bean a bitter, complex taste in this natural fermentation process. The seeds or coffee beans are passed through their digestive system. After the palm civet poops it out the local pickers collect the beans from the crap. They are then sent for washing to remove the impure parts surrounding the coffee bean. The supplies are very limited which makes this the most expensive coffee.

You can read more about the most expensive coffee at the Kopi Luwak Coffee page and it sells for $349.99 per pound.

Costa Rica coffee industry has logged contracts for 1,468,523 bags in sales through June 5, reports the Costa Rican Institute, or Icafe. This is 14% less than sales through the equivalent period last year, when 1,698,295 bags had been sold by June 5.

The volume of the 2008-09 crop sold to date is estimated at about 92% of Costa Rican coffee output from this harvest, Icafe said, adding the figure includes forward sales locked in months before the start of the 2008-09 cycle on Oct. 1.

The volume of 2008-09 crop from Costa Rica sold to date were fixed at an average price of $1.3886 a pound, below the average $1.4085 for coffee from the 2007-08 crop logged into contracts at this time last year.

One of the finest coffees from this country is the Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee. No sales data on this variety is available.

MILAN – In the first quarter of the 2008/09 coffee year (Oct 2008 – Jan 2009), exports of Costa Rica Coffee rose 6.6% compared with the equivalent period in the previous crop cycle, reported yesterday the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, or Icafe. Shipments from the central American producer reached 324,003 bags in the above mentioned period, up from 303,992 bags in 2007/08. However, exports slowed considerably in January marking a 15% decline to 119,340 bags down from 140,655 bags in the same month of 2008.

Harvesting operations are in full swing, but harvest pace has been lagging about 5% behind last year’s volumes, local reports say. Output is expected to drop by 2.9% in 2008/09 to 1.822 million bags, from 1.876 million bags in the 2007-08 period, said Icafe last month. The Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee variety is bringing in a higher price to the farmer due to the demand by coffee enthusiasts.

MILAN –The recently elected chairman of the Tanzania Coffee Board Adolph Kumbulu has called on coffee farmers to replace the old coffee trees with a new high- yield variety recommended by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (Tacri) that can produce up to two kilograms of coffee beans per plant annually.

The Coffee Board has called on commercial nursery dealers to make mass production of the new variety seedlings to meet farmers' demands. Kumbul is meeting all the industry stakeholders to discuss problems and challenges facing the sector. In addition to the renewal of plantations, the Coffee Board is calling on the introduction of modern farming methods to increase volumes and produce better grade coffee.

Producers are struggling with higher inputs costs that have led to a drastic drop in outputs in the northern zone. One of the finer varieties is the Tanzania Peaberry Coffee which brings a higher price to the farmer due to the demand.

Here is an interesting study that proves yet another positive side effect from drinking coffee:

MILAN – A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that drinking coffee could reduce the risk of developing oral cancers. The study was conducted in Japan. In this country, per capita consumption is relatively high and Japanese men also experience comparatively high incidences of esophageal cancer.

Dr. Toru Naganuma of Tohoku University, Sendai, and his colleagues wanted to examine whether the consumption of coffee provided any protective effects from these cancers. Researchers studied 38,000 people aged 40 to 64 with no prior history of cancer. During 13 years of follow up, 157 cases of cancer of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus developed. Those who drank one or more cups of coffee per day had half the risk of developing these cancers compared with people who did not drink coffee, according to the study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. They note that the reduction in risk included people who are at high risk for these cancers, such as drinkers and smokers.

"Although cessation of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking is currently the best known way to help reduce the risk of developing these cancers, coffee could be a preventive factor in both low-risk and high-risk populations," the researchers wrote in their article.

This is a list of our extensive Estate Gourmet Coffee Beans:

Coffee Beans - Our complete selection of the various gourmet coffee beans offered by Volcanica Coffee. Our gourmet coffee beans are grown in rich volcanic soil at high mountain elevations.

Costa Rica Coffee - Volcanica Original - Smooth, silky and rich flavor like no other. With a light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance, Volcanica Costa Rica Original gourmet coffee beans are a world-class coffee with a full-body and excellent acidity.

Costa Rican Coffee Tarrazu - Volcanica Reserve - Bold and rich flavor to pick you up. From the Tarrazu region in Costa Rica, one of the most highly regarded coffee-growing areas. One of the world's greatest gourmet coffee beans with its light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance.

Blue Mountain Coffee - Very full flavor with prominent fruit flavors. The Rolls-Royce of coffee regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. A full flavor: it has balance, fruit, and acidity and provides all the satisfaction one could want with a strong and intense aroma.

Kona Coffee - Volcanica Gran Reserve - The champagne of Kona coffee. This is the most exclusive of all the Kona gourmet coffee beans with only 5% of the crop producing the Peaberry variety, highly prized for its smooth, full flavor and low acid content.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Volcanica Kona Gold - Hawaiian Kona Coffee is deliciously rich, medium-bodied and slightly acidic coffee with a heady aroma and complex and winy taste. It has a full, smooth flavor and is also great for every day drinking.

Decaf Gourmet Coffee - Kona Decaf Coffee - Decaf Gourmet Coffee with a deep and rich volcanic flavor. Decaffeinated with the Swiss water method. The Kona coffee flavor can be described as smooth, intense aroma, nutty and luscious without the caffeine. Medium roast.

Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - The original Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Very full flavor with prominent fruit flavors. The Rolls-Royce of coffee regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. A full flavor: it has balance, fruit, and acidity and provides all the satisfaction one could want with a strong and intense aroma.

Colombian Supremo Coffee - Grown high in the Colombian Andes and is famous for it's smooth pleasant acidity, smooth finish, nutty overtones and rich medium to full body.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Extra Fancy - Full and rich Kona flavor from the Hawaii Islands.Very flavorful and full-bodied, a rich coffee with a mellow character and a delicious taste.

Sumatra Mandheling Coffee - Sumatra Mandheling Coffee is a rare Indonesian coffee that is delightfully smooth with a rich heavy body, low acidity and an exotic flavor with an intense syrupy aftertaste and an earthy richness.

El Salvador Coffee - El Salvador Coffee is from the Santa Barbara Estate and is a rich full bodied coffee with a smooth, sophisticated flavor and an intense aroma. An exceptional fine cup of coffee that is aromatic and clean.

Guatemala Antigua Coffee - Guatemala Antigua Coffee is grown in the Antigua district at high altitudes in rich volcanic soil. This coffee is has heavy body, lively cup and subtle smoky spicy overtones. The finest Guatemalan variety.

Panama Coffee - Panama Coffee is grown in the highlands of Panama and has the perfect combination of soil and environment to grow coffee and as a result, Panama produces outstanding beans.

Mexican Coffee - Mexican Coffee provides outstanding coffee beans characterized by medium acidity, a sweet smooth body and flavor with a hint of fresh roasted hazelnuts. A truly clean balanced cup.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee is unusual in that the bulk of the crop is gathered from wild coffee trees giving this coffee a truly exotic flavor with pleasant acidity. A hard variety to find.

Kenya AA Coffee - This meticulously prepared East African coffee is famous for its rich body, pleasant vibrant acidity, fragrant aroma and winy aftertaste with overtones of berries and citrus. A favorite of coffee tasters.

Yemen Matari Coffee - Yemen Matari Coffee is the world's oldest cultivated coffee and is characterized by its full body, winy cup and overtones of chocolate. This coffee is grown in mountainous regions at altitudes exceeding 4,500 feet.

We also added a few more Peaberry Coffees:

Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee - Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee is the selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with a rich and intense flavor. An intense smooth cup.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee - Blue Mountain Peaberry is the most prized and sought after in the world. A famous refined rich taste and sweetness.

Colombian Peaberry Coffee - Colombian Peaberry Coffee has careful selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with an intense flavor. The best from Colombia.

Kenya Peaberry Coffee - Kenya Peaberry Coffee is the selections of the rarest coffee beans in the crop with an intense flavor that jumps out.

Brazil Peaberry Coffee - Brazil Peaberry Coffee is famous for its smooth flavor, complex intense aroma, rich body and a hint of dry spiciness and sweetness.

Cameroon Peaberry Coffee - Cameroon Peaberry Coffee is grown with abundant sunshine on the African Continent. A mellow, aromatic and rich full bodied character.

El Salvador Peaberry Coffee - El Salvador Peaberry Coffee is from the Santa Barbara Estate. A rich full bodied coffee with a smooth, sophisticated flavor and an intense aroma.

Tanzania Peaberry Coffee - Tanzania Peaberry Coffee is grown on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. A rich body, an intense flavor with mellow winy overtones.

We have added new holiday gourmet coffee flavors. We are now up to 95 different coffees when just a few months ago we only had five!

Christmas and Holiday Flavored Coffee

Eggnog Flavored Coffee - Eggnog Flavored Coffee has a great smooth nutmeg and cream flavor. Bring back the tradition with your coffee.

Gingerbread Flavored Coffee - Warm up your Christmas and holiday with our Gingerbread flavored coffee. This is a holiday pastry delight.

Java Jingle Flavored Coffee - Java Jingle lets you have a cup of eggnog topped with vanilla bean and warm buttery rum.

Mistletoe Mocha Flavored Coffee - Mistletoe Mocha flavored coffee has a rich blend of chocolate with a hint of mint for that Christmas feel.

Gourmet Coffee Stocking Stuffers - Gourmet Coffee Stocking Stuffers are four 2 oz surprises of our popular holiday coffee flavors.

Pumpkin Spice Flavored Coffee - Enjoy pumpkin pie in your coffee…well just the flavor. This is not a seasonal selection and is available all year long.

Rudolph Peppermint Stick Flavored Coffee - Rudolph with his red nose delivered this himself with all the red and white stripes of candy cane flavor.

Sleigh Bells Vanilla Flavored Coffee - A warm and creamy flavor of vanilla bean, sprinkled with just the right amount of caramel.

Christmas and Holiday Decaf Flavored Coffee

Gingerbread Flavored Decaf Coffee - Warm up your Christmas and holiday with our Gingerbread flavored decaf coffee. This is a holiday pastry delight to get you in the Christmas mood.

Eggnog Flavored Decaf Coffee - Eggnog Flavored Decaf Coffee has a great smooth nutmeg and cream flavor. Bring back the tradition with your coffee.

Java Jingle Decaf Flavored Coffee - Java Jingle lets you have a cup of eggnog topped with vanilla bean and warm buttery rum for that Christmas feel.

Mistletoe Mocha Flavored Decaf Coffee - Mistletoe Mocha flavored decaf coffee has a rich blend of chocolate with a hint of mint for that Christmas feel.

Pumpkin Spice Flavored Decaf Coffee - Enjoy pumpkin pie in your decaf coffee…well just the flavor. This is not a seasonal selection and is available all year long.

Rudolph Peppermint Stick Decaf Flavored Coffee - Rudolph with his red nose delivered this himself with all the red and white stripes of candy cane flavor.

Sleigh Bells Vanilla Decaf Flavored Coffee - A warm and creamy flavor of vanilla bean, sprinkled with just the right amount of caramel.

And last but not least, we have added a large selection of decaf gourmet coffees. Here are some of the selections with links to more:

Decaf Gourmet Coffee


Costa Rica Decaf Coffee

Colombian Supremo Decaf Coffee

Espresso Decaf

French Roast Decaf Coffee

Sumatra Mandheling Decaf Coffee

Volcanica House Decaf Coffee

Browse More Decaf Coffees

Browse Decaf Flavored Coffees

These are some of our new coffee blends:

Coffee Blends


Espresso Dark Roast

French Roast Coffee

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Blend

Mocha Java Coffee

Roastmaster Coffee Blend

Volcanica House Coffee Blend

We have now included new gourmet flavored coffees. Please check out some of our varieties:

Gourmet Flavored Coffee


Gourmet Coffee Stocking Stuffers

Amaretto Flavored Coffee

Butter Scotch Toffee Flavored Coffee

CocoLua Flavored Coffee

Creme Brulee Flavored Coffee

French Vanilla Flavored Coffee

Hazelnut Flavored Coffee

Irish Cream Flavored Coffee

Browse More Flavored Coffees

Browse Decaf Flavored Coffees

We have added over 80 new coffee varieties to Volcanica Coffee. Here are some of what now have in stock in estate and peaberry coffees:

Estate Coffee

Coffee Gift Box

Blue Mountain Coffee

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Extra Fancy

Costa Rican Coffee - Reserve

Costa Rica Coffee - Original

Colombian Supremo Coffee

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee

Guatemala Antigua Coffee

Kenya AA Coffee

Sumatra Mandheling Coffee

Browse More Estate Coffees


Peaberry Coffee

Jamaica Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee

Costa Rica Peaberry Coffee

Colombian Peaberry Coffee

Kenya Peaberry Coffee

San josé – According to the Costa Rica Coffee Institute (Icafé), exports from

this Central American nation rose 6.7% in August to 92,633 (60-kilogram) bags. This compares with exports of 86,819 bags in August 2007, the tenth month of the 2006-07 crop cycle.

Total Costa Rican coffee exports from Oct. 1, 2007, through August 2008, were up 7.4% to 1,539,697 bags compared with exports of 1,434,096 bags in the October-August period of the 2006-07 harvest year.

Gourmet Coffee Beans

Gourmet Coffee Beans - The home page for Volcanica Coffee

Coffee Beans - Our complete selection of the various gourmet coffee beans offered by Volcanica Coffee. Our gourmet coffee beans are grown in rich volcanic soil at high mountain elevations.

Costa Rica Coffee - Volcanica Original - Smooth, silky and rich flavor like no other. With a light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance, Volcanica Costa Rica Original gourmet coffee beans are a world-class coffee with a full-body and excellent acidity.

Costa Rican Coffee Tarrazu - Volcanica Reserve - Bold and rich flavor to pick you up. From the Tarrazu region in Costa Rica, one of the most highly regarded coffee-growing areas. One of the world's greatest gourmet coffee beans with its light, clean flavor and wonderful fragrance.

Blue Mountain Coffee - Very full flavor with prominent fruit flavors. The Rolls-Royce of coffee regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. A full flavor: it has balance, fruit, and acidity and provides all the satisfaction one could want with a strong and intense aroma.

Kona Coffee - Volcanica Gran Reserve - The champagne of Kona coffee. This is the most exclusive of all the Kona gourmet coffee beans with only 5% of the crop producing the Peaberry variety, highly prized for its smooth, full flavor and low acid content.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee - Volcanica Kona Gold - Hawaiian Kona Coffee is deliciously rich, medium-bodied and slightly acidic coffee with a heady aroma and complex and winy taste. It has a full, smooth flavor and is also great for every day drinking.

Decaf Gourmet Coffee - Kona Decaf Coffee - Decaf Gourmet Coffee with a deep and rich volcanic flavor. Decaffeinated with the Swiss water method. The Kona coffee flavor can be described as smooth, intense aroma, nutty and luscious without the caffeine. Medium roast.

Burr Coffee Grinder - The finest burr coffee grinder on the market is the Cusinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. This elegant burr coffee grinder with brushed stainless steel has a container to store your beans at the top.

Coffee Recipes - A collection various recipes to enjoy gourmet coffee. Some hot, some cold and some exotic.

Free Coffee Sample - Get a free coffee sample of Costa Rica Coffee. This free coffee sample is for one ten cup pot of coffee.

Gourmet Coffee Gift Sets

Coffee Gift - Looking for the unique gift that will make them feel special? Share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift box.

Signature Coffee Gift Box - Coffee Gift Box - Each Signature Coffee Gift Box includes one pound of finest Volcanica Coffees

Coffee Gift Basket - Looking for that unique gift that will make them feel special?
Share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee gift basket.

Informational

About Us - Volcanica Coffee Company - It all started with frequent trips back to our homeland in Costa Rica. For some reason, coffee in Costa Rica had tremendous flavor and aroma.

Guarantee & Contact Us - If for any reason you or those who received your gifts are not wholly satisfied with them, we will replace them or offer a full refund.

Security & Privacy Guarantee -Buy Gourmet Coffee Online - Your online credit card transactions are secure with Volcanica Coffee. We use Secure Socket Layering (SSL), the industry-standard encryption technology that ensures safe Internet transmission of your personal information.

Volcanica Coffee Press Releases - Our list of previous press announcements that have been issued to the public and news wires.

Gourmet Coffee Gift Wrap - Give a remarkable gourmet coffee gift from Volcanica Coffee. To make it even easier for you we offer gift wrapping for $3.95 per item.

Help Tsunami Victims - Please help the relief efforts for the victims from the Tsunami. We are very concerned at the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that has hit many parts of Asia and east Africa including one of the great coffee growing regions of Sumatra.

Buy Costa Rica Coffee - One of the finest coffees in the world with a smooth and rich taste.

Costa Rican Estate Coffee - One of the finest estate gourmet coffees from the highly regarded Costa Rican Tarrazu region.

100% Kona Coffee - 100% Kona Coffee from the big island. This is the pure 100% Kona Coffee famous through out the world as one of the finest gourmet coffees.

Pure Kona Coffee - Pure Kona Coffee from the big island. This is the pure Kona Coffee famous through out the U.S. as one of the finest gourmet coffees.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Beans - Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Beans that are 100% pure. Imported directly from the Jamaican Blue Mountains, these coffee beans are the most famous gourmet coffees in the world.

Customer Testimonials - We are very proud that we have a long list of customer that rave about Volcanica Coffee.

Seasonal Offerings

Valentine's Day Coffee Gift - Valentines Day Coffee Gift - Looking for the unusual gift that will say I love you? This Valentine's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Mother's Day Coffee Gift - Mothers Day Coffee Gift - Looking for the unusual gift that will say I love you Dad? This Mother's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Father's Day Coffee Gift - Fathers Day Coffee Gift - For the unusual gift that will say I love you Dad. This Father's Day share your passion for exotic gourmet coffee with our coffee gift boxes.

Volcanica Gourmet Coffee E-Mails - Here you will find the archive of past e-mails sent to customers with special offers and offerings.

Coffee Tips

Coffee Tips - Here are some quick coffee tips to help you make a good cup of coffee.

How to Make Coffee - Tips on how to make coffee so that you will get the most out of your Volcanica gourmet coffee beans.

How to Brew Coffee - The basic principal that is common to all types of brewing methods is to soak ground coffee in hot water to extract the flavor and aroma. Since the drip coffee method is the most popular method, this article will focus on brewing the best cup from your drip coffee maker.

Grinding Gourmet Coffee Beans - The type of coffee grind that you use is important in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using. The objective is to get the most flavor out of the ground beans when infused with hot water. The fast rule of thumb is the faster the infusion the finer the grind.

Perfect Cup of Coffee - Like anything else in life there is bad, just okay and then there is perfect. To get to perfection you really need the knowledge on how to do it and the motivation.

Periodically (I think the last time was 2 years ago...sorry) we let our readers know all of the pages on the Volcanica Gourmet Coffee website. This will be be a few different blog entries.

Coffee Articles

Information and articles related to the origins of Volcanica gourmet coffee beans and the coffee industry.

Shade Grown Coffee - The Volcanic coffees from Costa Rica and Kona are all shade grown coffees and have been verified that they comply with this designation. We personally inspect our farms to verify they are incompliance.

Specialty Coffee - Specialty Gourmet Coffee - There are two major types of coffee beans species but for coffee connoisseurs only the Arabica beans qualify as Specialty coffee. Arabica beans are the only ones to be drunk on there own, unblended.

Gourmet Coffees - As a rule the Arabica coffee beans provide the majority of gourmet coffees. The Robusta beans are valued for their high yields and resistance to disease and are widely used in commercial blends.

Best Gourmet Coffee - The best gourmet coffee is from single-source Arabica beans that originate from the slopes of volcanic mountains. The rich volcanic soil combined with the high altitude and abundant moisture from the clouds produce a remarkable coffee that cannot be matched by any other variety.

Coffee History - Exactly where and when coffee was first discovered and cultivated is not known, but some authorities believe that it was grown initially in Arabia near the Red Sea about 675 AD.

Gourmet Coffee Beans Blog - Posting of articles and comments regarding brewing tips, recipes, trivia all about the world of gourmet coffee.

Gourmet Coffees Blog - Another Blog but with news and more information on the coffee industry.

Gourmet Coffee Blog - An older Blog with posting of articles and comments regarding specialty and gourmet coffee.

Roasted Coffee Beans - Roasting coffee beans is considered an art, as the roaster needs to determine when the process has brought the beans to their peak of flavor.

Costa Rica Gourmet Coffee - Costa Rica coffee is full-bodied coffee with a deep, pungent flavor, excellent acidity, and a hint of smokiness. Beans grown in Costa Rica are the result of a unique combination of climate, elevation and soil. Just right - you can taste the special care that goes into every cup.

Fair Trade Coffee - At Volcanica Coffee we believe in Fair Trade Coffee which means paying our coffee suppliers a fair wage. This is not your typical company buying the good grade and cheap grade coffee on world markets then blending them together and calling it gourmet coffee.

Tarrazu Coffee - Located at the more remote lands up the Pirris River basin in the Tarrazú Highlands, this Tarrazú county Estate represents the Costa Rican Tarrazú coffee character, where the coffee is clearly farmed for quality and not quantity, and the altitude is clearly in the cup.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee - Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most sought after coffees in the world. This "Rolls-Royce of coffee" has been satisfying coffee connoisseurs around the globe for more than two centuries and is famous for its exquisite flavor.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - This extraordinary coffee is grown in the majestic Blue Mountain range in Jamaica reaching approximately 7,402 feet at the highest peak, thus making it is one of the highest grown coffees in the world.

Types of Gourmet Coffee Bean - For the coffee drinker there are two major types of coffee beans. The Caffea arabicais the Arabica bean which is the quality coffee of the world. Arabica coffee is the only coffee that is to be drunk and enjoyed without being blended with other types of beans.

Remove a Coffee Stain - Coffee Stain Removal Tips - How to remove a coffee stain is not as difficult as it may seem. The problem with coffee stain removals is that most people will wait until the item goes through the laundry several days later.

Iced Coffee Recipe - A Cool Way to Enjoy Coffee during the Hot Months. Iced coffee is an excellent summer refresher but it has not received the attention as its cousin Iced Tea primarily because of careless preparation.

Caffeine Content - Drug makers have to label the amount of caffeine content in their offerings, but food and beverage companies don't. This list of familiar products shows how fast your dose can add up.

Coffee and Exercise - Many of us start their work out in the early morning so there have been questions as to whether it is okay have a cup before your work out.

Healthy Coffee - Health Benefits of Coffee - Several studies have linked coffee with reduced risks of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Coffee Effect on Blood Pressure - A fourth grade science project with the hypothesis "I think that a person's blood pressure will increase after they drink coffee.

Coffee Health Benefit - Coffee can Easily be Part of a Healthy Lifestyle - Have you noticed that medical opinion about coffee is changing? Many doctors who once warned against coffee are having to reverse their opinion in the face of new research. In fact, there are many studies now that tout the health benefits of coffee drinking rather than the health risks associated with the caffeine in it.

History of Coffee Beans - Coffee had been declining in popularity for a number of years. Chalk it up to inferior grades of coffee beans that proliferated from the 1950s on or to social revolution. The young people of the sixties hadn't embraced coffee drinking the way previous generations had. Rather than gather in diners for coffee, young people cruised the local hangout with paper cups of crushed ice and cola.

How to Make Good Coffee with Better Water- In many parts of the United States, water may have been potable, meaning it was disease-free and safe to drink, but that didn't mean it tasted good. That bad taste in a glass of water translated into an off taste in anything cooked, with water added, and beverages like coffee brewed with water.

Low Acid Coffee - Some consumers are on acid diets from their doctors or are looking for coffee that will not upset their sensitive stomachs or teeth. But coffee is actually very low on the acidic scale and there are many other types of drinks to avoid before looking for low acid coffee.

Coffee Social Gatherings - Some consumers are on acid diets from their doctors or are looking for coffee that will not upset their sensitive stomachs or teeth. But coffee is actually very low on the acidic scale and there are many other types of drinks to avoid before looking for low acid coffee.

Costa Rica Coffee Plantations - The infrastructure needed to export coffee to Europe lead to the creation of the large coffee plantations controlled by a few wealthy land owners.

According to estimates by the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, or Icafe, Costa Rican coffee production in the next harvest cycle (2008-09) is likely to drop 5.5% to 1,773,451 bags compared to a total output of 1,875,977 bags in the previous cycle.

Exports from the 2007-08 harvest, meanwhile, are still on track to reach 1,709,710 bags, up 16% from 2006-07 exports of 1,471,742 bags, an Icafe official said.

"Tall" and pricey is becoming "short" and cheap at the world's largest gourmet coffee chain as it grapples with a cost-conscious consumer and competition from fast-food outlets.

Starbucks Corp. confirmed yesterday it is test marketing a smaller, cheaper $1 (U.S.) cup of coffee, as well as free refills, at some U.S. stores.

The chain that made millions selling high-priced designer brew said the new "short" coffee comes in an eight-ounce cup and is available at some Seattle outlets.

No decision has been made yet about bringing the product to Canada, a spokesperson for the company said yesterday.

Starbucks also said it frequently tests new products, but doesn't comment on the results until it makes a final decision. The move is not indicative of any new business strategy, the company added.

However, it comes amid increased competition from low-priced fast-food outlets and signs that financially strapped U.S. consumers are "trading down" to cheaper retail outlets.

The gourmet chain grew to 15,000 stores worldwide mainly on the strength of large, customized brews that are priced accordingly.

But now cheaper chains, such as McDonald's, have moved more aggressively into the category.

McDonald's has plans to add coffee counters to as many as 14,000 U.S. locations.

The suggested retail price in the United States for a slightly larger 10-ounce cup of premium roast coffee at McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts is $1.07 (U.S.) and $1.39, respectively, those companies said yesterday.

Shares in Starbucks lost nearly half their value last year as problems in the U.S. mortgage and credit markets dampened consumer spending.

The company also shuffled its senior management team, bringing back chair Howard Schultz as chief executive officer, and vowing to close underperforming stores and boost international expansion. Two-third of its outlets are in the United States.

In New York yesterday, the price of coffee fell on the futures market as many traders sold on fears the global economy is headed for a recession.

"Large hedge funds are saying, `Everything is going down – get me into cash,'" said Jaime Menahem, a broker with Alaron Trading Corp. in Miami. "There's no confidence in the economy."

Coffee for March delivery fell 3.7 cents, or 2.7 per cent, to $1.313 a pound on ICE Futures U.S., formerly known as the New York Board of Trade. The price for coffee has dropped 3.6 per cent this month.

Kingston - Nearly $7 billion has been earmarked by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration to continue the Government's reconstruction and recovery efforts for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Total damage due to the effects of the hurricane has been estimated at $23 billion. Of this amount, total loss to the private sector is $16 billion, while damage to the public sector is set at $7 billion.

The agriculture sector suffered an estimated loss of $3.7 billion, with domestic crops accounting for $904 million of that amount. The Government will contribute $260 million to this sector through the provision of seeds, fertilizer relief, fruit tree crop assistance, support to the banana sector, the coffee sub sector and fisheries.

Have you noticed that medical opinion about coffee is changing? Many doctors who once warned against coffee are having to reverse their opinion in the face of new research. In fact, there are many studies now that tout the health benefits of coffee drinking rather than the health risks associated with the caffeine in it.

Sure, massive intake of caffeine, or any other substance isn't good for you, but moderate intake, the way most people drink coffee, isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can even have specific benefits for your health.

Read the entire article on coffee health benefit.

Believe it or not, people the world over enjoyed coffee before a certain Seattle establishment opened its first storefront. In fact, the history of coffee drinking is a history of social discourse.

What the little company with the cute name from Washington state did was introduce new generations to the world's favorite beverage. Coffee had been declining in popularity for a number of years. Chalk it up to inferior grades of coffee beans that proliferated from the 1950s on or to social revolution. The young people of the sixties hadn't embraced coffee drinking the way previous generations had. Rather than gather in diners for coffee, young people cruised the local hangout with paper cups of crushed ice and cola.

Read the complete article on the History of Coffee Beans.

Are you old enough to remember life before filtered water or bottled water? Those were the good old days when you turned on the kitchen tap for a glass of water - that probably didn't taste too good.

In many parts of the United States, water may have been potable, meaning it was disease-free and safe to drink, but that didn't mean it tasted good. That bad taste in a glass of water translated into an off taste in anything cooked, with water added, and beverages like coffee brewed with water.

Read the entire article on How to Make Good Coffee with Better Water.

Very soon after that, coffee became the main export crop to the European markets and the most important product in the history of Costa Rica, as a nation. This was a very big step within the national economy. The infrastructure needed to export coffee to Europe lead to the creation of the large coffee plantations controlled by a few wealthy land owners.

Read the entires article on Costa Rica coffee plantations.

In social gatherings it is very common to serve and drink, coffee or tea. Even in the offices of some companies they have what we called the "coffee break". The coffee parties are typical in some European countries and also in some Latin-American countries were they are a very popular form of entertainment.

Read the entire article on coffee and social gatherings.

Every once and a while we get a request for low acidic coffee. Some consumers are on low acid diets from their doctors or are looking for coffee that will not upset their sensitive stomachs or teeth. But coffee is actually very low on the acidic scale and there are many other types of drinks to avoid before looking for low acid coffee.

Please read the entire article on low acid coffee.

Milan – A new study claims that a skin cream laced with caffeine could, at last, be the miracle cure for cellulite. Doctors at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil tested 130 women with cellulite on their hips and thighs.

The women rubbed the cream on to one thigh and hip twice daily for 30 days. The other thigh and hip were left untreated to measure the difference. Eight out of ten had tighter skin and lost up to two centimetres off their thighs, one of the main areas on the body for cellulite.

Two out of three volunteers also lost weight off their hips as the fat under the skin that causes the complaint dissolved. The research also backs supermodel Cindy Crawford who claims to keep her cellulite at bay by using a “miracle mixture” of ground coffee.

Caffeine has been used in creams for many years but there has been little evidence the support its use. The theory is that it is absorbed into the skin, where it speeds up the rate at which the body disposes of fat. Some companies have even started selling so-called coffee tights, at around £9 a pair, to get rid of unwanted fat and cellulite.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, suggests a cream containing just seven per cent caffeine can have a significant effect. Cellulite affects up to 90 per cent of women at some point in their lives.

World coffee production in 2006-07 is expected to rise to 123.1 million bags, up from 110.1 million in 2005/06, analyst F.O. Licht said in their latest report. Licht forecast that Arabica output would climb 13 % to 78.7 million bags while Robusta production was seen rising 9 % to 44.4 million. Brazil`s crop was seen at 43.5 million bags while Vietnam was expected to produce 15.0 million bags. Licht concluded that the anticipated rise in Vietnam...is likely to end tight supplies in the Robusta sector. Moreover, consumer stocks are still more than adequate so that consumers have no real reason for concern. They see consumption reaching some 117 to 118 million bags thereby reversing the deficit situation seen last season. They also mentioned that recent rains in Brazil`s coffee growing areas had alleviated stress caused by an extended dry spell earlier in the year.

This has aided the flowering of the 2007-08 crop which could be higher than had been predicted so far. So currently, Licht see a surplus of around 5 million bags. However, if we put the Brazilian (45 million bags) and Vietnamese crop (16 million bags) at the levels that some expect then a surplus of 7.5 million bags is seen. If this turns out to be the case then current levels for 2007 look expensive.

Check out the Google Co-op Profile for Volcanica Coffee. You can save this on your Google profile for quick reference to our site for future searches.

Around 800`000 tons of coffee is produced in Vietnam annually, and 95%of this finds its way overseas. However, the export price of Vietnamese coffee is way below that of other countries and one reason why is the lower quality. Ho Van Son, director of the Dak Nong Coffee Company, says another reason is the lack of state-of-the-art technologies, a major shortcoming of Vietnamese coffee exporters.

There are now 30 brands of instant coffee and three-in-one combinations of coffee, sugar and artificial whitener. It s the latter that puts Vietnam under the control of foreign traders because domestic enterprises import instant coffee, add sugar and whitener, and package it. Companies outside Vietnam pay low prices for imported coffee beans and sell instant coffee back to Vietnam at high prices. If this goes on, Vietnam will lose out in a big way. Above all, it will leave the country dependent on price and technology.

Bui Xuan Thoa, director of the well-known Bien Hoa Vinacafe Corporation in Dong Nai province, says that the demand for instant coffee is enormous; however, Vietnamese exporters must be aware of quality and price if they are to compete. His company is planning to build a coffee factory next year, one that will produce 3`200 tons of instant coffee annually, 70% of which is for export. What Vinacafe and the entire Vietnamese coffee industry must do is improve the quality of their coffee and engage in some serious brand-building.

The Rwanda Coffee Authority (Ocir- Café), gave a cow each to the four best coffee growers in Bukunzi, Bugarama, Gashonga and Cyangugu Sectors in Rusizi District as a reward for their contribution to the development of the coffee sector in the country.

Phenias Musemakweli, a representative of Ocir-Café, said that rewarding the best coffee growers, is in appreciation of their tremendous contribution to the success of the coffee sector which fetches high revenue to the country's economy. "The awards are a token of appreciation on our part for their contribution to the development of the coffee sector and the economy in general. This is also aimed at motivating them to continue improving their coffee growing systems and to encourage their fellow coffee growers to also participate in the coming competition to improve ways of growing coffee," Musemakweli said.

Theogene Nkuranga, the district vice-mayor in charge of economic affairs, urged the coffee growers to invest more in improving the quantity and quality of their produce for more earnings. He appealed to residents in the district to diversify for better income to improve their welfare and reduce poverty.

Ethiopian plantation workers are paid a daily rate that is a fraction of the price of one London espresso. Now growers are fighting for fairer trade.

By Stephen Castle
27 October 2006

"Coffee came first from Ethiopia," says Hailu Gebre Hiwot, president of the country's coffee exporters' association, as he sips on a cup of a deep, rich variety, "and so did mankind".

In a warehouse in Addis Ababa, where workers check the quality of tons of smooth, dark coffee beans, Mr Hiwot is musing on the unfairness of trade in a globalised world. While espresso, cappuccino and latte drinkers are bringing huge profits to some of the world's biggest multinationals, the place where coffee originated remains one of the poorest on Earth.

Around the world more than 2 billion cups of the stuff are consumed each day. In Starbucks in south London the cheapest shot of espresso costs £1.35. A coffee worker in Ethiopia earns less than half of that in a day.

Now the country where coffee was first consumed around 1,000 years ago is trying to get a fairer share of the proceeds. Growers are clubbing together to try to squeeze more money out of the export trade. Read the full article.

The Ethiopian government, Starbucks Corp. and a coffee industry association are embroiled in a spat over whether the coffee names Yirgacheffe, Sidamo and Harar belong to the African nation, or can be used by anyone without restrictions.

Ethiopia wants Starbucks to sign a voluntary licensing agreement saying the country owns the rights to the coffee names. Seattle-based Starbucks said Wednesday that it wants instead to work with the country to establish a geographic certification for the coffee bean names, much like is done with Washington apples or Kona coffee.

Ron Layton, president of Light Years IP, which is advising the Ethiopian government on the matter, said the African nation doesn't want to charge a flat fee as part of the licensing agreement.

But he said the long-term plan would be to establish the brand and then use that leverage to gradually boost the prices that companies like Starbucks pay for those coffees. Read the full article.

By Thorsten Wiese, Bonn, Germany­. Some people sit in their office and drink 10 cups of coffee a day. Others feel their heart racing after one espresso. Everyone has their own tolerance for caffeine. Some experts say that particularly sensitive people are probably reacting to the coffee's tannin. People who suffer adversely from coffee should pay close attention to their body and its signals.

"Caffeine affects the central nervous system ... the metabolism," says Antje Gahl of the German Nutritional Association (DGE).

Depending on the amount ingested, it can excite the heart and circulation, but also the stomach, intestines and kidneys. That's because caffeine blocks receptors that are responsible for picking up adenosine, which is produced by the body and promotes relaxation.

Thus, coffee usually has a desired effect when people drink it in the mornings and afternoon. "They wake up, become concentrated and can make decisions faster," says Hans Biesalski, a professor at the Institute for Biology, Chemistry and Nutritional Science at the Hohenheim University in Stuttgart.

Some people get the shakes after drinking coffee. In such cases, some quick exercise can help. It lets the body work off the energy that comes from the coffee. Read full article.

Coffee have been found to have many health benefits so we recapped many of them on here healthy coffee. From benefits for your heart, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and more, were have summarized our finding from various research sources.

According to UN Comtrade, Canada imported 1,031,591 bags of roasted coffee in 2005, up 20.7% on year. In value, it reached US$ 224.63 million, up 47% on year. The United States was the main supplier of roasted coffee to Canada, shipping 910,498 bags to there in 2005, or an 88.3% share of roasted imports.

Nevertheless, US lost market share in 2005, as in 2004 it was responsible for 92.0% of Canada Brazil and Colombia posted huge increases in their roasted exports to Canada in 2005. Brazilian roasted exports to Canada totaled 31,366 bags in 2005, generating US$ 5.91 million, or an increase of 81.8% in volume and 114% in value. Colombia shipped 24,253 bags to Canada in 2005, up 515% on year, what generated US$ 3.85 million, up 411% on 2004.

The Hawaii Coffee Association, which customarily meets on the Kona coast of the Big Island, is moving its annual meeting to Kauai this year. There are hundreds of coffee-growing farmers on the Big Island, but Kauai is home to the Alexander & Baldwin coffee plantation, the state s largest. No other state grows coffee. The 11th annual meeting of the association will take place July 21-22, at the Kauai Beach Hotel and Resort in Lihue.

The theme of this year s meeting is "Education, Communication and the Pursuit of Common Goals." Hawaii has two major coffee associations. The other one is the Kona Coffee Council. The two groups have had some tension between them this year, as some Kona growers press for more promotion of pure Kona coffees over Kona blends that contain comparatively little Kona coffee but still get to use the Kona name. Apart from whatever olive branches may be offered on that front, the association s conventions always include reports on coffee crops on all the islands.

In addition to the Big Island and Kauai, coffee is grown by Dole Plantation on Oahu, by a comparatively large plantation on Molokai, and by several interests on Maui. The association meeting will be preceded by the second annual Hawaii Barista Jam & Competition. July 18-20 at the same hotel.

Brazil exported 1.51 million bags of green coffee in April down 15 % from the 1.77 million bags shipped a year earlier Cecafe announced Friday. This drop in exports will not have come as any great surprise with a smaller crop, diminishing internal stocks and a stronger currency. The president of Cecafe, Joao Antonio Lian, said last week that Brazil will never average more than 25 60-kg bags of coffee per hectare. For the current season the average is around 19 bags per hectare. Of course yields vary tremendously from 60 bags per hectare in some areas in Minas to only a handful in some lesser regions.

If average yield this season is around 19 bags and the country is expected to produce a total of around 44 million bags then, we calculate, an absolute total of just under 58 million bags should be possible if average yields hit 25 bags per hectare across the current planted area. Needless to say this is very unlikely so the only way that total production could hit 60 million bags (a figure probably needed in 10 years time) is for an expansion in the planted area of advances in crop science.

Kigali, RWANDA - A U.S. professor and a group of American students are exploring the link between Rwanda’s expanding coffee market and the troubled nation’s path to social harmony after genocide. Professor Steven Livingston of George Washington University has studied conflict in Africa since 1994, when he found himself in the Great Lakes region at the beginning of Rwanda’s genocide. A series of coincidences brought him back to the country in 2006.

At a May 23 reception held at U.S. Ambassador Michael Arrieti’s residence in Kigali to recognize Livingston’s contribution to Rwandan development, the professor told the Washington File how scholarly interest in conflict could meld with economic development.

"A friend, Kim Easson works in the coffee industry out of Oakland, California, as an advocate for small farmers trying to get a fair price for their products," he said. "Kim has an interest in Rwanda because of how the coffee industry here is helping the country develop. Its specialty coffee is highly prized in international markets.

"So, Kim has had this interest in coffee in Rwanda. I’ve had this interest in politics and conflict in Rwanda and we realized it would be productive to combine these two interests and so we brought a group of six students, a coffee executive, and it turns out one reporter, to look at the role of the specialty coffee industry in terms of finding the basis and grounds for national reconciliation," Livingston said.

While in Kigali, Livingston also ran a two-day media workshop for Rwandan public affairs officers working in government and nongovernmental organizations. The public affairs section of the U.S. Embassy helped arrange the program. (See related article.)

With the price of coffee at a record high and coffee and tea accounting for 60 percent of Rwanda’s total exports, increased sales are helping to pump much-needed cash into farming communities devastated by the ethnic/political violence that killed 800,000 mainly rural dwellers in a three-month period in 1994. "One of the things Kim and I are trying to do," he added, "is not dwell too much on the past but look at the promise of the future. And with the coffee cooperatives and role of Starbucks and other coffee companies interested in Rwanda what we see is that if you give people the expectations of hope from economic development" ethnic tensions are lessened.

Livingston said he sees a connection between expanding the coffee market and laying the basis for social harmony. That is what is group wants to explore and support if possible.

As a teacher and leader of the students who paid their own way to be part of the conflict/coffee trip, Livingston said, "My mission is to understand with my students," understand what social progress can occur when business is the engine for change and identify "what we can do to help."

COFFEE GIVING WELCOME JOLT TO RWANDAN ECONOMY
Over the past five years, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has spent $10 million in a partnership with Rwandan coffee-growers to market its savory beans to coffee lovers abroad.

USAID’s efforts and the high price of coffee on international markets were in large part responsible for the Rwandan economy achieving a growth rate of 6 percent from 2004 to 2005 -- impressive considering the average growth rate among European countries was about 2.5 percent during the same period.

The goal now is to take further advantage of Rwanda’s ideal growing climate for coffee to expand production and bring added value to the product by doing more of the processing now done on the beans outside the country.

USAID continues to bet on the bean as a way to bring sustainable growth to the country with the launching of several new initiatives aimed at expanding exports including spending $250,000 to connect coffee-washing stations with the Internet so market data and communications are made more accessible. (See related article.)
The agency also helped broker a partnership between the giant U.S.-based coffee retailer Starbucks and Rwandan coffee producers with the result that the retailer launched "Rwandan Blue Bourbon" -- one of only 10 Starbucks Black Apron exclusive coffees -- in April. (See related article.)

At an event hosted at the his embassy in Washington, Rwandan Ambassador Zac Nsenga said, "This morning’s celebration is timely. It is happening at a time when we are in our 12th genocide commemoration."

"Therefore, we are not only celebrating a success story of a meaningful cooperation between the government of Rwanda, USAID, Rwandan farmers/private sector and Starbucks … but also the dividends of reconciliation and stability in Rwanda," he concluded.
For additional information on U.S policy in the region, see Africa.

Total Brazilian coffee exports (green plus solubles) are likely to hit 26 million 60-kg bags in 2006, staying at the same level of 2005, when the shipments hit 26.1 million bags. The estimate was made by the general director of the Green Coffee Exporters Council from Brazil (Cecafé), Guilherme Braga, who was interviewed by SAFRAS Agency at the XVI Santos International Coffee Seminar, that was held from May 16 to 19 in Guarujá, São Paulo. The projection fell a little compared with the start of the year, when the Cecafé forecast 27.1 million bags.

In May, according to Braga, the shipments must stay at 1.750 million bags, down 22.7% from 2.263 million bags exported in year-ago comparative period. The number of May must, therefore, stay close to those from April of 2006, that hit 1.723 million bags.

The director of Cecafé estimates that the first semester will close with acumulative amount of exports (green plus solubles) of around 10.5 million bags.

The second semester will have 15.5 million bags, with the period of crop arrival of the new Brazilian crop contributing to a better export flow.

The domestic trading flow and supply at the moment is naturally lower, according to Braga, as the harvest has barely started in coffee areas. "We are at the end of the midcrop, it is natural the tightness, but that is nothin serious", he told SAFRAS Agency.

Coffee professional from all over the world gathered last weekend in Bern at the Bea Expo center for World of Coffee & Wbc 2006. During three days, representatives of coffee world and a huge number of other interested people (over 6000 tickets sold) experienced the preparation, tasting and production of coffee, as well as the extremely popular competition, the World barista championship (Wbc) 2006 with 40 representatives from all over the world competing. Apart from the “fame and fortune” that comes along with becoming the World barista champion 2006, the prize includes a much-sought-after brand new La Marzocco GS3 machine.

As part of this world event, that for the first time was held in Switzerland, there were also a considerable number of other meetings and workshops taking place, in order to spread the culture of good coffee. Other than being able to visit over 120 exhibitors present in the pavilion next to the competition, it was possible to watch the third edition of the Latte art world championship”, the second edition of the World cup tasters championship, the second edition of the World coffee in good spirits championship as well as the Brazil latte harvest and Indian cup niche events.

Of course there were also many conferences focusing subjects like scientific research, sustainable development, coffee production and trade. These are some of the reasons why an event of this type is comparable to the Olympic games.

As far as the main competition is concerned the participants were the national champions from 40 different countries. The competition was divided into two sessions, on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th. At the end of these sessions an international delegation of judges decided on six finalists competing for the title of World barista champion.

Among the many parameters used by the judges to evaluate the 4 espressos, 4 cappuccinos and 4 signature drinks (based on coffee) prepared by the competitors, the most important are the sensory and visual quality of the drink, the tamping and coffee dosing technique, cleaning of the machine before and during the show, the presentation and the quality of the show in general.

During the first session some competitors stood out for their creativity and others for their impeccable technique during their performance.

David Makin, the Australian champion, impressed the public for his great creativity, shown while making his signature drink and in having presented to the public a very practical knockbox that he designed and developed.

The Kenyan competitor Jackeline Mweni Muli attracted attention by wearing the traditional dress of her home, accompanied by typical music and dances.

Klaus Thomsen, the Danish competitor gained the approval of the public and jury thanks to his impeccable, elegant and extremely clean performance during which he prepared and interesting signature drink based of panna cotta dessert.

Impeccable performances by Sammy Piccolo from Canada and James Hoffmann from the UK.
The first of the two in particular excited the audience for the superb creativity and class in the preparation of his elaborate synergy cocktail made with coffee, mango and chocolate, and above all for having nonchalantly finished his performance just one second under the time limit.

Emotion and nerves amongst the competitors was palpable, notwithstanding the competitive spirit behind the scenes there was a friendly and fun atmosphere. Many of the competitors commented positively on the performance of the FB80 model machine by La Marzocco, in particular for its temperature stability and the massive steam power that permitted everyone to obtain an amazing result in the cup.

Bogotá - According to Gabriel Silva, the head of the Colombia Coffee Growers Federation, his country's coffee production is likely to see a drop of 4-6 % in the first half of the year due to heavy rains which have flooded part of the country. However, total production for the 2005/06 season should still reach around 11.5 million bags.

London - The ICO will be renewing the International Coffee Agreement (ICA). Oxfam and other groups representing small-scale family coffee farmers say that the renewed charter will be vital in helping to level the playing field for millions of poor farming families around the world whose livelihoods are being destroyed because they can't compete in the global market due to unequal terms.

"The current discussions on the future of the ICA present an historic opportunity to address the ongoing crisis facing small- scale family coffee farmers and farmworkers," said Seth Petchers, the coffee lead for Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign.

World coffee prices plummeted in 1999, devastating coffee farming communities around the world. Despite recent improvements, the price continues to fluctuate and the crisis for coffee farmers persists. To make matters worse, they don't have enough access to credit and information to plan and market their crops.
"Long-term solutions must go beyond the topic of price and instead address issues including giving farmers the space to participate in international debates - space comparable to that available to the big coffee companies - as well as access to market information and credit," Petchers said. "Since the World Coffee Conference in Salvador, Brazil in 2005, groups representing and supporting small-scale coffee farmers all over the world have been calling on the ICO for greater representation," said Gerardo De Leon of FEDECOCAGUA, a federation of Guatemalan coffee cooperatives. "In Brazil, we presented the ICO with the Carta de Salvador - a declaration outlining the need for greater farmer representation in international debate - and we have elaborated on the Carta in Grounds for Change. The ICO has got the message, now it is time to act."

A recent paper released by Oxfam International and twelve allies (see below for full list) called Grounds for Change: Creating a Voice for Small Coffee Farmers and Farmworkers with the Next International Coffee Agreement, recommends the ICO:

• create forums within the organization dedicated to making coffee production
• more sustainable;
• ensure fair representation of small-scale farmers and farmworkers alongside of
• coffee companies;
• create systems so that all parties, including farmers, have access to relevant
• coffee sector information;
• and facilitate coordinated, well-resourced responses to the crucial issues
• facing small-scale farmers including: technical assistance, risk management
• and access to credit.

Father's Day is right around the corner. Why not get him a nice box of fine gourmet coffee? Most dads are hard to shop for. A tie, soxs or a belt just does not cut it. Check out the Father's Day Coffee Gift Box which might make the perfect gift.


Priced at only $79.99 and free shipping is included.

Each Father's Day Coffee Gift box includes 16 oz. of each of the following coffees:

• Volcanica Gran Reserve - Kona Peaberry Coffee
• Volcanica Gold - Kona Coffee
• Volcanica Reserve - Costa Rican Coffee
• Volcanica Original - Costa Rica Coffee

This just might be the give that makes Dad say "Wow!"

Here is a Cool and Easy Way to Enjoy Coffee during the Hot Months

Iced coffee is an excellent drink and many kids are ordering it at their local coffee shops. The problem is that most places do not prepare it right and leave it as a bitter drink which is why it is not as popular as Iced Tea.

Check out this quick and easy Iced Coffee Recipe.

San José - Costa Rican coffee exports for April were up 12 % to 233,789 bags the Icafe announced last week. Cumulative exports from the beginning of the season are running at 881'483 bags down just under 10% compared with the previous season. ICAFE had predicted exports will rise some 18% to 1.899 million bags in the current season.

Rome - European food safety experts announced Friday that the popular sugar substitute aspartame does not raise the risk of cancer.

An Italian study last year wrongly concluded that the sweetener led to higher rates of lymphoma and leukaemia in rats, said an independent panel of scientists advising the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa).

The new review found that the number of tumours did not increase in relation to the dosage of aspartame fed to the animals. Many of the rats in the study had suffered from chronic respiratory disease and that was the most likely cause of the tumours, the panel said.

The findings support a huge U.S. federal study released last month, which found no link to cancer in a study of aspartame use among more than half a million Americans. The European panel said its assessment should put the lid on years of debate over the sweetener found in thousands of products, including diet sodas, chewing gum, dairy products and even many medicines.

The food safety scientists were also satisfied with the current European level set for the safe daily consumption of aspartame -- a maximum of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight -- saying that the limit is well above what people consume normally.

The Italian researchers who conducted the rat study insisted that their initial findings were correct and pledged to continue studying the subject. Dr. Morando Soffritti, who led the study for the Bologna-based European Ramazzini Foundation, also assailed the U.S. study, saying that it was an example of how "some researchers are ready to put themselves at the disposal of the industry" that produces sweeteners. He contended the U.S. research didn't distinguish between aspartame and other sweetener use and did not measure lifetime sweetener use.