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The Romance
of Coffee
 (ARA)
- As the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach once said, '"Ah!
How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter
far than muscatel wine!"
Since its introduction
to Paris in the late 17th century, romance has surrounded the
coffee bean. Whether it was served to two lovers on a cobblestone
street or enjoyed in front of an evening fire at home, coffee
has stood the test of time as a luxury and comfort to couples
around the world.
Jean de la
Roque once wrote, "I had long been fascinated by the stories
of my father who brought home to Marseilles some of the first
coffee ever seen there . and by the enticingly exotic services
used in entertaining guests -- tiny Finjan cups of ancient China,
the little silk napkins embroidered in gold, the delicate silver
spoons and the laquered serving tray."
Coffee has
woven its way through many channels of our economic, agricultural
and social history. It has become a form of art, perfected over
many years of roasting, blending, brewing and serving, that has
inspired stimulating conversation, friendships and the occasional
romance.
The coffee
in your cup, like the wine in your glass, starts in the field,
says Jim Stewart, founder of Seattle's Best Coffee, who purchases
coffee from small experienced farmers in various regions of Central
and South America. Beginning as a cherry flower, coffee goes
through many stages and processes before reaching your cup.
Cultivated
on the mountain slopes of the world's coffee-growing regions,
the coffee bean originates from a tree that produces a single
white flower. This flower creates a fruit, or cherry, that signifies
its ripeness by turning a deep crimson color. Inside the cherry
is a seed, commonly known as the coffee bean, which is retrieved
from the flower and sent to a roasting facility. Roasts vary
from light brown, medium brown, darker brown, dark brown to almost
black, to suit individual tastes.
"We produce
this coffee with such love," says Stewart, "we hate
to see it leave."
What better
way to begin your day than with a special cup of coffee? A decadent
blend of sweet raspberry and bittersweet chocolate, the Raspberry
Mocha Kiss(R) from Seattle's Best Coffee is a luxurious gesture
that is sure to warm you and start the day on the right food.
To prepare
a similar version of this coffee at home, you will need one large,
pre-heated mug, 5 ounces of fresh-brewed coffee, 1/4 ounce of
raspberry syrup, 1/4 ounce of bittersweet chocolate sauce, 1
and 1/2 ounces of cold milk, homemade whipped cream and a decorative,
heart-shaped chocolate. Pour the raspberry syrup and chocolate
sauce into the mug. Fill the mug with hot coffee and milk and
top it off with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. To add the
finishing touch, drizzle a "kiss" of raspberry syrup
on top of the whipped cream and set the chocolate alongside the
cup.
Courtesy
of ARA Content
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