Transcontinental Turkey: Holiday Deals

Author: Amber Mike

Turkey lying as it does partly in Western Asia and partly in South Eastern Europe is transcontinental. It has the Mediterranean sea to the south, the Aegean sea to the West and the Black sea to the north. A varied history with many different civilisations making it their home at different times has left Turkey with a fascinating heritage full of history and archaeology, but also an ability to move with the times enabling it to become very much a part of the modern world as well. This gives a great feeling of modern and ancient sitting side by side, and a wonderful culture where the two exist happily together.   The climate around the coast is temperate with hot dry summers and mild winters. Wonderful beach resorts daub the coastal regions of this wonderful country, with sparkling blue seas, virtually never ending sunshine and an incredibly beautiful coastline. Hospitality here is paramount and a warm welcome awaits everyone travelling to Turkey making this a very popular package holiday location with many holiday makers every year especially as Turkey is still one of the cheaper destinations in the Mediterranean.   If you find yourself bored with the beaches, there are many places in turkey worth visiting. At Dalyan there are the Lycian rock tombs which are cut into the rock face and are incredible to see particularly if viewed from the river below. A trip on the river will take you past these and on through the river marshes to the mud baths where you can pamper yourself in the mud and sulphur pools here before enjoying a river side lunch.   Turkey’s largest City is Istanbul, and it is one of Turkey’s top city destinations. A wealth of historical sites are here from the 17th century Blue Mosque (known for it’s blue tiled interior), to the Dolmabahce Palace built in the mid 19th century which was the first European style palace built in Istanbul. Fourteen tons of gold leaf have been used to decorate it’s ornate gilt ceilings, and in the centre hall there is a chandelier which was a gift from Great Britains own Queen Victoria. If you fancy trying a bit of traditional Turkish lifestyle, you could visit a hamam for a traditional Turkish bath, and perhaps follow it up by visiting the streets and haggling for some of the many bargains to be had here. Perhaps you’d like to fill your evening watching belly dancers while eating a traditional Turkish meal and sipping your raki. Finish off your meal with a proper Turkish coffee, but make sure you let them know whether you’d like it sade (plain), orta (with some sugar) or sekerli (very sweet) as it’s brewed with the sugar already mixed in with the coffee granules. When you drink it, be careful to make sure you stop before you find yourself with a mouthful of coffee grounds, and if you’re lucky, you;ll be able to find a local who will tell you your fortune.

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These are just a handful of the destinations that Turkey Holidays have to offer. For further info on Turkey locations, have a look at Antalya or Dalaman Holidays.

Atomic particles of exotic types comparable to a full zoo were discovered by physicists during 1930s. Muons and Kaons apart from hosts of other particles were found. The eminent physicist Enrico Fermi said that only a botanist could keep all that in mind. It can only be called ironical that later the process of using atom bombs was invented by him.

Coffee exudes the same feeling in me. The different names become impossible to memorize even if they sound delicious, romantic and fascinating!

Frappe coming with a silent ‘e’ is simple and elegant. A cold espresso totally popular in Europe and Latin America, it is made with 2 teaspoons of milk and sugar, and crushed ice cubes. Add some cocoa cream and a quarter cup each of brandy to get a nice variation. My hope is that those drinking it should be silent as a straw is provided with it.

Cappuccino Borgia, named after a notorious prisoner, plays the naughty counterfoil to the innocent Frappe. This one and a half cup chocolate ice cream dream with quarter-cup peeled orange is something you would die for. You start speaking Italian of 15th century after adding a quarter-cup milk to the espresso and six tablespoons of orange juice to blend it.

In the 21st century for a Calypso Cooler you catch a flight to the Caribbean. This chilled coffee is extra strong. For it you need 2 ripe bananas and 2 coffee icecream cups. You can lose your luggage if four tablespoons of rum comes as supplementary.

Caffee Zabaglone, the Latin mystery, should not be forgotten while our coffee receives a compliment from alcohol. For the feast to start, a quarter cup of sugar is added to dry Marsala in the same proportion. Whip the mix with four egg yolks and a dash of salt and stir on low heat till thick. To use the drink to cure a hangover supplement it with a cup of room temperature Italian roast.

The French of New Orleans have not effected by the Roman ancestors. If you want a Mardi Gras, take a half-cup each of eggnog, heavy cream and bourbon and then add them to American roast of double strength. So, at 4 am when I’m trying to sleep, the crowd is still loud.

Drink ordinary Turkish coffee dark and strong with cardamom. The good use of this ancient spice has not only been conceived by them. Cardamom Kaffee is made by Scandinavians too.

Add a cardamom pod (seeded and cracked), two teaspoons of Curacao, a teaspoon of sugar and an eighth-cup of cognac. Put it on fire after heating for about ten seconds in the microwave. If you are brave enough, drink it with a cup of extra strong coffee.

I have to praise the numerous creative inventors for inventing such diverse mixtures, regardless of all the names. Huge bombs may not have been invented by them but you definitely get a jolt with their products!

Imagine your profession as a ?cupper.? Yes, cupping does exist. In fact, professional coffee tasters enjoy the profession as an addition to judging contests, coffee buying and writing reviews, among other coffee-related tasks. But, sitting with several cups of Moonson Mysore coffee among other delicious flavors is a pleasure that can be experienced by anyone, not limited to only masterly cuppers.

A ?cupper? tastes and smells coffees for their flavor, body, aroma and acidity among many other attributes. A simple arrangement can help replicate the professional setting at home.

Be sure to have plenty of filtered water, as even the highest quality grounds can be spoiled with less-than-quality water. Water can have a stale taste to it when it has absorbed odors and been tainted with unpleasant tasting minerals such as sulfur or even mildew from the pipes. Avoid softened or distilled water also since it retains too much of the salts used to soften the water. Just stick with fresh, filtered water for the best taste and cupping experience.

It is useful to have a tray that can hold about a dozen small cups or cupping bowls, as well as a variety of measuring spoons or scoops. Of course, do not forget the coffee itself.

Begin boiling the water, and then grind the beans using a burr grinder set to different settings based upon the number of trials to take place. The fineness of the grind makes a significant difference in the final cup of coffee.

Prepare the coffee in a big or single cup coffee maker but allow samples to steep for several minutes. Generally, you will want two tablespoons of coffee per six fluid ounces of water, but adjust these measurements as you experiment. The water should stay around 200 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temperature can also be adjusted as you experiment with different combinations.

Now, filter the coffee or let it settle for a moment after which you can spoon out a taste and then smell. Enjoy the aroma for a moment, then taste the coffee letting it run over the tongue. Hold the taste for just a few seconds, and then spit the coffee into a nearby container.

You should now set back and think about that particular coffee?s profile. Did it have a woody taste and smell, or was it peppery or floral in flavor and character? It can be amazing how many different varieties of coffee there are, but a little knowledge of the origin of coffee grounds and beans should lessen any surprise considering the array of soil, preparation methods and climates.

Try coffees from different countries. For instance, you will notice that Kenyan AA is a rougher, darker coffee than Columbian which is more floral, whereas the Yemen Mocha is completely different from both offering the cupper a winey taste.

Try some of the different roasts which vary from very dark to light. Or, alter the grind from very fine to rough. Changing the grind or the roast in the same bean can make a big difference in the final coffee taste and texture. Some common attributes applied to a coffee?s profile refer to the acid (tart, somewhat dry), aroma (fruity, floral or herb-like), bitter, body, nuttiness, or sharpness.

There was a time in America when there was drip or instant, sugar or milk. The name of the game was Folger’s. Soon enough, the world was brimful with choices including the Skybury from Australia to the Peaberry from kenya, from Barcelona to Kona. Thankfully there’s plenty of variety in options of style, country and blend to make the biggest coffee aficionado become confused.

Brazil, of course has been the world’s largest producer for more than a century now. A third of the countries land is suitable for coffee cultivation. Bahia and Minas Gerais produce some of the most aromatic blends from this South American country.

Though Colombia, is more famous it is second in volume and it is a sweet and light pleasure that comes in ‘excelso’ and ’supremo’ flavors. Coffees made from Narino or Popayan are the best in quality.

Apart these two big names in coffee production theres a world of different flavors that have their own specific colors too, only adding to the exhaustive list.

Mexico retains its pride of place to better known South or Central American plantations. The variety of small beans grown here produce a soft body and light acidity, producing a mellow flavor and taste. Cuba, with its extremely strong cafe cubano – tastes like tequila competing with Spanish cousins in the shock.

As the fourth largest producer of good coffee, Indonesia is known for its mature coffees. The warm, damp climate churns out a drink with deep body and less acidity.

Not to be cowed by its more famous neighbor, Malaysia brews its coffee in a muslin bag, used to filter grounds, producing a strong cuppa. Though low on grade Liberica should be experienced.

The small Thailand also punches in with a blend touched with chicory served with condensed milk and ice, of course for the breed that enjoys its coffee not warm. Think of Mauna Loa and Kona is aromatic, sweet and having a medium body. On the other hand, Sumatra’s Java is richly flavored. Kenya boasts of its beanya, cultivated at seventeen thousand feet high deep and smooth, and having a delicate aftertaste that beats all words!

The Europeans don’t take second place to anybody. The cafe au lait – half and half milk and coffee concoction is a hot favorite in France. Austria still cherishes the two-thirds dark, one-third regular traditional Viennese blend for generations now.

In 1901 Thanks to Luigi Bezzera and later M. Cremonesi in 1938, Italian espressos are to die for. They contain less caffeine compared to others, you can have two and without feeling guilty. Those looking for something lighter, can try out the weaker cappuccino and latte.

For me though, the good old American black is the coffee, the whole coffee, and nothing but my coffee.

In order to obtain the highest quality of roasting, it is essential that the beans were selected and dried with the utmost care and attention. Some producers will use a specific kind of wash. This wash is used to remove the flesh as well as separate the different kind of beans. Beans will float differently depending on their density. This makes it easier to determine which ones should be used and which ones should be removed. However, there are some producers who will use a more complex and time consuming method.

Dry processed beans usually provide the consumer with a less acidic product. Some acidity can be desired in certain blends but too much acidity can be a bad thing.

As beans heat up during the roasting process they produce different aromas and levels of acidity. They also will release their different flavor components. The first stage of roasting is when the beans absorb the heat. The beans will go from green to yellow and then from yellow to brown. Green does not necessarily mean a color but rather fresh or not yet roasted. Roasting when properly done will smell like popcorn or toast.

When the temperature is about 350 degrees Fahrenheit the sugars will caramelize. This is of course helped along by the increase in moisture temperature of the skin. Reaching the proper amount of caramelized sugars is important to develop a good brew during coffee roast.

Then at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit the beans should expand and reach about double what their original size was. They should also be light brown, but this can vary depending on what kind of beans are being used. They should also reduce in weight to about 5% less than their original weight. Then as the temperature continues to increase the beans will lose more weight and then release CO2. When the temperature hits about 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the beans should be a medium to dark brown and should be oily. Often there is a loud pop heard at this stage which is known as the second crack phase. This is where over roasting can occur and care and attention is necessary. Burnt taste can occur when the oils are boiled off and combine with the oxygen in the air. The goal is to have the perfect balance and combination of bitterness, acid, and a wide variety of different profile characteristics.

The body of a coffee is slightly misleading. It does not necessarily refer to the actual thickness of the coffee. In actuality it refers to the proteins and fibers that are found in the coffee. It specifically refers to the feeling on the tongue when it is rubbed against the roof of the mouth. It is fat content in the beverage that is largely controlled by the roasters and not the brewers. Unfortunately too light of a coffee will usually contain a bitterness in the final result. However, too dark a brew with sometimes produce too much of a chocolate tone with a burnt taste. Experimentation is the best way to find the coffee the best suits your desires without needing to go anywhere, even if it?s nearby.

All baristas have their own method when making and serving coffee drinks. Here?s my method?

Everything starts with water. Coffee grounds, regardless of quality, cannot overcome using poor water. The water must be fresh and very hot at near boiling. It may sound strange, but water can become stale due to inadequate filtering and cleaning.

The coffee is next. I recommend choosing aribica regardless of whether it is from Brazil or somewhere else. It is best self-roasted or purchased not too many days after it is delivered. You always want the coffee to have a lovely, ?fresh food? aroma.

The second category of coffee, robusta, is much easier to grow and more resistant to disease, but also has less flavor and more caffeine. It is best used as a quick energy fix and not for a the finer coffees like espressos meant to be enjoyed and savored.

The coffee should be finely ground in burr grinders for a dark roast, either Viennese or French referring to the ground color. Burr grinders are preferred here b/c of their pyramid shaped teeth between two plates that grind the beans, whereas blade grinders simply chop rather than grind.

With burr grinders, the distance between the plates determines the granule consistency. A powdery consistency is too fine whereas a small-gravel size is too large. A sand grain-sized granule is a just right. Be sure the grinder is not exposed to air any longer than necessary or the coffee will oxidize and take in odors. Neither is beneficial to any good cup of coffee.

Finally, a good espresso is made in a quality, clean machine with quality meaning one that generates heat by a boiler or a thermoblock and can produce pump pressure of nine bar or higher. Try to avoid the cheaper machines that use steam to create pressure.

Now, let?s move onto the process?

Be sure to warm up the machine prior to using it by running good water through the machine. Now, turn the machine on, let the water warm up slightly before running a cup through without coffee to allow the machine to flush itself. Add the grounded granules and pack it down slightly. You should feel some spring to the grounds, but the coffee should not loose. Insert the hopper into the machine and place an espresso cup at the outlet. Start the machine and wait just a few seconds for the thin stream to flow. Add extra time for a double shot of espresso.

As you see, it is a fairly straightforward process. A great espresso is all about using quality ingredients, using clean coffeemakers and not burning the roast.

Many people do not understand the obsession that people seem to have with adding things into their coffee. You probably know one of these people who takes their coffee straight. They are likely to never add so much as a drop of milk to their coffee. They usually will state that adding anything just takes away for the natural superior taste the coffee has and is detrimental to its character.

However, many people disagree and believe by adding in flavors and creams that they are only enhancing the quality of the coffee. In fact, even the professionals who truly do enjoy a straight cup a little mixer now and then is a nice thing that they enjoy.

As if there are not enough different coffees before adding stuff into it, right? By adding things the number of different coffees probably triples or more. It can make even the biggest coffee expert wonder how in the world they will ever understand all the different coffees. People love adding things to their coffee, though, and it is something that is sure here to stay.

It isn?t even just adding things in, either. Some people like to mix different blends, even in a single cup coffee maker, to get a whole new hybrid blend. Of course, the big thing now seems to be flavorings. People will add almost any flavor to their coffee ? mint, chocolate, alcohol, vanilla, almond, cherry, whatever is around.

Coffee does seem to suit almost any flavoring pairing, even spicy, like cayenne for the bold coffee drinker. The additions of flavorings just make the coffee more interesting and unique to the individual drinker. There are even a variety of ways to serve coffee that mixes it up. The different methods of brewing create cappuccinos, espressos and other brews. Even ice has found its way into coffee in an acceptable manner. Iced coffees are hotter than ever in the United States and something that seems to be here to stay. These iced coffees are usually very strongly brewed due to the fact the added ice melts and dilutes the coffee. Starting with a strong brew will produce a good tasting coffee and not just a brown glass of water. They often have flavoring added and usually have some milk or cream added to them as well. They are basically just poured into a tall glass and drank cold. They are perfect for the coffee lover that hates hot drinks.

Most people will find a favorite and stick with it. Eventually they start to become known at their local coffee house and say give me the regular without a weird questioning look. People can often become set in their ways when it comes to coffee. So if you are confronted by a coffee drinker who still takes their coffee straight, give them respect and understand they have probably been drinking it that way for years and are just not ready for change.