The names of the beans normally do not refer to the kind of coffee plant they come from; instead, the name can refer to any of the following.

Styles of Coffee Roasts

• French and Italian roasts:
  Dark, heavy-roasted coffee beans that are almost black in color and produce a strongly flavored coffee.
• American roast:
  A medium-roasted coffee, which produces a coffee that’s neither characteristically light nor heavy.
• European roast:
  Two-thirds heavy-roasted coffee beans combined with one-third medium-roasted beans.
• Viennese roast:
  One-third heavy-roasted coffee beans combined with two-thirds medium-roasted beans

To further clarify the coffee roasts;

• Light roasts are known by several different names.  These coffees will have the coloring of milk chocolate and contrary to popular belief, will contain more caffeine than dark roasted coffees, as much as 10% more!  Origin coffees are generally roasted lightly to bring out the individual qualities of the coffee.
• Medium roasts are familiar to you as a City Roast or Breakfast Roast or American Roast.  These beans have a dark brown color and may display some oily spots of the coffee’s natural oils coming to the surface.  Medium roasts are less acidic while more spicey and nutty undertones become apparent.
• Dark roasts are described as European, French, Italian, Espresso, Full City or Viennese.  These are not reflective of the origins, but rather the degree of the roast.  Coffee roasted to this level will appear almost black in color and be very shiny or oily.  Many of the flavor characteristics are gone from beans roasted to this level.  They have a smokey, deep flavor, with perhaps some of the caramel notes as well, from the caramelization of sugars in the bean. This roast has a bittersweet wash to it.

Choosing the Right Coffee Bean:
So, how does all this translate into what’s best for your cup?

Because coffees grown in the same parts of the world can have similar characteristics, knowing your coffee’s origins can help you decide if it will be one you like. Coffees from Africa are often imbued with the aromas and flavors of berries, citrus fruits, cocoa and spices, while coffees from Latin America are known for their lighter body and cleaner flavors. Coffee beans from Southeast Asia are often full-bodied and smooth.

When selecting a coffee, think about whether you like bright, citrus notes or nutty, caramel flavors or even the earthy, smokey flavor in your cup. Once you’ve got this overall picture of origins and roasting styles in your mind, honing your personal likes and dislikes involves the enjoyable task of trying a little of this and a little of that when you have a chance.

Java Queen International sells gourmet coffees and coffee makers online.  They offer discount Keurig coffee makers and discount illy coffee pods, illy espresso and iperEspresso

The coffee beans used for Gevalia Select Varietals are grown and harvested in many different countries, including the mountainous areas of Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, India, and Kenya. The popular Antigua varietal grows in the Guatemala Mountains at an altitude of over 3,000 feet and is among the choices offered. The beans are special in that they tend to mature more slowly, but through a complicated production process, the coffee’s freshness and aroma are retained.

Colombia on the other hand, produces a unique type of Arabica bean used by Gevalia. The Colombia Arabica beans are reknowned for a taste often referred to as sparkling and winy. Like other coffee beans, it grows only in mountainous areas where the climate is a bit cooler.

Costa Rica is also know for a very rare selection of coffee beans that has earned a distinguished reputation. The Costa Rica Peaberry offers a different twist to your coffee experience. These rare beans only grow on very high and cold places in Costa Rica where the soil is volcanic and very fertile.

In addition to the varieties mentioned above, Gevalia Select Varietals also includes Indian Malabar, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Kenya Coffee, Mocca Java, Peruvian Organic, and Rainforest Organic. These rare coffee selections can definitely change your understanding about good coffee.

If enjoying these special coffees sounds like something you’d be interested in, there are many special introductory Gevalia offers from the company to help you get started with a club membership.

One of the most renowned coffee houses is Antico Caffe Greco in Rome. Constructed in 1760, this famous coffee house was a favorite gathering place for legends in entertainment, politics, business, and other powerful people that helped shape the events of the times. This coffee house is now a landmark in Italy where authors, artists, and politicians take time to relax and share their thoughts. People like Rossini and Stendhal were but few of celebrities who called the coffeehouse a home.

The character and taste of the coffee at Antico Caffe Greco is well-known, but what might not be as well known is that this coffee comes from part of Gevalia’s European Coffeehouse collection. You don’t have to visit the place to taste the promise it offers. All you need to sample Gevalia products yourself in the comfort of your own home is to join the Gevalia coffee club. Gourmet coffees will be delivered directly to your door!

Aside from Rome’s Antico Caffe Greco, the Gevalia European Coffeehouse collection is composed of other renowned coffee houses such as Cafe De Oriente in Madrid and Cafe Sperl in Venice. Each of these names has proven the worthiness of their reputation through the coffee they’ve served over hundreds of years.  Why not experience some of this gourmet flavor for yourself?