20100604 The Perfect Cup of Coffee (1)

The Perfect Cup of Coffee

Making one of the world's most popular drinks

SC: How do you make great coffee?

VT: There are many ways to make coffee - espressos, drip coffees and siphon-made coffees. Different combinations of beans and equipment will produce very different beverages. Most importantly, you need to have clean, high-quality water and good-quality coffee. Water temperature is also fundamental. For example, espresso machines need to keep water at a very consistent temperature.

SC: How does coffee go from the plant to the pot?

VT: It's a long and complicated process. Basically, coffee beans are the seeds of coffee trees. There are both hand-picked and mechanically harvested beans. Hand picking means the beans that are taken are all ripe. In contrast, mechanical harvesting takes ripe and unripe beans, leaves - everything. The seeds, or beans, are removed from the fruit. Then they are washed, dried and roasted.

SC: How do you keep your coffee beans fresh?

VT: Some people say to put them in the refrigerator, but don't do that. Just put them in a vacuum-sealed glass jar and use them up within seven to 14 days.

combination n. 組合(體)

eg: The cookbook has a combination of Thai and Italian recipes.

=> 這本食譜是泰式和義式食譜的結合。

eg: The combination of tiredness and boredom caused the kid to feel frustrated.

=> 疲倦和無聊讓這些孩子感到挫折

beverage n. 飲料

=> something you drink

eg: Hot beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate are complimentary.

=> 熱的飲料例如咖啡、茶和熱可可是免費招待的。

eg: Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in teh students' cafeteria.

=> 學生自助餐廳是禁止酒精類的飲料 。

beverage 含酒精和不含酒精的飲料(含意較廣)

drink 含酒精的飲料

vacuum v. 使成現真空的狀態

sealed adj. 密封的

vacuum-sealed adj. 真空包裝的

= vacuum-packed

eg: These vacuum-packed dried bananas can be stored for 6 months.

=> 這些真空包裝的香蕉乾可以被存放6個月。

eg: The vacuum-packed beef jerky tastes really well.

=> 這種真空包裝的牛肉乾真地非常好吃。

siphon v. 通過虹吸管/由虹吸管輸送

fundamental adj. 基礎的/根本的/十分重要的

=> one of the most important of something

mechanically adv. 機械方面地/機械地/物理上地

consistent adj. 始終如一的/前後一致的

=> stand the same and not change

eg: consistent temperature

ripe adj. 成熟的

unripe adj. 未成熟的

//== Chat room ==//

coffee 咖啡

caffeine 咖啡因

addicted 上隱的/沈溺於某種(尤其是不良的)嗜好的/入了迷的

be addicted to something 對...上癮

eg: He is addicted to coffee. 他喝咖啡成癮

eg: He is addicted to alcohol. 他喝酒成癮