The quality of your favorite morning beverage depends on lots of different factors, such as the temperature and the quality of the water used and the method used for preparing the coffee, but what ultimately gives your beverage its flavor and aroma is the beans – here are a few features to look for if you want to select the best coffee beans.

Look for Whole Beans

When it comes to the quality of your coffee, air is the ultimate enemy of flavor, that’s why the best coffee is made from beans that are ground right before brewing, as part of the coffee making process. Coffee beans have a hard outer shell that protects the interior of the beans, the part that gives the flavor of the brew. If the beans are cracked open and smashed long before the brewing – as it is the case with pre-ground coffee – the contact with air leads to oxidation, which kills much of the flavor in your coffee. The solution: always buy beans instead of powder.

The Date of Roasting

Coffee might have a very long shelf life but it doesn’t live forever. Whenever you buy coffee beans, make sure you check the date when the beans were roasted – don’t worry, you will not get sick if you drink coffee made from beans that were roasted a long time ago, but you will not be able to enjoy the potential of your coffee beans to the fullest if they have spent too much time in the packaging. Roasted coffee beans are at their best within 4 to 14 days from the roasting, so try to buy beans of that age (the roasting date will be provided only on the packages that contain hole beans, pre-ground coffee products are more likely to have a use-by date).

The Roast Profile

The best beans are different for everyone – some of us prefer more robust flavors, while others like their coffee light. The strength of the flavor depends on the roasting method used. Espresso roasts are made to deliver the full, powerful taste that we all know, while filter roasts are made especially for the coffee filter.

Geographical Origins

The quality of your coffee is determined by the geographical area it comes from. The best coffee beans come from areas where they get sufficient humidity, sun and where they can thrive in nutrient-rich soil. The most renowned coffee producing areas and countries include Brazil, Colombia, Hawaii, Kenya, Ethiopia and Indonesia – if you really like coffee, you will surely enjoy experimenting with beans from all these different areas.

Organic

Organic coffee means not only that your beans are more flavorful and do not contain chemicals that might be harmful for your health – it also means that the cultivation process protects the environment. Organic growers use farming methods that do not disrupt the balance of the local ecosystem, technologies that do not pollute the air and the water and they also avoid the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers. The best coffee beans are not only tasty and strong – they are also grown responsibly, so try to get organically grown beans whenever you can.

High pressure hose and fittings constructions and their manufacturing quality is essential to the proper function of hydraulic systems that work under pressure loads of up to 10,000 PSI. Fortunately, the latest technology in industrial hose and fittings manufacturing can make your choice of products easier than expected.

Crystal pressure fittings (CPF) are some of the most advanced types of industrial fittings currently in use. Many of them can perform well at even higher pressures than even the most expensive rubber or thermoplastic hydraulic hoses or the most durable metal and PVC fittings.

Determining the Types of Industrial Hoses You Should Use

There are many types of hydraulic hoses you can consider when it comes to high pressure industrial applications. In most cases, rubber or thermoplastic high pressure hoses are used, as their pricing ranges, safety standards and construction specifications are ideal for most projects.

When buying rubber and thermoplastic industrial hoses it’s important to make sure you stay within your allotted budget and to invest only in products that are in line with the latest SAE and DOT industry requirements.

The best types of industrial hoses are also those that exhibit a lower volumetric expansion under increased pressure for enhanced performance. Additional qualities you should look for also include a polyurethane exterior jacket for improved abrasion resistance, steel wire braid coating for added flexibility and rubber strain relief (for rubber hoses) to ensure durability and extended life.

High Pressure Fittings and Their Main Qualities

The latest high pressure fitting technologies have taken pressure resistance to the next level. 10,000 PSI is no longer the standard limit for high grade fittings, as some technologies, such as CPF, can withstand pressures of up to 1000 bar, or 15,000 PSI.

The best fittings are fully machined in stainless steel, and fitted with laser markings to indicate their fitting type, size and maximum allowed pressure value. Aside from these relatively common considerations, there are several other advantages that new technologies can offer:

•    Patented o-ring designs allow CPF fittings to create a complete leak-free seal even at 10,000 PSI, offering a viable alternative to NPT fittings.
•    New lines of BSP technologies have been developed to provide for the first time a finger-tight fitting capable of withstanding 1000 bars of pressure.
•    Fittings designed especially for rubber hydraulic hoses have also advanced in construction to a point where technologies like wire spiral reinforcement and superior corrosion resistance can offer a much higher level of resilience and durability.
•    Many new technologies focus on ensuring that any faulty or damaged components, such as o-rings, can easily be replaced if needed, without having to replace the entire fitting.
•    Interchangeable wrench-tight fittings and adapters are also available for medium pressure application.

Focusing on ease of use, the development of advanced features and the introduction of new materials and designs meant to help reinforce their structural integrity, new technologies for high pressure hose and fittings are on the right track to help industry leaders create far more resilient and reliable hydraulic systems than in the past.