Monday, 16. November 2009
The term Expresso coffee derives from the Italian word espresso and translates to brewed for you. This term has been used to identify a particular type of coffee since the beginning of the 20th century. While this method is actually older than that term. Not everyone understands what the term Expresso coffee actually means.
A popular misconception is that Expresso coffee is different than pother coffee because of the beans that are used. This simply is not true. There are specialty beans that are popular with Expresso coffee but they alone do not make a cup of coffee Expresso coffee.
The blend of the beans is also something that is often credited with being what is different with Expresso coffee. Blends just like beans may be made with Expresso coffee in mind but this does not mean that a cup of coffee made with these blends is Expresso coffee.
While others believe that it is the roast. A roast of a coffee pertains to how strong a cup of coffee is. Expresso coffee may very well be bold but not all people prefer their Expresso coffee bold in fact there are some areas of the country that tend to prefer a light roast. The traditional roast in Italy is a medium roast. The roast actually is all up to personal taste.
Most coffees are rated by the type of beans that are used or the blend, but Expresso coffee is different than other coffees due to the fact that it actually relates to the method used to brew the coffee. This does not imply that there are not specific beans and blends that are designed to be used in the brewing process of Expresso but rather that it is the brewing method that is truly unique to Expresso coffee. While it is traditional to serve coffee in a mug or coffee Expresso coffee is actually served in a small cup that resembles a child tea cup. This cup only hold a shot of coffee not a full 8 oz as do most coffee cups. What truly makes Expresso coffee Expresso is that it is brewed under a large amount of pressure using extremely finely ground beans.
Making expresso coffee is a skill. A properly made cup of expresso coffee will have a light brown layer on the top. This layer is known as crema. Crema can only be produced if the coffee is made properly. In order to make an authentic cup of espresso you must have a true espresso machine. The difference in machines is how much pressure is applied to the brewing process.
Brewing the coffee is not the only thing that makes Expresso coffee unique. The way it is properly drank is also a unique experience. Expresso should be held up to the nose and smelled by taking a large whiff of the aroma of the Expresso coffee. Then the coffee should be drunk in several swallows. Then the cup should be placed back on the serving saucer with vigor.
Some people may look at a drinker funny if they add sugar to expresso coffee but actually this practice is accepted in Italy. However to truly savor the expresso coffee it should be drank straight. This will allow you to truly enjoy the experience the way it is intended.
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Posted in Coffee by Lucia Latte -
Sunday, 15. November 2009
A thermal carafe coffee maker is perfect if you want to easily make a pot of coffee that will last for hours. Traditional coffee machines with the hot plate underneath the pot may essentially burn the coffee over time and make it taste as if it were days old. Long-time coffee lovers can always detect when this has happened, and if you are one you are well aware of how unappealing over-brewed coffee can be.
Instead of using the hot pot to keep coffee warm, the coffee is held in the carafe, which is a sort of pot, and creates a vacuum to keep it warm for hours at a time. This is what makes a thermal carafe coffee maker special. It is very simple, and it is very useful for avoiding that burned taste.
However, keep in mind that with these types of coffee machines, the coffee is only kept warm by the heat that was initially used to brew it, so it will not get any hotter and after some time it will cool down. Due to this, it is best to only make an amount that you believe you will finish within a couple of hours of brewing.
You can find carafe models that will dispense the coffee direction into a traveling up for easy mobility. These are very convenient if you like to brew a cup or two before leaving home for work in the morning and don’t have the time to sit at home and drink it. If you use thermal cups that have tops, coffee done this way can stay warmer for a longer period of time because of the fact that there are so many techniques these cups use to hold the temperature of the coffee.
The prices for your run of the mill thermal carafe coffee maker are higher than a traditional coffee maker, quite often by a significant amount. Ones that dispense right into travel thermal cups can be even more pricey, but they are also extremely convenient. If you are a coffee lover, then price is most likely not so much of a matter as long as you have a delicious and warm cup of coffee every time.
Technology is constantly getting better and better, and coffee makers are always evolving just like anything else we use these days. Models with timers, reusable filters, and even professional-style foamers are on store shelves for personal as opposed to commercial use, something we couldn’t have even dreamed of 30 years ago. A thermal carafe coffee maker is just another improvement to an old classic, though it just so happens to be one of the more practical improvements. Your coffee’s taste should not be given up just because you can not drink it right awayThe taste of your coffee should not be sacrificed for the convenience of making one big pot for a few hours’ worth of drinking. If you try thermally warmed coffee, you may never go back.
If you have been drinking coffee for a long time, then you are likely sick of that burned taste after just a few hours of sitting on the pot. Find out how a thermal carafe coffee maker can make that taste a thing of the past.
Posted in Coffee by Marcy Johnson -
Thursday, 12. November 2009
I live in New York, home to some of the best food in the world. The same can be said about coffee too. There are so many great makers of coffee in this city that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with them all.
It was just last week when I stumbled upon my favorite new coffee. In fact, this is the best coffee I’ve ever tried in my life. That’s a really bold statement when you consider how much coffee I actually drink.
The store has its origins in Portland, Oregon, with a few locations throughout the city and some others in Seattle. The founder of the chain moved to New York, and that’s all to our benefit, as the first of a few planned branches has opened here.
Many patrons of Stumptown praise the high quality of the entire menu, but I’ve stuck with the regular house brew so far and it’s excellent. The cafe lattes and the cappuccinos are said by many to be even better than the regular coffee.
You’d be surprised to know that Stumptown coffee doesn’t really cost any more than you’d pay at a major chain, which happens to be a great thing. The atmosphere, though it lacks seating in this particular location, also seems to be one entirely based around the quality of the coffee.
I’m not alone when I say that this is the best coffee I’ve ever had. The chain has won numerous awards, and those who’ve tried it seem to be just as hooked as I am.
Seattle residents are going as far as saying that Stumptown has the best coffee in their city. When a coffee chain is winning the praise of drinkers in a huge coffee city like Seattle, I think the praise speaks for itself.
I can only envy those on the West coast who’ve been fortunate enough to have a Stumptown in their city for the last decade. As for me, I’ll definitely be making the most of my new found obsession.
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Posted in Coffee by Simon Reese -
Sunday, 1. November 2009
If you are a coffee lover, you know how much of a difference the smell of a great cup of coffee makes in your day. There are probably days that it is the only reason you get out of bed. The smell drifts upstairs as you have the timer on your machine and there is nothing you can do to resist that first cup of roasted fresh coffee to start your day.
Everything starts somewhere and for coffee it is with the bean. While tastes may vary, everyone will have their favorite. You may be a nuts and bolts guy and love Maxwell House or you may be fancy pants and prefer a brand like Volcanica so you can get the Blue Mountain Blend. Regardless of what bean you like, there is nothing better than the flavor that roasted fresh coffee provides for you.
For the perfect cup of coffee, you’ll want to start with whole roasted fresh coffee beans that you grind yourself. By the way, you should only buy small quantities of whole beans, maybe enough for 1 or 2 months at a time and keep them in an air tight container to preserve freshness.
With the amount of companies out there that specialize in coffee these days, it is no surprise that there are plenty of coffee lovers who don’t even make coffee at home. Their quest is to get out of bed and get to the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks soon after awakening so their day can start. They are merely going through the motions until the first sip takes place.
If you brew your own coffee, an obvious consideration is your coffee maker. This is something that you can spend as little or as much as you want, depending upon what is important to you. There are those who merely need to get the coffee into their system to function so these individuals will buy just about any machine to get the magical black juice. However, if you are a true lover of coffee, you are at least going to make sure you get a machine with the optimal brewing temperature of 200 degrees.
On your quest for the perfect machine, do a lot of research and don’t believe everything you read. If you want an honest opinion, go to a neutral reviewing site or check out forums that are aimed at coffee lovers. Even after all of that, you are still going to want to taste a cup before you buy it. Most decent sellers will have machines of various types up and brewing so you can try the coffee from the machine.
There is no measure too far out for the perfect cup of coffee. If you don’t subscribe to this theory, then you’re probably not a die hard coffee lover, you are just using it for its magical powers. Then again, maybe you just haven’t had the perfect cup of roasted fresh coffee yet!
When you are considering buying gaggia platinum vision you should start to consider if you will use them at home. Like any shiny new thing it may seem like a great idea but if you aren’t going to use them then dont buy. Home coffee machines
Posted in Coffee by Bart Jones -
Sunday, 1. November 2009
Did you know that coffee is the most ordered beverage in the world other than tea? For more than a century, this particular drink has captured our sense of taste and smell due to its aromatic features. A sip of this brew is as important as our meal for most of us coffee lovers.
Coffee beans which are grown mostly in tropical countries are the source of its varying mix. Some of these beans are known for their unique tastes. The most common type of coffee bean are Robusta and Arabica varieties.
Even though instant coffee is an option, most people will want to get their own maker for brewing coffee at home. After you use it for a while, it will become almost vital for your day to day living. Coffee makers are convenient and economical and we can rely on them to provide us with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, day in and day out.
Just like any other coffee maker accessory, one of the most fundamental is the water filter. Contaminants found in regular tap water can greatly affect the taste of your blend. Using paper filters is much more expensive than using water filters for your coffee maker. These filters also come with the ability to remove tiny particles in the regular tap water, thus protecting your coffee maker from excessive wear and tear.
Other important coffee maker accessories are coffee filters, which strain out the ground coffee beans and keep them from mixing with the brew. If you have these in your coffee maker, you can always be sure that you will never get to sip any ground coffee residue while enjoying your freshly brewed coffee.
Another is the cloth filter which is more economical because you get to use it more than once by rinsing it clean after each use. Gold coffee filters are the most expensive. These are edged with real gold and are more resilient than other filters.
An additional coffee maker accessory are the millers. If you have these in your home, you will be able to make your own ground coffee by grinding the coffee beans yourself. Its razor sharp edges make it very efficient in grinding and milling hard coffee beans.
Coffee lovers around the world just can’t live with a sip of coffee. The wonderful aroma it gives is more than enough to give us a jolt and awaken our senses. So if you love coffee and love making it in your home, you should have these wonderful coffee maker accessories to help you make just that right blend.
One of the best coffee maker accessories that you might add to your home coffee bar are Krups Coffee Maker Accessories.
Posted in Coffee by Celia Hand -
Friday, 30. October 2009
More and more consumers are realizing the need to evolve with the times to get green smart. Growing organic produce is the ultimate starting point for such environmentally friendly projects, thus the increase in the popularity of organic beverages.
Organic coffee beans derive from coffee trees grown under an awning of taller growing trees and plants, usually banana trees. These natural tree awnings are the perfect shield allowing just enough sunlight and rain to seep through. 50% shade is ideal for the slow growing conditions sought. The falling plant leaves serve as a natural compost and mulch layer at the bottom of the coffee plants to retain moisture and top quality soil profile. No synthetic pesticides may be used on organically certified products.
Coffee beans enjoy a very large market share and are of highest value to traders with an estimated 70 Billion US Dollars trade value capacity. In previous years pricing had been manipulated and farmers were easily paid peanuts for their efforts and hard work, but with continued economic development, minimum prices for the beans have been set, counteracting the harsh effects of dips in the business cycle.
When ready for harvesting, seeds are carefully picked from the coffee trees as a tree produces a mere 2.20 pounds of coffee beans per year. The beans are soaked in water until no pulp is present around the seeds. The seeds are then dried in the sun and weighed. After the weighing, the seeds are prepared for their long journey across the world to various coffee drinking countries. The seeds are sacked and re-weighed where it’s then stored in special organic produce store rooms and safe guarded until auction and final shipment is done.
A downside to organic produce is the scarcity of the products. Organic foods have a tendency to be associated with higher prices to consumers due to the products’ steeper pricing in relation to conventional products. Prices are higher due to various direct and indirect influences such as low yields, higher labor requirements, business start-up financing and additional land needs.
Farmers of organic coffee beans have strict guidelines to following. The guidelines are prescribed by relevant Independent organic certifying organizations, Fair Trade and KNCU. These rules and regulations are drafted according to international supply standards. Compliance with these organizational requirements is a feather in the hat of the farmer as he or she knows the organic produce planted and cared for on his farm meets high international standard.
Farmers of organic coffee beans and their nations make a commitment to changing their lives for the better by taking positive actions in countries often labeled as third world. By participating in farming of organic coffee beans, these farmers are helping to build up their communities, establish better health care and education opportunities as well as creating brighter economic futures.
If you are looking at gaggia platinum vision you need to think if you will use them at home. Like any shiny new thing it may seem like a great idea but if you aren’t going to use them then dont buy. Home coffee machines
Posted in Coffee by Bart Forcey -
Monday, 26. October 2009
If you want to find a reason to have your friends over more frequently than they spend at the local Starbuck’s, then go out and buy yourself a Pasquini Livia 90 fully automatic espresso machine. This machine, designed by Pasquini for the home, office or small restaurant or cafe, is just as good as the semi-automatic version, but with push button control and convenience. In other words, Turn on your machine, let it warm up for the average of seven minutes it takes (very fast, compared to other espresso machines!), then push a few buttons and go on to other things. Come back to a perfectly brewed and poured shot of espresso, every time.
With the Pasquini Livia 90 fully automatic espresso machine, you can brew espresso at the same time that you are steaming milk. Yes, with the same machine. What kind of time saver is that? Now you know why your friends will come knocking on your door more than Starbuck’s. With features like these, you can have coffee production that is quick and reliable, exactly what you’d be looking for in a commercial setting. Maybe, with your Livia 90 Automatic, you could be heading toward a new life as a commercial coffee peddler. No worries with that either, since the Livia 90 Automatic comes with an NSF Sanitation Certification. You need one of these if you decide to go commercial.
Going back to the easy push button control features, are you wanting a single shot of espresso or do you prefer a double shot? All that has to be done is the picking of your cup size and your Pasquini Livia 90 fully automatic espresso machine will give you a rich,aromatic cup of espresso. Just the way you wanted it. Are you wanting a particular style of espresso? Just push the button. Any size cup of regular coffee can be brewed by just flipping a switch! Want espresso again? Just switch back – yup,it’s that easy!
You don’t have to worry about learning to use the controls. They are easy to use and read. Indicator lights at the front of the machine let you know, by way of a green light, that the power is on and the espresso machine is ready to produce great shots for you. The orange light on the front tells you the boiler is heating up. And a pressure gauge, located right below the control panel, lets you know when the pressure is just right for brewing. Very simple.
Let’s talk about dispensing hot water and frothing milk. You may want to dispense hot water for tea and otherwise. Let’s just face it, the Pasquini Livia 90 fully automatic espresso machine give out one fine cup of steamed milk. There is no waiting for the completion of the brewing cycle,either. You can easily reach along the left side of the machine to get the chrome plated brass steam pipe. You will be able to bring down the steam to the frothing tip. Two tips : there is a traditional tip that is stainless steel which is used in commercial practices and there also is a Teflon tip which is a froth enhancer. You can really get wild with the foam here. This will make the latte and cappuccino fans happy!
Now you can turn the little knob to the right for instant hot water. This will add hot chocolate and tea to your list,or you can even add a touch of hot water for your Americanos!
You owe yourself a Pasquini Livia 90 fully automatic espresso machine and now that you can see that any pros outweigh the cons you can make a confident decision. The rugged portafilters and large water tanks ( which you can refill quick and easily at anytime – even when the machine is running ) . I could go on and on forever!
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Posted in Coffee by Jessica Lauren -
Monday, 26. October 2009
Stainless steel coffee makers can actually prove to be helpful as they are a great way to get your afternoon started so you’re not feeling tired throughout the day. There are many different types offered and choosing the perfect one can certainly be an overwhelming task. Fortunately, it isn’t so bad once you are aware of what factors to take into account so here are tips to help you buy the right brewing machine.
1. Confirm your wants ahead of time
Prior to getting started, it’s critical that you plan ahead and determine how much you plan on brewing as there are units available that brew one to ten cups. Brewing only one cup may actually be beneficial particularly if you don’t drink a lot of coffee and don’t want to waste anything.
2. Safety options are highly recommended
Purchasing a coffee brewer that has safety features are fully crucial because the last thing you want is for it to burn up for the reason that it wasn’t shut off. The ability to shut off after some hours is a feature that you positively want to look for.
3. Pause features are a must
Convenience is especially significant nowadays so be certain that the unit you get features a pause and brew feature so you do not need to wait for the cycle to complete. This is helpful for many reasons and can essentially save a ton of your time so you don’t have to wait for a full pot to be brewed that may take a while.
These units can generally cost well over 100 dollars but you can generally be able to locate discount prices by looking at online retail stores. You can additionally find clearance sales at local department shops where you are able to get additional savings. Be sure to take these above factors into consideration if you are serious regarding buying stainless steel coffee makers for the home.
Get free information on coffee maker with grinder and product reviews.
Posted in Coffee by Bobby Zoine -
Saturday, 24. October 2009
Many people are starting to make healthy meal choices, including healthier drink options. A healthy beverage should revitalize and refresh your body without adding unwanted fat or calories.
Water. Drinking plenty of water will fend off fatigue, headaches and muscle spasms caused by dehydration. Water is also essential for great looking skin. When your body is properly hydrated, skin looks youthful and radiant. Also an effective appetite suppressor, drink a glass of water before meals and you will eat less overall. Water is also effective for ridding your body of harmful toxins. Maybe you should have a glass right now!
Cranberry juice. These colorful red berries are loaded with vitamin C and studies show that an ingredient in cranberries prevents bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder, preventing bladder and urinary tract infections. The powerful antioxidants in cranberry juice helps get rid of free radicals and reduces inflammation. Drinking a glass of cranberry juice each day will also help lower your cholesterol. Stick to 100% cranberry juice and avoid cranberry juice cocktails, which have added sugar.
Green tea. The health benefits of green tea are seemingly endless. Green tea is not only a major source of antioxidants, but it can also help reduce the over-production of harmful enzymes in your body that may eventually lead to cancer. Forget your morning cup of coffee and enjoy a relaxing cup of green tea instead. Naturally occurring compounds in green tea are responsible for regulating blood sugar levels by promoting glucose metabolism, blocking glucose absorption and increasing insulin activity.
The following sugary, calorie packed drinks are very popular, but. They are also some of the unhealthiest drinks available.
Fancy coffee drinks. Your local coffee shop may try to entice you with a tasty caffeinated treat that features full-fat dairy products, chocolate, sugary syrups, artificial colors and flavors. These drinks often have as many calories and fat as a fast food meal.
Summer cocktails. Summer parties and picnics are not complete without a festive cocktail or two. But beware: these colorful, cheerful drinks pack quite a few calories. Pina coladas, margaritas, and daiquiris are drowning in calories, and that is even before the liquor is added.
Smoothies. Don’t be lured by the health claims made by some smoothie makers. Many smoothies claim to be healthy but the added fat and calories tell a very different story. Sugary juices, full-fat dairy products, and other extras make this drink a high calorie mistake.
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Posted in Coffee by Jermaic Honsher -
Wednesday, 21. October 2009
Clueless about the best way to meet people and get to know a new city? There’s a simple way to figure out where the best spot to go later in the evening is, or better yet, to understand how things work. Just head to a local cafe, and get the best insight on how the country you’re in operates. Learn if people are leisurely or rushed just by watching them drink some coffee.
In fact, it’s easy to learn about a place by studying the caf? lifestyle. For example, if you’re in the United States, in most any city that’s not a New York or a San Francisco, you’re going to find that the way that most people do coffee is as fast as they possibly can. From driving through the window at the local Starbucks to a number of to-go options in malls and shopping centers, coffee isn’t so much an experience to be savored, but a substance to be consumed as quickly as possible. It seems that Starbucks has been responsible for introducing concepts like flavors and soy milk to suburban areas, though, and even Dunkin Donuts has had to step up their game and finally offer espresso.
One spot in the United States where the caf? lifestyle is slightly more thriving that isn’t New York or San Francisco is Portland, where the rain and dreary weather make it pretty much essential to cuddle up with a warm, caffeinated beverage. A lot of places in the world have coffee as a major part of keeping warm, including in The United Kingdom, where a cup of tea might be preferred, but coffee, especially Italian espresso, is finding its stronghold.
Of course, hop across the pond to The United States, and you’re going to find that things are a little different. People actually go to drive-through windows at Starbucks because they don’t have the extra couple of minutes to get out of the car on the way to work, and even places like McDonald’s have taken to serving Newman’s Organic coffee because somehow Americans have learned that they like the taste of better coffee, but they don’t really understand that the taste is only half of the experience. So while you can get a decent cup of coffee even at a rest stop in New Jersey now, it doesn’t mean it comes with remotely the same ambiance as a country where the caf? lifestyle actually matters.
Probably the biggest difference from country to country is what comes with your beverage. In the States, there’s not going to be any free snacks coming with your cappuccino or latte, but elsewhere in the world, a cafe wouldn’t think of serving you just a coffee. You see, the caf? lifestyle in places like Buenos Aires, Argentina, will practically give you an afternoon snack. Order a coffee–any coffee–and not only will a nice Italian-style espresso-based beverage come out, it will be accompanied by a glass of sparking water, at least three packets of sugar, a couple of tasty cookies, and sometimes a variety of chips or crackers. Likewise, if you’re in Paris, it’s sometimes cheaper to just go with their special, which means that your coffee always comes with a croissant or cookies.
The thing about the snacks in these other countries where the caf? lifestyle is important is that it’s pretty much permission to stay as long as you want. There’s no one trying to turn the tables over fast in the afternoon, and every extra item that comes with that coffee buys you at least ten more minutes to sit, relax, and hang out.
Perhaps some of that culture will rub off the places that it doesn’t exist already. Starbucks, after all, has made it acceptable to want something with espresso, and maybe the slow food movement in The States will carry over to beverages in public. A number of bloggers and internet fiends are making it slightly more acceptable to sit in a public place and still be a responsible adult, so long as there’s a computer in front of you and you look busy.
But wherever you are in the world, get to know a little bit more about the city you’re visiting by heading over to a well-worn looking spot. It might have waiters in bow ties, it might have beat-up looking wooden tables, but all that matters is it has a nice view of the street, and a few customers. You now have the best seat in the whole city to learning how things work. Just don’t rush off now, you hear?
Damian Papworth loves coffee. As such he launched the One Cup Coffee Makers website. On this sitee you can read up about your 1 cup coffee maker
Posted in Coffee by Damian Papworth -