Coffee

Single cup coffee refers to the type of coffee that’s produced from single portion pods or containers – typically using single cup coffee makers specific to the particular brand or type of container. There are currently five main types or formats – Coffee Pods, Tassimo T Discs, Keurig K Cups, Nespresso Capsules and Nescafe Dolce Gusto Capsules, as we explain below.

First though, the common features…

They all allow you to brew a fresh cup of coffee, with only a minimum of waiting time and a minimum of preparation/attention required.

Single cup coffee making does away with the need to grind your own beans and reduces the actions to that of ensuring that there’s enough water in the machine, switching it on, then when hot (which normally only takes a minute of so) inserting the pod/capsule/disc and pressing a button to produce the freshly brewed coffee.

The machines are also typically quite compact, so don’t take up too much space on your kitchen counter or your desk! One thing to note is that it’s typically only the higher-end machines that can produce a true espresso, which is typically accepted as requiring a pressure of 9 bars or more, but may people find the drinks produced by the other machines perfectly acceptable, while being extremely convenient to use.

As mentioned above, single cup coffee comes in five main formats:

• Coffee Pods – While these are the most common, interchangeable option, you do need to be aware that the ‘standard’ pod size is the 62mm size, as there are also 44mm and 55mm pods/machines. If you stick to the 62mm machines, such as the Philips Senseo single cup coffee makers or the Krups Home Cafe range, you’ll find that you have the widest range of choices, from both the producers of the single cup coffee markers as well as from independent sources.
  - A main source for this type of coffee pod is the Senseo Douwe Egberts range, which currently has a number of sub-ranges, covering the traditional coffee strengths such as Decaffeinated, Medium Roast, Dark Roast and Expresso, featured blends such as Sumatra Blend, Brazil Blend, Kenyan Blend and Colombia Blend together with other flavors such as Breakfast Blend, Creme Brulee, Chocolate and Paris (French Vanilla).
• Tassimo T Discs – These work with the Tassimo range of single cup coffee makers, which are able to read the bar code on the discs, which allow the machine to adjust it’s processing according to the specific needs of the selected disk, including being able to use a ‘milk’ disc when making cappuccinos, etc.
  - The Tassimo system takes advantage of the capability to adjust the processing according to the particular requirements of the selected drink, so it’s able to dispense a range of drinks from premium coffees, crema coffees, real milk cappuccinos and lattes, espressos, hot chocolates and even teas.
• Keurig K Cups – These work with the Keurig range of single cup coffee makers and fit between the T Discs and the Coffee Pods, in that there are more flavors or variations available than for T Discs, but fewer than the ‘open’ Coffee Pod format.
  - Keurig have partnered with a range of independent companies to provide a huge range of K-Cup varieties, including coffee sources such as Green Mountain Coffee, Diedrich Coffee Roasters, Van Houtte and Timothy’s, Tea brands such as Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow’s and Twinings. They have a large range of blends, covering categories including Extra Bold Roasts (30% more coffee per brew), Dark, Medium & Light Roast, Flavored, Decaffeinated, Fair Trade Certified and Organicm as well as Teas and Hot Cocoa.
• Nespresso Capsules – As might be expected by now, the Nespresso Capsules only work with Nespresso single cup coffee makers, with the difference here being that these are the machines that can provide a true espresso, utilizing pressures in excess of the accepted minimum of 9 BAR to force the water through the ground coffee.
  - One thing to be aware of with the Nespresso system is that while the Nespresso machines are available in various retail locations, the Nespresso capsules are not, but rather have to be purchased directly from Nespresso, either online, via phone or mail or at Nespresso Boutiques. As a result, the ‘running costs’ tend to be somewhat higher than for other systems, which might need to be taken into consideration before purchasing a Nespresso single cup coffee maker.
• Nescafe Dolce Gusto Capsules – These are relatively new to the market, but are backed by Nescafe and Krups. There’s a certain overlap between Nescafe’s Nespresso range and this range, but the focus of the Dole Gusto range appears to be on the home market and allowing them to cup a wider range of drinks that just espressos, which is the focus of the Nespresso.
  - The Dolce Gusto capsule range include Caffe Americano, Mocha, Espresso, Chococino, Cappuccino as well as variations such as Cappuccino Skinny and Cappuccino Ice.

The Nespresso range is probably the option for the true enthusiast, although the Nescafe Dolce Gusto range also uses a professional-level 15-bar pressure system and is worth considering. If new to single cup coffee makers, however, it might be worth starting with a Coffee Pod machine such as the Philips Senseo before seeing if investing in a more expensive system is needed.

Finally, one tip – the results from all the systems can often be improved if you are able to ensure that your mug is warmed before adding the coffee – Give it a try!

For more articles on Coffee and Single Serve Coffee, see the Coffee Pod Guide.

Author: Gwyn Evans
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

If you’re looking to buy a new coffee maker, you obviously want to get the best one that you can. As with other consumer products though, which is “best” is dependent on your particular needs. Cheapest, fastest or best features all being ways of evaluating which is the best coffee maker. Therefore, it’s necessary to know the pros and cons of the differing types of coffee makers, and weigh your needs against them, in order to know which is the best for you.

Drip coffee makers are the most common coffee maker. You find them at home, the office, hotels, restaurants, etc. They come in many shapes in sizes, but they all use a water reservoir that passes hot water over coffee grounds in a paper (or gold) coffee filter. They usually make a pretty good cup of coffee as long as the coffee doesn’t sit on the hot plate too long. When coffee sits in the glass carafe for too long, it starts to burn and taste bitter. To prevent this though, you just need to only brew as much coffee as you know you can finish in 30 minutes.

Coffee percolators have been around for a while, but they’re not the best way to make coffee. They require a coarse ground like the French press, but the problem is that they keep boiling your coffee over and over because the brewed coffee spills over into the hot water reservoir. They’re classic, but not the best option. If you must use one though, try not to use an expensive coffee blend, as to a degree, it will be wasted.

Seen as the elegant and classy coffee maker, the French press is the best option for people who like their kitchen and appliances to give off a stylish and modern vibe. The French press is made up of a glass cylinder with a plunger and a flat mesh filter, and to use it you just put some ground coffee into the cylinder, douse it was water, and press repeatedly on the plunger. As for the final cup of coffee that it produces, it is definitely better than average. The only downside to them being that only coarse coffee grounds can be used with it, so it isn’t an option for those of you who prefer finer blends.

The newest coffee maker trend is one cup coffee brewers, especially coffee pod systems. They are becoming more and more popular in offices. They’re extremely easy to use and maintain because there is no messy filter or coffee grounds to fuss with. You simply pop the coffee pod (or disc) into the machine and let it brew. A minute later you have a cup of freshly brewed coffee, with just a pod to throw away.The only downside is that you can’t brew your favorite exotic blend.

So, which is the best coffee maker for you? It’s just a matter of evaluating your lifestyle and coffee habits, and establishing which type best suits your needs.

http://TheCoffeeMakerStore.com is a daily blog and e-commerce store about coffee, coffee makers, and coffee culture. Leave a comment on the blog for a chance to win a free coffee maker!
By Mark Walters

Author: Mark Thomas Walters
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The first problem in looking for coffee tea makers is you probably would not find one that states it can brew both coffee and tea. The fact is, there are no tea brewers, most of the brewers out there are designed for coffee. But, there are a few coffee machines that can do both coffee and tea equally well. The first one that you should know about is the French Press. They are easy to use, brew good quality coffee or tea and are priced reasonably.

The brewing method for tea and coffee is exactly the same. The first thing is to add in the hot water that is slightly below boiling point, placed the coffee grounds or tea leaves into the filter mesh, allow it to seep for a few minutes then press the coffee grounds or tea leaves. After that, simply pour out the beverage and enjoy it. Other than being very user friendly, it is also very easy to maintain, in fact, most of the French Press is dish washer friendly. And lastly, the pricing for these brewers are very reasonable.

If you find this procedure too complicated, how about pressing one button for your beverage? For an even simpler coffee and tea solution, it would have to be the single serve coffee maker. While no coffee maker ratings would highlight this as their strengths, single serve coffee makers are one of the rare coffee machines that are able to brew equally good coffee and tea.

However, not all the brands are able to do that, currently in the market, only 2 brands are able to do it exceptionally well. They are Keurig and Tassimo, both offers consumers a wide array of beverages, coffee and tea being just the two of them. Out of these two brands, I like Tassimo more because of its individual brewing system. On the back of all its coffee pods known as T-disc are a series of code. This code teaches the machines how to brew the beverage by changing the water temperature and water level to suit the type of beverage.

So, a cup of tea would definitely be brewed differently from a cappuccino. This allows you to enjoy the full flavor of the tea and coffee in exactly the conditions that it would be brewed in coffee shops. If you are someone that loves to drink coffee and tea, then this brewer would be my recommendation. There is another machine that is also able to dispense coffee and tea, but most of you would probably not purchase it -table top vending machine. They have been around longer than the single cup coffee brewers and strictly speaking should be considered the first one button machine.

They are very easy to use and easy to maintain but not many people would like the taste of freeze dried coffee and tea. Freeze dried beverages are similar to the instant coffee and tea that you can get from supermarket, so I doubt anyone would be paying money for a machine to dispense instant coffee! There you have it, a guide of the various types of brewers that can brew both coffee and tea and also my personal recommendation on the one which I think is better.

Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com, and read more about coffee tea makers articles

Author: Ebenezer Heng
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A coffee machine has become a very useful and important device in many homes. Many like to chill and relax with a cup of coffee, of their favourite make and taste. Now this can be made available easily, with the quality of the taste getting only better, with a coffee maker! There are many types, shapes and sizes of coffee makers in the market now. Certain factors have to be taken care of, while choosing coffee makers.

One of the main features that a coffee maker should have is the “Pause and Serve” feature. This allows the coffee pot to be removed from the stand, even before the complete coffee is dropped into it, and also without spilling it all over and making the whole place messy. This is a useful feature as the valve closes when the coffee pot is removed.

The latest in-thing in coffee makers is being pod compatible. A pod is a little prepacked disc of coffee powder which makes coffee easily and does not create a mess. Some models also come with a facility of using both pods and loose coffee powder. Also coffee makers have many digital controls in it that make it easier and effective to use. Features like LCD display, timer, if the time has to be set manually, a clock, auto switch-off feature; this reduces the energy usage. If the machine also has lighted buttons, then it would be more useful to view it in the darkness as well.

Some hi-fi machines have water filter that takes off the chlorine and iron tastes from the tap water. This is quite a good addition, but the maintenance costs and repair costs increase, and so is an expensive process. Also adding a permanent coffee filter to the machine, in case it does not have one, is also a good option. It is better to go for a metal or plastic mesh, as they prove more useful than a paper filter, which leaves a paper taste as well to the coffee.

Some machines also come with a coffee grinder attachment. This grinds the coffee seeds for instant use, thus giving fresh and strong flavoured coffee. This can be a very good feature for those who love drinking fresh coffee with that perfect aroma. However, it is expensive, but is definitely worth the cost.

Coffee machines are the perfect way to make a fresh, perfect cup of coffee for all the coffee lovers out there! Simple to use, available in interesting shapes and different sizes, they are definitely a must-have in all households.

Visit exclusive Coffee Machines Review website for Gaggia Coffee Maker, Philips and Morphy Richards Coffee Maker reviews.

Author: Victor Thomas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Espresso machine and the filter coffee makers took a turn for the better when they came up with the single cup coffee machine. Everyone was accustomed to the usual coffee machines that would make a whole pot of coffee, but there was always the “no good enough” feelings among the user.

The key complain, is the difficulty in getting the right amount of coffee, it is usually a problem of brewing too much or too little. Sure you could adjust the amount of coffee you wanted to brew but most people find that it is difficult to estimate the exact amount of coffee grounds for the amount of coffee they wanted to drink.

With the single serve machines, the pre-measured single serve allows you to make the perfect measured cup of coffee every time.

There are maybe close to hundred different brands of single serve coffee makers around, and it can be quite frustrating to choose the right one. However, it can be segment into 3 board categories: the K-cups, the T-disc and the pods.

First, is the K-cups where you can get gourmet coffee as well as teas and hot cocoas. You do not have to worry about measuring, filters or even grinding the beans. The K-cups offers over 50 types of beverages and they can be brewed anywhere in less than a minute with the Keurig machine.

The K-cups have their own brands and their own patented technology in sealing the coffee ground to ensure that you get the freshest cup of coffee with every cup. And, their variety range from Starbucks coffee to Twinnings tea, so you can say that they are serving some of the most branded F&B brands. If the above are consideration when purchasing coffee, then the Keurig is your choice.

Then, there is the T-disc that offer cups of pure pleasure such as an espresso or latté with no fuss or mess. However, the advantage of T-disc is definitely its cappuccino, that comes complete with real froth.

Their patented code on the T-disc brew each individual drink differently. The T-disc uses a machine that is called the Tassimo. And, this is the machine that converts the code that it read from the T-disc to a frothy cup of cappuccino.

If you are someone that is particular about how the brew would turn out, then Tassimo is the machine that you should get. Especially, if you want an instant cappuccino.

Lastly, there are the coffee pods machine that are more flexible than Keurig or Tassimo, some single serve are able to take in any range of pods from Douwe Egberts to Nespresso. These pods mitigate a major problem for single cup coffee machine -the closed brand system.

Despite all its convenience and ease of use, the single serve usually can only use its own brand of coffee, for example, Keurig can only use the K-cups and Tassimo can only use its T-disc.

However, with “no brand” pod machine coming into the market, they can use pods from any companies, giving the pod coffee maker the largest range of beverages to choose from. So, pod coffee maker is easy to use, measured to user preferences and have the widest range of coffee.

No matter what your tastes are in hot beverages you can be sure to find a single cup coffee machine within these 3 categories that will make your life easier. The ease of these machines and the variety of choices that you have, will make this a must have to any household, if not now, then in the near future.

Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com

Read about coffee stories at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com/coffee-maker-ratings.html

Author: Ebenezer Heng
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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