Coffee

If you buy coffee at a cafe every day, you might be surprised how much money you could save by making it at home. You can even have a better cup of coffee if you make it yourself. You know it’s fresh, and you can choose your favourite coffee bean. Coffee makers don’t have to be expensive. If you want to learn how to choose a perfect cheap coffee maker, just consider your needs and shop around. You can find an inexpensive way to make coffee at home that brews a cup of java at least as good as what you’d pay two or more dollars for outside!

The simplest, and least expensive coffee maker is the single-cup cone filter. You simply place the unit over your cup, place a filter in the plastic cone, put in some ground coffee and pour hot water over it. You can, of course, make more than one cup. If you have company, the coffee can easily make two or three cups of coffee. You can add as much or little coffee as you want, depending on how strong you like it or how many cups you are making.

Another kind of inexpensive coffee maker you can get is the kind that brews fresh coffee into a travel mug. These models often come with permanent filters, so you don’t have to buy the disposable paper ones. This is a good coffee maker to take with you to work if you want good fresh coffee instead of what they happen to be brewing at the office coffee pot (if there even is one!).

You can also get a coffee press type machine, where you add fresh ground coffee, pour hot water over it and press. These coffee makers are fairly inexpensive, and can also create a very fresh tasting cup of coffee.

No matter what method you use, much will depend on two things. First, the coffee bean itself. Second, the grinding process. You should use a good quality grinder, and determine how fine or coarse you want it to be.

If you want to know how to choose a perfect cheap coffee maker, consider whether you want to be able to make a single cup at a time, or a larger number of cups. If you want to be able to brew a whole pot of coffee at a time, you are better off getting a good but inexpensive traditional coffee brewing machine. You can find all of these choices in retail stores as well as online.

Mary Smith is a coffee lover, who likes nothing more than spotting and sharing a bargain. She keeps her eye on the best buys for coffee lovers at Cheap Coffee Makers, a site to visit if you want a quality coffee machine at a good price. Check out the expert reviews, including the highly regarded Delonghi EN680 Single ServeEspresso Maker.

Author: Mary Carper Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you think that giving specialty coffee cups and mugs as gourmet coffee gifts is boring, think again. They have indeed come a long way from their basic conventional use. The type of cups suitable for the type of gourmet coffee varies. While paper coffee cups are convenient for on the go individuals to kick start their day, they are never for specialty coffee drinkers as it impacts both the aroma as well the taste of the coffee.

The best cups for coffees are porcelain cups and when serving a great coffee, you should warm it up to ensure that the coffee temperature is maintained consistent to retain and lets it exude its full aroma. The shape of the coffee cups impacts the senses, namely smell, taste, sight and the ultimate level of consumption enjoyment. While the usual coffee mug does well for your premium coffee and cappuccinos, the tall glass of the latte gives more pleasure with the rainbow layers of milk that mixes with it.

For almost every type of specialty coffee, there is at least a few specialty coffee mugs specifically designed for them to be served in. Take for instance the Irish coffee mug, which are made of heavy clear glass with a footed bottom and taller than your conventional brew of the day mugs. As different as they are, the espresso cups are dainty, petite little cups with little saucers often only containing about 3 oz of the brew.

Not to forget the very functional travel mugs which are essentially made of stainless steel, and insulated to help you keep your coffee warm. Almost every other coffee drinker would either own one or more travel mug, even when all the travelling they do are from the coffee pantry to their workstation. The main reasons being that the travel mugs double up as personal coffee mugs with their very convenient handles, their ability to keep the brew warm as well as their sipper gadgets.

Indeed, to the non coffee drinker, a coffee mug is just another cup. But to the coffee connoisseur, it makes all the differences. I am very sure they would be totally appalled if you use a bowl like cappuccino mug for your Irish coffee. Always know your coffee and their matching mugs thoroughly, especially when serving that coffee connoisseur boss of yours. They make even better gourmet coffee gifts too.

Any Time is the Best Occasion for Gourmet Coffee Gifts [http://gourmet-coffee-gifts.net]. Check out Great Ideas for that Gourmet Coffee Gift Basket [http://gourmet-coffee-gifts.net] here

Author: Sarah Osborne
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Gourmet coffee is good, gourmet coffee drinks are fabulous. Using your own gourmet flavored coffee or espresso as a base you can make those tasty treats at home and save yourself a lot of money while impressing your friends at the same time. Gourmet coffee drinks can vary from lattes and cappuccinos to exotic ice cream drinks. There are also alcohol drinks that feature coffee which can be very relaxing after a stressful day at the office.

Gourmet Coffee Recipes

Chocolate Cappuccino: For the chocoholic who loves their coffee this satisfies both desires.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vanilla syrup
• 4-6 oz. Chocolate Milk or Chocolate Soy Milk if lactose intolerant
• 4 oz. Espresso or Very Strong Coffee – can use gourmet chocolate flavored coffee if desired
• Chocolate Shavings
• Whipped Cream

Directions

1. First pour the vanilla syrup into a cappuccino mug.
2. Now add your fresh brewed espresso or coffee to the vanilla syrup and blend the two ingredients together.
3. Next, steam your chocolate milk to 160 degrees F. (Use a candy thermometer to test the milk).
4. Add to the coffee mixture.
5. Top with a dollop of whip cream and chocolate shavings.

Variation: For a relaxing after dinner drink, add a 2 oz. Shot of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur or other chocolate liqueur.

Iced Latte with Flavor Variations: The traditional latte served up cold and creamy for those hot sultry days when you need a boost.

Ingredients

• 2-4 oz. Espresso or Strong Coffee
• 4-6 oz. Milk
• Ice Cubes
• Flavorings as desired (see variations)

Directions

1. Pour the espresso and milk into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice cubes and shake until well chilled. For variations use one of the following flavors. Note: For frozen latte, use a blender instead of cocktail shaker.

Variations: Add any one of the following flavorings to the blender or cocktail shaker. *Coffee syrups available in coffee section of grocer or at coffee shops.

2 oz Vanilla Syrup

2 oz. Chocolate Syrup

2 oz. Hazelnut Syrup

Iced Mint Mocha: This is a wonderful coffee drink for those hot summer days. For a spirited version you can add a liqueur such as Bailey’s Irish Cream.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 oz. of mint chocolate coffee syrup
• 2 scoops of mint choc chip ice cream
• 2-4 oz. espresso shots or strong coffee
• Cold milk
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings/sprinkles

Directions

1. Place ice in blender, add mint chocolate chip ice cream and mint chocolate syrup.
2. Pour in milk based on how thick you want the drink to be.
3. Blend to desired consistency.
4. Top with whip cream, chocolate shavings or sprinkles.

Fall Cappuccino: This coffee drink with a touch of cinnamon and cloves invokes those autumn nights when there is just a hint of chill in the air.

Ingredients

• 4-6 Whole cloves
• 1 Cinnamon Sticks
• 4-6 Whole Green Cardoman
• 3 tsp. Brown Sugar
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate Shavings and Ground Cinnamon
• 2-4 oz. Espresso
• 4-6 oz. Steamed Milk

Directions

1. Add 2 cups water to small saucepan.
2. Add all spices to the water and heat to boiling.
3. Allow to boil for 3-4 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, steam 4-6 oz. of milk to 160 degrees F.
5. Pour the espresso into a cappuccino mug, add the spice mixture and stir well. Top with the steamed milk. Decorate with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and sprinkled cinnamon.

Variations: For more of a coffee drink, you can replace the espresso and steamed milk with 6-8 oz. of strong coffee.

For an adult beverage, add 2 oz. of your favorite brandy

Gourmet coffee drinks can be made without just about any flavorings you can imagine. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Using coffee syrups available online and at your local coffee shop combined with flavorings and spices in your kitchen you can serve up an array of gourmet drinks that would rival even the fanciest of coffee shops.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides information on gourmet coffee drinks for Gourmet Coffee Guide – your number one online resource for gourmet coffee!

Author: Sharon V Chapman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I have a dotty old uncle who lives alone and drinks his coffee right out of the coffee pot. He doesn’t bother to pour his coffee into a cup…maybe washing a coffee cup just makes more work…who knows?

Most people, however, prefer to drink their coffee out of a coffee cup or a coffee mug. It is the civilized thing to do.

When people buy place settings of fine china of just a set of everyday dishes, the thing that determines their choice is the shape and size of the cup. After all, plates, bread plates, soup or cereal bowls, saucers, and other pieces in a place setting or set of dishes are all pretty much the same. They may come in varying sizes and the patterns are different, but still they are all basically the same design. Only the cups are different. The size and shape of the cup and the handles on the cups is most often the determining factor is the selection of dinner ware.

There are different coffee cups for serving different coffees, as well. Most “regular” coffee cups hold between 6 and 8 ounces of coffee. But there are demitasse cups that only hold between 2 and 4 ounces and big coffee mugs that hold up to 20 ounces. Latte coffee cups must be large enough to hold the frothy milk.

Coffee cups can be purchased separately, or as part of a set of dishes or a piece in a place setting of china. Coffee cups don’t all have handles either. There are double-walled cups without handles that are used to serve espresso or cappuccino.

The thickness of the wall of the coffee cup is the determining factor of how long coffee will stay hot in a coffee cup. Remember those old thick-walled white cups of roadside coffee house fame? Coffee would stay hot in those things all the way through the eating of a meal and beyond. On the other hand, coffee in a delicate fine china cup will only stay hot a very few minutes.

CoFFee provides detailed information on Coffee, Coffee Makers, Gourmet Coffee, Coffee Shops, Coffee Beans, Coffee Cup and more.
For more information visit as on http://coffee.explore-me.com

Author: Miodrag Trajkovic
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The superior flavor that Arabica coffee beans produce in a cup of coffee is well known. Robusta and Arabica coffee beans are the two principal classifications of java that are offered for sale. Coffee connoisseurs travel to their favorite coffee shops to get a mug of tasty Arabica coffee, however, what is found in a typical office building break room that has been sitting on the burner for hours in probably a pot of bitter Robusta coffee.

You can experience the great taste of Arabica coffee beans at home instead of having to trudge down to your local coffee hour and cafe. These kinds of beans are raised in an organic fashion meaning that they are not sprayed with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides which gives them quite a superior taste.

Chic coffee shops that retail coffee beans, espresso machines, and perhaps a mug of cafe latte will only sell Arabica beans. On the other hand, the major commercial coffee labels sell ground Robusta beans mixed with other tasteless filler or at best a mix of both Arabica and Robusta. The reason why this is the case is it makes the coffee that they sell considerably cheaper for the wholesaler and eventually for you the consumer. This is where the common church potluck cups of coffee come from. Arabica coffee beans are known for their well-defined savory flavor that many coffee lovers prefer but these kinds of beans actually have a lower caffeine content than Robusta beans.

Most people think that all the beans are grown in Columbia, but actually there are more than 80 countries around the world where coffee is grown for commercial purposes. The tropical climates around the equator are the best places to grow coffee and the beans have a richer flavor in high elevations compared to the low elevations where they can also be grown.

Back twenty years ago, in order to buy wholesale coffee beans, you would have to use mail-order catalogs. Now, there are numerous sites all over the World Wide Web where you are able to purchase Arabica coffee beans. You can also buy them in bulk at some retail shops but be prepared to pay a lot more because their prices will be considerably higher than what you might find online.

By purchasing your beans wholesale you are getting coffee beans that are much fresher because they have not been kept for as long. The best way to guarantee the freshness of your coffee is to buy green coffee beans.

In closing, the next time you are wanting to buy some gourmet beans to make a cup of coffee be sure to pick up some Arabica beans.

Steve writes about coffee beans and buying coffee online.

Author: Steve Turley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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