Coffee

For those who love coffee, I mean really truly love their coffee, as in they are passionate about what makes a good coffee, it can be a dilemma. The coffee aficionado will have their preferred cafe that they frequent because they know the Batista will make the coffee just the way they like it. The passionate coffee connoisseur can tell you if the coffee is burnt, the milk too hot, the type of coffee used acceptable and so it goes on. They know the difference between a Latte and a Cafe au lait, a flat white and a cappuccino.

So what happens when the coffee wise wish to bring the sacred brew into their own home? Many realise that the same results just cannot be duplicated at home. They know and understand the artist that is the coffee Batista and respect his craft. Others however will attempt to produce a great cup themselves and there begins the pursuit of the ultimate coffee making implement.

The truly dedicated coffee lover will have in his or her kitchen an assortment of coffee brewing devices. It is likely they will have a filter coffee machine. This appliance usually takes the form of a heating plate where a tempered glass pot is placed into which the coffee drips as heated water percolates through the coffee grounds, which are contained within a paper filter inside a filter holder. The coffee from these machines, I find is usually quite weak or “watery” and lacks richness or body.

They may also have a plunger or “French press”. Coffee grounds are placed at the bottom of a straight-sided glass jug then boiling water is poured over them. The coffee is then left to brew for a few minutes before the plunger is slowly pushed down forcing the water through a fine strainer. The coffee from this method is far superior to the filter maker in my opinion, but still not up there with my local coffee house.

Then there is the caffetiere. This handy little device is loved by people of European extraction everywhere. Frankly, I never could master the technique of making coffee with this utensil. Again, it is based on the steam and pressure principal. Water is placed in the bottom section with coffee grounds placed in a perforated container above the water. After screwing the top section on the caffetiere is placed over a flame. Once the water reaches boiling point it percolates through the coffee and up into the top section. Once all the water has gone from the bottom section your coffee is made. The caffetiere makes a nice strong coffee just the way I like it. But I was never sure whether I was then supposed to top it up with boiling water or hot milk and in the end I ended up leaving it in the back of my pantry.

Not so long ago I came across a wonderful new product which seems to answer all my wishes. It is called the AeroPress and it is quite an amazing item. It processes the coffee using steam and pressure and the coffee that results is rich and not at all bitter. To add to this is the price. This is an incredibly well priced device. This handy little appliance takes up very little space in my cupboard and I am not restricted in the choice of coffee I can use. What a great find!

To find out more about the Aeropress Coffee And Espresso Maker visit Really Good Coffee

Author: Lynne Schroeder
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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If you want to taste coffee in a whole new way, try making it with a French Press coffee pot. Most people are used to their coffee being brewed in an electric, drip coffee maker a la Mr. Coffee. This method has one flaw in the brewing process that takes away from the true essence of coffee: the paper filter. The paper retains some of the coffee essence, and deprives you of coffee’s true potential. Granted, we cannot simply dump ground coffee into a cup, pour in hot water and start drinking; the grounds must be separated from the liquid that is consumed. Coffee grounds are bitter, gritty, and stick to your teeth. The French Press method removes the grounds, but lets all of the flavor of the coffee come to life.

Although French Presses come in various shapes, sizes, materials and manufacturers, the Chambord model by Bodum is a good example of a ubiquitous style found throughout the industry . The handle attaches to the holder for the glass carafe. The carafe holds the coffee and hot water. The carafe looks like a beaker from a chemistry lab, with a spout for easy pouring. The “pressing” apparatus of the French Press sits atop the beaker. It consists of a dome which covers the coffee as it brews. The plunger is a skinny metal post with a plastic ball at the top that slides through a small hole in the middle of the dome. At the bottom of the post is the filter, a wire mesh disk.

A quick note about ingredients. A cup of coffee is made of coffee beans and water. Therefore, start with freshly roasted whole beans ground just before brewing. Whole beans maintain their freshness twice as long as ground coffee. The water is just as critical: make sure it is cold, fresh, and filtered.

Let’s assume a 12 oz. cup is being prepared. Using 1-1 ½ tablespoons of whole beans, set your grinder to coarse. This produces the largest grounds possible, and allows water to extract the maximum flavor from the coffee. It also reduces the amount of smaller grounds that will end up in the bottom of the cup.

Dump the ground coffee into the carafe. Before adding hot water, take a moment to inhale the aroma of the dry coffee. The aroma of freshly ground coffee will take you to a better place.

Next, heat your water (12 ounces). The optimal brewing temperature is 195-205 F. If you don’t have a thermometer, simply bring your water to a boil and wait thirty seconds.

Pour the water into the beaker and stir for a couple of seconds. This will agitate the mixture and allow the coffee to brew more completely. Place the plunger apparatus on the carafe, but do not depress. Set a timer for four minutes. This amount of time allows all of the flavor and oils to be extracted perfectly from the coffee.

At four minutes press down the plunger completely, then pour the freshly brewed coffee into your mug.
Look at the coffee before adding any condiments. The coffee will appear more complex (richer) than if it were brewed in a drip coffee maker. There will even be a thin layer of crema (light brown froth) resting on top of the liquid. Put your nose close to the cup and breathe in the aroma. The smell is stronger, more pure than if the coffee passed through a paper filter. Taste the coffee before adding sugar etc. When you reach the end of the cup you will notice some residue. These are simply micro-grounds that made it through the mesh filter.

You can purchase French Presses that double as travel mugs. There are also double-walled glass, and stainless steel thermal units as well. Some are beautifully crafted and look like museum pieces. The reason for this is that coffee made in this manner is the height of the coffee brewing experience. So, if you love coffee, you owe it to yourself to purchase a French Press and make the best-tasting coffee in the easiest possible way. Prices start at around 13 dollars for a two cup (12 oz.) unit.

Brent Kloster is co-owner of Falls River Coffee, which sells fresh roasted coffee, loose leaf tea, and brewing equipment online at http://www.FallsRiverCoffee.com.

Author: Brent Kloster
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you are interested to know which brand is a perfect pod coffee maker, then you might first want to think about the definition of “perfect”. In short, what is a perfect single serve coffee maker?

There are probably tons of definitions out there, but mine goes like this: As long as the pod coffee maker can brew many types of coffee blends, it would be perfect, don’t you think so?

The single most daunting thing about single serve coffee maker is the closed system and their lack of coffee varieties. Pod coffee maker are already easy to use and are also very easy to clean, add in the element of variety, no coffee makers can match them in capability!

Just imagine owning a senseo, this machine is easy to use and maintain, which are great. Now, imagine having the ability to use any types of coffee that you fancy that is a very good thought right?

Unfortunately, till now, senseo is still a closed system like many other single serve coffee makers. Which means you would have to use douwe egberts if you are brewing coffee with a senseo.

There is however a machine that can mitigate this situation. It is known as the perfect pod maker. Its sole purpose is to make coffee pods that are applicable for coffee makers like senseo.

Rather than highlighting which brands would be able to use this great piece of machine, I would share which brands would not be able to use coffee pods from this perfect pod maker.

They are Nespresso, Keurig and Tassimo. This is mainly because these 3 companies are using their own special pods and not the standard coffee pods. So, other than these 3 brands of pod coffee maker, the rest of the brands theoretically have the ability to brew any coffee blends using the perfect pod maker.

And this pod maker similar to the single serves coffee maker concept, easy usage. All one need to do is to choose a coffee blend they like, and then filled it into the paper filter that is provided by the perfect pod maker.

The amount of coffee is really up to individual, but I would recommend a 8-10 grams for a strong and intense coffee. After filling the filter paper, simply press down this pod maker and wait for approximately 8 seconds and you would get a coffee pods that you can use.

There are not much things that you need to take note while using this perfect pod maker, although, it would be important to check that your coffee pods are properly sealed as any breakage (especially inside your coffee maker) could be disastrous.

For optimum taste, many users of the perfect pod maker feedback that it is better to wet the pods prior to inserting it into the single serve coffee maker, the feedback is that wetting the pods allows the hot water to seep better thus providing a better tasting coffee.

So, while this is not a pod coffee maker per se, this is a machine that can really better your coffee experience with a single serve coffee maker, right?

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 you can also learn more about pod coffee maker.

Author: Ebenezer Heng
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you’re not familiar with Vacuum coffee makers then a written description of how they work may have you a little lost. How ever, to those that own or use vacuum coffee brewers you know what a great cup they make, and what a joy they are to watch.

If you’re a fan of using a French Press to brew your coffee each day, then you’ll love the coffee made in a Vacuum maker. It works on a similar principle of boiling water flowing over freshly ground coffee beans then filtering the grounds out of the water leaving behind a wonderful tasting and smelling cup of coffee.

There’s something to be said when a paper filter isn’t used with coffee grounds, it allows all the acids and aromas from the beans to transfer into the water and create a very special tasting cup of coffee. One that can’t really be compared to what your regular drip coffee maker makes.

So how does a Vacuum coffee maker work?

Well unlike some of my friends who thought a vacuum coffee maker was a combo vacuum coffee brewing machine it’s actually quite a small glass or sometimes plastic appliance. There are both electric and stove top models available (For a great electric or non electric vacuum coffee maker check out the Bodum Santos).

There are two compartments an upper and lower. The lower one has fresh water added to it, and the upper fresh coffee grounds. The two are connected with a plastic or glass tube which has a filter in the center. Once heat is applied to the lower area either via stove top or an electric element the water begins to boil. Once boiling that water travels up to the upper chamber where the coffee grounds are stored. The two then mix together and the brewing process begins.

It’s really quite amazing to watch the water move up and spill over the coffee, it’s a lot more interesting then watching the drips come from your regular old peculator. Now this is the real amazing part, after a short period of time the mixed coffee then beings to transfer back to the bottom chamber once all the water has boiled away. The coffee grounds are separated from the coffee via the filter that is in the tube connecting the two chambers.

Depending on the size of the holes in your filter and the coarseness of your coffee grounds you may get a bit of sediment in your coffee. Once all of the coffee has transferred to the lower chamber again you’re done and ready to enjoy. Sounds like quite the process to brew a pot doesn’t it? In real time all of this happens quite quickly, and it isn’t any longer to make then what a French press would be.

If you’re a real coffee enthusiast I highly recommend you either try out the coffee made in a vacuum maker, or consider purchasing one for your own kitchen. While it may not take the place on weekday mornings of your regular drip coffee maker, I’m sure it’ll be the treat for weekends, and you won’t be disappointed.

To learn more about Vacuum coffee [http://www.espresso-and-coffee.com/coffee-makers/vacuum-coffee-maker-interesting-and-tasty-coffee] and other coffee accessories take some time to browse our coffee and espresso [http://www.espresso-and-coffee.com/] website.

Author: Ian Henman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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