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

The drip coffee maker was first introduced by the Mr. Coffee company in the early 1970′s and continues to be a popular brand of machines even though there has followed a plethora of coffee brewing options. Mr. Coffee was the prototype of subsequent automatic drip machines that provide a wide array of features and options that meet the particular whims of just about all coffee lovers. Today, choosing the best drip coffee maker generally depends on personal preferences by consumers that are usually dictated by machine features, brewing capacity, and price.

Typical Features

All drip machines are made with heating elements both for heating water for dripping and an element for warming the carafe after it is filled with fresh coffee. Brew baskets are also a common feature among coffee brewing equipment. Baskets usually require either a generic filter or special filter to strain the coffee as it drips through to the carafe below. Some machines are built with a special feature that does not require consumers to purchase disposable filters, but filter the coffee through a stainless steel or plastic grid system. A spray element is also necessary to spew heated water onto the dry grinds.

Optional features include such things as timers to automatically start brewing, built-in coffee grinding systems, and water filtration systems. High end drip coffee systems are more likely to offer these extra features than a basic drip machine.

Brewing Capacity

There are any number of systems that allow for various amounts of cups to be brewed rather quickly. There are single serve coffee makers, 2 cup brewers, 10 cup systems and commercial sized drip coffee machines that will brew for a whole crowd at one time. Pod coffee makers have become extremely popular since they allow a single serving of coffee to be brewed without adding coffee, changing the filter or wasting coffee. These machines operate by holding water in a tank and sending only enough water through the brewing system to make one cup. Pods are manufactured to fit various brewers and are vacuum packed only to be opened by the automated brewing system after the pod is properly placed in the unit. Pod coffee systems are especially preferred by gourmet lovers since various pod flavors can be purchased to be enjoyed at any time.

Price

There are many price variations depending on what drip coffee unit is chosen. A simple, basic unit can easily be purchased for under $10 while a high end pod coffee machine can cost upwards of $400. Of course, there are moderately priced pod systems as well, but generally the more expensive, the more features are included. However, price is not a deterrent for anyone who wants the best drip coffee maker for their own particular needs since a good coffee maker need not cost a lot in order to effectively brew good tasting coffee.

There are many online sales and discounts for quality drip coffee makers if you take time to shop around for the best deals. When choosing the best drip coffee maker for your needs, be sure to compare features, capacity and prices before making your final decision.

P.S. Orr has been writing articles for 6 years on a variety of topics of interest. Come visit the latest website at http://www.singleservecoffeemakerstore.com/ which helps people find the best deals on a personal coffee maker and more information about gourmet coffee machines.

Author: P.S. Orr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Try browsing the Internet for single cup coffee makers, and you’ll find dozens of websites, all purporting that they sell the best brewers available. The problem lies in the fact that most sites don’t agree with each other, so you get as many different opinions as there are coffee making machines. One of the debates on these websites is whether it’s better to buy a brewing system that uses k-cups or one that uses coffee pods. Both have their pros and cons, and this article is going to explore what’s good and what’s bad about them.

K-cups are the ultimate in convenience. They are little pre-measured portions of coffee housed in air-tight plastic cups sealed with both plastic and foil in order to preserve freshness. A k-cup coffee maker sends pressurized hot water through the top of the cup into a filter filled with coffee grounds. You can purchase an optional k-cup carousel for convenient counter-top storage. K-cups are made by many different gourmet coffee brands including Green Mountain, Caribou, Emeril’s, Newman’s Own, Gloria Jean’s, and Timothy’s. You will find numerous distinctive flavors and roasts to suit any taste.

On the downside, k-cups are expensive. You can end up paying as much as $.63 per cup with certain brands of coffee. For example, a box of 22 Green Mountain Variety Flavor K-Cups costs $13.95. You may find a few websites that offer discount k-cups, but even so they tend to be expensive compared to other coffee brewing methods.

There are a couple of ways you can avoid buying so many costly k-cups if you own a k-cup brewer. One of these is a reusable coffee filter you can fill with your own grounds. Using this type of filter you still have to mess with wet grounds, and reviewers will tell you they don’t make nearly as good of a cup of coffee as the originals, but they make single cup brewers much less expensive to use. You can also reuse k-cups 10 to 20 times provided you buy reusable plastic lids and put in your own coffee grounds.

Coffee pods are also pre-measured packets of all different kinds of coffee. These pods are filters that are heat sealed to keep the coffee in them fresh. They have been likened to tea bags, but the coffee they produce is fresh-brewed, because single cup coffee makers brew coffee one cup at a time. Pods are available in dozens of varieties, and where some people have complained that k-cups are very limited in the flavors they offer, there is no problem with that when it comes to coffee pods. Companies, such as Senseo, produce their own coffee pods to specifically fit their coffee makers; however, there are numerous standardized pods available that you can use also.

Once again, the problem with coffee pods is that they are expensive. Although they don’t run as much per cup as k-cups do, they are still more expensive than either a drip coffee maker or a French press. As with k-cups, there are alternatives to using the premade packets. You can buy a machine and make your own heat-sealed pods, or you can buy adapters for some brewers that allow you to use regular coffee grounds. Another negative that some people have found with certain coffee pods is that they make coffee that is too weak. To remedy this problem they use two pods per cup which doubles the price of each cup of coffee.

As with most products these days, it all depends on personal preference and budget. You will find lots of online reviews from people loving their k-cup brewers as well as reviews from those who are very happy with their coffee pod coffee makers. Therefore, it’s pretty much up to you to weigh the options and decide which type of brewing system is right for you.

Paul Julian coffee pods and k cups at http://www.CoffeePodsAndKcups.com.

Author: Paul Julian
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

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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