Archive for the ‘Coffee Maker’ Category
Now that we’ve covered the beans, it’s time to move on to the roasting process. If you don’t have a newfangled roasting machine to use in conjunction with your coffee makers, you can roast your beans in a simple convection oven. Simply lay the beans out on a baking sheet, preheat the oven to about 500 oF and roast for 15-20 minutes. There aren’t any steadfast rules when it comes to roasting coffee; as I said yesterday, the roast is largely a matter of personal preference. But you still need to know 
so you know when to stop. Here are some of the easiest indicators:
~Color: Once you create beans you like, burn that image into your mind and try to replicate it in subsequent roasts.
~Smell: As the beans become done, the smell will morph from green veggies to rich coffee.
~Sound: The beans will begin to snap and pop as the water is forced out as steam.
~Time: If you use the same roasting method each time, the duration of the roast will be your most reliable metric.
Most people have enough difficultly choosing roasted coffee beans from their local grocery store to use in their cappuccino makers; and as you can imagine, selecting green, unroasted beans can be even harder. Making distinctions between beans with nothing but your eyes isn’t effective, so your best bet is to simply try out a variety of unroasted coffee beans from around the globe until you find a flavor profile you like. This may sound like an arduous undertaking, but most suppliers have some sort of sampler option which allows you to try an assortment of coffees without blowing your budget or doing months of research.
The beans are certainly an important part of the equation, but coffee drinkers know that the roast is a main determinant in the flavor. The more you roast the coffee, the more you detract from the natural coffee flavors. This is one of the biggest benefits of roasting your own beans; the fact that you can cater the roast to your distinct preferences.
Coffee connoisseurs espouse the merits of grinding their own coffee for use in their Saeco espresso machines, claiming it offers a fresher, richer cup of coffee. This is true, since the coffee begins to lose its flavor as soon as it is ground. But if you are willing to go through the trouble of grinding your own coffee, why not go the extra mile and roast your own beans?
As with coffee grinding, you can achiever fresher, better tasting coffee by grinding your own beans. Unroasted coffee beans are a light green color and up until recently were a rarity in standard grocery stores. With the rise of the coffee culture however—not to mention the internet—it’s now quite easy to find high-quality, unroasted beans. Over the next few days we’ll go over which beans to choose, how to create a roasting blend catered to your palette and overview the various roasting methods.
Sending a child off to college for the first time can be a harrowing task for a parent, and one of the best ways to ease your anxieties is by helping with the preparations for their departure. Not only can you ensure they get everything they need but the undertaking also serves as an opportunity for some last minute bonding. Everyone remembers to pack extra linens and toiletries, but many neglect some of the other essentials that a college student finds themselves
in need of. Here is a quick list of oft forget necessities:
~Mini-fridge: College food can grow tiresome quickly, and a mini-fridge allows your kid to stock up on some extra food and snacks.
~Coffee makers: It’s no secret that college students stay up late studying—and that’s it. So having a reliable source of caffeine close at hand it essential.
~Vacuum: Even if your kid never cleans their room, there will come a time when the dorm room is unbearable and they’ll be thankful they have a way to clean it.
One of the most frequent questions I get from people is “what is type of beans should I use in my espresso machines?” And I always give one of my favorite answers: It depends. With so many coffee varieties readily available today, you can be quite picky as to what beans you choose. If you are looking for a rich, smooth cup of espresso though, you have to start with premium Arabica beans.
The next thing to consider is the roast, which should be extremely dark. Feel free to experiment with some of the different roasts until you find one you like. Many on the market today have a hint of other flavors or aromas, which can be nice; but steer clear of flavored coffees, which typically use subpar beans and are chockfull of additives. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can roast your beans yourself and create your own unique flavor.
If you go to Starbucks or Tully’s for your daily dose of java, you may assume there’s one standard way to brew a cup of coffee, which certainly isn’t the case. When you go shopping for a coffee maker, you’ll be faced with several different brewing options, each of which has its own distinct features. Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular:
~Drip Machines: When people think of coffee makers, they typically are thinking of drip machines. These machines work by forcing heated water through a filter with coffee grounds, creating a quick, economical cup of coffee.
~Pod Coffee Makers: This machine is essentially a drip/espresso hybrid, combining quality with fast-paced brewing.
~French Press: Made for the coffee purist, a French press is the most traditional means of brewing coffee still in practice. You’ll have to heat the unit on the stove and use a manual plunger to strain the coffee, but the extra labor is definitely worth it.
What to Consider When Purchasing an Espresso Machine
For most families, an espresso machine or coffeemaker is just another kitchen appliance. But for others, coffee drinking is a way of life. If you fall into the latter category, you probably want to take some time to research your espresso coffee maker thoroughly before making your purchase. Here are a few of the most important variables to consider:
Capacity: Be sure that your machine can easily churn out enough coffee for your entire family. If you don’t need a high-volume machine, save the money by opting for a smaller model.
Manufacturer: Always go with a well-established manufacturer, such as Solis espresso machines, as they have better designs, craftsmanship and warranties.
Peripherals: Gadgets for creating milk foam and steamed milk, touch-screen displays and automatic features will carry a hefty price tag; be sure you are going to make use of these options before you spend the extra money on them.
Many people spend hundreds of dollars on automatic espresso machines expecting the contraption to produce a beautiful cup of coffee instantly. While a high-quality coffee maker will certainly make your job easier, its importance pales in comparison to that of the coffee beans themselves. Even in a professional quality machine, a cheap Robusta blend will still be unsavory.
If you’ve taken the time and money to invest in a top-tier machine, it only makes sense to invest in quality coffee as well—especially if it’s espresso, as the flavors are concentrated. Always look for Arabica beans, which offer the smoothest, richest flavor. And be sure to buy whole beans and grind them yourself, as they begin to lose their flavor after this process.
Although I wouldn’t consider myself a materialistic person, I will always err on the side of value. I won’t go around spending my money of frivolous things, but when I do make a purchase, I want to be sure it’s of the utmost quality. So when I recently was in the market for a new espresso machine, I took great pains to find the most high-tech model on the market. After doing a little searching, I settled on a Saeco espresso machine.
The unit was designed by BMW Group DesignsworksUSA—yes, that BMW. And it features the design and attention to detail you would expect from a BMW product. It has a sleek, modern façade will an easy-to-use touch screen display. All of the features on the espresso machine are fully programmable, meaning that once I set it up the first time, I never have to worry about playing with the settings ever again.
My sister-in-law’s wedding is coming up this weekend and I’ve spent hours poring over their various registries in search of the perfect gift. It’s hard to find a balance between buying a generic gift—which nearly everything on the registry is—and getting something personal. I know that both she and her fiancé love coffee, so I decided to go with the premium espresso machine from one of the dozens of stores they were registered.
I didn’t want to simply give them the machine however, so I’ve decided to add a basket full of coffee goodies as well. My husband and I went online and purchased a selection of exotic blends from around the globe, which we know they’ll appreciate. We’re coffee aficionados in our own right, so we took the liberty of picking up a few treats for ourselves.