Archive for the ‘Coffee Maker’ Category
We’ve all heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while people may think it is cliché—and it is to a certain extent—there is truth to the saying. However, few people take the time for a morning meal. Some think they will save calories by skipping breakfast, while others claim they simply don’t have the time.
When we sleep, our bodies are essentially fasting, which slows down the metabolism. By taking time to eat something in the morning, you are actually rousing your metabolism from a dormant state. If you don’t think you have time for breakfast in the morning, plan the meal the night before. You can even program Saeco espresso machines to have a piping hot cup of coffee waiting for your when you come downstairs. Not only will the coffee help you wake up, but the caffeine will boost your metabolism as well.
Around this time every year graduation ceremonies for seniors around the country commence. While in a few months time they will either be moving on to college or the “real world,” most typically take a few months off to unwind. Nearly all graduation gifts come in the form of cash, which is more than appreciated by graduates who are looking to relax for a few months.
If you don’t want the recent grad in your life to become a spendthrift with your commencement gift, go with something more personal than cash. A high-end pen is a classic graduation gift, particularly for writers and business graduates. For those who will be living on their own for the first time, small appliances like a coffee maker or toaster oven will undoubtedly be put to good use.
Most people agree that coffee is an acquired taste; after all, few people go head over heels for the bitter, acidic beverage on their first try. After choking down coffee for a couple of months to keep me awake during the graveyard shift I worked in college, I’ve become a lifelong coffee addict. My husband, however, never had a necessity for caffeine, and as such, he has yet to develop a coffee habit.
Enjoying a cup of coffee is always better with a companion, so I recently endeavored to convert him to the ranks of coffee devotees. Like most people, he expressed a disdain for a simple black coffee, so I decided to purchase a cappuccino maker. This allowed me to create concoctions with chocolate, cream and other tasty add-ins, which made the coffee much more palatable for him.
Due to its strong, distinctive flavor and high concentration of caffeine, espresso is one of the most popular coffee beverages and serves as the base for many gourmet variants. While many of us think that espresso has a rich, storied tradition, it is actually a relatively new invention. In fact, the first espresso coffee maker was patented until the 20th century.
In 1901, Luigi Bezzera, an Italian inventor, patented the first machine to use steam pressure to brew coffee. And while the invention is over 100 years old, the same basic design is still utilized in conventional machines. The design was improved on in 1948 with the development of a spring-piston machine that could brew coffee with more pressure, and once again in 1960 with the introduction of the electric pump.
For the last eight years I’ve woken up at 5am every morning in order to get to the local coffee shop in time to beat the crowd. It may sound ridiculous to sacrifice sleep in the name of caffeine, but I simply can’t function in the morning without at least a couple cups of Joe in me. After subjecting myself to this time-consuming ritual for nearly a decade, I’ve finally decided that it’s time to make a change.
Not only does my daily trip to the coffee shop cost me valuable time each morning, but it also is quite expensive—I figured out that I spend nearly $2,000 each year on coffee. Last weekend I decided to break the cycle and purchase a Solis espresso machine. Having the automated settings will certainly save me time in the morning, and the machine should pay for itself within the first year.
A few months ago I walked in to the kitchen of my apartment and began to seek out something for dinner. After scouring the freezer, fridge and pantry, I found there was not a prepared morsel to be had; I realized that if I wanted something to eat, I was going to have to cook. After utilizing microwave ovens and automatic espresso machines my entire life, it struck me that I couldn’t even boil a pot of water.
The next day I went down to the local community center and enrolled in some basic cooking lessons. Now I can prepare a number of staple dishes, and I am not overcome by fear at the prospect of cooking. II even learned how to prepare mochas, lattes and a few other specialty coffee beverages.
With Mother’s Day upon us, certainly some people are just realizing that they need to buy a present. If this is you: Stop reading this blog post and go get something pronto. Usually I am the one who is scrambling at the last minute, but this year I planned ahead and put some thought into my gift. Most people probably don’t consider kitchen appliances a personal gift, but that’s not the case with my mom.
One of her favorite pastimes is watching infomercials, and her house is littered with rotisserie ovens, small food choppers and other miscellaneous gadgets. Ironically, my mom’s house is missing some of the most used appliances, such as a toaster oven and coffee maker. I know that she has an addiction for coffee in the morning, so I decided to get her a cappuccino maker hopefully she will be able to put this appliance to good use.
The macchiato is another staple coffee drink that may intimidate some people when they see it on the menu at their local coffeehouse. In fact, the macchiato is a fairly simple beverage. Start by turning on one of your Saeco espresso machines and brewing a few ounces of coffee. Add one or two shorts of espresso to your cup and finish with a dollop of heated milk and that’s it.
There is a variation known as the Latte Macchiato, which is basically a reversal of the recipe. The primary component here is the heated milk, and you only want to add about a half-shot of the espresso. You can also add in flavors, such as caramel, vanilla or chocolate. Because of its low concentration of espresso, a latte macchiato is ideal for someone who isn’t enamored with the coffee flavor.
Mochas and lattes are two of the most basic espresso variations, and you probably have everything that you need to create them in your refrigerator already. Of course, you’ll want to begin by brewing some espresso in one of your Solis espresso machines.
For the latte, you will need to shots of espresso to start. Once you pour the espresso into your mug, fill the rest of the way with steamed milk and top with milk froth. (Many premium espresso machines will even do the last two steps for you). As you will see in the next few days, the latte is the base for several more elaborate coffee drinks.
For the mocha, begin by preparing a basic latte like the one we did above. Depending on your preference, add white, milk or dark chocolate into the coffee beverage. Mochas are often finished with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and other sweeteners. As you can tell, these are more of a dessert-style beverage.
Espresso is a complex and sophisticated coffee beverage that requires precision brewing. And while it is delicious on its own, there are manifold ways to dress up this concentrated coffee to add a little extra panache. Over the next few days, we will be exploring an array of variations on this quintessential brew.
We’ll start by reviewing some basics for brewing espresso, as this will serve as the foundation for all of the beverages we describe. Because the flavors in espresso are so concentrated, it is essential to use premium quality products. This will include top-of-the-line espresso machines, first-rate coffee beans and bottled or filtered water. Tomorrow we will begin with some of the basics, including the latte and mocha.