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.
With the economy in the tank and uncertainty on the horizon, we’re all looking for ways to pinch pennies and cut corners. My husband and I have given up many of the little luxuries we used to enjoy, but one thing we can’t go without is our morning coffee. We like to splurge and buy premium beans and put a great deal of time and effort into crafting the perfect cup of coffee. A few mornings ago I went to brew my morning cup of joe, and much to my dismay the coffee maker wouldn’t even turn on.
Purchasing a new coffee maker was out of the question with our budget, so I decided to go to the secondhand store down the street to see what I could find. Luckily they had a couple of premium coffee makers that looked like they were in fabulous condition. I bought the nicer of the two, took it home and went to work cleaning the exterior and removing the mineral deposits with our Durgol. After the machine was spruced up, it worked even better than our previous model.
If you spend any time whatsoever in the kitchen, you are undoubtedly aware that there are several different types of salt. And while you make think that their differences are negligible, each type of salt is best suited for a particular 
purpose. Here are a few of the most popular types of salt and their recommend usage:
~Table Salt: This is what you will typically find in a Cilio salt mill. Table salt is refined, comprised almost exclusively of sodium chloride.
~Kosher Salt: Because of its large, oddly shaped crystals, kosher salt lends itself well for preparing meat under Jewish law, hence its name.
~Sea Salt: Made by evaporating seawater, this salt contains a greater variation of minerals than its counterparts, lending it a distinctive sea 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.
When my son left for college last fall, I didn’t want him to be one of those stereotypical college males who are incapable of taking care of themselves. My friends tell me horror stories of how their sons are constantly calling them for advice on how to do laundry, go grocery shopping and complete other tasks which should be menial by this point of their lives. Much to the chagrin of my son, we carved out a couple of hours a week to go through some basic training.
Each day I would make him do a chore or task that I typically do but he takes for granted. Some nights I would make him cook dinner, while on others I would make him do the laundry for the entire family. Although he vehemently opposed my training regimen, he admits that it helped him a lot during the first year. Before he left, I made sure he had everything he needed—from salt and pepper mills, to laundry detergent and a wet mop.
For years gift baskets have been touted as an ideal present for any occasion, but, in my opinion, giving them has become a bit taboo. Sure they work for business associates and casual acquaintances, but for close friends and family members, I like to give something more personal. Not to mention the fact that there is an astronomical markup on everything that’s in the basket. However, these drawbacks are no reason to disregard gift baskets altogether—they are still a great method for a creating a themed present.
Personally, I like to create my own gift baskets with a personalized touch. For my sister’s birthday last month, for example, I created her a coffee gift basket with some of her favorite goodies. Since I made the basket myself, I was able to include coffee from her favorite producers, some of her beloved flavored syrups and a novelty mug. I even threw in some decalcifier for her machine, which definitely has been through its fair share of abuse.
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.