Posts Tagged ‘coffee makers’
If you want to create a coffeehouse quality cappuccino in your own home, professional-style cappuccino makers are a necessity. As any coffee connoisseur knows, a cappuccino is comprised of three components: coffee, steamed milk and milk foam. The first two parts of this equation can be done without the aid of a cappuccino maker, but the milk foam is a different story.
This is really the defining characteristic of the cappuccino, and if it is done incorrectly, it can spoil the entire beverage. A specialty cappuccino maker has an attachment specifically designed for foaming milk, ensuring you achieve the perfect frothiness every time. While you can try to do it yourself, the only way to get the best results is with a professional machine.
Indonesia: Indonesia is comprised of thousands of islands, many of which—like Sumatra and Java—have literally become synonymous with premium coffee. Most coffee production takes place on small farms of just 1-2 acres. One distinct product from Indonesia is their aged coffee, which as a deeper flavor than traditional brews.
Vietnam: In recent years, coffee production in Vietnam has grown exponentially, leading them to become one of the world’s leading producers. Many of the beans grown in the island nation of Robustas, which are best used in a cappuccino maker where you can use the heated milk and flavor add-ins to mask the subpar flavor.
Coffee Around the Globe: African and the Middle East
Ethiopia: Many legends trace the origins of the coffee tree to Ethiopia. The beans from this region have an incredibly rich, bold flavor, making them ideal for use in an espresso coffee maker.
Kenya: Unlike many countries, Kenya has its own grading system for beans to ensure quality. By using this grading system, you can learn the size of the bean and whether or not it was grown on an estate.
Ivory Coast: As one of the world’s leading producers of Robusta coffee, beans from the Ivory Coast typically aren’t considered gourmet and usually find there way into espresso blends.
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.
For most coffee connoisseurs, an espresso coffee maker and electric coffee grinder are indispensible kitchen accessories and I’m no different. In my house, there is constantly a pot of coffee brewing. Before I even wake up in the morning, the first pot of coffee is being brewed, so all I have to do is roll out of bed. But during the summertime, the last thing I want to do is drink a piping hot cup of coffee when the temperatures in the 90s.
To that end, during the summer I add one extra accessory to my repertoire of coffee countertop accessories: a blender. Since going without coffee simply isn’t an option, instead I create an assortment of blended drinks to satiate my caffeine cravings. And while I certainly enjoy a standard espresso, blended coffee drinks are in a league of their own. I love to experiment with different flavor profiles to see what I can create—from nuts and chocolate, to mint and vanilla.
There are literally million of self-described coffee lovers in the world, but few of them enjoy their java without any additional add-ins. If you observe a few drink orders at Starbucks, chances are that you will hear everything from mochas and espressos to cappuccinos and macchiatos being ordered. With this wide range of coffee beverages now available, it is surprising that many people still have a standard drip coffee machine in their home.
Today several premium coffee makers available allow you to have professional-style beverages in the comfort of your own home. Many people complain that the coffee they brew themselves doesn’t compare to what they order in a coffeehouse, and the problem is that they are using inadequate equipment. A premium cappuccino maker, for example, will allow you to heat and steam the milk for your coffee, making it indistinguishable from its $4 coffeehouse counterpart.