Posts Tagged ‘solis espresso machines’
For the last several months I’ve been writing about the merits of various espresso machines, but it wasn’t until last week that I had the opportunity to experience espresso in its truest form for the first time. During a trip to Italy I discovered why the drink is so inextricably tied to the region—everyone there drinks it. I try to shy away from stereotypes, but in this instance, it’s true. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an energy drink—which have become ubiquitous in the US—anywhere in Italy, as all of the citizens are getting their caffeine fix from these miniature brews.
While cappuccino is the drink of choice in the early morning, when people are looking for something sweet, espresso is consumed throughout the day and night. Unlike coffee shops in the US, in Italy are fast-paced establishments. Once you order your espresso, you’re served at a standing bar, and if you spend more than twenty seconds over your cup, you’re dawdling
Coffee Around the Globe: Central and South America
Guatemala: Somewhat of a dark horse in the coffee industry, Guatemala boasts three distinct growing regions with incredibly fertile soil. Guatemalan coffees are known for their complexity, often having spicy or chocolaty undertones.
Costa Rica: There is a reason Costa Rica has gained worldwide acclaim for their coffee—they use only the finest beans and have a well-refined processing method.
Colombia: The natural terrain in Colombia is quite conducive to coffee production, but the rugged landscape also makes transportation an issue.
Brazil: As the biggest coffee producing country in the world, Brazil grows and sells both Arabica and Robusta beans, and there’s a good chance you’ve used them in your automatic espresso machine before. Clean, mild flavor and low levels of acidity characterize fine Brazilian coffees.
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.