The Espresso Coffee Maker

There are about five Coffee espresso makers that can brew espresso for you, but out of it only one is the real espresso. Generally that various brewers appeal various individuals, but if you wish for good espresso then go for ECMP 50.

The five various kinds of Mr. Coffee espresso maker are steam driven safely, the ECMP 50. ECMP 50 is the only one that gives pressure more than twelve bars. Due to the cost factor the stem driven espresso machines are the most obvious ones as they are at times available below $100 going to as low as $ 30. For this I have a question that whether espresso machine is cheaper than a drip filter machine?

Steam driven machine does not have any other value leaving the cost factor. First is that it takes much time to brew a beverage and this is because the beverage speed depends on the heat of the boiler, which is quite slow as the feedback given by the table of Mr. Coffee of steam driven machine.

The slow brewing of machine means for small gatherings or for individuals. People will get frustrated waiting for the drink, if used for parties. As for the frothing it requires to share the steam, only limited beverages can be made and you require to again heating the boiler. For example, you make three espressos; you can just make one cappuccino.

The temperature factor is another essential factor about the steam driven machines. Since it is steam driven, the water used for extracting the ground of coffee is mostly nearer to boiling point resulting in burning of coffee and giving a bitter taste.

You can check free course of coffee in case you want to know about coffee temperature. So do not make an assumption that every bitter coffee is an intense coffee as there is a huge dissimilarity between smooth and burnt extraction.

The best thing is that Mr. Coffee espresso maker is available with ECMP 50 that extracts coffee with a pressure of fifteen bar and use thermal block heater strong frother nozzle for fast heating. With the introduction of Mr. Coffee espresso maker ECMP 50, it looks like my inspection is the same as to others as they are saying the wrong similar to their old espresso machines.

As thought by me automatic espresso coffee machine is not the ideal machine, but is best if you want an espresso with wonderful cream.

By Sean Jr Miller

Espresso Machines - The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Although coffee and bread may not have much to do with one another, the invention of the espresso machine has revolutionized the ability to home brew espresso for coffee lovers the world over. The very first espresso machines were being used in homes at the beginning of the 20th century. Patented by Luigi Bezzera of Milan, Italy, in 1901, the first espresso machines were of the piston lever variety, which was powered solely by steam pressure.

These simple espresso machines do not have any moving parts. They sit on your stovetop and the water is heated in the bottom of the machine where the steam forces the water up into the middle section of the machine where the espresso is actually brewed. Although there have been advances in technology since the invention of Luigi Bezzera's espresso machine, these stovetop varieties are still very popular today and can be found in kitchens in the likes of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain.

More modern espresso machines have since been developed and are being used all over North America, from the home to the coffee house. There are two types of espresso machines, automatic and semi-automatic, the main difference being that with the semi-automatic espresso machine the operator can control the amount of water being used. Where as the automatic espresso machines are a one-touch button system.

If you are new to the world of espresso you may have recognized the classic shot at your local coffee house. The typical espresso is served in a tiny cup and although the amount may seem smaller than the average cup of coffee, espresso contains about two to three times the amount of caffeine. For this reason alone, espresso is the base for other beverages, such as lattes and cappuccinos. Note that espresso is not a specific bean or level of roast but rather it is the simply the method of how you brew the coffee. So in other words any type of coffee, whether it be light roast or dark roast, can be used to make an espresso.

If you would like to make an espresso of your own you must be aware that you cannot use your regular coffee maker. The only way to properly brew an espresso is with espresso machines, whether it is with the stovetop variety or the more elaborate automatic or semi-automatic espresso machines. The reason being is an espresso requires a pressurized brewing process, which allows for a very concentrated cup of coffee.

Other than the concentrated amount of coffee that is produced by this brewing method, one of the other main characteristics of a properly made espresso is the crema that is produced. Crema is the reddish-brown foam that floats on top of the surface of the beverage and is the signature of all espressos.

Since the espresso makers of Luigi Bezzera's time, home espresso machines have increased in popularity. Today, a wide range of home espresso machines, from the stovetop version to the automatic and semi-automatic versions, can be found everywhere, from specialist kitchen and appliance stores, to online vendors, and even department stores.

If you would like to enjoy your own espresso at home, start looking around and compare espresso makers that are available for you to choose. It is important to pick the right version for your coffee drinking requirements.

By Paul Scobie

Different Types of Coffee Makers

Coffee or the word cafe is all you would like to hear after a long work or right after you wake up. This is the most widely drunk beverage in the world. Coffee ingestion on an average is about a third of that of tap water in North America and Europe . While drinking coffee outside is usually expensive and preferred mostly during conversations or meetings, deals etc., many of us would prefer to make coffee ourselves at home and drink it in the company of our family members or drink it ourselves. Over the years, this art of brewing coffee has been mastered and we can make the best brewed coffee ourselves, but this has been taken over by our need to automate the coffee brewing art so that our work is made easier. Here, you will be taken through the three types of coffee makers in the world and figure out which is the best for you.

Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker , designed by Swedish designer Kass Kleeson:

First we will look at the vacuum coffee maker which is hailed by anyone who has tried it as the best coffee maker of all times. It uses a process that cooks coffee with an extremely strong flavor. The flavor and strength is usually based on how much coffee you use to make it. Today, a lot of coffee makers destroy the flavor by not mixing the components properly, or by not brewing at the right temperature or maybe not brewing for the right amount of time too.

A vacuum coffee maker is made up of two units. The lower and upper pots which are both made of glass. The upper pot is placed directly on top of the lower pot, and both the pots sealed together with the help of a stopper. A tube is attached to the upper pot which runs down to the lower pot as well. A filter is also attached to the upper pot to filter the coffee while it flows down to the lower pot.

Ground coffee, usually of coarse texture, is added to the upper pot. This depends upon how much your taste buds want. Usually, for a strong coffee, 1 tablespoon per cup of coffee will suffice. Then the lower pot is filled with the required amount of water and placed over a heating element or fire. After reaching boiling point, the upper pot is placed on top of the lower pot and the decreased pressure in the lower pot will cause the water to push up itself through the pipe into the upper pot. Here, the coffee is brewed in hot water and after a few minutes (depending upon the strength of coffee you want) the whole apparatus is removed from the heating element. If you are a beginner at using this type of coffee machine, it pays to experiment and figure out the right time duration that produces the coffee of your choice. As the water cools down, a vacuum is built up in the lower pot and coffee is sucked down. The upper pot is removed and the coffee collected in the lower pot is poured into the cups and enjoyed. The greatest benefit of using this coffee machine is that the temperature is perfect and this does not destroy the oils and flavor of coffee which is often the case in other coffee makers. Though this process requires little manual effort to place the apparatus on the heating element and taking it out of the heating element, this manual effort is affordable once you start drinking coffee made by this procedure.

Stove Top Coffee Maker :

This is made up of aluminium or stainless steel. The bottom of the pot contains a reservoir of water and the top has a round basket with a stem reaching to the end of the pot. First, water is filled and the basket of coffee is then added. The pot is heated and as the water boils, it comes in contact with the coffee and the coffee is brewed. The basket must be removed to filter out the coffee beans. Latest types include espresso pots which use steam and water to brew the coffee. This is reported to brew better coffee, but taste buds vary from person to person. Steam is used to produce latte or foam milk for cappuccinos.

Nowadays, we have stove top pots which function similar to the French press which presses the coffee beans to the bottom of the pot to produce a darker and much richer cup of coffee. However, this type of machine requires constant watching as there is possibility of burning the coffee beans in the absence of careful observation.

Drip Coffee Maker:

Almost all the drip filter coffee makers work the same way. They contain a paper or a plastic filter which holds the finely ground coffee. Cold water is poured through a tube from a reservoir and heated before falling over the coffee powder. This brews and extracts the oils and flavor of the coffee into the waiting carafe. This is a simple and reliable method compared to many other models available in the market.

Many companies use these three models with other additional features such as the strength of coffee, sugar adding facility, coffee with milk, number of cups etc. It is up to you to choose the best coffee maker according to the budget and the one which is most appropriate to your convenience. You would not choose the one which adds sugar automatically for an extra price as we can do that for ourselves, unless you are the one who does not know how to spend your money. The bottom line is that the machine must brew coffee at the right temperature for the right time using the right amount of water.

By Fredrick Joy

Coffee Filters - When They Aren't Just For Making Coffee

Obviously, coffee filters come in various shapes and sizes. If you have lots of them at home, there's no need to throw them out or to leave them forgotten in a cupboard. Filters are among the most useful items you can find at home.

Cleaning Agents
Filters are great for cleaning glass utensils and windows. This is because they are lint free and leave no streaks. They also work well however for cleaning spills on table tops and dust on electronic cables. They can even effectively clean and absorb oil and dirt from human skin.
Small Holders
They can be used to hold a variety of things. Coffee filters are especially useful for holding or serving small snacks during kids' parties. They can however also find their way to the garage where they can be used to conveniently organize nails, screws, bolts and other small handyman items.
Art Materials
Filters are often made of paper. That means they would be perfect for arts and crafts projects for little kids. They can be used for cutting and pasting figures or for applying paint.
Household Tools
Filters have a lot of other uses at home. The most common include serving as deodorizer and rust protector. Baking soda can be placed in filters and positioned in cabinets to absorb odor. They can also be used to absorb moisture in iron skillets to prevent rusting.
There are many other creative ways to use coffee filters. Because they are cheap and made of paper, you should never let them go to waste. Thinking of other ways to put them to good use can help protect the environment.
By Niki Rome

Gevalia Coffee Maker - Committed to Great Coffee Making at Home

If you have a Gevalia coffee maker, you have access to great coffee even when you're at home. These great coffee making machines are brought to us by Gevalia Kaffe, one of the most well-known companies in the world of coffee. The roots of Gevalia Kaffe can be traced back to Sweden. Over its more than one hundred years of existence, the company has managed to build a reputation of providing coffee beans and teas of unsurpassed quality.

During the amount of time that they have been serving coffee lovers worldwide, they have met countless coffee needs with the main focus of their business: true and genuine coffee beans. But as experts in the coffee industry, they eventually expanded their product list to include high-quality coffee makers optimized for brewing of perfect-tasting coffee.

Why You'll Like Gevalia Coffee Makers

A Gevalia coffee maker can win out over other types of coffee makers hands down, and there are plenty of reasons why. The first reason lies with Gevalia's very own brewing method which ensures that the rich coffee flavor is extracted from ground coffee. That's why coffee lovers dig coffee produced by a Gevalia coffee maker. Such coffee has a great, rich taste that characterizes what coffee should truly be. And to make coffee even better, Gevalia recommends their proprietary coffee beans.

They also have a wide variety of coffee recipes that you can enjoy for an ultimate coffee making experience. Aside from their secret brewing recipe and their secret coffee recipes, Gevalia also produces state-of-the-art coffee makers equipped with great features like automatic off and a programmable timer for your convenient use.

The coffee makers also come with the special pause and serve feature, which a lot of coffee drinkers find very convenient and useful. This feature allows you to pour your cup of coffee anytime, even at the middle of a brewing cycle. This means that you don't have to wait until an entire brewing cycle is completed. Once there's coffee in the pot, you can have it. And for easy and fuss-free maintenance, Gavelia coffee maker models have removable baskets and can be fitted with paper filters. Paper filters also help in optimizing the extraction of flavor from ground coffee, so a Gevalia coffee maker that uses this disposable paper filter concept will certainly churn out better coffee.

And since maintenance is a breeze, you can be sure that the coffee maker stays in top shape for a long time, and when it's in top shape, it can certainly give you nothing but the best-tasting coffee around. Gevalia coffee makers also attract a lot of buyers courtesy of their great-looking appearances. They use a combination of mostly black and white in most of their models.

Special Treat from Gevalia

As a special treat, with every Gevalia coffee maker you buy, you can also avail of a special mug from Gevalia Kaffee. The mug is part of the package of some Gevalia coffee maker models. When buying a Gevalia coffee maker, you have a lot of models to choose from. You can choose from small-capacity coffee makers as well as large-capacity ones that can brew up to twelve cups at once. You can also choose from the standard models priced at a modest level of around $60, and you can also choose more expensive packages if you desire. If you're in luck, you can also catch some of Gevalia's great promotions online that can even win you a free coffee maker.

In fact, you can win products like Gevalia's great 12-cup coffee maker with a programmable timer. As long as you agree to the terms and conditions as well as the shipping details, then you can get your Gevalia coffee maker completely for free. No other company is more bent on giving you excellent coffee brewed right in your own home so as to just give you a free coffee maker but Gevalia Kaffe.

Gevalia's Commitment

With all these, it is clear that Gevalia is one of the best companies in the coffee business and in the art of coffee making. Homemakers will surely find a lot to like about Gevalia coffee makers.

By Mark Van Tuel

What You Need to Know About the Coffee Espresso Machine

It should come as no surprise that untold numbers of people are coffee lovers or (dare I say it?) fanatics. And is there a greater way to indulge in a coffee obsession than through the use of a coffee espresso machine? Really, the only problem is that there are so many good ones, so it can be hard to choose.

For our purposes, there are usually three categories in which these machines fall. For starters, you have what's called the "fully automatic" maker. Like the words say, machines of these types do pretty much everything for the coffee fanatic. All he or she has to do is fill it with water, coffee and the like and just put the setup button.

A second category is a part manual - part automatic machine. In these machines, part of the process involved in getting the coffee down and into your cup is automated, but the best feature is that a maker such as this gives you the ability to control the coffee extraction process more fully than in a completely automated coffee espresso machine.

Most "true believers" (i.e. coffee lovers of every stripe) prefer instead to go for the totally manually-operated espresso machine. These are stripped down to a handle press and not much more, but there's something sublime about controlling every aspect of taking the coffee from base product to finished nectar, I think.

Now, as far as which manufacturers make a good coffee espresso machine, well...there are a number of them. In some instances, the machines they offer can run thousands of dollars in price. However, for our purposes, you'll find that even the commercial mainstream makers put out great product. Companies like Krups, Bosch, Capresso and several others can deliver the goods in any way a coffee lover would appreciate.

So what to look for in a coffee espresso machine, then? Well, if you want something that's fully automatic look for a machine that has an integrated burr grinder and a bean hopper that can hold a lot of product. It should also come equipped with a heater of high wattage, a good high-pressure pump and the ability to schedule regular cleaning cycles. And never forget the frother to make a good latte.

Good partially-automatic coffee espresso machines all come with quality components of stainless steel, larger boilers and also quality portafilters, to start. The most favored machine by enthusiasts in the know - the manual - tends to deliver both simplicity and quality in an attractive package.

Go with one in stainless steel or chrome for durability and the fact that there's no interaction in any meaningful way with the coffee and the water. To me, plastic and very hot water or coffee should never mix together, for obvious reason. I mean, who wants a heaping helping of polyvinyl chloride with their caffeine fix?

While there are plenty of people out there -- in a pinch -- who are willing to settle for a cup of java straight from the fast food restaurant tap, most real coffee lovers want only the very best coffee espresso machine in their own homes or apartments. Get the best machine you can afford, and you'll find that the initial investment will pay big dividends down the road as you continue to enjoy top-quality coffee for many, many years.

By T. W. Guerra

Capresso Coffee Maker - More Than Meets the Eye

There is one coffee maker that a lot of coffee lovers trust, and that's the Capresso coffee maker. Every model of Capresso released by the esteemed company has been especially built to provide great coffee with every cup.

These coffee makers promise not just good-tasting coffee but coffee that tastes as great as if you bought it from your favorite café. That's why Capresso coffee machines can be found not only in homes but also in restaurants and cafes. And homemakers take delight in the fact that now, with a Capresso coffee maker, they can start brewing great café-quality coffee at home.

What You Can Get from Capresso

Capresso may not be one of the longest running producers of coffee machines, but that doesn't stop it from proving that quality is more important than a long history. Sure enough, even as a new entrant, with top-quality products, the company was able to line itself up among the ranks of greater and older machines manufacturers in the market. Established in 1994, the company has produced a heap of coffee maker models, and every single one of them was designed to brew richly flavored coffee conveniently.

Their best offer is the exceptional taste of the coffee produced by a Capresso. But aside from providing such wonderful coffee, Capresso machines are also packed with great features and other special traits. Capresso machines are built to last a long time, so once you buy a coffee maker with the Capresso name on it, you're sure to have a lot of cups of great coffee for a long time. The machines also have a brewing capacity that can fill every last drop of craving for coffee you might have.

Their machines are also very easy to use and don't need much effort from users. Most of their models come with features such as backlit LCD displays, charcoal water filters, and digital timers that can be programmed so the coffee maker can just start brewing coffee at the right time to finish brewing at the exact same time when you need a fresh cup of coffee off the pot.

You will also come across a Capresso machine that comes with a packaged grinder so you can just put in beans and let the machine do the grinding, then the brewing. Some models also use thermal pots instead of glass carafes. These thermal pots are very helpful in keeping coffee warm for a longer time. A lot of homemakers consider this as excellent offerings from the great brand.

Another excellent add-on to Capresso machines is the water filter. These filters are specifically added to ensure that the water used in brewing coffee is clean, safe, and tasteless. Any taste that the water, especially chlorinated water, may have might interfere with the taste of the brewed coffee, and with the help of effective water filter, a Capresso coffee maker can retain the pure, unadulterated taste of good and real coffee. Also, Capresso has some large-capacity coffee makers.

To help you get your cup of coffee anytime you need it, the machines also come with the very useful pause-to-serve feature, which allows you to pause the brewing cycle so you can pour yourself a cup right when you need it. So now, with a Capresso coffee maker, you can have good coffee not just anywhere, such as right at home, but also anytime.

Quality both Inside and Out

To top off all these great features, like icing on a cake, Capresso coffee makers are designed with sleek external designs and styles. They use mostly black and silver as the main theme of their coffee makers. These colors tend to give off an air of elegance and class as well as depict a modern look for the coffee machines.

But the best thing, of course, is that these great-looking machines don't just look good. They work as impressively as they look. This is because the design also has something to do with the great results offered by Capresso. As a case in point, Capresso models use special cone-shaped filters which originated from Europe. These filters don't look that way just out of aesthetical consideration. They were specifically designed that way to provide an extra guarantee that the coffee of flavor is thoroughly extracted.

Also, the powerful-looking aluminum casings of the coffee may play a big role in making the coffee makers look great, but their real purpose is to keep dirt away, so you won't need to do a lot of maintenance cleaning. If you are on a quest to find your perfect coffee maker, the impressive looks of Capresso coffee makers will surely attract you, but don't worry. With a Capresso coffee maker, there's more than meets the eye. Just imagine how much more that can be.

By Mark Van Tuel

An Espresso A Day...?

An Espresso A Day … ?

While many of us enjoy—indeed, rely on—our morning coffee, we haven’t been able to shake the popular theory that the caffeine content makes coffee bad for the body. Espresso, a concentrated beverage, has been especially maligned. But there are numerous health benefits to drinking coffee, some of which may surprise you, and might help you enjoy that freshly brewed cup just a little bit more.

Even the harshest skeptic is aware of the short-term benefits of coffee: the pick-me-up it provides when we’re feeling drowsy, the enhanced sense of mental alertness, and the increased motor activity. The long-term advantages, however, are more far-reaching.

Studies have shown that brewed coffee contains numerous antioxidants, a critical element in disease prevention and control. Specifically, tests have linked moderate coffee consumption with reducing the risk of a diverse range of illnesses, including:
* Alzheimer’s disease
* Asthma
* Cirrhosis of the liver
* Colon cancer
* Diabetes
* Gallstones
* Parkinson’s disease
At the same time, recent research has disproved the prevailing wisdom that excessive coffee drinking can cause birth defects and cardiovascular disease.

This is welcome news to the millions of us who need our morning coffee, whether it’s our preferred freshly ground brew, that scalding paper cup of Joe from the local diner, or an espresso-based nonfat macchiato from Starbucks. However, the negative effects of excessive caffeine intake cannot be ignored. The key is to know what constitutes a “moderate” amount of consumption.

An average cup of coffee has between 100 and 150 milligrams of caffeine, with the average espresso containing 80-120 milligrams. Most experts agree that we can drink up to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day without experiencing any long-term negative effects. As such, two to three cups of coffee daily gives us the most benefit with the least risk. However, the 300 milligrams is a measure of total caffeine consumption. If you drink sodas, which can contain anywhere from 0-60 milligrams of caffeine, you must balance your caffeine intake accordingly.

Those of us who love our coffee can enjoy it with the knowledge that, far from being detrimental to our health, a few cups a day can provide a needed burst of energy and help reduce the risk of common diseases. To find out more about coffee and the best products for your household, visit www.espressozone.com, www.cooking.com, and www.kitchen-universe.com. These comprehensive sites will help you select the best types of coffee, coffee-makers, and accessories to indulge your coffee needs—in moderation, naturally.

By Charlie Voss

Espresso Coffee - Make Great Shots, Cheaply at Home

Everybody loves a great shot of espresso, but these frothy drinks served at your local coffee houses are one of the extra indulgences we are all trying to cut back on these days because of the expense. You don't have to go without your coffee fix, you simply have to find a more convenient and economical way to get it. One way to solve the dilemna is to buy your own espresso machine.

At about $4 a shot you will spend almost $1500 a year for one shot a day at a coffee house. Purchasing your own espresso machine allows you to have as many shots a day as you like and your espresso maker would pay for itself in a couple of months. The best espresso maker for the money you can buy is the Gaggia Classic Espresso Maker. It has classic design and very rugged build which puts you in mind of a much higher priced commercial machine that would be found in one of the big coffee houses.

Because of its advanced technology, strong construction and great looks this is a machine which will serve you great coffee and last you for many, many years. There is no end to the versatility of a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine and it is manufactured by 'Gaggia', probably the most respected name in the espresso world. Achille's Gaggia invented the espresso coffee maker that bears his name in 1945 and the company has been known for top of the line quality in their machines ever since.

By Gary Mcquaid

Coffee: What Are The Health Benefits?

If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee. Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it. At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that fix in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Here is a statistic to ponder: did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone? In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year. But consider this: the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year. That's a lot of coffee!

Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful. Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it's ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson's and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer's due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.

People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator. A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men. Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease. Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic. A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:

Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Antibacterial ingredients

Reduce the risk of developing gallstones

Preserve mental accuity

Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption

If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it

Headache relief

Reduce the risk of some types of cancer

Improve physical endurance

By Aaron Matthews-Morgan

Does Coffee Have Any Antioxidant Benefits?

Before we get all excited over the recent news about coffee being our new antioxidant, we need to take a look at the entire picture. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? If there is, how exactly is coffee an antioxidant? Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us?

Brewed coffee contains many antioxidants and consumption of antioxidant-rich brewed coffee may inhibit diseases caused by oxidative damages. Antioxidants are said to be an inhibitor of certain types of diseases. However, coffee beans are not all a like. Not all coffee beans are of the same quality or even the same make up. Sort of like comparing tennis shoes to sandals. Both go on your feet, but they are not made up of the same components. You can actually break coffee down into several different water-soluble components. The dietary fiber derived from roasted coffee silverskin. This is one component of the coffee bean that has high antioxidant content. This is how the scientists find out about the antioxidant benfits of coffee in their studies. What they do in fact is the break down the coffee beans into different components. They filter out the components that the coffee antioxidant is found in, and then they test lab rats in a variety of experiments to determine how well they survive with or without the various additives in their diet. When they discover something really swell, like a coffee antioxidant, our culture of coffee drinking addicts suddenly becomes a feverorish mob.
For years and years we've heard bad things about coffee. For example: it's bad for your heart, increases blood pressure, may cause breast cancer, probably keeps you awake at night, and my personal favorite, has a poisonous gas when brewed.When the world of coffee addicts even gets a tiny hint that coffee could have something beneficial, believe me they don't just drink more coffee, they try to get everyone to join them. So, here we now have scientific studies proving to us that coffee has antioxidants.

Researchers have identified several compounds in coffee that create a coffee antioxidant. Why would this be of interest to us? Because scientific studies are showing that antioxidants may help prevent cancer. You see the connection here. However, until human studies are done, science cannot state exactly how much coffee must be consumed in order gain this protection against colon cancer or any other type of cancer. Before the coffee is roasted the antioxidant benefits are varied. However, once the coffee is roasted and served as a drink things get evened out. They all seem to have the same degrees of antioxidants.

Some studies suggest coffee having other benefits such as added fertility in men and some benefits for those suffering from diabetes. You'll have to read those studies on your own. The fact that a coffee antioxidant exists may be true, but the reality is that coffee can be just as harmful if your body doesn't like it, if you consume too much, if you have high blood pressure, and if it keeps you awake at night. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? Yes, but the actual amount needed to be consumed in order to receive the anti-cancer benefits by humans is unknown. How exactly is coffee an antioxidant?

Coffee alone isn't the antioxidant, it's several different components that are part of the coffee bean. Roasting and heating the coffee changes the total antioxidant output. Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? It seems that although some coffee beans like green coffee beans may be higher in antioxidants that other more common beans, once they are roasted and heated for consumption, the results are the same regarding the antioxidantal benefits. Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Honestly, this is NOT a question easily answered. In fact, the truth is it is still unknown just how beneficial coffee antioxidants are for humans. Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? Yes, of course there is. If you have high blood pressure and you have seen how coffee enhances this problem, you know it's bad for YOU personally. If you can't get proper sleep or you drive everyone around you nuts because you can't sit still or shut-up, you know coffee is bad for you.

Use common sense and listen to your body. Coffee is not good for everyone and unknown just how good for anyone. How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us? Again drink coffee in moderation, pay attention to your own body. Exercise and good eating habits are a far better way to get healthy than drinking 10 cups of cappuccino a day. All things in moderation. After reading everything about this new thing called a coffee antioxidant I have decided that there are better ways of getting antioxidants into my blood.

Coffee may have many benefits, but so does water and it is possible to drown from drinking too much water. Yes, I know, you have to really drink a lot to accomplish this, but it's the principle of the matter. Too much of anything is not a good thing.

By Aaron Matthews-Morgan

The Best Way To Store Coffee Is To Go "Green"!

The best way to store coffee is a question that is always on coffee aficinados' mind, but one that is seldom "tackle". Think about it, in most coffee maker reviews, you have the best brewer, best grinder, best roaster and so on, but have you ever heard of a best container?

Folks all over the world are looking for the freshest brew, but not a lot of people are concerned about storing the coffee, which is actually a key element in the coffee experience. Unless, you have access to a coffee store near your house, and would never buy more than that day consumption. If not, you would definitely have to store the coffee.

So, what is the best way to store coffee? Remember the coffee freshness rule and you would know how long you can store that "coffee". Raw green coffee beans can be fresh for years, so they are the easiest to store. Roasted beans, which are what you can easily find in Supermarket, would lose their flavour after a week.

And if you were to ground the coffee, the flavour would be lost within hours. And you probably can forget about keeping brewed coffee as it begins to lose its flavour after minutes.

Based on the above, the easiest to store would be green coffee beans and personally, I think they are the best way to store coffee. All you need to do is to store in a cool location, in a tightly sealed container and you can keep it for more than a year!

Sure, you need to purchase a roaster and a grinder in addition to your coffee maker but you would not have to throw away any unused coffee and you would have the freshest coffee.

For roasted beans, it is similar to green beans, store in an airtight container and try to use ceramic as plastic or metal would contaminate the taste of the beans. Keep away from sunlight and try to store in dark places. This allows you to keep the beans fresh for at least 2 weeks.

And if you really want it to keep a longer time, keeping in the freezer can probably last for another 2 more weeks. To use it, just take it out and grind. Do take note that it is to keep in the freezer and not the fridge, never keep coffee beans in the fridge as it would simply absorb the odour of the other food and spoilt your coffee...

If you really want to store the roast and ground which cannot be store past a few days. Keep it with a good airtight container and away from the sun. This would allow the freshness to stay for a week. For the ground, freezer cannot help much as the surface area is too wide and it would still go stale.

If it is not green beans, the coffee beans would not last more than a month. To me, the best to store coffee is to go "green", however, let me go through the savings and convince you on this as well!

1 kg of Green beans can last you probably for a year and cost about $25.00. Assuming you have a fully automatic espresso machine which comes with a grinder, you would be buying roasted beans. You would have to buy them every month and it cost about $15.00 per 100g.

In one year, your roasted beans would cost you $150.00. So, between the roasted and the green coffee beans, that is a savings of $125.00. Sure, you have to get a roaster, let say you get a "Fresh Roast" roaster for $70.00, you still have a savings of $55.00.

Now, would you not agreed with me that the best way to store coffee is to go "green". Storing the Green coffee beans allows you to buy coffee in bulk (get discount from bulk purchase), roast your own coffee and have the freshest cup possible and not forgetting, it saves you some money in the process...

By Ebenezer Heng

How To Make Cappuccino In 3 Simple Steps!

Consider this the basic in the how to make cappuccino series. This article would highlight the steps to make cappuccino like the baristas you see in Starbucks and most coffee shops...

Before moving on to the 3 simple steps to make the cappuccino, do you know what is cappuccino? The key to understanding this, would be invaluable to learn how to make it. Knowing the components of a cappuccino enables you to visualize the procedures later.

Cappuccino is actually an espresso filled with 2 types of heated milk, i.e the steamed milk and the frothed milk. And, it is the frothed milk that gives cappuccino that classic look and it is also the "so difficult " frothing that lead world coffee bodies in using the froth to evaluate the skills of baristas.

The proportion of cappuccino is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 heated milk and 1/3 frothed milk. We would not touch on espresso in this article, as it warrants one entire article on how to get a good espresso, here we would highlight the other 2 components, the steamed and frothed milk, to better your learning in how to make cappuccino.

You would get steamed milk when the heat source (usually the steam wand) is injected into the milk, slightly below boiling point. As the injection of hot air is controlled to a minimal, there would not be any change in the milk volume except for a small amount of micro bubbles or froth.

To get more bubbles, i.e. to get frothed milk, place the steam wand at the surface of the milk, and this would creates more of the micro bubbles, remove the steam wand, when the froth has the look and feel of whipped cream.

Now, let's learn how to make cappuccino in 3 simple steps:

i. when using an espresso machine, while waiting for the espresso to brew, steam and froth the milk in a frothing pitcher. Once done, set it aside for approximately 30 seconds.

This is to allow the milk densities to separate. To speed up the process, you can try what Starbucks or most coffee shops' baristas are doing -by knocking the frothing pitcher on the table, this would separate the steam from the froth milk.

ii. Then, take a large spoon to keep the milk foam as you pour out the steam milk. As you pour the steam milk into a mug, do it slowly to prevent breaking the froth, and stop when you reaches 1/3 of the mug.

With the 1/3 steam milk done, spooned up the froth milk and put it on top of the steamed milk, this foamed milk should take up another 1/3 of the mug.

iii. For the last 1/3 of the mug, pour in the espresso down the middle of this foamy sculpture. And there you have it, a foamy cappuccino!

Not that complicated right? No need to ask how to make cappuccino like that Starbucks baristas anymore right? You can do it with 3 simple steps!:)

By Ebenezer Heng

Cappuccino: Basic Information

Cappuccino is a cup of coffee with fresh milk and milk foam bubbles burst on the top of cup. The milk foam bubbles burst acts as the insulator and keep the heat of the coffee for a longer time. The color of Cappuccino is dark brown. Normally, the cappuccino is served in the porcelain cup. It is better than the glass or paper cup. Cappuccino is a name that from the color of the robe of priest in Roman Catholic called “Capuchin”. It always drinks in the morning with breakfast. And now, cappuccino is modified to serve by the chain stores and the other manufacturing.

Type of Cappuccino

Base on the mixture ratios of the cappuccino

1. Traditional Cappuccino

It is the espresso with the hot foam milk on the top. The Thick of foam milk is about 1 cm.

2. Cappuccino Chiaro (Light Cappuccino or Wet Cappuccino)

There is more milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

3. Cappuccino Scuro (Dark Cappuccino or Dry Cappuccino)

There is less milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

How to make a cup of cappuccino

Compositions

1. Roasted bean = 8-10 grams
2. Fresh milk = 4-6 ounces
3. Coffee cup = 6 ounces
4. Chocolate or cinnamon powder
5. Sugar

Method

The important point in making the cappuccino is the milk with foam bubbles. The skilled barista who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of coffee should be pay attention while creating the milk foam bubble burst in each type if cappuccino.

1. Use one by tree of coffee volume in a cup.
2. Heat the fresh milk with 60 grade Celsius or lower.
3. Make the fine milk foam bubbles burst in suitable volume.
4. Add one by tree cup of warm milk in the cup.
5. Use a tea spoon for take the milk foam bubbles burst on the top of coffee until the edge of cup.
6. Before serve, sprinkle the top with chocolate or cinnamon powder.

Ice Cappuccino (Cappuccino “Freddo”)

The method is similar to hot cappuccino. Ice cappuccino is cappuccino that serves with ice. The ice has to fine to small molecule. The glass volume should be 8-12 ounces and cylinder shape. Put cappuccino in fine ice and add the milk foam bubbles burst on the top about one of three from the edge of the glass. Before serve, coffee maker ought to wait a moment for cooled glass of cappuccino. And do not forget to put a stick in the glass. The drinkers should drink all in one time because if the ice melt, the taste/flavor will change.

How to drink Cappuccino

1. Never stir Cappuccino with spoon.

2. Normally, no need to add sugar because the Cappuccino is pretty sweet already. But if you want sweeter, add sugar a tea spoon and stir with gentle. Never use syrup as sweetener in Cappuccino because milk and syrup will incompatibility.

3. Smell the flavor of Chocolate or cinnamon powder before drinking.

4. After drinking, the foamed milk will stick at the bottom of the cup. If no foamed milk stick means the method of making coffee is not good enough.

By Kaafae Blanda

Choosing the Right Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

Bean to cup coffee machines enable the caterer to serve superb tasting fresh espresso coffee drinks and speciality coffee variations at the touch of the button with the minimum of fuss.

Customers demand quality and choice. Gone are the days of offering a choice of a black or white coffee. Nowadays it is important to offer the very best coffee and coffee variations in different cup sizes together with a decaffeinated option.

The most convenient way of supplying this insatiable demand is with a bean to cup machine.

Bean to cup machine capacity (usage) is usually divided into three criteria.

Light volume - serving between to 30-80 cups a day
Medium volume - serving 100-200 cups a day
High volume - serving 250+ cups a day

If your expected number of cups per day is close to the overlap of volume then we recommend that you go for the next model up.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing a machine is whether to go for a model with a 'built in' milk frother'.

Cheaper models will not have a built in milk frother, but may have the option of an 'add on' unit that froths the milk. The more expensive models have a fully automatic milk frother built into the machine which is also refrigerated to keep the milk cool.

Since a high percentage of drinks served will likely contain frothed milk it only really makes sense to go for the fully automatic built in versions unless your budget is very restrictive. Add-on milk frothers can be clumsy and not function to a consistent basis. There is nothing more frustrating to a busy caterer than a shop full of customers and milk that won't froth!

If your budget is tight it is best to compromise on some other features rather than the fully automatic frother option. If you are happy for you or your staff to froth milk by hand then you might as well go for the more traditional espresso machine instead and froth the milk whilst waiting for the coffee to come through the group head.

Recently there have appeared on the market bean to cup machines which incorporate a canister of powdered milk for those who do not want the inconvenience of fresh milk, although this is a trade off with sacrificing overall drink quality.

Bean to cup machines are big business. There are now a large number of manufacturers of bean to cup machines and the number is growing all the time.

It is best to choose a model from a manufacture that they have been producing for a number of years so that any initial problems have long since been ironed out. Now is not the time to be a guinea pig with a brand new model however fantastic it may seem.

Most manufacturers produce a series of models with different functions and features suitable for low, medium and high volume coffee production.

This is where you pays your money and takes your choice!

Machines are available with one, two, three or even four bean hoppers. This gives extra capacity for busy periods and / or the option of a decaffeinated coffee.

Auditing facilities are also available on the top models where information about the drinks served over any given period can be obtained and maybe downloaded onto a computer for later analysis.

Digital displays, visual looks should also be considered before making your final choice. Note that many of the top models are available in a choice of colours to match the decor of the establishment.

However as already mentioned the two most important things to establish are that the machine can cope with expected demand and that it has a built in milk frother. All other features can be considered secondary.

Before contacting a potential supplier make sure you have decided which size and what features you would like from your machine with reference to this report. That way you will not be persuaded to upgrade or pay for things you do not really require.

Don't forget to pay particular attention to the servicing costs and water treatment systems.

Remember that without a built-in milk frother you will have to froth the milk by hand and that may cause problems.

However a reliable and well maintained bean to cup machine should give many years of profitable service and provide excellent quality delicious drinks to your customers.


By Fenton Wayne

All About Coffee Makers

Sometimes coffee makers (as nearly everything) get broken for no apparent reason. When everything seems to be ok on the outside, then the problem must be on the inside, so here are some tips to help you identify the most common problems and, if you are lucky, repair your coffee maker yourself.

Problem: The coffee maker does not turn on.
Symptoms: Light on the coffee maker does not lit, there are no sounds coming from it, and it never heats up.
Possible causes and solutions: This may be caused by a burnt fuse, a defective power cord or something more important. If your coffee maker has a fuse and it is burnt then replace it, but always do it with the same type and rate of fuse, to avoid the chance of more severe problems. If you find no fuse, plug your coffee maker to a different outlet, just to be sure this is not the cause.

If it still does not work, replace the power cord (you can do it yourself if you are careful and know the basic electrical concepts, but if you don’t want to do it yourself you can ask a professional to do it). If, after replacing the cord with a new one, it still does not work, contact a coffee maker repairer.

Problem: The coffee maker is turned on but you are not getting any coffee.
Symptoms: The maker is on and heats up, but hot water is not coming out.

Possible causes and solutions: The tubes may be clogged. Sometimes water leaves calcium and other mineral residues on the tubes, clogging them after a while. Try using your coffee maker with vinegar instead of water. If it unclogs, run water through your coffee maker a minimum of three times, in order to wash out the vinegar.

Problem: The coffee maker is turned on but you get only dirty cold water instead of coffee.
Symptoms: The maker sucks water and pours it onto the coffee, but this water is cold.

Possible causes and solutions: The heating coil of your coffee maker may be dead or dying. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do, as replacement coils are extremely difficult to find and install. Consider buying a new coffee maker.

By Tamara Williams

Cleaning Coffee Maker Is Simple

Cleaning your coffee maker is not something you should over look. If you do not clean it regularly it will adversely affect the quality of each and every cup of coffee that you brew and serve. It's not really worth risking the quality then is it?

It's simple to clean your coffee maker. It's advisable to do so at least once every few weeks depending on your own individual usage rates. Some of the things that you will be washing away are the water mineral deposits, aged oil deposits, as well as any number of other particles that may have found it's way into your coffee cleaner.

Try not to use detergents to clean your coffee maker or it will leave some soap inside the system. A cheap way to effectively clean your drip coffee maker is to mix water and vinegar together and use that solution to clean the coffee maker. This can be repeated as many times as necessary to clean and disinfect the coffee maker parts.
Cleaning your coffee maker every now and then will ensure that you get the most out of each serving of coffee, and also extend the usable life of your coffee maker. Enjoy it while it's hot!

By Steven Sarsgaard

The Coffee Maker

Most people wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is fire up the old coffee maker. Most models today are very easy to use, all you need is a filter, some coffee, and running water. Press the button and you can have a pot of steaming hot coffee in just a few minutes. Today, nearly every home has a coffee maker in the kitchen. The fact is, the coffee maker has become a must-have for the kitchen. There are many variations on the coffee maker. The basic model is nothing special - it makes a cup of coffee and that's it. However, some advanced models offer much more. Many brands of coffee makers offer automatic shutoff mechanisms. That means that if you leave your coffee maker on for an extended period of time, or forget to turn it off before you leave the house, the machine will shut off automatically after a while. This automatic shutoff mechanism is designed to prevent the coffee maker from starting a fire if left for too long.

Then, there are the more advanced versions of the coffee maker that offer more features. Some advanced models sport timers, which are great for ensuring that you have a pot of steaming coffee before you even wake up in the morning. Set the timer the night before, prepare all of the ingredients, and when you wake up your coffee will already be made. You can shave ten to fifteen minutes off your morning just by having a timer on your coffee maker. People can now enjoy all the coffee they want in the comfort of their own homes. Most people probably thought that with more and more coffee shops opening up, coffee makers at home would probably disappear. However, even though coffee shops are springing up everywhere and are more popular than ever, it will probably be a long time before people throw out their coffee makers.

By Kerry Ng

Starting Your Own Coffee Shop - Important Things to Know

So you're thinking about going into the coffee/tea business. Here are some insider tips and tricks of the trade that you need to know.

Whether you've got the business plan laid out or are just entertaining the idea of starting toward your dream of opening a coffee shop, there's so much more to the industry than you ever thought possible. But don't worry; I'm going to give you some tips and tricks of the trade to get you on your way to a great business in the coffee/tea world.

Espresso machines are EXPENSIVE. However, the taste of your espresso is one of the most important facets of your business and can make or break you. You don't have to go too crazy on an espresso machine, however keep in mind that this is a worthwhile investment that you don't want to skimp on. Depending on the size of the coffee shop you want, most (if not all) coffee shops can get away with having two brewheads, so you shouldn't need to purchase a machine with three. Also, if you want the true, die hard coffee fanatics, go for a traditional machine rather than an automatic. Unless you're planning on having a line out the door for hours with unseasoned baristas, you'll be able to get through the morning rush on a 2-brewhead traditional machine, and (in my opinion) makes a much better shot of espresso.

Location is very, very key for coffee shops. When searching for a home for your coffee shop, position it within the driving path of morning commuters. Morning coffee drinkers would rather wait and drink the junk coffee at work than go way out of their way to stop for a good cup. If there's a few larger businesses in your city or town, try to position your location near an intersection close by. Even better - set up a drive through window for the on-the-go workers that don't leave much time to stop.

One of the biggest revenue builders for you is going to be the sale of whole bean coffee as well as your coffee beverages. Make a big deal to your customers about what they're drinking and give them tips and tricks for brewing the same beans at home. This might mean they'll skip a few trips to your store, but a bag of beans costs way more than their three cups of coffee for the week. Most times customers will spend more on whole bean coffee if they get hooked, or introduce it to their office. All great opportunities.

Educate your customers. I can't emphasize this enough. When customers feel like they know insider, expert information about coffee or your products, they want to share that information. So they talk to their friends about what they learned at Jack's Coffee earlier that morning - FREE advertising! It makes them feel knowledgeable and gets them engaged in discovering new coffees and continuing their education.

You'll feel the urge to expand your menu to be as large as possible - something for everyone right? Try to resist this urge. Let your customers know that they can customize their beverages and definitely take into consideration any suggestions your customers give you, but don't put too much on the menu. When a menu is too large, people get overwhelmed. Often times people new to coffee will feel intimidated by a large menu of items that they aren't familiar with and this will add to the negative feeling for them. It's also helpful to list out what each item is on the menu. This might come in handy for those are aren't familiar with what a real cappuccino is!

Make sure you offer beverages other than coffee. This may seem silly to some, and a no-brainer to others, but let me explain why. I'm all about the coffee date. Coffee shops are known as a great place to get together and socialize or just sit and read. But many times they become less about coffee and more about the atmosphere. By offering items other than coffee you're ensuring that you're catering to anyone who wants to come hang out! Also, don't be shy about putting LOTS of comfy chairs and couches in your coffee shop. You can never have too much good seating for the readers and relaxers.

By Tiffany Balz

How Big Do Tables Have to Be in a Coffee House?

If you're starting a small boutique coffee shop then ambience is everything. You need to find a tilt that will set you apart from the corporate sterility of one of those mass "specialty coffee" stores that loves to declare itself hip. One of the biggest concerns should be how big do tables have to be in a coffee house.

What type of tables you choose depends on the look that you're going for. If you want the cozy conversation feel of a French café then look for a small spindly quaint glass table for two. Couples can cuddle up over a cup and have a nice romantic conversation. Ring the tables around the outside wall of the store or out on the sidewalk so your couples can avoid being distracted by others around them.

If you're catering to the harried corporate worker that uses your café as a surrogate office then they'll need a bit more room to lay out the laptop, PDA, cell phone and such things. A bistro table is a bit larger in width. This can let your client spread out. Try and arrange the tables so that each person can have a little privacy when working.

If you want the funky feel of a college art house coffee shop then you'll go for plush comfort. Look for low long coffee tables set in between comfy couches. This lets the crowd sit around, play board games and chat. Your customers can kick back and prop their feet up and listen to poetry slams, local bands, and open mike nights.

If you're looking for the full restaurant experience to go along with your coffee shop then you'll want to set some tables more conducive to eating than sipping. You can put in some standard dining room tables or booths that will accommodate four to six people. You can arrange different sized tables for different sized parties. Be sure to get tables that are an identical height so you can move them together for larger parties.

Setting up a boutique coffee shop is nice but to maximize profit you'll want to mix these elements together. There are a few floor plans available for it. You want to be able to cater to the corporate drone, the cozy couple, and the art crowd.

Set up your more private tables outside, in corners and along the outside walls for privacy. You can then fill in the interior of the café with your larger table set ups. For instance you can use one corner for a couple couches and coffee tables. Then set up another area that is better suited to dining. And leave an open space for a stage and microphone set up. By combining these elements you'll be able to bring in diverse crowds all looking for something better than a mass produced cup of Joe. Setting up the shop involves quite a few elements; one of them is how big do tables have to be in a coffee house. Just plan everything out and pick up the furniture you need.

By Jennifer Akre

Coffee Maker With Grinder - Gourmet Taste From Freshly Ground Whole Beans Made Easier

Choosing the best coffee maker means deciding whether to get one with a built in grinder. While most machines do not include a grinder, you can find "grind and brew" coffee makers that go from whole bean to delicious brew with the touch of a button.

This type of coffee maker with grinder is one that lets you to place fresh, whole gourmet beans into a hopper, choose your grind, turn it on and let the freshly ground beans fill your your brew basket to start the process.

The biggest advantage of a grind and brew coffee system is that you don't need to purchase a separate maker and a stand along grinder. The other advantage is that you don't need to worry about transferring the ground beans into your coffee maker from the stand alone grinder, without making a mess.

This extra convenience can be the difference between the freshest possible ground beans or grinding your your beans ahead of time and storing it for later. The easier and quicker that you can make the grinding process, the more likely you are to enjoy grinding your beans just before brewing.

Before buying a grind and brew coffee maker, know that cleaning the built in grinder can be trickier than cleaning a stand alone grinder. Also, makers be sure that the grinder holds enough whole beans to grind for a full pot of coffee. For some reason, some of the built-in grinders don't hold enough whole beans to make a full batch of ground coffee.

Experts say that the best grinder is a conical burr grinder. That applies to buying a separate, stand alone grinder or a grinder built into your automatic maker. Why might you buy a grind-and-brew coffee system with a blade grinder? Two reasons. First, the cost is going to be less, and secondly there are very few burr grinders built into makers. Most built-in grinders are the lower cost but noisier and less effective blade grinder type.

For a better grind, chose a machine with a burr grinder built in. First, the burr grinder makes a more consistent grind, which gives better flavor. Secondly, you really want a quiet grinder to that it won't wake you in the morning when you program your first, freshly brewed cup of to be ready for you to meet the day.

One last caution: be careful not to purchase a maker that simply has a grinder attached to the coffee maker. That is not a true grind and brew coffee maker and should be avoided.

For the better grind and brew coffee makers, expect to find a burr grinder built in, along with programmable features, a water filter, and even stainless steel thermal carafes. These extra conveniences will make brewing great gourmet coffee a joy to make and to drink.

By DJ Toman

Drink a Cup of Micro Roasted Coffee

Have you heard about micro roasting? It's been said that micro roasted coffee might be some of the world's best coffee. The way in which these beans have been roasted is that the correct temperature has been applied during the right amount of time in order to bring out the coffee bean's exotic flavors.

Historically some roasters have treated the beans to simulate a variety of flavors such as hazelnut or vanilla. Drink a cup of micro roasted coffee and you'll realize that it's a very complex flavor. Instead of simply getting a caffeine kick, you're able to enjoy a wonderful flavor. Once you taste a micro roasted cup and the ordinary cup, you will be able to tell the difference as you re-taste that regular coffee. You won't ever go back to that store stuff.

What Sets It Apart

Time met technology and time moved forward evolving big coffee factories utilizing machines, which roast and package huge batches of beans for societal consumption. This kind of mass produced coffee is easy to make and it's cheap. Having tasted a cup of micro brewed coffee, you see the reason for the difference in price. The micro roasted beans are roasted with a close control by a roast master. Relying on their five senses, a highly skilled artisans micro roasts the best coffee.

When a batch of beans gains the perfect degree of roasting. It is checked by taste and judged as a fine wine. The brew master checks the roast by color, smell, and taste. When it comes to micro brewing the connoisseur is the human element in the making of the best coffee on earth. It beats the machine made stuff hands down.

The coffee roasting machine produces roasted beans for the mass market. Micro roasted coffee is produced in a roasting drum that turns continuously ensuring that all the beans are roasted evenly. In the micro roasting process, cooling utilizes air rather than water. This is different than in conventional coffee production. Water in the cooling process will alter the taste and add weight to the beans. The added weight translates into a greater cost for you the customer. It means you're paying for less. Micro roasted coffee benefits you the customer in its attention to detail.

Bear in mind that not all beans require the same amount of roasting. Micro roasting allows the roast master to assure that each batch is roasted proper. Roasting only small batches of beans. Quality of each roast will be maintained. Once you've tasted coffee roasted in micro batches, you won't be able to go back to your regular beans. Another way of stating this is why would you want to give up something this good?

By Cliff Eppalton

Italian Coffee - Drink For All Occasions

Many people enjoy a cup of coffee, whether it is their morning pick-me-up or an after dinner beverage. And Italian coffee is an essential part of the Italian lifestyle and meal plan. It could be the marketing campaigns, but when many people picture Italy, they picture a finely dressed couple sipping coffee on a terrace.

And while the marketing may be a bit of an exaggeration, it does have some basis in reality. Take a walk down the streets of Milan, Rome, or other major Italian city and you are sure to see many people drinking Italian coffees while reading their paper or heading off to work.

Not An Italian Native

While certain Italian coffees may have earned international recognition, it is important to note that the coffee beans themselves do not come from Italy. The coffee that is so widely popular comes from beans grown elsewhere in the world. In order for coffee beans to thrive, they need a warm, humid climate that cannot be found along the Italian shores. Therefore the producers of Italian coffees are required to get their beans from along the equator, from places in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

While Guatemala and Colombia are some of the more well known coffee producers, they do not do the bulk that Brazil does. Brazil produces the most of the Arabica beans that are produced in the region. The robusta beans come from the Asian producers, most commonly from India and Vietnam.

The Roasting Process

The Italian coffee that the world knows comes from the skillful roasting and blending that is done at the numerous coffee outlets throughout Italy. The raw beans are shipped in, and the roasted and blended according to the taste. From there the ground beans are left to the skills of the barista, who must control his coffee machine properly in order to get the superior coffee product that most consumers expect.

Coffee Machines

Many enthusiasts of Italian coffee will choose to brew their own at home. However, it takes a serious coffee drinker to afford the fancy equipment that is commonly seen in coffee bars. Even if you have the money and the space to own a commercial machine, it takes years of skill to learn how to operate it properly to get a perfect cup. So if you are not planning on becoming a professional coffee barista, you ought to be able to get a decent cup of Italian coffee using a high quality machine designed for home use. Most of these are relatively easy to use and will allow you to get the most out of your beans without a lot of skill required.

Buying Beans

Of course if you are planning on brewing Italian coffee at home and do not live in Italy, finding the proper coffee beans can be a bit of a challenge. However, thanks to the internet, you can now order beans from around the world. For the best results, order in small quantities. Keep the coffee stored in airtight container in a cool part of the kitchen. This will help to guarantee a fresh cup every time that you brew it.

By Anna Fiori