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Posted by admin on 01 Aug 2008 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
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Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Coffee, Equipment
Do you sip and finish several mugs of coffee in a day? Sick of shoring up the exorbitant prices of coffee in coffee shops? Then getting your own coffee machine might be the thing for you. That way you can enjoy the intoxicating and soothing aroma and taste of coffee anytime. How do find the coffee and the espresso maker towards this end?
This is how you go about that coffee business. You decide first what coffee drink you want to make with it. Now, how much you will use the machine will also factor in. Depending on that, you can select any of the machines types discussed below.
Semiautomatic coffee machines need you do most of the work, despite the name having “automatic” in it. It won’t be so hard, just grind the coffee beans, and manually begin and end the brewing process. Semiautos are cheap, so many buy them.
With an automatic, you just load the filter with some ground bean, and set water level, which depends on the drink you want to make. The machine, which has “automatic” in its name, will do the rest. It’s like the previous one, though with less intrusion from you. Usually, a frother for milk comes with the machine for creating cappuccinos and even lattes. Also, some come packed with a grinder, but you’d have to push your luck with that. Many espresso aficionados prefer a separate coffee grinder, and they choose the best grinder, for that. That’s because the more you can tune your grinder, the more you can get consistency in grinds. However, preferences differ on making pods, with some liking convenience and other considering the outcome taste, whether weak or even bitter or just right.
Now comes the most budget unfriendly coffee machine, the superautomatic. You pay more and so you get more. These make the superior quality coffee drinks, so you get more, what’s the term? More bang for every spent buck. And yes, you completely stay out of this machines’ way, unlike with the medium participation of the auto, and the almost full manual doing with the semiauto. Just be there to add the beans, and to watch the coffee grinder grind them. Then tamp them well into that filer, and prep up your drink. Superautos are completely programmable. You can set it for strength, the texture of your beans, the needed water level, the desired temperature and even quantity. The reservoir size differs for every brand, though you’ll bee needing to regularly refill it. Remember that distilled water is the recommended one for keeping your mucho expensive machine clean, and your coffee drinks getting the best taste. As for cleaning, just empty the waste box now and then. You will also enjoy the convenient cup warmers, hot water dispensers, and more.
Cleaning you own coffee maker is not that hard, or tedious. Cleaning is good practice, as it removes water deposits, even hard ones, and also old used oils from brewed pots you used before, and other impurities that all contribute to make you coffee bad tasting. Mix one part vinegar to two parts of water, and use to clean any drip coffee maker. A full pot of vinegar and some water mix you can pour into the water reservoir, and afterwards activate the coffeemaker.
Wait for that mix to run through completely, and then deactivate the drip coffee maker to allow it some fifteen to twenty minute cooling. After than dispose of the vinegar-water mix into the drain. Now, if happen to be cleaning up a machine that don’t regularly get cleaned, repeat the previous step again. Afterwards, use clean water to fill the water reservoir and activate the coffee maker to rinse. Repeat this rinsing for twenty minutes to ensure all vinegar and vinegar-water mix is gone.
Cleaning your precious coffee maker will extend its life significantly, which is good news for a coffee lover like yourself.
Know more about the world’s favorite beverage, just click COFFEE.
About the AuthorHello. I am Edythe White and I am a certified coffe addict and have tasted all kinds. Recent studies have shown that coffee is not just a simple refreshing beverage but a lot more. I have written articles so you will be able to appreciate what my favorite drink can give you. I hope you enjoy them.
Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Equipment
Wega Lyra is a brand company that is a popular one in the market and its products are highly admired and accepted by a large number of people in every corner of the world. Based in Bologna Italy, the company is a leading manufacturer in the field of espresso coffee machines. Since 1985, Wega is a highly renowned company and is known for its great product reliability, quality, durability and pricing. Wega espresso machine is one of the most demanded and liked product produced by Wega.Wega espresso machine has the striking feature that it be purchased as separate items. Moreover, these espresso machines can also be taken in various packages that are needed to have espresso and cappuccino. The package includes main components like chocolate shaker, saucers, cups, espresso beans and frothing jug. Wega also trains their professionals so that the potential buyers can have demonstration of how to use Wega espresso machine and what its features are. Cleaning guidelines are also stated clearly so as to make customers aware of how to keep the machine and equipments clean and in working order.
There are mainly two categories of Wega espresso machine, the Professional Espresso and the Commercial Espresso. The category of Wega professional espresso features Faema E61 which is considered as the finest model in the industry. The main qualities of this are its reliability, large boilers, great rated equipments and high quality items. It also has the characteristic of holding thermal stability even in the busy locations and ensures that each espresso will be of same high quality than the first.
The Wega Venus range has been specially designed keeping in mind the commercial needs along with providing style to it. This category of espresso is comparatively higher than the others, and allows taking out around 16oz cups. The machine is fitted with a copper boiler and it is bordered by a composite shell that is made of plastic so that there is no risk of getting hurt from any hot surface. It also has boiler heat exchanger that helps in keeping a proper temperature of the espresso. The safety valves in the machine ensure that there the espresso does not drain out unnecessarily.
There are various other groups of Wega espresso machine too that are of very good quality and provide satisfactory features. They are Wega Atlas, Wega Sphera, Wega Atlas2, Wega Nova2, Wega Polaris, Wega Polaris2, Wega Nova Ale Lever and various other categories. The Wega Atlas group is specially designed on a tough chassis, copper boiler, automatic level control for the boiler, Sirai Pressostat and manometer with double gauge so that the customers can have satisfactory results by using the Wega espresso machine.
There is also a special Wega USA range which has been made with special considerations. The arms of the machine have been designed so that it can easily reach the jugs and the user can take out the content without any difficulty. One can also choose a semi-automatic or an automatic model according to ones needs and specifications.
So, if you are looking for a brilliant quality espresso machine, Wega is the best option to go for.
About the Author
Francisco Segura owns and operates http://www.espressomachineweb.com Espresso Machine
Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Cappuccino, Mocha, Latte, Macchiato, Americano
Have you ever heard someone order a macchiato or ristretto in the coffee shop queue and wondered what it was? Don’t know a doppio from a mocha? Never fear, help is at hand with our quick guide to speciality coffees below.All speciality coffees can be made from a standard espresso machine.
Espresso - The base from which all speciality coffees are made - Hot water is forced through finely ground coffee to produce a maximum of 1 to 1.5 fluid ounces of beverage.
Crema - Thus is the golden head of the espresso, which is made of the oils extracted from the coffee during the brewing process.
Doppio - A double shot of espresso. (doppio is Italian for double)
Espresso Con Panna - A shot of espresso topped with whipped cream.
Romano - Espresso served with a twist or slice of lemon.
Ristretto - A restricted or short shot of espresso for an intense espresso taste.
Macchiato - Espresso with a small amount of steamed milk dappled on top to give a spotted effect.
Cappuccino - One shot of espresso, one part steamed milk, one part foamed milk with an optional dusting of chocolate or cinnamon.
Mocha - Cappuccino with a shot of chocolate sauce or syrup.
Americano - A standard sized cup of coffee made by dispensing a double espresso into hot water. Add milk to taste.
Latte - One shot of espresso mixed with steamed milk.
Skinny - A term used before all coffee drinks containing milk e.g. Skinny Latte - Means served with low fat skimmed milk.
With Wings - A term used to ask for a take-away drink e.g. a cappuccino with wings (originates from the early take-out paper cups which had folding paper handles resembling wings)
Lungo - Meaning ′long′ in Italian e.g. Espresso Lungo, a long espresso with more hot water.
Corretto - Means ′corrected′ or laced with an alcoholic spirit or liqueur.
Dry - A cappuccino with no steamed milk - just foamed milk.
Flavoured - A latte or cappuccino with a dash of flavoured syrup added such as vanilla, hazelnut, mint, almond or many others.
As you can see, many of the terms originate from Italy, where the first espresso coffee machine was patented in 1938 by Achille Gaggia. The Gaggia name has been synonymous with quality traditional espresso coffee machines ever since.
Spend a few moments familiarising yourself with these terms, and then next time you glance at the coffee shop menu board you will know exactly what to order.
About the Author
For more information about coffee and coffee making equipment visit http://www.cafebar.co.uk
Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Coffee
Follow the five important steps below to produce fantastic tasting espresso.Keep things hot
The key thing to remember is that espresso cools quickly as it is a small volume of liquid - therefore it is essential to maintain everything coming into contact with the coffee at a high temperature. Make sure the machine and group handle (porta-filter) are hot by running a few dummy espressos before making one for real. Cups should be kept on the warming shelf on top of the machine. If you are making the first few espressos of the day before the machine has seen much action, it is an idea to warm the cups with a little hot water before commencing.
Crema is King.
The best indication of good espresso is the crema. It should be a light caramel colour with enough consistency to hold half a teaspoon of sugar on the surface for 3 seconds or more. The appearance of the crema is an excellent indication of the quality of your espresso. If the crema is more white than brown, the coffee is under-extracted and needs either a finer grind and/or firmer tamping. If the crema looks burnt or is very dark in the middle, the coffee is over-extracted; perhaps the grind is too fine, the dose too large, the tamping too hard, or too much water has run through the coffee.
Under Pressure.
Tamping the coffee is the process of compacting 7g of ground coffee in the porta-filter with a tamping device. Use the tamper on the underside of the grinder or a hand held tamp. Apply firm pressure - enough to hold the grind when the porta-filter is turned upside down, but not too firm, otherwise this will lead to a longer extraction time.
All in the Timing.
Perfect espresso takes 18-23 seconds plus 2-3 seconds pre-infusion time - too long means your coffee grind is too fine, the coffee should be the texture of coarse sand. If the coffee is too fine your espresso will be harsh and bitter from over-extraction. Less than 18 seconds means either your coffee grind is too coarse or the tamp pressure is insufficient. An under-extracted coffee will result in a thin bubbly crema and weak espresso.
The Mouse’s Tail.
Look at the flow of the liquid when making an espresso - it should be constant and resemble a mouse’s tail. If the tail is too thick, the coffee grind is too coarse or the tamping is too light. If the tail drips and bubbles, the opposite applies.
Follow the above tips and enjoy delicious tasting espresso every time.
About the Author
For more information about espresso coffee and espresso making equipment visit http://www.cafebar.co.uk
Posted by admin on 06 Aug 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato
Virtually everyone in the world nowadays loves drinking all kinds of coffee and not everyone has the same preferences. Some like it weak and others like it strong, whatever the choice, you need to have good coffee makers that will do the trick. Espresso coffee makers are one of the most used worldwide.
The first thing to say is that all espresso coffee makers are for everyone to enjoy and not just for restaurants and coffee bars and so forth. You can buy new models big or small that can be used in your house too. The big ones can be used for parties and smaller ones for making just a few cups. Moreover, espresso coffee makers make more than just espresso. At least, they only make espresso, but espresso is the base for other coffee drinks too.
Kinds of Espresso Coffee
1. You can also make a cappuccino which is made of just equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and milk froth, together with some spices or cocoa available that you can add if needed. One part espresso and two parts of steamed milk make a flat white and is served in a cappuccino cup which is bigger than an espresso cup. This drink is popular in Europe, especially in Italy, and in New Zealand.
2. Café Latte is just espresso mixed with steamed milk topped with milk froth from steaming the milk. It is generally served it in a tall glass. You can sweeten the taste if you like by using flavored syrup instead of sugar. Thanks to espresso coffee makers there is an opportunity of creating a perfect coffee beverage.
3. Americano coffee is espresso with hot water for those who find espresso too strong for their tastes.
4. Café macchiato is just espresso with a little steamed milk on top. You can use flavored syrup with this one, too. You’ll look like an experienced coffee barman if you make this for your guests.
5. Latte macchiato is the opposite of a café macchiato and is served in a tall glass filled with steamed milk topped with a little espresso.
6. Café breve is made when you steam half and half in your espresso.
You can practically enjoy new espresso recipes any time, thanks to the popularity of espresso coffee makers.
At the end of the day, the dream of becoming a coffee barman will finally overwhelm you. Moreover, you can look over the latest in espresso coffee makers and maybe one day one of those very same espresso coffee makers will find a home with you. At that point, you will be able to offer all of the espresso-based drinks that your family and friends can enjoy, making you the number one coffee espresso barista in your neck of the woods!
These were only a few suggestions, a few commonsensical tips to you about espresso coffee makers. If you have grasped these few insights and the right espresso coffee maker, the probability of making mistakes in making espresso coffee would be very less.
About the author
A. Fimiani a man who has the passion for writing and likes to express his emotions through the net. Visit: http://flavoredcoffee101.blogspot.com/
Posted by admin on 06 Aug 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Equipment
Coffee lovers find they spend a lot of money at the local coffee house, purchasing their favorite cup of espresso. These people would greatly benefit from owning their own espresso coffee machine. Of course, there are several varieties of espresso coffee machines available, which can make things very confusing.
Different Types of Espresso Coffee Machines
In order to choose the right espresso model for yourself you need to decide how much control you want over the brewing. Of course, there is a fine line between how hard the machine is to operate and how much control you want to have. Here are a few of the models of espresso coffee makers that you should consider:
Manual
The manual type is the hardest to use but once you learn how to use it you will have a great cup of espresso. Here you will have to actually fill up the porta-filter handle and compact the coffee down. Once you have done this you will need to brush away any loose grounds that may be left there and then you will need to lock the handle into place. This is not the complicated part; the complex part is pulling the handle. If you pull it at the wrong time, your espresso will not be as good as it could be. You also need to know that there is no electric pump with such an espresso maker, hence the term “manual.” This is something that you should take into consideration before making your purchase. Nevertheless, this is amongst the first type of espresso machine available for producing the beverage that so many people know and love.
Automatic
The semi automatic type is more popular because a pump is used instead of your arm. As such it is more user friendly, giving you more reliable results. So, before long you can expect to sit down to enjoy wonderful espresso.
Full automatic espresso coffee machines came onto the market just a few years ago. They are a hands- free device, which will make the perfect espresso for you. As such, this is what most professional coffee houses and cafés use.
The super automatic types of machines will take charge of your espresso making for you. Everything is programmed into the machine so that all you have to do is press a button and out comes a perfect cup of espresso. The simplicity and speed is why these machines are so popular.
About the author
Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free tips, recipes and expert advice on Coffee, please visit our Coffee Machine Resource.
Posted by admin on 07 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Coffee, Equipment
There has been a major upswing in coffee consumption in the United States lately. That doesn’t just mean the types and kinds of coffee available, but also the dazzling array of flavors that you can order your coffee in. Now, in addition to frappaccino and mocha latte, we can have raspberry nutmeg or almond crunch coffee. If it sounds like you are eating dessert instead of drinking coffee, don’t be concerned. These new flavors are achieved simply by adding flavored syrups to the coffee. They add little to the coffee in the way of calories, and lots in the way of flavor.
This trend towards flavored coffees has been around for only a few years in the United States, but it has been a pleasure that has been enjoyed in other countries for years. Some of the best coffee brewers and coffee shops have traditionally used flavorings to make the ordinary cup of coffee more interesting. Quality coffee shops will use natural ingredients to flavor their coffee and add a richness to it. They try to use pure and natural ingredients in the syrups and flavorings in their coffeemakers. When they blend the espresso in the espresso machine, the ingredients are added before hand so the coffee is infused with the flavor.
Flavored coffee syrups are made from a sugar base to which is added natural flavorings such as fruits, nuts or spices. These are blended in a water mix and then concentrated into a syrup. One of the main reasons that flavored coffees have become such a rage is that they offer sweetness and flavor without contributing to fat or cholesterol intake. The recent craze to avoid fat and cholesterol has contributed greatly to the popularity of flavored coffee syrups.
Low carb diets are another boon to the flavored coffee business. You can feel as though you are eating a chocolate donut when you order a choco-latte, but there are no carbs in this baby. There are also sugar free syrups for those who want to avoid sugar, either because of the calories or because they have diabetes. You can enjoy the same vanilla, hazelnut, almond, caramel, Irish cream, chocolate, raspberry or amaretto coffees without fear of consuming sugar. They usually use a calorie free Splenda to substitute for the sugar taste.
If you enjoy your coffee with a lot of flavor to it, there is no end to the tastes you can experiment with using flavored coffee syrups.
About the author
Johnathan Bakers very often creates detailed articles on news related to coffee roasting and coffee making. You might find out more about his articles on coffeemakers over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com .
Posted by admin on 07 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Espresso, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mocha, Latte
When you enter a coffee house, you have a multitude of drink choices like latté, cappuccino, straight shot and caffé mocha just to name a few.
Sometimes knowing what to order can be overwhelming unless you know what you are getting. After all, who wants to pay an outrageous amount of money for a mystery drink that you may not even like?
So we come to the rescue, and after you read this, you’ll have a basic understanding of how the most popular coffee drinks are made and what they are made of.
Most coffee drinks start with espresso and espresso is just coffee that is brewed a certain way. It is finely ground to almost a powder then very hot water is forced through the grounds under intense pressure.
The brewing process is timed so that the flavorful and aromatic oils are extracted from the coffee and not the bitter components. This produces a strong flavored, but not bitter, concentrated shot of coffee.
Straight Shot
The straight shot refers to espresso coffee and the secret to good espresso is the extraction time, volume, and golden crema which is a thick light brown layer of frothed coffee oils that float on top of a properly extracted espresso.
The short shot or ristretto is extracted to a volume of three-quarters of an ounce. The shorter restricted pour magnifies the essence of the coffee and the chance of any bitter elements being extracted is minimized. If you have ever ordered an espresso shot in Europe they usually serve the ristretto.
The long shot or lungo is extracted to a volume of one and one-half ounces.
The double shot is a 2 ounce shot using twice as much coffee in the portafilter.
The correct way to serve a straight shot is to extract it directly into a warmed demitasse cup. The warm demitasse cup will keep the straight shot warm and prolong the crema. A straight shot is best enjoyed immediately after brewing.
It is rare to see people drinking straight shots of espresso in the US. Most people here drink variations using steamed milk mixed with the shots to make the different coffee drinks listed here.
Espresso Macchiato
The Espresso Macchiato starts with a shot of espresso and then a small amount of foamed milk is spooned over the shot. Macchiato in Italian means “marked,” as the espresso is marked with foam.
Espresso Con Panna
This is an Espresso Macchiato using whipped cream in place of the foamed milk. The drink gets its name Con Panna which means “with cream.”
Caffé Americano
The Caffé Americano is a drink similar to American brewed coffee. It is made with a single or double shot of espresso combined with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water out of an espresso machine. The result is a very smooth cup of coffee that is much hotter than brewed coffee.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is made with a fluffy, wet foam, mixed with espresso coffee upon the pour to create a blend of the two flavors. Cold milk is essential, as is expertise in the foaming process. Cappuccino has a large volume of foam making it a light weight drink and less filling.
Caffé Latté
Caffé Latté is similar to the cappuccino but with much less foam and more steamed milk. A latté is made by holding back the foam with a spoon while pouring the frothed milk from the steaming pitcher. The caffé latté is completed by being topped with a small amount of the held back foam.
Caffé latté gets its name from the addition of coffee to milk. For an iced latté, cold milk is combined with the espresso and then the ice is added.
Caffé Mocha
A caffé mocha is made by adding powdered or chocolate syrup to a hot shot of espresso and blended. Steamed milk is then be added to the espresso-chocolate mixture and usually it is topped with whipped cream.
Iced mochas are made with cold milk and the ice added after the coffee and chocolate have been blended.
Flavored Coffee Drinks
Some popular coffee flavors are: vanilla, Irish creme, almond, hazelnut, caramel and fruit flavors such as orange and raspberry. These drinks usually start with a flavored syrup that is mixed with hot espresso and stirred. Then steamed milk is stirred in like in a latté.
An iced version of these flavored coffees made with cold milk instead of steamed makes a delicious cold drink in the summer months.
So now that you know what’s in the basic coffee drinks, try one you haven’t tasted yet. Who knows, you might find a new favorite.
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