The Secret To High Quality Cappuccino And Espresso Coffee Drinks

Jul 11th, 2010 Posted in Coffee Beans, Coffee Making | No Comments »

As any coffee lover knows, no two coffeemakers will brew precisely the same taste over and over again. Not only are there differences in each machine but there are also several additional factors.

As weird as it sounds, the quality of the water can have a large effect on the taste. You want the water to be filtered and quite hot as this will really aid in the process of brewing. It’s also recommended to not let the water sit for too long as mildew may form.

It is also important to buy the best coffee maker within your budget. Don’t spend money on a model where steam is needed to build pressure. Instead, opt for a thermoblock to produce the necessary heat.

Spend Time Choosing Your Coffee Grounds

Arabica is always a great choice for your coffee beans. The taste is outstanding, especially when the beans are roasted right before brewing. You should try different types, but feel free to start with Arabica. You might not switch after all.

Roasting Is A Crucial Part Of The Process

Roasting the beans is critical to the overall flavor of the grounds. Ideally, the beans should be roasted to a dark color and ground up using a Burr style grinder. Burrs are favored as blades might chop the beans up without producing uniform grounds. The majority of the grinders have numerous settings so you can create very small particles or much bigger ones, depending on your personal tastes. You should keep experimenting until you get the results you are searching for.

When making espresso you should begin by pouring clean, fresh water into the espresso maker and turn the power on. As soon as the water is heated you can run a cup through it to clean out any residual particles. The heated water will travel down the machine to the pump. Now it’s time to put in the roasted coffee grounds and press down until it is springy to the touch, without making a mess of course. As soon as the hopper is securely in place you can position a cup underneath the spout and wait for your espresso.

If you prefer cappuccino, heat a small amount of organic milk in the microwave. Beat it up a little until it is frothy and then let it float on top of the espresso. You can even add some cinnamon or chocolate for more flavor, or perhaps some stevia which is an unprocessed sweetener.

Now that you have this information, it shouldn’t be difficult to make a tasty coffee drink. Try to browse some online coffee maker reviews to locate the optimal model for your home.

How To Choose The Roast You’ll Like

Jul 4th, 2010 Posted in Coffee Beans, Coffee History, Coffee Making | No Comments »

Trying to figure out which discount gourmet coffee to buy?  Once you understand the attributes of the beans and the manner in which they are roasted, you may have more confidence in finding the coffee that suits your preferences.

The names of the beans normally do not refer to the kind of coffee plant they come from; instead, the name can refer to any of the following.

  • Origin:
    Quite simply, a name may designate where the bean was grown (Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Yemen).  Sometimes the name of the plantation is included in the coffee’s name as well. Coffees can be designated as “single-origin” coffees that is, originating from one country only or “blends,” a combination of beans from a variety of geographical areas. Generally, blended coffees produce more complex brews than single-origin coffees.
  • Coffee Roaster’s preferences:
    Often, coffee roasters will put their own mark on a batch of beans, blending and roasting the beans according to the roaster’s preferences. Often, names such as “House Blend” will tell you little; but the names sometimes give clues as to how the coffee roaster envisioned the coffee to be enjoyed, such as “Eye-Opener Roast” or “Dessert Blend.
  • Styles of Coffee Roasts

    • French and Italian roasts:
      Dark, heavy-roasted coffee beans that are almost black in color and produce a strongly flavored coffee.
    • American roast:
      A medium-roasted coffee, which produces a coffee that’s neither characteristically light nor heavy.
    • European roast:
      Two-thirds heavy-roasted coffee beans combined with one-third medium-roasted beans.
    • Viennese roast:
      One-third heavy-roasted coffee beans combined with two-thirds medium-roasted beans

    To further clarify the coffee roasts;

    • Light roasts are known by several different names.  These coffees will have the coloring of milk chocolate and contrary to popular belief, will contain more caffeine than dark roasted coffees, as much as 10% more!  Origin coffees are generally roasted lightly to bring out the individual qualities of the coffee.
    • Medium roasts are familiar to you as a City Roast or Breakfast Roast or American Roast.  These beans have a dark brown color and may display some oily spots of the coffee’s natural oils coming to the surface.  Medium roasts are less acidic while more spicey and nutty undertones become apparent.
    • Dark roasts are described as European, French, Italian, Espresso, Full City or Viennese.  These are not reflective of the origins, but rather the degree of the roast.  Coffee roasted to this level will appear almost black in color and be very shiny or oily.  Many of the flavor characteristics are gone from beans roasted to this level.  They have a smokey, deep flavor, with perhaps some of the caramel notes as well, from the caramelization of sugars in the bean. This roast has a bittersweet wash to it.

    Choosing the Right Coffee Bean:
    So, how does all this translate into what’s best for your cup?

    Because coffees grown in the same parts of the world can have similar characteristics, knowing your coffee’s origins can help you decide if it will be one you like. Coffees from Africa are often imbued with the aromas and flavors of berries, citrus fruits, cocoa and spices, while coffees from Latin America are known for their lighter body and cleaner flavors. Coffee beans from Southeast Asia are often full-bodied and smooth.

    When selecting a coffee, think about whether you like bright, citrus notes or nutty, caramel flavors or even the earthy, smokey flavor in your cup. Once you’ve got this overall picture of origins and roasting styles in your mind, honing your personal likes and dislikes involves the enjoyable task of trying a little of this and a little of that when you have a chance.

    Java Queen International sells gourmet coffees and coffee makers online.  They offer discount Keurig coffee makers and discount illy coffee pods, illy espresso and iperEspresso