Espresso Machines and Espresso Makers - Coffee Made Easy!

Who doesn't love a good cup o' coffee in the morning? Nothing like that quick pick-me-up to jump start your morning and send you out the door with the energy and alertness you need to get through the day. On second thought, you don't want to just get through the day, you want to power through the day. An espresso maker may be the perfect solution to your coffee needs.

Espresso makers create a powerful and strong coffee that can really wake you up in the morning. You see, a shot of espresso is a concentrated coffee drink. Espresso is made by forcing about 1.5 ounces of hot water through finely ground and extremely tightly packed espresso coffee. Generally speaking, a shot of espresso is stronger and has a more concentrated amount of caffeine than your normal cup of black coffee.

With an espresso maker, all these drinks (plus many more) are available to you at your finger tips. Try adding in various syrups, creamers, and other ingredients for the perfect coffee drink that you crave each and every morning! Having an espresso maker was one of the best investments I've ever made. I used to spend at least $30 a week on coffee, but with a small investment of buying my espresso maker, the only expense I have now are the coffee beans and any syrups or creamers I choose to put in. In the long run, buying an espresso maker can save you a lot of money as well as provide you great espresso drinks for life!

The answer is simple: GET AN ESPRESSO MAKER!!! Seriously, a great espresso maker is one of the best investments anyone can make!

Now there are plenty of different espresso makers, espresso machines, and coffee makers out there. You could just run out of the house in a mad dash and buy the first one you see sitting on the shelf at your store of choice, but wouldn't you like to do a little research and find out which espresso maker is right for you? Well, for those of you still here, read on...

Now, if you want to make sure that you get the top of the line, cream of the crop espresso maker, you're going to want to look at some of the features that separate the men from the boys, so to speak. However, if you're just looking for a basic, back-to-basics espresso maker for your everyday coffee needs, there are many choices out there. Many expresso makers have super-neat features like stainless steal exteriors, different size coffee cups (depending on how many you are preparing coffee for), cup warmers, and all come in different shapes, colors and sizes.

Make no mistake about it; if you've read this far you obviously have an interest in the realm of coffee and espresso drinks. The time has come to buy that espresso maker you've always wanted and secretly dreamed of! So take my advice, sit down and think about how much you're willing to spend and exactly what features you need. Make no mistake; buying a quality espresso maker is one of the best investments you'll ever make!

Expresso Maker www.MyExpressoMaker.com

Expresso Maker www.MyExpressoMaker.com

coffee maker glossary

Some of the terms that are frequently used are as follows: Coffee has its own language . Auto Frother: used to automatically froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes Automatic Drip Coffee Maker: a machine used to automatically heat water and filter through coffee. Automatic Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker: as the name itself says this is an espresso machine having controllable, programmable coffee dosing. Bean to Cup: Machines having Bean To Cup will usually have the capacity to do everything from grinding the beans to filling a cup with coffee. Boiler: It is the steam machine inside coffee maker. These large boilers are usually more powerful and produce more hot water for beverages. Boiler Element: It is an element that heats boilers in electric espresso coffee makers. Cappuccino: A beverage based on Italian espresso. Cup Warmer: Here the cups are placed for warming. It is a metal portion at the top of the espresso coffee maker. Dosing: it is the amount of grams or brewed coffee per cup. Drip Tray: it is the part of espresso coffee maker where the coffee cup sits for filling. Espresso: it is a rich Italian black coffee preceded with speciality coffees. Filter Basket: A filter made up of metal where grounds are placed for brewing. Filtered Method: the process of seperating coffee from water. French Press: A cylindrical coffee maker in which ground coffee is steeped then filtered. Coffee grounds are pushed to the bottom of the pot with the plunger. Coffee stays in the top of the pot. Fully Automatic Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker: machines which helps in automatically managing the brewing process. Grind: the process of preparing coffee beans for coffee brewing is called Grinding. Group: The part of Espresso coffee maker used to brew coffee. Group Handle: Portion of espresso coffee maker used to hold the filter basket that ground coffee goes into. Heat Exchanger: helps in heating water for coffee without taking water from the boiler. Hopper: This is the portion of grinder that holds coffee beans. Knock-out Box: It is a container used to remove the used coffee grounds from group handle. Latte: A beverage that is prepared on mixing one quarter coffee, three quarters of steamed, hot milk with little froth. Mocha: This is the term used to describe a hot beverage made from espresso, chocolate and milk. Moka Pot: Classic Italian espresso-maker used on top of the stove. Percolator: A type of coffee maker that runs water continuously through the coffee grounds to make coffee. Pour/Pour Speed/Pour Time: It is defined as the amount of time required to pour coffee from group into cup. Should be 25 to 30 seconds for espresso. Pump: This is the device that moves water through the coffee maker. Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker: machine without pre-set dosing capability. Steam Arm/Wand: metal tube delivering steam to froth milk. Super Automatic Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker: the brewing process from coffee bean to fresh cup of coffee in addition to other features such as a water filter is being automatically managed by this machine. Tamping: process of pressing ground coffee into filter basket. Vacuum coffee maker: machine using vacuum process to make coffee. Traditional espresso coffee maker: a traditional way of preparing coffee without using bean to cup automated model. Water Filter: filters dirts from water for better coffee taste. Water Font: nozzle used to dispense water from machine boiler. Water Softener: This is a must have for anyone using hard water as it filters lime and minerals from water, preventing build up of scales in the coffee maker.

Some of the terms that are frequently used are as follows: Coffee has its own language .Auto Frother: used to automatically froth milk for cappuccinos and lattesAutomatic Drip Coffee Maker: a machine used to automatically heat water and filter through coffee.

choosing a coffee maker that fits your lifestyle

Techniques for brewing coffee range from the practical to the artful. When purchasing a coffee maker for your home, you'll want to select a machine that matches your own coffee brewing style.

Is drinking coffee a languid morning ritual or something you do on-the-go? Do you prefer an uncomplicated cup of black coffee or an espresso with a light crema layer? To help you decide on the ideal brewer for your lifestyle, here is a rundown of popular coffee machines, from single cup Keurig coffee makers to the more elaborate espresso makers:

Keurig coffee makers

Drip Coffee Maker

Drip Coffee Maker

You can't get more traditional in your approach to coffee brewing than by using a drip coffee maker. Introduced for home use in the 1970s, these machines work by letting water pass through coffee grounds held in a paper filter or plastic filter. The clear, light-bodied coffee then collects in a brew pot.

Drip coffee machines range in size, but typically brew eight to twelve cups at a time. Many models have a heating element which keeps the pot warm. Coffee left sitting in the heated pot for too long may develop a burnt or bitter taste.

Benefits: Ease of use. Brew multiple cups in a single pot.

Drawbacks: Moderate brewing time. Need to clean up used grounds and coffee pot.

Single Cup Coffee Maker

Single Cup Coffee Maker

Single cup coffee machines are among the newest trends in coffee brewing. These machines use individual portion packs of coffee to brew one cup at a time. Simply fill the water reservoir, pop a portion pack of your favorite coffee in the holding chamber, and press the brew button. In under a minute, you'll have a fresh cup of gourmet coffee.

While the most common type of portion pack is the coffee pod – a paper filter containing coffee grounds – some brands of single cup coffee maker call for the use of their own proprietary portion packs. For instance, single cup brewing systems from Keurig use K Cups and those from Tassimo use T-Discs.

Prices for single cup coffee makers range from less than $50 to more than $300, depending on the size and model. Many models can brew tea and hot cocoa as well as coffee. Some high-end models are capable of producing coffee with a crèma layer. A single cup coffee maker is a great choice for someone who's always on the go.

Benefits: Quick brewing time. Minimal clean up.

Drawbacks: With the exception of some high-end models that take loose ground coffee, you must use portion packs.

Percolator

Percolator

Coffee percolators are a type of drip brew coffee maker. Highly popular in the early twentieth century, percolators have resurfaced as a nostalgia item in many homes.

What distinguishes percolators from standard drip brewers is the way water moves through the percolator chambers – boiling first in the lower chamber, bubbling up through a vertical tube, then percolating down through the coffee grounds before re-circulating. This process gives percolated coffee a unique taste. If heated for too long after the percolating process completes, the coffee may develop a bitter taste.

Benefits: Characteristic "perking" action. Non-electric and electric versions available.

Drawbacks: Slow brewing time. Diminishes natural flavor of coffee beans.

Espresso Machine

Espresso Machine

Espresso machines offer coffee with a more European flair. The machines operate by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans. This process results in espresso's characteristic crema layer. Espresso typically has a thicker consistency than drip brewed coffee and contains more sediment from the coffee grounds.

The flavor of espresso is much more concentrated than drip brewed coffee, making it the perfect base for lattes, mochas, macchiato, and cappuccinos when mixed with varying amounts of frothed milk. While espresso is higher by volume in caffeine than drip brewed coffee, the customary small serving size means that most espresso drinks contain less caffeine than a mug of coffee. This is a true luxury item.

Benefits: Trendy. Quick brewing time. Produces a variety of espresso drinks.

Drawbacks: More complicated to operate. Espresso flavor degrades quickly after brewing.

Remember, not all coffee makers are created equal. Once you've decided which type of coffee machine best suits your lifestyle, making a purchase becomes a matter of deciding your price range and desired features. It helps to read consumer reviews posted on the Internet before choosing a particular model. If you take your time and research all the options, you're sure to find a coffee maker that will perk up your mornings for years to come.

About CoffeeCow

About CoffeeCow

CoffeeCow.com goes to great lengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastest service, and the deepest discount prices you will find on Keurig K-Cups , coffee pods, and a wide selection of related coffee supplies. Developed by coffee professionals with over 35 years of experience in fulfilling any coffee service need, CoffeeCow offers all the coffee conveniences for your home or office. Visit http://www.coffeecow.com for more information.

Keurig K-Cups http://www.coffeecow.com

coffee shop culture in singapore and malaysia a different art of coffee drinking

Before there are Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaves, most people in the region of Singapore and Malaysia know only kopi, a Baba Malay language for coffee.  Kopi is basically robusta coffee.  Espresso and cappuccino are extravagant coffee in the early days, meant for the rich, and only available in hotels.

Today, a cup of kopi is only between 70 and 90 Singapore cents.

Latte or long black is unknown in local coffee stalls and kopi tiam.  Tiam means shop in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect.  Instead it is commonly called kopi, kopi-o, and kopi-c.

Kopi is not brewed in coffee maker, but steep in a tall metal pot with a long spout with a cotton coffee filter, a long cone bag, within.  Milk and sugar are not served separately on the table.  When you order your kopi, you have coffee with condensed milk, a sweetener, and sugar, already added.

Kopi-o is black coffee, with sugar added.  O sounds like black in Hokkien.

Instead of condensed milk, Carnation evaporated milk is added to kopi-c, with sugar.  The c stands for Carnation, a brand, even though some have replaced it with other brands.

Most of the early kopi tiam are started by Chinese who are Hainanese.  Today their lingo still stays.  Ask for kopi-c siu tai, it is coffee with evaporated milk and less sugar in the cup.  More sugar, ka tai.  But for no sugar, it is kosong, a Malay word which means nothing.

Sarabat stalls are coffee stalls run by Indians and Malays.  They are famous for their teh tarik.  Teh means tea, and tarik means pull back.  A cup of tea with milk and sugar added is then juggled between two cups at an altitude.  The original purpose is to lower the temperature of very hot tea for easy drinking on a hot day, for the climate in Singapore and Malaysia most of the year is of summer.  However, the action has also produced a foamy top for the tea, much like cappuccino.  This spurs the creation of kopiccino, using the same method but instead of tea, it is coffee.

Many migrants came from China in the old days.  Chinese meal will always have a cup of Chinese tea besides their food.  It is not surprising to find in the local coffee shop and food court, too, that coffee and tea are usually ordered together with meals, much like having a cup of Chinese tea, or ice water in western meal.  But for some, hot kopi is still best reserved after a meal.

Nevertheless, for those who still crave for a piece of cheese cake with gourmet coffee, it is still Starbucks, hotels, or café.  For others with a budget, Ikea offers value for money for a cup of brewed coffee with cheese cake.

Any opportunities to travel to Singapore and Malaysia, kopi with roti kaya is a must.  Roti is bread in Malay, and kaya is a coconut egg jam.