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 Pods and Espresso Machines

There's nothing like the perfect espresso . Finely ground, dark roasted coffee, pressed and percolated into a strong, rich coffee drink that delights the senses and perks up your day. In Italy, ordering a coffee means that you're ordering an espresso. The Italians stop in their local bar once, twice, even three times a day for the perfect cup of espresso. But here in America, it's not as easy to find espresso done right. The grind of the coffee, the right temperature, the pressing of the coffee and the foaming of the milk are skills that few people know how to wield properly on this side of the ocean. But now with espresso machines and coffee pods , the guesswork is taken out of making espresso at domestic bars or even in your own kitchen at home.

perfect espresso espresso machines coffee pods

In Italy, most Italians wouldn't recognize what we think of as a coffee maker. They use a "machinetta", a contraption that looks like a metal hourglass that has a top like a pitcher. The machine has 2 chambers. Water and coffee go into the bottom chamber. The machine is placed on the stovetop and heated until the water boils, percolating through the espresso grinds and into the second chamber. The pressure on the grinds between the two chambers insures that the coffee is pressed - the word espresso means "expressed" - and the rich taste comes from getting as much of the flavor out of the grinds as possible. The milk is heated and whipped separately. But it's easy to make a mistake in this process. Either by using the wrong amount of water or coffee , turning the heat on too strong or not using the right timing .

it's easy to make a mistake wrong amount of water or coffee heat on too strong right timing

The growing popularity of espresso has meant that people want an easier, error free way to make it at home. So now you can find espresso machines that let you get the right combination of the necessary steps every time. There is a wide range of models to choose from, with different features and capacity. Some are designed for use in restaurants or bars, capable of producing large volumes of coffee in shorter amount of time. Unless you do enough entertaining at home to justify the cost, these probably aren't the best solution for you.

espresso machines

Models made for home usually produce either one or two "shots" of espresso at a time. If you prefer your espresso "macchiato", with milk, or you want to turn your espresso into a cappuccino, you will want to get an espresso machine with a nozzle that creates the steam and lets you froth the milk. Beyond these choices, you might want to consider a product that lets you use coffee pods . These pods look like large tea bags. They contain the exact amount of espresso to deliver a perfect shot every time. You simply put the pod into its slot, close it, and start the machine. When the cycle has finished, you just throw the pod away. It helps prevent any problems with measuring out the espresso and makes cleaning up absolutely easy.

coffee pods

If you purchase a machine that uses coffee pods , you might want to consider whether or not it can also take either another brand's coffee pods or regular loose espresso. Some machines do, but many will work only with the coffee pods that the same company also designs. Having the flexibility to use either the pod or loose coffee means you can still use it even if you run out of pods, which might need to be special ordered. Until these machines become more popular, it's not likely that the pods will be carried consistently in local grocery stores. Plus, the choice to use either kind of coffee also gives you the freedom to experiment with other roasts or flavors of espresso to further indulge your love of coffee.

machine that uses coffee pods

Short History of Coffee

Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee!

Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.

No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From it’s earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!

As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee!

The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!

The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee makers were invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! Automatic espresso machines began their journey in the 1930’s.

By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

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the history of coffee

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee! The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone! The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee machine was invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! The automatic espresso maker began its journey in the 1930’s. By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and he began to feel very happy. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink?Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery.From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it!

what is cappuccino

The main difference between the two is that a caffe latte has twice the amount of milk (usually whole milk, but one can order it with 2 percent or even skim) and no milk foam. Many people confuse this coffee drink with a caffe latte, another form of Italian coffee found at most coffee houses in America. What is cappuccino? Paper and glass cups tend to allow the heat to seep out faster. Additionally, the porcelain acts as another heat retainer. Served traditionally in a porcelain cup, the foam acts as an insulator and keeps the drink hotter longer. The milk foam that floats on top of a cappuccino is what distinguishes it from most other coffee drinks, in fact. If the texture and temperature of the milk is wrong, the drink won't be as good as it should be. The barista then steams the milk, which is the second most important ingredient. A cappuccino starts out with a shot of espresso. When the milk is properly steamed, it will be velvety and sweet. The barista will then float one centimeter of the foamed milk on top of the espresso. If one prefers their cappuccino to have more or less milk, the order would be for a wet or dry cappuccino, respectively. Until the mid 1990s, Americans didn't really enjoy cappuccino. Whether it was because people didn't know what the drink was or because it wasn't quite cool enough to drink isn't known. However, when upscale coffee houses started sprouting up en masse, more and more people began ordering the beverage. Hopefully, now that you've learned the question to "what is cappuccino", you'll be able to impress your friends with the new found knowledge. Typically speaking, Italians exclusively drink them in the morning, although in other countries it is customary to drink them after dinner. Traditionally, cappuccinos in Italy are served with breakfast.

The main difference between the two is that a caffe latte has twice the amount of milk (usually whole milk, but one can order it with 2 percent or even skim) and no milk foam. Many people confuse this coffee drink with a caffe latte, another form of Italian coffee found at most coffee houses in America. What is cappuccino?Paper and glass cups tend to allow the heat to seep out faster. Additionally, the porcelain acts as another heat retainer. Served traditionally in a porcelain cup, the foam acts as an insulator and keeps the drink hotter longer. The milk foam that floats on top of a cappuccino is what distinguishes it from most other coffee drinks, in fact.If the texture and temperature of the milk is wrong, the drink won't be as good as it should be. The barista then steams the milk, which is the second most important ingredient. A cappuccino starts out with a shot of espresso.Hopefully, now that you've learned the question to "what is cappuccino", you'll be able to impress your friends with the new found knowledge. Typically speaking, Italians exclusively drink them in the morning, although in other countries it is customary to drink them after dinner. Traditionally, cappuccinos in Italy are served with breakfast.

coffeecoffee chronicle

It was once told that the word “Coffee” was called after a name of a town in south-western Ethiopia, Which is the actual birthplace of coffee Amazingly,The initial discoverers of coffee are sheep! Yes, sheep the mammal. And here the story goes …
In approximately A.D. 800, an Ethiopian shepherd boy happened to notice that, his sheep liked to eat red fruits that grow from bushes. And it seemed they were so lively and energetic every time they ate the fruit! Besides, at night, instead of sleeping, they woke up all night. In doubt, the shepherd boy then tried the fruit himself. And the result he got was the same as his sheep! Subsequently, after the rumor has spread, a local priest then tried to use the mysterious fruit to make drinks for his apprentices. Turned out, all of them were able to stay up all night studying and praying without any sign of drowsiness!
After the coincidental discovery, coffee “drink” had become extremely popular in Muslims and Arabians. Since Arabians were the first to cultivate coffee in plantations and called it “Qahwa”, which means “The drowsiness antidote”. In the early 14th century, the coffee trade had begun in Arabian Peninsula, near “Mocca” seaport city of Yemen. Then in the 16th and 17th century, the age of colonization, the Dutch were the first to smuggle coffee out of Arabs. As a result, coffee had been spread all over Europe as drinks for celebrations in communities.
read more http://coffee-forlife.blogspot.com

http://coffee-forlife.blogspot.com

espresso coffee how to make it

Espresso (or) Caffè Espresso is a popular coffee beverage enjoyed by millions of people and is hugely popular in Europe as well as in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Most of us are very much aware of an Espresso but very few of us know what it exactly is or how it is prepared?

So where did it all start?

A guy named Luigi Bezzera from Italy invented the Espresso drink in 1903. He was basically frustrated with the time it took to make a decent cup of coffee and wanted to find a way to brew it much quicker. He attempted to increase the applied pressure during the coffee brewing process and thereby reduced the overall preparation time. As expected the coffee drink was prepared much quicker and it infact tasted even better. This drink soon came to be called the now hugely popular "Espresso".

How Is Espresso Made?

To make a delicious cup of creamy Espresso you basically need three things

1. A Good Espresso Machine
2. High Quality Coffee beans
3. Some Water

When the brewing process begins pressurized water at about 85°C - 95°C is forced into the ground coffee kept in the filter. If the water if forced at a temperature lower than the recommended range, the Espresso produced will turn sour and if it is forced at a higher temperature it will turn bitter. So one should be careful that the water is forced at the ideal temperature range. A High quality Espresso machine will control the temperature of the forced water effectively and maintain it at the ideal temperature. The entire brewing process will finally produce a rich, creamy, reddish brown like syrup which is your "Espresso" . Freshly brewed Espresso should be served immediately or else it will degrade due to cooling and oxidation. To enjoy a delicious cup of creamy Espresso it is recommended to consume it within 2 to 3 minutes from the time of serving. Another popular misconception is that only a specific bean or roast can be used to produce authentic Espresso coffee. This is absolutely not true as any bean or roast can be used.

Variations Of Espresso

There are over 15 variations of Espresso produced such as Americano, Black eye, Capuccino, Cubano, Doppio, Caffè Latte, Caffè Macchiato, Mocha, Red Eye, Long Black, Lungo, Ristretto, Flat White, Corretto etc.Each of these variations are produced by altering the proportion and temperature of Milk and Water added and by adding various ingredients such as Chocolate, Gelato, Cinnamon, Caramel and even Brandy.

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Espresso

So where did it all start?

Luigi Bezzera

How Is Espresso Made?



1. A Good Espresso Machine
2. High Quality Coffee beans
3. Some Water



85°C - 95°C "Espresso" immediately 2 to 3 minutes

Variations Of Espresso



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