Friday, December 16, 2011

Why Do You Need a Spice Grinder in Your Kitchen?

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A kitchen will never be complete without spice grinders. Especially since these help in cooking and adding flavor to the food that we eat, people know how important it is to have grinders. Whatever it is that you want to grind, this can do the job for you. Peppercorns, herbs, chilli, ginger, corn, wheat, garlic and peanuts are among the things that you grind in these. Grinders for spices are actually known as the new ultimate kitchen tool. It is handy, convenient and very useful for the people.

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Spice grinders save us a lot of time from manually chopping the herbs and spices that we use. Sometimes, this can leave and irritating smell on our hands. With the birth of these grinders, we just have to put in the spices and grind away! In a matter of seconds, you will have the best tasting food that you will ever taste in your entire life.

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There so many kinds of grinders that you can use. The first models of these are the manual spice grinders. These are lightweight, convenient but require a little effort when grinding. You have to exert more force in order to grind your spices especially the harder ones. With the handles, you have to turn them in order to grind your spices efficiently. For the longest time, people have used these manual grinders and were still satisfied with how these worked.

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Now, technology has invaded even these things. Good for us, we have an easier time when it comes to grinding. These operate in horsepower motor that moves the stainless steel blades inside. No matter what kind of spice it is that you want to grind, you can now. What is more amazing is that ice cubes can now be crushed into finer pieces with your spice grinders. There is nothing more convenient than this.

A lot of people may be thinking that a food processor is a great alternative for spice grinders. Well maybe it was, 6 years ago but things are different now. A food processor is bulky which is a hassle when you want to take them out and use them. Another is that cleaning is one problem that you have because you would have to disassemble something as bulky as this. With a spice grinder, you get exactly what you want. This saves a lot of space since these are usually smaller. With the material that is used for these, you can easily wipe out the grinder and clean it efficiently. One more thing is that you are guaranteed to have an easier time to clean these grinders.

Now, do not be afraid of buying spice grinders for your kitchen. Whether you buy something manual or electric, you will find these to be very useful. It is time that you discover a world with tastier food! With the right spices placed into your dishes, you can guarantee that you will have the best tasting meals every day. You deserve this kind of life especially when you have spice grinders in your home.

Why Do You Need a Spice Grinder in Your Kitchen?

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Compak K-3 Grinders

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Compak offers 2 models of home coffee grinders: K-3 Touch and K-3 Elite.

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The K-3 Elite coffee and espresso grinder by Compak is a flat burr grinder with the technology of the expensive, commercial grinders, but can also fit nicely on your kitchen counter top. The flat burrs are constructed of tempered steel and measure 58 mm, making the machine incredibly precise and capable. An important aspect of any quality grinder is the proper grind for your desired drink. Compak has equipped the K-3 Elite with a terrific step less micrometrical grinding system, which allows the consumer to fine tune their personally preferred grind to their own specifications. Another crucial aspect to the grinding process is the temperature of the beans. The K-3 Elite's mounted motor operates at lower RPMs, making it not only a quieter model, it also keeps the coffee from being heated up while it is being ground, keeping the bean's integrity until it is time to brew it. The machine, however, is not meant to be used continually over long periods, or the heating will be unavoidable because you will have overworked the motor. The suggested time of use for optimum performance is to alternate at least 10 minutes of rest for every 2 minutes of work. In addition to being useful for making a delicious cup of espresso or coffee, the mounted motor means that if the motor breaks down, it can be replaced. This means you do not need to purchase an entirely new grinder.

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The Compak K-3 Elite has an automatic doser, which releases 7-gram portions of grinds when the lever is pulled. A doser ensures a clump-free pull makes its way into your machines filter; therefore, ensuring a better tasting cup of coffee. In addition, the K-3 Elite comes with a tamper, located directly above the doser. The hopper holds a modest 10 oz of beans, but can be upgraded to a larger 1.75 lb hopper if necessary. The aluminium construction of the Compak K-3 Elite is sturdy and attractive, lending itself to a good appearance on any counter, be it home or office. The Compak K-3 Elite is a wonderful choice for at-home baristas who demand more of their grinder. The precision and doser features make the Elite comparable to a commercial grade grinder without the price tag or the large size.

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If you want the option of single dose, double dose or continuous dosage for your coffee then the Compak K-3 Touch coffee grinder is for you. It is a reasonably priced model, which means it is suitable for the domestic environment as well as commercial environments which have fairly low demand. The grind system is stepless which means that a precise coarseness can be selected using the 58mm flat burrs without any of the limitations of alternative models. The switch has three options, off, automatic and manual, so it is easy to select what you need at the touch of a button. The coffee grinder comes with a 0.66 pound hopper but there is an optional 1.75 pound one available should a larger capacity be needed. The grinder speed is 1100 rpms and the machine is capable of producing 11-15 pounds of ground coffee in a single minute.

Compak K-3 Grinders

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Learn How to Grind Your Coffee

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The way that you grind your coffee makes a serious difference in the way that your coffee tastes. In fact, each coffee grind type is specific to different coffee brew methods, so make sure that you are grinding correctly!

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Cheaper coffee grinders do not give coarseness settings, so you may need to experiment with how long to grind to achieve the right consistency. Why not just purchase a professional coffee grinder at an affordable price to give you a better taste? So many coffee lovers swear by this, but once you begin using a pro coffee grinder, you will not want to go back to pre-ground coffee.

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To start with, coarse coffee grounds are used to brew with a French Press. The reason that this is a necessary is because when you use a French Press, you have to manually press down the plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the brew. If the grounds are not coarse enough, then they will slip through the mesh filter and plunger to create sediment in your coffee product. This is something that you want to avoid at all costs because it will muddy the flavor of your coffee and potentially ruin your drink. Coarse coffee grounds look like large particles, and they are similar to the texture of heavy kosher salt. If you are using a French press to brew, continue to change your grind consistency until you get the right flavor. Practice makes perfect!

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Medium coffee grounds are ideally used for a traditional coffee maker. If you are purchasing pre-ground coffee from the supermarket, then this is the grind that it will be. Still, it is important to remember that pre-ground coffee from the supermarket is actually stale and not fresh. If you are using a home coffee maker, fresh coffee grounds are the only way! The medium grind consistency will look coarse and gritty, similar to sand. Of course, it will be much less coarse than a French Press grind consistency.

Fine coffee grounds are perfect for brewing espresso, and they look smooth with a fine consistency similar to granulated sugar. This is something that may take practice if you are using an espresso machine at home. A shot of espresso should ideally brew within 25 seconds, so if it is faster or slower, you will need to check your grind consistency.

Last of all, extra fine coffee grounds can be used for brewing Turkish coffee, which leaves the fine coffee grounds as sediment in the bottom of a cup. These coffee grounds should be powdered and look almost like flour, and you will definitely need a commercial burr coffee grinder with precision to achieve this type of consistency in your cup of Joe.

What are you waiting for? Get brewing!

Learn How to Grind Your Coffee

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Grinding Beans for a Single Cup Coffee Maker

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...in a single cup coffee maker.

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For those of you who are wanting to continue making your coffee with your own beans, that's perfectly fine! Especially when you have a Keurig single cup coffee maker! The information found here is for those who maybe aren't well versed in grinding their own beans, or who would like to give it a try.

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Why Grind Your Own?

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Well, for starters, some people prefer to grind their own beans for financial reasons. You can buy coffee beans in bulk, which can and will save money over time.

Another reason people will grind their own has to do with flavor and freshness. While you're going to get a great brew from a Keurig single cup coffee maker because of the way the K-Cups are made and because of the brewing process, you're almost always going to have slight differences in taste when you grind your own. This has to do with the beans having been freshly ground and therefore more of the oils are present that will flavor the water.

In addition, there are others still who grind their own coffee simply because they prefer to experiment more. This is where you can really have fun, because you can choose different roasts of coffee and beans that have been flavored during the roasting process and create your own blend. This is especially useful for those who are trying to create the sense of having a coffee shop in their own kitchen.

How to Store

One thing to talk about before launching into the world of grinding your own beans is storage. Why storage? Because if the beans aren't stored properly, they're going to lose their flavor and freshness.

The container you use to store your coffee beans needs to be dark, because you don't want sunlight breaking down the oils in the beans, and airtight, because you don't want your beans to dry out.

Grinding

Having a decent grinder is a key element to grinding your own beans. I highly recommend a burr grinder over a blade grinder. Blades can create heat and an uneven consistency in the grind, while the burr gives you more grind, and more consistent grind, in a shorter time.

When you're first grinding your beans, don't be afraid to stop and check the consistency of the grind. Different methods of brewing require different textures. The more coarse the grind, the less silt or fines you'll have in your cup, while the finer the grind, the better for, say, a filtered coffee maker - much like a Keurig - but you don't want to go too fine or you'll over grind and over extract during the brewing process.

Before you start, gauge about how much you'll need to put in. It will work out approximately the same - for however many tablespoons of ground coffee you need, it'll work out to that same number of tablespoons of whole beans. Or, if you'd like, buy your beans in bulk and grind them in bulk as well!

Now that you've got a few tips about grinding your own coffee, if you feel like being experimental, go out and try it! The reusable filter for a Keurig single cup coffee maker is not all that expensive and will last you a long time if you take care of it properly!

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and bring the coffee shop to your kitchen!

Grinding Beans for a Single Cup Coffee Maker

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Pros and Cons of Great Types of Coffee Grinders

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A coffee grinder is an important appliance for coffee drinkers. It grinds the beans for brewing purposes. It produces fresh and aromatic flavors of coffee. It can make fine or coarse grounds, depending on the user. It has become more popular now, tracing its beginnings in the old fashioned pestle and mortar.

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A coffee grinder works in two different ways - manual or electric. Manual grinders have cranks that can be removed for grinding. Electric grinders are plugged in a power outlet to do the job.

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Coffee grinders have two main types - the blade grinder and burr grinder. These are the parts that directly grind the beans.

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Bladed grinders use rotating metal blades that chop up coffee beans. A user can control how fine he wants his beans to be. It is mainly for home use. It is simple and more inexpensive. It is easy to maintain and clean.

Blade grinders however have a tendency to produce unevenly sized coffee grounds. It therefore results to poor brew quality. Also, leaving the beans in long grinding periods creates heat onto the blade, causing a somewhat burned coffee taste because of friction.

There is also the tendency to produce coffee dust, clogging sieves in espresso machines and French presses. It cannot achieve the consistency of an espresso machine. Too much exposure of the surface area onto hot water can result to bitter tasting coffee.

Top brands of bladed grinders are the Braun Aromatic KSM2-B Coffee Grinder, Krups Fast Touch Grinder and the Jura-Capresso 501 Electric Blades Grinder.

On the other hand, burr grinders are adjustable and can determine granule size. The flat wheel burr grinders use a wheel type to get the desired coarseness or fineness of the ground. Beans are loaded onto the overhead hopper that usually feeds downward onto the grinding area of the appliance.

It crushes the beans amidst a moving grinding wheel and a non-moving surface area. The position regulates the ground size for a consistent grind. Thus, coffee grounds fall into the collection container or directly onto the coffee filter.

Burr grinders are mostly used in coffee shops. It produces an even grind and spins very fast. It allows more control with the desired ground type. Range of settings can be set for an espresso, French press, percolators and drip coffee. It produces less heat so as to avoid changes in coffee taste. It is less expensive, easy to use and convenient.

On the downside, burr grinders can be noisy. The high speed rotation can make the job messy. The beans can get stuck often from a hopper. It needs to be stirred to flow onto the disks again.

Conical Burr Grinders use a conical shaped surface for grinding beans. It is considered the best type, grinding beans very consistently. It spins slower, making it quieter and less messy. It can be used for flavored or oily coffees. The beans clog less, create less friction and less static electricity. It is however more expensive that other types.

Top brands of burr grinders are the Delonghi DCCG39 Grinder, Solis Maestro Coffee Grinder and the KitchenAid KCG200 Model A-9 Coffee Mill.

Pros and Cons of Great Types of Coffee Grinders

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine V3 Review

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Because Rancilio is Italian it almost guarantees better quality espresso machines, add their over 80 years of experience you have a great espresso machine company. The Rancilio Silvia or Miss Silvia has been in existence for 11 years and the 2009SilviaV3 is new and improved version of this classic machine. It brings quality upgrades for an even better machine.

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What are the upgrades of the Rancilio Silvia V3?

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The steam wand is the big upgrade to this machine that has been around for 11 years. The multi-directional want makes steaming and frothing even easier. Now you can use larger milk pitchers. The 1 hole tip creates froth more efficiently than the previous 3 hole steam tip. Brew espresso or dispense hot water for tea, hot cocoa, or other purposes.

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What are the advantages of the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine?

They know how to create a brew group that evenly creating uniform temperature espresso. Also the brew group head can easily be disassembled for cleaning and maintenance. With three thermostats, one controlling the espresso temperature, another the steam temperature, and the last protects the boiler from overheating or too much steam pressure. This allows you to set the boiler for coffee brewing or milk-frothing.

What are some of the other features of the Rancilio Silvia?

The heavy-duty chrome plated brass portafilter gives commercial quality to this machine. The 3 way solenoid valve helps prevent over extraction of espresso and after the brew cycle it relieves the excess pressure. Included are two pressed stainless steel filter baskets, a single and double shot. With an adapter kit you can use Easy Serving Espresso, ESE pods.

What did users say in Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine reviews?

Users loved this machine, proclaiming it the best buy for the money. Most suggested getting a good burr grinder to get the best quality espresso from Miss Silvia. You probably will want to get a better tamping tool than the plastic one that comes with it. The machine is beautiful and built heavy-duty which helps make a good espresso that users were proud to serve.

Did users have problems?

If you are serving several visitors be prepared to wait for the temperature to get right, it does not handle multiple cups back to back very well. While the home baristas loved their Rancilio Silvia V3 Espresso Machines almost all of them stated the machine is finicky and probably not the best machine for beginners.

What is the overall opinion of this espresso maker?

Overall 90% of users loved this machine. If you are a beginner you may want to look at another machine. Be prepared to buy a good grinder, like the Rocky by Rancilio Silvia that is recommended to go with it and grind your beans immediately before using. This will help you get a great cup of espresso that the owners rave over.

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine V3 Review

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

How to Fully Enjoy Your Morning Cup of Coffee

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Besides the wonderful aroma produced in your kitchen when you grind your own coffee, what other reasons are there for taking the trouble to do it? Well coffee loses flavour quickly, especially after being ground and one of the secrets of making a great brew is to grind freshly roasted beans just before you make your coffee. Even if you seal ground coffee in an airtight container it still deteriorates and will produce an inferior brew compared to that made with freshly ground beans. If you want to make the best coffee at home then buy small quantities of freshly roasted beans regularly and grind them just before brewing. This is one of the secrets of making great coffee.

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There are two ways of grinding beans at home (if we ignore the traditional laborious pestle and mortar!). Probably the most familiar is the type of machine which uses a set of blades rotating at high speed to pulverise the beans. This type of grinder may be a standalone machine or may be an attachment for a kitchen food processor or blender and you may own one already. The other type of machine is known as a Burr Grinder, which uses a rotating grinding wheel over a non-moving surface to crush the coffee beans. These machines produce a much more consistent result than the blade type as the process is accurately controlled by altering the distance between the two burrs.

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Which type of machine should you choose? Well cost certainly comes into the equation as burr grinders are more expensive than the blade type, but there are other important points to consider. The major consideration is what method you are using to brew your coffee. If you are making coffee with a cafetiere (French Press) or a filter machine (drip coffee maker) then you may find a blade grinder adequate even though it may produce uneven sized grounds which may result in inconsistent quality coffee. However keen espresso makers, who may have invested in a very expensive machine to make their brew, will probably regard a burr grinder essential. The reasons for this include those outlined earlier but there is an even more important one. To produce the fine grind required for espresso making blade grinders have to left running for longer than when producing a coarse grind. There is a danger that the blades may "burn" the coffee and taint its flavour, whereas a burr grinder just has to be adjusted to produce the fine espresso grind with no danger of spoiling the coffee.

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You will need to experiment to find the perfect grind for your coffee brewing method and for the flavour that you prefer. Cafetieres or French Presses require a coarse grind, and this is the grind required if you use a percolator. A medium to fine grind is needed to bring out the best in Filter Machines or Drip Coffee Makers. A fine to super fine grind is needed if you are brewing using an Espresso Machine or a simple stove top or Moka Pot.

To a non-coffee drinker all this must seem like a lot of fuss just to produce a beverage which on the surface seems simple to make. However the surge in interest in making fine coffee at home, possibly influenced by the massive growth in coffee shop chains over the last few decades with many people experiencing good ( if expensive!) coffee for the first time, has driven coffee lovers to search for the secrets of making a superb brew at home.

How to Fully Enjoy Your Morning Cup of Coffee

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Coffee Grinders - All You Need to Know

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Fresh ground coffee has a far superior taste than regular coffee primarily because of what it is - fresh. The introduction of oxygen to the bean alters its make up and immediately begins to change the flavor. Since the bean as a whole is more protected than once it has been ground coffee has much more flavor it you can grind only what you need and brew it immediately.

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But true to the old saying that good things never come free, there is a bit of cost that comes with fresh ground coffee. It's not as quick and easy as brewing ground coffee and it can make a bit of a mess. It helps to have the right equipment for the job.

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Grinders come in three different types commonly called the crusher, the burr and the blade.

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The crusher is true to its name - it crushes the beans. It is usually a large machine and a bit difficult to work with. Because it is crushing and not grinding the grains are not fine or even.

Blade machines are similar in that they also do not grind but chop the beans. The chopping is irregular doesn't produce even granules.

A bit of the coffees fragrance can be lost with this chopping method due to the heat produced by the rapid movement of the blade. The coffee may begin to dissolve and loose some of its flavor. Also, because the grains of coffee are different sizes they also give off different quantities of flavor and this affects the taste.

Burr grinders are really the best way to go because they actually grind up the coffee bean into an even powder, but not to fine. Some grinders even have a setting which gives you the option of deciding how fine you want the granules to be.

The grinding process can be done slowly to reduce thea mount of heat produced by the machine. This ensures that the coffee beans to not begin to dissolve and loose their flavor and aroma.

Grinders that are conical are the choice of many true coffee connoisseurs. That is because it gives the operator directs how finely and how quickly the coffee is ground.

A high end conical grinder gives a wide range of choices in grinding speed and fineness. This gives you total control over your resulting granules. This type of grinder gives the perfect brew of coffee for any true coffee lover.

Enjoy.

Coffee Grinders - All You Need to Know

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Greek Coffee - How to Make Greek Coffee Properly

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Greek coffee ("Ellinikos Kafes") is one of the simplest ways to make coffee. It is also known as Turkish coffee. Coffee has a very old history...

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It traveled to Turkey from Yemen and from Turkey it became known in Greece. It became so popular that people started calling it "Greek coffee" instead of Turkish (or Arabic) coffee.

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Differences

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Usually Greek coffee gets roasted lighter than traditional Turkish coffee.

Another difference is that Greeks rarely add spices to their coffee.

How to make Greek coffee

The basic ingredient needed for a delicious Greek coffee is fresh roasted coffee, ground to an extra fine coffee powder (finer than espresso). You can also grind you own coffee beans using a traditional Greek coffee grinder or a modern high quality burr grinder.

Like Turkish coffee in order to make Greek coffee you basically bring a mixture of water and ground coffee almost to boil. Although Turkish people boil their coffee usually 3-4 times Greeks prefer boiling it 1-3 times.

The blends used to make Greek coffee have usually a high percentage of Brazilian coffees, and also some Robusta or a "secret" ingredient to add some more flavour (Colombian coffee, Ethiopia Harrar or Yemen Mocha).

In order to make Greek coffee we need a coffee pot known as briki in Greece. This special Greek coffee pot has a characteristic narrow top which facilitates the correct slow brewing of Turkish coffee and the forming of the famous "kaimaki", which is basically the crema-froth on top of the coffee.

Traditionally these pots were made of copper or brass, but nowadays they are mass produced using stainless steel which is more durable. (I still prefer the brass ibriks for lots of reasons...). Use the proper size coffee pot to make better coffee and better froth. If you are going to make two demitasse cups of coffee use a 2-cups size coffee pot. If you use a much larger sized pot, crema forming will be much harder.

For one cup of coffee, fill the coffee pot with one demitasse cup of cold water, 1-2 teaspoons of Greek coffee, sugar to taste, and then put the pot on low fire. It is very important to use low fire and cold water to extract more flavor from the coffee. Use a gas stove-top or preferably a traditional tabletop burner.

Once the mixture comes almost to a boil and the foam covers the top, pour it into a demitasse cup slowly. You must do this slowly in order to retain the crema layer (froth) on top. If you fail to remove the coffee pot from fire on time, the coffee mixture will foam up quickly and it will get spilled everywhere! Be careful to not let this happen!

Small tip if you want to make two cups or more

There is an old trick used to maximize the froth on top of every demitasse cup, which basically involves taking the froth with a teaspoon from the coffee pot and then adding it to each demitasse cup, before pouring the coffee.

Serving

Traditionally the coffee is served using decorative discs, in small demitasse cups made of fine porcelain.

You can also pair Greek coffee with a nice desert like cookies ("koulourakia"), "halva" or "baklava".

Things to notice

Some people bring the coffee to boil only once. Other people prefer twice and there are also some people who argue that bringing the coffee to boil three times is the absolute minimum.

Another point of argument is the stirring. Some people stir coffee, water and sugar only in the beginning and some other stir continuously till the end to make more froth.

Personal opinion

I prefer to stir the coffee continuously till the end and I also let it foam up twice.

"Why?" you may ask. It is just my taste! You can experiment and find what you like best.

What's most important is the freshness and the quality of your Greek coffee.

Greek Coffee - How to Make Greek Coffee Properly

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Types of Seaco Espresso Machines

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If the idea of being your own barista in the comfort of your kitchen appeals to you, you will be impressed with Saeco espresso machines. The Saeco company was founded by Arthur Schmed and Sergio Zappella in 1981 in Bologna, Italy. Four years later, in 1985, Saeco developed a completely automatic household coffee machine, so that users could relax while the machine ground and measured beans and created single-serving cups of java. This revolutionary machine was followed in 1990 by the TWIN, a two-cup espresso machine. In 1998, Saeco's machines started featuring a digital display, and in 1999, Saeco acquired a new brand and Gaggia espresso machines became a part of the Saeco family.

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Saeco automatic espresso machines, as previously noted, were introduced by the company in 1985. These machines essentially take all the steps involved in making a coffee beverage and complete them for you. You don't have to grind your coffee beans, or even measure out the grounds ... an automatic machine will do all these steps for you! Your used coffee grounds will even be deposited into a trash compartment inside the machine. The Saeco Incanto is one of Saeco's popular automatic machines. The Incanto is available in two different styles. The Incanto Classic has two beverage settings; if you are looking for a more luxurious machine, the Incanto Deluxe has three beverage settings. Both styles have a burr grinder that is built right into the machine. Burr grinders feature metal burrs that rub against each other to crush coffee beans into small grounds that are all exactly the same size. Burr grinders are typically considered to be superior to blade grinders because they grind more slowly, allowing for the better preservation of the flavor of the grounds. Another popular model was the Saeco Italia espresso machine. This model was sold at Starbucks and is no longer being produced; however, replacement parts and refurbished machines can be located online.

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Perhaps you enjoy performing the steps involved with making a perfect cup of joe. If so, one of Saeco's traditional espresso machines will certainly be appealing. The Saeco Classico espresso machine was one of the company's traditional machine products. It has now been discontinued but has been replaced by the Saeco Aroma. This model includes a steam wand for frothing, and is available in stainless steel or black. If you enjoy the convenience of ESE, or easy serving espresso, cartridges, take note: The Saeco Aroma is ESE compatible! If you have never used ESE cartridges before, illy espresso pods are a great product to try.

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It doesn't matter if you like to labor for your coffee or if you prefer to sit back and let your machine do all the work for you, Saeco espresso machines offer something for everybody.

Types of Seaco Espresso Machines

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Krups Vs Delonghi Vs Black and Decker - Which is Better?

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For a coffee aficionado, the brand of coffee maker is crucial. Choosing one that can brew the best tasting coffee in addition to having efficient and easy to use function is called for. In this area, three brands seem to be doing quite well-Krups, Delonghi and Black and Decker. But which one is actually better?

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Krups

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What you will love about this brand is the innovative design that is always presented in their coffee brewers. The design has got something to do with the efficiency of the machine and based from its reviews, it does offer efficiency too. Many consumers find the construction sturdy and reliable.

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Also, the brewing cycle has whisper-soft functions. It does not create load noises that can be extremely annoying early in the morning. Also, it eliminates coffee spillage due to its spill-free construction. The only downside to this brand is the price. Compared to its competitors, it offers a higher price range.

Delonghi

Delonghi offers reliable coffee machines. They favor a construction that keeps the carafe well-protected from damages. This way, you will not have the constant fear of breaking the glass carafe or knocking something off.

The reviews for this brand are above average. Some liked it and others prefer other brands. However, it does stand out when it comes to the taste of the coffee it brews and how easy it is to use. The coffee comes out flavorful because Delonghi has employed the use of gold tone filter. This filter successfully extracts a lot of coffee essential oil.

Black and Decker

Like Delonghi, Black and Decker also follow a sort-of uniform kind of look for their brewers. What you will love about this is that they are sold in a less expensive price range. But although they are cheaper, the features should not be underestimated.

It eliminates the usual coffee brewer problem like coffee spilling and dripping. Consumers like how easy the functions are to understand. It is definitely one of the reasons why it is inexpensive. There are no complicated functions that can confuse you. Also, it brews coffee real fast which is what busy people are always looking for.

They all seem like good brands to begin with. The ratings are also pretty high. If you want a cheap coffee brewer that only makes good coffee, go for either Black and Decker or Delonghi. For a more sophisticated machine, Krups is the right one for you.

Krups Vs Delonghi Vs Black and Decker - Which is Better?

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Best Coffee Grinder: The Secret To Awesome Coffee At Home

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If you want an awesome cup of coffee at home, no matter what flavor, you absolutely must use the best coffee grinder. How your coffee is ground affects everything about the brewing process. You could own the most fantastic coffee machine on the face of the earth but if your grind is inconsistent, the final results can be disastrous.

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There are basically 2 different types of electric coffee bean grinders you need to look at. They are blade grinders and burr grinders. After we take a look at both, you'll understand why this is such a big deal and you'll be on your way to the best cup of coffee you've ever had at home.

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Blade Grinders

Coffee Burr Grinder

Blade grinders are the most commonly used type in the household because the are the least expensive. But blade grinders really are not grinders at all when you look closely at how they work. They use a metal blade to cut up the beans.

By cutting the beans instead of grinding them, the grounds are usually uneven and will give you a poor brew quality. You can make your grind finer, but this requires you to leave the beans in the grinder longer. The longer you leave the beans in the grinder, the hotter the blade gets and this can completely change (or ruin) your brew. And because the blade can get so hot, your grind can end up having a burnt flavor.

I have to be honest here, I'm one of those folks who has used a blade coffee bean grinder for years. Call me silly if you want, but I have always thought my choice was either a manual coffee grinder or a electric blade. Now I know better.

Next we'll go over burr grinders. There are two basic types. The wheel burr and the conical burr.

Wheel or Disc Burr Grinders

Burr grinders grind the beans rather than cut them like the blades do. How you position the burr is what regulates the size of the grounds and gives you a much more consistent grind. The burr coffee grinders produce less heat than the blade coffee grinders, so it does not change the taste. This makes for a much better brew and there are no worries about that burnt taste.

Conical Burr Grinders

The conical burr coffee bean grinder is hailed as the best grinder. These are the ones that are used by professionals that own those over priced coffee shops. The burrs spin slower than the wheel burr types, giving you an even better grind.

The Secret To Awesome Coffee At Home

The grind is the key to awesome tasting coffee. The blade type will give you coarse and uneven grinds. The brew you get from this can either be very strong or very weak. (the later is more common in my experience). This is called over extraction or under extraction. One is bitter and one has very little taste.

The flavor of your coffee is made (or lost) in the grinding process. If you seriously want awesome coffee at home without paying outrageous coffee shop prices, get yourself a burr grinder.

Best Coffee Grinder: The Secret To Awesome Coffee At Home

Coffee Burr Grinder

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Best Burr Coffee Grinders

Coffee Burr Grinder

Who doesn't love the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning? You can always buy instant coffee from the supermarket, but nothing can beat the quality of freshly ground beans. To get the best grounds, you need the highest quality beans as well as the best coffee grinders. There are many types of grinders to choose from, one of them is the burr grinder. Burr coffee grinders are popular for both home and commercial use.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Unlike blade grinders, burr grinders spin slower and are able to produce more consistent, even-sized coffee grounds. It might take more time to grind coffee beans using a burr grinder, but the flavor and the aroma of the coffee will be preserved because the slow rotation prevents the beans from getting burnt. The crushing part of the burr grinder consists of a spinning wheel ring and a stationary wheel ring. As the gap between these wheels is always consistent, the grinder is able to provide a more consistent grind. The noise produced by the machine can be pretty unbearable, but for most coffee lovers, it is not a big deal. This article will review some of the best burr coffee grinders available in the market.

Coffee Burr Grinder

At 0, the KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Grinder KPCG100 is one of the most expensive burr coffee grinder in the market. This commercial style grinder features a beautiful and solid design. It comes in three color options: onyx black, empire red, and nickel pearl. The grinder has 15 grind settings, from French-press coarse to espresso fine. The housing of the mill is made of die-cast metal, and it comes with a 7-ounce glass bean hopper and coffee bin that are dish-washer safe.

Coffee Burr Grinder

If you are looking for something more affordable, you may want to have a look at the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. It has 18 grind settings instead of 15 and can produce enough coffee for 4 to 18 cups. This heavy-duty grinder is stylish, very attractive and the structure is very tidy. The housing is constructed of brushed stainless steel with black accents made from durable plastic. The hopper and the bin are made of plastic, and many users complain that fine grounds tend to stick to the hopper due to static electricity. However, this should not be a big problem because the hopper and the bin can be cleaned easily. Prices start from , depending on the retailer. The Krups GVX series is also a good alternative with similar price range.

Best Burr Coffee Grinders

Coffee Burr Grinder

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Daily Coffee Grind

Coffee Burr Grinder

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans is like no other aroma on earth. It is almost intoxicating, and certainly warm and inviting. That aroma that has an underlying nutty essence is unquestionably one of the most pleasant odors on earth.

Coffee Burr Grinder

That wonderful aroma is likely one of the reasons that so many people now own coffee bean grinders and grind their own beans to make every pot of coffee.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Grinding coffee isn't a new thing. In the old days, people actually used a bowl and pestle to grind coffee as well as wheat and corn. Using a bowl and a pestle to grind coffee required muscle power and time...a lot of time. As mankind got smarter, hand grinders were invented that made the task of grinding coffee much less physically challenging as well as quicker.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Manual coffee grinders were used for many, many years. In most of the old western shoot-em-ups, if you look closely at the general-store scenes you will be able to spot an old-fashioned manual coffee grinder.

Mankind continued to progress. Electricity was harnessed and, of course, coffee grinders became electrified. The old-fashioned hand grinders and the more modern electric grinders operated on basically the same principle. There are two plates. One plate is stationary while the other plate is moveable. Coffee beans are routed between the plates and crushed or ground.

The best of the modern coffee grinders still operate on that same basic principle, but now the plates have burrs, which make the coffee grounds uniform in size. Burr coffee grinders are the best kind to buy, but they aren't the only choice today.

There are coffee grinders that use blades that chop and re-chop coffee beans until they are chopped fine. The burr coffee grinders produce coffee that is more uniform than the blade coffee grinders.

The Daily Coffee Grind

Coffee Burr Grinder

Friday, December 2, 2011

What's So Special About Turkish Coffee?

Coffee Burr Grinder

Caffeine is a drug, yes, but a very sweet one at that. It enhances the senses and uplifts the spirits. Coffee is, without a doubt, a culture unto itself. Used as a means to gather, laugh and debate. Coffee is a social beverage. Its roots are as storied and full as the roasts you may drink.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Within the borders of Turkey coffee has become an institution. It has its own culture complete with ritual and house of worship (coffeehouses). Turkish coffee, in particular may, without a doubt in most coffee lovers' minds be the be all and end all of coffee. It was introduced to Turkey in the early to mid 1500's, finding the first coffeehouse opening soon after.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Coffee came at a rather interesting time in Turkish history as it was geared more toward decadence than business. This gave way to many rituals. One of which was to brew the beans slowly over fifteen to twenty minutes in a copper coffee pot nestled among the embers of smoldering charcoal. The pot was removed frequently to prevent overheating. You can certainly tell the difference, if you are a coffee connoisseur, between Turkish coffee and your run of the mill modern day restaurant coffee.

Coffee Burr Grinder

The Turks believed in delicate brewing and all that was needed was a copper pot that came to a point, a teaspoon and something to heat it with. Water was always cold and the coffee fresh ground right before brewing. One thing that makes Turkish coffee so good, rich and special as that many would add cardamom and or sugar to the ground prior to brewing. Also unique is that the ingredients were added to the water instead of the water added to the ingredients. After all of the ingredients are added, they are stirred, spoon removed and pot placed on the heating source. No more stirring occurs and the pot is removed periodically to prevent the overheating mentioned earlier.

Identifying well prepared Turkish coffee is easy. It's not too hot and has a thick foam resting comfortably on top and is free of any dark particles. In some circumstances, the coffee is brought to a boil and just before boiling over is removed the heat then replaced to do it all over again. This process is done two or three times and concentrates the coffee down. Cold water is served and drank before the coffee to cleanse the palette. Traditionally, the pastry known as Turkish Delight was served alongside the coffee and afterward you're treated to mint liqueur.

Turkish coffee is special. Not because it tastes good, but because of the care and love that is put into the preparation and consumption of it. Coffee has a very special meaning to the Turkish people and to the culture of their land and that should be respected. The whole premise and life of coffee in Turkey gave way to all of the coffeehouses and coffee business that we partake in to this day from our Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to your mom and pop Beatnik Coffee Dens. Without Turkish coffee, we would have no coffee at all.

What's So Special About Turkish Coffee?

Coffee Burr Grinder

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Espresso Coffee - How To Make a Knock Out Espresso Coffee

Coffee Burr Grinder

Every barista (professional maker of coffee drinks) will have his or her own method of making a great cup of espresso. That said, here is mine...

Coffee Burr Grinder

It all starts with the right water. No not coffee grounds, it does not matter the quality, the quality of the coffee grind can not overcome an association with poor water. The poor taste of the water will overcome the coffee. Yes, even water can get stale, thanks to mildew, poor cleaning practices, and inadequate filtering. It must be fresh and very hot. The optimum temperature should be 203F (95C), nearly boiling.

Coffee Burr Grinder

Next comes the coffee. The best coffee that I would recommend is arabica - whether from Brazil, Bogota, or elsewhere. It is grown above 3000 feet (915m) and delivered fresh for roasting. Either self-roasted or bought within a few days after, the coffee should have that 'fresh food' smell.

Coffee Burr Grinder

A more common coffee is Robusta - though it is easier to grow and more disease resistant it has more caffeine and not as much flavor. Because of the increase caffeine this type of coffee should be reserved for those quick pick-me-up cups, not used for an espresso. Espresso is meant to be savored which is an exact opposite of what Robusta offers.

Next, it is time to finely ground in burr, not blade grinders. Blade 'grinders' actually chop, not grind. Burr grinders have pyramid shaped teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them. The grinders of the roast should be dark - French or Viennese. The name refers to the color, not the origin.

The next question is how long to grind the ground?

The distance between the plates determines this, which determines the fineness of the granules. Sand grain-sized is good and is what should be the goal. Grinding the ground to powder is too fine, and small-gravel grounds are too large. While grinding the grind should not be exposed to air any longer than necessary. Coffee, like any food, will oxidize and absorb odors from the air. Neither is conducive to a good cup of espresso.

And, last but not least the espresso machine. A good cup of espresso is not possible without a good espresso machine. Good espresso requires a clean machine of good quality. Not of excellent quality. 'Good quality means: generates heat by boiler or thermoblock and is capable of producing pump pressure of 9 bar or better. Let me explain 'thermoblock'. A 'thermoblock' heats water as it passes through the machine on the way to the pump. This feature is present in most middle tier machines on the market. Avoid the cheaper units that rely on steam to create pressure.

Above are just the basic elements of a good cup of espresso. Next comes the process.

Let get the espresso machine out to begin. Plug it up and Pre-warm the equipment by running that good water that I mentioned earlier through the clean machine. You can turn the machine on, let the water heat, and run a cup through with no coffee to warm the surfaces and flush the system. This step is very important as it takes away the impurities that can ruin an espresso shot.

Add the roast that was ground earlier and pack down slightly, as you would pipe tobacco. Just as with pipes, you should be feel some springiness, but the coffee shouldn't scatter.

Insert the hopper in the machine firmly to make sure it does not fall out and place a warmed not cold espresso cup at the outlet. Running it under hot water can warm up the cup. Now, hit the start button to start the machine and in about five seconds you should have a thin, steady stream of espresso. (About 20 seconds for a double shot.)

If cappuccino is your preference, continue the same process as if making a cup of espresso but add these few steps. Warm a half a cup of organic milk in the microwave about 90 seconds, froths, and add to the espresso. Garnish the top froth with a taste of freshly ground cinnamon, nutmeg or chocolate. For those who like it sweet a little organic sugar goes a long way.

That is it, a simple but straightforward way to make a great cup of espresso. Simple wasn't it. The key to this recipe is to start with good ingredients, keep your equipment clean, and don't burn the roast. The result? A great cup!

Espresso Coffee - How To Make a Knock Out Espresso Coffee

Coffee Burr Grinder