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 It has now been discontinued but has been replaced by the Saeco Aroma.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

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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

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Best Burr Coffee Grinders

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Daily Coffee Grind

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Friday, December 2, 2011

What's So Special About Turkish Coffee?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Espresso Coffee - How To Make a Knock Out Espresso Coffee

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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

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