Posts Tagged ‘Coffee Grounds’

Is A French Press Enough To Make Gourmet Coffee?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
french press
French Press from Illy Coffee

One of the best ways to brew coffee is without electricity and filters! That’s right, you guessed it – it is with the use of a French Press. So many coffee lovers prefer a French Press because it gives them the opportunity to brew a more flavorful type of Java. This is something that is highly beneficial because it will work to leave the essential oils of the coffee within the final brew, which is something that you can’t find with your traditional drip brew coffee maker.

The truth of the matter is that regular paper filters trap the essential oils of the coffee beans, which is what gives them their delicious flavor. This is something important to take into consideration because when you brew with a Coffee Press, you will have the best of both worlds in fresh and delicious coffee that is also more flavorful than you may have experienced before.

The first thing to keep in mind is that there is a specific way to brew with a Coffee Press that will give you the best results in your cup of Joe! To begin with, you can boil water in a kettle on the stove or in a pan on your stovetop. The important thing to remember is to allow the water to cool slightly because you don’t want to mix boiling water with the fresh coffee grounds. If the water is boiling, it can mix with the coffee grounds, and it will cause them to have a burnt or bitter taste as a result. It is important to have hot water to your liking, but not boiling, to use with your French Press.

The next thing to contribute to your success in brewing with a Coffee Press is the grind of your coffee. It is important for your coffee to be coarse ground, which will offer better results overall in a fresh brew. If your coffee grounds are too fine, they could clog the filter of your Coffee Press, and they can also leave sediment in the bottom of your cup of Joe. You can set your home grinder to coarse for brewing with a French Press. It is so important that your coffee is freshly ground with this type of brew method and also with any other way that you brew your cup of Joe. The truth is that coffee grounds begin to go stale within 30 seconds, so if you do not freshly grind them yourself, then you are missing out on premium and fresh Java!

Last of all, make sure to wait four minutes for the coffee within your Coffee Press to steep. That’s all! Most people don’t realize that it only takes four minutes to brew with a French Press, and it is also eco-friendly because it does not use paper filters or electricity. When you use a French Press for your coffee brewing, you can take it with you camping, in travel, or even to your office to enjoy a delicious cup of Joe at any time.

For a great selection of all things coffee, check out Mark Ramos’ website, The Coffee Bump.

What Type of Coffee Grind Should I Use With My French Press?

So which type of coffee grind is best suitable? It can be your favourite coffee beans. You can choose from coffee Arabic or robusta or any other gourmet coffee you might want. Just make sure you grind it coarsely.

In other brewers, finer grind consistency is better because water can flow in effortlessly to extract most of the flavour. In this brewer, though, you will need only coarse settings. This brewer does not require a filter so finer grinds will surely sink to the bottom of the machine even before it has begun brewing. The coarser ones will be able to prevent penetrating in the bottom of the machine so it works better.

Also, coarse settings are already enough to produce flavourful coffee. If you use the finer ones, it can already extract too much coffee oil. This is the caveat in French press brewers. Despite coarse consistency of grinds, it still extracts so much essential oil. Nutritionists claim that although coffee is a good antioxidant, the oil can cause high cholesterol level. This contributes to the development of many diseases. Using this machine in moderation is called for.

So how does it really work?
It does not use electricity. It comes in various sizes. Just fill up the coffee basket with coarse grounds and pump it using the pumping rod attached on top of it. Of course, you will need to fill it up with water. This is mixed together with coffee grounds. The pumping motion will help release essential oils and mixes it with water.

The brewed coffee goes straight to the bottom of the machine. After brewing, remove the pump attachments and pour yourself a cup of freshly brewed coffee. This makes up a total coffee experience.

It is advisable to drink it up right away and not store it. Due to the lack of filter, some coffee grounds can penetrate and mix up with your brewed coffee. If you store it for a longer period of time, the coffee will taste bitter.

If you are after an ultimate coffee experience, try French press coffee machines. At least once in your life you will get to try drinking coffee brewed by this brewer. You will be pleasantly surprised with the difference in taste.

Check out grind and brew coffee makers and other type of grind and brew coffee machines units at http://www.grindandbrewcoffeemaker.org

Grind Coffee Extra Work for Fresh and Great Taste

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Ah, that nice relaxing cappuccino can really hit the spot, huh? There’s simply nothing quite comparable to that morning or evening cup of hot brew. You pop in the filter on your coffee pot; you pour in the fresh water, and then comes the java itself. Yep, that’s the true key to a great tasting cup of Joe.



You grip that coffee can and peel off the lid and snag a big heaping scoop. Huh? Wait a minute. That’s not really what you’re doing is it? I mean, you’re not actually going to pour those old coffee grounds into your filter are you? This is a major mistake. Although you may have sipped on the stale stuff for years, that doesn’t make it a great cup of coffee. In fact, it’s time you took a good look around.

There is far to much quality java out there to settle for the canned stuff. It’s time to purchase some freshly roasted beans and grind coffee on your own.

Do you grind coffee daily? You know, to get that wonderful, fresh cup from your drip pot every morning. This is crucial in the java world. Unless you want to settle for a very bland cup of coffee, I suggest you get in the know. No more canned garbage. I don’t care if you’re not into the whole coffee house craze. You can still take advantage of some simple tools and grind coffee at home. It’s well worth it once you taste a cup.

The great part is that it’s so easy to do. You have a home computer, right? Well, get online and start browsing for hand-held coffee grinders or a “manual coffee grinder”. You can purchase these rather cheap and keep the in your home kitchen. In addition, you’ll need freshly roasted coffee beans to grind coffee each morning, or evening. Basically whenever you prefer a nice hot cup of java. Now, this may sound like a great deal of work, but I assure you it’s simple.

The coffee industry has infinite coffee suppliers for you to choose from. Pick up a pound of beans online and give it a shot. You can take a portion of beans each time you wish to make a pot, and then grind coffee for that fresh aroma and flavor. This will change the entire way you view your morning cup of Joe.

If you are looking to grind coffee for your home java experience, then hop online now. Pick up some whole bean coffee and a personal grinder for a low cost in cyberspace. Finally you’ll enjoy that great cup of coffee that wasn’t ground years ago.

Nespresso Essenza D90 Espresso Machine …easy, fast, ready to Go!

Monday, March 8th, 2010

nesspresso essenza d90
Essenza Espresso Machine in Piano Black/Aeroccino In-Pack

For a limited time only, receive a $50 Nespresso Club Credit good towards the purchase of espresso capsules and accessories when you purchase any Nespresso Espresso Machine $299 and up! Just mail in the rebate form below! Click here for more details an…

How To Make A Great Espresso!

Every barista (professional maker of coffee drinks) will have his or her method. Here’s mine… It all starts with water. No coffee grounds, no matter the quality, can overcome an association with poor water. It must be fresh and very hot. Yes, even water can get stale, thanks to mildew, poor cleaning practices, and inadequate filtering. The optimum temperature is 203F (95C), nearly boiling.

Next comes the coffee. Select arabica – whether from Brazil, Bogota, or elsewhere, 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.

Robusta – though easier to grow and more disease resistant – has more caffeine and less flavor. It should be reserved for those quick pick-me-up cups, not used for an espresso to be savored.

Finely ground in burr, not blade, grinders the roast should be dark – French or Viennese. The name refers to the color, not the origin. Blade ‘grinders’ actually chop, not grind. Burr grinders have pyramid shaped teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them.

The distance between the plates determines the fineness of the granules. Sand grain-sized is good, powder is too fine, and small-gravel too large. Of course, 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.

And, last but not least, a good espresso requires a clean machine of good quality. ‘Good quality espresso machine means: generates heat by boiler or thermoblock and is capable of producing pump pressure of 9 bar or better. A ‘thermoblock’ heats water as it passes through the machine on the way to the pump. Avoid the cheaper units that rely on steam to create pressure.

Now you have the basic elements. Next comes the process.

Pre-warm the equipment by running good water through a 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. Add your ground roast 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 and place a warmed espresso cup at the outlet. Start the machine and in about five seconds you should have a thin, steady stream. (About 20 seconds for a double shot.)

For a cappuccino, warm half a cup of organic milk in the microwave about 90 seconds, froth, and add to the espresso. Garnish to taste with cinnamon, nutmeg or chocolate. For those who like it sweet a little organic sugar goes a long way.

Simple, straight forward, and easy. Start with good ingredients, keep your equipment clean, and don’t burn the roast. The result? A great cup!

Costumer Reviews Nespresso Essenza D90

Living in Italy: ALL ITALIANS have this machine

By K. R. Warmkessel (Genova, Italy)

I live in Italy and I have to say that after being in Italy for 7 years, I finally discovered how to make the perfect cappuccino at home. This makes a cappuccino exactly how I would get it at my neighborhood coffee bar. The machine makes a dense rich espresso with a nice cream on top and the aeroccino makes a perfect thick foam. The aeroccino also heats the milk to the perfect temperature and clean up is super quick. The machine is little in size which is a plus in a tiny Italian kitchen. At first I wasn’t so convinced on being committed to buying only Nespresso capsules, first for the price and second for the quality of coffee. Then I recalculated that I spend 1.10 euro at the bar every morning compared to .34 euro to make it at home….hence a definite savings. Plus the quality of coffees they offer (12 varieties in total) happens to be excellent! I’ve noticed that all of the Italians here also have this espresso machine in house. So if the Italians say it’s good, and they’re passionate about their food and drink, it’s got to be good. I’ve owned several machines over the years and this one is truly THE BEST!!

Best espresso ever

E. Neely (Corvallis, OR USA)

I love the Nespresso system, it takes the guess work out of making great espresso and tastes fantastic. This system is so fail-proof my 8 year-old begs to make my morning cup!

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