Cleaning the Coffee Pot

When I was younger I was fearless, I could drink anything that resembled coffee. Highway gas stations, college cafeteria, some friend’s apartment. Anything containing caffeine was ok. Even In my own place where I lived with my little brother (7 years older than me) where we drank for years some strange liquid we called coffee. Then a friend from Venezuela came for some days and teached me the ancient secret of making coffee on the stove. It was definitely light years from what i used to drink and now knowing the secret I mastered. BUT it didn’t look cool. I wanted a coffee maker machine, so I ended getting one. And it served well for years and years. And the pot started to transform from a very attractive transparent glass to a very not so much attractive opaque marmit.

Yes, now I know it didn’t have to be that way, but, you know I washed it all the time and never came out that buildup, so I tried to ignore it.

But now I know better, so now I now bring to your the ancient chinese secret of how to clean a coffee pot. 

1. Fill the pot with ⅔ of water and ⅓ vinegar. If you think it won’t be strong enough, make it half and half.
2. Put a filter in your coffee maker.
3. Put the mixture of water and vinegar in the deposit for water.
4. Turn on the coffee maker and let it filter all the mix
5. Discard
6. Let the coffee maker cool, then wash the pot with warm water.
7. Repeat a second time, but now with just water to make sure the vinegar is gone.

Milk frothing and latte art

Some say drinking coffee is a kind of art, but sometimes you are drinking the art itself, don't you think?

Evolution

Source: http://mashable.com/2013/02/28/evolution-coffee-addict/

What to Look When Buying an Espresso Machine

What is your budget?

How much money do you want to invest on an espresso machine? Many high end models have many features and maybe help you make a better expresso, but many budget models can suit your needs. First check the price ranges to see the features available on each.

Under $100.00

        

Between $100.00 and $500.00

Over $500.00

What Kind of Machine?

The world of expresso machines is different from the world of coffee makers since there are different kind of expresso machines. They all extract expresso from coffee under pressure, but the way this pressure is created, varies from machine to machine.

Pump Espresso Machines

• These use a powered pump to produce the right amount of water pressure
• Usually the most expensive
• Can be quite large, bulky and noisy
• Produces excellent espresso
• Pump can get clogged with mineral deposits from the water
• Commercial machines are often this type

Lever/Piston Espresso Machines

• There is a manual lever and piston on these models to create the pressure
• Can be hard on the arm
• Very quiet machine
• Espresso quality can vary
• Few parts, low maintenance

Steam Powered Espresso Machines

• The steam from heated water creates the pressure
• Pressure isn't always strong enough to make a good Espresso
• Smaller machine, sleek design
• Quick and easy to use

Moka Pots

• These are simple stove-top pots
• Water in the bottom half of the pot, forces steam through the coffee into the top half of the pot
• Super simple
• Less pressure than the mechanized versions
• No milk frothing/foaming attachments
• Least expensive of all these models

What Features do You Need?

Maybe you don't have any idea of what features are available if you haven't own an expresso machine before.

A good espresso machine can be a bit of an investment. Before you make your decision, you should know about all the various functions that you can choose from. You may want to get a feature you never knew existed.

Cup Warmer
Not exactly a high-tech feature. Most 'cup warmers' are just flat space on top of the machine, where it is warm. That's it.

Frothing Wand
A steam wand for frothing milk is a must-have if you plan on making lattes or cappuccinos. Simpler espresso machines have just a wand, but more elaborate machines will actually have a cannister for milk.

Hot Water Dispenser
A simple but very handy little feature if you use hot water around the kitchen. Saves you from dragging out the kettle when you want tea or hot chocolate.

Strength controls
A little more elaborate than coffee maker controls, good espresso machines allow you to control how much water is used for each pull (and even the amount of grounds, for semi or fully automatic machines that dose automatically). By fine-tuning water and grounds, you can really produce the exact espresso you're looking for.

Pre-Moistening Cycle
Different brands will have their own name for this bit of technology. It basically just means that the coffee grounds are moistened prior to your shot being pulled. This little trick will help pull out the aromatic oils for a better espresso.

Pod Compatible
The lastest thing in espresso making are pods. These little pre-packed discs of coffee grounds make espresso preparation a snap with no mess. Some of the newer models can take pods as well as regular loose coffee grounds.

Water Filter 
Many espresso machines have built-in water filters to take out any chlorine or iron tastes from your tap water. A nice addition, but it also adds extra maintenence and cost (replacing the filters).

Integrated Bean Grinder
Not a typical feature, but you can buy espresso machines that have a built-in grinder. These types of machines will usually grind just enough coffee with each use, for the freshest brew around. You'll pay for this advanced feature though.

Bypass doser
This feature goes along with the last one, and really only applies to automatic machines that grind as well as brew. If you want to use a different coffee than what is already in the grinder hopper, you can use the bypass doser. A good option for folks who might want to make a cup of decaf once in a while.

Making Coffee too?

One feature that you might find convenient is a machine capable of doing expresso and regular coffee. This combo machines saves space and are cheaper than buying two separate machines.
           

Check Some Models

Now tha you have all the information, you can browse through some models to choose the one you need

What is the difference between espresso and drip coffee

Coffee?, Espresso? What's the difference???

There are two main differences between espresso coffee and drip coffee: the fineness of the grind and the brewing time, being finer the grind for the espresso and shorter the brewing, being that possible since the espresso machines generate high pressure (15 atmospheres) to force water through the coffee.

A shot of espresso is made forcing almost boiling water through tightly packed, finely ground espresso coffee. The result is a dark brown, slightly thick liquid with a small amount of foam, called cream, on top.

Espresso coffee es made from a blend of several types of beans roasted until dark and oily looking.

The beans are ground much finely than for drip coffee, almost to the consistence of powdered sugar. The finer the beans are ground, the slower the espresso comes out. Generally, for the best espresso, it should take around 25 seconds fot the water to pass through coffee.

Drip coffee, on the other hand, is made by dripping boiling water over ground coffee (more coarsely ground, it is), The cater filters through the coffee and gets to a pot. The process is slower than the espresso process.

An apparent strange fact is that a cup of drip coffee has more caffeine than a shot of espresso.

Some of the variables involved in making a shot of espresso are the temperature of water, the pressure of water, the fineness of the ground coffee and how tightly packed the coffee is.

How to Make a Cappuccino

Cappuccino is a mixture of espresso, a little steamed milk and a little milk foam. The milk/foam ratio is up to you what you enjoy most. Some like a thick layer of foam while others just want foam as a garnish on top. Mix as you please.

Step 1

Make a 1 1/2 oz. espresso, leaving enough water in the espresso machine to steam some milk.

Step 2

Put espresso in a 5-oz. or larger cup so that you have room for the milk.

Step 3

Set espresso machine to steam

Step 4

Fill a stainless-steel carafe with 3 oz. cold milk and insert the steam nozzle.

Step 5

Place nozzle halfway down in milk and leave it in milk for 45 to 60 seconds, or until the milk is hot and there's enough foam for your preference

Step 6

Add 1 1/2 oz. steamed milk to the cup of espresso.

Step 7

Spoon some foamed milkhe top

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_1855_make-cappuccino.html#page=0

I am not good making videos, so I am posting here this one that shows how to make a cappuccino.

Enjoy.

Source: http://www.howcast.com/guides/181-How...

The Benefits of Drinking Coffee

I believe we humans always make what we want just because we want and then we invent a good reason to justify what we do.  Coffee is not different. We can invent many reasons why we love to drink it. 

Aside of real benefits, I drink it because I like it and that's it.

Yep, just like that.