Tuesday, 23 October 2012

How to Get Delicious, Smooth and Rich Coffee Using a French Press (Cafetiere)

Have you ever tried to bake a cake when you didn't have all the ingredients? Or maybe you had to guess how much flour/water to add to the mix? Well, if your baking skills are anything like mine - the end result of your cake was pretty unsavoury!
So, what has baking got to do with coffee? Well, attempting to make a good cup of coffee requires the same level of discipline as it does with baking. If you're guessing at weights and measures and using the wrong type of ingredients, the result will be a bad tasting cup. I promise this isn't coffee snobbery, it's just coffee basics!
So If you follow these simple steps, you'll be making delicious coffee at home in no time! (well, 4 minutes to be precise).
Ready?
Step 1. Boil the kettle and use a little of the hot water to heat the Cafetière. Now put the kettle to one side to cool slightly.
Step 2. Try to buy your coffee beans 'fresh roasted'. Going online is a great place to buy. Good coffee roasters will have the roast date on the packet. Only use the pre-ground supermarket packets as a last resort.
Step 3. If you have your own grinder (well done), grind the beans to a coarse, 'chunky grit' like consistency. If it's too fine the particles will flow through the filter into your cup.
Step 4. Pour away the hot water from the Cafetière and replace it with the fresh ground coffee. Use approx 1 heaped dessert spoon for each mug of coffee. Use a little more for a stronger cup (I will let you experiment here).
Step 5. Now that the kettle has cooled slightly (boiling water will burn the coffee), add a little of the hot water to the coffee, just enough to cover all the coffee grounds. If you have a stopwatch handy, start it now.
Step 6. Leave for 30 seconds, then stir the grounds and pour in the remaining water. Replace the lid and leave to brew until the timer reaches 4 minutes. An extraction time of less than 4 minutes will make a weaker cup, longer than 4 minutes will create a bolder, more bitter cup.
Step 7. Remove the lid from the Cafetière and remove any coffee 'crust' from the top of the liquid.
Step 8. Slowly and carefully, push down the plunger. Pour and enjoy.
Get it right and your friends will mysteriously keep appearing for a catch up over coffee! (Just make sure you get them to do the washing up part!).



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How to Keep Ground Coffee Fresh

Keeping coffee fresh is as important as buying a quality product. Once coffee is no longer fresh it will have a stale taste to it and will not have all the notes of deliciousness that you will find in a freshly ground, freshly brewed cup of coffee. There are some tips and tricks to keeping coffee fresh and today I will discuss a few with you.
My first tip is to buy freshly ground coffee or even better, grind it yourself! If you do not own a grinder, and do not want to buy one, you can grind your own beans at the grocery store or coffee shop. These days almost every grocery store will have almost a whole aisle dedicated to coffee. You will typically find a machine to grind your beans if you do not own your own grinder.
Also, if you stop by your local coffee shop and pick up a bag of their coffee, they will be more than happy to grind it up for you. This is always a great place to try some different roasts and blends to find out what is your favorite. Not only is this a great place to do some taste testing, you are getting freshly ground coffee, and once you start drinking it freshly ground, you will never go back to before!
After you get your glorious coffee home, you want to keep it fresh until you actually consume it. It has been a long time misconception that you want to freeze your ground coffee to keep it fresh. This is bad for a couple of reasons. The first reason is coffee is very porous and will absorb not only moisture, but whatever else you have in your freezer. This is not good for the flavors of the coffee. Also when you freeze the beans you remove the natural oils and flavors of the beans, resulting in bland coffee.
The best way to store your coffee is in an airtight container. You want to store it in a cool, dry, dark place as moisture, air, heat and light are enemies to your precious coffee beans. I like to store mine in a large Tupperware container, in my pantry. My pantry has a doors and it is always dark and cool in there. If you do not have a pantry, you may want to keep the coffee in a cupboard away from an oven, stove or any other heat source.




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Monday, 17 September 2012

Krups KM720D50 Programmable Coffee Maker Review

When it comes to the domain of coffee makers, Krups is a brand that is identifiable with top quality. The German design which goes into the Krups products is truly what has helped this company receive the recognition that it has. With the Krups KM720D50 Programmable 12-Cup Drip coffeemaker with glass carafe and LCD display, you get the polished and modern look of stainless steel. This is a look that would look very good in almost any type of kitchen, whatever the decor.
The elements this model boasts include:
12-cup capabilities for the stylish glass carafe
Ability to warm coffee for an hour and shuts off automatically after two hours
Coffee aroma option for richer extraction or smaller amounts
Programmable
LCD screen with controls that are easy to read
The Good
Coffee from "aroma" setting is bold and delicious
Top quality and sturdy glass carafe
Auto shut off
Programmable
Easy to use and clean
Stylish
The Bad
Tiny space to pour water in can be troublesome
Can be too warm to the touch while making coffee
Some issues with the coffee basket
Difficult to find replacement carafe
A number of grievances about not working properly shortly after purchase
What It All Means
It should come as no surprise but the bottom line with this model of Krups Drip coffeemaker is that you will get really good quality coffee. How easy or difficult it is to get that coffee made is where some of the issues come into question. Though the bulk of users seem to have few complications with the details of this coffee maker, those who did complain seemed to share the same type of concerns.
For one thing, it is very easy to use as far as being programmable. However, the bulk of criticisms came as a result of the small and oddly placed area for adding water. Details like this can make producing coffee, unpleasant and discouraging. Others felt the container itself wasn't securely in position.
Both of these details can also lead to disappointment on programmed mode. If you don't get everything just right, you may not realize it until morning when you head to pour your first cup of already made coffee and find it's botched. This alone can be reason enough for some potential buyers to look elsewhere.
The Right Choice for You?
Krups is known for quality and style. If you are willing to overlook the few possible issues some users have experienced, what you will get is a fine if not superior cup of coffee. Keep in mind some of the issues other users have experienced. Watch for these issues, especially being careful not to get burned touching the sides of the maker while the coffee is being made.
If you have performance problems early on, it would be advisable to get in touch with the company right away to see about a replacement. Ordering a backup glass carafe may also be a good idea if you tend to break or crack yours over time.
Share Your Thoughts!
We would love to hear your thoughts on this review. Please drop us a line or two... and more importantly, if you have a review of your own to share, we would love to hear from you.


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How to Prevent Coffee From Tasting Bitter

Although not everyone may take coffee quite as seriously as we do, it's fairly safe to say that no coffee drinker likes a cup of bitter coffee. Those of us who do require it seriously know the disappointment that can result from awakening to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and finding the taste isn't as rewarding as the aroma.
Something to be actually noted is that this type of taste issue isn't something cream and sugar can fix or even mask. In order in order to avoid having another cup of bitter coffee, here are some steps to help you brew a better pot.
You will find the finest results for flavor often result if you wait to grind the beans just prior to brewing. Grinding and storing can lead to a more stale taste.
Obviously it is also important to make sure you use the right grind for the right brew. For example, there is a huge difference in taste if you use anything other than finely ground beans for espresso.
The main culprit that leads to bitterness in your morning brew is not getting the water to coffee beans ratio correct. Remember-- it is six ounces of water for every single two tablespoons of ground coffee, and this is the ratio for each cup you want.
For purists, bottled liquid or at least filtered tap water will probably give you the greatest tasting results. It is also a good idea to heat the water to boiling and cool for around two minutes, before using in your coffeemaker.
Although you may not be equipped to do that every time, make certain you are checking your coffeemaker's temperature at least once a week. If the point result is not around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (give or take 5 degrees), it is time to replace your old coffee pot with a new one. The incorrect temperature for the end result is another common reason coffee finishes up bitter. Brew time for a coffeemaker should also be no longer than five minutes.
Finally, you should be able to enjoy a delicious and not too bitter cup of coffee. Letting your coffee sit too long will also diminish the taste, as will trying to reheat a cup of coffee. Some people claim a pinch of salt can help improve an unsweetened cup of coffee. However, if you are experiencing regular problems with bitterness, it is time to rethink the way you brew, or replace your coffeemaker.
Other things to keep in mind include
Make sure your coffeemaker gets a good, regular cleaning. Even a bit of bit of buildup will impact the taste. Everything requires to be cleaned out thoroughly, from the basket to the carafe.
Some people run cleaning solutions or vinegar through their maker to get an even more in-depth clean. This is a good idea to do every when in a while; just be sure you flush the coffeemaker several times with plain water before trying to make a pot of coffee again.
Take a moment to add your thoughts/ideas about preventing bitter coffee. Some of the best tips come from coffee lovers who have tried different methods.



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Keurig Vue, The Best Just Got Better

If you have any experience with the Keurig line of 1 cup coffee makers, then you know how convenient they can be and how good of a cup of coffee they make. Whether you want coffee, tea or cider, the Keurig can brew a perfect cup every time.
While these original Keurig machines were incredibly popular in homes and offices, there were still complaints. Many people didn't like the fact that there were only three settings available to change the strength of the drink brewed. Others said that the temperature control was difficult to use and not very accurate.
Keurig has taken all of these customer comments to heart and has recently released the new and improved Keurig Vue 1 cup coffee maker. Almost every negative that owners of the coffee maker could come up with is addressed and improved upon in the new Vue.
Below are some of the features of the newest Keurig machine:
- Intuitive touch-screen control panel which allows you to easily switch between 4-ounce and 18-ounce brew sizes and temperatures of 187 to 197 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water reservoir size of 74-ounces with lighted background.
- One year warranty.
- Improved recyclable Vue packs for brewing individual beverages.
- Ability to froth water for a foamy topper on your coffee.
Keurig's motivation for making a new and improved coffee maker was not purely because they wanted to please their customers. The patent on its K-Cups runs out in September, so many cheaper competitors' versions will be hitting the market. Also, Starbucks is about to release their own 1 cup coffee maker sometime after September. So Keurig had good reason to come out with a new and superior product to keep their stronghold on this market.
The new Vue looks a lot like previous models, but a little bit sleeker and classier. The difference is that it is able to do so much more with a lot more options for customization when brewing your coffee. The new temperature controls are much easier to use and the fact that you can brew a decent travel-size mug of coffee is definitely a great feature. The Vue accomplishes this feat by slowly pulsing the water through the Vue pack, making a stronger cup of coffee, or a larger cup that is still strong enough.
Another complaint addressed with the Vue is that the past Keurigs did not report accurate temperatures of the coffee brewed. Reviews from Vue customers have come in stating that this problem has been definitely fixed. The coffee comes out scalding hot if that's how you like it and the temperature of the coffee seems to be with two degrees of the temperature listed on the Keurig's display screen.
For those who complained about the disastrous recycling prospects for the original K-Cups, the Vue packs are much more environmentally friendly. The originals just needed to be completely thrown away after being used, but the Vue versions suspend the filter in the cup, which can be removed and disposed of after use. Not as good as paper, but a big improvement.
While the new Keurig Vue does advertise that it can brew a cup of espresso, do not take it too seriously. If you want espresso you will have to brew two separate cups, one with milk and one with coffee. The process is very messy and the espresso is not very good. It is definitely still just a coffee brewer, although it is much improved. Amazingly, the coffee it brews is even better than the past versions. The machine itself looks better and it is much easier to use, if that's even possible. It is a bit louder than past versions, and the coffee takes a bit longer to brew, but shouldn't a great cup of joe take a bit longer to make?
If you enjoyed the Keurig machines from the past and love the coffee they make, then you will absolutely love the new Keurig Vue 1 cup coffee maker. There are more features, it is more intuitive, the coffee tastes better, and it is more friendly to our struggling environment. The best 1 cup coffee maker just got even better and is set to remain by far the most popular home brewing machine in the world for a long time to come.



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