Monday, July 19, 2010

The Coffee Brewing Tips Without Electricity


There may be times in your life that you need to brew your coffee without any electricity available. Yes, there is a catch because you still need to be able to heat your water, so these brewing methods will not work if your power is out. But keep in mind that one of the greatest devices to own is a French Press, which doesn't require the use of electricity so that it is eco-friendly and convenient.

Likewise, Bodum, the popular creators of the French Press, also offer a small coffee brewing device that is not a French Press, called the Café Solo. This is an interesting little coffee brewer that also does not require electricity, and it will create a single cup serving for your pleasure. To use this brewer, spoon two rounded tablespoons of grounds inside of the mesh filter basket. After that, you will place the water strainer on top of the mesh filter so that the coffee grounds are pressed between. After that, place the upper filter basket on the glass cup within the mechanism, and pour the water that has just finish boiling through the top filter basket and cover. Allow the coffee to drip into the glass coffee cup for several minutes, and you will be able to have a sip of fresh and delicious coffee directly out of the glass cup that it brewed in!

Of course, the Café Solo is somewhat different than a Coffee Press, although it still uses drip brewing. But it is also beneficial because it uses a mesh filter and not paper filters so that the essential oils will not be removed in the brewing process. This is something that many people may want to use if they are in their office, especially if they have a water cooler with a hot water tap on it nearby. Within this method, you would not need electricity whatsoever, and all you would have to do is fill up the Café Solo with the hot water from the water cooler to have a quick and incredibly fresh cup of Joe at your desk.

Other than that, the French Press made available by Bodum comes in an infinite amount of models and styles. This lets you add boiled water to coarse coffee grounds, where they will extract for four minutes. After that is done, press the plunger down directly to remove the coffee grounds from your brewed coffee, and there you have it! You have the pleasure of drinking a fresh and fragrant cup of coffee!

Being able to brew your coffee without electricity is wonderful if you are ever away from home without your automatic coffee maker. In fact, if you are going on a camping trip or anything along those lines, you can use the Café Solo or the use of a Travel Press will allow you to make a speedy cup of coffee that you can drink even in the great outdoors.

3 Simple Tips For Making Perfect Coffee That You Love


Want to brew the perfect cup of coffee?

Here are 3 simple tips that will make a difference in every single cup you drink.

Tip #1

Clean Coffee Pot

A clean pot is essential and can make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. Old oils from previous batches of coffee and soap residue left on the pot makes coffee taste bad.

Baking soda and water work well for cleaning coffee mugs and pots. Be sure to rinse extra good so no residue is left behind.

Tip #2

Clean Filtered Water

The water you use for your coffee will affect the taste more than anything. Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that will affect the taste of your coffee.

Using stainless steel or gold mesh filters instead of paper filters will also make your coffee taste better. Paper filters release dyes, chlorine and bleach that affect taste. If you insist on using paper filters buy the unbleached, brown paper filters.

Tip #3

Use Fresh Quality Coffee

Quality coffee costs more but will consistently produce better tasting coffee.

For the best results use quality, whole bean coffee and grind the coffee beans just prior to use. You might think it's an inconvenience compared to ground coffee, but once you taste the difference you'll never go back.

If you still want to use ground coffee, make sure you use a good, drip grind coffee.

Use 2 level tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. This can be adjusted for individual taste preference. Make sure to spread the grounds evenly in the coffee filter so full brewing is achieved.

Drink your fresh coffee right away for the best flavor. Coffee will break down quickly if left on a heat source. Coffee should never be reheated or microwaved.

A clean, preheated air pot or stainless steel Thermos will keep coffee hot for about an hour without hurting the flavor.

If you follow these 3 simple tips, every cup you brew will be perfect coffee.

Tips- on Making the Best Gourmet Coffee at Home


Have you recently purchased a quality coffee maker for your home, but still find yourself running to the local coffee shop for that "special" tasting cup of brew? If so, you're probably wasting a ton of money! Let me give you the best advice on making gourmet coffee at home!

Coffee: The first step in making that coffee house style is brew found in the perfect coffee bean. Yes, I hate to break it to you - but if you really want gourmet - you should start by grinding your own beans. Now, before we jump ahead to grinding your beans, you have to buy the best quality to start with. There is a wide variety of beans available on the market, from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to brands not known on a national scale. I personally suggest beans from The Roasterie in Kansas City Missouri. Their line includes

a ton of flavors, but what they are most widely known for is the fact that they air roast their beans which leads to a more pure, better taste and aroma.

Water: You'd be surprised to know that the water you use really does make a huge difference in the taste of the final product. Most coffee makers have filters built in, so be sure to change yours on a regular basis. If your coffee machine does not have one built in, use filtered water instead of tap water. This should be done whether you are using a $300 machine or a generic $20 unit.

Grinder: Many will tell you that it is ok to use pre-ground breans, but I whole-heatedly disagree. The oils in pre-ground coffee beans tend to evaporate, causing them to lose some of their flavor. Make the investment and get a good grinder. For many aficionados,grinding beans is an art form - and as with any art, the artist is only as good as the tools he uses. You may be tempted to get one of the smaller (and cheaper) push down grinders - if that's all that's in your budget, be prepared to practice - a LOT! You do not want to over grind because it makes the coffee bitter. It is better to use a little more bean than to risk over grinding. The Kitchenaid Coffee Burr is a great grinder and worth the investment (search for sales and deals online to soften the blow to the wallet)

Bean Storage: You'll likely find yourself storing your beans in the fridge or the freezer, but keep in mind that in order for the flavors to truly come forward - they have to be at room temperature. If you have more beans than you'll use - keep them in an air tight container and place them in the freezer. When you remove them from the freezer for use, it is best to let them sit and "thaw" out for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Now these are just my personal tips from my very own kitchen, but you'll need to really play around with your own recipes and understand your particulars when it comes to taste.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Tips For Finding Out Which Brand is the Best Coffee Maker


If you are a coffee lover who is looking to buy a coffee maker so you can finally enjoy a great cup of freshly brewed coffee every morning, one of the things you willl want to make sure of is that you buy the best coffee maker. So which brand is the best coffee maker? It really all depends on your needs or preference. What features are you looking for in a coffee maker and what is your budget?

Finding out which brand is the best coffee maker before you buy is as simple as reading through various coffee maker reviews published both online and in print. If you already know the features you want in your coffee maker as well as your budget, this is the next logical step. You need to spend time researching the different coffee makers available in the market and reading consumer reviews. This will help you narrow down your choices and help you determine which brand is the best coffee maker based on your preference.

One of the best source of reviews in print is Consumer Reports Magazine. This publication will have reviews on many coffee makers. Go through issues of Consumer Reports Magazine as it will carry coffee maker reviews and tell you which brand is the best coffee maker. Be aware that Consumer Reports Magazine conducts its own tests on thousands of consumer products.

The magazine is not advertiser-supported and every product tested by its panel is purchased; they are not donated or given as gifts by the companies or makers of the products being tested. Thus, you can be assured that the reviews published by Consumer Reports Magazine are unbiased.

Going into specifics as to which brand is the best coffee maker today, a quick survey of the popular online review sites shows that Bunn tops the list with five coffee makers that have received a rating of 5 stars from consumers. Saeco is next in line with four coffee makers that have received a rating of 5 stars. Three Cuisinart coffee makers are rated 5 stars and two DeLonghi coffee makers are rated 5 stars.

Therefore buying any of the coffee makers from these brands names assures you that you are getting a top quality machine. Again, though, look for the features you find most appealing at a price that is affordable to you.

5 Reasons to Choose a Bunn Coffee Maker


Bunn coffee maker is one of the foremost names in the coffee world. Bunn has been associated with everything coffee since 1957. Not only do they manufacture state of the art coffee makers but they also manufacture a wide range of coffee maker accessories including carafes and filters. One of their most noted inventions are paper filters, which, as we all know has forever changed the way we drink our coffee.

Bunn coffee makers are very popular in restaurant kitchens and homes around the world and for very good reason too. If you are looking for a coffee maker but are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer plethora of choices available, here are 5 reasons why you should choose a Bunn coffee maker, whether it is for your home or for your restaurant kitchen:


Maintains Constant Temperature - Whereas most other coffee makers heat the water until it boils, Bunn has mastered the technique of maintaining the water at a constant temperature of 200 degrees which is optimal for brewing coffee quickly without sacrificing the taste of the coffee. This means you can be sure you will always get your coffee at just the right temperature anytime and every time.


Saves you Time - When ground coffee is kept for brewing till all the water is used up it adversely affects the taste of the brew. The quick 3- minute cycle that is typical in Bunn coffee makers ensures that you get all the flavor of the coffee without any of the bitterness. It also means that you can get a pot of coffee in just 3 minutes and if all you want just a cup of coffee, you will not have to wait more than 30 seconds.



Creates the Perfect Turbulence - The distinctive, patented sprayhead design creates the perfect turbulence that suspends the coffee beans and then thoroughly soaks the beans when the water that is pushed into the carafe. This process extracts the maximum flavor from the coffee beans, making for a cup of rich-tasting coffee. The sprayhead is just as effective when coffee pods are used.



Good Looking &Longer Lasting - With most coffee maker brands you have to debate over whether you should go in for a glass model, which looks sleek but is more fragile or a stainless steel model, which is durable but is usually clunkier looking. Here again, Bunn puts all dispute to rest with their durable stainless steel models, which are sleek enough to occupy pride of place in your kitchen.



Ease of Cleaning - So you love the thought of waking up and heading straight over to your coffee maker every morning for that first cup of coffee. Your coffee maker is quick and convenient and brews a perfect cup for you to start your day with. However, if you have to content with struggling to clean difficult to reach places, it defeats the purpose. Though, that is in a way the price you have to pay for your have-it-whenever-you-want-it cup of coffee, why get a coffee maker that will take you twice as long to clean as it does to brew the coffee? Cleaning Bunn coffee makers is a breeze. You can relax and enjoy your coffee without thinking of the "high price" you have to pay by way of tiresome cleaning.

Bunn coffee makers offer you all of the pleasures of coffee drinking without any of the pain.

How to Find Best Coffee Maker For Your Home


How do we look for the best coffee maker for our coffee drinking needs?

Coffee makers are very important kitchen appliances that can really make or break our morning coffee time. With so many choices around, deciding for the most suitable type may prove to be a demanding job. Whether you want a cup of drip coffee, or hot cappuccino filled with a deep shot of espresso, coffee machine options are almost limitless.

In this article we are focusing on coffee makers that do the job of brewing your gourmet coffee beans and deliver the results that you paid them to deliver.

There really are lots of different types on the market today. But to make it relatively easy for you, we will present you with most essential factors you got to take into account, when choosing best coffee machine for your desires and wants.

Price is a vital factor in determining the overall value of your coffee maker, but a low price does not always mean that you are getting the best value for your money. Sometimes we can purchase first rate coffee machine for a small amount of money.

It's ease of use, quality of flavor and quality of construction, brewing temperature, durability, and also heat retention can make a higher priced java maker better overall value.

We looked: price, brewing method, consumer reviews and proper overall performance of a certain java maker. So if you buy any one of these brewers you will make a right decision.


1. Keurig B60 coffee machine

In the category of one cup coffee makers, the Keurig B60 coffee brewer has a great deal of competition, having said that if you are looking for, most durable single cup system - then the Keurig B60 coffee maker is the answer to your coffee making. It has 1500-watt brewing system that can be used to make fine coffee beverages, flavorful teas, and rich cocoas.

With forty eight ounce water reservoir it can make coffee at 3 different sizes. It comes equipped with programmable backlit Liquid crystal display with digital clock and timer lends. With temperature command function and great pumping mechanism your can make your beverage as hot as you like it to be. Because it is very compact, it is ideal for people who have limited kitchen counter space.

2. Cuisinart DCC-1200 12 Cup Coffee Machine

With a brushed metal finish and an elegant industrial stainless design it sticks out from numerous coffee makers on the market.

Its shower head is uniquely designed, so that the water goes over entire surface of the ground coffee within the filter. The exact result is full and rich java flavor. It has built in digital clock for programming automatic brewing.

The warming plate can be adjusted to a lower temperature and can keep coffee hot for up to four hours. This is also the highest programmable automatic shut off time.

The coffee machine can be set to brew 1 -4 5-oz. cups or five to 12 cups, and comes with a charcoal water filter.

If you want to buy best coffee machine that brews great tasting coffee, then the Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffee maker is the right choice.

3. Delonghi Coffee Maker DC514T Esclusivo

The appealing 14-cup (70 oz.) DeLonghi coffee maker DC514T is one of the best coffee makers out there. With many great functions like permanent gold-tone java filter, advanced water filtration which optimizes taste by eliminating chlorine in the water, lights that shows you how long the java has been sitting and when it's time to decalcify the unit.

It has 24 hour programmable timer with 2 two hour automatic switch off and aroma button which activates a time-released process which extracts ideal flavor and aroma for a delicious cup of hot coffee.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, everyone has different ideas about which are the best coffee makers on the market. It does not have much to do with expert opinions, and everything to do with your own taste and lifestyle.

Espresso Coffee Makers - What's the Difference Between Them All?


Espresso coffee makers come in different types, styles and price points. So how do you tell one from the other and what is the best coffee maker for your needs? Just look at any kitchen shop or department store and there's a huge range of coffee making devices and machines.

But which will make you the great cup of coffee you deserve - even need! For most people budget is the biggest factor when selecting their next coffee maker. That doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality or flavor but you do need to know a bit about each type of coffee maker so let's see what's what in the coffee making world.

Coffee at a slow drip

Perhaps the most well known of the coffee makers, the drip coffee maker is in most kitchens in the US, as well as in most hotel rooms. There's a whole variety that will allow you to make 1 cup, 6 or 12 cup pots, to semi programmable machines that can produce coffee to a schedule. Becoming more popular is the style that produces vacuum coffee pots that don't need the heating element to keep the coffee warm.

The basis of the drip coffee maker is very simple. Coffee is placed in a filter basket and hot water is slowly passed through the grounds to produce the coffee. The filter basket is usually lined with a filter paper, but there are some that use a fine mesh instead. Whilst these are more eco-friendly (and you'll never run out of filter papers) they may occasionally let some of the ground through.

These machines can produce a good cup of coffee reasonably quickly and cheaply but you'd never mistake it for espresso. If your set on getting an espresso on a budget then the next category may be for you.

Back to the Future With Stove Top Percolators

If you travel through Europe; Italy especially, then these are coffee makers you'll find in most homes. The stove top percolator is a multi part pot that goes onto the stove to produce an excellent cup of coffee in the espresso style. You may even get the crema effect using one of these makers and all it takes is 5 - 10 minutes which is the same as a drip machine. There are more modern versions that use electricity but part of the charm of these coffee makers is their simplicity and the fact that there's almost nothing to go wrong with it.

Just fill the bottom part of the percolator with cold water, the filter basket with coffee (generally with an espresso grind) and place on the stove. The hot water percolates up through the coffee grounds and collects it the top. When the makes starts to gurgle, take it off the heat and serve an excellent cup of coffee.

These coffee makers are cheap, easy to use and last a long time if taken care of. The down side is that they produce small amounts of coffee (a 6 cup machine will typically produce the equivalent of 3 -4 shots of espresso) and care needs to be taken when cleaning them.

Solo Coffee Drinking

A growing trend in coffee drinking is producing individual cups of coffee. To fill this new demand, there are more and more one cup coffee makers appearing. The majority of these coffee makers use a single serving pod of coffee to make the cup. This is ideal for a home that only has one coffee drinker, or where different flavors of coffee are required.

Of course having specially packaged individual pods of different flavors and styles does come at a premium so using this type of coffee maker can work out to be more expensive that the other coffee makers.

Is a Genuine Espresso Possible?

At the very pinnacle of coffee makers is the espresso coffee maker. These machines are the most expensive and can be the most hi tech. They range in price from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand for a top of the line machine. So is paying the extra worth it? To be honest that really depends on your coffee drinking habits.

If all you drink is the occasional espresso then a lower end pure espresso maker will fit the bill. If you're a more regular drinker and want a mix of styles then a combination coffee and espresso maker will probably suit you better.

Many of these coffee makers are fairly complex machines, some with many options and abilities. The down side of this is that there is a lot more to go wrong and they do wear out. A proper espresso maker will push hot water through the coffee at fairly high pressure so they don't last forever, so take care if you're looking at the low end of the budget scale.

It may make more sense to pay a little more for an espresso coffee maker that is well made and will last longer than the cheaper models.

Plenty of Reasons to Love Krups Coffee Makers


When it comes to coffee makers, Krups coffee makers are the cream of the crop. Krups coffee makers can be found in a large number of kitchens and offices around the world. Krups has made sure that homemakers and coffee lovers will find many reasons to prefer their products over others.

And the best reason they found? A much more affordable price for their coffee makers. Bearing the weapon of a more affordable price tag, Krups coffee makers went into the market and conquered large chunks of it. Coffee lovers looking for their ultimate coffee making companion and those who want to have good cups of coffee at home will definitely love the reasonably-priced Krups coffee makers.

Why You'll Love Krups Coffee Makers

If you are wondering whether Krups coffee makers are worth buying, here are some reasons why they most certainly are. First of all, coffee makers manufactured by Krups are made entirely for the purpose of brewing excellent-tasting coffee that can perk up your mornings, boost your energy when you need it, and nurture your love for coffee.

The result is always good coffee with a strong, natural flavoring. If you have a Krups coffee maker, then that means you can brew your perfect cup anytime. And what will this perfect cup cost you? Not much, if Krups has anything to do about it. Krups coffee makers are among the most comfortable coffee brewing products around.

Their products are all priced just right, so anyone who loves coffee don't have to worry about the price. By appealing to the part of the market that's more budget-conscious, these coffee makers sure provided a way for everyone to enjoy brewing their own coffee. And if good coffee now does not cost that much for your pocket, it certainly does not cost much effort in making as well, especially with Krups coffee makers in the picture. Coffee makers with the Krups brand on it are synonymous to fast and easy coffee making without the hassle. They are very user-friendly and can be operated with the least amount of effort from you.

These smart coffee makers can come up with the perfect blend of coffee without your assistance. Coffee making is not impossible even without coffee makers. In fact, you can make coffee without these machines like people in history did.

But coffee makers are around to make life so much easier for you and to make coffee making a breeze. So why buy a coffee maker that you'd have to exert a lot of effort operating? Better buy a Krups coffee maker, sit back, let the machine do what it does best, and enjoy your perfect cup of freshly brewed coffee afterwards.

Complete Your Coffee Experience

Krups coffee makers can complete your coffee making and coffee drinking experience with the help of several great features on their coffee makers. Coffee makers from Krups are quite advanced. They come with automatic brewing timers, built-in water filters for pure coffee taste, and pause function for instant coffee servings anytime. Also, some models can brew coffee within minutes, and some can brew for a lot of people all at once.

Krups coffee makers even come with filters that keep your coffee not just tasting great but smelling wonderfully as well. Since half of the magic of coffee lies in its soothing and tempting aroma, you can be sure that you get every part of your coffee experience with Krups. So if you are in the market for a coffee maker that can offer durability, affordability, efficiency, and great coffee, you have only one brand to go to, and that's Krups.