Monday, July 02, 2007

The Top Espresso Machines - Turn Your Home Into a Starbucks

Gone are the days of those old steam-driven espresso machines that were used to brew you the coffee with unmistakable burned and bitter taste. Today there are a range of sophisticated semi automatic and fully automatic models that pack a lot more punch by serving you dark, rich, foamy espresso that can give the Starbucks or barista a good run for their money.

The new age Espresso Machines can help you make coffee like a pro. They offer a clutter free solution for your home too. You just need to press the button of a fully automatic espresso machine and it will do the entire job from grinding the beans to make your espresso. It will also serve you regular brewed coffee alongside your espresso.

Investing in a high quality espresso coffee machine means employing a qualified barista at your home…for free and getting refreshing shots whenever you want with the press of a button. Hit the stores asking for demonstration of the following top models of espresso machines.

Espresso Gaggia - Classic and time tested

This is definitely a classic in the crowd of other espresso models. The old fashioned coffee connoisseurs love Gaggia for its ability to make thick crema that can compete with any Italian cafes. This sturdy coffee maker is just ideal for daily use; they are easy to maintain too.
On the flipside, it takes longer for warming up and the price is also on a higher end as compared to its other market competitors.

Krups Novo 3000 - Simple features; easy price

If a cup of high-octane espresso is what shoots up your mood, then you should go for this no-frills machine. This reasonably priced pump espresso comes with minimalist controls are easy to figure out. However, the true connoisseurs may not find the coffee made by it flawlessly tasty. The model however offers a better choice over steam-driven espresso machines.

Nespresso D290 - Easy on operation

These Espresso machines are regarded as the most user friendly gadget. A small proprietary capsule make it possible to get your coffee with the press of a button. The capsules come in nine caffeinated and three decaffeinated varieties and each capable of producing a thicker crema than any other models available.

Krups Cafe Bistro - Advanced features at easy prices

This is an ideal gadget for a coffee loving family: it is able to brew you 10 cups of coffee or 2-4 shots of steam-brewed espresso. This compact model is also provided with a frothing wand for cappuccino and 24-hour timer controls.

Professional Pavoni - Large model for a large family

This is ideal for commercial uses with its large 16 cup capacity water reservoir. Because of this large size they are not exactly ideal for households. But if you want to make your neighbors take notice of your gadgets, then this model with gleaming chrome body makes an attractive appearance. You will get less punch in your cup; it makes espresso with a bittersweet taste. If you want a good amount of golden crema, you should go for the Europiccola Pavoni model.

Back in Italy, they treat espresso making something as an art form; an espresso machine makes it easier for you to master the art. However, while selecting the model for your household, stress on the points of quality, ease of use and of course the look.

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Wednesday, May 09, 2007

How to Choose a Home Coffee Maker

There are two main considerations when buying a coffee maker for your home or small office: type of brewer and features.

Choosing the best coffee maker for your needs can be accomplished by evaluating how many people will be drinking the coffee, coffee drinking patterns and how much money you want to spend.

Somebody who lives alone and makes one cup of coffee to drink on the commute to work, for example, will have very different needs than a small office with 4 or 5 employees who drink coffee sporadically throughout the day.

You can pay very little money and get a drip coffee maker for your home that works perfectly fine, as they all work basically the same - they pour hot water over coffee grounds and then filter the coffee into a decanter of some sort. On the other hand, it doesn't cost too much more to get a coffee maker that has lots of extra features and will last for many years to come. Prices generally run the gamut from a $29.95 special on up to over $200.

There are basically three types of coffee brewers - Drip, Pod and Thermal Carafe.

The Drip Brewer is the old stand-by - pour the water in the top and the coffee is served up in a glass decanter that site on a warmer. The decanter sits on a warmer that keeps it warm. Consider a brewer with an auto-shut-off if you are worried about leaving the warmer on.

The Thermal Carafe Brewer brews into a thermal carafe instead of a decanter. There is no need for a warmer, as the thermal carafe keeps the coffee warm and preserves the flavor and aroma for hours. Another advantage to the thermal carafes

is that they do not break as easily as glass decanters. Variations on thermal carafe models include thermal mugs and double thermal carafes.

The Pod Brewer is the hot new entry in coffee brewing. For each cup you brew, you insert a prepackaged coffee pod into the brewer. The machine brews the cup, then you dispose of the pod. There is no mess because the coffee comes in the filtered pod and is thrown away in the filtered pod. The negative is that the pods cost a bit more than regular coffee and filters, plus, you can only brew one cup at a time.

All coffee makers employ different features to accomplish different needs. Features that may be included on more expensive brewers include a clock/timer to enable programmable brewing times, water filtration, stop-and-serve and auto shut-off. Also, some brewers may be combination machines that include an espresso maker or a grinder. Here are some options to consider:

Programmable - you can program the machine to have the coffee brewed before you walk into the kitchen.


Volume: Options range from brewing on a per cup basis to brewing into a 12-cup carafe.


Speed: Bunn coffee makers feature a hot water reservoir that enables the machine to brew a pot of coffee in 3 hours.


Integrated Grinder: some brewers have a built-in grinder that grind the beans and then dumps them into the filter basket. The advantage is less mess and less work on the part of the operator. A disadvantage would be that there are more parts that can break and make the whole unit useless.


Water Filtration: greatly reduced mineral build-up in the water reservoir.

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Thursday, May 03, 2007

A New Bunn Coffee Maker Makes All The Difference

Freshly brewed coffee is all the rage today and you have been bit by the bug. You enjoy your quick stop into the local coffee shop to order your special drink as you head to work in the morning. But what should you do on the weekends when you are staying around the house but still want that great cup of coffee without going out to get it.

The answer to this is as simple as purchasing a coffee grinder and a new Bunn Coffee Maker to use on the weekends. You can purchase one in any coffee shop, retail store, on the internet and in most hardware stores. It is relatively simple to make a good cup of coffee and people have been making this beverage for hundreds of years - whether with an old fashion percolator or over a camp fire, coffee is here to stay.

So, how do you make a great cup of coffee in your new Bunn Coffee Maker? Well you should start with clean equipment - nothing is worse than the stale oily leftover taste that old grounds can leave in a pot. Begin fresh cold water. The time to brew your coffee will vary depending upon which Bunn Coffee Maker you have.

Always use a paper filter because it will help produce a clear cup of coffee. The filters should be porous enough to allow free flow of the extracted coffee, should be made from oxygen processed paper which provides an excellent coffee flavor and should be strong enough not to break during brewing.

You have completed your research and have decided to purchase your own Bunn Coffee Maker, but what model do you need or want to have? There are a few basic questions that you can answer:

* How much money do I want to spend?


* How much noise does it make when brewing?


* Is it easy to clean after each use?


* Will I have an opportunity to use the machine and taste the coffee before I purchase it?

Keep all of these questions on when you go shopping and when deciding on which Bunn Coffee Maker you will take home. You know that the more costly the item, the better the quality of the machine-but, there is also the cost factor. Check with Consumer Reports to see how they rated each model of this coffee maker and let them help you decided which one to purchase.

It is now time to start enjoying freshly grounded and brewed coffee at home in your new Bunn Coffee Maker. You never know, you might become a coffee lover totally addicted to your new toy. And, your homemade coffee might taste better than what you were purchasing at the coffee shop every day.

Relax and enjoy your coffee. You deserve to treat yourself to the many different varieties and flavors of coffee that are available on the market today. Experiment with the different coffees and find out which is your favorite morning, evening and dessert coffee. Add special flavored creamers and you will have a delightful tasting beverage for a fraction of the cost of what you were spending at the local coffee shop.

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