So there is the coffee machine and then there is the french press. The french press is slower, sure, but not only does it make a better, more full body cup of coffee, you feel so much cooler and in touch with your ancestors while you make it. So what if you're an espresso fiend?
Well you can certainly buy a completely manual pump/pull espresso machine, but that requires a paycheck or two or three and a month long training course with uncle Sergio. For about %3 of the cost you can alternatively invest in a Moka Pot. This upside marvel looks like an hour glass for the Tin Man and makes a wonderful batch of espresso for a few people. The water starts in the bottom, then once you put it on your heat source the steam will produce pressure and push the hot water through the coffee filter in the middle, pushing the brown deliciousness into the top half. It's a great cheap hit of espresso and you get to spend some time with uncle Sergio, win win!
8/20/11
Moka Pot, Dreamy Espresso for the Real World
4/6/11
Strong Coffee = Weak Coffee
Are you a java junkie, king coffee crusader amongst your friends? Do you scoff at any coffee drink that doesn't have "double" or "triple" somewhere in the title? Do you demand your caffeine copilot as dark as can be and loaded with stimulant. Well if you have, it's possible you've done along with a common misconception that many people have; the darker the coffee the more caffeine you get injected into your nervous system. Actually, it's only part misconception.
You see, in actuality the darker beans are roasted longer and actually contain LESS caffeine than their lightly toasted siblings. The roasting process extracts the oils in the beans and actually reduces acidity and the caffeine level. So why does everyone 'claim' to get a buzz off of espresso which is as dark as it gets? The brewing process that pops out a shot of expresso actually uses much more coffee per unit of water, so while the beans contain less caffeine, more of that caffeine is extracted for the amount of liquid you are drinking. So yes, that lightly roasted cup of coffee very well might contain more caffeine than that shot of espresso your local self-proclaimed-rock-star coffee addict thought was making him or her 'lord of the edge'.
2/19/11
Crema - The stamp of quality
In espresso making, actually in coffee making in general, it can become one of those subjects where it can be hard to tell if and what good coffee is. Espresso, however, has something that your eyes can take notice of in order to make a judgement, "is this espresso or espresso-tastic?" Say hello to crema.
Crema simply observed is the lighter colored foam that naturally appears on top of the espresso (no to be confused with the milk foam that is poured in for a latte). It's the carbon dioxide and other bits of coffee science that come together to form a Guiness like head on the espresso, not too dark, not too light, it is the sign of a great shot of espresso. Now I know in the US most people don't drink it straight, but if you get a good one...well, lets just say it's the ultimate pure coffee experience.
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11/22/10
Tasty Paint: Steamed Milk on Espresso
When you drink your coffee and adding creamer odds are you are not thinking about to best use those two contrasting tones to make a composition. Well, some baristas do when pouring a latte, and I wish i knew a place around here that did that. However, since we have an espresso machine I hope we can inspire a few artists this season. Take a look at an example of how to take the simple contrast of espresso and steamed milk in order to paint right onto your latte.
