Coffee Grinder- The Perfect Way for a Rich Cup of Grinded Coffee
September 17, 2008
Everyone likes to have the fresh and rich cup of coffee with a perfect aroma. A good coffee grinder fulfills your demands for a fresh cup of coffee. Grinding coffee beans instantly, and making coffee offers you the freshest coffee possible. It is possibly the best way to have a fresh cup of coffee.
When buying a coffee grinder, you have to give prime preference to your needs. If your need is less than 10 cups then you should go for a less powered motor grinder. When the requirement increases you have to go for a better powered motor grinder. The suitable appliance will serve you long and a wrong grinder will burn out within a year. Another thing you have to consider is the blade size and number of rotations in a minute. The grinder with big blades and less number of rotations can give you better output than the same capacity grinder with a high speed motor. It assures fresh coffee and avoids burning of the coffee. The coarseness of the grind determines the brew cycle and it can affect the taste of the coffee.
A big coffee grinder may not be the faster one, even though it accomodates big blades and less number of rotations for a good result. The ideal grind of course will give you the best results. There are 3 basic types of coffee grinders available in the market, blade, burr and conical burr grinders.
Blade coffee Grinders
Blade coffee grinders are the cheapest grinders available in the market, it will be suitable for you, if you do not use it for an espresso. One disadvantage of using this coffee grinder is that it gives inconsistent results and it cannot be used for making espresso. The cleaning and maintenance of this grinder becomes easier. A considerable problem with this device is that the high friction of these Blade coffee grinders often cause burning of beans and provides less tasty coffee.
Burr grinders (Flat Wheel)
Flat panel coffee grinders are the most frequently used coffee grinders. It crushes the beans between one stationary and one spinning semi-concave disks. These disks have less speed than blade grinders, which avoids friction and offers you consistent grind. There is a chance of these beans getting stuck on the way to grind and you need to stir to ensure proper grinding.
Burr Grinders (Conical)
These conical burr grinders are considered as the best grinders available, they use a conical shaped grinding surface. It can provide the most consistent grind than other grinders. The slow spin speed avoids friction and ensures rich coffee. The cleaning of the appliance is a little difficult compared to other grinders. The cone part is that conical burr grinders are expensive due to the high cost of grinding cones.
Grinding coffee beans before making coffee always seems to be a tough job, though it is worth to meet your demands for fresh and fully flavoured coffee. There is no doubt about the aroma and richness of the grinded coffee and it makes you a fan of coffee.
Coffee Maker Buying Guide
September 9, 2008
Today you get a variety of coffee makers in the market. They come in various sizes, shapes and properties. Some of them are perfected for making filter coffee as some others cater exquisite espresso or cappuccino. Therefore, it is important that you decide on your requirements to settle for an ideal coffee machine.
A wide range to choose from
The watchword here is which. The kind of coffee of your liking, the output quantity required and the frequency of your usage are relevant here. The base models here are the Cafetieres, Filter Coffee Makers and Percolators.
Cafetieres look like glass containers that sports a wire filter attached plunger. This machine is good for home use, where you need an exact quantity of coffee. Say a few cups. The Cafetieres look great on your dining table too.
A Filter Coffee Machine is a user-friendly machine that can realise different cup volumes. Here, you need not boil the water for it not only accommodates thermos pots but also hot plates to keep the brew warm. Some of these machines employ a pod system that makes coffee without messing up unlike the permanent filters used in some other types of Filter Coffee Machines. These machines need medium ground coffee to give best results.
Percolators make coffee by receiving ground coffee into a holder situated at the top and water at the bottom. The steam then forces through the filter to settle the brewed coffee in the bottom of the machine. Since these machines includes a glass dome at the top for you to watch the coffee strength by the liquid’s duskiness, they can be rated as the ideal machines to vary the filter coffee strength. Percolators, much like the Cafetieres demand coarsely ground coffee.
The next group consists of Espresso and Cappuccino Makers. These steam driven machines makes very strong coffee.
The Espresso Machines produce concentrated coffee that forms the rich base for Cappuccino or Latte provided you feed them with extra-fine ground coffee. You have two basic types here to choose from – Pump Machines and Pressure Machines. In the former version, water is boiled in a chamber to build pressure and steam. The boiling water is then forced to the coffee by the built up pressure as the steam comes handy in frothing. However, an increased water temperature and decreased bar-pressure, proves the spoilsport here, in producing the best espresso coffee. The pump version engages a Thermoblock system to obtain the optimal temperature for espresso coffee. The water also passes through the coffee holder at the apt bar pressure. These advantages amounting to precision, makes this machine more expensive than the former.
The most advanced machine here is however, the Nespresso Coffee Maker known for its pod system that blends, roasts, grounds and finally seals coffee in capsules. This is not only a user-friendly machine but also comes without the messy filter holders.
Finally, you have the Espresso/Cappuccino Combination Machine, which is much similar to the espresso machine but for the presence of an added spout to froth milk by using the generated steam.
Technical Points
Filter Holder: Refers to any of the brass or aluminium holders where coffee granules are stored in warmth.
Bar Pressure: This makes sure that steam meets the coffee granules at perfect speed. Anything from 15 – 19 is considered optimum.
Valve: A device used to control water flow in most machines.
Wattage: A higher wattage is necessary to boil the water faster.
Coffee Drink Types
June 14, 2008
Espresso and Cappuccino are well known coffee drinks even if you are remotely familiar with coffee drinks available. Ever since Espresso machines became popular in homes and cafes, there are newer coffee drinks becoming popular and offer so many choices to coffee lovers.
Here are some of the popular coffee drinks:
Also known as Short Black, this is strong, dark coffee having chocolate-brown layer of crema on the top. For rich and thick espresso, the coffee beans should be roasted to dark brown and finely ground. Espresso is usually poured in small cups of 25 - 30 ml.
How to make Espresso coffee?
Making Espresso coffee using an Espresso machine is quite simple. Here are the steps for making standard Espresso coffee:
- Get coffee beans of good quality and roast them until they become very dark.
- Once you got the dark roasted Espresso beans, grind them so that they become fine powder.
- Fill the handle of the machine with finely ground coffee beans.
- Before you turn on your espresso machine, place the cup under the handle.
- Now, you get creamy, espresso coffee.
‘Cappuccino’ is derived from the Italian word ‘Capuchin’. The Catholic Capuchin monks wear headdress that bear a likeness to the frothy layer of cappuccino.
The standard Cappuccino is prepared by pouring steamed milk and frothed milk into espresso with chocolate flakes sprinkled over the top. Usually the froth should be thick enough to stay over the rim of the cup.
How to make Cappuccino?
Cappuccino is made of equal shots of espresso, steamed milk and frothy milk. To make good cappuccino, the ratio should be 1/3 espresso, 1/3 very hot milk and 1/3 thick foam of milk. The hot milk is added with espresso coffee and finally, some sugar.
Here are the steps for making traditional Cappuccino coffee:
- Get coffee beans of good quality and roast them until they become very dark.
- Once you got the dark roasted Espresso beans, grind them so that they become fine powder.
- Fill the handle of the machine with finely ground coffee beans.
- Get very hot milk and also heat foam.
- Add steamed milk and milk froth with espresso.
- Sprinkle chocolate flakes over the top, if you like.
Espresso Lungo
Espresso Lungo is a mild Espresso and prepared by mixing some hot water (usually, one or two ounces) with standard Espresso and served in large cups.
Espresso Americano
Espresso Americano is made by adding the standard Espresso coffee on the top of hot water in a large cup so that coffee cream stays on the top of hot water
Ristretto
This is very strong espresso coffee served in much smaller cups (1/2 ounce).
Latte
Latte is an Italian word meaning milk.
Latte is espresso with steamed milk and a small cap of milk froth on the top and generally served in a glass.
Macchiato
This is espresso with steamed milk or a shot of foam added, usually served in a small cup. Macchiato is usually made of one part of milk and four parts of espresso.
Doppio
This is double espresso and is made of two shots of espresso and served in small cups of about 50 ml.
Mocha
This is espresso with hot chocolate and hot, steamed milk added, usually served in a glass.
Cleaning & Maintenance of Espresso Machines
June 12, 2008
Espresso machine needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. It helps to make good espresso with natural flavour and taste as the deposits on the filter and reservoir can ruin the taste of espresso. Furthermore, the periodical cleaning of the machine ensures that your coffee is hygienic and does not invite diseases.
Cleaning and maintenance of your machine also make it durable and long lasting. Regular maintenance is also must for better working condition.
Here are a few things that you should follow while cleaning your machine on a regular basis:
- After you have made your coffee, let the machine become cool. Before you clean it, turn off the machine and remove the plug.
- Do not clean the machine by immersing it in water or placing it under running water.
- Instead, take a piece of wet cloth or sponge and clean the dirt off the body of the machine.
- Now, open the filter holder and wash it with warm water & soap and rinse it and drain.
- Also remove the filter.
- Carafes can be cleaned using mild detergent but do not use dishwasher.
- Make sure that you do not use cleansers made of strong chemicals as they can damage the parts of your machine. Some parts like thermo jug needs careful cleaning as it contains a glass bulb inside.
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| Descaling tablets | Water filter prevents lime deposit |
- Clean the outer parts of the machine with damp cloth or sponge. To remove the deposits from the machine, use the backflush method with following procedure.
- Fix the blind filter (with no holes) in the filter handle.
- Let the water flush through group head and keep shaking the filter handle so that shower screen and other inner parts are completely rinsed with water.
- Now, stop shaking the filter and keep it firm and let the water run through the group head for half a minute.
- Then, let the pressurized water pour out.
- Now, repeat this procedure for a few times.
As a weekly routine, you need to clean your machine the same backflush procedure. However, the procedure slightly varies as you will use cleaning tablets or powder with usual backflushing. On average, after 35 shots of espresso, you would need to use cleaning powder.
Cleaning tablets
The method is as follows:
- Put the cleaning powder in the blind filter before it is inserted.
- Let the water flush through group head and keep shaking the filter handle so that shower screen and other inner parts are completely rinsed with water.
- Now, stop shaking the filter and keep it firm and let the water run through the group head for half a minute.
- Then, let the pressurized water pour out.
- Now, repeat this procedure for a few times.
Your coffee machine needs descaling depending on the water used and the frequency of usage. The natural symptom of clogging of valves and water paths with lime deposits will be slowness in brewing cycle and it may occur between every three and four months.
If soft water is used, you can descale your machine after 80 uses while descaling is necessary after 160 uses if filtered water is used. When filtered hard water is used, descale the machine after 80 uses.
The steps of descaling procedure are as follows:
- First, remove the filter holder.
- For descaling, you can use descalers like white vinegar or Urnex. Fill the water reservoir with vinegar solution.
- Switch on the machine. Now, the solution will rinse the boiler and pipes.
- You can use backflushing to rinse the pressure release valve with the solution.
- Let the machine run for 30 - 50 minutes.
- Then, empty the coffee machine and refill the reservoir with water.
- Run the machine and this will rinse the inner parts of the coffee machine.
- Repeat it with clean water 2 or 3 times until the descaler is completely flushed out of the machine.
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| Descaling tablets | Water filter prevents lime deposit |
All about Coffee
June 10, 2008
Coffee (genus: coffea), one of the well-known and widely-consumed beverages worldwide was first discovered in Ethiopia in the 9th century. However, it was only after 15th century, coffee reached Italy, the country where the history of modern day coffee drinks originates from. Subsequently, coffee houses started becoming popular in Italy, UK and Austria in the 17th century. The next two centuries saw coffee spreading to Central America and South America, the largest coffee producers of modern day. Today, coffee is one of the largest exports for more than 12 countries worldwide as the consumption of coffee has increased manifold in recent times.
Coffee is made from the ripe coffee beans which are dried, roasted, ground and brewed using different methods. There are two popular varieties of coffee available - Coffea Canephora and Coffea Arabica. The caffeine content in Coffea Canephora (also known as robusta) is higher (2 - 4 %) than Arabica and accounts for its strong flavour. Arabica has caffeine content between 1 – 2 % and has better flavour, pleasant aroma and little sweet aftertaste. Most popular coffee drinks like espresso and cappuccino blend both these coffee in specified ratio to get different flavours and aroma.
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When coffee berries (which contain coffee beans or seeds) become ripe, they are plucked and the fleshy part of the berries is removed. Coffee seeds are then dried (now they look green) and roasted before they get ready for consumption.
It is the roasting process that gives different flavours and aroma to coffee beans so it is important that beans should be roasted at right temperature and for varied durations. When coffee beans get roasted, the moisture in the beans gets evaporated and the chaff fell off and removed. While roasting, coffee beans turn to yellow, to brown and then to dark brown depending on the roasting time. Soon, coffee beans also begin to get different aroma, from mild to strong, again depending on different roasts.
Light roast
Roasting time of 5-8 minutes gives mild flavour to beans, e.g. cinnamon roast and New England Roast.
Medium roast
This is roasting of beans for 10 minutes and gives good aroma and a bit sweet taste, e.g. American roast, city roast.
Dark roast
Also known as Italian roast. Preferred for making espresso and cappuccino coffee drinks. Coffee beans are roasted for about 15 minutes until they turn to very dark brown or black. This roasting offers strong flavours and a bit acidic taste to coffee beans.
You may like to store your coffee in different forms for later use. Typically, un-roasted, green beans can be stored for much longer time (2 years) in ideal conditions. Roasted seeds can lose flavour and aroma within six months while ground coffee should be used as soon as it is ground for good aroma and flavour.
Environmental factors like air, temperature, humidity and sunlight can affect the quality of coffee so they need to be considered while storing coffee.
- Store green beans in jute or paper bags and also keep them away from direct sun light. Never use plastic bags to store green beans as the beans will deteriorate rapidly without air. Make sure that humidity is around 60 % and the temperature is around 20 C.
- Roasted beans should be stored in air tight bags or containers and should be kept in cool places like freezers and away from direct sun light. At best, roasted beans can be preserved for a few months and get deteriorated after that. If you want to use roasted beans from freezer, let them come to room temperature before you grind them.
- If you grind your coffee in your home, it is always better to use it as soon as possible. Ground coffee loses flavour and aroma much quickly so it should be stored in air tight containers. When you buy ground coffee from stores, it should be used as quickly as possible once you open the bag.
