Thursday, December 1, 2011
Beautiful Latte Art - Decorated Espresso
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Home Espresso Woes
1. Tips
2. Styles
3. Serving
4. Beans
Coffee Search…
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The Classic Espresso
The classic espresso, also called a 'short black' forms the base of every coffee style. Proper espresso is made from freshly roasted beans that are measured in the correct amount, finely ground and firmly packed before being extracted under pressure. The result is an intense flavor - a rich concentration of coffee taste, color and aroma - topped with a dense golden brown foam called crèma.
Espresso and Other Coffee Styles
Coffee styles including long black, flat white, cappuccino, macchiato, latte, etc. can be made by varying the number of 'shots' of espresso, along with the amount of water and milk.
Making and Serving Espresso
One shot of espresso is made using approximately 6-7 grams of compacted, dark-roasted, finely ground coffee and 40-50ml of pressurized hot water (93-96 deg celsius) which is forced (pumped or steamed, depending on the espresso machine) through the coffee for at least 20 seconds. The resulting liquid is generally served black, in a 60ml pre-heated demitasse cup (an espresso), or with warmed frothy milk (a cappuccino).
Serve your espresso in a pre-heated demitasse cup.Espresso Beans
Beans roasted especially for espresso are a particularly dark roast. Coffee Makers Cafe recommends whole beans, ground at home. Search here for espresso style beans at Amazon.com…
Friday, October 21, 2011
Coffee Basics: Espresso vs Regular Coffee
Click here to Read more about Bean Flavor Factors
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Have you ever wondered how to make café-style coffee at home? Firstly, you need to know that there are two basic styles of coffee: espresso and regular, or non-espresso. Espresso forms the basis of coffees served in cafés and restaurants, whilst regular coffee is usually reserved for the home.
Perhaps the most familiar at-home coffee, regular coffee is generally a 200ml serve of medium-strength brew, served in a mug or cup. The method of brewing regular coffee depends on the equipment at hand. Common equipment includes the French Press (also known as a press-pot or plunger), the Drip/Filter and the Percolator, amongst many other brewing devices.
No matter what equipment is used, regular coffee brewing always involves hot water coming into contact with preground beans for at least one minute. Compared to espresso, regular coffee is brewed at a lower temperature for a longer time, uses more water and requires beans to be more coarsely ground. The result is a satisfying, full-cup serve of coffee.
Espresso, on the other hand, is brewed by forcing a small amount of steaming hot water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee beans. Often called a "short black", the result of this high-pressure brew is a small shot of intensely flavoured, black liquid, topped with a light brown foam known as crèma.
Espresso can be brewed using an espresso machine, or a Stovetop espresso pot (Moka Pot). Unlike regular coffee, the espresso shot forms the basis of many coffee styles. Lattes, macchiatos, long blacks and affogatos are just a few of the espresso-based coffee styles appearing on today's café menus. By investing in a Stovetop Espresso Pot, or an espresso machine, you will have all the tools you need to make fantastic, cafe style coffee at home.
Although many coffee drinkers prefer one style of coffee over the other, neither is better or worse than the other. Both espresso and regular coffee have their place. By including both styles in your repertoire, you will add fun and variety to your coffee making experience.
If you would like to learn more about espresso and non-espresso coffee, visit www.coffee-makers-cafe.com. You will find brewing tips, recommended products and information on how to use coffee equipment to make great espresso and non-espresso coffee at home.
By Shona Lynch
Click here to Read more about Coffee Bean Flavor Factors
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Elixir Espresso Bar
Category: cafe, California, Rating 3, San Diego, United States
Tags: Caffe Calabria, Calabria blend, coffee, coffee review, Elixir Espresso Bar, espresso, Italian Roast, La Marzocco FB/70, rating coffee, San Diego coffee
Name: Elixir Espresso Bar
Location: 427 C Street #101, San Diego, CA
Roaster: Caffe Calabria Coffee Roasting Company
Rating: 3-
From Kansas City, we head to sunny San Diego, where I previously reported on coffee from Caffe Calabria. Elixir is a Calabria wholesale account, conveniently located downtown in a building lobby kiosk with access to coffee both inside the lobby and through a walk-up window to the street. You should definitely go inside, though. While the coffee may not have topped my list, the lobby’s design is amazing. Forget references to Anchor Man. This location’s cage-enclosed elevator reminds me of a mini Bradbury Building, a shared setting to both Chinatown and Blade Runner.
Espresso at Calbria was the highlight. The barista pulled my shot of the Calabria blend on a red, 3 group, La Marzocco FB 70. The espresso was ground to order although seemed to experience a rapidly disappearing crema. It was sweet and buttery with cocoa and red wine notes and a mellow acidity. Overall, I thought the espresso was decent but found it a little dry with a bite at the back of the throat and some ashy notes (3/3-).
Filter coffee options could have been better. The only choice was Calabria’s Italian roast, brewed on a Fetco and stored in airpump pot. The coffee was better than I would have expected for this dark a roast. It tasted freshly brewed and not overwhelmingly roasty. My notes were a little lacking when it came to much in the range of flavors and aromas, but in the end, I found it palatable enough to give it a 2+.
I can’t rave about Elixir but they do a decent enough job with their espresso. The bottom line is that there are not all that many options for decent coffee in San Diego, especially anywhere near downtown, so even this just barely above average espresso tends to stand out, especially when there’s such a nice setting to enjoy it in.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Elixir Espresso Bar
Category: cafe, California, Rating 3, San Diego, United States
Tags: Caffe Calabria, Calabria blend, coffee, coffee review, Elixir Espresso Bar, espresso, Italian Roast, La Marzocco FB/70, rating coffee, San Diego coffee
Name: Elixir Espresso Bar
Location: 427 C Street #101, San Diego, CA
Roaster: Caffe Calabria Coffee Roasting Company
Rating: 3-
From Kansas City, we head to sunny San Diego, where I previously reported on coffee from Caffe Calabria. Elixir is a Calabria wholesale account, conveniently located downtown in a building lobby kiosk with access to coffee both inside the lobby and through a walk-up window to the street. You should definitely go inside, though. While the coffee may not have topped my list, the lobby’s design is amazing. Forget references to Anchor Man. This location’s cage-enclosed elevator reminds me of a mini Bradbury Building, a shared setting to both Chinatown and Blade Runner.
Espresso at Calbria was the highlight. The barista pulled my shot of the Calabria blend on a red, 3 group, La Marzocco FB 70. The espresso was ground to order although seemed to experience a rapidly disappearing crema. It was sweet and buttery with cocoa and red wine notes and a mellow acidity. Overall, I thought the espresso was decent but found it a little dry with a bite at the back of the throat and some ashy notes (3/3-).
Filter coffee options could have been better. The only choice was Calabria’s Italian roast, brewed on a Fetco and stored in airpump pot. The coffee was better than I would have expected for this dark a roast. It tasted freshly brewed and not overwhelmingly roasty. My notes were a little lacking when it came to much in the range of flavors and aromas, but in the end, I found it palatable enough to give it a 2+.
I can’t rave about Elixir but they do a decent enough job with their espresso. The bottom line is that there are not all that many options for decent coffee in San Diego, especially anywhere near downtown, so even this just barely above average espresso tends to stand out, especially when there’s such a nice setting to enjoy it in.