by Chester Ebenhart
These days, with high-end and exclusive coffee shops on every corner, espresso beverages are more popular than ever before. What is espresso? It appears to be a necessity for everyone on earth, particularly in the morning. Do you know about coffee beans? Espresso is an Italian word that roughly describes a coffee beverage prepared specially, or expressly, for you. Espresso drinks are brewed with a pump or lever that pushes down on the coffee beans.
The fact that the entire world loves the drink and uses what they term espresso coffee beans to make the drink, does not negate the straight fact that any coffee bean may be roasted to make espresso. This means that light and dark roasted beans are used to prepare espresso. Some regional preferences worth noting about espresso is that espresso beverages on the west coast are created with dark roasted coffee beans. These coffee lovers have traditionally termed these beans as French roast. East coast espresso drinkers prefer theirs' made with a light roasted bean. Italians always use a medium roast bean for their espresso.
Espresso Machines Genuine espresso machines produce a minimum pressure of one hundred and thirty five pounds per square inch. This is enough hot water pressure to force through a dense mass of compacted ground coffee. The entire process ought to be finished in less than 30 seconds. In addition, steam pressure units yield only 50 pounds of pressure per square inch and that is why Italians do not think of these machines as real espresso coffee makers.
Espresso coffee is brewed with a genuine espresso maker using roughly a tablespoon of super finely ground coffee beans and gives you a one to two ounce shot. A top quality espresso beverage will have a rich layer of dark foam across the surface. Every Italian with this coffee drink looks for the foam as a measure of its quality
How to Drink Italians especially seem to have formed a strong attachment to espresso. This is especially true of those actually living in Italy. They view it as a social drink, a custom, as you chat with a neighbor at the local coffee bar. It appears that the whole world is beginning to agree about this terrific beverage and that marvelous coffee comes from Italy.
I must tell you however that there is a specific method to drinking your espresso. The Italian method of drinking the beverage is as follows. Take the cup up to your nose and inhale the aroma of the freshly brewed espresso. Sniff it - as you would a fine wine before drinking it. Now you drink the entire four or five successive swallows quickly while it is still hot. 'Tap' the empty cup back into the saucer, and you're good to go.
About the Author:
Chester Ebenhart is publishing at large for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com , an internet site on the topic of commercial coffeemaker and coffee expresso maker. You can discover his comments on
expresso machines over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com .
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coffee,
Food Drink
January 23 2009 | coffee | No Comments »
Countless people everyday seek the luxury of fresh roasted coffee. Yet, it seems to be always just out of reach. People seem doomed to making do with supermarket 'fresh roasted' or beans from the smaller chains that claim to have 'fresh roasted' coffee. However, in reality they often order it in from the franchiser warehouse where it's been sitting for some time.
Maybe you're lucky enough to have a neighborhood coffee shop with really great coffee and genuine fresh roasted beans. However, if that is not the case, with a little work you can roast your fresh roasted coffee.
Domestic roasting machines are available they are beyond the reach of most people today. Here is an idea that may fit into your budget. It is not the best idea but it requires very little equipment. Your hot air popcorn popper can roast your coffee beans. The popper should be the kind with side vents for air induction. This kind of popcorn popper can give you great fresh roasted coffee each morning.
Hot air poppers are simple to use but you can only roast a small batch a one time. Nonetheless, this process is simple enough to make great coffee. A popper using side vents for heat induction seems to be the safest for roasting beans. The other kinds of poppers, with bottom vents can chaff the beans and even cause them to catch fire.
In order to use your hot air popper to roast your beans make certain that you're in a ventilated area such as an open window. Good lighting is a must also. You need to see the color of the roasting beans. Put the plastic hood on the popper, and make certain the butter dish is installed. Place a bowl under the exit chute to collect the beans as they're blown from the popper. Within three minutes, you ought to hear a cracking noise as the beans roast. You'll see fragrant smoke coming from the machine. For a light roast you'll need four minutes. A little darker roast requires five minutes. Six and one half minutes will yield a roast that many customers call French roast. Remember, because beans are hot they will continue to roast after you take them from the machine so, they should appear slightly lighter in color than will be their final finish.
Cool your beans by pouring them between two aluminum colanders. Do this in a back and forth motion until the beans have completely cooled. Now pour the coffee beans into an airtight glass jar but do not seal it tightly for about twelve hours. That's because carbon dioxide has to be vented. Your fresh roasted coffee is perfect to drink four hours to a day after it's been roasted. Keep you roasted coffee from harsh sunlight. Do not put it into the fridge or freezer and your freshly roast coffee it will stay fresh five days.
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coffee,
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coffee makers,
Food Drink,
Ground coffee,
roasted coffee beans
December 14 2008 | coffee | No Comments »