Gourmet Coffee in Your Own Home

For many people, life wouldn't be the same without a fresh cup of coffee. It isn't always possible or convenient to get down to your favorite coffee shop or barista, and that brings us to tools for your kitchen. Here are a few coffee brewing gadgets you can use in your own home.

In North America, drip coffee machines are the norm. Simply place fresh coffee grounds in the filter basket, pour in cold water, and turn it on. The coffee pours into the glass carafe, ready to enjoy. Coffee filters and coffee grounds are available in a wide variety. These coffee makers are very easy to use and cheap to purchase.

More recent inventions include single serving coffee makers that use a measured packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. These are purchased in different flavors and varieties, ready to use, and are popular gadgets for houses that only need one cup of coffee made at once. However, the cost per cup may be higher, and supplies may not be available everywhere.

The French Press is a good way to make one or two cups of coffee. Also known as the coffee plunger, these glass and stainless steel gadgets are designed so that both the hot water and coffee are placed inside and allowed to steep briefly. Then, the plunger is pressed down, separating the grounds from the coffee. The resulting java is reported to be stronger and thicker than that made by a drip coffee machine.

Finally, there are espresso machines which produce a concentrated coffee 'shot' using hot water forced under high pressure through very fine grounds. A shot of espresso is thicker than regular coffee and has more sediment in it. Espresso is used in many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, and mochas. This is a much stronger drink than many are accustomed to, although some would say it is the only 'real' coffee.

A coffee bean grinder might be more trouble than you want to go through at home, but it does give you the freshest coffee. For more course grounds, a steel bladed grinder is sufficient. For a finely ground bean a burr mill is the answer, but a bit more costly.

I purchased a wonderful coffee machine with a built in coffee grinder. It also has a timer, so I put all the ingredients in the night before. About 10 minutes before I get up, the grinder kicks in. By the time I get out of bed, my coffee is ready for me. Doesn't that beat making it in the morning?

January 15 2009 | coffee | No Comments »