Not all coffee cups are made of porcelain or ceramic. The only exception is not paper coffee cups, either. Yes, there are a lot of options out there, but very few are as elegant as glass coffee cups. Some people would even tell you that their coffee tastes better coming out of glass coffee cups. Of course, that's a pretty subjective statement, and there are other reasons one might want to buy glass coffee cups.
Looks
Let's face it, coffee can be kind of cool looking, if for no other reason than that you normally don't get to see it once it's in the cup. After all, how else are you going to be able to tell if your Cafe Mocha has the appropriate amount of cream, or your cappuccino the correct portion of milk foam? Entrepreneurs might use glass coffee cups to show their customers that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they know their coffee.
Strength
Glass is generally associated with being breakable but, in reality, that's not necessarily so. Like other materials, it really depends on the craftsmanship and thickness. It's also worth mentioning that it's not nearly as easy to crack or chip a glass coffee cup as it is to chip ceramic. With most modern floors having some sort of padding underneath them, the odds of dropping a glass coffee cup and having it break are pretty slim.
Containing Heat
Neither porcelain nor ceramic is particularly good at keeping things warm. They don't transfer heat particularly well, though, which is why they're typically used as coffee cups. The whole point isn't to keep the heat in so much as to give you a handle that's cool enough for human hands. Glass typically transfers heat a bit better, but glass coffee cups are generally made to be at least as heat resistant as more traditional ones. Of course, nothing beats an aluminum or plastic insulated mug, and even disposable coffee cups with lids will keep coffee warm longer.
Price
Glass coffee cups are much more elegant looking than their more traditional cousins, so many people assume they're pricey. However, glass coffee cups are about as affordable as any quality coffee cup, regardless of the material. There are even glass espresso coffee cups available, complete with little glass saucers. Finding glass coffee cups can sometimes be a challenge, but most larger department stores will carry them, and you can always find an enormous selection online.
Want to learn more about glass coffee cups? Check out Great Coffee Cups.
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February 24 2010 | coffee | No Comments »
ESE coffee pods, which stands for "easy serving espresso", are a type of coffee pod that is intended for use in a generic coffee pod brewer or an espresso machine. The purpose of these pods was to create a quick and easy way to make espresso in the office or at home, without the need for going to a coffee shop. Do you drink a lot of espresso, and find yourself spending too much money at the coffee shop? If so, then ESE coffee pods might be a good idea for you.
ESE Coffee Pods And Your Coffee Pod Machine
Those who make them intend ESE coffee pods to be used in coffee pod makers as well as espresso machines. When utilizing your espresso machine, a special adapter is needed to use an ESE coffee pod. However, with a coffee pod maker, it's possible that it could be as simple as tossing the ESE coffee pod in the machine. Unfortunately, there are many pod coffee makers that do not work with ESE coffee pods. To further complicate matters, the manufacturers of both coffee pod machines as well as ESE coffee pods are pretty bad about not labeling which ones work with each, often leaving their customers with pods that don't work with their pod coffee maker. There is not currently an ESE t-disc, or an ESE k-cup, although there are stronger coffees that are labeled espresso for those machines.
Purchasing ESE Coffee Pods
Purchasing ESE coffee pods might be a bit confusing since they're not all always clearly labeled. Also, many coffee pods that carry the espresso label aren't ESE, and won't give you a real espresso, or anywhere close. Illy is who started ESE coffee pods in the first place, and any time you see an espresso coffee pod with their name on it, it should be ESE. In other cases, be sure to look very closely, and don't buy them as ESE unless they explicitly say that's what they are. Also, if they're coffee pods that have directions for use in espresso machines, they pretty much have to be ESE.
Do ESE Coffee Pods Make Real Espresso?
ESE coffee pods do produce real espresso, but you have to be careful which ESE coffee pods you purchase. The coffee pod itself will have a lot to do with everything from the consistency of the espresso to the thickness of the crema. Personal taste, of course, is also important. Will it make the exact espresso that you're thinking of? Possibly, but coffee is a bit different everywhere you go. Even though coffee pods last for quite a while before expiring or going stale, you would be wise to buy small amounts at first, until you know what you like.
Why Use ESE Coffee Pods In My Espresso Machine?
If you own an espresso machine, you may opt to purchase ESE coffee pods for it, and that's not a bad idea. Cleanup is a lot easier using espresso coffee pods because almost all waste is wrapped up for you in a filter. All of the coffee that you don't use will remain unopened, and therefore fresh. ESE coffee pods do, though, produce a bit more waste in the form of the plastic wrappers that they are individually sealed in.
Want to learn more about coffee pods? Check out Great Coffee Pods.
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January 31 2010 | coffee | No Comments »