<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035</id><updated>2011-04-21T13:20:32.282-07:00</updated><category term='coffee cup'/><category term='coffee secret'/><category term='gift basket'/><category term='cappuccino'/><category term='coffee bean'/><category term='roasted coffee'/><category term='coffee'/><category term='basket'/><category term='buy+coffee'/><category term='quality+coffee'/><category term='coffee gift'/><category term='calory'/><category term='tip'/><category term='coffee maker'/><title type='text'>Coffee Addict</title><subtitle type='html'>Coffee is my second drinks after warm water. Coffee good for your heart. Coffee maker and coffee addict know about it.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>10</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-5348547048484643977</id><published>2007-08-31T10:28:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-30T10:30:07.955-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='quality+coffee'/><title type='text'>How to Make Restaurant Quality Coffee At Home</title><content type='html'>&lt;strong&gt;Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to taste so good?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First of all, restaurants are in the business of pampering you so they devote much more time to the perfection of a good cup of coffee. Sometimes I'll remember a restaurant just because of their excellent coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So what are their secrets and how can you duplicate this recipe at home? It may surprise you to find out that the French Press brewing method could be the secret in achieving that restaurant quality taste.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most fine restaurants use a press pot, also known as the French Press, which produces an extremely rich cup of coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Press pot coffee is coffee steeped for 3-4 minutes between 195 to 205 degrees F. It produces a thicker and much richer taste than an auto-drip machine can produce.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A disadvantage of the French Press is it may leave trace amounts of coffee sediment. But the rich taste more than makes up for the small amount of sediment at the bottom of your cup.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So first, start off with a quality medium roast coffee, which is what most restaurants use. I can give you a couple of good recommendations.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend, Starbucks Breakfast Blend or Starbucks Sulawesi Coffee is 3 excellent choices. These are full-bodied coffees yet very smooth tasting. They are some of our best sellers at PerfectCoffees.com and work well for French Press brewing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You want to grind the coffee slightly larger than you would for drip coffee. Too fine of a grind will produce a bitter cup of coffee. If your grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak. A quality grinder is the best thing you can do to improve the taste of French press coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remove the plunger from the press pot and put 1 rounded tablespoon of coarse ground coffee per each 6oz. of water into the pot. You can adjust this to your own taste.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that affect the taste of coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Boil the water and remove it from the heat for five minutes before you pour it. This will give you the 195 to 205 degree water that is ideal to brew with. Now pour the 195 to 205 degree water over the ground coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stir the coffee to get total saturation of the grounds then place the plunger on top of the pot and let the coffee steep for 3 to 4 minutes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Depress the plunger slowly to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Serve all the coffee in the pot after the 3 to 4 minutes of steeping. Otherwise the coffee will keep getting stronger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have any left, you can always transfer it to a clean, preheated air pot or a stainless steel Thermos. This will keep the coffee hot about an hour without hurting the flavor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The French press brewing method definitely takes more time but gives us the result we are looking for. Restaurant quality coffee in the comfort of your own home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gary Gresham is the webmaster for www.perfectcoffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee, tea, cups &amp; mugs, coffee gifts and delicious desserts online. He offers a free monthly coffee newsletter at www.perfectcoffees.com/newsletter.html.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-5348547048484643977?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/5348547048484643977/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=5348547048484643977' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/5348547048484643977'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/5348547048484643977'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-make-restaurant-quality-coffee.html' title='How to Make Restaurant Quality Coffee At Home'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-367549554955276177</id><published>2007-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-30T10:26:14.523-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='tip'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='buy+coffee'/><title type='text'>How to Buy, Store, and Grind it for the Perfect Cup</title><content type='html'>In the early days of the coffee craze, before the first Starbucks arrived in my town, I owned a tea and coffee house for several years. At the time, espresso was something new for most people, and a lot of my customers had questions. I decided to teach a class on coffee at the shop, and learned in the process that there are several misunderstandings about buying, storing, and grinding coffee that when corrected can lead to a much more enjoyable cup of coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;True coffee connoisseurs know that buying coffee beans in small amounts that allow you to brew your coffee within a day or two of being roasted will result in the closest to a perfect cup of java. If you keep the beans in an air-tight container the flavor will remain strong for seven to ten days. Contrary to popular belief, storing beans in your refrigerator or freezer will actually diminish the flavor. There are two reasons for this. First, the beans will soak up the flavors of other stored items. Secondly, moisture affects the oils in the roast. Better to store that container on the counter (in a dark, cool place, if possible). If you can't smell an aroma or it's unpleasant, the beans are past their prime.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Soapy water can leave a residue, so when cleaning your coffee storage, use a dry cloth or paper towel to soak up the oil. Clean the container regularly because oil can get rancid over time. Also, frequently clean the equipment you use for brewing. Again, don't use soap because of the residue. Instead use vinegar and salt and rinse thoroughly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Always grind only the amount you will use immediately. Once exposed, the oils in the beans disperse, affecting the coffee flavor. If you grind your beans the night before you brew your morning cup, you will be losing flavor. Switch to grinding in the morning, unless you don't want to wake your sweetheart with the noise from the grinder. How fine or coarse the grind should be depends on how long the hot water will be in contact with the coffee grinds. The shorter the length of time, the finer the grind so that the surface area is maximized. Here are the consistencies you will want for the different methods of brewing:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Drip Brew: Grind to a character similar to table sugar if the drip cycles range from four to six minutes. Grind to a finer consistency if less.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;French Press: Use an extremely coarse grind.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Espresso: Very fine, powder-like. The extraction time of espresso should be between 25 and 30 seconds. If a one ounce extraction takes longer, use a coarser grind; if it takes less time, grind finer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How much coffee do you grind? For brewed (and French Press) coffee, three tablespoons for eight ounces of water. For espresso, an ounce (7 grams) for a single shot. Double that for a double shot.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Time and again I heard from my customers that they had no idea what a good cup of coffee really tasted like until after they had followed these easy guidelines. Try it. It's the small things that will make your coffee drinking experience sublime.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Professional writing coach Marilyn J. Schwader writes on a range of topics. Her articles about coffee are published in The News at QY Coffee the single on-line resource for a world of news about coffee. Be sure to refer to all Marilyn's articles at http://www.qycoffee.com/&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-367549554955276177?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/367549554955276177/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=367549554955276177' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/367549554955276177'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/367549554955276177'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-buy-store-and-grind-it-for.html' title='How to Buy, Store, and Grind it for the Perfect Cup'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-6410848740665109555</id><published>2007-06-09T11:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-30T09:45:51.735-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='calory'/><title type='text'>How Many Calories Are There In Coffee?</title><content type='html'>Every product should have its nutritional value on the label. That is where you will see the calorie count for it. Unlike many items, with coffee, you apparentlystart out with no calories, no carbohydrates, and no nutritional value.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Things get complicated when you begin to add the sweeteners. Sugar and creamers are what adds the calories in coffee. The stimulating effects of coffee are the reason that many people will add coffee to their diets. Coffee and the unwanted calories that are in it will give you the energy to keep going at a fast pace throughout your day. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just how many calories are in your favorite coffee drinks may be something to consider. Learning about the coffee drinks and the calories included in them will help you adjust the amount you intake while following any diet plan you are on.Starbucks Coffee calorie count seem to be fond of Starbucks, and they have created so many delectable beverages, that once you taste them the calories don't seem to matter. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When dieting, However, one needs to be aware of the calories in these coffee drinks. As an example, a Frappucino in a large cup yields a whopping three hundred and thirty-one calories. That is three hundred and thirty one calories more then just coffee. Another example of a high calorie drink is a Latte. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A tall one has a whopping two hundred and ten calories. whom You'll probably agree that it's this calorie count will not aid your diet, but having this information can help you make them more educated decision in regards to coffee consumption.Low Calorie Coffee TipsRemember, the significant calories are only added when adding sugar and cream to your coffee.Since you are actually the one adding the calories to your coffee, there are simple ways to avoid, or at least minimize it.Let's start with quantity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start by choosing a small cup, either eight or 12 ounces should be enough. When ordering, only add fat free milk. This can save you from up to 80 grams of fat. Do not forget the sweeteners. Use a sugar substitute instead of sugar. (1 tablespoon of sugar is 15 calories) Naturally, You should not order cream, whipped cream, coffee syrups etc. if you don't want the calories in your coffee to be part of your diet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Taking your coffee black, is probably the easiest way to avoid calories in coffee altogether.A bit of triviaAny of the fancy coffees that we like so much can cost you an hour of mild exercise. And that will only burn the calories from the coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By: &lt;a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/Danny-Swartz/25332"&gt;Danny Swartz&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/"&gt;Article Directory&lt;/a&gt;: http://www.articledashboard.com&lt;br /&gt;If you are a coffee lover,or just interested in coffee, we have plenty of articles and information on the subject at &lt;a href="http://coffee.health-dot-com.com/columbian-coffee/columbian-coffee.php" target="_blank"&gt;Coffee.Health-dot-com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-6410848740665109555?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/6410848740665109555/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=6410848740665109555' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/6410848740665109555'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/6410848740665109555'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-many-calories-are-there-in-coffee.html' title='How Many Calories Are There In Coffee?'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-8586543094639765908</id><published>2007-05-13T09:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-05-13T09:40:35.544-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee secret'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cappuccino'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee'/><title type='text'>Cappuccino Secrets: Creating the Perfect Foam</title><content type='html'>Here is an article that tells the secret of creating the perfect foam with steamed milk for making a wonderful cappuccino. As you'll see creating the perfect foam isn't as easy as it may seem ...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most places that serve cappuccinos in the United States have not trained their baristas in the art of properly frothing milk. The foam that they create is usually a dry, tasteless, large celled collection of bubbles that sit on top of the espresso like a meringue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With a little care, you can create steamed milk that is velvety smooth like the texture of wet shaving cream. The bubbles will be so small that you can barely see them! This is the way it's supposed to be, because this way, it will blend with the espresso, creating a harmony of the flavors instead of a dry, tasteless cap floating on top. Let's Begin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First off, it's important to start with cold milk that's just out of the fridge. Pour the milk into the steaming pitcher until it is just about 1/3 of the way full. Milk will double to triple in volume after the frothing process. A stainless steel pitcher works best. It will dissipate some of the heat, allowing more time to infuse air into the milk before the milk gets too hot.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For a home made cappuccino, you'll have to learn the art of creating a perfect foam.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also use a thermometer to get the milk to the correct temperature of 145 degrees. There are many thermometers made for this purpose that will clip onto the side of the pitcher for convenience.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Technique:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Purge the steam wand onto a damp towel by releasing the valve for a few seconds. Be very careful not to burn yourself, the steam will be extremely hot. This purging will get all of the water out so you don't get it in your milk.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next, submerge the wand into the milk and quickly turn the steam on full power. Avoid letting the tip of the wand come out of the milk. This will cause splattering and create large, tasteless bubbles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Adjust the wand so that it is pointing off center in order to get the milk to flowing in a rapid, circular motion. Maintaining this fast, circulating vortex is vital.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then, slowly lower the pitcher until the tip of the wand is just below the surface of the milk (keeping the circulation going). When you can hear a hissing noise, similar to bacon frying, you have reached the perfect position for the wand to inject air into the milk.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Try to maintain this hissing noise while keeping the milk rotating. You will have to slowly lower the pitcher as the milk volume rises in order to keep the wand tip just under the surface.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By keeping the milk flowing in a rapid circle, any large bubbles that are accidentally created will be rolled into the milk and eliminated. Continue steaming until the milk reaches 145 degrees. Be careful not to get the milk too hot, it will scald giving it a bad taste.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's pretty much it! If you have a few large bubbles, you can try to get rid of them by tapping the bottom of the pitcher lightly on the counter. Serve immediately and enjoy some of the silkiest frothed milk you have ever tasted!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One more thing, now that you know how to properly steam the milk, notice how few coffee houses have baristas that take care in this process. Very few use thermometers and end up scalding the milk, or leaving it too cold.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most will just leave the pitcher sitting there while the wand blows into the milk. Some will use an up and down motion, but this does absolutely nothing for creating tiny, velvety bubbles. It's the rolling action of the milk that's needed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you find a barista that shows this skill of frothing milk, then stay with him! He's been trained and probably takes pride in what he does.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-8586543094639765908?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/8586543094639765908/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=8586543094639765908' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/8586543094639765908'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/8586543094639765908'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/05/cappuccino-secrets-creating-perfect.html' title='Cappuccino Secrets: Creating the Perfect Foam'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-2959530392812772173</id><published>2007-04-09T20:55:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-04-09T20:57:32.977-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee bean'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='roasted coffee'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee maker'/><title type='text'>Coffee Roasting: Learning the Fundamental Art of Making Coffee Can be Fun</title><content type='html'>Coffee roasting from light to very dark, is an art form in itself. Green beans have none of the flavor we are all accustomed to. Coffee roasting brings out the vibrant flavor from the coffee bean. It is true that before roasting, the 'green' bean contains all the complex acids, protein and caffeine, but just a yukky green-like taste that doesn't resemble coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is the heat from the roasting process that cause the coffee bean's carbohydrates and fats to turn into aromatic oils. During coffee roasting moisture and carbon dioxide are burnt away, thus breaking down and enhancing the acids and providing the wonderful coffee flavor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Coffee roasting provides the flavor, but understanding your roast is important too&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Coffee roasting is only part of the equation of a true connoisseur, we also have to consider the blend to really reach perfection. It is difficult, if not impossible to describe the taste of a particular roast, as there are so many variants, coffee bean types and roasting times. However as an approximate guide, the following will certainly help you get a better understanding of the coffee roasting basics:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Light Coffee Roasting&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also known as Cinnamon roast, or New England. Set your roaster to about seven minutes. The coffee beans will grow to almost double their size and your light roast is ready. This kind of coffee is very easy to find from mass market coffee roasters. The bean is dry to touch and offers a light bodied flavor that is rather sour to taste.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Medium Coffee Roasting&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your medium roast coffee is also known as Breakfast, American, full City and Regular. To obtain this level of roasting you'll need to set your roaster anywhere from nine to eleven minutes. Perhaps not quite as abundant as light roast in the stores, however it is not so difficult to find. The flavor is sweeter than light roast, and offers a more full bodied cup with a deeper more satisfying aroma.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dark Coffee Roasting&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also known as French or Continental roast. In order to obtain a nice dark roast around thirteen minutes are necessary. the beans will start to hiss as the oils reach the hot surface of the beans. Dark roast coffee provides a nice deep taste, somewhat spicy and rather sweet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Really Dark Coffee Roasting&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is about as dark as it gets before the quality of the beans start to deteriorate. Also known as espresso, or Italian roast. Depending on the coffee roaster fourteen to fifteen minutes will be enough to provide a nice Italian style roast. As with dark roasting, the beans will hiss (remember the oils?) and then start to smoke. The natural sugar content of the beans will start to carbonize and caramelize. The results will be a smokey, full flavor.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remember, coffee is more than just a passion. For a wide range or articles, tips and tricks ranging from coffee beans to coffee making machines, click over to http://www.AllAbout-Coffee-Beans.com&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-2959530392812772173?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/2959530392812772173/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=2959530392812772173' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/2959530392812772173'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/2959530392812772173'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/04/coffee-roasting-learning-fundamental.html' title='Coffee Roasting: Learning the Fundamental Art of Making Coffee Can be Fun'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-7018529279988416288</id><published>2007-03-10T21:58:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-03-10T21:59:54.724-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee gift'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gift basket'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='basket'/><title type='text'>Creating A Coffee Gift Basket</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;If you're shopping for a unique gift for that special coffee connoisseur on your shopping list, then a customized coffee gift basket may be just the ticket. You can purchase a coffee gift basket from a business that specializes in gift baskets, or you can create one yourself. Creating one yourself is quite easy. Simply put a number of coffee related gifts inside some type of decorative basket or container. The choice is up to you, and will depend on both your level of creativity and your budget constraints. Pre-made coffee gift baskets can be found at many department stores, gourmet food shops, or at your favorite café.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Coffee Gift Basket Ideas&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; If you are the creative type and prefer to arrange your own coffee gift basket for that special someone on your gift list, you can begin your ensemble with a unique coffee mug or travel mug that suits the taste and style of your intended recipient. Coffee mugs can be found in all shapes, colors and sizes, so you are sure to find the perfect one for your gift basket. Keep in mind that most coffee lovers prefer coffee mugs that are large enough to hold an ample amount of their favorite brew, but if you are buying specifically for an expresso lover, a demitasse cup may be a better choice. If the coffee lover drinks their favorite brew while commuting to work in the morning, be sure to include a travel mug in the basket as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Once you have selected the coffee mug to include in your coffee gift basket, it is time to move on to the type of brews that you will put in it. The art of selecting the perfect coffee beans can be a science in itself, so be prepared for some tough decision making at the coffee shop. When in doubt, a blend that is categorized as "mild" to "medium" is usually a safe choice for almost any coffee drinker. If your gift recipient likes grinding his own beans, then bags filled with whole beans will keep better until used. You can also have your local coffee shop grind the beans you choose for you, but you will need to let them know what type of filter and coffee maker they are grinding them for.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Some Simple Additions&lt;/p&gt; Once you have added the basics to your coffee gift basket, it is time to add a few special "extras", such as flavored syrup for making luscious lattes or a bag of chocolate coffee beans for crunching with a steaming cup. Other great choices are a flavored cream, a package of biscotti, or a set of chocolate covered spoons. Put all of your selections together in a decorative basket lined with a colorful tissue or cellophane, and add a big bow and gift tag as the finishing touch. The coffee lover in your social circle is sure to be delighted with such a delicious and customized treat!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-7018529279988416288?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/7018529279988416288/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=7018529279988416288' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/7018529279988416288'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/7018529279988416288'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/03/creating-coffee-gift-basket.html' title='Creating A Coffee Gift Basket'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-6524021068375369035</id><published>2007-02-27T00:21:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-27T00:23:05.423-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee cup'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='coffee maker'/><title type='text'>Buying Coffee For Your One Cup Coffee Maker</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;When brewing your own coffee from how, you don't have the benefit of a corporate hand stepping in with all the information and pre-taste tested knowledge that you don't have. Not to say that Starbucks has the greatest coffee in the world, but they've tested it and it sells in thousands of locations all over the globe. You just ask for a cup of coffee and they know what they're doing, for the most part.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; When you get your new single cup coffee maker home or fire up your old espresso machine, you'll be wondering what exactly you should go and buy to get the most out of it. You could always go the cheap route and stop at your local Starbucks and grab their brew of the season, but how often is blindly trusting Starbucks a good idea? No, you'll want a basic idea of where to start; what you're getting, where to get it, and how much to get.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; First off, don't buy too much coffee. Try buying in bulk first and going for as small an amount as you can. If you have a grinder, all the better; just buy enough to brew a cup or two and give it a shot. If you do this with a few different varieties, you'll have a general idea in no time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Know where you're going. If you stop at the local grocery store, you may or may not get the kind of options you're looking for. It depends on the size of the store honestly, but if you go to a specialty grocery store, a Whole Foods or Fred Meyer, where options are what make their brand name so important, you'll find a huge array of different coffees. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Don't be afraid to try the canned stuff. Folgers and friends don't have to be all bad for everyone. There are some people out there who are perfectly happy with their standard coffee bought in a four month tin can. But, don't buy a tin and stick with it. Give yourself some options by trying the better stuff too. You might find that you like the price of one but the taste of the other. Now, alternate a bit and give yourself a treat every now and then.&lt;/p&gt; Try those Starbucks and Tully's brand coffees. They're not all gems, but occasionally a special blend (I personally enjoy the Starbucks Christmas blend) arrives that will sit well. If you fall for something seasonal, you may want to back up your supply by picking a few extra up before it's out of stock. The act of brewing coffee at home is a liberating one for the avid coffee drinker. You're left with the options to try what you want, when you want, without a corporation telling you what is "in" this season. Take advantage of it and you just might find that perfect blend of at home coffee.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-6524021068375369035?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/6524021068375369035/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=6524021068375369035' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/6524021068375369035'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/6524021068375369035'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/02/buying-coffee-for-your-one-cup-coffee.html' title='Buying Coffee For Your One Cup Coffee Maker'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-117077073422526323</id><published>2007-02-06T06:04:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-06T06:05:34.236-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Is Caffeine a Hero or a Villain in Your Life?</title><content type='html'>Many sober, law abiding people who would never dream of knowingly taking a mind- altering drug, actually consume one every day. Chances are that youâ??re doing it too! What is this drug? â?" Caffeine!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Caffeine is so pervasive in our culture and in many other cultures that we often forget it is literally a drug that affects our brain. Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, many cola drinks and over the counter medications.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The real question isâ?"is caffeine a bad drug, or is it â??okayâ??? Is caffeine even better than â??okayâ??, does it do good things for us?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The verdict on caffeine, particularly when taken in the form of coffee, seems to be mixed. There are nutritional advisers who claim that coffee makes us age faster, wears out our adrenal glands, and causes all sorts of untold damage to our cells. Other researchers claim that coffee, especially if itâ??s freshly roasted and ground, is full of antioxidants, and therefore good for us. Most doctors say that drinking one or two cups of coffee a day is probably not harmful. And of course there are others who say we ought to avoid caffeine altogether.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many of us feel that we cannot really get going in the morning until we have had our first cup of coffee. We often continue to use it throughout the day whenever our energy appears to be flagging and our brain seems to need additional help to think more clearly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Does caffeine really enhance mental performance, or is that just a myth? Yes, caffeine does give a temporary boost to brain cells. But the amount required to improve mental performance is not very high. Even half a cup of coffee will be enough to give your brain a boost that lasts several hours.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Oddly enough, more caffeine is not necessarily better. In one test done when high-level executives were given the equivalent of fourteen cups of coffee in a day, they made their decisions faster, but the decisions were not of very good quality.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not every person reacts to caffeine in the same way. Some people experience greater mental clarity, alertness and productivy after a cup of coffee. Others become jittery, anxious, or depressed. Although caffeine will keep most of us awake if taken at night, it does not have this effect in everyone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In some older people, coffee or tea can improve memory and alertness enough to partly offset the effects of aging.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is true that caffeine is mildly addicting for most people. Some people can quit using caffeine with absolutely no withdrawal symptoms, while others will feel headaches, fatigue, and experience cravings for caffeine for weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Caffeine works by blocking one of the neurotransmitters--adenosineâ?"which normally tells brain cells to calm down. Brain cells that have been affected by caffeine will remain excited and on high alert for several hours.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The most noticeable negative effect of caffeine is that it can interfere with sleep. In most people, drinking coffee, tea or cola in the late afternoon or in the evening will cause insomnia. The quantity and quality of sleep will be greatly reduced, setting in motion a vicious cycle, where the person affected will feel so tired all the next day that he drinks a lot more coffee in order to try feel awake.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If this is happening to you, cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume each day. You may experience fewer withdrawal symptoms if you cut down gradually. You may wish to substitute green tea for some of your cups of coffee. Green tea has some caffeine, but not as much as coffee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Better yet, consider substituting exercise for some of those cups of coffee. If you canâ??t leave your workplace, at least get up from your chair periodically. Do a few stretches, walk around a bit, and jump up and down a few times. Take some deep breaths. A little exercise break can revitalize your brain without giving you the caffeine jitters.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remember that your brain wonâ??t really benefit from more than one or two cups of coffee in a day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This article is taken from the new book by Royane Real title "How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative" You can get the paperback version or download it at &lt;a href="http://www.lulu.com/real"&gt;http://www.lulu.com/real&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-117077073422526323?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/117077073422526323/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=117077073422526323' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117077073422526323'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117077073422526323'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/02/is-caffeine-hero-or-villain-in-your.html' title='Is Caffeine a Hero or a Villain in Your Life?'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-117065231922538439</id><published>2007-02-04T21:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-04T21:11:59.226-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Flavored Coffee Syrup Adds A New Dimension To Beans</title><content type='html'>Flavored coffee syrup is a popular addition to any coffee beverage and a welcome change for any regular coffee drinker. Whether you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or just want something different, flavored coffee syrups put a great kick into any drink. If you own a coffee business, these syrups are another great way to attract customers, allowing them to customize their own drinks so they can enjoy exactly the flavors that their taste buds desire.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Coffee, of course, has a wonderful taste itself, but it also acts as a catalyst for many other flavors. The growth in popularity of flavored coffee is testament to coffee's versatility and strength. People today have come to expect variety and certainly flavored coffee offers them a choice. Flavored syrups means that coffee drinkers can enjoy their beverage all day in a host of different ways.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The best flavored coffee syrups are made from all natural ingredients. The chemical additives and preservatives found in some syrups can distort or hide the flavor of the coffee, while all natural flavors will simply enhance a beverage. Although all natural syrups are more expensive, they are worth the investment as your customers will surely taste the difference and come back time after time for more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are four different groups of syrups. The most popular syrups are the vanilla based, which include nut and creme flavors like Irish creme and hazelnut. These flavors go well with just about any type of coffee, and can even be used to sweeten a cappuccino or latte. Chocolate is the next most popular flavoring group, followed by the fruit and spice flavors. It is always a good idea to have an offering from each group so your customers can experience different flavors (and spend more!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today, more than 100 different and delicious flavorings lace the coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, and frappes. To say the least, flavored coffee has become an interesting and fast growing area of the coffee market. Blends such as Irish Creme, French Vanilla, Hazelnut and even Macadamia Nut grace the shelves of both coffee specialty shops and home kitchens alike.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The concept of adding flavors to enhance the taste of coffee is, by no means, a new craze. Arabs began flavoring their coffee with cardamom hundreds of years ago, Africans experimented with citrus flavors, and South Americans enjoyed a hint of cinnamon in their cups.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Flavored coffee syrups are highly concentrated, so a little goes quite a long way â?" this makes it very cost effective for the cafÃ© owner. One half-ounce shot of syrup is usually adequate to flavor an entire coffee drink. These syrups are available from most coffee suppliers; if you are a new retail or business customer, they will often send you samples to allow you to taste them for yourself; this way you can choose the best tasting syrup product for your customers. This is the fun part â?" then you have to sell them!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Looking for information about Coffee? Go to: &lt;a href="http://www.dkcoffee.com"&gt;http://www.dkcoffee.com&lt;/a&gt; DK Coffee is published by Julie Carter The Complete A to Z Of Coffee Resources Check out more Coffee related articles at: &lt;a href="http://www.dkcoffee.com/archive"&gt;http://www.dkcoffee.com/archive&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-117065231922538439?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/117065231922538439/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=117065231922538439' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117065231922538439'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117065231922538439'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/02/flavored-coffee-syrup-adds-new.html' title='Flavored Coffee Syrup Adds A New Dimension To Beans'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799035.post-117041395439854704</id><published>2007-02-02T02:57:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-02-02T02:59:14.406-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A Coffee Roaster For All Occasions</title><content type='html'>Coffee roasters and those who roast, brew and serve the ultimate cup of coffee are now esteemed professionals within the social fabric of our community at large. A good coffee roaster is a little like a celebrity chef these days, complete with loyal followings, highly descriptive reviews and the ability to command premium prices for their products and services. As coffee continues to grow in elevation from merely a mundane beverage to something of art form, a good coffee roaster has begun to take on a glamorous aura.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But there is a café on almost every street corner or every suburb now and every barista thinks of him or herself as the best roaster on the block. The professional barista is a now fiercely competitive industry and cafes and restaurants across the globe fight to retain the barista that can produce a coffee that will have customers returning time and time again. So, because roasting is everywhere, how do you choose the coffee roaster for you?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your first question is whether you're looking for wholesale coffee roasters to supply your business, or retail roasters to keep you happily supplied with beans at home. But for our purposes, let's say you're looking for a retail roaster to feed your coffee habit because you are a die hard coffee lover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One approach is to decide exactly which coffee beans you prefer. Once you have found the coffee beans that you like you can then search for that specific bean. It might take you some time to research this and you might want to join a coffee club so that you can do some extensive taste testing. They will send you a number of coffee varieties each month for a small fee and this gives you the opportunity to try out blends and pure coffees to see what you prefer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But once you know what coffee you are after, the online suppliers can tell you which of the coffee roasters that carry the beans you are looking for, who has the freshest beans and who has most skill in roasting them to perfection. You might also want to look for coffee bean suppliers that are geographically close to you. By doing so you can be confident that the beans can be delivered faster and will therefore be fresher when they reach your door.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But before you make your final decisions, consider organic coffee as an option. Organic coffee is another choice you might want to make. This coffee is certified to have been grown and processed without chemical intervention and is becoming more and more popular with wholesale outlets. It generally has a mild nutty flavor. It is also becoming popular with celebrities who are eager to adopt the coffee cause. Organic coffee, understandably sells very well in Hollywood.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now all that is left to do is try several brands of coffee to find out which one you like the best. Enjoy your next coffee!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Looking for information about Coffee? Go to: &lt;a href="http://www.dkcoffee.com"&gt;http://www.dkcoffee.com&lt;/a&gt; DK Coffee is published by Julie Carter The Complete A to Z Of Coffee Resources Check out more Coffee related articles at: http://www.dkcoffee.com/archive&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/38799035-117041395439854704?l=my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/feeds/117041395439854704/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=38799035&amp;postID=117041395439854704' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117041395439854704'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/38799035/posts/default/117041395439854704'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://my-coffee-maker.blogspot.com/2007/02/coffee-roaster-for-all-occasions.html' title='A Coffee Roaster For All Occasions'/><author><name>sham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10638826878676990626</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
