lady_just_chilling asked:


I want to buy a cappuccino/espresso machine but I am not familiar with how to make it. I wanted to know if there are a certain type and/or consistency of beans to get? If you live in Maryland, let me know where I can buy these coffee beans. Any help would be appreciated.

Robert Rister asked:




This is a question that’s come up several times lately on my blog, so I’ll attempt to give a cogent answer. The short answer is, it depends. Espresso, at least the high-caffeine version, has a beneficial effect on dieters who drink regular coffee on a regular basis, and the opposite effect on dieters who drink decaf or don’t drink coffee regularly.

First, it may be helpful to make a quick review of what espresso is. Espresso is a highly concentrated kind of coffee made by forcing very hot (but not boiling) water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between very fine and powder. Its effect on weight loss depends on whether it’s drunk regularly, and there’s a difference for dieters between regular and decaf.

An elaborate clinical trial at the University Hospital in Zurich (Switzerland) found that drinkers of regular coffee, whether dieting or not, experience much lower increases in blood pressure when exposed to stress. In the clinical trial, blood pressure in coffee drinkers went up to an average of 130/74 when they were exposed to emotional stress. Blood pressure in non-coffee drinkers went up to an average of 151/83 under the same conditions.

The significance of this finding for weight loss is that drinking regular coffee that contains caffeine seems to blunt the production of stress hormones–the hormones that also encourage the deposit of belly fat.

And since espresso has 3 times the caffeine of regular coffee, not only does drinking regular espresso not inhibit weight loss, it encourages it, but only in people who regularly drink coffee.

In people who don’t regularly drink coffee, an espresso not only does nothing blunt hormonal reactions to stress, it may slightly increase blood pressure–which slightly increases insulin resistance and slightly increases the tendency to gain weight.

The Swiss study made on other interesting, unintentional finding.

Drinking too much water too fast has a paradoxical effect for dieters. If you drink more than about 2 cups (500 ml) of any water all at once, for the short time, you stimulate your sympathetic nervous system. When the water stretches the lining of your stomach and then your large intestine, your body releases hormones as if you had eaten a large amount of food.

In non-diabetics, both insulin (to store the sugars the gut is ready to get when it’s stretched) and glucagon (to make sure the insulin doesn’t lower blood sugars too much) enter the bloodstream. The problem is, insulin is much better at storing fat than it is at storing glucose, so drinking too much water, ironically, temporarily encourages storing fat. All you have to do to avoid this weight-gain enhancing effect is to avoid any kind of “sloshing” feeling after you drink water or any other fluids.

In diabetics, insulin production is delayed or reduced. The body still releases glucagon, however. This means diabetics can raise their blood sugars just by “stuffing” themselves, even with low- or no-calorie foods. Higher blood sugar leads to increased insulin resistance, increased insulin resistance leads to fat and weight gain. Again, however, the solution is as simple as avoiding too much food or drink at any one time. Always leave room for more.

Seth Miller asked:




Espresso and the preparation of espresso is nothing less than an art. It cannot be denied that espresso making machines form the very heart of this art, and therefore are an item of constant review by experts as well as coffee drinkers. Some of the best espresso makers in terms of consistency, taste of product and common durability are:

Delonghi Magnificia Automatic Espresso Machine: Available at around $600, this super-automatic espresso machine can make a variety of espresso. It can make espresso, cappuccino, coffee or even latte with this machine. The machine has a self-cleaning system, which works automatically. Also, it is a beans-to-brew system, which grounds the beans immediately.

Rancio Silvia: The Rancio Silvia has periodically been hailed as one of the best value for money machines. It is made up of durable steel and has a forged-glass-boiler. It has a twelve-ounce boiler capacity and can prepare steam in 20 seconds. A double shot of espresso takes 40 seconds on an average and it can steam four ounces of steam within 20 seconds. It is available at around $500.

Krups Allegro FND111: The Krups Allegro FND111 is one of the entry-level espresso makers in the market. This steam-driven-espresso maker is simple to use and doesn’t require a huge investment. This machine is available at around $50. However, it is sometimes said that Krups machines do not prepare a genuine espresso, because they cannot maintain the required pressure.

Gaggia Carezza: The Gaggia Carezza works as well as the other higher-end espresso machines. However, the main difference between the expensive ones and Gaggia is the plastic housing, as opposed to the steel housing that expensive machines have.

Dale Martin asked:




Most espresso machines on the market offer a great number of features and deliver delicious tasting espresso. They also have one problem, most espresso machines operate manually. Enter the automatic espresso machine. Automatic espresso machines will grind the coffee beans, put the grounds in the hopper, then fill the reservoir with water, heat the water and then force the heated water through the grounds to produce a perfect cup of espresso every time. Some high-end machines will even dump the used grounds from the hopper when finished so that the machine is ready for the next brewing cycle.

Most automatic espresso machines are used by commercial coffee shops like Starbucks. Commercial coffee shops use the automatic machines to produce a consistent product on a steady basis. Consistency in the commercial market is much more important than quantity when brewing the perfect espresso.

Consistency starts with the basic ingredients and how they are mixed. To make a consistent espresso there is very little margin for error. Automatic espresso machines can perform the task of brewing a great espresso with very little margin of error. When the grounds are added manually, there is often an opportunity for error. Too much or too little grounds can make or break a great flavored espresso. By using an automatic espresso machine, the grounds and the water are measured exactly right each time so every cup will have the same flavor and consistency. And when the machine is finished clean up is a snap, you wont have to worry about dumping the grounds from the hopper because it does it on its own. Automatic machines also cut down on the time between cups which in the commercial world can help increase productivity and profits.

Automatic espresso machines are not just for commercial use. If you have been thinking about getting an automatic espresso machine for your home, then you are not alone. Automatic espresso machines for the private sector are becoming more and more popular and sales are increasing each year. Even with the automatic machines growing popularity, some people feel that an automatic espresso machine removes the personal touch when it comes to making their espresso. There will still be those that feel the need to hand grind their own beans and measure everything by hand. Some people will just never trust a great espresso shot to a machine, no matter what the time savings.

But for those who make a lot of coffee at home, the thought of having their very own automatic espresso machine is so enticing that they are not concerned with how much a dent it puts in their budget. To these people, the more automatic machine is the better. But with automation and high quality comes higher prices. Generally, the more automatic the machine is and the better the quality, the higher the price. However, when you consider the ease of making espresso and the quality and consistency of the finished product plus the time savings involved, true espresso lovers will consider the high price a worthwhile expense.

Christine Beals asked:




Making a quality cup of coffee is truly an acquired art. There are specific ingredients, and parameters if you will, that are required in order for the Java creation to be delicious. Basically, anything that calls for combining coffee grounds with hot water is considered to technically be known as coffee, but there are specific key elements for brewing a cup of a particular type of coffee known as espresso. This article will touch a bit on what exactly espresso is and how to put these elements together to make a delicious shot of this coffee concoction.

Espresso, which is also known as café espresso is a highly concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot, but not bubbling, water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a very fine sandy-like powder. Developed in Italy, the defining characteristics of this rich caffeinated beverage is a much thicker consistency than drip coffee served typically in a shot glass.

An important element to making espresso is temperature. Espresso is brewed using water that is heated to a temperature between 190* F and 195* F. A thermostat in any quality espresso maker will ensure that it’s at proper temperature and maintain the level of heat needed throughout the brewing process. Although espresso is brewed with water temperatures exceeding 190 degrees, that doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature of your shot will be that hot when you go to shoot it. Generally, the temperature will be quite less and more enjoyable for consumption.

Another key element to espresso making is pressure. When we’re talking about pressure in relation to espresso, there are actually two variables we need to look at: tamp pressure and brewing pressure. Tamp pressure is the amount of pressure used to compact the coffee grounds before brewing. Brewing pressure is in relation to the hot water forced through the coffee grounds. The pump inside every espresso machine is designed to produce the exact measurements of pressure, so this isn’t something you’ll need to control yourself.

Despite some confusion, on a per-volume basis, espresso contains approximately three times the caffeine content as regular brewed cup of coffee. Luckily, today a wide range of high-quality home espresso equipment can be found in specialist kitchen and appliance stores, online vendors, and department stores – to avoid the high prices at specialty coffee shops. So if you’re looking for an intense power-packed shot of caffeine, espresso might be just the pick me up you’re looking for!

Fenton Wayne asked:




Nowadays you don’t have to be an espresso expert nor have received training on a traditional espresso machine to make great tasting coffee. With the invention of the so called “bean to cup” espresso machine it is now much easier to produce all your favourite coffee variations at the touch of a button.

Most bean to cup machines have in-built milk frothers too, enabling cappuccino, latte and other milky products to be made with ease.

However although the convenience and ease-of-use of today’s push- button bean-to-cup systems means it is even easier to produce perfect espresso, it still pays to follow these simple rules.

1/ Grind is key.

The time it takes to make an espresso with an automatic bean-to-cup system may vary, so your best indication that all is well lies in the appearance and consistency of the crema. If the crema looks pale and thin, you need to decrease the grind size to enable better extraction. (See the model instruction manual on how to do this). Once this is set you probably won’t have to change this again unless you change the type of coffee bean used.

2/ Cleanliness.

It is important that you clean your system regularly using recommended bean-to-cup cleaning tablets and solutions and following the automatic cleaning procedure as directed in the user manual. This is absolutely vital as you will not get great tasting espresso from a dirty machine! A sure sign your machine needs cleaning is a bitter taste and an oily film on top of the coffee.

3/ Bean quality.

Always invest in good quality beans. Be wary of cheap blends, which may contain added vegetable oils and liquids to increase the coffee weight – these will clog your machine and give flat oily coffee.

If your machine does not have an automatic frother then follow the tips below.

Tips on foaming milk by hand

1. First pour very cold semi-skimmed milk into a stainless steel jug either with straight sides or sloping inwards towards the top.

2. To steam the milk, insert the steam nozzle to nearly the bottom of the jug, open the steam valve fully and rotate the nozzle around in the milk for 5-8 seconds. The bottom of the milk jug should start to feel warm to the touch.

3. Lower the jug until the nozzle is just below the milk surface; when the surface just begins to froth, place the nozzle slightly lower in the milk to one side of the jug, and turn the steam down. The milk will start to ‘roll’, a deep purring sound signifies the milk is steaming, and a few seconds is all that is needed for the milk to rise in volume.

4. When fine smooth foam has just formed, close the steam valve and put the jug aside until ready to use. Always take care to stop frothing before big airy bubbles form – if visible then bang the bottom of the jug several times on any hard surface to ‘knock out’ the air.

5. Expel steam from the steam nozzle into a cloth to clean any milk in the tube, and wipe off all milk residue with a clean damp cloth or anti-bacterial wipe.

Follow these tips and you can be sure of great tasting espresso coffee products every time.

Tom Jensen asked:




Espresso is strongly brewed coffee made by forcing steam and hot water
through darkly roasted and finely ground coffee beans. The aroma of
espresso makes it especially hard for many coffee lovers to resist.
Coffee aficionados the world over know that a shot of excellent
espresso is crucial to making a good cup of coffee. There are a
variety of espresso machines in the market that can produce great
tasting espresso.

So how do you make a great cup of espresso? Here are the basic steps:

1. Remove coffee ground residue of the previous shot in the shot
holder before using the espresso machine to make a new cup of
espresso.

2. Have adequate ground coffee ready and place it in the grinder hopper.

3. Release seven grams of the ground coffee into the shot holder,
making sure that you get a full pull as you do so.

4. Using a hand tamper, even out the coffee grounds. Tamp only once
and do not twist the tamper as you tamp the coffee grounds. By doing
this, you are assured that the hot water and steam will evenly extract
the coffee. You can also correctly gauge the pressure if you use a
hand held tamper to pack down the coffee grounds as well as remove
excess coffee grounds from the shot holder.

5. Secure the shot holder in place and lock the espresso machine
handle so that water does not leak as it passes through the coffee
grounds at a high pressure.

6. Position a warmed up espresso cup under the the espresso machine’s
coffee holder spout. Start the espresso machine. Keep an eye on the
the color and consistency of the brew coming out of the spout. In 15
to 20 seconds, you should have about 1.5 ounces of freshly brewed
espresso in the cup.

Making a well-brewed cup of espresso does take time and practice. The
presence of a creamy honey-colored foam called crema that is about a
quarter of an inch thick sitting on the coffee’s surface is a sign
that you have successfully made an excellent cup of espresso. And if a
teaspoon of sugar can rest on the crema, you can probably consider
yourself an espresso guru!

The crema is the result of several important factors: the coffee
blend, fineness of the coffee ground, extraction time, water
temperature and amount of coffee used. You achieve a perfect cup of
espresso every time if you can consistently attain an optimum mix of
these factors.

* Most espresso aficionados will agree that the coffee blend should
include some Robusta beans.

* Several reasons could account for a dark color of crema: too much
coffee grounds may have been used; the coffee grounds were packed too
hard and too tightly in the shot holder, resulting to a longer
extraction time of the coffee; the coffee grounds used was too fine;
or too much water was used.

* There are several reasons, too, for less crema: the coffee used may
not have been enough; the time it took to extract the coffee may have
been too short since the coffee used was coarsely ground; there was
not enough water to pass through the coffee; the coffee grounds were
packed too lightly in the shot holder; or the water that passed
through the coffee was not hot enough.

* If the espresso machine, shot holder or cup is cold, it may affect
the amount of crema produced.

Espresso can be served as it comes out of the espresso machine or it
can be served in a variety of ways. In fact, many of the specialty
coffee drinks today has espresso as their base. Some of the specialty
coffee drinks that have a shot of espresso include macchiato (espresso
topped with foamed milk), espresso con panna (espresso topped with
whipped cream), cappuccino (espresso with milk and foam), café latte
(espresso with milk, but without the foam), mocha (espresso blended
with milk and chocolate syrup) and Americano (a “weakened” espresso
made by adding warm water).