Espresso Machines

With the exploding popularity of espresso and cappuccino drinks, it’s no wonder home cappuccino/espresso machines are flying off the shelves. Combination coffee and cappuccino/espresso makers are perfect if your home has multiple coffee drinkers with differing tastes, or if you like to add a little variety to your beverage selection. These machines produce robust espresso coffee, traditional drip coffee and even pressure-brewed crema coffee, and built-in frothing devices add cappuccino, latte and other specialty coffee drinks to the menu.

 You’ll pay more for combination machines, but considering the versatility and space-saving design of these devices, it’s a fair tradeoff. Many models feature pump-brewing espresso systems, which are considered superior to (but more expensive than) steam-powered machines.

The Gaggia MDF Coffee Grinder is an exceptionally powerful machine that grinds any type of coffee beans to the exact level of fineness desired.

Available in  black, the MDF utilizes 50mm tempered steel grinding burrs to crush the beans to any of 34 different grind settings. From very coarse (34) to a fine powder (1), the heavy-duty 120-watt motor is more than adequate for the task, yet not overly noisy.

A single On/Off switch activates the motor, which operates on low speed to prevent static. This unit features a 10-ounce capacity bean hopper and an 8-ounce ground coffee container–both with a tinted translucent finish to hide the eventual discoloration that comes from grinding coffee. Another handy feature is the dosing lever, which lets you dispense exactly one serving at a time of ground coffee or espresso with just an easy pull on the lever. There is even a molded insert that lets you position an espresso filter under the grounds chamber for easy dispensing. The selected grind setting is displayed in front of the grounds container.

Although you’ll likely never use all 34 speeds, you’ll be amazed at the precision grind settings of the Gaggia MDF Grinder. After a little experimentation, you’ll find the perfect setting to suit your needs–whether it’s a coarse percolator grind or a fine espresso grind.

A Bunn Coffee maker is easy to find if you know where to look. It is an inexpensive, convenient and an efficient way to make delicious coffee. They are durable and reliable enough to use on an everyday basis. So, if you’re looking for a Bunn Coffee maker at a great price, then read on!

 Because there are different models, make sure you have a general idea of the Bunn Coffee maker that you are looking for. For example, there are the BTX Home Brewer, the GRX Brewer, the NHBX Brewer, and many more. Certain models have different features, so know what Bunn coffee maker you want before you buy it.

 Start by looking online for a Bunn coffee maker. Certain websites have their product at different rates depending on supply and demand. Many times, a website may sell a Bunn coffee maker specifically manufactured exclusively to them. So be aware of the options before making a purchase on your Bunn coffee maker.

 Once you’ve found the Bunn coffee maker that you like, buy it! Only visit a store if you have too, as prices vary. It is your best bet to visit the stores website before you waste time or gas searching for something that a store might not even carry. So, by purchasing a Bunn coffee maker, you can be assured that you are getting an excellent product at a great price.

A trained operator of a commercial espresso machine is a “barista,” which translates roughly in Italian as a bartender. In Italy as well as other parts of Europe, the barista is considered a career position, often with skills and training passed down from generation to generation.

 In other parts of the world, the job of the barista has been frequently seen as an employment choice for young people, one to get them started in employment, but is not seen as a career choice. As a result, many coffee shops have moved to fully automatic espresso machines which allow a minimally-trained employee to create an espresso drink by merely pushing a button

When it comes to buying gifts for that chef in the family, it’s not always easy to find a practical gift that is also something they don’t already own.  Here are a few kitchen gifts sure to delight a cooking enthusiast (and hopefully some of them they don’t already own!).

~Wine Cooler – it might seem like a more practical gift for a wine enthusiast, but there are hundreds of recipes that call for a little liquor, and wine can also serve to compliment special dishes. 

~Coffee Grinder – there’s nothing better than fresh ground coffee in the morning; you can purchase unique coffee beans at the store and make delicious coffee that you’ll be happy to wake up to! 

~Kitchen Utensils – not your standard spatulas and wooden spoons, we’re talking melon ballers, ice cream scoops, pestle and mortar, all the utensils fancy recipes call for but are seldom used.

Who hasn’t felt at least a little remorse spending three to four dollars daily on those delicious espresso drinks?  The truth is, three or four dollars might not seem like a lot of money to spend on a daily basis, but it can be a lot over the course of the year.  For example, if you bought one espresso drink for three dollars five days per week, 50 weeks out of year, at the end of the year you would have spent 750 dollars on espresso!  For most people, that’s probably about 1-2% of your household income on coffee alone, and when you think of it like that, it seems excessive. 

But it’s still possible to enjoy your favorite espresso drinks at home with an espresso maker.  Though an espresso maker marks a sizable investment, you will save a lot of money in the long term, and can even see savings as early as the first year of ownership.  Plus you don’t have to wait in line or make an extra stop on the way to work!