"Cappuccino, Intelligentsia" (Video)

This video is a follow-up from my earlier post on espresso. This video deals specifically on making a delicious cup of cappuccino. From the "stretch" step of steaming the milk to the tamping of the grounds, this video details each step in the cappuccino making process. Watch and enjoy!

Cappuccino, Intelligentsia from The D4D on Vimeo.

Finding Your Perfect Home Brewing System

As promised in my earlier post, this article will inform you how to find the perfect setup for your home coffee brewing system. Read on to determine which system is right for you!

Espresso


If you are more of an espresso person (like me), then you will be looking for an espresso maker of some sorts. An espresso maker forces very hot water under high pressure through finely ground, compacted coffee. When looking to purchase an espresso maker, you need to make sure it has the following qualities:

• Can produce pressure of 8-10 bars - better quality shots
• A steam wand - used to steam milk for espresso drinks
• A tamper - not always included, but vital to get a good shot

There are different ways an espresso machine processes the espresso: manual (lever), semi-automatic, or automatic. If you are interested in making your own at home, semi-automatic is probably your best choice. It is less work (and takes less knowledge)  than the manual method, but gives your more control and lets you learn how to make your own shots unlike the automatic. Coffee Geek published a great guide on how to purchase an espresso machine that is definitely worth checking out. 

Lastly, do not skimp too much when buying an espresso machine. You want a good quality machine that will last you a long time and produce great quality shots. Do your research. There are other ways to make espresso (just Google "Moka pot"), but a semi-automatic machine is the most popular method. 

Regular Coffee

Now, for all of you that like plain old coffee, there are a multitude of ways to brew a cup of joe. K-Cup, electric drip, and French press are the most well known of the methods, so they will be the only three discussed here today.

K-Cup coffee makers are rapidly becoming the most popular method of brewing coffee today. K-Cups are small pods that have enough grounds to brew a single cup of coffee. They are sealed until placed in a Keurig brewer which punctures the lid and the bottom and forces hot water through the K-Cup into a mug. It is quick, simple, and less messy than other methods of brewing. Because today's society is a fast-paced world, this method appeals to students, commuters, and busy parents on the run. They are relatively inexpensive, but if you drink a lot of coffee, you might want to consider purchasing the small filter basket that allows you to use your own grounds as the K-Cups can add up over time.


Electric drip coffee makers are still in wide use because they can quickly make a few cups of coffee. A standard electric drip maker heats up water from a reservoir and sprays it over coffee grounds. The coffee then flows through a filter and drips down into a pot. While slower than a K-Cup brewer, it is much more effective when making more than two cups of coffee. A regular electric drip coffee maker can make about 10-18 cups of water. An electric drip coffee maker is generally the least expensive coffee maker for those who drink a few cups a day.




French press coffee makers are popular to the coffee enthusiasts out there. The coffee is brewed by pouring the hot water into French press with the coffee grounds, letting it brew for a few minutes, and then pressing the plunger to trap the grounds at the bottom of the press. The French press captures more of the coffee's flavor because the grounds and the water are in direct contact, and do not pass through a paper filter like other brewing methods. While the most inexpensive method of brewing coffee, the French press is not convenient for making more than two cups at a time.


Conclusion

Well, after reading a description (and my opinions) on some of the different methods available to you for brewing your own coffee at home, I hope you will figure out which setup is right for you. I'm now going to go on Amazon and start drooling over the De'Longhi espresso makers.

Sources: Home Barista

"Espresso, Intelligentsia" (Video)

Have you ever seen how a cup of espresso is made, one step at a time? Check out this awesome video that details the finer points of brewing a shot of espresso. Through detailed and clear narration, this video does a great job at explaining why it is important to know how to brew a proper espresso shot.

Espresso, Intelligentsia from The D4D on Vimeo.

How to Make a Latte in 5 Simple Steps

Ever wanted to know how to make a latte? This Prezi shows you how to make your own latte in five simple steps!

Coffee: Buying vs. Brewing

Do you regularly drink coffee? (Read my earlier post to see if you should drink coffee or not.) If you are in the regular habit of drinking a cup of the delicious black liquid, then maybe it is time you consider making your own cup of coffee over buying a pre-made cup. There are a few factors that will help you decide are price, convenience, and taste.

Taste
How a cup of coffee tastes is absolutely the most important factor in your decision of buying versus brewing. You should never sacrifice taste for cost or convenience. Taste is what a cup of coffee is all about right? What good would it do to drink a cup of coffee if it tasted disgusting? What many people do not realize is that you can get almost the same (if not the same) taste of a coffee shop cup of coffee at home when you brew your own cup. All it takes is the right equipment, knowledge, and ingredients.

Convenience
When considering whether you should buy or brew, you need to take time to consider which would be more convenient without sacrificing taste or cost. If you are a commuter (or a busy student), time is essential. But often people do not understand that making your own cup of coffee at home does not always take any longer than it would to purchase one at a coffee shop. While it varies from situation to situation, in general, preparation time takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes at home. If you think about it, this is not much longer than if you were to wait in a drive through, or park and walk in, and wait for the shop to make your cup of coffee. Depending on where you purchase your coffee, it might just as long to get there as it would for you to make your own at home.

Price
Last but not least, price is a huge (but often un-thought of) factor when it comes to buying versus brewing. According to the National Coffee Association, “a recent U.S. survey revealed that 69 percent of American coffee drinkers consider coffee to be an ‘affordable luxury.’” But what are the cost differences between buying and brewing? The average 16oz cup of Starbucks coffee will cost you about $2. That means about $700 for a daily cup of coffee for a year. That’s a lot! Brewing your own at home is a much less expensive venture. And with some patience and research, you can easily start creating your own coffee drinks in no time. If you have to occasionally buy a drink, you will still be better off over all.

Buying vs. Brewing
In my opinion, brewing at home is the best option. So go ahead and invest in a coffee machine and get to work! Watch for a future post on how to find the perfect setup for your perfect home brewing system.

Sources: Daily Finance
             

Old Main Cafe

Slideshow of Old Main Cafe.

Interview with a Baristo

Our campus has a wonderful coffee shop known as "Old Main Café". Dan Steinbach, a senior, is our one and only baristó. Dan was kind enough to answer some questions for me about coffee.

What is the most popular coffee drink at the Café (in your opinion) and why is it so popular?

• The Schnookie Cookie, because people like something that's cold and has ice cream, espresso, and Oreo in it... and it's a pretty sick.

How do you make a perfect cup of coffee?

• With my perfect hands.... it takes the right grounds (Berre's Bros), hot water, and then the right steaming of milk.

What is the best method of preparation? (Drip, percolator, French Press, Espresso?)

• Per/Espresso. I think you get the most flavor out when you use a percolator but grind the bean into an espresso consistency. 

What is your favorite coffee drink and how do you go about preparing it? (steps etc.)

• The Baristó's Dream: ice, add 8oz of ice cream and 4 oz of espresso water, add the cookie and cream powder with a little bit of white chocolate, add 3 squirts of strawberry or raspberry and 2 squirts of cupcake. Put in the blender and blend. 

Thanks for allowing me to interview you Steinbach. I'll have to ask for a Baristó's Dream next time I stop by the Old Main Café! Now I wish I'd brought my espresso maker to school with me.