Italian Coffee; Cappuccino Starts The Day

Cappuccino; Italian Espresso

Cappuccino coffee was born in Italy and it continues to start the day for many Italians.  Cappuccinos have become popular around the world where it is served throughout the day.   The Italians can distinguish tourists from the natives from the time of day that they order cappuccino.
 
Making A Cup Of Cappuccino
 
Making a cappuccino is a difficult task to master.  It is divided into 3 parts; the espresso, steamed milk and also the frothy or foamy milk.  These 3 layers produced in perfect proportions, textures and temperatures are precisely what creates a perfect cappuccino.  Generally, extremely skilled chefs create this delicacy, but with the introduction of home espresso machines, we are all now able to make our own cappuccinos at home because the guess work has been taken out of it with the new espresso machines.
 
Espresso Machine Functions
 
Cappuccino machines are created to brew and dispense the espresso. Many may also do the action of grinding the coffee beans for an ultra clean brew. Once the espresso has been dispensed, the next step is to add steamed milk. These two actions are fairly simple, but it is the milk temperature and the strength of the espresso that are important to making a good espresso and cappuccino.

In order to get the best flavor and strength from your draw (brewing the espresso) it is imperative that the coffee be tamped perfectly, the water temperature be set appropriately and the pressure behind the water be strong enough to extract the coffee flavor perfectly.  Not all coffee machines are capable of doing these tasks perfectly, so choose your espresso machine wisely.

The frothy milk is the most difficult component to get just right. The objective is to create a light foam, just the correct temperature and with the optimal quantity of air bubbles. This micro-foam stays warm when added to espresso and creates a sweeter tasting foam than a lot more dense concentrations of milk. The intent is to offset the bitterness of the espresso.

Here are some of our recommendations for home espresso makers and see how they have made it easier to get the froth right.
 
Brands of  Espresso Makers

Nespresso Citiz Espresso Machine

The Nespresso Espresso machines for home use costs about $250. This can be a versatile device that creates espresso and has a reservoir  for water to steam and an optional milk dispenser to make the foam for cappuccino or latte.  At just five inches wide, the Nespresso CitiZ brings the performance of much larger machines to compact kitchens. Just pop in your favorite blend and push a button—patented Nespresso Coffee Capsule technology and 19 bars of pressure deliver fresh, aromatic crema espresso every time.

Espresso, latte or cappuccino in seconds—with perfect flavor every time. Inspired by city skylines, ultra-slim and versatile new no-mess, capsule-based machine saves space on the countertop and features an integrated Aerocino milk frother for amazing coffee drinks in a flash. Make your drink exactly how you like it—the built-in Aerocino both froths cold milk, heats, or froths and heats.

Features folding beverage tray for short or tall cups, large, easy-grip, 34-ounce water reservoir, removable drip tray and energy-saving standby mode. Made in Switzerland.

Espressione Espresso Machine

Espressione Espresso Machines are made by a well-respected Italian company, Espressione, with three decades in the industry, and the experience shows in its attention to detail.  Claimed to be the best home espresso machines, Espressione was founded by three industry veterans with over 50 years of cumulative experience. Espressione has built their reputation on developing products that provide quality, consistency, and most of all, simplicity. One of their most popular espresso machines is the Espressione Retro espresso maker.

IperEspresso Francis Francis X7

You can enjoy unparalleled Italian espresso and cappuccino with iperEspresso, a revolutionary new way to prepare barista-quality Italian espresso at home with ease and simplicity.  The innovative iperEspresso method uses a proprietary capsule with a patented two-stage extraction to produce an extraordinarily smooth, full-bodied and intensely aromatic espresso topped with velvety, long-lasting crema.  Just drop the capsule into the Francis Francis X8 machine and turn the dial to enjoy authentic espresso within seconds. Use the X8’s auto-frothing steam wand to create cappuccino, latte and all your favorite café drinks.

There are many brands of house and industrial cappuccino makers. Prices tend to be more than a normal coffee maker due to the specialty features. Home espresso machines generally dispense a single or two little cups of coffee, while industrial grade devices can manage 5 cups concurrently.
 
In contrast to other types of coffee, espresso and cappuccino are really specific in conditions of flavor, consistency and elements.  With espresso and cappuccino, there’s a right taste, anything less is not acceptable.  For this reason, getting the right espresso maker is key to being sure of making a great espresso and cappuccino.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

LONG BEACH – The most skilled and professional baristas from around the country are preparing to battle for the coveted title of the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) 2008 United States Barista Championship (USBC), hosted by Krups.

The heated four-day competition begins on May Minneapolis Minn and concludes with a final round and champion’s ceremony on May 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. SCAA is the world’s largest coffee trade association, and Krups, the title sponsor of the event, is a leading manufacturer of premium home espresso and coffee machines.  The event takes place in conjunction with SCAA’s 20th Annual Specialty Coffee Conference & Exhibition, also May 2 – 5.

As the industry’s most hotly anticipated contest for coffeehouse professionals, the USBC encourages and recognizes achievement in the art and skill of espresso drink preparation and service. During the competition, the nation’s best baristas create some of the worlds’ finest coffee concoctions.

Challengers prepare and serve 12 orders four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature their of own creation ready their coffee 15-minute timeframe. As they audience, contestants engage beverages, the explaining their actions and selections, while expertly working the competition’s official espresso machine, a three-group La Marzocco Seven USBC-certified judges, including one head judge, two technical judges and four sensory judges, carefully evaluate and score each of the contenders. Judges focus on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and total impression.

Last year, Heather Perry of the Coffee Klatch in San Dimas Calif., took the top spot in the USBC. Perry also went on to represent the United States in the World Barista Championship, where she took second place.

The new 2008 United States Barista Champion receives the highest national honor for a barista, a trophy, $1,000 in cash, and an all-expenses paid trip from his or her hometown to the 2008 World Barista Championship in Copenhagen Denmark, June 19 – 22, 2008, hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and held at its “Wonderful Coffee” event. USBC Schedule of Events: Friday, May 2 – Round One, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. >Saturday, May 3 – Round One continues, 9 a .m. – 7 p.m. Sunday, May 4 – Semi-Finals, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday, May 5 – Finals, 12 – 2:30 p.m.; Awards ceremony, 3 – 3:30 p.m.

The 2008 United States Barista Championship is just one of the many highlights at SCAA’s 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition. As the industry’s premier coffee event, the conference features in-depth educational sessions, hundreds of exhibit booths, a keynote presentation from Michael Shuman, author of “The Small-Mart Revolution,” and the Coffee of the Year Competition.

Complete details for SCAA’s 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition are available at http://conference.scaa.org/. For a copy of the conference brochure, call 562-624-4100 or e-mail coffee@scaa.org.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

[tags]coffee art, espresso art, how to create espresso art, how to create coffee art, video of how to create espresso art, learn how to [/tags]

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites