For many people, life wouldn't be the same without a fresh cup of coffee. It isn't always possible or convenient to get down to your favorite coffee shop or barista, and that brings us to tools for your kitchen. Here are a few coffee brewing gadgets you can use in your own home.
In automatic drip coffee makers, pre-ground coffee is placed in a paper or metal filter, which is over top a glass coffee pot. Cold water is heated and runs down through the coffee grounds, to produce freshly brewed coffee. These coffee makers are pretty easy to find in any department store, and have a 4 to 10 cup capacity. The coffee grounds are very economical to buy at the grocery store.
More recent inventions include single serving coffee makers that use a measured packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. These are purchased in different flavors and varieties, ready to use, and are popular gadgets for houses that only need one cup of coffee made at once. However, the cost per cup may be higher, and supplies may not be available everywhere.
Another popular tool for making small amounts of coffee is the coffee plunger, or French press. You place the coffee and hot water together, leaving it to brew for a few minutes, then push the plunger to the bottom to separate the grounds from the coffee. Since French presses don't use paper filters that would remove the oils and sediment with the grounds, French pressed coffee can be stronger and thicker than drip-brewed coffee.
Finally, there are espresso machines which produce a concentrated coffee 'shot' using hot water forced under high pressure through very fine grounds. A shot of espresso is thicker than regular coffee and has more sediment in it. Espresso is used in many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, and mochas. This is a much stronger drink than many are accustomed to, although some would say it is the only 'real' coffee.
You need a way to grind fresh coffee beans at home if you want the full flavour and aroma from your coffee beans. Of the coffee grinders on the market, most of the cheaper ones have steel blades. A better choice might be a burr grinder, which is a step up from the steel bladed variety.
I purchased a wonderful coffee machine with a built in coffee grinder. It also has a timer, so I put all the ingredients in the night before. About 10 minutes before I get up, the grinder kicks in. By the time I get out of bed, my coffee is ready for me. Doesn't that beat making it in the morning? - 16004
In automatic drip coffee makers, pre-ground coffee is placed in a paper or metal filter, which is over top a glass coffee pot. Cold water is heated and runs down through the coffee grounds, to produce freshly brewed coffee. These coffee makers are pretty easy to find in any department store, and have a 4 to 10 cup capacity. The coffee grounds are very economical to buy at the grocery store.
More recent inventions include single serving coffee makers that use a measured packet of coffee grounds like a tea bag. These are purchased in different flavors and varieties, ready to use, and are popular gadgets for houses that only need one cup of coffee made at once. However, the cost per cup may be higher, and supplies may not be available everywhere.
Another popular tool for making small amounts of coffee is the coffee plunger, or French press. You place the coffee and hot water together, leaving it to brew for a few minutes, then push the plunger to the bottom to separate the grounds from the coffee. Since French presses don't use paper filters that would remove the oils and sediment with the grounds, French pressed coffee can be stronger and thicker than drip-brewed coffee.
Finally, there are espresso machines which produce a concentrated coffee 'shot' using hot water forced under high pressure through very fine grounds. A shot of espresso is thicker than regular coffee and has more sediment in it. Espresso is used in many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, and mochas. This is a much stronger drink than many are accustomed to, although some would say it is the only 'real' coffee.
You need a way to grind fresh coffee beans at home if you want the full flavour and aroma from your coffee beans. Of the coffee grinders on the market, most of the cheaper ones have steel blades. A better choice might be a burr grinder, which is a step up from the steel bladed variety.
I purchased a wonderful coffee machine with a built in coffee grinder. It also has a timer, so I put all the ingredients in the night before. About 10 minutes before I get up, the grinder kicks in. By the time I get out of bed, my coffee is ready for me. Doesn't that beat making it in the morning? - 16004
About the Author:
Nick is a coffee lover who loves to try out new kitchen tools and gadgets. Visit this site to read more articles about Handy Kitchen Gadgets
