Espresso Makers for Less

by avlxyz

Question by Jaime: How can I make latte and mocha drinks at home?
So this recession has really cut my outings to coffee shops, I might go there once a week, a lot of times not even that because I need to save. Anyway, I really love coffee and I would really like to make my own drinks at home.

Best answer:

Answer by quit it!
This is a delicious one;

Iced Mocha’s

1 1/2 cups cold coffee
2 cups milk
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/4 cup white sugar

Pour coffee into ice cube tray. Freeze until solid, or overnight.
In a blender, combine coffee ice cubes, milk, chocolate syrup and sugar. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve. Serves 4..
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Give your answer to this question below!

by Andrew McCaughan

The Special Skills of a Barista

In the world of coffee houses, the barista is the most important member of the staff. While nearly anyone can pour a cup of coffee from a pot, it takes the remarkable skills of a barista to know how to craft the seemingly endless menu of modern coffee and tea beverages served in coffee shops around the world.

Interestingly enough, the trade of a barista has become so popular that there are international competitions, magazines and trade organizations that allow a professional to expand their skills and knowledge. While concocting tasty drinks is the primary goal of the modern barista, many also develop a great deal of knowledge about the world of coffee as well.

For example, it is not unusual for a busy barista to be able to discuss the merits of one particular coffee plantation or the difference between a Thai coffee and a Vietnamese coffee. It is the technical and professional interests of the baristas that allow for the introduction of many different international specialties into the “mainstream”.

How does someone learn to become a barista? There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants that are looking to hire and train people to focus strictly on this area of food service. There are also thousands of bakeries and coffee houses that train people to make specialty drinks as well. Over the course of the last decade, however, the career of barista has become so popular and so lucrative that there are now several schools offering formal education in the work and skills of the barista.

Another interesting fact about the re-emergence of the coffee house and the rise of the barista is that their special tools and skills have also transitioned into many modern homes, and it isn’t unusual to see bottles of syrup, foaming tools and espresso machines in a traditional family kitchen.

More How To Be A Barista Articles

by Wootang01

Latte Art, a new twist on coffee

Latte means a type of coffee drink made from hot steaming milk and espresso shot. It is extracted from Italian word “Caffelatte” which means coffee and milk. The beautiful pattern formed on the top coffee layer by pouring frothy milk on espresso shot is called Latte Art. The amazing pattern that is created on the surface of resulting latte looks amazingly attractive and shows the artists true artistic skills. It is possible to create different patterns by actually drawing on the top foamy layer. Latte Art is not as simple as it may sound, since the espresso shot and the steaming milk should accomplish some taxing situations. Moreover, the pattern on the Latte also depends on the experience of the barista, the espresso machine and last but not the least, Latte Art typically depends on how well the artist pours it! For this, you need to steam milk till you get the desired amount of foam on it. On pouring the steamed milk over the espresso shot, the two layers of foam and milk are formed as the froth rises on the top. Now the most difficult part is how you dispense it on the espresso shot. The two need to be “perfect”, that is, the espresso shot and the frothy milk. The latte cup is to be moved correctly while pouring the foamy milk on the espresso shot to form a unique pattern as the lather rises. An experienced barista will be able to tell you the amount of foam needed to create beautiful latte art. A lot of lather will give your coffee a white surface and lesser lather gives your coffee light-brown even drink with no latte art on it. The froth on the milk should be exact, along with this, the milk should appear shiny with small bubbles equally distributed. The espresso shot has to be proper too. The time limit for extraction of espresso should be 20-30 seconds. Moreover, you need to see the foam on the espresso shot, it should be creamy brown in color. This is nothing but crema. When you transfer the foamy milk on this perfect espresso shot, the milk rises and meets the brown bubbly surface of the espresso shot, this makes a lovely pattern in two contrast hues, white and brown. Rosetta is a flower shaped pattern that is most desired form of Latte Art. The latte cup is kept slanted in one position and because of this slanting position of the latte cup, the frothy milk that is poured, which gathers on one side. Now the barista moves the latte cup side-to-side, simultaneously filling the cup with foamy milk. He or she then completes the pattern with an immediate smack, which forms the stem of the flower. Well, there are several patterns you can create, it depends on your depth of thinking and artistic skills. A skilled hand makes amazing patterns. You too can impress your guests with your own unique latte art. Remember that your espresso shot has to be perfect, your milk froth should be exact and your art of pouring and leaning the latte jug should be arty enough to make beautiful latte art.

Find More How To Make A Latte Articles

My expresso machine just broke down! it wont heat! the timer light turns on but never turns off to tell me its warm enough… when i start flowing water through the coffee, its completely cold and not flavourful. I think i might have left it turned on for 15 minutes one morning… would it be the case? help please!!
Is there a way to repair it for less cost than buying a new one? Are there any places for that kind of repair?

The heating element is probably burned out. Time for a new machine. Since it’s useless- try taking the thing apart to try and diagnose the problem-it may also be a wire that has come loose or burnt. You can buy parts online if you want to try fixing it,search the specific brand you own. The link show a good picture with labels-pay attention to the parts numbered 1,2 and 9. Hope that helps. Don’t know about cost-would depend on your model. If it’s a cheaper kind, probably best to just buy a new machine. If you have a thousand bucks invested, then the trouble and search could be well worth the effort.

this should help www.shoppingplace.com/cgi-bin/search/hforum.cgi? action=message&forum=Coffee&thread=301-692
and you can try this if you can’t find it (it’s a web site just of instruction booklets

http://sources.sourcetool.com/mt/instruction%20booklet?gclid=CJ-AjceQtocCFRR1UAodZlilPg