Brown’s Coffee Guide To Making Espresso Coffee

March 21, 2015 by Kate Posted in Brown's Coffee Blog Tagged espresso, how to Leave a comment

Espresso coffee is beloved all over the world. Strong in taste, espresso is delicious, highly caffeinated and easy to make, but difficult to master. There are a lot of variables that go into making the perfect espresso, and these factors have a major impact on the taste of your final brew.

Let’s take a look at a few variables that go into the perfect shot of espresso.

Espresso Perfection Variables

Water

Possibly the most important variable. Water can contain sediment and minerals that make the taste of coffee and espresso a little off. Filters are recommended to ensure your water is as clean and sediment-free as possible.

Filtered water, not the bottle kind, is the best choice for brewing espresso.

Grind Grade

Espresso’s fine grind is what makes it espresso. If the grind is too coarse, you’ll be making coffee and not espresso. Ideally, you want a fine grind meant for espresso. If you’re grinding your own beans, you’ll want to choose fine grind.

A good trick to test the right grind measurement is:

Pinch the grinds between your thumb and forefinger.
Look at the grind in the spot where pressure was applied.

The coffee should be firmly clumped together in the center and gently fall off on the sides.

Temperature

The temperature setting you choose will have a major impact on the final taste of the espresso. If you like roasted flavors, a higher temperature is ideal. Most people agree that 194 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.

Making Espresso

I won’t go into detail on different espresso makers because not everyone is going to go out and buy a new model. Instead, follow these directions to make espresso coffee right the first time:

Add the appropriate amount of water to your Moka pot, or respective coffee maker / pot.
Add in your finely ground coffee beans to the filter.
Tamp the grinds to ensure they’re packed perfectly.

Tamp is the practice of compacting the grinds in the filter. There are special tools for this, or you can use the back of a spoon. Simply press down on the grinds and make sure that they’re packed tightly together for the utmost in flavor.

Note: It’s recommended to add 7 grams of espresso coffee grinds for a single shot. Double shots can contain 14 – 18 grams of grinds. The more grinds, the stronger the taste will be, so adjust to your own taste preference.

At this point, you’ll either flip the switch on your coffee maker or you’ll need to tighten the top of your pot before putting it on the stove. If you have a temperature setting available, set your machine to 195 – 200 degrees, whichever you prefer.

For those that have a Moka pot, it’s recommended to turn your stove between high and medium when brewing. I like to test the different temperature ranges to experience different flavors. For a lighter taste, put your temperature setting closer to medium. If you like a roasted taste, put your temperature to high.

Once brewed, pour into your cup, and enjoy!

Help! I Don’t Know What Kind Of Coffee Maker To Buy!

March 21, 2015 by Kate Posted in Brown's Coffee Blog Tagged drip, espresso, french press, moka, percolator, pod Leave a comment

Need a new coffee maker, but don’t know which one to buy? I’ve been there! With so many different types on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the right choice. If you’re not sure whether to buy a single-serve, percolator or French press – don’t panic. I’ll walk you through each type of coffee maker, so you can find the right one for you

Drip or Filter

You’ve probably used a drip or filter coffee maker before. This is the most common type, and most can brew between four and 12 cups of coffee at a time. They come in variety of sizes, styles and price ranges.

Typically, drip coffee machines are the most economical, practical choice. Larger pots are great for homes with big coffee drinks, and smaller pots work great for homes with two or three drinkers. Even non-coffee drinkers keep a drip maker in the kitchen just in case guests stop by.

If you’re looking for something affordable and practical, a drip coffee maker is a smart choice.

Pod or Single-Serve

Pod, or single-serve, coffee makers are similar to drip machines, but instead of brewing a whole pot, it only brews a single cup. These machines use special pods or K-cups, which contain a single serving of coffee grounds.

Pod machines, like the Keurig K130, are some of the most popular coffee makers on the market because they’re convenient. And many can also brew tea or hot chocolate.

If you have only one or two coffee drinkers in your home, a single-serve machine is a great choice.

Percolator

Percolators were, at one time, the standard brewer until drip makers came along. But they’re starting to make a comeback. And some coffee lovers claim that percolators brew a richer, full-bodied coffee than other brewers. The only catch is you’re limited as far as variety and capacity go.

Percolators come in electric form with their own heating element, but you can also buy stove-top versions – which are great for camping. These are a great option if you want a richer cup of coffee or are looking for a brewer that doesn’t run on electricity.

French Press

The French press is common in Europe, and like the percolator, it brews up a rich cup of coffee. Unlike other brewer types, the French Press is a manual coffee maker. Boiling water is poured over the coffee grounds in the press where they steep in the water for a few minutes. Once the brewing is complete, you push the plunger down, let the sediment settle, pour and enjoy.

French press machines require a coarser grind, but they brew up a full-bodied cup of coffee. If you like the idea of a manual machine and enjoy a rich cuppa, the French press is your best bet.

Espresso Machine & Moka Pot

Prefer to start your day with a shot of espresso? Espresso requires a specialty coffee maker. Electric pump machines are a great option for anyone who enjoys straight shots, cappuccinos and other coffeehouse-style drinks.

A moka pot can also brew up espresso. This stove-top coffee maker pushes hot water up a funnel, over the coffee grounds and up into a filling chamber. If you enjoy espresso, but don’t have the budget for an electric pump machine, a moka pot is a great alternative.

These are the most popular types of coffee makers. The right one for you will depend on your coffee drinking habits and your budget.

If you need more help finding the right coffee maker, check out my post on the best coffee makers of 2015.

Are Used Coffee/Espresso Machines Worth Buying?

March 21, 2015 by Kate Posted in Brown's Coffee Blog Tagged old, used Leave a comment

We’ve all been there – you see a coffee machine you like, but think you can snag a better deal by buying a used model. And you really might save some money by going this route, but is it really worth buying a used coffee or espresso machine? There are some good and not-so-good aspects to buying a pre-owned machine.

The Good

The first and most obvious benefit to buying a used machine is that it costs less. You can go on eBay, Craigslist or Amazon right now and buy a used Keurig system for half the price of a brand new one. If your budget is the biggest issue, a used machine could save you quite a bit of money.

If you’re looking at pre-owned coffee machines, you may be able to score a commercial machine for the same price as a mid-range home coffee maker. That’s a major bonus for espresso drinkers. Commercial machines tend to be the better option for espresso, and home machines can sometimes be expensive. In this case, buying used may be the best option.

Oftentimes, you can get your hands on a used machine that’s still in great condition. Some might as well be brand new. This means you can save money and still get plenty of use out of the coffee maker.

While a pre-owned coffee maker may be an economical choice, there are some drawbacks that you need to consider.

The Bad

One of the biggest concerns with buying a used machine is its quality. How old is the machine? How well did the previous owner take care of it? Sure, you might save some money by buying a used coffee maker, but if it doesn’t work properly or stops working altogether, was it worth buying? Probably not.

The age of the machine is really important. Why? Because if an old machine breaks, you may not be able to find replacement parts.

How the machine was stored and taken care of will also determine whether or not it’s a good buy. If the previous owner kept the coffee maker in the garage and only used it once or twice over the last year, it may not work properly. Water can corrode the internal components of the machine. Scale buildup can also cause issues.

Missing parts and pieces can be an issue as well. If you’re buying the machine in person, you can do your homework ahead of time and make sure no parts are missing. But if you’re buying online, you’re taking a gamble.

Buying a used coffee or espresso machine can save you money, but you’ll have to do your homework ahead of time to make sure it’s worth buying. If an older machine is missing parts, you may not be able to buy replacements. If the machine wasn’t well taken care of, it might stop working shortly after you buy it. But if the machine is newer, in great condition and not missing any parts, it may be worth buying. And in some cases, you may even be able to purchase a used commercial machine that brews top quality coffee.

Are Expensive Coffee Makers The Best? A Must Read…

March 21, 2015 by Kate Posted in Brown's Coffee Blog Tagged expensive, gourmet 1 Comment

Are expensive coffee makers really the best? If you’re like me, you probably assume that the higher the price, the better the machine – and the better the coffee. But that may not necessarily be true. Sure, there’s a reason high-end machines have high price tags, but you can still get a top quality cup of coffee with lower-mid tiered models. Here’s how:

Buy the Right Brand

The brand and model you choose will have a major impact on the quality of the coffee. Some machines are better than others at heating – or not overheating. And if could care less about the extra bells and whistles (like auto-programming and heated mugs), you can snag a fantastic coffee maker for less than you’d think.

Of course, finding the right brand isn’t always easy. Some brands are well-known to coffee aficionados, but not the average person. That’s why I recommend that you take the time to read through my coffee reviews. I talk about some lesser-known (but respected) brands with great models that are more than affordable. Again, choosing the right brand and model is crucial if you’re looking for a top quality coffee maker that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Know What You Want

More isn’t necessarily better. And in a lot of cases, expensive coffee makers come with extra features that you may or may not need.

Take the Jura Giga 5, for example. This machine is known as the “Rolex of coffee machines”. Why? Because it costs over $5,000. And it can brew just about every type of coffee under the sun from espresso to cappuccino, macchiato and latte. It comes with dual coffee grinders, and every bell and whistle you could imagine. I’m sure it makes a great cup of coffee, but do you really need all those extras? Those “extras” are what push the price tag up so high.

Compare that machine to the Bonavita BV1800 (my favorite coffee maker by the way), which heats water to the perfect temperature for optimal extraction. It makes a darn good cup of coffee, and it costs less than $200.

The bottom line: If you can look past the “bells and whistles,” you can get your hands on a fantastic coffee maker for a very reasonable price.

Choose the Right Coffee

A lot of the time, the quality of your coffee has more to do with the type of coffee you buy than the machine itself. Put low quality coffee beans in the Giga 5, and you’re probably going to get a very mediocre (maybe even bitter) cup of coffee. But the right beans in even a cheap coffee machine can result in a delicious cup of joe.

Coffee aficionados recommend buying whole beans and grinding them just before you brew. Burr grinders will give you the most even grind and tend to be preferred over their electric counterparts.

Bean type is also important. Arabica beans are milder, less bitter and more aromatic than Robusta beans.

While expensive coffee makers will definitely brew up a great cup of coffee (providing you use good quality coffee), lower-mid tiered models can also give you top-quality coffee if you buy the right brand and model.