A nice cup of coffee in the morning can really kick start your day. Recently we have been quite particular on how our little cup of coffee taste. We have progressed from the instant coffee, then to the drip coffee, to the plunger, to the percolator and now the espresso machine. Wonder what's next? Perhaps a complete espresso machine setup with a good espresso machine, the grinder and a tray to sit both the machine and the grinder on our kitchen top.
In addition, we are also trying to be as professional as we can in brewing our cup of coffee and having some fun in the midst of it. We have tried the homemade cafe style cappuccino, cafe latte and long black. Well, frothing of the milk still requires more practices.
Below is a list of coffee varieties and how it is done.
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Americano: A single shot of espresso with about 30ml of hot water added to the mix.
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Cappuccino: Equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk. Then, sprinkle some chocolate powder or cinnamon on top of the froth.
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Caffe Latte: A single shot of espresso in steamed (not frothed) milk and then topped with froth created from steaming the milk. The ratio of milk to coffee should be about 3:1.
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Cafe au Lait: Similar to Caffe Latte, except that an au lait is made with brewed coffee instead of espresso. The ratio of milk to coffee is 1:1, making for a much less intense taste.
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Cafe Macchiato: A shot of espresso with steamed milk added. The ratio of coffee to milk is approximately 4:1.
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Flat white: One part espresso with two parts steamed milk and without foam. Usually served in a cappuccino cup.
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Cafe Mocha: A latte or a cappuccino with chocolate syrup or hot cocoa.
For those of you who are curious on which espresso machine we are using, it is the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine. We have been using our Silvia for about one year plus now and is simply loving it.
Features of our Silvia
* Iron supporting frame
* Body and control panel in satin stainless steel
* 300ml brass boiler
* Commercial group head
* 2 Litre removable water tank
* 3-way solenoid valve
* Stainless Steel drip tray and grate
* Coffee, steam and safety thermostats
* 15 Bar Pump Pressure
Another espresso machine which we like is the Nespresso Coffee Machine. This machine is simply brilliant and a breeze to use. It is easy to maintain and clean with it's capsules concept. Most importantly, it doesn't require any experience to get a good froth. The Aeroccino milk frother which can be purchased separately does a very excellent froth. Do not look down on the petite size of this machine.
Features of the Nespresso Coffee Machine
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Revolutionary Nespresso capsule system
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Flow Stop: automatic and programmable coffee quantity
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Thermoblock water heating system
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Functional handle allows for easy coffee preparation
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Ejection of used capsules upon lifting the handle
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Starter pack of 12 capsules included
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Backlit button controls
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1 litre removable water reservoir
