Showing posts with label expresso machines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label expresso machines. Show all posts

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder

Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee GrinderJust recently, I learned about the health benefits of having two cups of coffee a day. I wanted to turn my coffee drinking into a meditative process and focus on healing. For many reasons, I decided that I would drink coffee made with a French Press. When I began my research into coffee grinders, I quickly discovered an entire world. I found Eletric Burr Grinders starting at about $40.00 and up. I really wanted to hand grind my beans so I continued my research. I quickly discovered two reasonably priced hand grinders and was ready to buy either the Hario Skerton or Kyocera Ceramic Burr Hand Grinder (About $40). I then did a google search and found out the both the Hario Skerton and Kyocera were excellent for grinding coffee beans very fine (for expresso) but were not as good for Coarse Grinding ( Recommended for French Press). After some additional research I found the Porlex and discovered an excellent hand Coffee Grinder. The outside oontainer is very well made, the grinding is consistent and only takes a few minutes to grind enough beans for one or two cups of coffee. If you are grinding beans for more than two (12 ounce cups of Coffee) you might find this is not the best grinder.

The grinding is quick, quiet, and the resulting coffee is beyond excellent. I am very happy that I found this Hand Coffee Grinder and that is has enriched my coffee drinking experience.

Enjoy,

David

Works OK for fine grind, but not for coarse -produces inconsistent grind. Very well made. Small -fits inside the plunger of my AeroPress, which helps to keep it all in the AeroPress's pouch. Very comfortable to hold. Holds only one serving (about 2-3 measuring spoons), which takes about 160 cranks. Not bad at all, no need to keep opening and looking if you are done: you feel very well when there is no more resistence to cranking.

Buy Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder Now

I bought this to relieve my office-mates of the noise pollution created by an electric grinder. It is much smaller than I expected (about 4 inches tall and an inch and a half wide). The stainless steel casing and top makes for a very sturdy feel. It has enough room for about 3-4 tablespoons of coffee beans in the top (probably enough for two 10oz cups of coffee). For one cup, I put about one and a half tablespoons in there and it takes about 50 seconds of medium intensity grinding to finish). The grinding process itself is fairly easy no real workout here, just some low-level resistance. The adjustment screw clicks as you tighten or loosen it so it is easy to calculate how tight you want it for certain purposes I stick to 8 clicks from the tightest position for my single-serve drip coffee maker.

Read Best Reviews of Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder Here

UPDATE: The handle design is horrible, after 6 months of daily use the handle doesn't stay on the grinder and flies off every single damn morning, and eats a star shaped chunk from your hand, is it really a mental stretch to design a removable handle that has a set screw??!!! you know, so you don't keep ripping skin into your coffee as the handle comes off mid turn??!! Would not purchase again. grinding and watching the handle fly, scraping your knuckles along the way, replacing the handle, grinding some more and watching the handle fly is NOT the kind of morning anyone wants to deal with.

Worst handle design ever.

Want Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder Discount?

This is the best portable grinder out there, the people that say they cannot use them must be trying to grind using their feet.

To the buyer that says you need constant downward pressure, what are you grinding? Coffee or diamonds?

It just needs to be turned, I have used mine for while now and have seen zero problems, I make 2 3 cups a day using it.

Easy to carry, easy to throw in a case to travel, Ceramic grinder that should last forever with care.

It really is only for one person though, does not make quite enough for 2, but thats fine for me.

Save 26% Off

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso MakerRecently picked up a 3 cup Bialetti Moka Express while on holiday and couldn't wait to get it home and broken in. I've tried stove-top Italian coffee makers before, and this model has not disappointed.

Sturdy and well made, this unit only has about five parts, all of them metal or heavy-duty plastic so very little can go wrong. This should last ages if properly cared for.

Just remember to keep it simple; fresh, cold water in the lower chamber (stopping *before* you get to the brass outlet valve) and fill the grounds basket with an espresso grind coffee (good excuse to buy more coffee) without packing it too tightly. Place on your stovetop ring and don't go anywhere. Wait a few minutes, and you have an excellent espresso to start the day or to add to steamed milk after dinner. I can't wait to have some with a cigar this weekend. I've been trying some Cafe Bustello the last few mornings and it's been great. Yeah, I know it's canned, but so are most of the coffees in Italy and Latin America.

The only problem I can foresee is needing a larger one for company, but unless you need gallons of espresso each morning, this is great for two to share.

I bought this espresso maker while in Rome in 2004. It works great. Poe Boy is correct aluminum does not rust; it corrodes so he has E. McNair on a technicality. E. Mcnair is correct that the bottom of the coffee make will corrode and leave a white oxide inside. The solution is in proper care (I learned the hard way). Wash the coffee maker by hand, towel dry. Store unassembled. Water gets trapped in the filter and will drip into the base over time and start the corrosion. I have started doing this and the white oxide has not reappeared. So, take proper care of it.Bon Appetite

Buy Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Now

Unless you are ready to be ruined for any other coffee, and the three cup size will not be big enough! Decades of my life wasted. I've discovered real coffee so late in life, my only lament about buying this espresso pot is the tears shed over all those mornings I *could* have had REAL coffee...

Easy to use, a little time consuming to clean, handsome enough to leave out as a decoration. Unscrew the bottom, fill the bottom half with cold water, fill the little filter cup with fine ground coffee (note that "espresso" is a grind, not a roast), screw it back together, and put it on the stove top. In five minutes or less, you have the most incredible coffee ever. With the internal parts, it is not hard to clean, but time consuming, especially given the time it takes to cool off enough to take apart (the other reason to get a bigger one, the little one is too slow to reload).

The styling is a little retro, but handsome enough to lend a kitchen a quirky flair. Oh, but that's trivia next to the coffee that comes out of it.

I've been using a couple of Tchibo coffees in it with super results, and look forward to trying other fine grinds in it.

Don't do it, don't get this monkey on your back, don't ruin yourself for all those lesser coffee makers, and don't touch my espresso pot (we need alone time).

Read Best Reviews of Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Here

This is a beautifully designed device, but the marketing people misdescribe it. They say the "3 cup" Moka makes three 2-ounce "cups" of coffee. It fact it makes very precisely two 2-ounce "cups," not three.

When you fill the water chamber to the top (just below the coffee chamber) it holds exactly six ounces of water. But the water stops coming out as coffee when the water level in the chamber drops below the funnel mouth. This is when the machine "burbles" as people say. Then you have two ounces of water still in the water chamber, and four ounces of (quite good) coffee in the coffee chamber. That is all the coffee you will get in one brew. Two 2-ounce "cups," not three.

The engineers designed a very precise two "cup" model. But then marketing said "Hey, this takes six ounces of water! Let's tell people it makes that much coffee!" It does not.

Want Bialetti 6799 Moka Express 3-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker Discount?

I researched a lot of different options before buying the Bialetti Moka 3 cup, considering the single serving pod brewers and $2000 espresso makers. I'm glad I went with this $20 option. I really, really love the coffee it makes. While its not quite a true espresso, it's not far off either I even get a wee bit of crema. And I'll take this "espresso" over most of the espresso you'll find in all but the very best coffee houses here in the States. For two weeks now, I've been enjoying consistently tasty, robust coffee, very flavorful coffee. (I use Lavazza's pre-ground espresso with it. I think I prefer it to Illy, and it's cheaper.) It tastes nearly as good as what I've enjoyed in Italy. The 3 cup makes about 1.6 espresso sized cups worth.

It's easy to use. Just make sure that you screw the top on tight; don't pack the grounds, just lump them; if you're on an electric stove go with something just north of medium heat (say 6-7); and just rinse it with water to wash. Oh, and after a bit of research, I dismissed any health concerns about using the aluminum voiced by other posters. Enjoy.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Bialetti Easy Cafe 6-Cup Espresso Maker

Bialetti Easy Cafe 6-Cup Espresso MakerIf you like expresso or lattes and you are looking for convenience and portability, here's your answer. Simply unscrew the top from the bottom. Fill the bottom to the line with water. Place the metal filter in the bottom and fill with your favorite ground coffee. Now, screw the top half of the pot back on place the pot on the electric heating plate and wait 5-6 minutes to pour excellent coffee. I like to warm lowfat milk in the microwave while I wait. The coffee beeps when it's ready, and you simply pour. Sweeten to taste. A full pot makes one venti-sized latte or six espresso sized portions. Barristas unite!

I owned the first model of Bialetti electric moka pot, which didn't have a separate base. It was used daily with no problem, then just stopped working. It was still under warranty so the company replaced it with this model as soon as it was available; it was distributed in Italy before the USA. Their customer service staff were wonderful to work with.

The difference in the new electric moka model is that the base, which houses the electric switch, is now separate. I've been using this model daily for almost a year now, with absolutely no problems.

Stovetop models make a better "espresso type" coffee, producing some crema on top. I still use my stovetop moka pots at home because I have the leisure time to watch & listen for the brewing to finish.

The electric pot is kept at work, where I can enjoy wonderful coffee brewing right in my office, instead of the tasteless coffee brewed in the breakroom. Not having to worry about the coffee burning, if I have to step out while it's brewing, is a big advantage. The light turns green and the pot beeps distinctly for about 1 minute when the brewing is finished, then it shuts itself off. It brews coffee faster than my stovetop moka pots at home. Supposedly it will keep the coffee warm for about 20 minutes, but I pour mine immediately, so I've never tested that feature! It brews about 10oz. of strong, espresso-type coffee (with a small amount of crema), to which I add 6 oz. of milk heated in the microwave. Illy is the brand of coffee I use; they've just come out with a new product especially for moka coffee, ground a bit coarser.

I've no complaints about Bialetti's product! This wonderful electric moka pot has saved me the money that I used to squander daily at Starbucks. I'm also less rushed & frazzled in the morning because I don't have to wait in long lines at SB's, and I get to work thirty minutes early. Several people in my building bought this model after tasting my coffee, and I've heard nothing but rave reviews from them.

Buy Bialetti Easy Cafe 6-Cup Espresso Maker Now

The coffee is great fuller and richer than with our Mr. Coffee. We loved our little pot and after three weeks, the power base just stopped working. The return to Target will be simple just drop it by the store but I hesitate to buy another.

For those who dare: be sure to keep your coffeemaker very dry [it's best to store it disassembled], be careful never to add water above the escape valve [or it can blow], screw it together tightly and hold the coffeemaker not the handle when you twist. And for us, this made one large mug.

I'm giving it a 3 since it broke so soon [and believe me, I pampered the little pot]. The coffee tastes great!

Read Best Reviews of Bialetti Easy Cafe 6-Cup Espresso Maker Here

I'm an Italian-American. My grandparents were born in Italy, and my mother brewed espresso in a very large stainless steel pot that I have inherited and use when I have company. I find fancy cappuccino and espresso makers a bit ridiculous. I've tried numerous smaller espresso pots, and been disappointed with all of them. Either they were difficult to dismantle and clean, or the coffee was bitter, or the manufacturer had tried to combine a stove-top espresso pot with a latte/cappuccino maker and failed: after emitting alot of steam, the pot produced muddy, undrinkable coffee.

This pot works. I bought the electric version because the burners on my stove are too large for a smaller pot. (Beware -if you balance a small pot on a large burner, the handle will weaken and break off -this happened to me and it was not pretty.) The coffee is delicious and the pot is easy to clean -just dump out the grinds and rinse. In fact, this pot is just like my Mom's, albeit electrical. Although it's advertised for six cups of espresso, it's great for brewing the one, large cup that I prefer after dinner. In fact, if I didn't have my mother's ancient large espresso pot, I'd definitely buy an even larger version for company.

A word of advice: wash out the grinds and clean the pot right away, so that your pot does not deteriorate and your coffee become "bitter." Vinegar wash will not fix a pot whose finish has deteriorated; the only way to prevent such damage is to clean the pot immediately after each use.

Want Bialetti Easy Cafe 6-Cup Espresso Maker Discount?

The unit makes very tasty coffee, but note that it produces about 1.5 American cups, not 6. When they say 6, they mean 6 small espresso cup servings. I liked to brew up the pot and pour it into a large mug, which was perfect. The bad news is the electric base was fussy, and sometimes the on/off button wouldnt click on; the base chirped the way it does if you forget to put water in. After a few episodes of not being able to turn the base on, it eventually quit working entirely. Well, that was pretty disappointing because the unit is expensive. Today the owner of a chef's supply in my town suggested I contact Bialetti, which I did tonight. I think I've had the unit for about a year, so it may not be under warranty. I dont feel the base is built to last, so consider that when you contemplate buying this model. It might be better to go for the stove-top version, although with that one you need to stay by the stove to avoid ruining the brew and burning the handle off the pot. Phooey, I wish this thing were better engineered. I really liked it, but it isnt long-lasting.

Monday, October 14, 2013

KRUPS XS6000 Auto Cappuccino Milk Frothing System in Stainless Steel for?Krups?Espressaria Full Aut

KRUPS XS6000 Auto Cappuccino Milk Frothing System in Stainless Steel for?Krups?Espressaria Full Automatic Machine, SilverI love the cappuccino foam that this little gadget makes. It is a good complement for my espresso machine. But the words labels wore off of the nob to turn from cappuccino to latte foam within the first couple of times I washed it. Also, it is not dishwasher safe, and somewhat difficult to properly clean (which needs to be done every time, since it is milk running through the tubing). I would have given it 5 stars if it didn't have those issues, as well as if there was some way to change the temp of the steamed milk coming out of the nozzle, since not everyone likes their milk a medium hot temperature like I do.

I bought this to go with my Krups coffee center and was very happy with the frothed milk for cappucino. It was creamy and thicker than what I could make with a pitcher. The only drawback was that it wasn't very hot. I also find it very convenient to be able to put the milk container right back in the refrigerator.

Buy KRUPS XS6000 Auto Cappuccino Milk Frothing System in Stainless Steel for?Krups?Espressaria Full Aut Now

I have been using this for 2 months or so now, and it works great. I use it everyday to make my morning Latte. It does a decent job of heating up the milk (it could be warmer) and a better job creating foam.

It is easy to clean and even though the markings come off that indicate Latte or Cappuccino you can still identify which side by looking at the slot (when it points up, its for cappuccino.)

Another note: when I had fresh raw milk or soy milk in it, it curdled...reaction to steel?

Read Best Reviews of KRUPS XS6000 Auto Cappuccino Milk Frothing System in Stainless Steel for?Krups?Espressaria Full Aut Here

For some reason, this attachment works great the first 5 or 6 times, than sputters and splashs milk everywhere instead of in my cup. Have cleaned the steam outlet properly, cleaned the parts thoroughly, made sure all the connections are tight... Sometimes it works perfectly but more often than not, I'm cleaning up milk splatters all over the place. Might just go back to using the steam outlet on the machine.

Want KRUPS XS6000 Auto Cappuccino Milk Frothing System in Stainless Steel for?Krups?Espressaria Full Aut Discount?

It Did every thing it supose to and lfet my desktop counter clean and gave longer life for the milk