Are You an Espresso Aficionado? Answers
Answers from our Espresso Quiz: http://capressoblog.com/2013/05/17/are-you-an-espresso-aficionado/
1) Crema. This layer is thin and foamy, with a golden-brown and sometimes red color. The crema holds sweet flavor notes as it contains the espresso’s concentrated sugars and oils.
2) Body. It is typically a caramel-brown color.
3) Heart. This bottom layer contains the bitterness that provides a balance to the sweetness of the espresso’s crema. The heart should be a deep brown hue.
4) 20th. Espresso was first invented in the early 1900’s as a way to decrease workers’ coffee break time.
5) 2. If the cup is too large, the espresso will cool down too quickly. The cup should also only be filled 2/3 of the way full.
6) 25 to 30. Brew time is calculated from the moment the pump switch is activated, until the pump switch is turned off.
7) 160 (inside the cup). Espresso should be brewed between 190 and 195 degrees F and should be consumed immediately after it is made (at approximately 160 degrees F).
8) Macchiato. Macchiato means “marked” or “stained.”
9) Cappuccino. The foam on a cappuccino can be decorated with artistic drawings, commonly know as “latte art.”
10) Latte. A latte should contain less frothed milk than a cappuccino.
11) Mocha. Add whipped cream and cocoa powder to the top if desired.
12) Americano. This drink has a similar strength, but different flavor, from regular drip coffee.
Are You an Espresso Aficionado?
Put your knowledge to the test. Enter your answers in the comments section below. We’ll update the blog tomorrow with the answers.
1) ___ is the top layer of an espresso shot.
2) ___ is the middle layer of an espresso shot.
3) ___ is the very bottom layer of an espresso shot.
4) Espresso was first invented in the ___ century.
5) The maximum capacity of an espresso cup should be ___ ounces.
6) The ideal time for brewing 1 shot of espresso is ___ seconds.
7) The serving temperature for espresso is ___ degrees F.
8) A shot of espresso topped with a spoonful of frothed milk served in a demitasse cup is called a ___.
9) A shot of espresso topped with 1/3 steamed milk and 1/3 frothed milk in a large cup is called a ___.
10) A shot of espresso topped with 2/3 steamed milk and a few spoonfuls of frothed milk in a large cup is called a ___.
11) A shot of espresso mixed with chocolate syrup topped with steamed milk is called a ___.
12) A shot of espresso topped with 6-8 ounces of hot water is called an ___.
Dr Pepper® Froth
Enjoy the unique taste of Dr Pepper® in froth form with this cool, refreshing recipe.
Dr Pepper® Froth
2 servings
- 8 oz. Dr. Pepper®
- 8 oz. Non-fat milk
- 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
- Ice
Place the frothing disk into the froth enhancer of your Capresso froth TEC and ensure it is securely snapped inside the bottom of the milk pitcher. Add milk and vanilla extract to frothing pitcher. Place lid and press the Cold button. Meanwhile, pour 4 ounces of Dr Pepper® into glasses filled with ice. Wait for frother to automatically shut off. Pour 4 ounces of milk into glasses and top with froth. Serve immediately.
Mother’s Day & Capresso Coffee à la Carte
Searching for a gift that shows Mom you care this Mother’s Day? The Capresso Coffee à la Carte is the ideal choice.
Whether Mom enjoys a morning cup of joe, a soothing glass of tea or serving coffee to friends at a dinner party, the Capresso Coffee à la Carte combines a drip coffee maker, single serve coffee machine and a tea brewer all in one stylish, compact unit.
Mom the Coffee Lover: The machine’s innovative brewing system allows Mom to brew a single cup of coffee in less than 60 seconds. Fully customizable, the system adjusts to the amount of ground coffee in the filter, which can hold up to 12 tablespoons, fully saturating it for the proper amount of time. Brewing buttons are easy to find and operate: simply choose the preset Small Cup or Large Cup button for single cup coffee, press and hold, then the machine goes to work. Plus, the unit brews from ground coffee, eliminating the need for expensive and wasteful pods or capsules.
Mom the Tea Lover: The versatile Coffee à la Carte is a premium pick for tea drinkers. An additional filter is designated for tea, preventing any flavor exchange between coffee and tea. Mom can brew a flavorful cup of her favorite loose or bagged tea in seconds with the programmable tea button, which rapidly steeps a cup from 5 to 10 ounces.
Mom the Hostess: Entertaining is easy with the Coffee à la Carte. Mom can brew delicious hot coffee into the 42-ounce glass carafe in less than 6 minutes. The quick-heat 2.2 bar Italian-made pump system always brews to the optimal temperature, above 200 degrees F, ensuring a tasty brew for Mom’s guests.
To learn more about the Capresso Coffee à la Carte, visit Capresso.com.
Capresso offers unique coffee makers for the true coffee lover. Choosing a traditional drip coffee maker or a “grind and brew” model depends on what you’re looking for in your coffee brewing experience.
Capresso drip coffee makers such as the SG120 are perfect for economical coffee drinkers who want a simple yet superior coffee brewing experience. These machines use ground coffee and follow a classic home brewing technique. While simple in design and method, Capresso drip coffee makers never compromise quality and always achieve superior flavor extraction.
Capresso grind and brew coffee makers such as the CoffeeTEAM TS are drip coffee makers with built-in grinders that automatically grind fresh whole coffee beans directly into the filter immediately before brewing. Capresso CoffeeTEAM models ensure the freshest brew and can be programmed 24 hours in advance so you can have fresh coffee when you wake up without having to grind the beans the night before.
See the entire line of Capresso coffee makers at www.capresso.com.
How do you plan to celebrate this Earth Day? Maybe you’ll plant a tree, ride your bike instead of driving, or donate to a Green cause. Reducing your carbon footprint is easier than you may think, and even the smallest changes can make a difference in the wellbeing of our environment.
One small change can start in you kitchen. Did you know that Capresso electric water kettles can boil water in about half the time as stove-top kettles, saving not only time but also energy?
Capresso electric water kettles offer eco-conscious safety features such as boil dry protection, which shuts the unit off when no water is detected, plus automatic safety shut-off when water has reached the desired temperature, and shut-off when kettle is removed from base.
Go Green this Earth Day, and all year long, with Capresso’s line of Electric Water Kettles, including the teaC100, H2O Pro and H2O PLUS.
Coffee at Home: How to Brew the Best Coffee
Preparing great tasting drip coffee at home is simple with a Capresso coffee maker, and today we’re sharing a few tips to help you brew the best tasting coffee with your machine.
Water
Always use fresh, cold water, preferably filtered. Filtered water typically holds the ideal mineral content and will help give your coffee a fresh taste.
Coffee Freshness
Once you open a bag of your favorite coffee beans, it’s best to consume them within one week. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place that is free of odors. Never store coffee in the refrigerator or freezer, as moisture can damage the flavor.
Coffee Grind Size
For the freshest taste, it’s best to grind fresh whole bean coffee right before brewing. For drip coffee makers, the grind should be medium or similar to the texture of sand. If you find your brewed coffee tastes bitter, it may be over extracted or ground too fine. Alternatively, if your coffee tastes flat, it may be under extracted or ground too coarse.
Time
The amount of time the water is in contact with the ground coffee greatly affects the taste of your coffee. All Capresso coffee makers brew in less than 1 minute per cup. Coffee brewed for longer than this has a tendency to taste bitter. You can also experiment with the coffee grind size to help speed up or slow down brewing. Using finer grinds will yield in a faster brew, while using coarser grinds will help slow down the brewing process.
Temperature
Water temperature during brewing will affect your coffee’s flavor and extraction. The ideal water temperature during brewing is between 195°F – 205°F. Once the coffee is brewed into the carafe, the holding temperature is around 180°F. The serving temperature of coffee is between 155°F – 175°F, depending on personal taste.
Hygiene & Maintenance
It is important to keep your coffee maker and coffee equipment clean. Descale your coffee maker every 2 -3 months if you have hard water, or every 6 months if you have soft water. Ensure the spray head, gold tone filter, filter basket and water reservoir are also clean and free of lime scale. We recommend using Capresso Cleaning Solution.
