Capresso

Are You an Espresso Aficionado? Answers

05/18/201305/17/2013Leave a comment

Answers from our Espresso Quiz: https://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) 20^th. 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?

05/17/2013Leave a comment

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

05/09/2013Leave a comment

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

05/02/201304/25/2013Leave a comment

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.

Drip Coffee Maker vs. Grind and Brew: Which Home Brewing System is Right for You?

04/25/2013Leave a comment

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.

Earth Day 2013: Go Green with Capresso Electric Water Kettles

04/18/2013Leave a comment

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.

Warm Milk & Honey

04/04/2013Leave a comment

Simple and sweet, our recipe for Warm Milk & Honey is sure to please. Try this soothing drink in the evening to help you unwind from the day.

Warm Milk & Honey

2 servings

– 8 oz skim milk

– 2 tsp honey (we used raw unfiltered Texas wildflower honey)

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 to frothing pitcher. Place lid and press the Warm button. After about 2 minutes, remove frother lid and add honey to the frothing pitcher. Wait for frother to automatically shut off. Pour into demitasse glasses and spoon froth on top.

Spring Cleaning with Capresso

03/28/2013Leave a comment

Clean the windows, organize the closet: these may be items on your spring-cleaning list. Much easier is cleaning your Capresso drip-coffee maker, espresso machine or electric water kettle, and you’ll enjoy the results every day with a fresher tasting brew.

Capresso makes cleaning easy with Capresso Cleaning Solution. Specially designed for cleaning and descaling Capresso products, it prevents limescale and minerals from building up inside the brewing system or teakettle. It also helps remove hard water stains.

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to ensuring your Capresso machine prepares its most flavorful cup of coffee, espresso or tea.

For Espresso Machines: Dissolve 1 oz (28 g) of descaler with 32 oz (1 L) of water and pour mixture into water tank. Ensure portafilter is locked in place and a large receptacle is placed under the coffee spouts to catch the Cleaning Solution. Allow all water in water tank to pass through the machine by turning the dial to brew or pressing the brew button. You may have to do this multiple times to allow all the Cleaning Solution to go through the machine. Once all Cleaning Solution has been run through the machine, rinse all parts (water tank, portafilter). Repeat the cycle two more times with fresh, clean water to fully rinse the machine.

For Coffee Makers: Dissolve 1 oz (28 g) of descaler with 32 oz (1 L) of water and pour mixture into water tank. Turn machine on to begin the brew cycle. Once brewing is complete and all Cleaning Solution has been run through the machine, rinse all parts (water tank, carafe, filter, filter holder). Repeat the cycle two more times with fresh, clean water to fully rinse the machine.

For Water Kettles: Dissolve 1 oz (28 g) of descaler with 32 oz (1 L) of water and pour mixture into kettle. Allow mixture to sit inside the kettle for 20-30 minutes. Pour Cleaning Solution out and rinse the kettle 2-3 times with fresh, clean water.

For more information, click visit www.capresso.com.

Iced Dirty Chai

03/21/2013Leave a comment

We paired two of our favorite beverages, espresso and chai tea, to make this delicious cold drink: Iced Dirty Chai. This refreshing drink is perfect for a sunny spring day.

Iced Dirty Chai

2 servings

– 6 oz. skim milk

– 6 oz. epsresso, cooled

– 6 oz. chai tea, cooled

– 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 to frothing pitcher. Place lid and press the Cold button. Meanwhile, pour 3 ounces of espresso and 3 ounces of chai tea into glasses filled with ice, and stir well. Wait for frother to automatically shut off. Spoon froth over espresso-chai tea mixture and enjoy.

Irish Hot Chocolate

03/14/2013Leave a comment

Add a touch of green and Irish cheer to your hot chocolate with our recipe for Irish Hot Chocolate. This drink is simple, sweet and utterly delicious. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Irish Hot Chocolate

2 servings

– 8 oz skim milk

– 1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream

– ½ tsp vanilla extract

– 3 tbsp. chocolate syrup

– Green sugar crystals, for garnish

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 Warm button. After about 3 minutes, remove frother lid and add chocolate syrup to the frothing pitcher. Wait for frother to automatically shut off. Pour ½ ounce of Bailey’s Irish Cream into each mug, stir in chocolate milk mixture, top with green sugar crystals and enjoy.