Review of the Nespresso Essenza C101 Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother

February 16, 2012 6:17 am Leave a Comment

Nespresso Essenza C101 Automatic Machine Espresso Maker with AeroccinoAre you looking for delicious automatic espresso without paying an arm and a leg?  The Nespresso Essenza offers all the features of the full blown Nespresso capsule brewers without the heavy price.  It even includes the milk frother for those who like their espresso in cappuccinos, lattes, and macciatos.

All This Power in an Itty Bitty Package
The Nespresso C101 Essenza Automatic Machine is a compact machine. The removable water tank only holds 30oz. and the whole machine weighs only 6 pounds.  This machine is perfect if you want to store it under the counter after brewing.

Like the full-size Nespressos, the water gets heater to between 187 degrees and 196 degrees during extraction and empties the remaining water after each use so that water is fresh for each preparation.

It’s a lot more plastic-y looking than its big brother, the Nespresso CitiZ C101, but it’s not terribly unattractive.  It’s available in two colors, standard black and titanium grey.

Cleaning
Cleaning the Nespresso Essenza C101 Espresso Maker is simple.  To dispose of the used capsules you slide the front panel off the machine, dump the capsules and rinse the carrier.  The Aeroccino can be washed with a soft cloth and dish soap.  It is Teflon coated, so it’s very easy to clean.  However, I wouldn’t recommend a dishwasher for any of the removable pieces of the Nespresso, and the Aeroccino is definitely NOT dishwasher safe.

Frothing at the Mouth
The best part of this package is the inclusion of the Aeroccino Automatic Milk Frother. The Aeroccino is an automatic and simple way of creating light, creamy milk froth. You just pour in cold or hot, fresh milk and press the button.  You can also whip milk without steaming it.  Tip: There’s nothing quite as good as frothed cold chocolate milk.

Bottom Line
I think the Nespresso Essenza C101 is perfect for a one or two person coffee-drinking household.  If you want a little more class or plan on entertaining, you’d do well to pick up the larger (and prettier) Nespresso CitiZ C110 Espresso Maker.

Where to Buy
As always, I suggest Amazon.  Easy return policy, fast shipping, and occasional deals make it the place to pick up your Nespresso Essenza C101 Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother,

 

 

Filed Under: Coffee, Espresso, Nespresso, Nespresso Capsule, Single-cup Brewer

Instant Espresso Review: Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker

February 6, 2012 6:09 pm Leave a Comment

Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso MakerI’ve heard Nespresso referred to as the Apple of the coffee world. Their products are gorgeous and work perfectly. However, like Apple, Nespresso gets these great results by limiting what the user can do. If you’re a coffee purist or have even a little bit of hacker in you, you might not be happy with a Nespresso machine. But, if you want a beautiful machine that can satisfy your need for a great shot of espresso with the touch of a single button, the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker just may be your machine.

Retro-Modern-Ultra-Urban
Nespresso describes the CitiZ as being “ultra-urban, retro-modern.” What this means to you is that this machine could easily be seen making Deckard’s coffee in Blade Runner.  The design combines clean lines with crisp circles. The machine is a narrow 14-3/5 by 5 by 11 inches, with the water canister located in the back.

The CitiZ is available in three colors: Titanium, red, and aluminum. The titanium compliments my stainless steel appliances, while the aluminum fits in any kitchen. It seems like a lot of companies offer fire-engine red as one of their color choices, but I’ve yet to see the color make an appearance in any friend’s kitchen.

What’s Under the Hood

The Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker isn’t just a pretty face. With 1260-watts of power, it’s practically guaranteed that your water is going to get to the magic 195-205 degrees F temperature.

Nespresso touts its high-pressure 19-bar pump. Bar is a metric unit of measure for pressure. Traditional espresso machines brew at around 9-bar. I believe the high-pressure is required due to the Nespresso capsule design.

Making the Shot
To pull a shot, simply flip the power switch to “on”, place a cup under the coffee outlet, open the lever, insert a capsule and close the lever, then press the Espresso or Lungo button. Lungo is Italian for ‘long’, and is simple twice as much water brewed through the capsule. If you want more of an Americano, just eject the capsule and do another shot of just water.  It also helps to preheat your cup. Run a shot of hot water through the machine and use it to warm your cup. Doing this will also prime the pump of the machine which will give you a hotter first cup of coffee.

The capsules are hermetically sealed, perforated by the machine and the grounds are pre-soaked for extraction. Then, the pump performs the extraction. The flow of coffee depends on the coffee variety selected. After brewing the capsule is collected in the capsule container (it can hold up to 11 capsules).

The shots have a nice bit of crema on top, and there’s practically no bitterness and definitely no coffee grounds in your glass.

Other Features
The espresso maker also provides automatic and programmable volume control, an energy-saving mode, automatic flow stop, and automatic pump refilling. The water tank holds 1-liter and is removable. There is also a removable drip tray, and folding cup support. The folding support is fantastic. Fold it down and you have enough space to fit a mug, as opposed to those itty-bitty espresso cups.

What about the Milk
The perfect accessory for the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker is the Aeroccino. I’ll be doing a review soon, but it makes perfect foamed milk with practically no skill.

Where Can I Get One
You know me and my love of Amazon. I just can’t recommend a better place for buying an appliance. Last time I visited, they had a deal on the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker, Aeroccino, and a pack of Nespresso capsules.

Filed Under: Espresso, Nespresso, Nespresso Capsule

Getting Started with Chemex

February 2, 2012 11:03 pm 1 Comment

Chemex 6-cup BrewerAlthough it’s no secret that I love single cup brewers, my slow morning coffee ritual actual involves a bit of time and experimentation.  I normally brew my morning coffee in a 6-cup Chemex.  Aesthetically, I prefer the wooden-handled Chemex (the wood can be removed for cleaning) to the glass-handled Chemex.  I hand-grind whole beans, usually an interesting roast from the Coffee Emporium, brew a full 6 cups, pour myself a mug of coffee and put the excess in a thermos.

I’ll admit I play it fast and loose with my coffee making.  Above all for me it’s about fun and adventure.  I’ll drink a bad cup of coffee if I had a good time making it.

When I first bought my Chemex, I wish I could have found a comprehensive starter-kit list.  Here’s what I have:

  • Chemex – As I mentioned, I’m partial to the 6-cup with the wooden sleeve.  However, there is an all-glass version as well.
  • Chemex filters – I buy bleached, and run water through the filter before putting the coffee in. Chemex makes an unbleached filter as well, but it has a cardboard-y taste.  I’m happy with the bleached filters as they are oxygen bleached so there’s no chemical residue or taste.  The filters are available in two shapes, round and square.  Other than aesthetics, I’ve not noticed any brewing difference between them.
  • Hand-grinder – Ceramic blades are a must.  I’m probably slow, but it takes me around four minutes to grind 40 grams of beans.  If someone is drinking with me, I give them the bean-grinding honor.  I’m dreaming of getting a Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Grinder, but the Hario Coffee Hand Grinder works great and makes the act of making coffee feel more ritualistic.
  • Slow-pour kettle – I’ve found that since I’ve been using the slow-pour kettle, I can now do a good slow pour from my traditional kettle.  This is another Hario product with the world’s longest product name:  Hario VKB-120HSV V60 Coffee Drip Kettle Buono.  It has a cute design, but it’s decidedly light and tinny feeling, yet the kettle has proven to be quite sturdy (see my next item, though).
  • Electric kettle – The slow-pour I have seems a bit fragile for the stove, but I could probably use it.  I did use a traditional stovetop kettle for my first few pots of coffee, but I quickly switched to the electric.  I know this Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle seems pricey, but if you’re going through all the trouble to hand-grind beans and brew them in a glass carafe, you really shouldn’t heat your water in a plastic container.
  • Digital scale – Must measure in grams. The EatSmart Precision Pro – Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scale w/ Extra Large LCD and 11 Lb. Capacity comes in a bunch of colors and is efficient and cheap.  Since I’ve added a scale to my kitchen, I’ve been surprised at how much I use it.  Also, the Coffee Common Chemex demo suggested adding water by weight, not volume.
  • Thermos – Is it still day old coffee if it’s almost as hot as when you brewed it?  I have the traditional yuppie silver bullet Thermos, and it is simple the best for keeping coffee hot all day long.

Getting Started
Unlike espresso machines, the Chemex is pretty cheap to get up and running.  At a minimum you need the Chemex and some filters.  You could heat your water in a saucepan, buy your coffee pre-ground, and brew with Chemex’ recommended tablespoons to water formula.  When I first used my Chemex, I actually bought a pound of whole beans and a half-pound of pre-ground coffee from my local roaster, The Coffee Emporium. They sell Chemex brewers, and have a Chemex setting on their grinder. I used the pre-ground coffee to gauge the settings of my hand-grinder.

Resources
I could talk about how I brew with the Chemex, but the fun of using one is developing your own style and taste. I get most of my ideas from watching videos of the Chemex in action. Here are my favorites:

My Tips
The first thing I learned with the Chemex is that it’s forgiving.  Even if all you do is follow the included directions and run some Folgers through it, it’s still going to be better tasting than the Folgers your automatic drip brews.  You can fuss over it if you like, chart your grinds and a weights and other variables, but you can also just throw some coffee in it and pray.  I’ve yet to have mine make a bad cup of coffee.

I’ll also confess that I don’t use filtered water.  Here’s my rationalization:  You’re boiling the water (getting rid of parasites and such) and then you’re running it through a think chemistry-grade filter. It’s good enough for me. I haven’t tried brewing with filtered water, but I can’t taste a difference between my city water and bottled water (unless it’s Evian) so I don’t imagine I’d taste a difference in my coffee.

What Are You waiting For? 
Get brewing! The Chemex lets you be as serious or playful as you want.

Filed Under: Brewing, Chemex, Coffee

A Review of Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer

February 1, 2012 5:25 am Leave a Comment

There are tons of single-serve coffee brewers on the market. Each cup or pod offers its own benefits, flavors, and brew strengths. I’ve found the best when it comes to K-cups, the best when it comes to home espresso, and now I’ve sought out the best Tassimo brewer.  The Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer is by far my favorite.

Space-Age Coffee Containers
Pods, capsules, cups, discs call them what you will, single-serve coffee brewers are here to stay. The Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer uses Tassimo discs (T-Discs) which contain precisely measured amounts of the ingredients for each drink and are sealed to protect the flavors inside. The brewer scans the barcode printed on the label of each T-Disc to identify the drink desired. The system then expertly adjusts to the optimal brewing time, temperature, and amount of water needed. The brewing takes place inside the T disc so you can prepare different drinks, one after the other, with no flavor transfer from cup to cup.

Variety Matters
The T-Disc comes in over 40 different varieties from 12 distinct brands, including Starbucks. The coffee brewer also allows users to customize the drink size and strength; its fully automatic brew cycle can be interrupted at any time to make adjustments to the strength.  If all this variety sounds confusing, there’s an LED-user interface that guides you through every step of the brewing cycle.

A Big Water Tank
You’ll seem to never run out of water with the Bosch Tassimo’s huge 67-ounce removable water tank.  A unique feature is that the tank supports a MAVEA-brand water filter.  MAVEA water filters reduce chlorine taste, odor, and limescale.  They also remove contaminants such as:

  • Heavy metals (like cadmium, copper, mercury),
  • Organic impurities (such as benzene, MTBE and tetrchloroethylene)
  • Pesticides (e.g atrazine or simazine)

Modern Design
The Bosch Tassimo is a compact machine with satin-silver panels and chrome accents.  Since the water tank is housed in the back it’s thinner than most single-cup brewers (8” wide x 13 ¼” deep x 11” high) making it perfect for someone with limited counter space. The on / off switch is conveniently located in front so you don’t have to reach around to brew.  There’s also an integrated storage compartment for T-Discs and the power cord if you need to tuck it away between brewing.

Warranty
The standard 1-year parts-and-labor warranty applies.

Convenience Personified
The Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer automatically reverts to a special stand-by mode after every brew cycle in order to save energy when not in use. This means it’s always ready to go but not always ready to run up your electricity bill.  It also features an automatic cleaning and de-scaling program.

I Want One
Amazon is still my favorite place for picking up coffee-related items.  They’ve always got a good deal going for shipping, and their return policy is no-hassle. A lot of times I’ve found I can save more by bundling my T-discs with my machine (brewers are my favorite gift to give friends – on a visit; it’s the gift that keeps giving).

Filed Under: Bosch, Single-cup Brewer, T-Disc

Best of the Best: A Review of the DeLonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule System

January 31, 2012 7:49 am Leave a Comment

DeLonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule SystemEven with a Keurig to satisfy my instant-drink needs, I found myself pining for the foam and feel of a nice cappuccino.  Between the dog, kids, and getting ready for work I knew there was no way I’d be throwing on a green apron and making my grande skim latte on a home espresso machine.  So, I embarked on a quest to find the best automatic espresso maker.  A high-end version of the single-brew system, these machines use coffee capsules or pods to brew the espresso and a milk tank to froth and heat the milk.  For the money, the DeLonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule System is the best on the market.

Italian Design at China Prices
The DeLonghi Lattissima+ is very Italian.  Straight lines and glossy plastic compliment the metal milk spout, handle and drink tray.  It’s also available in a variety of colors.  From bright primaries like blue and red to classy white and stainless steel.  It’s definitely a counter-worthy piece.

One Button, One Drink
Operation is fantastically simple:  Place the capsule in the top of the machine and slide the milk container onto the front, place a cup under the nozzle and press the one-touch button.  When you’re done, the used capsules automatically eject into a container for quick removal. The convenient illuminated control panel buttons allow you to choose your favorite drink with ease.  There are two milk sizes and two coffee size selections.

Got Milk?
I love my Keurig, but coffee with cold milk or cream still isn’t the same as freshly steamed milk froth. That’s what you get with the Lattissima+:  Pure steamed milk. There are two sizes to choose from, either cappuccino or latte.  You also have full control over the level of foaminess with a simple knob on top.  There’s no wasted milk, either. The milk container detaches easily so you can place it in the refrigerator.

I should also note, the Lattissima Plus is extremely quiet.  The steam-y noise gets a little louder when running the clean cycle, but you can wait until everyone’s awake to run that.

Capsules
Like most single-cup brewers, the DeLonghi Lattissima Plus uses a disposable pod (in this case, a capsule) for brewing.  The Nespresso capsules are fantastic. The espresso is good, and I was shocked to see real crema. (Crema is the initial light/tawny colored liquid that comes out during an espresso extraction. It causes that ‘Guinness effect’ that folks sometimes reference. As the lighter liquid infuses with the darker liquid that comes after, it filters up and ‘settles’, leaving a tan colored layer on top of the darker espresso below.)

Clean Up
DeLonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule System clean up is a breeze. Used capsules pop into a special container, and the milk frother features a “clean” button that blasts hot water through the foam spout. The container is dish washer safe, making clean up fast and convenient.

Other Features
Other highlights include a drip tray that accommodates latte cups, illuminated controls, self-priming operation, as well as a cup warmer and a removable drip tray.

I Have to Have One
As always, Amazon is the best place for picking up high-end appliances.  They have good prices on the DeLonghi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Capsule System and you can often find deals on shipping and the Nespresso Capsules.

There are also a few other colors of Lattissima Plus’ available.

 

Filed Under: DeLonghi, Espresso, Nespresso Capsule, Single-cup Brewer Tagged With: , , ,

A Coffee Snob’s Review of the Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

January 31, 2012 6:32 am 2 Comments

It’s funny, I consider myself a bit of a coffee snob, yet I still like beverages made from single-cup brewing systems. Don’t get me wrong: I love the ritual and taste of hand-ground coffee brewed in my Chemex, but single-cup systems are fun. They’re fast, and if you like the sweet “candy” coffees from places like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee, they’re fantastic. I started with Senseo pods and moved on to K-Cups. You can’t beat the individual cup brewers when it comes to convenience and variety. They’re an easy way to add a bit of luxury to your morning or evening routine.

The Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System is Keurig’s mid-level home brewer. It’s a nice balance between the smaller single-cup brewers and the larger single-cup brewers better-suited to the business and office environment.

Special Edition

What makes it a special edition? Quite simply, the gorgeous chrome accents.  The Keurig B60 Special Edition features attractive chrome accents on the handle, the mug rest, and around the bright blue, backlit LCD display. This definitely sets it apart from the traditional all-black plastic of the regular B60.

Not Just a Pretty Face

It’s not the chrome you see on the outside; it’s the quality and performance of the electric and electronic parts inside that count.  The Keurig is consistently considered one of the most durable single cup brewers on the market. A one-year limited warranty guarantees that should you have any problems, they’ll be quickly taken care of.

Keeping it Pretty

Part of keeping your coffee maker running well is regular cleaning and maintenance. The K-Cup holder and funnel, drip plate and drip tray are dishwasher safe. The removable water reservoir and water reservoir removable lid are not dishwasher safe so you’ll need to clean them by hand.

Additionally, when brewing hot cocoa, Café Escapes or Perfect Iced Tea K-Cup varieties, you should always remove these K-Cup portion packs immediately after brewing and perform a cleansing brew to ensure that the K-Cup Holder is clear of any residue. I also do this after brewing any flavored coffees. I find it keeps my beverages free of any hold-over flavor from the previous brew.

The B60 also features a descale indicator. The brewer should be descaled at least every 3-6 months. Scale is harmless, but if left unattended, it can hinder optimal brewer performance. Descaling your brewer regularly helps maintain the heating element, removable water reservoir and other parts of the brewer that come in contact with water. Better water quality and water heating means a better cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage. Keurig recommends descaling your brewer at least every 6 months (every 3 months if your water has a high mineral content). The descaling process is quite simple and involves running undiluted white vinegar through the machine.

Coffee When You Want It

Although single-cup brewers are already super-convenient, the Keurig B60 turns your morning routine into a breeze with programmable options. The backlit LCD display offers a few programmable features:

  • Digital clock
  • Adjustable temperature
  • Auto on/off

It only takes four minutes for your water to be heated, but once heated the temperature is maintained until you brew. You can set the clock to warm the water when you wake up, so all you have to do is load in the K-cup and press the brew button.

It’s All about the Heat

Any coffee snob will tell you that when it comes to brewing, temperature matters.  The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) released a memorandum on ideal brew temperatures. This finding was based on extensive testing to determine the minimum brew temperature needed to get the most flavors from a cup of coffee. This has nothing to do with the temperature of the finished cup, but rather the temperature of the water that is run through the coffee grounds. They found the ideal temperature to be between 195-205 degrees F. This is the key to a good cup of coffee. If the coffeemaker can’t do this no matter how many timers, clocks and features the unit has, you’re done.

The Keurig B60 offers 1500 watts in power, so heating your water to the ideal temperature is not a problem. It also offers you the ability to set your water temperature between 197 F and 203 F.

Size Matters

There’s nothing worse than having to constantly refill the reservoir of your brewing system. The Keurig B60 features a 48-ounce removable reservoir. That comes out to about eight smaller cups of coffee. However, the Keurig features three different brew-size options: small, medium, and large (or tall, grande, and venti if you want to pretend you’re a Starbucks Barista). The drip tray on the machine is also removable to fit larger travel mugs.

Tip: You can just run hot water through the Keurig if you don’t add a K-Cup pod. If I’m feeling like brewing one of Starbuck’s VIA instant coffees or making a traditional bag of tea, I’ll heat my water via the Keurig.

Bundles of Variety

If you pick up the Signature Bundle, it includes 36 K-cups of various coffees and the My K-Cup reusable coffee filter. That’s the main benefit of a single-serve coffee maker: The single-serve design reduces waste and allows you to enjoy a larger variety of flavors. The My K-Cup allows you to use regular ground coffee in the Keurig. I’ve tried the other reusable designs out there, and the My K-Cup is the easiest to clean and maintain.

Where Can I Buy the Keurig B60 Special Edition Single-Cup Brewer

Amazon is always going to be your best bet for purchasing a coffee brewer, and the Keurig B60 is no exception. They offer good deals on shipping, and tend to be the best combination of low price and quality service. The Signature Bundle is your best deal on the Keurig B60 Special Edition, but if you just want to read reviews of the Keurig B60, the un-bundled version has over 1,000 reviews versus the bundle’s 26).

Filed Under: K-Cup, Keurig, Single-cup Brewer Tagged With: , , , ,
.