Espresso

Anyone that has had a great espresso or cappuccino at a local coffee shop, or while traveling to Europe, or even from their own semi-auto espresso machine, has probably dreamed of a machine that can do all that grinding, tamping, pulling, and steaming on it’s own. There are a lot of Super-Auto espresso machines that […]

Using the Rancilio Silvia Espresso machine can be a bit intimidating if you have never used an espresso machine at all or even if you have previously used a machine that controlled a lot of the variables for you. The machine to a large degree assumes you know what you are doing. If you don’t, […]

My coffee drink of choice for the past five years has been the espresso. Straight shots. No milk and no sugar. In my opinion, espresso represents the best potential for coffee. If it is done perfectly it can an amazing experience that is remembered long after the beverage is consumed. But getting a perfect shot […]

Russell Hobbs espresso machines are available in South Africa and the UK. I saw it at the local supermarket on a stand from local mass-market coffee purveyor ‘House of Coffees’. It was a prize to be won and I decided that I would win it whatever it took. There was a cardboard post-box for till […]

Many times at coffee shops it is difficult to see behind the counter, to see what the barista is really doing. The grinding, banging, pounding, clanking, humming, gurgling, and whistling makes everyone wonder, what is going on back there? While I am making drinks there are usually people peeking around, intently watching with a puzzled […]

Love the taste of freshly brewed espresso but confused by some of the language used to describe the processes, machinery and serving suggestions? Well, then you’ve come to the right place. Following is an alphabetized list of easy-to-understand definitions for some of the most commonly used terms. Barista The term used to describe a person […]