Cappuccino

With a huge selection of makes and models and equally varying prices it can be daunting to choose your perfect Espresso Cappuccino Maker. If you are looking to buy the perfect kitchen appliance to help you make the perfect espresso cappuccino at home then read on.

A good cappuccino is made up of good coffee beans, proper grinding of the beans, well-made cappuccino and proper milk frothing. It is important to understand that to get a good cappuccino you need a good espresso which puts the emphasis on finding a good espresso maker.

To find the most appropriate espresso maker you need to look at the pros and cons of the steam-driven, pump-driven and bean to cup technologies. Below we take a look at various technologies, their pros and cons, best prices and places to shop for them.

Steam Driven Espresso Maker

There are many steam driven espresso makers at the low end of the price scale. Though very reasonably priced, you will not get the best coffee from steam driven machines due to several reasons.

Although they are called steam machines they do not really produce proper steam but rather very hot water in vaporous form. You can only get proper steam from water that is both vaporized and pressurised.

Why all the fuss with steam you may ask. Well, without proper pressure being used to push water through the coffee granules you will miss the rich espresso flavour and frothy head which is combined with foamed milk for a perfect cappuccino.

But you can still get an adequate espresso from some steam machines at the higher end of the price scale such as DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker.

Pump Driven Espresso Maker

The pump driven espresso machines have become the most popular for home and commercial use. Here the pressure is derived from an automatic pump instead of steam.

To get a good espresso you need three things:

• Adequate temperature of the water
• Adequate pressure of the water as it goes through the coffee grounds
• Proper grinding of the coffee beans

Pump driven espresso makers take care of two of care of the first two requirements leaving only proper coffee grinding.

This is fine if you don’t mind taking some time to master the craft of coffee grinding. If you grind too fine the result will be a poor tasting espresso.

Alternatively you can settle for pre-grind coffee which is never as good as freshly grind. Good pump espresso machines are priced between $75 and $200 so if this is your budget, check out the range at Amazon. A good buy is the Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker with many positive customer reviews.

Automatic Bean to Cup Espresso Maker

The bean-to-cup machines do everything- grinding the coffee beans, brewing the espresso and frothing the milk. You just pop the coffee beans in one end and wait for the perfect espresso/cappuccino in the other end.

You can expect to pay a premium price for this kind of machine with prices ranging between $250 and $1,200 for a good bean to cup machine.

A good machine at the lower end of this price scale is the Krups XP7260 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Auto Cappuccino Kit.

A good high end machine is the DeLonghi ESAM3500.N Magnifica Digital Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine.

Are there any disadvantages? Well they are considered too perfect by some espresso purists who think they take the joy out of coffee making. But for the rest of us they are simply a stress free way to make a cafe style perfect espresso cappuccino at home.

Which is the right Cappuccino Espresso Maker?

Well the answer depends on many factors such as how much you love to make a prefect espresso/cappuccino at home, how much time you wish to devote to making it and of course your budget.

The automatic bean to cup machines are perfect for the person with a good budget and does not wish to devote too much time to the art and science of making perfect espresso each time.

Pump machines are also perfect for someone without a high budget and/or wishes to have more input in the end result in terms of grinding own coffee beans.

Pump machines are a suitable first purchase for someone on a tight budget and wants something better than a traditional stovetop coffee maker.

—

Eric Filter is a freelance writer who loves coffee and writing to help readers choose the best burr coffee grinder and espresso maker. 

Photo by niallkennedy.

Best Machines to Make a Perfect Cappuccino is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I’ll add more to the list as I go along, but if you have any question about what coffee equipment to try, please email me via the contact form. I’ll gladly answer your questions. If you have any suggestions for recommendations, I would love to hear those too. There’s so much equipment out there and more is being created all of the time, so I’ll admit that there’s a lot of devices I haven’t used…yet.

Also, since the page will be updated on a regular basis, I would recommend bookmarking it so you can come back and check out the additions.

Coffee Brewing Gadgets

There’s a lot of amazing coffee gadgets out there and new ones are popping up all of the time. Here’s a few of my favorites.

Aeropress
It’s a little crazy looking, but it makes amazing coffee that’s incredibly smooth and full of flavor.
Replacement Aeropress filters

Chemex
Another great, slightly unusual looking way to make coffee. It’s a manual method similar to a drip coffee maker, but a whole lot better tasting and smoother.
Replacement Chemex filters

French Press
This is my go to method of making coffee. It’s a simple method that gives me all the control to make the coffee how I want it. It pulls out the flavors from the coffee better than many other methods.

Mypressi Twist
I’m not a big espresso guy, unless someone else is making it for me. However, this is the one way that I like to make espresso. It’s a lot more affordable than a traditional espresso machine and for me it was easier to use too.

Toddy Cold Brew
During the hotter months, I always have a thing of cold brew coffee in my fridge. The Toddy is my favorite way to brew it.

Coffee Makers

I’m not a fan of a lot of drip coffee makers – a lot of them don’t brew the water hot enough so the flavors are off, but there are a couple of coffee makers that I love.

Zojirushi Fresh Brew
I had this coffee maker in my kitchen a few years ago for review purposes. After I was done testing it out, I gave it away via a giveaway contest. I continue to kick myself for giving it away. It was an awesome coffee maker that brewed amazing coffee and came with a thermal carafe. I haven’t found a better drip coffee maker for the price since then.

Technivorm
This is one of the few items on the list that I haven’t tried. However, after reading lots of reviews and talking to experts who have first hand knowledge, this is the only other drip coffee maker that I would recommend.

Grinders

Without a coffee grinder, you’ll never get as good of coffee as you get with whole beans. Ground coffee that you get from the store is stale and there’s no getting around it.

Mr. Coffee Blade Grinder
I know that a lot of people look down on blade grinders, but they’re better than nothing and get the job done. This is the grinder that I had in my kitchen for a while before I upgraded.

Burr Grinder
Right now, I don’t have a mid-level burr grinder that I would recommend. I have one that I use in my kitchen, but it leaves some things to be desired. So for now, this spot is going to be empty.

Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Grinder
This is the only other item on the list that I actually don’t own. However, after seeing it in use in person and talking to several baristas and roasters, this is the grinder that I would recommend. It’s pricy, but it’s one of those things that you get what you pay for.

Online Coffee Shops

GoCoffeeGo
At some point soon, I’m going to create a list of coffee roasters that I recommend and love. Until then, I want to just recommend my friends over at GoCoffeeGo. Not only have they been long time supporters of Daily Shot Of Coffee, but they also feature some of the best coffee roasters in the country and can have coffee shipped directly from those roasters to your door.

Coffee Books

I may be the only one who reads about coffee almost much as they drink it, but in case there are any other avid readers out there, I selected a few of my favorite coffee books.

Brewing Justice: Fair Trade Coffee, Sustainability, and Survival
The focus of this book is fair trade coffee, but overall it’s an eye opening look at the lives of coffee farmers. It also examines the differences between fair trade and non-certified coffee, analyzing whether fair trade is a real solution.

Coffee Quest
A fun book, by author and artist Dave Wodnicki. The book tells the story of one man’s journey to find a decent cup of coffee. That’s something that I can relate to!

The Art and Craft of Coffee: An Enthusiast’s Guide to Selecting, Roasting, and Brewing Exquisite Coffee
A great looking book that shouldn’t just sit on the coffee table.

Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
There’s a few books that tell the story of coffee, but by far this is the best one. Not only was it an easy ready, but it was also loaded with information.

—

Fine Print: Some of the links above are affiliate links and we will earn a small commission if you purchase through those links (without any extra cost to you). The above items are all things that I have experience with and I’m recommending them because they are helpful and come from companies that I trust, not because of any commissions that I might earn from you purchasing the products.

Photo by nalundgaard.

Essential Equipment (And More) For Brewing Awesome Coffee is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Contigo Tumbler

This is a guest post by Brian Martinowich. Learn more about how you can guest post for Daily Shot Of Coffee.

If you like to travel with coffee or tea and are tired of cleaning up spills, it’s time to invest in a travel mug. Some of the best travel mugs are made from stainless steel and are vacuum insulated. They also feature sealed lids that resist leaks and spills. Steel mugs resist breakage and maintain beverage temperature for several hours, but one of the drawbacks of steel is that it can’t be microwaved. If you think you may want to warm your beverage in a microwave, look for a plastic mug. Health experts recommend plastic mugs that are made from BPA-free polypropylene (no. 5) plastic.

Before investing in a mug, it pays to do some research. First, consider how you’ll be using it. If you want to put it in a cup holder in your car, you’ll need to make sure the base of the mug and the handle will fit in your holder (whether or not your mug has a handle is a matter of preference). If you plan to use your mug for walking or biking, you may want to look for one with a clip that attaches to a belt or backpack. The second important thing to consider is the type of spout: A good spout closes securely to avoid spills but is still easy to open and drink from while you’re on the go.

We’ve investigated travel mugs that have been tested and reviewed by Good Housekeeping, Amazon and other websites, and have come up with this list of five of the best travel mugs around.

• #1 Thermos Sipp Vacuum-Insulated Travel Tumbler

Thermos is one of the top names in vacuum-insulated containers, so it’s not surprising that they make some of the best travel mugs. The double-wall design of the Travel Tumbler keeps liquids hot for five hours and cold for up to nine. The BPA-free plastic lid is push-button operated and features a built-in hook for tea bags or a tea infuser. This travel mug holds 16 ounces and is dishwasher safe. It’s available with or without handle and retails for about $25.

• #2 Contigo AUTOSEAL Stainless Steel 16-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Tumbler, Blue, Set of 2

This handle-free tumbler features a double-walled steel body that keeps drinks hot for more than four hours and cold for 12. It holds 16 ounces and is a good fit for most cup holders. The BPA-free plastic lid has a leak-proof auto-sealing design that’s opened with the push of a button. The downside of this mug is a steel body that must be washed by hand. The price of this mug is about $20.

• #3 Thermos Nissan 12-Ounce Stainless-Steel Tea Tumbler with Infuser

This Thermos travel mug is customized for tea, with an infuser that allows you to brew loose-leaf tea built into the lid. In addition to a lid for sipping, the mug comes with a travel lid that prevents leaks and spills. Drinks are kept warm for up to six hours. On the negative side, the Tea Tumbler is not dishwasher-safe and must be washed by hand. The mug holds 12 ounces of liquid and is priced at about $20.

• #4 OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug, Stainless Steel

This double-walled insulated stainless steel tumbler keeps 14 ounces of liquid hot or cold for up to seven hours. The lid features three silicone seals to prevent leaks and a push button that opens and closes the drinking seal. The brushed steel body requires hand washing and some may find that its wide shape makes it difficult to hold. The Good Grips mug costs about $20.

• #5 Copco 2510-9963 Acadia Reusable To-Go Mug, 16-Ounce Capacity
  

This 16-ounce plastic mug is a low-cost alternative to stainless steel travel mugs. Made from lightweight BPA-plastic, the Copco To-Go Mug features a built-in textured sleeve and a twist-on lid with a rubber seal. A flap on the lid snaps open and fastens for sipping. This mug doesn’t keep drinks warm for more than a couple of hours, but it’s both dishwasher and microwave-safe. It’s priced at about $8.

What do you think is the best travel coffee mug is?

—

Brian Martinowich is a freelance writer for EarnMBADegree.com, a comprehensive resource guide for individuals who are interested in an mba degree. As the Community Manager of the global social good campaign, Tweet Drive, Brian enjoys helping others through his experiences and expertise with social media.

The 5 Best Travel Coffee Mugs is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Could it really be that bad? Last week, I took this coffee maker out of the box and decided to find out for myself. After a week of intense, thorough testing, my review is ready.

Here’s What I Look At In A Drip Coffee Maker

I tend to use a drip coffeemaker on those mornings when I’m half asleep, in a rush to get out the door, so I want one that is easy to use when my brain isn’t fully caffeinated. Plus, I don’t want one that is going to leave a mess on the counter, the water should stay in the water chamber and the coffee should stay in the carafe and make it to my mug without any disasters.

I don’t expect amazing coffee from a drip coffee maker (If I want amazing, I’m using my French Press or Chemex.), but I do want a good cup of coffee. I want it to be hot and full of flavor.

I also expect the coffee maker to be well built. I don’t want it start brewing in a few months or catch on fire (it’s happened!).

It doesn’t seem like too much to ask, but based on a lot of coffee makers that I’ve tested, it seems to be too demanding.

A Little Background

Before we get into the review, let me tell you a little bit about the Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker. According to the description on the Target (the retailer who sent me this machine to review) website, it’s three main features are the double walled thermal carafe that they say keeps the coffee hot and fresh, the ability to program it so you can have the coffee waiting for you when you wake up and a sneak a cup feature so you can grab a cup of coffee and run before it’s done brewing.

It also includes:

• See-through water window so you can monitor the water as your filling it.
• A nonstick hot plate.
• Automatic shutoff .
• Made of stainless steel and plastic.

The Good Stuff

Right out of the box, it was easy to use. With some drip coffee makers, there’s delays when I have to look at impossible to understand instructions. With this one, I didn’t have to use the directions once, not even when I was setting the clock and programming. It’s a simple and to the point design, it’s not trying to be something that it isn’t.

Not only was it easy to use, it was one of the cleanest machines I’ve tested. There wasn’t any issues with kitchen counter flooding the week that I tested it. That week included in some sleepy mornings where I over filled the water chamber (it would be nice if the carafe was the same size of the water chamber), but all of the water stayed inside of the machine. Plus the carafe was virtually drip free. I tried my hardest to make it drip, but my counter stayed water and coffee free. And I didn’t have any issues with the sneak a cup feature, where I’ve had a lot of messy problems in the past. With this machine, I was able to pull out the carafe while it was brewing without losing more than a couple of drops of coffee.

Another thing this machine has going for it, is the price. The Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker is $39.99 online, a reasonable price for a drip coffee maker, especially one with a thermal carafe.

The Not So Good Stuff

While I didn’t have any problems with the water flooding all over my counter, it was annoying trying to fill the water chamber. I had to turn on all of the lights in my kitchen and turn the coffee maker to the side so that I could gauge the water level. I could see how someone could easily it was to over fill the water chamber.

Reading the water level was annoying, but not a major factor for me. What would be a major factor for me is the coffee temperature.

In my non-scientific research, the highest temperature that I was able to record was 194 degrees Fahrenheit. Optimal brewing temperature is between 195-205 degrees so it was close, but I would like it hotter.

The thermal carafe attracted a lot of scorn from reviewers because they said it didn’t keep the coffee enough for long enough. My complaint is that the coffee wasn’t hot enough from the first cup of coffee I poured. My first cup was only 160 degrees, well below the optimal initial cup temperature of 197 degrees.

What heat it did have, the thermal carafe did do an okay job of keeping it in the carafe. It only lost about ten degrees the first hour and another fifteen in the next hour. I’m alright with that heat loss because after that first hour, I’m probably just going to make a fresh pot because of the loss of coffee flavor, not lost of heat.

Other Notes

This was the first drip coffee maker that I’ve come across that has a thermal carafe and hot plate. I don’t really see a benefit to the hot plate. I would’ve preferred hotter water to brew the coffee instead of a hot pot. Plus, the hot pot turned off when the coffee was done brewing, so it didn’t serve much of a purpose of keeping the coffee warm for extended periods of time.

The machine seems to be built well, made in the USA, but the thinness of the plastic does worry me. I wonder if that six months down the road, I’m going to have issues with it. I think it’ll be fine, but I wouldn’t complain if they used more sturdy materials.

Pros:

• Clean And (Mostly) Easy To Use
• Affordable
• Thermal Carafe

Cons:

• Water Level Difficult To Read
• Brewing Temperature Low

Overall, it’s better than I expected from a forty dollar drip coffee maker. I don’t think it’s the coffee maker from hell. If you have just forty dollars to invest in a drip coffee maker, it makes good (but not great) coffee. If you want a drip coffee maker and you have a larger budget, there are better machines out there.

Have you tried the Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker? What did you think? If you’re thinking about buying it, is there anything else that you like to know about this machine?

Is It The Coffeemaker From Hell? Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker Review is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Ninety percent of the reviews trashed it, attacking the thermal carafe, complaining that it left their kitchens looking like a flood zone and more. It wasn’t just on the Target website either. I posted a picture of it on Facebook and it wasn’t long before their were more complaints about it. Fellow coffee blogger, Coffee Nate even said that he refused to review it.

It has a lot going against it, but the packaging and the Target website says that it has some things going for it. It’s three main features are the double walled thermal carafe that they say keeps the coffee hot and fresh, the ability to program it so you can have the coffee waiting for you when you wake up and a sneak a cup feature so you can grab a cup of coffee and run before it’s done brewing.

It also includes:

• See-through water window so you can monitor the water as your filling it.
• A nonstick hot plate.
• Automatic shutoff .
• Made of stainless steel and plastic.

For now, I’m staying neutral this week as it goes through it’s testing. I’m kicking the tires and testing out all of it’s promises, inspecting all of the features and looking into all of those bad reviews. Good or bad, I’ll report back on what I find in a review next week.

Is there anything that you would like to know about this coffee maker? Do you have this machine, what do you think about it?

—

Fine Print.

The Coffeemaker From Hell? Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker Preview is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Coffee Grinder

The very first thing that I would buy is a coffee grinder. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one when you’re just getting into coffee, just one that gets the job done. No one says that you can’t upgrade later.

Mr. Coffee Electric Coffee Grinder with Chamber Maid Cleaning System $19.85 @ Amazon

I like this particular model because I had it myself and used it a lot until I bought an upgrade grinder. It’s still getting used a lot and still going strong.

The reason that I’d want a coffee grinder is so that I could start buying whole beans at the store. (I may have said this before…) Ground coffee goes stale within fifteen minutes, so the only way to get fresh coffee that’s full of aromas and flavors is to buy whole beans.

French Press

The drip coffee maker makes coffee, but if I was just starting out, I wouldn’t just want to make coffee. I would want to brew the coffee so that I could experience all of the aromas and flavors that are hidden inside of the coffee.

Bodum Chambord 8 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34 oz., Chrome $39.99 @ Amazon

This is the French Press that I have, I actually have two of them now. Every morning, I pull one out of the cabinet and use it to brew my first cup of coffee. It’s safe thing that I used to brew 99% of the coffee that I’m reviewing.

I have an 8 cup model, it’s perfect for two people. If you want to make just one cup at a time, they also come in four cup styles.

The French Press can look a little intimidating with all of it’s parts, but once you get it in front of you, it becomes a lot more simple. In fact, I have this feeling that you’ll wonder how you ever survived without a French Press. I know I have that feeling.

And that’s it. Sure there’s a lot more equipment, that I would add to the list. But if I were just starting out and getting into good coffee, this is the equipment I would want.

See it’s not that bad, it’s not like getting into a hobby, say like sailing where you have to buy a boat, a whole new wardrobe, etc.

Side note, the links to Amazon above are my affiliate links. I’ll get a small commission if you buy something through that link. That commission helps to keep DSOC running, but please note there are other places that sell these products.

What equipment would you recommend for someone just getting into good coffee?

What Equipment Does A Coffee Beginner Need? is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Pros:

• Makes Coffee And Tea
• Lots Of Features
• Easy To Use/Clean

Cons:

• Not A French Press
• Leaky Carafe
• Not A Thermal Carafe

[Show as slideshow]

I started the review process for the Faberware 12-Cup Programmable Coffee and Tea Maker (Stainless Steel Exterior) back in the beginning of November. Over a month later, the review is finally done and I’m ready to share the results with you guys and gals. My apologies for the time it took, most of the time it takes a week or two to do a through review, but there were some delays this time (I’ll explain below).

Pros

One thing that really makes this coffee maker stand out from the majority of other coffee makers is that it makes coffee and tea. I love coffee and I like tea, so it sounded like a win/win. I had some concerns that the coffee would taste like tea and the tea would taste like coffee. However, the way Faberware designed it, with separate coffee and tea filters, there wasn’t any cross flavor contamination.

Another thing that sets this coffee maker apart is it’s abundance of features. Some I like include the sneak a cup feature which allows you to take out the carafe and pour a single cup of coffee without making a mess, water filtration system and auto shutoff. Others like the brew strength selector didn’t seem all that great to me. (I would rather control the strength of the coffee with the amount of coffee I use and how it’s ground.

With all of the features and buttons, I thought this coffee maker might be a little difficult to use. That wasn’t a problem. I opened the box, put it together and brewed my first batch of coffee without looking at the directions. I didn’t look at the directions until I wanted to test out some of the features like programming it and the small brew option. It’s also very easy to clean. It’s as simple as rising out the carafe and cleaning the filter. There wasn’t anything else to clean.

Cons

I didn’t have many complaints about the Faberware coffee maker, my first complaint, which is really out of the hands of Faberware, is that it’s a drip coffee maker and not a French Press. It’s really not a fair complaint, but French Presses do make better tasting coffee. Don’t get me wrong, the Faberware did make smooth, good tasting coffee. However, the French Press does make more flavorful cups of coffee.

Now about that reason for the delay. The first machine I tested had a leaky carafe. At first I thought it was the spout, but it turned to be the seal between the plastic top and the glass carafe. On the second machine, the seal on the carafe kept my counters safe from water and coffee. After checking online reviews, I did find a few people who had bought this machine that had a similar problem. It does look a limited problem, but for the people who did have the leak, at least some of them had a problem getting a replacement carafe from Faberware.

The only other thing that I would change about this coffee maker is that I would make it with a thermal carafe. I’d rather have a thermal carafe to keep it warm then a hot plate. I can taste the difference.

Final Thoughts

Overall, The Faberware 12-Cup Programmable Coffee And Tea Maker is a good all around machine to have in the kitchen. It’ll make coffee and tea, has most of the features that I want and is easy to use. If you’re looking for a drip coffee maker, this is a good buy for your kitchen.

You can find this coffee maker only at Walmart and on their website. The current price is $59.98.

—

Fine Print.

Review Faberware 12-Cup Programmable Coffee and Tea Maker is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Coffee grinders are important because coffee starts to lose it’s flavor and go stale within fifteen minutes of being ground. That means all of the pre-ground coffee that you see on the shelves at grocery stores in stale. No matter how good of equipment they have, there is no saving their coffee. When you get them a coffee grinder, they will be able to taste the difference.

Entry Level Coffee Grinders

The Mr. Coffee Electric Coffee Grinder with Chamber Maid Cleaning System was the first coffee grinder that I owned. It’s affordable (less than twenty bucks) and gets the job done. Read my review.
Mr. Coffee Electric Coffee Grinder with Chamber Maid Cleaning System

• Measures 4-1/2 by 4 by 8-inch; 1-year limited warranty.
• Removable, dishwasher-safe grinding chamber; cord storage
• Chamber maid cleaning system; bowl scraper dislodges coffee from grinding area
• 3 Grind settings; wide upper collar; flip-top lid for mess-free filling and emptying
• Electric coffee grinder grinds 4 to 12 cups for precision brewing

Buy at Amazon for $18.89

Mid Level Coffee Grinders

Earlier this year, 1800Parts.com sent me the Krups Burr Grinder GVX 2. I haven’t used my Mr. Coffee Grinder since then. The Krups Burr Grinder isn’t perfect, but the grind is a lot more accurate and I can taste the difference. Read my review.

Krups GVX2-12 Burr Grinder, Black and Silver

• Generously-sized burr grinder; avoids overheating and preserves aroma
• Constructed of durable black plastic and brushed stainless steel
• Fineness selector offering 17 different settings; adapts to fit each type of coffee maker
• Large capacity hopper; removable ground coffee container
• Measures 10 by 4-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty

Currently on sale at Amazon for $50.93

Premium Level Coffee Grinders

If your loved one is serious about their coffee, it’s time to stop messing around. They need the Virtuoso Preciso from Baratza. The Baratza coffee grinders are what many coffee roasters and shop owners use to grind their beans. It gives you 440 levels of adjustment that allow the coffee love on your shopping list to fine tune until they get the perfect cup of coffee. If they’re a coffee nerd, they need this.

• Features a pulse button for more accurate grinding
• Commercial-grade conical burrs won’t heat up the coffee while grinding
• 440 distinct steps of adjustment for more control over your coffee
• Includes thermal safety device to keep the motor in good shape and prevent overheating
• Easy to clean with the provided bristle brush and removable burrs

Buy the Virtuoso Preciso at Amazon for $299.99.

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Coffee Grinders is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

A little bit about this coffee gadget before I get into what I’m going to be looking at as I go through the review process.

The Faberware 12-Cup Programmable Coffee And Tea Maker is only available through Walmart and retails for about sixty bucks. It’s made of stainless steel, comes with two permanent filters (one for coffee/one for tea) and includes a built-in water filtration system.

It’s main features include:

• 24-hour auto brew programming
• Sneak-A-Cup feature
• Auto-clean function
• Small brew option (1 to 4 cups)
• Brew strength selector
• Water filtration system
• Elapsed timer with 1 to 2 hour auto shutoff
• Non-stick warm plate
• Perfect pour glass carafe
• Duralife glass carafe
• Permanent tea filter
• Permanent coffee filter
• Freshness indicator (time since brewed)
• Ready signal tone
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Cord management with cord wrap

First impression is that it looks like a good,e very day kind of coffee maker. I’ll be putting it through some intense use to see just how well of a job it does at brewing coffee, the quality of the machine, ease of use and a few other things along those lines.

And on a side note, it’s the first coffee/tea maker that I’ve tested. I’ve been known to get my tea drinking on every once in a while, so I’m curious if it makes both high quality coffee and tea.

What do you look for in a coffee maker? What do you think I should look at as I’m reviewing this coffee maker? And have you tried this specific model for yourself?

—

Fine Print.

First Look At Faberware’s 12-Cup Programmable Coffee and Tea Maker is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

It’s time for me to start answering those questions with the annual Daily Shot Of Coffee holiday shopping guide. Each week until Christmas, I’ll examine different types of coffee related gifts, from ways to brew coffee to books about coffee. Along the way, I’ll answer as many questions as I can to make sure that you get that special someone that perfect gift!

I’m going to start of this week with presents that involve brewing coffee.

French Press

If you have a budding coffee fanatic on your shopping list and they don’t have a french press, this is the year to get them one. It’s an essential item in every coffee enthusiasts collection and once they try a french press, they probably will never go back to their drip coffee maker. It really does brew better tasting coffee that brings out all of the flavors.

Pros:

• Excellent Coffee
• Price Is The Same As Most Drip Coffee Makers
• Did I Mention It Makes Incredible Coffee

Cons:

• Fragile & Lack Of Padding In Shipment
• Not As Quick And Easy As A Drip Maker To Make And Clean

Buy the Bodum Chambord Coffee Press $34.45 at Amazon.

Read my full review of the french press.

Drip Coffee Maker

If the person on your list has a beat up little Mr. Coffeemaker drip coffee maker hanging around their kitchen, it’s time to give them an upgrade. I’ve tried a lot of drip coffee makers and there’s very few that I will recommend. However there is one that I have no problem suggesting to people looking for a drip coffee maker, it’s the Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffeemaker. It brews coffee at a hotter temperature than most drip coffee makers and I can taste the difference.

Pros:

• Thermal carafe keeps coffee warm without burning it.
• Coffee brews hotter, bringing out more flavor.
• Easy to set the time and to program it.

Cons:

• Tall, may not fit under some cabinets.
• Thermal carafe with no marking for cup measurement.
• Coffee filters didn’t fit in perfectly.

Buy the Zojirushi EC-BD15BAFresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker for $69.20 at Amazon.

Read my more detailed review of the Zojirushi.

Chemex

The Chemex is the perfect gift for the family member or friend that’s really starting to get serious about their coffee. It makes great coffee, looks cool and I’m sure they will use it proudly, showing off their coffee nerdiness. I know I do! My awesome girlfriend got me one of these last year and it quickly became one of my favorite coffee gadgets.

Buy the Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe – 6 Cup for $39.95 at Amazon.

Read my review and watch my Chemex video.

Aeropress

Speaking of coffee gadgets, the Aeropress is a cool little doodad that doesn’t look like any other coffee maker that I’ve ever seen. In fact, it kind of looks like a giant syringe, but it makes amazing, extra smooth coffee. It’s small enough so that it’s perfect for the son to use in his college dorm room, the busy wife at the office or for the business man that’s always traveling.

Pros:

• Easy And Quick To Use
• Easy Clean Up
• Great Tasting Coffee

Cons:

• Fits Only On A Traditional Sized Cup
• Need A Thermometer
• Clean Up Can Be Messy

Buy the Aerobie AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker for $25.95 at Amazon.

Read my review of the Aeropress.

Moka Stove Top Espresso Maker

You say they have every coffee gadget out there and you still don’t know what to get them? Do they have a Moka Stove Top Espresso Maker? If they don’t pick one up for them. It falls into the cool, retro gadget category and is perfect for making coffee on the weekends.

Pros:

• Makes amazing tasting Italian style espresso
• Simple to use
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Can take ten (plus) minutes long, but really I’m not going to complain too loudly about that. Good coffee is worth waiting for.
• Small learning curve

Buy the Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Makers for $24.48 at Amazon.

Check out my full review of the Moka Pot.

Do you still need more suggestions or are looking for something else? Let me know in the comments or ask me your questions via the contact page and I’ll do my best to help you out!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Coffee Brewing Equipment is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee