Coffee Shop

15 Household Uses For Coffee Filters

2007-11-18T06:03:00.003-08:00

Coffee filters can be used for more than filtering coffee. You will be amazed at the many other uses for coffee filters. These creative ideas are both money and time savers, and who doesn’t like saving money? Once you see the wide array of ideas you are sure to come up with a bunch more. Here are a few ideas for putting your coffee filters to use:

Coffee filters can be used as disposable bowls for snacks such as popcorn, chips or crackers, allowing you to save time.
You can use these filters if you run out of paper towels to clean windows, and they do an excellent job.
Heat up leftovers in the microwave and cover them with a filter. This will help keep your microwave clean.
Use coffee filters to absorb grease from greasy foods, they do the job perfectly.
Catch ice cream drips by using a coffee filter as an ice cream cone holder, it will absorb the mess.
Use like a Kleenex when you don’t have a tissue, it will get the job done when you are in a pinch.
Keep a few coffee filters in the trunk of your car, and you will be able to check the fluids with ease and avoid the mess.
Use them to clean your glasses, they actually work the best and won’t leave any lint on the lenses.
Make an air freshener by adding some baking soda and using a twist tie to secure the contents. Then put them in all the places you need to freshen up.
Use as small bowls to divide ingredients to ease the mess in the kitchen and making cleaning a breeze.
Use coffee filters to polish your shoes, this will keep them nice and shiny.
Us e them when you are packing breakable dishes, this will help protect them better than newspaper.
Use coffee filters as coffee cup covers when you are re-heating coffee to avoid any spilling or splashing. This will help keep your microwave looking its best.
You can use them to protect your counter when you are cutting vegetables, they will help make sure you are slicing the vegetables and not your counter.
Coffee filters can be used to help diffuse the brightness of the flash on your camera. This will help ensure that you get the best picture possible.

To Sum It Up

Coffee filters can be used for many things that you may never have thought of, so be sure to take advantage of all these extra household ideas, and you will indeed save time and money.

The Unseen Dangers Of Coffee Cup Warmers

2007-11-18T06:03:00.001-08:00

Coffee cup warmers will sell in every major supermarket by the year 2010, and they are more dangerous than electric blankets. More than 22% of house fires start by electrical item such as the coffee cup warmer. Most Americans today find some convenience in the common household coffee cup warmer. Our fast-paced lives do not allow us to slow down, stop at the microwave and reheat for the tenth time our chilled coffee. So low and behold the coffee cup warmer. Just plug this in anywhere you have an available outlet, seems easy enough. What most of us do not realize that in this fast-paced atmosphere we also do not have time to baby-sit this wonder product? Every label on electronic items like the coffee cup warmer reads, “Do not leave unattended”. Why this is so confusing to us, I do not know. Repeatedly the news blares out yet another incredible house-fire from electrical items left unattended.

Office Dangers

Most fast-paced work areas have use for an item such as the coffee cup warmer. It is much more attractive to have right at you desk with-in an inch of your mouse a heating element that conveniently keeps you from running to the microwave. Unfortunately, there are office meetings, phone calls, lunch, and just plain being busy. We are far too busy in fact to keep our eye on the coffee cup warmer. Just one piece of mail or small sticky note falling onto the heating element, this is all it takes and you are the next big news story.

Elderly and Coffee Cup Warmers

Some may think that the elderly have nothing but time to keep their eye on this very compact death unit. I must contest this sort of wayward thinking. The dangers of our poor little grandmas and grandpas using a coffee cup warmer are a little more straightforward. As we get on in age, the tendency towards dementia is a little more apt to happen. More than 10% of Americans today are living independently with some form of dementia. Coffee cup warmers are a popular gift to our elderly relatives. These little units have the capability of getting as hot as a 250-degree oven. This is hot enough to stick the skin right to the unit. One might think that it might hurt a little when an incident like that happens, but we Americans still keep buying these little miracle units. Consider yourself warned!

The Great Smell from Coffee Roasters

2007-07-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

A lot of people enjoy drinking coffee; these coffee lovers do not find anything better smelling than the smell that comes from coffee roasters as beans are being freshly roasted. However, most of the average coffee drinkers are more than willing to allow their local coffee house or their preferred coffee producer to do the roasting for them.

This is most likely because roasting your own coffee beans only became an option recently when small, computerized coffee roasters came onto the market. These are a lot friendlier than commercial coffee roasters but they do cost a lot. Plus, it is also difficult to roast your own beans because you want them to retain their flavor.

So, the question remains...

Who Needs Coffee Roasters?

Some coffee enthusiasts are actually interested in all of the different aspects that go into making a perfect cup of coffee for themselves to enjoy. If you are this type of a person, than these new, smaller, computerized coffee roasters could be a perfect addition to your kitchen. They will allow you to choose the type of bean for brewing and then make sure that it is roasted just right. With this machine on your countertop you can make sure that your beans have the proper amount of heat applied to them for just the right amount of time.

You do need to know that this is a difficult procedure though and it can leave your beans devoid of flavor. So, you will need to practice this hobby for quite some time before you create your perfect roast. However, this is not as complicated as it is in the commercial world. Nevertheless, it is still time consuming, which is why this is not for everyone.

Therefore, if you are happy with the brand of roasted coffee that you purchase for brewing, from your local supermarket or gourmet coffee house, you should continue to purchase it from them. After all, you can still create a great cup of coffee without being involved in the entire process. On the other hand, if you are concerned about having the perfect bean for brewing, and would like to get more involved in the process, then this is definitely the way to go. It will lower your cost and provide you with a great cup of coffee that has been roasted in a way that you would like it to be.

Coffee Pods will give you the Perfect Cup of Coffee Every Time

2007-07-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

The past decade has seen a rise in the popularity of espresso and espresso drinks in the United States. Machines are now sold in almost every retailer across the country so the individuals can make that cup of espresso at home every day. The problem with these machines is that they are not as easy to use as a basic coffee maker, since they tend to be messier and require more steps before completing that cup of coffee.

First, there is the measuring that must be done fairly precisely. Next, you must tamp the grounds tightly into the machine to ensure that the water goes through the grounds at the right amount of pressure. The process can be confusing and tedious to even the most avid coffee connoisseur. Wouldn’t it be great to get that cup of espresso in the morning without going to so much effort and mess?

Hence, the advent of the coffee pods. These handy little packets contain coffee grounds that are compressed and bound between sheets of biodegradable filter paper. The compression ensures that your water pressure will be just right as it shoots through your coffee pod, and the packet design will reduce the amount of messy cleanup that is required once your cup of coffee is brewed to your liking. You can even toss your used pod into your garden for a little extra fertilizing. The life of a daily coffee drinker has just gotten a little easier, to say the least!

Where to Find Coffee Pods

The other good news about these new coffee pods is that they are easy to find, and fairly cost effective since you are greatly reducing the amount of waste in your coffee use. These coffee pods come in a couple of different sizes so that you can find the right fit for your espresso machine, and they offer a variety of flavors so that everyone’s taste buds can be satisfied. You can find these pods at your local coffee shop, or even at some grocery stores. There are also retailers on the Internet that offer a variety of coffee pods today, so you can shop for your coffee making supplies from the comfort of your home office.

Coffee is a staple for many people, because it offers a hot and tasty way to jumpstart the day. Thanks to coffee pods, that process has now become a little easier and less messy. Try your coffee pods today, and enjoy a great cup of java in the morning!

The Popularity of Flavored Coffee Drinks

2007-07-07T00:37:00.001-07:00

While some people only drink coffee in order to wake up in the morning, others are very selective about the coffee that they drink. If you fall in the latter category, you should try gourmet coffee. This coffee comes from beans that have been grown around the world and then made into flavored coffee drinks, using special preparation techniques.

These types of flavored coffee are actually causing people to stand up and take notice of this beverage especially as people's tastes evolve. While they start out drinking coffee that has a lot of cream and sugar in them, over time they will put less and less cream and sugar and may even start to drink it black. With all of the different choices of flavored coffee available, maybe it is time for you to try something new.

Brief History of Flavored Coffee

In the 1990s, flavored coffee became very popular. However, this type of coffee can actually be traced back several centuries to the Turks. Over time, a lot of people have developed strong feelings about this type of coffee; either they love it or they hate it and only want to drink naturally flavored coffee.

Flavored coffee is made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they have been roasted and before they have been ground. Another way in which this coffee can be made is by adding liquid flavors to the coffee while it is being prepared, in much the same was as cream and sugar are added.

Types of Flavors

Generally speaking, there are four categories of this type of coffee. The first category includes flavors based upon spices such as clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom. Next, there are also some coffee flavors that are based upon fruits such as coconut or raspberry. Chocolate based flavors are the next type with the most common being chocolate mint. Lastly, some flavors are based upon nuts like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nuts. Crème coffees also have their share of followers; these include flavors such as Irish Creme or French Vanilla coffee.

As you can see, there are a lot of different ways in which coffee can be prepared. There are also dark roast, light roast, espresso and regular coffee. After deciding on the blend, flavor and the roast, you have the option of drinking it black or with cream and sugar added.

The Simplicity of French Press Coffee

2007-07-07T00:35:00.000-07:00

Although there are different methods for producing a great cup of coffee - from instant coffee to complex cappuccino machines - most people tend to make theirs with the simplicity of an electric coffee maker. But there are other methods accessible to you that can make a great cup of coffee, such as French press coffee. If you haven’t seen one in use, then you’re missing out on a simple way to produce a rich cup of coffee.

The Pot

The main hardware for French press coffee is the plunger pot, and it’s basically all you need in order to make coffee with this method. It consists of a small jug with a sort of plunging mechanism on top. This plunger has a sort of mesh on it which is used to filter out the coffee grounds. In order to make French press coffee, you add water directly to the grounds in your plunger pot and let it steep for a few minutes. You then push down on the plunger to filter out the grounds from the liquid. The making of French press coffee is no more difficult than that, easy enough for anyone to operate.

The Coffee

When you grind your beans for French press coffee, you want to shoot for a coarse grind, since larger pieces will get filtered out better by the mesh of the plunger. French press coffee will produce a stronger brew than you’ll get with a coffee machine, which is great if you like a coffee with a lot of flavor. Keep in mind that with this method, there will be some small particles in the coffee after pouring. This is normal, and it doesn’t mean that you’re doing something wrong.

One thing to know about French press coffee is that it should be served right away, since the water and grounds are still in contact. If you wait too long, the mix will become unpleasantly acidic. So don’t make French press coffee and expect it to be good for a second cup in an hour. For this reason, most plunger pots are small in size.

Convenience

French press coffee is remarkably easy to make and low-tech, since you can make it without electricity. For this reason, it’s great on camping trips, since the plunger pot fits easily in a backpack and can be used outdoors. Similarly, for those traveling without guarantee of a coffee machine at their destination, a French press coffee jug can fit easily in your travel bag and ensures you can have a cup wherever you go. With the convenience, ease of use, and flavor that French press coffee making provides, it is sure to be a hit with you and your family.

Gourmet Coffee: Not Just for Special Occasions Any More

2007-06-10T07:43:00.001-07:00

Through the years, coffee has been that quick and easy beverage that offered a kick but very few options other than cream or sugar. As the consumer has become more sophisticated; so has his coffee. Instead of simply a choice of brewed or instant, coffee now comes in just about any flavor, strength or combination to please even the pickiest of drinkers. Instead of being a rare treat, more and more coffee drinkers keep gourmet coffee stocked in their cupboard for any and all occasions.

Where Do I Buy Gourmet Coffee?

Gourmet coffee is readily available in most grocery stores as well as café’s but the easiest way to buy and get the best selection and price is by doing a search on the internet. There are many gourmet coffee websites available with something for any taste along with a price range from fairly inexpensive to over $100 a pound.

Does Gourmet Coffee Make a Good Gift?

Gourmet coffee makes a great gift - in fact many couples are adding it to their bridal registry! Gourmet coffee gifts are always a hit for housewarming or business gifts as well. Many coffee makers even offer their own gift registry along with gift baskets that include not only the gourmet coffee but also accessories to go along with it. Once again these gifts can range from under $20 to well into the hundreds of dollars depending on what kind of gift you want.

It is pretty clear with all of the gourmet coffee houses that are springing up on almost every street corner of every main business and college town that gourmet coffee is not only here to stay but is also good business. Starbucks comes out in the top ten most popular stocks on a regular basis and over the holidays they are as packed as any department store with shoppers looking for the perfect gift.

Gourmet coffee is not just for special occasions anymore and with the wide variety available there is no reason that you can’t enjoy a cup in the morning, at your desk or when sitting back and watching television. Look around and try out some the many varieties that are available until you find the gourmet coffee that is right for you. You are sure to find at least one favorite but it is more likely you will find several to suit your many moods.

Indulge Yourself with Gevalia Coffee

2007-06-10T07:42:00.004-07:00

For coffee lovers, Gevalia is one of the favorites both for the convenience of shopping at home and a vast selection of quality coffee to choose from. Gevalia coffee became well known for giving away a free coffee pot with your first order and for shipping a different package of coffee every month for as long as you wished to receive the coffee.

Today Gevalia coffee is one of the most popular online coffee companies in the United States. If you ask around, someone you know has either ordered from Gevalia coffee in the past or they are a regular customer even today. With a variety of coffee from all over the world and flavors to treat even the pickiest of coffee drinkers, Gevalia coffee is a quick and easy way to try new coffee without ever leaving the comfort of your home to shop.

Seasonal Blends

Gevalia coffee is a perfect solution for any office or business as they deliver coffee right to you and you can order as much or as little as you need. For the more discriminating coffee drinker Gevalia coffee offers many specialty coffees including their limited edition and seasonal coffee lines. You might want to stock up on their seasonal coffee before the season ends as nobody can really resist crème brule in the summer or pumpkin spice in the fall.

Tea and Snacks

If you need more than coffee, Gevalia coffee can also take care of you tea needs from traditional black tea to green and herbal teas Gevalia coffee offers both quality and taste for your tea. Of course neither coffee nor tea can ever be complete without a delicious snack to go with them, so Gevalia coffee offers a selection of cookies, pastries and chocolates to make you experience complete.

Today Gevalia offers more than just a coffee of the month package; they also offer a tea of the month and a coffee and tea combination along with a wonderful free gift. If you are a coffee lover and you haven’t tried Gevalia yet, now is the time to give it a try. If you are a long time Gevalia coffee drinker you might want to check out all of the new things that Gevalia coffee now has to offer. There is no better way to indulge yourself than with a great cup of coffee or tea anytime of the day or night, so what are you waiting for - give Gevalia coffee a try.

Espresso Coffee – The Grand Taste Experience

2007-06-10T07:42:00.003-07:00

If you are an avid coffee drinker, then chances are you are familiar with espresso coffee. This particular type coffee is very concentrated, has a strong flavor and the consistency is usually much thicker than your average coffee.

Espresso coffee is usually enjoyed alone with a rich, bold taste that stands up very well on its own. It has a distinctive aroma which is similar to freshly ground coffee, only richer. Many people like to enjoy a cup of espresso coffee in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. The concentrated flavor and caffeine level serves to give you an energy burst, especially if you are feeling sluggish after a big meal.

Espresso coffee involves extracting only the best parts of the coffee bean by using water and pressure. You can purchase machines for the home that will produce some surprisingly good espresso coffee. It is best if you do some research before purchasing one of the machines since they offer different ways to extract the coffee bean flavor. The cheaper home machines usually put out a bitter tasting espresso which is not that great to drink. By paying a little more for a quality machine you will find that the difference in the taste of the espresso is well worth the difference in price of the machine.

Enjoying the Perfect Grind at Home

Learning how to produce a great cup of espresso coffee will take practice and patience. Creating that special blend will take a lot of hands-on tasting experience. There are websites that offer suggestions and help with this process.

Espresso is quite often dark roasted which will turn out bitter. A light roast is usually sweeter and offers the best aroma. Espresso is best if brewed within four days of roasting. The grind is also an important factor in flavor. Typically espresso is ground finer than regular coffee. The best taste is achieved when it is brewed just after the grinding process. This is when you get the maximum benefit of aroma and taste.

Water temperature for brewing espresso coffee is usually best if it is just under the boiling point. This prevents the coffee from having a bitter flavor. When looking to purchase an espresso machine you should always look to see what temperature water the machine produces. This is a very important factor when you are looking for great taste.

The taste of espresso is also added to many other drinks to provide richness and flavor. Frozen espresso drinks are becoming a very popular item at specialty coffee stands. Espresso syrup is also used to flavor ice cream. For those people who really love coffee, espresso will be something they feel they must experience on a daily basis.

How Starbucks Coffee Became a Worldwide Success

2007-06-10T07:42:00.001-07:00

Starbucks coffee is one of the top names in the coffee industry, producing high-class beans, brewing accessories and building coffee shops worldwide. However, Starbucks coffee started out the same as any other business – with a few shops and enough products to sell.

The history of Starbucks coffee began in Seattle around 1971 when three friends (Zev Siegl, Gordon Bowker and Jerry Baldwin) opened their small shop and began selling freshly roasted coffee beans and brewing accessories. It branched out to six outlets throughout Washington around 1980, when Zev Siegl sold out in pursuit of other ventures.

Howard Schultz and His Vision

In 1982, a plastics salesman named Howard Schultz was hired as head of the marketing department of Starbucks coffee. During a trip in Italy around 1983, Schultz found himself obsessed with Italy’s coffee beans and industry, which started his idea of setting up a coffee shop in the United States. Unfortunately, Baldwin wasn’t too excited about Schultz’s idea, but he did let him test the idea by implementing a small espresso bar in one of the Starbucks stores. Because of its immediate success, Schultz opened up his own store named “II Giornale”.

It was only in 1987 that Shultz started a worldwide name for Starbucks coffee when Baldwin decided to sell the company for $3.8 million. Schultz convinced several investors of his vision – 120 Starbucks outlets for the next five years. He converted the six Starbucks shops into coffee houses and changed the name of II Giornale shops into Starbucks.

In 1992, the Starbucks coffee shops in operation totaled 165, exceeding Schultz’s original vision. Today, over 8,000 cafes in thirty countries are in operation with annual revenues of over $7.5 million.

Starbucks Coffee Liqueur

Starbucks coffee liqueur is the company’s “adult-only” version of their line of coffees. Sold in 750 ml bottles, the main idea of the company is to sell the liquor, their coffee and the name Starbucks into one. The product itself comes from 100 per cent Starbucks coffee combined with 20 per cent alcohol. This line of liquor-coffee product is a result of a joint venture with Jim Beam Brands, which is a major player in the wine industry. The reason for the marketing of this product was due to a Starbucks survey that revealed that over 50 per cent of their loyal clients consumed coffee liquors.

Starbucks coffee has collaborated with other companies, such as Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Pepsi-Cola Company. With the company’s collaboration with Jim Bean, Starbucks coffee reports that their DoubleShot remains the number one in the liquor-coffee category.

With the production of high-class coffee beans, brewing accessories, coffee makers and espresso machines as well as the collaboration of different top players in other industries, Starbucks coffee continues to produce well-known products that both loyal patrons and new coffee drinkers love.

Home Roasting Green Coffee Beans

2007-06-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

When one thinks of coffee, the color green never really comes to mind. However green is actually the color that coffee starts out before it is ground, roasted, brewed and served up. Home coffee roasting is a lot easier than many of us may think. Roasting green coffee beans takes practice and if done in the correct manner, the results will be far better to anything you would buy at your local store. The biggest advantage to home coffee roasting is that it allows coffee lovers to experience the freshest cup of coffee possible by roasting Arabica green coffee beans at any time to suit any taste preference. With the vast selection of green coffee beans, the home coffee roaster also can create a coffee that best meets the taste and enables them to enjoy their own flavor preference.
Roasting is the gradual process of heating the green coffee bean to a desired roast. Different degrees of roast can be obtained by monitoring the coffee roasting process. The green coffee bean goes through a chemical change that causes the bean to change color during the coffee roasting process. Roasting green coffee beans can be done by several methods. The most economical method is roasting the beans in the oven or over the stove in a heavy frying pan. There are also several manufactures of home coffee roasting machines on the market today, which make the roasting process simpler for someone trying to roast green coffee from the comfort of their own home.
Coffee Roasting Hazards
No matter what method you decide to try keeping safety in mind and never leaving your coffee roaster unattended as it can be a definite hazard. Home coffee roasting requires supervision. Roasting at high temperatures require certain items to safeguard accidents. You will need to be prepared and organized; you should make completely sure that you have the items that are needed close by to prevent any unforeseen safety issues. Roasting coffee beans can emit smoke and chaff, which is a paper like skin that falls from the bean during the roasting process. Roasting green coffee to achieve a dark roast can produce oil called, caffinol, if left unsupervised it can be a highly flammable produce. In other words, it is never wise to walk away from the coffee roaster, it is just better to wait for the coffee roaster to do it’s job, or you may very well have your oven, stove or coffee roaster go up in flames and that would not be good situation.