Coffee Mugs For Every Personality

When you love coffee, why settle for a boring coffee cup when you can have it from your own personal mug?

Coffee mugs have evolved to adapt to the different preferences of coffee drinkers.  The usual dainty coffee cups are nice, especially when you have company visiting.  As a matter of fact, coffee cups are the preferred serving vessels in what is usually called the polite society.  It isn't the coffee mug.  The coffee mug can be used in a social setting that requires less formality where you can enjoy your coffee in greater quantities.

A coffee mug can be available in all shapes, styles and materials.  Basically, a coffee mug is a cup that is used to hold coffee, teas, steamed milk and hot chocolate.

Materials that are generally used for the production of coffee mugs could be glass, porcelain, plastics, and metals.  The shapes that mugs can be modelled into are even more varied.  Coffee mugs of recent times have been ideal souvenir items, marketing and promotional tools, suggested gift materials, and novelty items.  For many coffee drinkers though, it is just a simple coffee mug to hold the coffee in and sit lazily early in the morning to enjoy the morning sunshine and get perked up for the day ahead.

Porcelain coffee mugs

It is true that a porcelain coffee mug can retain heat better than plastics and metals and still have better coffee flavor.  Porcelain coffee mugs can be designed as pretty, as macho or as whimsical as anyone wants, but a porcelain coffee mug can also easily break.  In addition, porcelain coffee mugs may come with a porcelain cover to keep the coffee from spilling, but not an attached lid that could serve other purposes.

When you are drinking coffee in the office or near equipment and materials that should not have coffee spilled on them, you may prefer a coffee mug made from other materials.

Coffee travellers

The traveling coffee mug is designed for the coffee drinker who wants to avoid accidental spills.  Traveling coffee mugs are usually manufactured with a combination of metal and plastics with insulation to keep the heat in the coffee mugs longer.  Oftentimes, the inside of the coffee mug is made of plastic material while the outer cup is made from stainless steel.  The lid could be made with a drinking spout, but typically coffee is sipped from a hole in the lid to prevent spills.  This type of coffee mug is great while driving, drinking coffee on the job and for transporting liquids.  This coffee mug closely resembles a vacuum flask.

While the traveling mug is also great for outdoor activities, another more traditional type of coffee mug can be used as well.  These types of mugs are made of tin.  Tin mugs, though reminiscent of old campfires and the great outdoors, are gradually becoming an option in place of the more versatile traveling mugs.

Mugs can also be decorative.  Ornamental mugs come in different shapes and sizes that, aside from being a functional coffee mug, are also used to hold things and for decorative purposes.

There is also the puzzle mug.  Puzzle mugs are novelty mugs that require manipulation and intuitiveness to drink from.  Normally, there is a hidden method of drinking from these mugs but it is made with fun in mind.

Coffee mugs are great ways to enjoy your coffee, especially if you are a coffee lover.  The quantity of coffee they can hold can be as much as 20 ounces.

Coffee Hot And Fast With An Automatic Espresso Machine

For the passionate coffee lover -- those who love their coffee pure and rich and strong -- not much rivals the automatic espresso machine in terms of convenience.  Whether you visit your local coffee shop where the air comes alive with the hiss and heat of steam or you invest in an at-home automatic espresso machine where you're free to tinker with the perfect coffee recipe, the results are the same -- the perfect cup of coffee and a very, very happy coffee lover.

The automatic espresso machine comes in two varieties;  semi automatic and full automatic.  Using a semi automatic espresso machine requires partial participation on the part of the user.  Whoever is operating the machine must start it at which point the automatic espresso machine takes over.  When the brewing process is complete, the user then shuts down the machine.  The full automatic espresso machine does not require any operator participation.  This is usually a larger and pricier automatic espresso machine due to its heightened complexity;  but it brews completely on its own coordinating a system of water, grinders, and extractors.

Deciding which automatic espresso machine would best suit your needs depends on its intended use.  For commercial use, a full automatic espresso machine makes more sense;  there's more space for a larger machine and the demand for multiple cups of espresso would make the need for heavy operator participation inefficient.

For at home use, a semi automatic espresso machine would be sufficient for private brewing.  Its smaller size takes space issues into consideration and it is normally less pricey than its larger counterpart.

To find the model that works best for you, start your research on the Internet.  You will be able to access thousands of consumer report records that will tell you which of the machines you are interested are performing the best.

Whether it's in the local coffee shop -- or in your home -- an automatic espresso machine can readily brew the highest quality cup of coffee available.

Choosing The Right Type Of Wine

Wines as we know them are generally distinguished as either red or white wine.  However, this distinction is much too simplified considering the various types of wine depending on the grapes they were made of and the location of the vineyard where they were grown.

Having invested possibly hundreds of dollars in your latest bottle of vintage wine (ah well, we can but dream), the next important decision is where to store this prized possession?

The knowledge that wine can come in hundreds, perhaps thousands of flavors, can leave you with a feeling of dread especially when you have to order wine in restaurants.  The basic rule is that there is no one perfect wine because it really depends on your own taste buds.  An expensive wine that may taste perfect for one can taste horrible to another.

When ordering wine in restaurant, ask for the wine you personally prefer or have gotten familiar to the taste of.  If you are the adventurous type or you really don't have an idea which wines are good, then it is always practical to ask the help of the waiter or the restaurant staff taking your order.  It is proper to surmise that the staff or waiter should have been given instructions and the basic training in wine selection by the restaurant owner or manager.  But what if the waiter is just as ignorant as their customers about their wine list?  What if the big decision as to which wine to order is left in your hands?  Art of Wine Tasting.

If no one on the staff is knowledgeable about wines or can't make suggestions, ask the waiter to just come back and then ask your companions about their preferences.  Ask your dining companions whether they prefer red or white wine.  The most common choices would be chardonnay for white wine as this is the king of white wine, or cabernet sauvignon for red wine as this is known as the king of red wine.  No other choice could be much safer.

Wines benefit from being kept in dark conditions.  Although this is not always practical, wine should certainly be stored in an area that is not exposed it to direct sunlight.

If you are eating white meat life fish or chicken, it would be best to order white wine.  If you have chosen red meat like pork or beef roast, then red wine lie Pinot Noir would be an ideal wine to order.  Ordering wine by the bottle is sometimes cheaper than ordering wine by glass.  There are restaurants that offer discounts to customers who order two or more bottles of wine.

Whether or not you have a limited budget, it is always wise to ask for the price of wine per bottle or per glass, if only to have a stock knowledge of their prices the next time you are tasked with the same decision to order wine for the group.  If money isn't a problem for you, then Dom Perignon would be a good choice although this wine is higher priced than the others.  There are equally good wine sparklers like Iron Horse or Domaine Chandon which are priced reasonably, depending on where you are eating.

There are wines that are better when they are less than three years old.  You can try ordering white wines like Pinot Blanc or French Macon are dry white wines that command good prices and can be eaten well with appetizers.  Wines are best drunk when they have been properly chilled.

Many modern wines do not need to be aged over a great period of time;  therefore extensive cellars are often unnecessary.  Having said this, if you have the time, space and resource to excavate a cellar, your wine will surely benefit.  A purpose built cellar is not normally an option for most households and so suitable alternatives must be explored.

Chocolate Candies

It is popular convention that when referring to chocolate candy, all one normally needs say is chocolate for an immediate connection to be made.  Chocolate remains the most popular candy in America, surpassing greatly all other types of candy being sold.  Many people describe the experience of a great passion for their chocolate.  Often referred to as ''chocoholics'', they attribute obvious addictive properties in the substance found in candy bars and desserts consumed daily.

Chocolate comes in so many forms today that it would be difficult to list them all.  The form most often utilized by candy makers is the candy bar.  Names like Hershey's, Mars, and Nestle are synonymous with chocolate candy.  Companies like these have been cranking out their cocoa confections for nearly a century, earning them billions of dollars.  The formula for this success is simple:  create the best tasting chocolate candy possible and sell it for a competitive profit.  Creating the optimum product quality and thereby achieve customer satisfaction is the heritage on which many of these companies were founded.

Just as the big candy makers have found success in this, making chocolate candy on a small scale is immensely popular.  Making and selling chocolate candies is how many small locally owned and operated candy stores make a living.  These small candy makers often find a niche in the creation of gourmet chocolate candy that incorporates elaborate decoration and supreme quality of ingredients.

Making chocolate candy is a wholly different matter if candy making isn't a primary occupation.  While some of principles are the same, the scale will be on a completely different level than either of the previously mentioned sources of chocolate candy despite the fact that the methods used to create many of the candies are identical.  It typically becomes a matter of hobby rather than sales in these instances.  Yet with a marketing tool like the Internet at hand it is a simple matter to take what is currently a hobby and build it into an online candy business.

Thus it is no surprise that there are already several online chocolate candy businesses operating on the Internet.  In a day and age where many people are buying even their groceries online it isn't much of a stretch to browse the candy store from a computer screen.

All You Need To Know About Spirit Wines

Moderate wine consumption produces a better balance of these two.  Additionally, wine has an anti coagulation effect which makes the blood less likely to clot.

The health benefits of drinking alcohol can't be underrated.  Mainly because of the evidence that it can greatly prove your health.

However, not all alcoholic beverages can provide healthful gains.  Between wines and spirits, wines provide more healthful benefits compared to spirits.

Generally, spirits refer to purified or extracted alcohol.  The process of distilling alcohol is usually done by heating a ''fermented liquid''.  The liquid is made to disperse in the air making it change from a liquid state to a gas or vapor, and then squeezed back into its liquified form.  Learn the art of Wine Tasting.

Spirits are generally made from any natural material that can be ''fermented'' to produce alcohol.  You could surmise that wine with a little percentage of alcohol can be transformed into spirits by increasing its alcohol content and decreasing its liquid substance.

Measurements

Since spirits are distilled forms of any organic substance including wines with the abundance of alcohol content, these particular types of beverages are measured and assessed depending on their alcohol content.  Most countries that manufacture spirits use a particular means of measurement.  The common way is to use the ''Gay-Lussac system'' or measuring the spirits according to ''alcohol by volume'' or ABV.

For example, a particular spirit that is classified as 60% ABV means that it has 60% alcohol.  In the United States, spirits or any alcoholic beverage are classified in accordance to their alcohol content by using ''proof of scale''.  The ''proof'' of an alcoholic beverage, particularly spirits, has their ABVs doubled.  For instance, if a spirit has a 30% ABV, it is classified as 60% proof.

Classifications

Spirits are, basically, classified according to the kind of fermenting material that is used in the process of fermentation and distillation.

To know more about the classification of spirits, here is a list that can help you out:

1. Brandy

   This is a type of spirit that is made from ''fermented'' grape sap.  The alcohol contents of brandy are generated from a meticulous distillation process of grape juices, mostly from wines.

2. Gin, Vodka, etc.

   These spirits are generated from distilled beers that are naturally made from grains.

3. ''Fortified wines''

   These are special kinds of spirits made from a combination of ''fermented wine'' and extracted spirits, which are, more often than not brandy.

These are just a few of the many classifications of spirits.  They may differ from the kinds of materials that they have originated from but they are all extracted and distilled to produce alcohol.  That is why they are known as spirits.

Chemical and food experts have known for years that wine contains rich deposits of vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars that are often beneficial to good health.  Wine is also rich in potassium and low in sodium.  Red wines have more of these elements due to the juices longer contact with the grape skins.  Red wines are also rich in Vitamin B which comes from the grape skins as well.

4 Of The Most Common Cooking Methods Explained

If you are preparing any kind of meals from a recipe, it's important that you understand the various methods of cooking.  There are a number of terms for different ways of cooking, as follow.

Grilled

If a recipe calls for something to be grilled, it generally means it should be cooked over an open flame or heat.  Grilling can be done by charcoal or gas -- on a barbeque for example -- or it can be done using a grill of some sort on the burners of your stove.

Broiled

Broiling indicates cooking by exposing directly to a heat source such as a flame or element.  Most ovens have a "broil" setting, which heats an element at the top of the stove rather than the one at the bottom, which is used for baking.

When broiling items in the oven, they should normally be placed on the top rack to give them the proper heat exposure.

Frying vs Deep Frying

Both frying and deep-frying cook foods with a similar process, but the method is a little different in each case.  Frying can be done over any heat source, such as a stove element or an open flame.  Oil or butter is heated and the food is cooked by its heat.

Deep frying, on the other hand, also involves oil but in this case the food is completely submerged in the oil.  Deep frying is used for foods such as french fries, breaded chicken and doughnuts.  It can be dangerious, however, because you're dealing with boiling oil so proper equipment and safety precautions must be used.

Sauteing

Sauteing involved cooking food quickly in a small amount of fat.  It is similar in process to frying, but because of the smaller amount of fat and faster cooking times, it brings out stronger flavors than frying will.

Knowing what is involved with the various terms will make it easier to plan when following a recipe.  You'll know what equipment and ingredients you'll need that are unique to each method.

Wine Racks: The Solution For Practical Wine Storage

In order to get the best benefits out of good wines, they first need to sufficiently mature.  Wines only get better with time.  They must be stored properly during this period of maturing, as factors such as humidity, temperature, and proper lighting play an imperative role.  The easiest and most effective way to store wine is to use a wine rack.  Wine racks are to be selected carefully, keeping in mind which size of rack that you will require.

There are many choices of wine racks.  However, the horizontal types of racks are normally preferred to those that are vertical, especially for wines that will be stored for a long period of time.  Vertical racks do tend to dry the cork, which will end up spoiling the wine, just as many tilted racks do.  Horizontal racks won't dry up the cork and allow any unnecessary air contact, leaving your wine which is stored in a horizontal rack to be totally absent of sediment when it is poured.  Another benefit is that it is also inexpensive to maintain.

The very wide range of wine racks are normally made of either wood or metal, that can be kept sitting on the floor, or they can be suspended from the ceiling.

A wooden wine rack has an advantage over a metal rack, as it can provide much needed extra storage space.  They are strong and hard, and are aesthetically pleasing, mainly because they are made of cedar, maple, and mahogany.  The wide range of these wine racks includes Diamond Bin, Rectangular Bin, and the Curved Corner Rack.  If none of these are appealing to your creative nature, then you can purchase your own wooden kit which is all ready to make up with all the tools needed, making it very easy to install.  This will allow you to create your own design for a rack that you want.

Wine racks which are smaller in size are suitable for homes and personal collections, but larger businesses will usually require larger racks to store larger quantities and varieties.  Wine racks are very affordable, with prices that can range anywhere from $20 to $1000.  For most home uses of racks, you can look to spend in the neighborhood of $35-$300, which all depends on the style and size of what you are looking for.  There is a wine rack for all your needs, it is up to you to find that rack and begin storage.

Wine Basics -- Find Great Wine Values.

Ever felt discontentment and agitated after paying too much for a bottle of wine?  Getting a good deal on this kind of product is like getting a good deal on any other.  It feels simply good.  In fact there is an air of satisfaction just knowing that you have found true wine values in your purchases.

Wine values involve more than finding the least costly brand on the shelf.  One must remember the less money you spend does not assure you the feeling of satisfaction that getting a good, open deal does.  If that were the case, people would just buy the cheapest bottles on the shelves.  Well this does not happen.

While for some would argue that there are wine-snobs floating around who only like a brand if it costs an exorbitant amount of money.  Now this can be the case for a select few who find their wines by the cost rather than the wine values.  Despite the fact that it is more expensive it does not always mean more value.  There are certainly more things to consider than the price.

First in order to truly find wine values you have to look at the grand scale.  You do not necessarily want the cheapest brand on the market despite the fact that you can find decent quality in the cheapest brand on the shelf.  You also do not always find the best quality for the money with a high-priced purchase.  Obviously the balance is getting the most bang for your buck.  If you are faced with questions like;  what is the finest quality product available for the most reasonable price?  You may pay out a little more than the bottom-shelf brand but you will in fact appreciate the selection because of its superior quality.  You will also value the idea of knowing that your snobby neighbor paid nearly twice as much for the same quality varietals found in your economically-sound wine values.

Experimenting a little bit is definitely an excellent way to finding good wine values.  Instead of automatically looking at the commonly more expensive Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon try looking into a Pinot Blanc or a Pinot Noir instead.  You will be pleasantly surprised by trying less popular varietals as they can lead to great discoveries.

You may also want to consider wines from different regions as well.  Australia and New Zealand boast wonderful wines for fairly little money.  Check out local winery, too.You can truly uncover some treasures locally and you can also choose to buy wines by the case.  Often wineries give a discount if you buy in bulk.

In any case, the best wine values are subjective in nature.  You may love the simple boxed wine that many would avoid.  Your enjoyment is primary in the value of your purchase.

What Is Organic Fish?

Is there such a thing as organic fish?  Surely all fish comes from the sea and eats whatever fish eat?  How can we control that?

As far as I know, fish caught in the wild cannot be marketed as organic in the UK.  However, several supermarkets and many independent organic retailers now stock organic trout and salmon produced in fish farms.  Several types of farmed mussels and shellfish are also likely to become more widely available in the future.

In organic fish farming, many of the pesticides, dyes and antibiotics widely used in conventional fish farming are not permitted and so these fish products are generally accepted to be credible organic products by both the soil association and consumers.

However, from an animal welfare point of view, there is some controversy about allowing farmed fish to be labelled as organic.  Organic principles demand that livestock (which includes fish) should be able to express its ''natural'' behaviour pattern and be kept as close to natural stocking densities as possible.  How can this be when they are kept in cages in either inland or in fish farms out at sea?

The true cost of fish farming

Fish farming seems like a practical solution to the problem of overfishing.  Fish farming, however, is the cause of many problems.  In the UK, its salmon thats most closely associated with farming -- and its shortcomings.  Public demand for cheaper food means that farmed salmon are often kept, for financial reasons, very densely stocked, with huge numbers of fish crammed into very little space.  In this state, the fish can more easily become diseased, and these diseases can spread to wild fish.  Huge amounts of antibiotics are required to keep the fish moderately healthy.  Also a confidential study for the UKs top organic body highlighted gaps between its principles and the standards it accepted, BBC Newsnight reported.

Is organic fish sustainable?

Other problems are escapes, when farmed fish interbreed with wild fish and potentially weaken wild stocks, as well as pollution to the water and seabed around fish farms.  Farmed salmon, which are carnivorous, eat three times their body weight in fish feed, which is made from other fish -- not the best use of resources from an environmental point of view.

What Is Organic Chicken?

We all know about organic fruit and vegetables but did you know that you can now buy organic chicken?

People must have heard about the nasty conditions which broiler chickens -- which are bred for their meat -- are raised in?  These chickens have no more floor space than a sheet of A4 paper.  Chickens are over-fed to reach slaughter weight in six weeks, when it would normally take four months.

Modem intensive systems of poultry production have produced cheap meat for the consumer -- but at a price.  Inside the intensive chicken houses, which are appearing in increasing numbers in the countryside, up to 40,000 birds are crammed, at 2 birds to the square foot, into a single windowless building, with almost continuous low levels of artificial light, they are then given drugs to speed up their rate of growth.  Keeping so many animals packed together in such a stressful environment can only contribute to their rates of infection.  It seems logical that the Chinese flu infections that we were seeing transmitted to humans comes from this same intensive farming.  It isnt necessary to produce food in this way.

Organic farmers do a number of things to ensure that chickens are reared as naturally as possible.  For starters, antibiotic growth promoters cannot be used but sick organic birds must be treated with appropriate veterinary medicine, so they can be given antibiotics if theyre very poorly.  But they cannot be given drugs on a regular and routine basis, something that almost all non-organic poultry have to endure.  Organic poultry is reared on a specially formulated feed containing only cereals, vegetable protein, a small amount of fish meal, and a vitamin/mineral supplement.  These chickens are often guaranteed to be fed on feed which is free from genetically modified feedstuffs (GMOs).  To be fully organic, chickens must be fed a diet containing grain which has been grown organically, without artificial fertilisers or sprays.  Such feed is expensive, and therefore organic chicken is more expensive as well.

Also, on Soil Association registered farms, the number of chickens housed in a single shed is restricted to 1,000.  A non-organic intensive chicken farm may have as many as 40,000 in the same shed.  Organic birds are kept free-range, having continuous daytime access to clean pasture, except in adverse weather.  Non-organic birds are almost always locked up night and day.

In addition, the Soil Association insists on full and clear labeling of processed chicken products.  They are able to trace back to the farm all ingredients used in any Soil Association chicken products.  Their organic certification standards state that food must undergo as little processing as is practical.

Organic standards are legally binding.  All organic businesses must be licensed by law, and are fully inspected at least once a year.  So if you want to see for yourself how organic animals are reared, why not visit an organic farm?

What Are Genetically Modified Foods?

It is difficult to think of another technology that has caused as much debate or concern as that of genetic engineering (GE) with food.

Should patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes be allowed?  Our ability to alter the genetic blueprint of animals and plants is in the process of changing many aspects of science and medicine.  Many people see this as beneficial others see this as tampering with nature.

But what about genetically-modified (GM) food?  Do we want to eat such food?  And is it really such a big deal?

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.

A recent GM Nation report concluded that the general public is overwhelmingly against GM technology, with feelings ranging from suspicion and skepticism, to hostility and rejection;  there are, it was said, many more people who are cautious, suspicious or out rightly hostile about GM crops than there are supportive towards them.

Anxiety in society over genetically modified food is understandable, fuelled by a variety of causes -- consumer unfamiliarity;  lack of reliable information on the current safeguards in place;  a steady stream of negative opinion in the media;  opposition by activist groups;  growing mistrust of industry;  and a general lack of awareness of how our food is produced.  The scientific community has not adequately addressed public concerns about GM foods, nor has it effectively communicated the value of the new technology.

The Royal Society, the UKs premier scientific body has pointed out the total lack of evidence that genetically modified crops cause harm to humans.  But youd never have guessed that from the often negative media coverage.

When considering genetic engineering, it should be remembered that almost every living thing that man exploits has been genetically-modified in some way.  The crops we use for food, the animals we eat, our pets and the plants in our gardens are radically different from those that existed in the so-called natural state.

Thousands of years of selective breeding have improved the yields of crops, the milk production of cows, the quantity of meat on cattle and the sizes and colours of our flowers and dogs.

But because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries.  GMOs should not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health.  Genetic pollution could be a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment.  Labelling of all products with GE ingredients doesnt appear to be happening at the moment which is important for those people that want to avoid them.

Now my final thoughts ... few would deny the benefits of modern genetic engineering in medicine.  The use of genetically-modified bacteria to produce drugs such as insulin has been a revolution in medicine and saved the lives of millions.  GM crops have also been hailed as the saviors of developing countries as they can be modified to prosper in dry, arid countries where there is little rainfall.  There seems to be both negatives and positives to GE and GM foods. ... I'll let you decide which food path you choose!

Types Of Beer

The word ''beer'' is often used as a generic noun used to describe a cold refreshing beverage.  For example, ''Hiya Mike, let's go for a beer.''  However, beer lovers around the world will heartily agree that there's nothing generic about beer.

When it comes to types of beer, there are many, many options to choose from.  It's impossible to say which type is best, because they all have very different characteristics.  You'd be surprised at how a pilsner can differ from a porter, or how a stout stands out from a cider.

The names given to different styles of beer generally reflect individual characteristics of the product, such as where it originated.  Most beers, particularly those sold commercially, are processed using traditional methods.

Different types of beer have unique qualities like appearance, taste, origin and aroma.  There are several styles that make up the world' most common types of beer:

Styles of beer have a lot to do with how they taste, what they look like, how they smell and of course where they are made.  Some common choices include these:

• Lager:  Some of the most popular types of beer are lagers.  These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or ''light'' beers.  Popular international choices include Czech, European, Japanese and German lagers.
• Ale:  American amber, brown ale, porter, strong, sour and wild ales are also common American beers.  Also falling under the category of ''Ales'' are Chile Beer, Pumpkin Ale, Belgian and French ales, English, German, Irish, Finnish, Scottish and Russian ales.
• Cider:  While not an official beer, cider is still enjoyed by many beer drinkers.  Favorites include standard cider, New England cider and many specialty ciders.
• Hybrids:  combining different beer styles or ingredients create this ''experimental'' beer.  Berbed, smoked, fruit and vegetable beer and spiced beer are all types of hybrids.
• Mead:  Mead is not a beer, rather a honey wine that has been adapted from centuries-old recipes.  Melomel is a type of mead blended with fruit or vegetables.  Braggot is concoction of beer and mead, while Metheglin is mead blended with spices.

Variety is the spice of life.  If you're a beer drinker, you're likely loyal to a tried and true brand.  But remember that variety is the spice of life.  There is a world of options available to you, so try something new next time you're ready to crack open a cold one.

The Ideal Coffee Machine For The Coffee Lover

Coffee machines is a machine that is found in all homes, dorms and offices of coffee drinkers.  Different types of coffee machines are built to be used in different places;  there are also coffee makers that can be used in a RV, a big rig and to take along with you when you go camping.

The different types of coffee machines in the market today have individual features in a variety of colors, size, price, size and finish.  The different types of coffee machines found today are automatic, French press, expresso coffee maker, vacuum, stove top, drip coffee makers and the pod.  These different coffee machines are found either as hot or cold brew coffee machines.  Some coffee machines are a combination of both grinder and coffee making capabilities.

Nowadays, different companies manufacture different coffee makers;  and these coffee machines are known by the company name like delonghi coffee machine, jura coffee machine, sunbeam coffee machine, breville coffee machine, saeco coffee machine and senseo coffee machine.  You can find these coffee machines in different colors that include black, white, red and practically any color you want to match your interiors.  They are also made of different materials ranging from plastic to stainless steel while most of them come with a shatterproof glass carafe.

You also find coffee machines in the market that produce more than twenty cups of coffee, called the commercial coffee machine.  These coffee machines are best for use in commercial establishments like offices and stores.  Different coffee machines have different features that may include frothing systems, electric timers, digital/programmable, thermostat, filters and warming plate.  The price of the coffee maker varies according to your preference and functionality of the coffee machine.

When choosing the right coffee machine for yourself, you have to look for the coffee machine that first fits your budget.  Then you have to consider if the coffee machine has all the features required to make the type of coffee you enjoy drinking like expresso or cappuccino.  With the wide range of coffee machines in the market, you are sure to find the right coffee machine that creates coffee that suits your taste buds.

The Coffee Making Machine

In this ever-changing world where we can hardly keep pace with technology, it's no wonder that many of us take the strides made in simple home appliances for granted.  Those things we use every day -- our stove, refrigerator, toaster, not to mention the existence of our dishwater and microwave -- are rarely given a second thought.  And for those coffee addicts among us who trudge into the kitchen every morning and hit the switch to start the brew (if it hasn't already done it for us) hardly think about the advancement of the coffee making machine over the years.

It is said that the very first coffee making machine originated in Paris, France in the early 1800s.  This particular model was the first in a long line of percolators -- and replaced the method of boiling water separately.  In the 1960s the coffee maker industry began marketing their new automatic drip model similar to what we use today.

Today's coffee making machine comes in varieties that its predecessors would never have believed.  Our preference for a particular coffee making machine is as unique as our preference for a particular coffee.  As with anything else, we stick with what we like and we'll often go to great lengths to find it.

Luckily we don't have far to go.  Between the large retail chains that make their homes in our neighborhoods, and the small home specialty stores, we're likely to find our favorite coffee making machine around every turn.  For those wanting to experiment or explore the newest models with all the bells and whistles, the Internet can be a great place to start the search.

Online resources give us access to comprehensive consumer reports that rate all manner of home appliances, the coffee making machine among them.  You will find detailed reports on most all brands -- from their popularity and price to their performance.  This can be a tester ground of sorts when you're looking to try out a new model.

When seeking the perfect coffee making machine for you, keep size considerations in mind.  There are some models that -- while including all the extras -- come in a size not made for every kitchen counter.  Take the time to examine each model before settling on just one.

The true coffee lover can not go a day without coffee.  The home coffee making machine is as important to us as anything else in our homes.  Explore all that's out there in the world of coffee making and you're sure to find just the coffee making machine to fit your needs.

The Best Bar Tools For Novice To Pro Bartenders

Bar accessories come in many varieties and types.  You may wonder what items are essential for bartending, and which bar accessories are not necessary.  A well-equipped bar has all the bar accessories required to mix a variety of cocktails, highballs, and special drinks without improper substitution.  Therefore, choosing the right bar tools is not just a case of guessing or settling for a group of matching bar accessories that might not have everything you need.  That is not to say that all-inclusive bar accesories kits aren't a great way to start your bar accessories collection:

One of the easiest ways to equip a bar with bar accessories is, of course, to purchase an all-inclusive set or kit.  If you want to suit your bar with more specific bar accessories, it is usually a better idea to purchase each piece of your equipment separately.  The complete bar accessories kit is nothing to sneer at, however.  Some like the look of well-matched bar accessories, especially for home and private bars.  What could match more perfectly than items created as a set?  The problem is, a lot of "complete" bar accessories kits might be missing an essential object or two that you might need available, and some of the higher-end bar accessories like all-in-one tools are not available as part of the set.

The advantage to a bar accessories set is, of course, the fact that items are a single purchase, and usually the cost of a set is cheaper than buying items singly for your collection.  Keep in mind to choose an all-inclusive set that features full-sized bar accessories;  some sets have slightly smaller sized shakers and essentials, which may make the convenient set a little less convenient, especially if you need to mix larger-volume drinks.  In addition, be especially cautious not to choose a set that is attractive but not sturdy.  You want to select bar accessories that will hold up well over an extended time.  Here is a list of bar accessories essentials that every bartender should have readily available:

• Shaker -- The cocktail shaker is one of the most essential bar accessories.  Cocktail shakers can be made of plastic, metal, and even glass, but you must take a lot of matters into consideration when selecting the perfect cocktail shaker for your bar accessories arsenal.  Size, composition, and quality are all considerations for the shaker, which is considered by many to be the king of all bar accessories.  The reasons for this are simple.  Size matters in a cocktail shaker because a person accustomed to mixing drinks one at a time and exclusively focusing on martinis might be satisfied with a smaller shaker, where someone used to bartending at parties might decide this is one of the bar accessories that has to be standard to large size.  Composition depends a lot on personal taste, but remember that a stainless steel cocktail shaker is a lot more conductive, making the ice work much more quickly.  Aesthetics also comes into play;  often it is desirable to have more than one cocktail shaker for whimsical or special event purposes.
• Straine -- A strainer is one of the most essential bar accessories.  When you are mixing drinks that result in sediment or just for the purpose to strain ice, a bar strainer is necessary.  These tools aren't completely easy to clean by hand, so be sure your cocktail strainer is dishwasher safe.
• Corkscrew / Opener -- Corkscrews come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but a corkscrew is one of the most essential bar accessories if you serve wine.  Cork screws can be as simple as a standard old-fashioned model or as complex as The Rabbit®.  Choose a corkscrew that meets your needs, and for an added bonus, look for one with an attached foil cutter.
• Knife / Cutting Board -- To prepare garnishes and peel ingredients, it is necessary to have a knife and cutting board handy.  There are several varieties of these bar accessories available, including very pricy collectible knives.  You need a very well-made, sturdy, and completely washable knife, preferably in one-piece steel for ease of thorough cleaning.  Choose a cutting board that is not too

The Art Of Wine Tasting

The production of wine in France is tightly controlled by two organisations.  The Instituit National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO).  This body succeeded the Comite' National des Appellations d'Origine after World War II and controls the hierachy of French quality wines.  The other is the Service de Repression des Fraudes, which is responsible for seeing that the very complicated laws on wine production are carried out.  On the French domestic market, every bottle carries a capsule conge', or capsule with the government seal on it showing that the relevant tax has been paid.  It also shows the wine's quality status.

You can easily detect a genuine wine expert by the way he handles the wine in terms of smelling and tasting it and not merely just drinking the wine.  Anybody can drink wine but it takes a lot of experience to taste wine.  Art of Wine Tasting.

Wines have become a staple feature of every household during meal times, particularly when they are eating red meat.  Red meats like pork or beef roasts are best with red wines.  On the other hand, white meats like fish and chicken are better with white whine.

There are a thousand and one varieties, or type of wines depending on the vineyard where they were grown as well as the type of grapes they are made of.  It takes experience and a real romance with wine to be able to distinguish its characteristics just by smelling and tasting.

Basically, wines that have been stored properly should taste smooth.  Wines that taste off or stale are either not of good quality or they were stored improperly and their corks tainted.

So how should you taste wine?  Wines should be tasted by swishing the wine in your mouth, allowing your taste buds to perceive the flavor and taste of the wine.  While the act of tasting makes uses of your tongue, a person's sense of smell actually does most of the detection.  Both a person's sense of taste and sense of smell should be used when tasting wines.

The laws cover the same ground as for AC wines but are often less stringent on yields and grape varieties.  In on aspect, however, the VDQS laws were initially stricter.  The right to the VDQS label was only granted after an official tasting.  Now this requirement has been extended to AC wines as well.

While the two senses are indeed very important tools in determining a wine's quality, the physical appearance of the wine is equally important.  You can get a better look at a wine's appearance and color by pouring them in a clear glass and look through it using a white table cloth or other white background.

If wines are generally red or white, then why do we have to study their colors?  White wines are actually not perfectly white because their color ranges from yellow to brown and green.  White wines with darker colors have more flavor and are older.  While aging improves the flavor of red wines, this doesn't hold true for white wines which may go bad with time.  Red wines that are lighter in color are older.  You will be able to examine a red wine's age by tilting a glass with red wine, allowing some to settle on the glass rim, and examining its color.  When the color of the wine that settles on the glass rim is brownish, then it has been aged.

Wine experts also swirl the wine to observe how it moves in the glass.  A wine that swirls nicely wine may mean it has a higher sweetness and alcohol content.

While the taste of wine is generally subjective as it depends on a persons taste and preferences, wine connoisseurs follow specific guidelines in wine tasting.  Being able to taste and smell wine the right way can certainly to the pleasure of drinking them.

Take Notes especially if you are gone all day.  Most wineries offer a list that will assist you on keeping track.  When you get home to your local wine shop, you will appreciate having a cheat sheet.

Symptoms Of Asthma Controlled By Herbs?

It's tempting to think that our modern day medicine is somehow superior to all the ''primitve'' medicine of our ancestors.  But that theory doesn't hold up under scrutiny.  For thousands of years humans used plants and herbs right out of the fields and forests and avoided the horrible side effects of today's medicine, as well as the creation of "super bacteria" that have grown imperious to our drugs.  Here are four asthmatic remedies that have stood the test of time.

Ginger Root Reduces Or Eliminates Phlegm

The common ginger root can be found in almost every grocery store but its knobby brown appearance is strange to many who are more familiar with the delicious smell of ginger in cookies and gingerbread.  It is known to be effective for digestion and motion sickness but it also is quite effective at eliminating the phlegm involved in asthma.

To get rid of mucus buildup in the chest and lungs, grate enough fresh ginger root to equal approximately two tablespoons and add to two cups of boiling water.  Allow the ginger to steep for 30 minutes and drink a cup of warm tea every two hours or so.  It's important to note that ginger from a bottle or can won't have the same effects.  It's the fresh ginger essence in the root that helps asthmatics and cold sufferers.  The ginger from the shelf is too aged to be of much use as an herbal remedy.

Add Walnuts To Your Ginger And Sleep For Clear Lungs

For centuries, the Chinese have used a combination of walnuts and ginger root to clear the lungs of excessive phlegm and to eliminate persistent couging in the throat.  The recipe is simple:  remove the meat from three walnuts and grind it finely.  Mix with three slices of ginger that have been grated.  Just before bedtime, eat your walnut/ginger mixture with warm liquid or tea and go to sleep.  According to the Chinese, in the morning your symptoms will be gone.

Insects And Asthmatics Love Mullein

Mullein is an exceedingly abundant plant that grows all over North America and Europe.  It loves sunshine and dry soil and is easily cultivated.  Our ancestors used Mullein as a medicine for centuries and it has been studied in scientific research projects, which affirm its value.  It contains Hesperidin (the predominant flavonoid in lemons and oranges) and Coumarin (smells like vanilla and found in lavender, clover, strawberries, apricots, cherries, and cinnamon) and is a sedative, safe pesticide, antioxidant and even has been used in the treatment of cancer.

It's of interest to asthmatics because it is anti-inflammatory and is an antihistamine.  Simply grab a handful of coarsely cut flowers and leaves and drop them intp one quart of boiling water.  Drink two cups each day and sweeten with honey, since it smells much better than it tastes.

A Delicious Almond Milk For Better Breathing

The Chinese love almond milk for relief of lung congestion and inflammation.  Simply soak some almonds in water for 8-12 hours, or overnight, until they have swelled and are much softer.  The Chinese add a small amount of white rice to the mixture although most western herbalists do not.  Once the almonds are soft, pour off the water (but save it, since it's loaded with vitamins) and grind what's left into a paste.  Add the water back to the mixture, mix with honey and cook on low heat until it's somewhat ''syrupy''.  Drink one or two cups per day.

There are two special notes about this delicious homemade remedy:

1. Most recipes recommend removing the ground pulp and drinking the liquid only.  However, the pulp is delicious and, depending on your taste, you might wish to leave it in the recipe.  If you remove it, don't throw in away but use it in salads, desserts or fruit dishes.
2. It's wise to use organic almonds since you will be getting a very concentrated dose of this excellent nut.  The chemical-laden variety definitely isn't as healthy.

Smoothies -- Your Best "Fast Food" Alternative

Smoothies -- everyone seems to be drinking them -- why are they so popular?

Smoothies can be one of the best "Fast Foods" your body can enjoy.

Here are a few smoothie benefits:

1. By choosing the right ingredients, a smoothie can be a great way to cleanse and detoxify your body.  This can help your health generally, but can also be good for conditions like acne.
2. Smoothies give you a real energy boost, not a fake caffeine kick.
3. They are quick and easy to prepare and are very mobile -- you can take them with you in the care and drink them on your way to work or while you run errands.
4. Fruit is packed with goodness, but it can be a real chore to eat as much of it as we should.  So by drinking our fruit in a smoothie, we can consume plenty, and do it quickly.
5. Kids really like them.  It is a great way to give your kids nutritious fruits and vegetables that taste really good.  Your kids probably won't even realize how nutritious they are -- they will suck those smoothies down so fast.

Now you know some of the reasons why smoothies are good for your health, it's time to get started preparing your own.

Many people find that freezing their fruit before using it in a smoothie is a great way to get a thicker, cooler smoothie than you get by adding ice.  If the fruit you plan to use is large, like watermelon, it may be best to chop it into smaller pieces before putting it in the freezer.  Freeze the fruit on a plate or piece of aluminum foil, so the pieces don't stick together, and then transfer them to a clean container in the freezer for later use.

Remember, too, that you can put vegetables in your smoothie mix as well, there's no law that says it can only be made from fruit!  And believe me you can make smoothies with vegetable ingredients that taste surprisingly good.

In the end, making the perfect, healthy smoothie is all up to you.  It is easier than you think!

Shopping For Your Wine Racks Is Easier When Done From Your Sofa

Everyone knows that shopping over the internet is both a blessing and a curse.  While there is nothing like being able to shop from the comfort of your sofa in your favourite pyjamas with a cup of steaming coffee or hot chocolate, especially at this the busiest shopping time of year.  However, the frustration of the World Wide Web can sometimes be so overwhelming when it comes to finding a special gift for someone special that it drives you to the verge of insanity.  During the holiday season it's great to be able to avoid the crowded shopping malls but that doesn't necessarily mean that finding the perfect gift is going to be any less daunting a task.

Let's say for arguments sake that you have decided to purchase a wine rack for your sister for Christmas.  Since last years shopping experience at the mall was a nightmare you would much rather not have to relive you have decided the last thing you want to do is spend an entire day or weekend swimming against the current of the masses of people looking for a store that not only carries wine racks but carries the counter top wine rack you had in mind.  So, you instead decide to search for wine racks on the Internet as an easier alternative.  You find some sites to look through, but if they've got several hundreds of wine racks whether you can find your ideal product is entirely dependant on how that website has decided to categorize their wine racks.

If you use the site's search option instead of their category links it can be hit and miss as to whether of not you are going to get the right results.  As spelling is crucial and often subjective, what you might call a ''counter top'' wine rack someone else may call ''countertop'' ''free standing'' or even a ''bottle holder.'' That's not even taking into account the fact that the name of the product may not even contain those words, making it impossible to find the product you seek.  Just because it is a wall mounted wine rack does not mean that it will be labelled as such.

Wouldn't it be easier if you could specify the characteristics of the wine rack that you want and then have them tell you which ones meet those criteria, rather than you having to do all the grunt work?  What would be ideal is to be able to set the number of bottles it should hold, what material the rack should be made from, what is the price range you're looking at, and whether you want the rack to hold glasses as well.  Now that's a happy shopping experience!

The problem becomes, is there anyone that actually provides this kind of searching?  We've done some research on the Internet and believe that we have a very unique proposition that provides this functionality.  Our Product Selection Tool is exactly this, an easy and straight forward way to find the wine rack you want in an instant.  So this holiday season take the stress out of shopping from home and see how our new search assistant tool can help you have a pleasant shopping season!

Oatmeal: Healthy And Cheap

One of the biggest problems with trying to eat cheaply is to make sure that you are eating nutritious foods.  My secret weapon is oatmeal.  Not the flavored crap sold in little packets!  You want the type of oatmeal that comes in large flakes and that takes a long time to cook.  It is possible that your local supermarket won't even carry it.

Personally, I go to the nearby health food store for my oatmeal.  I get large flake rolled oats.  You can also find steel cut oats in some stores.  Either way, you are buying food that hasn't had a lot of processing.  Oats, when unprocessed like this, are very good for you.

When money is scarce, a bag of quality oatmeal costs under $2 and will last for a week or two.  You can have it for breakfast every day with a bit of milk or yogurt.  I don't even bother to cook my oatmeal, just mixing it with yogurt or putting in some milk.  If you find a cheaper meal which has the same level of convenience, while being healthy, please let me know.

It may be obvious, but canned food is generally loaded with salt, sugar and other useless ingredients while at the same time containing highly processed food that is degraded nutritionally.  If you are having to be frugal then you should put a bit more time into your own food preparation, so that you can eat better and eat cheaper.  For example, buy very large bags of beans and rice.  You won't find wholesome food any cheaper than this.

Finally, there is a concept out there that will generally apply to the foods you purchase.  The more processed the food is and the more convenient it is, the more likely it is to be expensive with respect to its nutritional value.  Oatmeal is a fantistic exception because while it is as convenient as a box of cereal and has a long shelf life it is unprocessed, healthy and almost as cheap as dirt.

How Wines Are Rated

Wines, like hotels, tend to get rated.  And they get rated with stars.  How do you know what a 5 or 6-star wine stands for?  Now unlike hotels, wines do not necessarily have to be rated by an expert.  They can be rated by anyone.  All it takes is for a person to have enough of an exposure as well as an understanding of how wine is made, what goes into the making of wine and how it should be rated.  Wine is rated on four parameters -- the aroma, the taste, the appearance and the aftertaste.  Let's take a look at how wines get their stars!

The ultimate rating is 6 stars.  A 6-star wine is said to be absolutely perfect.  There's nothing that is missing from it and nothing that needs to be removed from it.  This rating means the wine just cannot be improved in any way.  The number of wines that fall into this category globally is less than 1% of the wine produced all over the world.  This wine is really a classic and it has all the complex characteristics that a classic wine is expected to have.  You won't find a wine like this online -- no way.  These are usually tagged as collectors' items.

Wines that are rated as 5-star wines have a balanced color, richness and harmony.  They are almost perfect and have a wonderful aroma, taste and feel.  Their organoleptic characteristics are quite extraordinary.  Then come the 4-star wines which constitute 5% of the wines produced all over the world.  These, too have finesse, flavor and great character and you can't really find fault with them or perceive any noticeable flaws.  These are the wines that are commonly produced today and their rating goes up if they are allowed to age.

Then come the average wines or the wines that are 3-star rated.  These are well made but the ingredients they are made from are ordinary.  However, they do have great taste and texture and you cannot really find any noticeable flaws.  Except for the fact that the raw materials used are ordinary, you cannot really distinguish them from 4-star wines.

Any wine with less than a 3-star rating is below par.  You will usually find flaws in them that may even be noticeable and visible to the eye.  There could be an unpleasant smell, it could be a watery substance or there could even be floating particles.  This could of course be due to the extra acid or tannin present.  Sometimes these wines might taste okay but you will find that they do not have any character, depth or complexity.  And of course, 1-star wines are made from really poor ingredients.  They are generally home-made wines that might not make it to the shop shelves.  They are usually not well balanced, very diluted, have a dull taste and are flawed.

How is wine tasting and rating done?  It is usually done in groups that are large.  The wines are not labeled and the group has to rate them without knowing the cost or the brand.  These ratings are then collected and compiled.  It is a comprehensive analysis of these that are the basis of rating and determining which class a wine should be classified as.  These ratings and classification help as far as the buyers are concerned because it helps them to choose a good wine.  You know which the best wine available in the market is and you know what the stars stand for.  How many people use these as guidelines when choosing a wine?  Well many of these cannot be strictly followed and finally, it's the buyer who has to take a call on which wine he wants.

How To Make Homemade Wines

Prepare the Produce -- First, inspect the fruit to ensure the grapes are ripe and free of insects or other contaminants.  Put the grapes in the straining bag and measure the sugar level using your hydrometer.  A hydrometer can be purchased at any wine making store.  The sugar density should be 22 ideally.  Also, remember to remove the stems from all grapes in order to make your wine smoother and sweeter.  Finish this step by transferring the ingredients into the jug.  Wine has been an important part of any occasion.  It is commonly made from fermented grape juice, flowers, and grains.  Countries like Italy, Portugal, United States, and Argentina are among the largest exporters of different wines.  Art of Wine Tasting.

The most expensive kind of wine is called ''vintage''.  Vintage wines are made from the highest quality grapes that are harvested several years before they are sold to the public.

While some wines are very expensive, there are some of good quality and that are relatively inexpensive.  Among these wines are homemade wines that are commonly served to show old English hospitality.

Home winemaking is an exciting hobbiy designed for people who love social drinking or who are fond of giving away wine as gifts.  Here are some tips on how to make homemade wine:

1. Get fresh produce from fields and orchards that let buyers pick their own fruits.  Another option is getting fruit concentrate being sold by local winemaking stores.
2. Buy equipment needed in home winemaking.  These are fermentation locks, Demijohns, plastic funnels, trial jars, siphon tubes, and wine bottles with corks.
3. Gather necessary ingredients to put flavor and a distinct taste to the wine.  These are yeast, pectic enzyme, wine tannin, acid blend, and campden tablets.
4. Get recipies of the favorite wines to have accurate information about the exact amount of ingredients to use.  The tip in making the best wine is accurately mixing ingredients to achieve desired taste.
5. Use fermentation bags in collecting pulp and submerge it into the wine mixture.  Set aside covered fermenter within 24 hours.
6. Put yeast on the grape juice surface and cover it.  Let the mixture ferment within 7 days.
7. After 7 days, discard pulp and siphon the mixture to prepare for secondary fermenter.
8. Add water to the wine mixture and allow it to ferment for 4-6 weeks or until it appears completely clear.  Use hydrometer to make sure fermentation has been completed.  Hydrometer should show 0.989 and 0.990 on its gravity scale.
9. The wine should be cleared completely after following the first 8 steps.  After that, siphon the wine and add five crushed campden tablets.
10. Bottle the homemade wine and let it age.

Today, the best wines on the market are home made.  They are surprisingly delicious and inexpensive.  Anyone can make wine by simply following these 10 basic steps and then you can start impressing friends and family members during get-togethers.

How To Make A Great Espresso

As with all baristas, I have my own method of making a great espresso.  To start with the water must be fresh.  Water can be affected by poor cleaning habits, mildew or filtering issues.  It has to be the correct temperature, which is around 203ºF (95ºC)

For the best quality coffee, I recommend Arabica which is produced in Bogota, Brazil or wherever it can be grown 3000ft above sea level.  You can use Robusta as a last resort but it is less flavorful and has more caffeine.  Whether you buy it roasted or you roast it your self, it must have that ''fresh'' smell when you open the container a few days after.

Use a burr to grind your coffee not a blade grinder.  Blade grinders chop the beans whereas the burr grinders have triangular teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them.  How fine the beans are ground depends on the distance between the two plates.  A sand grain is perfect but a powder is too fine and gravel too coarse.  Make sure to minimize the coffee's exposure because it absorbs any odor that happens to be in the air.

You will need a good machine.  A good espresso machine generates heat using a boiler or a thermablock and can pump pressure of 9 bar or higher.  The thermablock works by heating the water on its way to the pump, cheaper units rely on steam to create pressure.

The process

First, warm the machine by running fresh water through it with no coffee added.  This would also flush out the system.  Next add your coffee and pat it down.  The process is similar to packing a pipe, make sure it still has some spring without scattering the coffee grounds.  Place the hopper firmly into the machine and put out your cup.  Five seconds after the machine has started you should have coffee pouring into the espresso cup.  For a double shot it would take twenty seconds.

To make a cappuccino, heat half a cup of organic milk in the microwave until warm, froth it and add to the espresso.  Try nutmeg, cinnamon or chocolate for variety.  If you like your coffee sweet, add organic sugar to taste.

And there you have a good cup of coffee.  If you start with great quality ingredients and a clean machine, the coffee is easy enough to make.

How To Get Your Hands On The Best Espresso Coffee Of All.

To get to the great flavour of Espresso that is enjoyed the world over it all starts with a top quality bean.

When you settle back with an espresso coffee in hand, naturally you want to be drinking the best.  For that to happen, the quality of the coffee bean needs to be at its peak.  I am sure it is common knowledge that the biggest percentage of all commercial coffee is grown in nice neat rows on large coffee plantations around the world.  But if you are in the know you will soon come to realise that all coffee is not equal.  Its flavour depends very much on where and how it is grown.

The search for better flavored Espresso Coffee has spanned several centuries.

But for those who are just out to have their first bleary-eyed cup for the day, most will not be concerned as to whether they are drinking shade grown espresso coffee or not.  However once they wake up a bit it might be quite astonishing to find out that there are over 800 active substances in one cup of coffee with each and every one of them impacting on the flavor.

That's why Arabian coffee tastes different from Columbian coffeee, which in turn tastes different to Kona coffee.  Despite where it is grown espresso coffee always has a full, dark flavour which makes it unique.  For gourmet coffee drinks such as the cappuccino and latte, espresso is always the base, so it has to have that strong depth of flavor to meld in with the other ingredients like milk and sugar.

With shade-grown coffee trees the berries mature more slowly than on those grown out in the open sun.  What this means is the crop is smaller in volume and comes on later, but the flavor is richer and mellower.  These two attributes combine to produce the perfect bean for making espresso coffee.  It is a fact that sun-ripened cherries can be bitter and sharp compared to shade-grown cherries.

Besides the fact that shade-grown coffee tastes better, there are some highly significant environmental reasons to choose this type of coffee over others.  You see, most of the land cleared for coffee plantations was originally tropical forest.

Another good reason to seek out shade grown espresso coffee is that it's usually organically grown.  It is just one small but deliberate way you can do your bit for the future of our world while enjoying a cup of espresso.

So if you want to take your espresso making to new heights, then like me you should switch to buying only organic espresso coffee beans.  The experience will be well worth the effort to be rewarded with the best cup of koffee your money can buy.  In addition you will gain the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the environment as well as a host of well deserving Columbian farmers to manage their land in a sustainable manner and provide for their families.

What a great reason to enjoy a good cup of espresso!

Flavored Coffee ... Some Great Ideas For Your Next Dinner Party.

On almost any occasion flavored coffee can be a delightful compliment to any meal.  As someone who hosts many dinner parties for both business and pleasure, it has been my experience that coffee is really at its best when paired with anything sweet.  This perfect pairing lets the relative bitterness of the coffee counter the sweetness of the dessert leaving the palate with a well-balanced finish.

Flavored coffee is nothing new but it has taken many years for it to gain mainstream acceptance to where it now sits in a prominent position on our supermarket shelves and niche corner coffee shops in a host of variations.

In recent years flavored coffee has come into its own and become a trendy drink which often displaces the traditional end of dinner coffee.  Coffee connoisseurs are taking to these untraditional adventurous coffee types in droves with the possible combinations of texture and flavours being endless.  Now the average coffee drinker is faced with an abundant choice of flavors including vanilla, hazelnut, almond, macadamia raspberry, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, and coconut.  As you will notice, the majority of the flavorings verge on the sweet side.

Macadamia coffee is my all time favorite and so easy to match up with many desserts.  Another quite famous coffee-dessert pairings is delicious pumpkin pie with cinnamon flavored coffee.  If you haven't tried this combination before please do, I guarantee it will completely change your whole experience of eating dessert.  Some people even have it for breakfast.  The coffee enhances the pumpkin pie with the complimentary spice flavour of the cinnamon.

The exotic flavour of coconut with coffee is another way to create an entirely inspiring dessert.  This is only a snippet of the countless ideas that are out there for you to try.  No doubt flavored brews are not a passing fad.

With flavoured coffee increasing in popularity it isn't hard to imagine some of the blends actually replacing traditional toppings that usually go straight to our waistlines.  Wouldn't that be nice for those of us who are counting calories?  For example you will find vanilla flavored coffee is the perfect substitute for the usual fat rich frozen whipped toppings.

In this day and age if you look around there is an abundance of good quality flavored coffee blends available in flavors and styles that will suit almost every occasion and menu selection.  Even vending machines at airports, hospitals and company buildings are hopping on the band wagon and supplying the consumer demand for variety.

So go on and be a bit adventurous.  Try a flavored coffee today and you too will soon find out why it is such a taste sensation.

Enjoy!

Enjoying Your Favorites With A Coffee And Latte Machine

For the hard and true coffee lovers among us there are few roads we would not travel for the perfect cup of coffee.  We have our favorites -- usually house specialties with a $5 price tag that cause lines at our nearby coffee houses.  And we travel there each and every day -- sometimes several times a day -- to pay for the privilege of a cup of liquid gold that will ready us for our day or get us through our afternoon or push us through our end of the day slump.  But what if we could have that special treat right in our own kitchens?  That same coffee shop quality flavor at no cost to us and available any time we want it?

The truth is that when it comes to making our favorite blends at home, coffee lovers are more in luck than ever.  The at-home coffee and latte machine has made it possible to enjoy all our favorites without ever leaving our homes.

Finding the perfect coffee and latte machine can take some research but can be well worth it.  Start with reading any consumer reports you can find to let the research that's been done before work to your advantage.  You can find out what specific brands have performed well for other consumers and those that you are best to avoid.

Beyond that you'll find a number of different models, styles, and colors.  Pick your coffee and latte machine that has all the bells and whistles that you desire.  After all, this purchase is meant to put you off the $5 coffee/latte habit.  So it may be worth it to invest the money now as it will likely pay for itself in a short enough time.

The Internet can be a great place to look for a coffee and latte machine;  online resources can allow you to shop around and take your time researching different makes and models.

Your coffee and latte machine can bring the local coffee house right into your kitchen.  Choose wisely coffee lover!  And you will be rewarded with a fabulous brew that's always literally at your fingertips.

Coffee Poses Both Risks And Benefits

Coffee and Your Health

The past decades have put a focus on the effects of coffee on your health.  Since people are consuming over 400 million cups of coffee per day all over the world, then it is natural that we want to know what effect this will have on our health.  Many in the health care industry had believed that coffee may be unhealthy for us, but now we know that this is probably not true.

Caffeine is found in all coffee beans and is a mild stimulant that can raise our blood pressure speed up our heart rate, and sometimes give us an irregular heartbeat.  These effects may sound serious, but are in reality very shortly lived.

There are actually more benefits seen linking coffee drinking and health than we knew about beforehand.

Coffee may stop the development of colon cancer with high levels of consumption.  You would have to drink four or more cups to see this effect.  You may have to trade in your single cup coffee maker to achieve this goal!

You may be able to see other benefits of coffee on your health without drinking this much.

For instance, coffee has certain antioxidants that are also found in wine that can help prevent cancer and heart disease.  The antioxidants found in coffee may be greater than those found in other fruits such as apples, tomatoes, or cranberries.  Another great reason to grab a cappuccino.

There have been Chinese studies that link a positive effect between coffee drinking and reducing the negative effects of Parkinson's disease.

There have been studies in the U.S. and in Scandinavia that link coffee to a reduction in the risk of type-2 diabetes.  Since the Scandinavians drink more coffee than anyone this is good news for them!

Coffee may also lower ones risk of getting kidney stones or gallstones.  Caffeine also aids us in digestion.  For asthmas sufferers caffeine can help with breathing and coffee also has theophylline which is a bronchodilator which helps as well.  Time to by your asthmatic friend a single cup coffee maker!

There are still of course some risks associated with coffee drinking such as reduced fertility for men.  For women calcium loss from high caffeine intake may cause weak bones.  Drinking lots of coffee can also cause incontinence in women.

Drinking lots of coffee can also give you a higher level of homocysteine which can lead to heart disease.  An increase in LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol has also been shown, but its hard to know whether this will lead to a heart attack or not.

Cafestol is found in coffee and also thought to increase cholesterol in European brews that boil the beans in water.  American coffee made through filtering or percolation is less likely to give this effect.

Weighing the benefits of coffee drinking shouldn't be hard.  If you drink coffee in a moderate amount you should see the benefits without the risks.  So indulge in your favorite cappuccino today!

Coffee Cupping Guide

Do you have to be a professional coffee taster to have all the fun from coffee?  The ''cuppers'' seem to have all of it, over and above their usual coffee buying, judging and writing reviews.  But you can also enjoy the flavors of Tanzanian Peaberry, Monsoon Mysore and the rest if you wish to.

Coffee is judged by the professional ''cupper'' through its many attributes, like smell, taste, flavor, body, acidity and several others.  You can also simulate a professional set up with some simple arrangements.

First, you must have an abundant supply of fresh, filtered water.  The best ground coffee can lose all the charm if made with ''stale'' or tainted water.  Water often absorbs smell from the air or may contain sulfur.  Sometimes mildew in water pipes can alter the taste of water.  Never use distilled water as it contains an excessive amount of softening salts.

Keep an array of small glasses, small bowls, measuring spoons handy on a tray.  And of course, you need the coffee.

Then keep boiled water ready.  You have to grind the coffee beans in a burr grinder.  Different settings of the mixer is needed for different trials of coffee.  Surprisingly, grinds make all the difference to the taste of coffee.

Then soak any kind of coffee for a few minutes.  You can filter the liquid or scoop out a little with a spoon to smell it.  Take a deep breath to let the smell sink in.  Then taste the liquid with your while tongue.  Don't drink it.  Roll it in your mouth then spit it out in a container.

What is your impression?  Did you find it woody or somewhat winey?  Did you think it to be acidic or smooth.  Was the aroma flowery or like pepper?  Coffee comes in a large variety of flavors and tastes.  Of course, it is grown in a large variety of soil, climates and preparation is equally diverse.

You can taste a wide range of coffee -- for example the Kenyan AA looks darker and is different from a cup of Colombian which is more floral.  The Yemen Mocha again is different and tastes and smells like wine.

Altering the grind and roast can make a lot of difference to the taste and smell of coffee.  Try from a rough to a smooth grind;  colors vary from light to dark;  tastes vary from American to Viennese.

Usually two tablespoons (10 grams) of coffee is needed for every six fluid ounces (180 ml ) of water.  The temperature of the water is around 200 F (93C).  Of course as you go on trying out different methods and tastes, you can adjust any of these basic profiles.

The other important attributes based on which coffee is adjudged are as follows:

• Acid -- a dry taste.  Prominent in Mexican coffee.  Milder in beans from Sumatra.  Here age and roast makes a bid difference.
• Aroma -- the steam or vapor gives out the smell, which can be fruity or herbal.  Kona coffee for instance has a floral smell.
• Bitter -- you can sense this taste by the back of your tongue.  It comes from the caffeine and other components.  For instance, robusta is more bitter than Arabica.
• Body -- how ''thick'' is the brew?  American roasted coffee is light when compared to the dark French coffee.
• Nuttiness -- this is the sign of a poor quality of coffee beans.  It is the result of aldehydes and ketones and tastes like roasted nuts.
• Sharpness -- this is the result of a mixture of acids and salts.  You can have a pronounced effect in the cheap robusta beans.

So go ahead and experiment with as many tastes, countries and smells as you like and soon you will become a self-styled coffee expert!

Chocolate Of The Month Club - The Amazing Monthly Chocolate Treat To Indulge That Chocolate Passion.

Neither I nor anybody else really has to sell you on the beauty of the chocolate of the month club.  I mean, hell, chocolate is one of the top five most popular foods on the planet Get a membership for yourself, your neighbor, your associate for every member of your family, and you would not only not be making a bother of yourself but may just be inspiring your social status (to say nothing of the endorphins you will be helping to kick in and elevate).

The size deal of the chocolate of the month club can't be a bunk deal, really, provided you stick with the Famous or tried-and-true chocolates.  Consider, for example, Grand Cru, Patrick Colton and the Art of Chocolate, Green Mountain, The Flying Noodle, Fritz Knipschildt, and even the more mainstream Cadbury, Russell Stover, and Lint.

Consider the chocolate of the month club that does not lock you in to a year's worth of chocolate (unless you want it) if you want to do a test run with, say, a half a year or three months, to start.  And try for a club that will send not just the same one-pound box each month but will mix it up with chocolate greeting cards, chocolate roses, chocolate DVDs, cars, etc.  And keep in mind that the chocolate of the month club membership you buy for others should be purchased from a chocolate maker who offers real and good chocolate.  Find about fat and oil content, for example, or the amounts of extra, unnecessary sugar added, so that you are investing in more chocolate and less crap.  I am in no position to critique at any official level, but one of the well-known chocolates (not Sees) you might find in malls offers chocolates I find very waxy and way too fatty.  If I were to do a chocolate of the month club, I would, then, steer clear of a company just because it has presence or big money in advertising and name-branding.  Yes, the company should be known, but maybe when you check out which chocolate of the month club to give to, you will go on the reports and reviews of closest friends and loved ones.  If they have gushed over a brand they receive from a granddaughter back east or if they always give gift certificates to the local chocolates at Christmas, then find out of they have a chocolate of the month club, ask questions (about mailing procedures and schedules, bonuses, payment plans, etc.), and go with what has worked for you or others in the past.

I guess its common sense that if you don't like a particular chocolate maker, you would not support him/her/it with a chocolate of the month club membership, and surely wouldn't offend your friends and other loved ones…or their palettes.

Banana Bread -- Taste Thy Goodness Of Bananas.

There's sure is nothing that says home like the smell of fresh-baked bread.  Except for, possibly, when the baker takes it up a notch and the bread in the oven is banana bread.

Though it is bread, this enjoyable treat is in many ways more like a cake.  The leavening agent in banana bread is usually baking soda instead of yeast.  What's more unlike regular bread, banana bread is baked from batter and not dough.  And evidently, it includes bananas that's normally mashed and put into the batter.

A huge family favorite, this has been around for years!  In fact it first came into popularity in the 1930's, and ever since then a number of varieties have appeared in cookbooks.  Banana bread is relatively easy to make, and hence popular among home bakers.  In addition it can often be found in the display cases of bakeries and coffee shops.

It is not only tasty but also versatile.  Usually a great on-the-go breakfast item, either at home or grabbed at the coffee shop where the busy professional stops for his or her daily dose of java.  Also it can be packed in a lunchbox that makes it a great ending to the afternoon meal, but is just as likely to be a warm after-school snack waiting when children hop off the bus.  What's more it can also serve as a last-minute dessert option when guests turn up unexpectedly and you find yourself whipping up a quick meal.  If whipped together before dinner and popped into the oven it makes a fantastic accompaniment to a relaxing cup of tea while watching evening television.

This homey treat is so versatile because it is sweet, but not overwhelmingly so.  There is an adequate amount of a dessert-like texture and taste for it to serve as a sweet meal-ender.  But its dessert like qualities are milder than overwhelming, and banana bread can be just as fulfilling accompanying a meal or as a standalone quick breakfast with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.

It is generally baked in loaf-shaped pans and can be cut into thin slices or larger wedges for serving.  There are plenty of variations on banana bread out there.  Of which, some banana bread recipes are passed down by a number of families from generation to generation, and each will declare theirs the best.  Perhaps the most common varieties are banana nut breads, which are made from standard banana bread recipes but also include walnuts or pecans.

In fact there are many other types of fruit or even vegetable-based breads.  Such as cranberry bread, cranberry banana bread, and zucchini bread are among a few examples.  While these are also often-enjoyed treats, banana bread still seems to take the front in terms of popularity.

Are You Looking For Gourmet Coffee?

Taste

The perception of gourmet coffee is characteristically rich and luxurious.  But if you are a true coffee lover, fresh gourmet coffee has a flavor that can't be beat.  It's rich, full-bodied Taste is a daily necessity to millions of people.  But everyone's taste in coffee is uniquely there own.

Coffee perceptions great by themselves, but for an extra special flavor sensation, try gourmet flavored coffee.  Not all these flavors are everyone's "cup of tea", but the taste sensations of gourmet flavored coffee give you a new outlook on your cup of joe.  You can taste the sweet caramel just as you can smell the aroma of the freshly ground coffee nearby.

The differentiation may seem miniscule, but the gourmet coffee or tea you beverage will Taste completely divers.  More importantly, all the variances affect the flavor and aroma.  Many coffee drinkers are not aware of how gourmet coffee should taste since their senses have been desensitized with below-par coffees.

Beans

The gourmet coffee bean is considered to be among the finest coffee beans in the world.  Out of these varieties, fine gourmet coffee beans are obtained mainly from the species Coffee Arabica.  The gourmet coffee beans are offered in a variety of dissimilar serving sizes.

When brewing your own gourmet coffee blend in your kitchen, you have a choice of fresh ground coffee beans from fine Italian Espressos to the rare and exotic Indonesian Kopi Luwak.  You want the best cup of coffee you can get, right?  If so it pays to do some research and ask questions about what you're buying.

When doing your legwork for the perfect gourmet coffee, there are a number of things to be cautious about.  One thing you should know is whether the beans are fresh Arabian beans blended with stale French Roast.  Are the coffee beans roasted in house or locally, or are they shipped from across the country to sit on a shelf waiting for orders.  If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted less than 1 week before.

Quality

The dictionary defines gourmet nourishment like this, "Gourmet foodstuff is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented".  Commuters can consider making gourmet coffee beverages at home or the office before departing and enjoy it at home or work while spending quality time with the family and coworkers or take it along in a commuter coffee mug.  Gourmet coffee beans go through a rigorous process of certification that is stricter to help keep the quality high.

As a coffee aficionado, you know that there is some extra work to making excellent coffee than simply brewing it.  You need to choose the highest quality beans to get the highest quality coffee.  Today you can buy quality wholesale gourmet coffee and the right coffee machine to get the coffee you deserve.  In addition, only Arabic beans contain the high quality needed for gourmet coffee beans.  The quality of a coffee bean depends vastly on where and how that particular coffee bean is grown.

Grind

By grinding your own coffee beans, you'll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.  The best way to do this is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them with yur own grinding machine as you need it.  But be careful:  The type of coffee grind that you use is critical in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using.  Be sure to ask your coffee merchant which grind is best for you.