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Thursday 8 March 2012

A Coffee Maker Creates a Stylish Kitchen


There’s no doubt that a coffee maker creates a stylish kitchen. For most people, it feels like the kitchen isn’t complete without a coffee maker gracing the countertop. Across the world, drinking coffee is seen as relaxing, enjoyable and the perfect way to socialize with friends and family. Since coffee makers are used on a daily basis, they are almost always kept on the countertop, within easy reach, and for all to see. With an array of programmable features, LED lighting and sophisticated carafes, it’s easy to find a coffee maker that fits the design and style of your kitchen.

Coffee makers come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are large and have a square-shaped house, while others are small and rounded in design. Because so many coffee pots have neat features such as built-in grinders and the option to brew a single cup or full pot of coffee, many of the newer models are larger in size. This is actually quite the opposite of other appliances that are offering smaller footprints, but most people agree that the larger design of their coffee maker affords them more brewing options.

With contemporary designs being most popular, you can expect more than just black and white coffee pots with glass carafes to choose from. Some coffee machines are made in bright, bold colors such as red or pink, while others have stainless steel carafes with insulated layers for keeping the coffee warm. Many of today’s coffee pots also sport a European flair, so you can expect to find interesting features such as stainless steel housing and sleek curvature.

You’ll also notice that many of today’s coffee makers are not just for making coffee. Some can serve up delicious cups of espresso or foamy cappuccino all from one machine. This allows you to entertain with a combination of popular coffee drinks from the convenience of your countertop. And with black, stainless steel and brushed nickel being most popular, you can integrate a stunning coffee machine into your kitchen, while keeping it consistent with the rest of your appliances.

Modern-day kitchens are built around efficiency, so you’ll find such perks as double ovens and programmable features on all appliances. Your coffee maker will keep consistent with these features and help you to be most efficient around the kitchen, as you brew your pot of coffee in the morning or late afternoon. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that the machine has the proper footprint for your kitchen, so don’t be afraid to get the measurements before making the final purchase.

Thursday 1 March 2012

Coffee Beans or Granules


Coffee beans are the full seeds of coffee plants, while coffee granules are already ground up. There is some debate over which is better, and both have their advantages. Coffee granules are what the majority of coffee drinkers buy, as they’re most convenient and easily found on the shelves of any supermarket. Yet when it comes to taste, most agree that coffee beans offer the full, rich flavor that is well deserved.

For the most part, the only advantage to coffee granules is that they are convenient. You can choose from an array of flavors and strengths, so it’s easy to match your preferences with a coffee of your choice. There are some drawbacks to using coffee granules however, as ground coffee lacks freshness. Although the cans come vacuum sealed, they have already lost a lot of their freshness, as the bean oils evaporate once the beans are ground up. When you brew a cup of coffee, you’ll probably notice that it goes stale if you don’t drink it right away.

For many people, they haven’t had the luxury of drinking freshly ground coffee beans, so they don’t know what they’re missing. If you want the freshest coffee that is bursting with flavor, coffee beans are your answer. You will need to know how to work with these beans though. You’ll want to ground the beans right before you use them, as this will retain their freshness. You can also choose from different grind finenesses, as some coffee drinkers like the grinds to be coarse, while others like them fine. And there’s no reason to stay consistent either. Maybe you’ll prefer a coarser grind one day, and a find grind the next day.

In order to grind the coffee beans, you will need to have a coffee grinder. It will be an extra piece of equipment lying around, but you can purchase a coffee machine that has a built-in grinder to avoid this problem. Grinding up the beans and cleaning out the grinder will be your only extra chores, but the taste will be well worth the convenience you’ll be trading. Fortunately, grinding up coffee beans only takes a few minutes, so you won't have to adjust your morning routine by much.

Although coffee connoisseurs will argue over which is better – coffee beans or granules – coffee beans come out on top in terms of flavor and freshness. However, if convenience is what you’re looking for, coffee granules are still the best option. You can always give freshly ground coffee beans a try to see if they're worth the extra effort!