Coffee, Tea, and Me - Part 2: Coffee/Espresso

Now on to coffee...

I have enjoyed coffee from my first tentative sip at the tender age of 14. I stopped growing at the age of 13 and the height of 5'3", so no concerns that this early introduction to caffeine stunted my growth. Believe me, my height is completely genetic, and I didn't start drink it with any sort of regularity until about 17 years of age. Before Starbucks, if any of you can remember that long ago - or perhaps you've just blocked it out as a traumatic time - I had coffee from the kitchen coffee maker and occasionally grandma's coffee urn. It was nice. Warm and tasty with a pinch of sugar and a drop of milk. Then, though I know no why, I set my heart on my very own espresso machine. Upon graduating high school, I took the generous monetary gifts of friend and family and immediately purchased a $30 espresso machine among many other essentials for going to college. That machine brought many friends into my life. When I open my dorm room door and fired it up, fellow collegians arrived at my door with a friendly smiles and coffee mugs in hand. It was really awesome! I met many friends in this manner.

This same machine started my married life with me 5 years later, until finally giving up to be replaced by a $75 machine that made both coffee and espresso, and later a $95 machine bought for $35 on craigslist. The latest machine was outstanding! The smoothest espresso I had ever tasted flowed bountifully from within it's stainless walls. When it stopped working one day, I nearly cried. Not only because it was the loss of a cherished, and beloved small appliance, but because I didn't have the money to replace it right away with a remotely comparable machine!

While desperately searching for another $35 miracle, I came across a stove-top espresso machine for $15 at Kitchencollection.com. Well it would do in the meantime, was my thought. I was wrong. I would do forever! I love it! The acidity is almost untraceable, the flavor is smooth as silk and it is just as fast, if not faster that using a machine. The only drawback is the lack of frothing nozzle, but a frothing wand - sold separately for under $15 - fixes that right up.

Stove Top Espresso Maker

Several months later, my DH (dear husband) and I were asked to house sit a log cabin home. We jumped at the opportunity, packed our bags, and tossed our dog and coffee paraphernalia into the Pontiac and headed out - only to find that our vacation digs didn't have a coffee machine! Again Shock! Horror! While shopping at a local outlet mall we came across my DH's favorite coffee (Whole Bean Sumatra Sunset by Boca Java) at an outstanding price. We had the bean grinder - never leave home overnight without it - and decided to look for an inexpensive coffee maker. Just two shelved lower we saw it. A stove top coffee peculator that makes 8 cups of coffee and was a mere $14.99. Why not try it? We love the espresso on the stove top, maybe coffee could be great that way, too .

Oh, wow! When we came home, we moved our coffee machine from the counter top to a pantry shelf where it has remained, neglected and abandoned in favor of a simpler and more delicious way of making coffee. Again, the acidity is much lower than coffee from a machine and there is no objectionable, lingering aftertaste.

Stove Top Coffee Peculator

Last but not least, we always grind our own beans. The grinder we have has different settings of fine (for espresso), medium (for coffee machines), and coarse (for peculators), as well as settings for 4-12 cups worth of coffee or espresso beans. We also like Boca Java coffee. If you order it online, the beans are not even roasted until your order is placed. Talk about fresh and wonderful! They have especially temping introductory deals too.

Some useful info about espresso drinks:

• Affogato - Espresso over ice cream, traditionally vanilla, but I like chocolate, too!
• Americano - or cafe Americano; espresso and hot water, classically using equal parts each. It tastes very watered down and I do not like it.
• Black Eye - or red-eye or Canadiano; a cup of drip coffee with two shots of espresso in it.
• Breve - espresso with half and half
• Cappuccino - Traditionally, one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third I prefer the latte, as the foam is just wasting expensive space in a cafe bought cup, however at home I like a cappuccino from time to time.
• Doppio - two shots of espresso
• Latte - An espresso based drink with a volume of steamed milk, served with either a thin layer of foam or none at all, depending on the shop or customer's preference.
• Macchiato - A small amount of milk or, sometimes, its foam is spooned onto the espresso.
• Mocha - a latte blended with chocolate. (Note: This is not to be confused with the region of Yemen or the coffee associated with that region - which is often seen as 1/2 of the blend "mocha java").

Coffee evokes the feel of several types of music for me. The folk style is more in keeping with a coffee house set, however flamenco guitar seems totally espresso induced to me. A bit spastic and gorgeous all at once.

Folk: Kate Rusby - Awkward Annie

Flamenco: Chuck on the Guitar

Now that you can make outstanding espresso and coffee in your own kitchen I must suggest you invest in a a great to go cup (Copco To Go Cup) or a stack of throw away 16 oz cups and plastic lids. $$ to be saved with minimal effort on your part! If you want to put in a bit of effort you can create you own designer drink in minutes with one of the following recipes. Feel free to use sugar free syrup if you choose in any of the recipes. The seeming infinite array of flavored coffee syrups are well worth looking into.

These are simple drinks that all follow the same rules: For a hot drink, steam or microwave the milk. For an iced drink, use cold milk and pour all over ice. These are all approx. 14 oz drinks. Whipped topping, preferable fat free, is always an optional topping. Coco or cinnamon sprinkled on top is great, too.

Milky Way

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 oz chocolate syrup
• 1 oz caramel syrup
• 10 oz milk

Caramel Latte

• 1 shots espresso
• 2 oz caramel syrup
• 10 oz milk

Black and Gold

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 oz chocolate syrup
• 1 oz honey
• 10 oz milk

S'more Latte

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 oz chocolate syrup
• 1 oz marshmallow cream
  
• 10 oz milk

Cappuccino

• 2 shots espresso
• 8 oz milk

Macchiato

• 3-4 shots espresso
• 4 oz milk
  

And slightly more complicated...
Pumpkin Pie Latte

• 3 heaping T. canned pumpkin
• 2 T. Vanilla syrup (sugar free is great!)
• 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

(You can also order Pumpkin Spice syrup from Monin, maybe even your local Starbucks will sell you some. If so use a 1 T. of Pumpkin Spice Syrup)

• 1 cup milk
• 1-2 shots espresso

In a small saucepan, stir pumpkin puree into milk. Add vanilla syrup and pumpkin pie spice. Heat gently, continuing to stirring occasionally just until steaming and foam begins to appear. (Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients in a microwave safe cup and microwave for about 2 - 2 1/2 minutes, stirring a couple times.) Pour pumpkin flavored milk into a tall mug and pour espresso over. Top with fat free whip cream, if desired, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.

Tomorrow we will discuss hot chocolate and cider. Looking forward to it!