If you are a gourmet coffee drinker, you may want to opt for the convenience of your own coffee maker. After all, who wants to get up early and run out to buy a cup of fresh coffee each and every morning? It is so much more enjoyable to sit and sip your coffee while reading the paper in your robe and slippers.

A Cafetiere is a French coffee maker that is also known as a French press. Since no filters are used, this coffee pot makes rich, strong coffee. If you are not going to be able to serve your coffee right away, the Cafetiere is not a good coffee maker to use. This is because if the coffee is left to sit in the Cafetiere, the coffee grounds continue to brew and the coffee grows very bitter. You can find a Cafetiere that makes a few cups of coffee or you can find a model that makes up to twelve cups of coffee. If you have a modern kitchen, you may want to opt for a Cafetiere made with solid stainless steel. For a less modern kitchen, you can find a Cafetiere made with a combination of glass and steel.

Cappuccinos are a very expensive habit for people who drink a cup or two of coffee each day. If you have a coffee addiction, you may want to shop for a Cappuccino coffee maker. These coffee makers are a bit on the expensive side compared to standard coffee makers, but then the price of a Cappuccino is more expensive than regular coffee. If you entertain frequently, you may want to shop for a Cappuccino machine that makes several cups of Cappuccino at one time.

Finally, don’t forget to add a coffee grinder to your purchase. Coffee grinders will help you enhance your coffee drinking experience, since you can buy and grind your own gourmet beans to make the freshest coffee possible. You can find an old fashioned hand powered coffee grinder if you do not grind a large quantity of beans. However, if you grind a lot of coffee, it may make more sense for you to opt for a powered coffee grinder, instead.

Once you have a new coffee maker, you will be able to spend less time waiting in lines at the coffee shop. Perhaps you can use that time to relax and enjoy the morning.

Matthew Anthony has contributed to many home improvement sites including coffee makers and cookers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Anthony

[tag]coffee, cappuccino, coffee makers, coffee grinders[/tag]

You can buy Biscotti everywhere: grocery chains, discount stores, and neighborhood shops.  Unfortunately, you don’t get many Biscotti for your money.  Of course, baking your own Biscotti is the solution.  Biscotti are easy to make and, once you’ve mastered Biscotti 101, you can invent your own recipes.

Here are some Biscotti basics.

1.  There are so few ingredients in Biscotti that you have to be careful about swapping ingredeients.  After baking thousands of Biscotti I swap one ingredient only.  And though I often swap Splenda for sugar, this swap doesn’t work with Biscotti.

2.  Measure flour by spooning it into a metal cup and leveling it with a knife.  Don’t scoop the flour from a package or canister.

3.  You’ll have better results if your eggs are at room temperature.  I take eggs out of the refrigerator one hour before I start baking.

4.  If you dough is too stiff add a few drops of egg substitute, water, or citrus juice.  Add this liquid in small increments.

5.  Use pure extract to flavor your Biscotti, not imitation.  Frost cooled Biscotti with melted chocolate chips, melted white chips, or melted almond bark for even more flavor.

The house smells so wonderful when you bake Bicotti that kids will want to help.  Older kids can measure ingredients and slice the Biscotti.  Preschoolers can whisk dry ingredients together and roll dough into logs.  Homemade Biscotti is the perfect companion to a cup of coffee and such a welcome gift your friends will ask for more.

I pack gift Biscotti in wide-mouth Mason jars or Chinese takout cartons (the kind with the wire handle).  To make the gifts extra festive I tie fabric bows on my gifts and stick a pine cone or other ornament in the center of the bows.  These recipes for Cappuccino Biscotti and Lemon Biscotti With Sliced Almonds will make every day a holiday.

CAPPUCCINO BISCOTTI

2 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons instant coffee, 3/4 cup cappuccino chips, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup egg substitute

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients with a whisk.  Add cappuccino chips and whisk a bit more.  In a small bowl beat eggs and egg subsisute with a fork.  Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing with wooden spoon until dough is moist.

Coat a jelly roll pan with baking spray and set near a floured cutting board.

Turn dough onto board.  Roll into a large log.  Cut this log in two.  Roll each half into a 14″ narrow log.  Place logs on jelly roll and flatten slightly.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove Biscotti from oven and cool on rack for five minutes.

Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees.  Cut Biscotti into 1/2″ slices with serrated knife.  Stand slices on jelly roll pan and bake for an additional 20 minutes.  Remove Biscotti from pan and cool completely before storing.  Yield: About 30 Biscotti.

LEMON BISCOTTI WITH SLICED ALMONDS

1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest, 2 teaspoons lemon extract, juice of 1 lemon

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients with a whisk.  Add sliced almonds and whisk a bit more.  In a small bowl beat eggs, lemon zest, and lemon extract (but not juice) with a fork.  Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing with wooden spoon as you slowly add the lemon juice.  (You may not need all of it.)

Coat a jelly roll pan with baking spray and set near floured cutting board.

Turn dough onto board.  Roll into a large log.  Cut this log in two.  Roll each half into a 14″ narrow log.  Place logs on jelly roll pan and flatten slightly.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and let Biscotti cool on wire rack for five minutes.

Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees.  Cut Biscotti into 1/2″ slices with serrated knife.  Stand slices on jelly roll pan and bake for an additional 20 minutes.  Remove Biscotti from pan and cool completely before storing.  Yield: About 30 Biscotti.

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson.  To learn more about her work please go to www.harriehodgson.com.

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists.  Her 24th book, “Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief,” written with co-author Dr. Lois Krahn, is available from http://www.amazon.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harriet_Hodgson

[tag]coffee, biscotti, cappuccino, recipes [/tag]

Ingredients
• A tall glass filled with ice
• 5 oz. Of double brewed French vanilla Soyfee
• 2 tbsp. Sugar
• a good long squirt of chocolate syrup
• 1/4-1/2 cup of whole milk or soymilk (as much or as little as you like)
• whipped cream (optional)
• cinnamon (optional)

Preparation

Start with making some strong soyfee by brewing 6-7 oz. of soyfee and then pouring it back into your coffee maker and brewing it again. This may not be good for some coffee makers so a French Press is recommended. Add the sugar, syrup, and the milk to the soyfee; stir well. (I find that this order works best.) Pour the soyfee over the ice in a tall glass and top with whipped cream or foamed milk; lastly, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top.

I assume Robust means darker. I just dont think people will be confused about what type of store they are walking into. McD has made great strides in makeing their restaurants more friendly. But I wont ever feel like I am at Starbucks

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