Coffee Guide

What is Scale?

The build up of minerals inside the hot parts of your coffee machine or espresso machine is commonly called lime scale. This term is derived from hard water areas in some parts of the world that have a high lime content in their water. In fact any mineral that comes out of solution from heat can deposit itself in the water carrying parts of your coffee machine. Typically this will affect your boiler, the pumps and any parts that carry hot water. Usually the areas where the water sits still for a while, such as the boiler are worst affected.

Is scale a problem?

The build up of lime scale will slow the water flow, reduce your boiler capacity and if left will eventually prevent your coffee machine working. Some boilers can end up with so much scale that they have heating problems.

How Often Should I Descale?

The time intervals between descaling depends upon many factors. The two main factors are the quality of your water and the amount of water running through the machine. I speak to people using bore water pumped straight from the ground who need to descale their coffee machine monthly. In some cities, in conjunction with a water filter you can use your coffee machine for a year or more without descaling. Try to find a water hardness test kit that will tell you how hard your water is. Your kettle is also a good indicator, if lime scale builds up in your kettle, you can count on it being in your coffee machine. If you use less water by drinking espressos you’ll need to descale less often than if you make cappuccinos!

How Do I Descale My Coffee Machine?

Firstly, read the instructions that came with your coffee machine or espresso machine, if they disagree with this article then follow the instructions that you have. You don’t want to void your warranty!

I recommend using a proper citric acid based descaling solution designed for espresso machines. This should be mixed and prepared as per the instructions on the bottle or packet. Definitely DON’T use vinegar, it’s not good for your espresso machine.

You need to descale your coffee machine while it’s cold. Put the prepared descaling solution into the water reservoir, turn on the machine and pump water (not steam) through the steam nozzle for about 20 seconds. If your espresso machine doesn’t have the facility to pump water this way then pump it through the group handle without the handle in place. Immediately turn off the machine.

Your espresso machine is now cold with the descaling solution inside the water components. The limescale will be dissolving while you wait. After about 10 minutes turn the machine on again and pump more water through for about 1 minute. Turn the coffee machine off again and wait for the descaling solution to do its work.

While you’re waiting for the descaling solution to eat away at the limescale build up, take the opportunity to clean other parts of your coffee machine. Pull apart your group handle and clean it out. Get all the burnt milk off the steam spout and wipe the outside of the machine.

Keep repeating the steps above until the water reservoir is empty. All the solution should have been pumped through the machine and the limescale will have been removed. This should take about 5 cycles and about 1 hour.

You now need to clean the bitter tasting descaler from your espresso machine. Thoroughly rinse the water container in your machine and fill it with fresh clean water. Run the entire container through your machine. Repeat this process again and your coffee machine or espresso machine is now descaled!! Make at least one coffee and throw it out to make sure all the descaling solution is gone.

Now that you’ve got a sparkling clean coffee machine treat yourself to a great cup of coffee!

Jim Storey is the owner of Discount Coffee Machines. Jim discovered coffee when working in a desk job and never went back to his desk. For further information please visit http://www.coffeemachine.com.au

If you love coffee, you will want to try something different. You may want to go one step further and try an espresso. This is a great drink that you will love and want more of. You can get this great espresso drink at many coffee houses and restaurants around the area. If you want to have it whenever you like, you may want to get an espresso coffee machine for your very own.

There is no reason why you should not be able to have the espresso that you would like to have whenever you want it. You will find that when you get the urge to have this great tasting drink, you can make some just the way that you like it. This is the best part about having the espresso coffee machine right at your fingertips.

Sitting down with a great espresso on cold winter days is a wonderful way to relax. You can kick back and enjoy the quiet with this great cup of coffee. You can purchase your very own espresso coffee machine for your home and this will allow you the freedom to make your own espresso anytime you would like.

If you know someone that loves coffee just as much as you do, you may want to get him or her an espresso coffee machine. You may want to get them this gift so that they can experience the great taste of coffee and espresso anytime they would like. There is no reason why you cannot get them a great espresso machine for their home. There are all different brands of these great machines and you will be able to get one that fits into your budget.

If you are not sure what type of espresso coffee machine you want, you may want to take a good look at all the options that you will have. You will see that there are different features on all of the espresso coffee machines that are out there for you buy. You can get these fun machines for a great price that you can feel good about. It is worth it to have the great tasting espresso that you love so much any time you want it.

There is just no reason to wait anymore. You should get started making your own special blend of espresso coffee for you and your family and friends. They will enjoy the espresso that you have made for them and they will think that you have put a lot of hard work into it. The fact is that you can make a cup of good tasting espresso in a matter of minutes. This is an amazing idea that you will not want to pass up.

The author J. L. Jacobsen is a freelance writher, and writhe articles of difference stuff. Coffee is one of the favourites. http://www.bestespressomachine.org

Article Author has copyright on this article. 2006

When asked to list essential equipment in an office people tend to think of computers, desks, chairs, photocopiers, printers, stationary and the such. While this is all very important, neglecting to include a coffee machine somewhere in that list would be close to incompetent. Why? Simply because a coffee machine is absolutely invaluable to both employer and employee. A coffee machine means more than just the obvious benefit of coffee ‘on tap’. In the workplace it can subtly act to substantially improve the employer-employee relationship.

Unfortunately, many businesses suffer from an unproductive, upstairs downstairs environment. In such circumstances it is common for company employees to feel resentment towards the management. This will reduce levels of cooperation and communication. By installing a coffee machine you are showing that you care about your employees, thus raising morale and loyalty to the company. Research irrefutably shows employees that feel their employers care about their needs and act accordingly are far happier, more loyal to the company and ultimately more productive. A more productive employee does more work in the same period of time, not only saving but actually making you money. In short a coffee machine will not only pay for itself but also help your profits.

What about the actual benefits to your employees of drinking coffee from a well selected coffee machine? Well, think about it! A coffee machine will save vast amounts of time, which is supremely important in a world where time means money. With a coffee machine the coffee will be ready made, no need for time to be wasted waiting for a kettle to boil. When an employee wants a drink they will simply pour themselves a mug of hot coffee and then happily get back to work without any significant interruption to their stream of thought. This will enable them to maintain a high level of focus.

The consumption of coffee also has many proven biochemical benefits. Concentrate, here comes the science part. Coffee contains caffeine, or trimethylxanthine to give it its medical name. Caffeine acts as a mild chemical stimulant, helping to quickly boost levels of concentration over a prolonged period of time – this will undoubtedly help to maximize productivity in the workplace.

To conclude, is it worth risking your business empire for the sake of a coffee machine? The benefits are much more far reaching than simply those of taste, time and availability. A humble coffee machine can be a real asset for your company, boosting; morale, focus, efficiency and all importantly boosting profits! What more could you ask from a single piece of equipment?

Jim Storey is the owner of Discount Coffee Machines. Jim discovered coffee when he had a desk job and never went back to his desk.

The first thing I recommend to a friend buying a coffee machine is that it needs to look good. Yep, The Most Important Thing about a coffee machine is how it looks. Every day you’re going to walk up to this machine and make a coffee. Think about how you’ll feel when you use it, will you appreciate the slim design? Do you prefer a machine with lots of dials and buttons? Do you prefer large or small? A machine that looks wrong to you won’t be a pleasure to use.

The second big question is automatic or manual. An automatic coffee machine contains a grinder that grinds the beans and dispenses an espresso or long black for you. Some automatic coffee machines also froth your milk for you. There’s several advantages to having an automatic coffee machine; firstly, the coffee is always the same, get the grind setting and temperature right and you’re guaranteed the same coffee each time. Secondly it’s quicker, press a button and the coffee is made, your time is spent chatting, preparing a meal or reading the paper, not messing about with the coffee machine. Thirdly there’s no mess, you’re not filling the filter handle (and spilling it) with ground coffee and you’re not dealing with the wet puck that gets produced, everything is held neatly inside the coffee machine. Lastly, if there’s an auto frothing attachment, you’re not messing about with milk jugs trying to get a nice silky foam on your milk, it’s all done for you.

Does this sound perfect? For many coffee connoisseurs this is a terrible travesty!! Automatic, never!! Their inner barista needs to be free!

Manual coffee machines allow you to play with more settings. How hard you tamp the ground coffee allows for subtly different flavours. Different grind settings on the separate grinder allow you to tweak your flow rates. You can froth for cappuccino or latte. You can make three different coffees with three different bags of ground coffee. The choices (and the time you spend) are endless. Many coffee fanatics would be outraged to go near an automatic coffee machine. These coffee experts are happy to spend many hours researching beans, roasters and machines in search of the perfect coffee.

The automatic vs manual coffee machine debate comes down to one simple question, are you a coffee drinker or a coffee maker?

And me? Well I have a manual and an automatic coffee machine on my bench at home. I sell coffee machines for a living so why not try them all? Sadly the manual doesn’t get used any more, if I want a coffee it’s because I want a coffee and now! I personally find that the freshly ground beans in the automatic make up for the slight lack of tweaks that I can so on the manual coffee machine. I’m also able to make 6 cappuccinos for friends in about 3 minutes, and they taste great.

When I walk up to my Saeco Royal Cappuccino it looks good and it’s easy to use. The quick, simple and great tasting white coffees reflect my inner soul – I’m a coffee drinker not a coffee maker!

Jim Storey is the owner of Coffee Machine Express. Jim discovered coffee when working in a desk job and never went back to his desk. For further information please visit http://www.coffeemachine.com.au

The vast majority of coffees from around the world are either Arabica or Robusta. Arabica has about 60-80% of the market. It tends to be better flavored and have less caffeine than the Robusta, but some Robustas are good by themselves and they’re frequently blended with Arabica.

Various other coffee types make up the rest of the market, but they aren’t what you’re going to find on your grocery store shelf. For example, Kona coffee comes from the Hawaiian islands and is a relatively rare, quite expensive bean. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is also rare and expensive. More so when hurricanes wipe out the crop. Look into specialty coffee shops or online stores and see what they have to offer. Explore a little and you might just find the perfect bean.

Traditionally, the owners of the coffee plantations, coffee brokers, and the processing companies made pretty much all the money from the coffee we buy. The people doing the actual work and harvesting made pennies. Fair trade coffee is an attempt to change that. The Fair Trade program tries to ensure that the workers and growers get a fair share of the price of the coffee. So while Fair Trade coffee isn’t a different kind of bean the intent behind it might make that coffee taste a little better.

If you’re looking to buy the fancier coffee beans (pre-roasted) just go to your favorite coffee house (Peet’s Coffee, Starbucks, or where ever) or your favorite grocery store. More and more stores are starting to carry the fancier coffees. You can either grind the beans right there in the store, or take them home to do yourself. More and more people are going this route, rather than buying ground coffee in a can. (Does it taste like mud because it was ground?)

Green coffee is coffee that has not yet been roasted. The cherry may have been removed and the beans dried, but that’s it. What you find in the stores has been roasted and processed. An advantage to the green coffee is that it stores very well.

You could buy a quantity of your favorite coffee in its green state, and then roast small amounts when the mood suits you. That way you’ll always have the freshest coffee. Of course, you’ll have to make room on your kitchen counter for a coffee roaster, along with whatever type of coffee maker you own. Coffee roasters are available in a variety of styles and price ranges, just like coffee makers. Many online stores, such as Amazon.com, have a great selection in all price ranges. Some of these are the single cup coffee machines, which are great for the person on the go. Instead of having 10 or 12 cups cooking away you make just the one cup, to your taste, and off you go.

We’re all familiar with the old style drip coffee pot, of course. Load the coffee, boil and brew, and serve many. While many of us still like this style of coffee, there is a rapid growth in the number of people buying espresso machines.

An espresso coffee machine differs a bit from the standard machine. Espresso is made when highly pressurized steam is forced through packed down, finely ground coffee. The first few drops out contain the concentrated goodness of the coffee and the standard serving is just over one ounce. It’ll wake you right up. If it doesn’t, have another.

Coffee machines vary greatly in features and price. The fancier machines will wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. Well, maybe not. But some of them will not only brew your coffee or espresso, they’ll grind the beans! All you do is pour your coffee beans in one end, hit the button, and a fresh cup of coffee or espresso comes out.

What’s in a cup of coffee? Stop on by the Bmall Coffee House and check out the various coffees and coffee machines. See what strikes your fancy. ? 2006 by Greg Mee and bmall.com. Permission to use this article is granted as long as the links remain live.

A good thing is good as long as there isn’t too much of it. The one cup coffee maker is living proof of this philosophy.

As much as you might enjoy your morning pot of fresh home-brew coffee, or that late night cup that keeps you going for hours, too much coffee is definitely not a good thing. As in all forms of enjoyment, moderation is necessary so that you might keep enjoying it for a long time. The one cup coffee maker is an invention that lets you do just that.

It also enables you to have your coffee just as you like it, wherever you like it. If you are a connoisseur of good coffee, you will probably want to avoid cheap instant varieties and prefer to brew your own. But if you travel much, that may not be a practical option. Or if you work in a public office, it may be a painful experience to travel to the coffee machine in the foyer each time you need a cup. Then be forced to accept the undrinkable stuff that is usually dispensed in those places.

So how about a small appliance that will sit quietly on your work desk, and make fresh, connoisseur-class coffee for you every time you felt like one?

Or how about a small apparatus that you can easily pack in with your light luggage, something that will provide you with the much-needed refreshment of top-quality coffee at any time, at any location?

Sounds good? In that case what you need is the one cup coffee maker. These things are small, light, streamlined automatic machines that have a programmable interface. You can set the temperature, strength, quantity (usually not much more than what constitutes a reasonable-sized single drink) etc., and it takes only a minute to pour out your desired drink, exactly as you wanted it. They sometimes come with their own cups, but these are often detachable, and you can fit your own favorite travel mug under the tap.

? Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has more articles on coffee and coffee beans at Ultimate Coffees Info such as Are Coffee Enemas the Real Thing?.