Fall Coffee Preview - Capresso Updates its Automatic Frother With Wonderful Results

Capresso has updated its Capresso froth Pro automatic milk frother in time for the holidays.  This handy machine creates thick, rich frothes milk that is a great addition to cappucinos, hot chocolates or chai teas, and those who enjoy drinking steamed milk.  We received a unit for testing and have been thoroughly impressed by it including the three temperature settins of hot, warm and cold with an illuminated touch pad.  The unit has two patent-pending frothing disks and one heating disk that can be stored within the unit.  The milk pitcher is dishwasher safe.  It is smaller than its competitor, the Nespresso Aerocino and quite affordable at US $59.99.  The units became available in July of this year and should sell well through the holiday season especially as a gift for those who have coffee machines without an integrated milk frothing mechanism.  For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Fall Coffee Preview - New Coffee Grinders

Bodum BISTRO Electric Burr Grinder adds a colorful yet functional item to the impressive collectioin of housewares BODUM launched this year including the FYRKAT Charcoal Picnic Grill and the ETTORE Electric WaterKettle.    The coffee beans are crushed between conical burrs rather than chopping them which helps the coffee to maintain its characteristic taste and aroma much better.  By twisting the upper bean container, the variable grind settings can be adjusted froma coarse French Press setting all the way down to a fine ground for espresso.  The BISTRO grinder comes with a static-free borosilicate glass PRESSO container that nestles into the base of the unit to collect ground coffee during use.  The part also features a non-slip silicone band for secure handling.  The unit will retail for US $99.99 and will be available in many of the dynamic primary and secondary colors in the BODUM line including green, orange, yellow, purple, black and white.

For traditionalists who prefer a blade grinder, BODUM has a very affordable BISTRO Blade Grinder that uses a stainless steel blade to the cut the coffee beans quickly and efficiently.  The transparent lid allows you to see the coarseness of the coffee while grinding.  The unit will retail for US $29.95.

A great low-tech option is the Kyocera Ceramic Coffee Grinder which features a ceramic grinding mechanism that will not alter the flavor of the coffee grinds.  The grinding mechanism is made from an advanced ceramic that is close in hardness to the Diamond (10 on the Mohs scale), that is also rust-proof.  The grind adjustment allows for fine to coarse grinds with a non-slip base.  The glass container is resuable and dishwasher safe.Teh unit can store up to 100g of ground coffee and is dishwasher safe.

Fall Coffee Preview - Friis Coffee Savor

Friis Coffee Savor

Keeping your coffee beans fresh has become much easier with with Friis Coffee Savor, a specially designed container that tackles the four major factors contributing to diminished coffee bean flavor including carbon dioxide gas, light, air and moisture.  The stainless steel canisters incorporate air-tight storage with a freshness valve similar to those you see on packages of whole coffee beans.  Those valves are replacable, ensuring that you will be able to maintain your coffee freshness with a steady rotation.  The unit stores up to 1 lb. of whole or ground coffee and also has a handy dial that lets you select the day of the month your first put your coffee into the canister.  Notably, the unit does not have a handy place to label your coffee so for those of you who like to brew different varieties of beans, you will have to find a way to identify them once you have removed them from their packaging.  The units are attractive and reasonably priced at US $19.99 for one, and $38.40 for the pair at the Friis online store.  In addition the company will provide you with a package of free replacement valves to get you started.  We sampled a unit and were impressed with the freshness of the coffee beans even after 30 days of storage.  This unit provides a great storage option for whole bean fans and will be particularly helpful for those who have automatic espresso machines.  For more information, please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Fall Coffee Preview - Gaggia Introduces Accademia

Gaggia Accademia

Gaggia, the Italian coffee machine manufacturer has created a simply delightful option for those who are determined to turn their homes into the coffeehouse next door.   I had an opportunity to get up close and personal with a demo model of the Gaggia Accademia at the Housewares show earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed with this superautomatic espresso machine, not only for its design, but for its handling and the thoughtful details that seemed to address many of the oversights of superautomatic machines in other lines.  The machine is substantial and all of the parts feel sturdy.  The machine is front loading which makes removing the brewing system and cleaning out the grounds tray extremely quick and features an integrated coffee bean container and integrated grinder.  The TFT display features color and black characters and the one touch multi-beverage panel is easy to use and makes selecting your drink of choice quick and easy.  As you may expect a machine of this type allows you to customize your drinks so that each of your particular drink attributes from the body of your drink down to the amount of milk or coffee to be put into your cup are maintained in the system.  The touch button system ahs separate buttons for espresso, caffe, caffe longo, cappuccino, latte macchiato and latte.  The machine has a 15-bar pressure system and a 1.6 liter water tank along with a double boiler and a hot water and steam nozzle attached to the front of the machine.  The milk jar is removable and also integrated into the machine and includes an automatic milk circuit cleaning cycle.  The machine should reach the U.S. market later this year just in time for the holidays and will retail somewhere in the US $2500-$3500 range.  For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.