The Money’s on the Bean

There are really no special tricks when choosing an espresso bean. After all, espresso beans are not really different from ‘ordinary coffee beans.’ There’s no way of identifying beans that are exclusively for espresso, just like there’s no way of identifying flavour from Torani syrups and flavour of “real” ingredients.” There are no specific beans that are only available exclusively for espresso making, although there are those that result to better espresso shots than others. These beans for espresso are simply those that have undergone a specific pressing method so that they would produce espresso. In most cases, the beans are roasted to reach a darker color, which usually equates to a more bitter taste once they will be pressed for espresso.

As there is no instant or specific beans for espresso, choosing an espresso bean can be a bit of a challenge. But, knowing some simple points to selecting them will guarantee finding the best bean to result in a fine shot of espresso. 

The first factor is flavor. As indicated earlier, although people have grown fond of using the term ‘espresso bean,’ there is no such specific thing. That is because any coffee bean can be made into espresso. However, the espresso maker should think about the flavour of the espresso that will result in using a particular coffee bean. For coffee connoisseurs, the best shot of espresso is bitter – the more bitter it is, the better. Thus, the ideal bean to choose for espresso would be one that can be roasted darkly.

But for those who are not that fond of a bitter flavor for their espresso shot, a more subtle flavor produced by a lighter roast is the option. Just remember: The color of the coffee roast determines the resulting flavor, of the espresso, and the darker the roast is, the more bitter the resulting espresso is. Again, espresso can be produced from any coffee bean.  

The strength of the espresso is different from its flavour, although the two factors can be related. For those choosing an espresso bean, the next question after deciding how bitter they want their espresso to be is how strong they want it to be. Various coffee beans contain different levels of caffeine. The more caffeine is contained in a coffee bean, the more caffeine there will be in the espresso. Caffeine levels determine how strong any coffee drink is, so those who want a stronger espresso should choose beans with high levels of caffeine.

People drinking espresso should also remember that espresso comes in shots, so those who want more powerful espresso-infused drinks should either add extra shots or just stick to one shot but made from ‘stronger’ beans.  For those who want just a slight kick, you can always add flavour to your espresso with a shot of Torani syrups to soften the bitterness. 

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Should You Buy Your Own Espresso Machine?

Espresso machines are considered to be a luxury by some, especially those fully automatic ones that cost more than a months’ worth of rent.  But if you are like some other people who value their coffee to the point that they are spending a lot of money in search for that perfect cup of coffee from various coffee shops, then it might be worth buying one and making that perfect cup at home.  After all, there’s something just fulfilling about making the perfect cup of espresso with your own efforts. Moreover, you get to save on a lot of effort as you don’t need to get out of the house just to get a great cup of espresso. Why venture out doors when you can make one yourself in the comforts of home? Besides, with an espresso machine at home, you can even have the freedom to choose which Torani syrup you can add.

If you are the type of person who goes out of his way to buy a tall cup of coffee from the neighborhood coffee shop, then you should consider buying one.  Economically, it will be the cheaper alternative than spending for a cup of coffee every day from the corner coffee shop. You can save on gas as well as you’ll spare yourself from driving to the nearest coffee place.  However, you would have to shell out quite a sum of money at the beginning but your return on investment would be worth it. Aside from saving money, a bag of high quality coffee beans can go a long way.  You can even invite your friends to have coffee in your place and show off your machine and espresso making skills.

Choosing from the models of espresso machines available in the market may be a task, as there are many models with various features and capacities. What you should be mindful is the price of these different models. You wouldn’t want to overspend on a model that has all the bells and whistles when all you actually need is something straightforward. You may end up not using all the features of a high-priced model, which will just make your investment on such a machine pointless.

You can learn how to make those coffee-based espresso concoctions that coffee shops sell.  With all the ingredients on-hand, you can easily make them at home at a fraction of the cost of what you usually spend for it.  The variety of Torani syrup flavors make this all possible. Unless you’re some Hollywood big shot or CEO of a company, you may really want to develop a passion for making espresso so that your machine can really be put to use. Otherwise, you may only be spending a lot of money on something that will just be a showpiece on your kitchen.

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Is There Such a Thing as Asian Coffee?

Coffee is one beverage that is loved by many.  It can be considered as a universally accepted drink because most cultures accept this beverage.  Because of this, countries that have coffee as an agricultural product are pushing it to become a main player in the industry. Coffee beans are becoming in demand all over.  What is there not to love about coffee?  It is easy to prepare and can be flavored with any Torani syrups and other ingredients.

Asia is one of the continents that are known for its coffee.  Other parts of the world like Africa and South America may be more known for the crop, with Asian countries more known to be tea drinkers, but that doesn’t stop a lot of Asian countries from growing their own kind of coffee.  Here are some facts about coffee and Asia that you may not know:

Imege credit: 123rf

      ·         Indonesia is one of the countries known to produce some of the best coffee beans. 

The country’s hot and humid climate as well as the volcanic soil may be the reason for the complex flavors that their beans have.  Asian coffee is beginning to become a dominant force in the coffee industry of the world.  Most coffee shops now carry an Asian blend in their selection lineup.  Thus, it is a no-brainer that one of the colloquial names of coffee is “java,” as in the island of Java, an Indonesian island where coffee is grown. Another island in Indonesia popular for growing coffee is Sumatra.

·         Climate in most Asian countries is ideal for growing coffee.

Since a lot of Asian countries are located in the equatorial area, they have become an ideal place in growing coffee.  The hot and moist climates of the forests in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines provide a perfect place for growing coffee plants.  The combination of the factors in climate and soil are said to be the contributing factors as to why Asia is one of the best places to grow coffee with beans that have a complex flavor.

·         The best Robusta beans are grown in Asia.

Yes, not only does Asia grow coffee, but the region is actually considered as the grower of one of the most popular kinds of coffee, Robusta. This kind of bean can be considered the Asian variety of beans. Vietnam is considered to be the number one exporter for Robusta beans and its flavor is known all over because people who love strong coffee love prefer this because of its bold flavor.  This is perfect when flavored with Torani syrups.

·         Civet Coffee is beginning to gain ground.

This coffee is beginning to be noticed by coffee connoisseurs because of its taste.  No need to add Torani syrups for this.  This is also grown in the Indonesian island of Sumatra. But take note, this kind of coffee can be quite pricey. In fact, Civet coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world.  Just don’t care to know the way the coffee beans are harvested is also being talked about.

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Getting Your Coffee If You Have Hyperacidity

Coffee is one beverage that a lot of people love to drink especially in the morning.  However, there are those who do not appreciate it because they say it causes their stomachs to go crazy on them. This is a common problem as coffee is said to cause or trigger the onset of hyperacidity.  What is hyperacidity?  It indicates that they body’s tissues and fluids are more acidic than they should be.  It is usually the stomach that feels this as it is often associated with stomach ache.   It is not just coffee that triggers this symptom in the body but it does happen often after drinking a cup of brewed coffee flavored with Torani syrup.

If you are one of those people who usually suffer hyperacidity coupled with stomach ache after drinking a cup of coffee, there are other alternatives for you.  This is for those who really cannot let go of their coffee fix even if their bodies are not attuned to it.

credits: The Healty Happy Life

       ·         Opt for blended drinks – The good news is that coffee houses nowadays serve a variety of coffee beverages that cater to different tastes.   These blended drinks lessen the impact of the coffee acids in the stomach as there are other ingredients blended with it that could absorb the stomach acids. The usual ingredients include milk, chocolate, Torani syrup for flavoring, cookies, chocolate chips, and mini-marshmallows.  You may need to acquaint your taste for these blended drinks.

·         Ask for additional syrup for strong coffee blends – If you really prefer to have a cup of just plain coffee, you can ask for a few extra pumps of the Torani syrup of your choice as flavoring.  This can lessen the coffee taste because of the added flavor. This means you can still have strong coffee, but just add syrups to stabilize the acidic content of your beverage.

·         Try out different brands – There are those that have a preference for a particular brand that when they try out others, their stomachs just won’t cooperate.  If this happens to you, better stick to the brand that you have been drinking. If you want to try this method, you may need some trail and error, as you would need to check which blends and preparations suit your tummy.

·         Go for coffee with low acid levels – Believe it or not, there are not variants of coffee that have been treated in a way that its levels of acid have been diminished. You can definitely look for that, especially in health food stores. By drinking this, you would be able to drink your favorite coffee drink without having to worry about your acidity levels. And most people who swear by these low-acid variants swear it doesn’t taste half as bad, if any different at all.

·         Don’t drink too much – Of course, as with everything else, coffee should be taken in moderation.  Drinking too much would definitely make you feel sick to the stomach, not to mention will make you feel bad for days! 

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Coffee Concoctions for the Figure Conscious

Coffee is one beverage that is loved by many people all over the world.  It has become a widely accepted drink.  People love to have it first thing in the morning to help wake up their senses and get ready for the day.  Some people drink it any other time to help keep up with the demands of the day.  The beauty of this beverage is that it can be enjoyed in many different ways and any time of the day.  Coffee-based concoctions have become famous which people love because of the additional flavor given by the Torani syrup mixed with it.

Figure conscious people often stay away from coffee blended drinks because of its high calorie content.  Even though it is in liquid form, a cup of coffee can pack a lot of calories, and as a popular dieter’s adage goes, a moment on your lips will stay forever on your hips. But the good news is that there are coffee drinks that can be enjoyed by those people who love to count their calorie intake.  It just takes a few pumps of their chosen Torani syrup to give it additional flavor. Yes, you can more flavorful drinks without having to drink too much coffee! Here are some more sauggestions on how to make coffee your drink even if you are conscious of your figure:

credits: MLive

You can go skinny with the dairy component.

Coffee drinks that have milk blended in it can be made into a skinny drink. Go for other milk alternatives like soy milk or almond milk to lessen the calories compared to regular full cream milk.  You can now enjoy Café Latte, Caffe Mocha and even Cappuccino but make sure to tell the barista to change the milk. Also, a lot of coffee drinks, especially those signature drinks in cafes, have whipped cream topped on them. You can skim a good number of calories by just telling your barista that you don’t want to have whipped cream on your drink.

Half the serving size.

Ordering the smaller tall cup over the largest size available will make a huge difference in the amount of calories that you get into your body.  If a largest sized (for example, the venti drink in Starbucks) blended drink has about 400 calories, you can half that by getting the smaller sized glass. If you are really hankering for that Frappuccino flavored with mint Torani syrup, then go ahead and order a small one. After all, we know that drinking a small cup is just as good as drinking the largest sized coffee if we’re just after the experience and a good coffee fix.

Opt if sugar-free flavorings.

This is a big help especially for those diabetic people who really would want to have a good cup of flavored coffee.  This will cater to their health requirement. For those who want to taste different flavors without packing on the sugar, there are sugar free Torani syrups options. 

You can start calorie counting even before you enter the shop. If all else fails, go for the plain and simple black coffee or Americano. 

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