Easy Healthy Recipes

What is Espresso?

The word espresso comes from the Italian words caffé espresso which literally means pressed-out coffee. Espresso is brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder. This process extracts a very flavorful concentrated coffee beverage. In Italy, good espresso is defined by the “four Ms” – Miscela, Macinazione, Macchina, Mano. These four words loosely translates to: blend of coffee beans, the grinding process, the machine, and the person making the espresso.

Espresso was developed in Milan, Italy in the early 20th century, but up until the mid-1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. A simple espresso machine uses a pot, a filter, ground coffee and a spout. The as water in the pot is heated pressure builds inside the pot, and the

only way for it to escape is up the spout, through the coffee and out of the spout in the top. Since the end of the spout is under water, the pressure forces the hot water up through the spout. Modern day espresso machines have really caught on since the invention of the spring piston lever machine. This machines commercial success changed espresso into the beverage we know today. Starbucks has taken espresso production to a new level and the market continues to grow each year.

How does Espresso Differ from Coffee?

So what makes espresso so much different than regular coffee? For starters it has a thicker consistency than standard drip coffee. It also contains a higher amount of dissolved solids than drip coffee per relative volume. And probably the most noticeable thing when you pay $6 bucks is that the serving is much smaller. Espresso is usually measured in shots, which are between 25 and 30 ml (around 1 fluid ounce) in size. Espresso is also chemically complex and somewhat volatile, with many of its chemical components quickly degrading from oxidation or loss of temperature. Just by looking at it, the most distinguishing characteristic is “crema”. Crema is the reddish-brown foam that floats on the surface and is composed of vegetable oils, proteins and sugars. Crema has elements of both emulsion and foam colloid.

Because of the high pressure brewing process, espresso tends to be a very highly concentrated “shot” of coffee. While there can be significant variation, on a per-volume basis, espresso contains approximately three times the caffeine content of regular brewed coffee. In most cases, 1 shot of espresso will have about half the caffeine of a standard large coffee. For this reason, it has become the base ingredient for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccino, macchiato and mochas.

Which type of coffee beans is used to make espresso?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no specific coffee bean type or roast required to make espresso. Remember, espresso is made from the process, not the bean or blend. Typically, espresso is made from a blend of beans that can be roasted ranging between dark and light. Depending on the consumer, the blend chosen is purely a decision on taste. Commercial espresso makers like Starbucks go with a darker roast of beans to produce their traditional flavor.

What the heck is a Barista?

Barista is the Italian word for bartender. So an expert operator of an espresso machine is considered a barista. Starbucks uses this term to refer to their counter staff and thus the term has gained popularity in the U.S. A “home barista” is one who enjoys making espresso at their home.

A final word on espresso

As more and more Americans pour (no pun intended) into the local Starbucks or the Seattle’s Best coffee shops, the popularity of espresso grows. Owning your own espresso maker has become quite popular in recent years and there are many styles of machines to choose from. Some operate with just the touch of a button. I encourage you to do your research before you buy there are many different options and many different price ranges to consider. Good luck on your quest for the perfect cup of espresso be it home brewed or Starbucks original.

Dale Martin hosts a site that posts reviews and information on espresso machines. If you would like to learn more or to read reviews of specific espresso machines, please visit us at www.espressomachines-review.com

When making smoothies you will want to make sure you have some basic ingredients on hand.

With these basic ingredients, a bowl full of fruit, vegetables, and your imagination you will surely come up with some fabulously delicious and original smoothie recipes! The ingredients below is just a short list of some of the basic ingredients used in most smoothie recipes.

Having these ingredients on hand will make creating an experimenting with smoothie making a more pleasant and FUN experience.

Blender – I know this isn’t really an ingredient, but a good blender will really help you in your smoothie making process. So be sure to have a blender on hand before attempting to make a smoothie.

Yogurt – Yogurt is a really great base for all smoothies. It gives it a great texture. Vanilla yogurt goes great with any smoothie, but you can also change it up a bit and keep several different flavors on hand like lemon and strawberry yogurt.

Milk – Using milk in a smoothie is way better than using water. It gives the smoothie more flavor and texture. If you are a vegetarian or lactose intolerant than Soy milk will do. I prefer the vanilla flavored soy milk. My favorite is the 8th continent light vanilla soy milk.

Juice – Orange juice serves a great base for a sweeter smoothie. Apple juice and grape juice can also be used as well. If you are using milk or yogurt as a base, adding a little orange juice can help give it a sweet taste, and could even replace using a sweetener or sugar in your smoothie. Using a tomato juice or another vegetable juice can help add even more nutrition and flavor to your smoothies!

Tofu – Adding a little tofu to a smoothie is a great way to get a low fat, good for you, protein in your diet. Combined with the soy milk you could easily net 6 grams of protein in ONE smoothie. No need to worry about the taste, most of the time the tofu just blends in with the flavors of the smoothie.

Ice – Use ice in your smoothie if you are wanting to make your smoothie thicker. Ice is also great for getting that frothy smoothie texture.

Sweetener & Salt – Using sweetener and a pinch of salt can really make the flavors of your smoothie more distinct. Try to keep the salt to a minimum, only use a pinch of it or to taste – until the flavors stand out and are more distinct.

Honey – Honey is another great way to add a little sweetness to your smoothie.

Fun – Making smoothies is about having fun! Don’t forget to add this special ingredient to every smoothie you make!

When making smoothies, use your imagination and add different kinds of fruits, and even vegetables to your smoothies. Different kinds of nuts like peanuts, cashews, almonds, and walnuts not only add a nice flavor to smoothies but can also be a great way to add protein to your smoothie. Don’t forget things like peanut butter or cashew butter can also be used to make a smoothie!

If you keep these basic smoothie ingredients on hand you will have the freedom to create a unique and yummy smoothie at the drop of a dime.