Thursday, September 04, 2003

Latte Art Training Classes with David Schomer - Espresso Vivace

Coffee Fest Seattle 2003--Washington State Convention & Trade Center
October 24-26, 2003

Coffee Fest Seattle 2003 Latte Art Training Classes will be conducted by David Schomer, co-founder and co-owner of Espresso Vivace in Seattle, Washington. Viewed by many as one of the world's foremost experts on the art and science of espresso extraction, Mr. Schomer is responsible for taking Free Pour Latte Art from a little known Italian practice to the coffee retail world with the release of his video "Caffe Latte Art" in 1995. The video covers milk texturing using the steam wand, and the mechanics of pattern creation.

Although it is a "finish," Latte Art affects the flavor of the espresso. Coffee flavor is enhanced by the micro-bubble texture that is essential to delineate the patterns in the finished cups. A latte finished in this manner is not only visually stunning but ensures that captured within, is a taste sensation unlike most coffee retailers are currently providing to their customers.

The 2nd annual Dillanos Latte Art Competition and the two Latte Art Training Classes are provided for Coffee Fest Seattle attendees to further the awareness and appreciation of this culinary art form.

Offered as part of Coffee Fest Seattle, Coffee Fest Training sessions and the Latte Art Competition create an opportunity for both exhibitors and attendees to get in touch with the latest trends in the specialty coffee and tea industries and are included in the registration. Seating capacity for the Latte Art Training sessions is limited to 340 plus standing room.

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

Converting China to taste of coffee

Taipei Times

Though tea is cheap and coffee is expensive in China, it is the latter that is becoming more popular.

Until a fortnight ago, former hotel worker Jeff Lin Hai Wah had never even tasted a cup of filtered coffee.

The 23-year-old will soon be serving up tall skinny lattes and other speciality coffee varieties to customers in his new job at the first branch of Starbucks in the sprawling city of Guangzhou in southern China.

"I'll be pretty nervous, especially serving coffee to expatriates and tourists who have been drinking coffee all their lives," he said. "When I grew up, we only ever had tea in the house. It wasn't until two or three years ago that I had my first cup of instant coffee."

Seattle-based Starbucks is one of three Western coffee chains opening or preparing to open shops in the sprawling city of Guangzhou, where for centuries tea has been the drink of choice.

More...

Newhall Says Aloha to Hawaiian Coffee Shop

Brian Franks [Signal Staff Writer]

Does it take you three shots of espresso to get going in the morning?
Then a Shark Bite might be for you.
The espresso, a blend of three shots of espresso, half and half and raspberry syrup; and the Maui Mocha, a mocha and coconut blend; and the Summer Breeze, a peach, strawberry, banana, vanilla yogurt and lemon smoothie are among the many varieties of Hawaiian style drinks served at the new Java Kai in the Albertsons shopping center on Lyons Avenue in Valencia.
“There are lots of other coffees out there, but none can compare to the unique taste of a fresh cup of Hawaiian coffee,” said Sarah Eddings, manager of Java Kai.
Eddings said Java Kai’s blend of coffee, Kona, is rated the second best in the world next Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

More...

A hot cup of Giuseppe

Espresso to go is latest salvo from Dunkin' Donuts
By James Collins, Boston Globe Correspondent

QUINCY -- To make a large cappuccino at a Dunkin' Donuts shop here, Camila Macieira needs just 47 seconds and five simple clicks on a touch-button screen.

By the standards of the coffee industry, that's a mighty quick dose of caffeine. At rival Starbucks Corp., highly trained "baristas" might take twice that time -- and a bit more artistry -- to produce an Espresso Macchiato ("espresso gently marked with foam") or another of its signature espresso-based beverages.

As Dunkin' Donuts expands its product line to include espresso beverages, long the province of Starbucks and other high-end outlets that emphasize ambience and attitude, the Randolph doughnut and coffee chain is banking on speed, efficiency, and lower prices.

Dunkin' Donuts's new process is "lots of preprogrammed button-pushing, and not a whole lot of eyeballing," said Brian Dudley, the Dunkin' Donuts executive in charge of product development. "We can't afford that kind of subjectivity."

More...

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

800 slaves released from Brazilian coffee farm

Brazilian authorities said today they had freed about 800 slave workers at a coffee farm in Bahia state, the largest discovery since a clampdown on the practice began in the 1990s.

Some 200 workers were also found at another farm with appalling conditions, including no proper housing and inadequate food and sanitary conditions, said Marcelo Campos, an adviser at the Labor Ministry's special unit to monitor slavery in Brazil's vast interior.

More...

Monday, September 01, 2003

Espresso-Based Beverage Recipes

by 1st-Line Equipment, Your 1st-line Service...
...To Your Espresso Machine Success!

For Every Espresso and Coffee Bar! The Basic Essentials!

Cafe Americano
A Gourmet cup of coffee which is made by either pouring one or two shots of espresso over a 6 ounce cup of fresh hot water. If you have good crema, it should float to the top!

Breve
Any milk based espresso beverage where half and half is substituted for milk. How about a Cappuccino Breve'!
Cappuccino An espresso based beverage that is topped with equal parts of steamed and froth (foamed milk). Mmmm!!! The keyword here is EQUAL! One shot of espresso is equivalent to 1 & 1/2 ounces. Therefore, the steamed milk should be 1 & 1/2 ounces and the froth should be 1 & 1/2 ounces. This totals 4.5 ounces.

Remember, you must steam and froth the milk first! (instructions below)
While the espresso is being made, the froth will jell. (instructions below)

Our suggestion for eight ounce cups (standard American size cups) is to double the amount espresso, steamed milk, and froth. Use the froth to create a cap above the cup's rim, then impress your guests or customers with a design made of either nutmeg, cinnamon, or chocolate powder on the froth!

Espresso Doppio
This is a double shot of espresso poured over one shot of hot water.

Espresso
This recipe calls for the use of a quality home model or commercial grade espresso machines.

Practice makes PERFECT! Turn on your espresso machine and prime the pump, if necessary. Make sure you place FRESH cold water into the reservoir tank, and start warming the cups you will serve with. Leave the filter handle attached to the group head of the machine so that it may also warm up.

Grind your freshly roasted gourmet beans to a very fine grind, known as an espresso grind. This can only be done with an espresso grinder. In addition, the best espresso comes from beans that are espresso roasted. Place seven grams of the espresso coffee grind for a single shot (fourteen grams for a double) into the warm filter handle.

With a slight twisting motion, firmly press the tamper to pack and level the coffee grind in the filter handle. Wipe the rim of the filter handle from coffee grinds to maintain a proper seal during extraction. Lock the filter handle into the group head. Extract one and a half ounces of espresso immediately after locking the filterhandle into the machine. Not extracting the espresso immediately will allow the machine to cook the coffee grinds and produce bitter espresso.

The pull can range from 18 to 23 seconds for a single shot, and slightly longer for a double. The result should be a beautiful crema (milky brown layer) on top of the espresso coffee. Drink or serve within ten seconds to taste the best flavor!

Espresso Con Panna
An espresso topped with whipped cream!

Espresso Lungo
An espresso, but extract two ounces.

Espresso Macchiato
An espresso, but a dollop of warm froth milk is added.

Espresso Ristretto
An espresso, but extract one ounce.

Espresso Romano
An espresso with a twist of lemon.

Latte
An espresso based beverage that has a mixture of steamed and foamed milk, which is poured down the side of the cup containing a shot (or 2 shots) of espresso. In this process, the milk and espresso marbelize into a very dense beverage which can be tasted with the very first sip! Lattes can be flavored by pouring in 1/2-1 ounce syrup for every 4 ounces in the latte.

Cafe Mocha
Mix 1 oz. chocolate syrup and 1 shot espresso. Fill the remainder of the cup with foamed milk and top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. As an alternative, the chocolate can be steamed with the milk to produce a chocolate colored foam.

Frothing & Steaming Milk
Using cold milk (1% or 2% lowfat works best), fill the cold stainless steel pitcher about 35-40% full. Place the pitcher under the steaming wand so that the tip on the steam wand is one half inch below the surface of the milk and in the center of the pitcher. Rapidly turn on the steam wand until it is completely open. Keeping the nozzle tip one half inch below the surface, tilt the pitcher to one side and create a whirlpool. Lower the pitcher as dense foam is created. When there is enough foam, raise the pitcher so that the milk can be steamed to 140 degrees. Check your machine's instruction manual to see when you must turn off your steaming wand - before or after removing from the milk.

Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is made in a copper pot called an Ibrik. Turkish coffee also requires the finest grind, finer than espresso. A heaping teaspoon of coffee for each 3 oz of cold water is recommended, as is a heaping teaspoon of sugar. Set the ibrik over a medium flame, pour in the water and sugar, then add the coffee and stir. As the ibrik heats, the pulverized bean allows a quick and full-bodied extraction. The water is brought to a near-boil, and just as it starts to bubble(foam), it is removed from the flame. Remove and replace the ibrik 3 times to cultivate the foam which gathers in the ibrik's neck. Pour the coffee into a demitasse and let the sediment settle for about five minutes. It is traditional to drink it strong and sweet.

Milk
Shake In a blender, mix 1 oz. of your favorite flavored syrup, 2 - 3 oz. of milk, and 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream. Blend until smooth and enjoy!



Rule of Thumb When Preparing Hot & Cold Espresso Based Beverages!
Pour the Flavor First, The Espresso Second, The Milk Third, and The Garnish Last!


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RABBI PLISKIN'S DAILY LIFT

Daily Lift #343 Push Off Laziness

A person is lazy because he wants serenity and quiet. Comfort-seeking is the root of laziness. But realize that although the lazy way might at first appear to give comfort, in the long run, a person who is lazy will lose greatness. Why? His life will be one of mediocrity!

Today, think about what have you been pushing off because of laziness. Then commit to begin one action to counteract this tendency.
(see Vilna Gaon - Proverbs 15:19; Rabbi Pliskin - "Consulting the
Wise")

Aish.com


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