Easy Steps to make Cappuccino at Home

There’s nothing quite like a freshly made cappuccino to go with breakfast. However, buying one from a commercial coffee shop is not the same as creating an authentic cup at home. You can make authentic

Italian-style cappuccino at home in three easy steps.

Coffee has come such a long way since the days of instant granules, and the cappuccino you enjoyed on your last vacation to Italy is much more achievable at home. You can purchase a fancy cappuccino machine for several hundred dollars if you’d like, however, it isn’t necessary. You can make a great-tasting cappuccino with a few inexpensive items. Let’s take a look.

Step 1: coffee percolator

A coffee percolator, or stove top brewer as it’s sometimes called, is essential if you want Italian-style coffee. Available in one-cup to 10-cup sizes, it's usually made from hard aluminum or stainless steel and is suitable for use on any stovetop. To use, unscrew the top and bottom. Fill the bottom with water to just below the valve. Add freshly ground espresso beans to the filter. Replace the top and place the percolator over medium heat. As the water comes to a boil the steam pressure forces the water through the filter and into the top. Remove from the heat when the gurgling noise stops and the top is full. Don't let the coffee boil or it may taste burnt. if you check  percolator page 

Step 2: Heat the milk while the coffee is brewing

Heat the milk while the coffee is brewing. You can do this in a couple of different ways. The fastest way, of course, is in a microwave on Medium 45-60 seconds for every 1/4 cup. However, for best results, you’ll want to warm it in a small saucepan over medium heat until the milk is nearly boiling. If you have a thermometer, remove the pan from the heat when the needle reaches 149 degrees. Pre-heat each cup with hot water from the kettle. Next, pour freshly brewed coffee into a coffee cup and top with hot milk. Reserve one-quarter cup of hot milk per cup you plan to make so that you can make froth.

get more info for this Microwave 

Step 3: milk frother

For this step, you'll need a milk frother. Available from home ware stores, these range from plungers to hand-held manual or battery-operated 1-cup frothers (around $10). To make froth with a manual 1-cup milk frother, pour the reserved hot milk into a warmed cup. Place the frother in the cup and pump up and down for 15-20 seconds or until milk is thick and frothy. Spoon froth over the cappuccinos and dust with chocolate to serve.

get this milk frother it is the best   

Conclusion

Best Tips for make Cappuccino

After use, rinse your stovetop coffee brewer with hot water and use a non-abrasive scourer to remove any coffee residue.

You can also brew some really strong coffee to use instead of espresso, if you don't have a machine. Warm your milk and then pour into a small jar. Shake the jar for about one minute. Pour the milk into your waiting mug of hot coffee. Spoon out the foam and top with cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, etc. You're good to go!!

health benefits of coffee Infographics

health benefits of coffee Infographics

Top 6 best Health Benefits of Coffee

Let's face it. Most of us are bleary eyed, stumbling about with feet dragging when we first wake up in the morning. Yet, when that delightfully rich, and oh so tantalizing coffee aroma tickles our nostrils we schlep, yawning and stretching in its direction. Not only is the smell of coffee a great eye opener, recent studies show that consuming up to three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day has proven health benefits.  Let’s take a look at a few.

1. Helps fight disease. Caffeine may help protect our brain cells from damage that causes Parkinson's, dementia, and Alzheimer's. Also the antioxidants in coffee could, actually, help prevent liver disease.

2. Gives the brain a boost.  Coffee keeps you alert when you may otherwise feel drowsy. Try drinking a cup before an exam or if you have a long drive to sharpen your memory and to stay alert.

3. Helps you lose weight. Caffeine consumption can speed up metabolism and the fat-burning process, which also helps lower the risk of obesity. It is also one of the lowest calorie drinks you can choose.

4. Lowers risk of diabetes. Drinking just one cup of coffee a day - caffeinated or decaf - can decrease the risk of developing diabetes by 13%. But at 12 cups a day, the risk of getting diabetes is slashed by 67%. While these are staggering results, you should consult your doctor before taking the 12-cup a day challenge and always consume caffeine in moderation.

Some of the facts coffee , myths, and trivia about coffee!

Coffee! For those who love it, it's not something easily given up. Perhaps because this beverage is so popular, facts, myths, and trivia surround it. Some are true, some aren't, and some are just fun facts. 

So let's take a look at some of the facts, myths, and trivia about coffee!

1. Coffee Houses and Shops

You may think that coffee houses and coffee shops are a modern invention, but actually, King Charles II of England proclaimed a ban on coffee houses way back in 1675! The reason for the ban? King Charles II feared that his enemies were meeting in these coffee houses to plot against him.

2. Mocha = Chocolate?

When you hear "mocha," you probably think of a beverage that's a chocolate-coffee combination. But actually, "Mocha" is the name of a port in Yemen, and it is here that coffee beans from Africa are transported. So "Mocha" has to do with the origin of the coffee bean you're drinking, not whether or not it contains chocolate.

3. How Much?

The US is the top coffee consuming nation in the world, with 400 million cups consumed daily. 

Top 4 tips for Coffee-Grinding Tips and Facts

The debate over whole beans versus ground beans will probably never be resolved; there are some tips and facts about various kinds of grinds and the best use of each. And there are some pros and cons to using whole beans and using ground coffee.

So here are some coffee-grinding tips and facts.

1. Whole Beans - Pros and Cons

Whole coffee beans hold their flavor longer, because the essential oils within the bean are not exposed to air. Grinding it yourself for each cup or pot results in a fresher, more flavorful cup of coffee. Whole beans also have a much longer shelf life, about ten times longer than pre-ground coffee, possibly making whole beans more economical.

Another advantage to whole beans is that you can choose the coarseness of the grind yourself, depending on the results you're aiming for. You will have to purchase a coffee grinder, though, and it will increase your preparation time.

2. Ground Coffee - Pros and Cons

As soon as coffee beans are ground, their essential oils (where the flavor and aroma are) become airborne. (That's why it smells so good!) So naturally, those essential oils floating around in the air are not making it into your cup. Consequently, pre-ground coffee tends to be less fresh and flavorful. If you tend to consume coffee quickly, however, pre-ground may work for you - sources say you have about nine days for ground coffee to retain its freshness after it's opened. And of course, pre-ground coffee is faster to make and more convenient.

Top 3 tips to Clean Your Coffee and Espresso Machines

You should Keeping your coffee maker clean is important in preventing clogs, bad-tasting coffee, and or breakage of the machine.

To keep your coffee maker running well and your coffee tasting great, here are some top tips on how to clean your coffee and espresso machines. 

1. Daily Cleaning

Keeping up with a brief cleaning routine daily can help extend the life of your coffee machine.

Espresso Machine:

* After you're finished with it, dump the coffee grounds (they are great for compost, sources say).

* Rinse the portafilter.

* Scrub the portafilter with a dish brush.

* If you use soap, make sure it's an unscented variety that won't impart flavors to your coffee.

* Allow all parts to air dry before reassembling.

* Wipe the exterior of the machine.

Drip Coffee Maker:

* Remove the filter and grounds.

* Rinse the basket of the coffee maker.

* Scrub the basket with a dish brush (again, use unscented soap).

* Wash the drip coffee maker's carafe with hot water and unscented soap.

* Allow basket and carafe to air-dry before reassembling.

* Wipe the coffee maker's exterior.

What is the best Cappuccino or Latte

Do you ever find yourself standing at the counter at your local coffee house pondering the difference between cappuccino and latte? Ever wondered how this hugely popular specialty coffee industry got started? Let’s take a look. 

The terms caffè and latte were first used in 1847 and later in 1867 they appeared in William Dean Howells essay "Italian Journeys". Latte means milk in Italian and the caffè version of this drink is an American invention. Caffè latte originated in Caffè Mediterraneum, a café in Berkeley, California and was brewed in its current form by Lino Meiorin for the first time. He added more milk to this otherwise strong cappuccino and called this new drink "caffè latte".

Cappuccino, in commercial form, was introduced at the beginning of 20th Century when the patented espresso machines were introduced by Luigi Bezzera of Milan in 1901. These machines made the cappuccino very popular in cafes and restaurants and the current form developed by the 1950s.

What, exactly, is a cappuccino? A cappuccino consists of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk and 1/3 foamed milk. The name, cappuccino, derives from the Italian word, Capuchin, which means “small cap.” It is traditionally served in Italy as a breakfast drink, but coffee aficionados now drink it any time of day. A cappuccino should also traditionally be no more than 6 fluid ounces. Coffee houses such as Starbucks serve “cappuccinos” in much larger sizes, however. Often times these larger drinks simply contain more milk instead of additional coffee, so that super grande may not be such a bargain after all. Variations of the cappuccino include an iced version with no foamed milk called Cappuccino Freddo and babyccino, a cappuccino with no coffee intended for small children. Chocolate is often added.