Thursday

Italian Coffee Brands


Italian Coffee Brands
Famous Italian Coffee Brands

The history of coffee in Italy goes back to the 17th century, when the Italian merchants got it from the Muslim countries like Middle East, the northern part of Africa, Persia and Turkey. Although the Italian coffee is very famous, the Italians do not grow the beans themselves. Most of it is exported from countries like India, Belgium, Russia, Germany and Spain. If you want one of the best coffee in the world, then what you can do is use the Italian coffee brands. Here is a list of Italian coffee brands that you can try out.

Lavazza
The Luigi Lavazza S.p.A., an Italian coffee products manufacturer, was founded in the later 19th century by Luigi Lavazza. What started off as a small grocery store, now exports coffee nearly all over the world. The Lavazza company gets the coffee beans from various parts of the world where coffee is grown, such as from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Uganda. This Italian coffee brand is famous all over the country and as well as the world and is popularly known as "Italy's favorite coffee". This company also looks after the agricultural program to ensure that the growers can grow good quality beans. The company has spread over countries like Spain, France, United Kingdom, Austria, India and Portugal.

Illy
The next brand among the Italian coffee drinks, is the Illy. This company was founded in the region of Trieste, by Francesco Illy (who invented the first automatic coffee machine in 1935), in the later 20th century. At present, his grandson, Andrea Illy and his siblings, Riccardo Illy and Anna Illy, are running the company. This brand is famous for one blend of coffee in three roast variations; the dark, the normal roasted and the decaffeinated. The beans used by this company are mainly from Arabia, the Arabica beans, which are low in caffeine content.

Segafredo Zanetti

good Gifts Ideas for boss Coffee Basket


good Gifts Ideas for boss Coffee  Basket
good Gifts Ideas for boss Coffee Basket


Coffee Lovers Basket: Office and coffee are interrelated to each other! There must be hardly any boss who does not need a hot cup of coffee to start his day with. If your boss is a coffee lover, gift him a coffee gift basket. There are many things that you can add to it, but of course you should not overcrowd it. So add only a few things like a nice coffee mug (stick to the classic colors!), different types of coffee sachets and a small box of cookies. A optional thing that can be added is a coffee gift certificate.

"Gourmet Coffee Gift Ideas"


"Gourmet Coffee Gift Ideas"
Gourmet Coffee Gift Ideas
Everyone enjoys a cup of tea or a cup of coffee and you will rarely come across anyone who doesn't enjoy it. Therefore, gourmet coffee gifts are ideal for all adults, and for every occasion: be it a birthday, an anniversary, Christmas, wedding, etc. At the same time, it can be given to a partner, a friend, parent, sibling, employee or even to a person whom you are meeting for the first time. You must be wondering what are the different options available in coffee gifts that one can consider? Well, there are more than you must have thought. The following are some of the best ideas for gourmet coffee gifts.

  • Coffee of course, is definitely the most obvious option and the first choice when talking of coffee gifts. There are more than hundred varieties of coffee found in the world and hence, you have ample options to choose from. Roasted (light to deep roasted ones), flavored coffee, decaf coffee, organic coffee, dark blends, etc. are some of the coffee varieties that you can choose from.

"best coffee mug"

Bodum Bistro Double-Wall Insulated Glass Café Latte Mug, Set of 2


"best coffee mug"
 Description
Bring a unique and trend-forward look to the table with this set of two 15-ounce glass mugs. Handcrafted of borosilicate glass--the same material used to make scientific lab equipment--the pair of mugs provides exceptionally durable, temperature-safe use that holds both hot and cold drinks at their optimal temperature longer. The walls of each vessel sport two layers of clear glass, creating a dramatic optical illusion of liquid suspended within. The two-layer design also resists heat and prevents condensation, leaving the mugs comfortable to hold and safe for placement on any tabletop or counter. Even more, the handsome mugs feature a smooth, slightly flared design with a generously sized handle--perfect for sipping hot lattes and cappuccinos, cider or tea in the winter, cold drinks in the summer, and everyday favorites in between. Winner of the prestigious European IF Design Award, the mugs offer cloud-resistant, dishwasher- and microwave-safe use. A one-year limited warranty covers the set.


best review user

"best coffee mug"

Bodum Bistro Double-Wall Insulated Glass Café Latte Mug, Set of 2 (Kitchen)
We loved using these cups. Great feel. The outside stays cool to touch while the inside stays hot. Very pleasant to drink from them. It's just way too costly for something that breaks so easily. The first cup broke within days. We were so careful with the 2nd cup, washing it promptly by hand, setting it down carefully, and storing it in a special cabinet; however, it didn't last much longer. We thought about ordering more, but it just doesn't make sense if they're this fragile. Perhaps if you want to lock them up for rare occasions. Sorry, we need something we can actually use. We have fine glassware and crystal that we've had for years that is not this fragile. It's a shame, since they're such a pleasure to use.

How to Make Latte Art?


How to Make Latte Art?
How to Make Latte Art

Mastering latte art needs years of practice. You can still try out your inner coffee making skills to make latte art on the top of espresso with these latte art tips.
For one cup, pour enough milk in a steam pitcher or bowl. Turn the steam on and raise the steam wand near the top of milk. There should not be any bubbles and the milk should not stretch too much. Make the milk smooth and velvety instead of vigorous foam.
Raise the temperature to 80° F. Now place the steam wand aside but deep into the milk. The position must be laid, such that it can spin counter-clock wise.
While in motion, raise the temperature further to 150° F-160° F. Now remove the steam wand from the milk.
Now let the milk settle for few seconds, then swirl the milk vigorously. In case you observe any bubbles, just pound the pitcher to remove the bubbles to get a velvety texture.
Continue swirling for 20 - 30 seconds, even if while pouring the espresso.
Now start pouring the milk into the espresso to create different patterns, like flowers, hearts, ferns, etc. Try with simple flower designs by pouring milk to the bottom of the pitcher, leaving 2 - 3 cms away from the bottom.
Shake the pitcher back and forth to get the designs when the cup is half filled. When you do this, the flower will move forward and fill the top of the cup. Shake the cup gently with your wrist.
Once the foam reaches the top of the cup, start pouring the milk to get a white flower etched on the foam. Avoid sinking of the foam and design.
You can embellish the designs as per your choice, using stencils, milk foam and milk powder.


Latte Art Tools

Calories in Latte

Calories in Latte?What is Latte?
The modern caffe latte that we call only latte, originated in the San Francisco Bay Area. The credit of the innovation is given to Barista, Lino Meiorin. The cappuccinos made by Lino were so strong and powerful for the customers, that Lino decided to come up with a recipe of his own in order to dilute the strength of his cappuccinos. Lino introduced a new item to the menu by mixing warm steamed milk to the cappuccino, thereby reducing the strength of coffee and making the drink mild and enjoyable. This pleasurable drink that we today call the latte, was promoted and made famous by Caffe Mediterraneum, a very popular cafe in Berkeley, California.

Today, the original recipe of latte that was made by Lino Meiorin has undergone many innovations and changes, and the concept of diluting a strong beverage with milk has been used in other types of drinks. Many variants of latte have also originated in the recent past, however, the conventional latte is still enjoyed by many people across the world. The majority of latte calories are derived from the milk and sugar that is added to the drink.

Calories in Latte

Wednesday

"Drinking Coffee Before Working Out"

"Drinking Coffee Before Working Out"
Coffee and Workout: The Relation
The truth is, a caffeine kick is capable of delaying the post-workout sleepiness you experience by keeping you fit and fine. Not only does it combat fatigue, it also makes you efficient, energetic, and focused all throughout your workout. You tend to exercise for longer than usual, and that is how you lose more weight. Many people experienced less problems associated with sleep, heart, and blood pressure, after just a few weeks of practicing this addition to their exercise routine. Well, thanks to caffeine that sends your brain an alert of pleasure, energy, and adrenaline!

How Does Drinking Coffee Before Workout Help
When you have been continuously working out for more than an hour, the body starts metabolizing fat, and thus, results in calorie burning. But if you have consumed a cup of coffee before working out, the caffeine in it triggers the muscles to bring into use more and more fat for burning so that you lose more weight than you would've, had you not consumed caffeine. During a workout, the body brings into use glycogen, a carbohydrate that burns during the time you workout. However, drinking coffee will activate the muscles to burn your actual fat instead of the carbohydrates. What's more, caffeine is said to trigger the central nervous