click on the image for prices

Durgol 0296 Express is a multi-purpose decalcifier for countless household items. Everywhere you heat up water, there will be calcium/lime build-up. It’s just natural, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with clogged coffee makers and stained tiles or clogged kitchen faucets, and shower heads.

Best know for its use in coffee machines. The Durgol Decalcifier is ready for use and simple to use: there’s no need to dissolve in water (unlike powders and tablets). It’s possibly the fastest and most thorough decalcifier in the world and works up to 10 times faster than other brands.

Designed by scientists, Durgol Express is safe for use on items which come into contact with food. It rinses totally clean; it does not leave an aftertaste. After descaling with Durgol Express, you will be amazed at how much better your coffee and tea will taste.

click on the image for prices

All in all, this Coffee People, Donut Shop K-Cups for Keurig Brewers is a good medium brew cup of coffee. And, believe it or not, this does match the coffee you get in Dunkin Donuts, but only when brewed in the correct way. This has a mild rather than a strong coffee strength and uses the K-cup technology.

The K-Cup technology allows you to brew the same cup of gourmet coffee — every time. No more guessing how much water or how many beans to grind, and best of all no more mess! Each individually sealed K-Cup contains ground beans protected until you brew them (kinda like a tea bag) — all you need to do is insert your K-Cup, hit the button and allow the Keurig machine to brew you your next cup of gourmet coffee.

And it really has a flavor reminiscent of your local donut shop! If that is what your taste buds are after, this will surely deliver!

• coffee is also the world’s most traded consumable good
• world’s second most consumed beverage behind water
• Finland drinks the most coffee of any nation in the world, per capita.
• Coffee drinkers in the United States spend just under 18 billion dollars annually, which averages out to about $165 per coffee drinker, per year.
• Americans consume about 4.4kg (9.8 lbs.) of coffee per capita, per year.
• With roughly 23% of the worldwide market share, Mexico is the world’s biggest producer of fair trade coffee. In fact, well over 50% of the world’s fair trade production occurs in Mexico and South American countries.
• On average, men drink slightly more coffee (1.9 cups per day) than women (1.4 cups per day).

Statistics courtesy of coffeeresearch.org, interscience.wiley.com, interrupcionfairtrade.com and fao.org/

You will need the following items to make a good espresso at home using an espresso machine

* good espresso machine – the DeLonghi EC155 is a good one but there are many options out there.
* good quality beans which are fresh (if you don’t want to grind your own beans, you can buy them ground already – but for pure freshness, I recommend grinding your own)
* grinder (optional)
* tamper
* filtered water

7 steps to making the perfect espresso

Making the perfect espresso is more of an art, than a science. Practice makes perfect, but by following these 7 steps, you will be well on the way to making the perfect espresso….

1. Research which coffee beans you like the best. Believe it or not, the tastes of different coffee beans can vary greatly due to the different types of roasts that are out there.
2. Grind your own beans. Like most things, quality equipment usually means a quality end product – so do not buy a cheap grinder as they can ruin your coffee. The consistency of the coffee should be like sugar – if it is too fine, then the brew takes too long to brew, resulting in burnt coffee. YUK!
3. Use the correct amount of coffee – 7 grams is advised for a single shot.
4. Pack the grind into the filter holder and lightly press using a tamper (you want the coffee evenly packed). A tamper is used to pack the grinds to a density that will provide the right amount of resistance against the water going through the grind.
5. Tightly lock the filter handle in the machine and place a warm up underneath it.
6. Use filtered water that is not boiling!! Fill the espresso machine with filtered cold water – the espresso machine will heat the water to the correct temperature.
7. Start the machine. If your machine is automatic, it will switch off at the perfect time, however, if your machine is manually run, then this is the important step. The key is knowing when to stop the machine from running. It should take about 5 seconds for the first drops of coffee to come out, but about 25 seconds (depending on the machine) to make a single serve. The coffee should drip out slowly, appear reddish brown in colour with a thick crema. If the crema is starting to appear clear (as it is coming out of the machine), stop the machine immediately. Your coffee has finished brewing.

That’s all!

If you like your coffee black, simply add hot water to your espresso shot. Alternatively, if you like your coffee with milk, simply add milk that has been warmed with a frother.

Most importantly, once your coffee has been brewed, for the best flavor, you must drink it immediately.

Enjoy!

click on the image for prices

The Caffe D’Amore Espressimo Coffee Beverage Mix is a unique coffee beverage made with real espresso and sweet cream richness. No machine needed. Made in the U.S.A. Enjoy!

click on the image for prices

This Swissmar 80013 Cap Store Fila stores up to 40 Nespresso single-serve coffee capsules and is mountable to the wall the keep the counter clean.

Whilst there is mixed opinions on this item, it does serve a purpose for some people – people with limited storage (but really, everyone could do with more right!?). Anyway, buyer beware, it is just a rack! Don’t say we didn’t warn you!!

Click here to see the top espresso machines we recommend Top Espresso Machines

Kona carefully roast their 100% pure Kona Coffee and blend it with their hand selected Hawaiian Coffee to create this very special blend. We roast to perfection and then add just a touch of holiday flavor to make this superb coffee for the holiday season. Nestled alongside their Holiday Blend coffee is an array of seasonal favorites, including three big bags of popcorn: caramel corn, holiday popcorn and flavored popcorn. Also included is a big box of Almond Roca. And last, but certainly not least, is a bright assortment of great big holiday ornaments for you gift recipient’s tree. Included is also gold, red, and green ornaments (unbreakable) that will definitely light up anyone’s holiday tree this year. All of these items are tucked inside our big keepsake picnic basket that will be appreciated long after the holidays are a happy memory.

This gift basket will definitely be a hit with any serious coffee drinkers. Be warned though, the box it is shipped in will have the name of the company and what is inside of it, so if you are trying to surprise someone maybe have it shipped to a friends house first.

click on the image for prices

This Mr. Coffee IDS76 electric 12 cup coffee grinder is an essential item for the coffee connoisseur and not only looks good in any modern kitchen, but it also makes quick work of grinding whole coffee beans into freshly ground coffee ready for brewing.

The Mr. Coffee IDS76 Electric 12-Cup Coffee Grinder is very simple to use. Simply add a measured amount of whole beans to the removable grinding chamber, which offers a wide opening for mess-free filling and a contoured spout for graceful pouring, and make a section from the user-friendly LED controls. Choose from 4 to 12 cups (in 2-cup increments) and from three precision grind settings: fine, medium, or coarse. When finished grinding, the unit’s Exclusive Chamber Maid cleaning system cleans the grounds from the chamber walls, so it remains clean and ready to go. Voila! Best of all, the removable chamber can go in the dishwasher for a thorough clean as needed. The coffee grinder measures 4 by 3-1/2 by 7-4/5 inches.

Click here to see the top espresso machines we recommend Top Espresso Machines

click on the image for prices

If you like medium blend coffee, then this is for you. It is medium roasted coffee with a pure vanilla taste.

A little on the expensive side, but worth the extra dollars.