The take away is that water filtration vis a vis its affect on coffee flavor is a complicated subject. In the video they talk about a tap water filter that removes minerals and then adds some back to get the “right” affect. Needless to say that kind of water filtration system is out of the reach of the average homeowner just looking for a good cup of joe.

If you get municipal water in the USA my uneducated and unsupported take is that a dirty tap water filter is more of a hazard to good tasting water than what comes out of the tap.

The Counter Top Water Filter looks like a good, inexpensive choice if chlorine taste is a problem. The 1 micron filter will get rid of most chlorine taste and odor.

A good and totally free option is to fill a stainless steel or porcelain pot with water, cover it with a clean dish towel, and let it sit overnight before making coffee in the morning. Most of the gases in the water will dissipate over night taking unwanted flavor hints with them.

Block Island is a Rhode Island landmark and Coffee Milk will soon be. Voted informally as the official state entertainment beverage the triple dose coffee flavor is a vote for the popularity of the roasted bean.

Ingredients:

5 T Discs Gevalia Espresso, cooled
2 cups coffee liqueur
1/2 cup vodka
3 pints high-quality coffee ice cream (Hagen Daaz), softened

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve chilled

Start with 55 perfectly roasted coffee beans. That’s seven grams of high-quality coffee blend — only fresh, properly roasted Arabica beans, please.

A perfect fine grind. The grinding process must not add an excessive amount of heat to the beans.

Perfect tamping of the ground beans. Already done in the T Disc.

A clean machine. Left over after flavors detract from the brew. This is one Tassimo feature that always pays off with better tasting espresso because there is never any residue from the prior brew.

Brew at a lower temperature than American coffee (below boiling). The bar codes on the T Disc tell the Tassimo brewer exactly the temperature for a great cup of espresso.

Brew for just the right amount of time. Again, the T Disc bar codes step up.

The right size cup. Espresso cups are smaller to exude the perfect aroma. Leave the foam covering the top for as long as you can. It retains the aromatics and extends the experience.

Memorable espresso is not such a simple process when you start from scratch. Doesn’t that make the Gevalia Espresso T Disc even more of a good thing?

Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers.

The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don’t drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.

For those who drink coffee to stay alert, new research suggests that you’ll stay more alert, particularly if you are fighting sleep deprivation, if you spread your coffee consumption over the course of the day. For instance, if you usually drink 16 ounces in the morning, try consuming a 2-3 ounce serving every hour or so. Again, moderation is the key.

However, as the September issue notes, coffee is not completely innocent. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient is a mild addictive stimulant. And coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that should be considered. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. But, the negative effects of coffee tend to emerge in excessive drinking so it is best to avoid heavy consumption.

Electric Vacuum Coffee Makers

How does a vacuum coffeemaker work? Water goes in the bottom chamber. Coffee grounds go in the top chamber. Heat is applied to the bottom chamber. Hot water in the bottom chamber rises to the top chamber and infuses with the coffee grounds. When the heat is removed from the bottom chamber the now brewed coffee in the top chamber is sucked (by magic) under vacuum back into the bottom chamber. Almost all the vacuum pots are clear glass so there is also an entertainment factor in play.

An electric vacuum coffee maker is more convenient and always applies the correct amount of heat. Coffee vacuum pots are a physics experiment you can get into!

Single Cup Coffeemakers

I don’t care how many people went to the moon, modern technology cannot make a really good single cup of coffee from a 10 cup coffeemaker. There are only two choices. You can pour a lot of coffee down the drain or you can get a single cup coffeemaker. Manufacturers like Bosch take this one cup coffee maker thing to new heights with their Tassimo Hot Beverage Brewing System. You can get packaged single servings of gourmet coffee, tea, or cocoa so you can experiment with single serve coffeemakers to suit your many moods. Bosch Tassimo machines are not the only choice but when you compare the Bosch Tassimo against the Bunn Single Serve Coffee Machine at almost twice the price you get the idea.

In certain regions of France terroir appelation is applied to patches of soil no bigger than the average suburban backyard. Needless to say wine produced from grapes in these ultra unique designated terroir commands a king’s ransom. Can the same fine distinction be applied to coffee beans?

Bon Appetit magazine thinks so. In a recent article the magazine touted the social value of paying $30 or more for a pound of coffee.

Want to wow your guests with a gift that’s as green as it is delicious? Show up at their weekend house with a bag of direct-trade coffee. That’s the term for coffee that’s even more socially conscious than fair-trade. The label “fair-trade” guarantees that the importer has a long-term sales relationship with the farmer and pays prices that add up to a living wage. And while fair-trade certification by TransFair USA “is still a valuable indicator of supply chain transparency,” according to Mark Overbay of Durham, North Carolina’s trend-setting Counter Culture, direct-trade coffee roasters work more directly with growers, in places such as Africa, Latin America, and Indonesia. Direct-trade coffee purveyors often have higher-than-market pay minimums, as well as quality that exceeds that of their fair-trade brethren.

It’s a scientific fact that wine made from grapes excites more taste sensors than any single substance, but is there any evidence that coffee can be similarly distinguished beyond regional distinctions?

You can listen to this radio show on WBUR (Boston) where guest speakers make the case for coffee terroir.

I do not have super duper Capresso Impressa to compare with but I doubt very much that Mr. Palmer could tell the difference between the coffee made with the Impressa and a cup made with the Tassimo - and even if he could that it was $2,3000 better?

Seattles Best Coffee® Henrys Blend® Nutty flavor, hearty aroma and a complex, rich flavor are the essence of this medium-to full-bodied blend. It’s super-smooth with a long lingering finish. 100% Arabica beans.

What do Seattles Best Coffee® Henrys Blend® users say?

“As a straight cup of coffee with a touch of cream or black, this is one of my favorite t-discs. My husband’s first choice is a real espresso shot pulled from a real espresso machine but —-for a quick cup of coffee, he likes to use a tassimo and his favorite t-disc is Seattle’s Best Henry’s blend, above the Starbucks and far above the European Blends.”

“This breakfast blend is not bad. It came packed in the variety pack offered to new Tassimo owners. Official description says this coffee is light to medium bodied. I’d rank it more on the light side. Good flavor, but a little to light for my taste. Seems to be low acidity, so will be good for people who want flavor in their coffee, but may not be able to tolerate a heavier coffee in the morning. Good coffee for the Tassimo. ”

Want in on a little known secret?

Seattles Best Coffee is owned by Starbucks Coffee Company.

The major distinctions between the Bosch Tassimo Coffee Hot Beverage System (Basic) and the Bosch TAS4511UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer (Suprema) are styling and the absence/presence of a built-in filtering system.

The Basic model has a matte black finish and a removable 68 oz. water tank with no filter.

The Suprema has a black and chrome finish (a new red model also on the way) with a removable 61 oz. water tank with a built-in replaceable filter. The Suprema has a few more bells and whistles to let you know when to change the filter.

Aside from the filtering operation both models are functionally equivalent.

Water quality varies so much from location to location that a general recommendation would be presumptuous. More than a few people want to keep the minerals in the water and not filter them out.

Here is one tip I picked up from a Maryland farm girl (with a PhD in Molecular Biology) who used unfiltered well water and made terrific coffee. Fill a stainless steel pot with water the night before and let it sit for the night covered with a clean dish towel. Whatever gasses are in the water will dissipate naturally over night.

Twining Chai Tea Latte specifically designed for the Tassimo on demand beverage system.

Deliciously indulgent warm drink made from a fusion of black tea with exotic spices of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger made with milk creamer.

Purchaser Comments:

Purchasers give mixed reviews. The Twinings Chai Tea Latte mix contains Splenda artificial sweetener in addition to a little natural sugar. The Splenda is a big turn off to some reviewers although others were actually pleased with it. No substituting for actual experience.

Buy Twinings Chai Tea Latte here.