Barista style coffee at home ...

Australian's are some of the most passionate coffee drinkers or so I have heard. Even in a small café, you can be surprised by freshly poured latte decorated with amazing patterns. It would be a sin if I don't go to cafe's staying in Australia . wouldn't it ? .. And my husband Mr.S has always  so generously accompanied me although he doesn't drink coffee at all :P

Look who I caught loving coffee just like me.. Maria Sharapova. She said so after her match that Melbourne coffees are the best .. hahaha.. Isn't that nice to hear. I am yet to try coffee at different cafe's of Melbourne .. I am not far Melbourne - soon I shall come :P

Q. You run a company where flavors are a big deal. You gave a big shout out to Melbourne coffee. Talk about coffee houses around the world.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'm a big foody. I love to eat. I love to explore new restaurants. The food culture has always been an interest of mine. That's something whenever I go to a new city I like to kind of experience different foods, find different cafes.

The cafes here and coffee places are really up to par, they're really good.

 

https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/690393581778026496

 

My efforts to bring café standard coffees home ( without pinching your pocket ) has never diminished. I keep researching on how to bring the taste and texture of café coffees into your kitchen. Well, we keep discussing about the best coffee powders ( key ingredient ) every now and then . Apart from the coffee powder that you use , there is one other gadget that could bring café coffee home. It is a standalone milk frother. Remember, its all about getting there in a frugal way (atleast for me ..) . You don't have to invest in an expensive coffee machine.. A simple small gadget would do.


    

           
You get battery operated ones which are cheap and electric frother at different ranges. It is wise to invest in a good frother if you are going to drink more coffee ( like me ) .. It adds that famous froth of cappuccino into your cup of java.. If you love the lattes and cappuccino's , this gadget is a definite must..

I am sure a lot of you might say, " Oh, I was expecting some secret tip .. and you are telling the obvious" . Yeah, I am telling you this now because I recently stumbled on it and fell in love with it.. Like a child wanting to flaunt its new found talent, I was just waiting to tell you all.. That's all...

With the entry of this new boy ( a Lavazza milk frother ) in my kitchen, the amount of coffee that I drink at home has definitely increased .. Truly.. I mean , who wouldn't want to watch a movie or read a book with a creamy cappuccino in their hand .. I am off to watch " Spectre " with a freshly brewed home made café style coffee... I didn't like Daniel Craig as James Bond ( still don't like :P ) .. Hence  didn't watch any of his bond movies ...This is the first .. Hope I like it .. or whatever .. movie and coffee , what more do I want :P

So ok people , bye bye for now and meet you all soon with a book review ( been long time isn't it ..)
 

In a pumpkin state of mind !!

I like everything about Halloween.. The spooky , scary , horror stuff .. And seeing kids dressed like witch and wizard .. from the costumes to the candies , Halloween is fun filled time.. Halloween is new to me (only after moving to UK and now Oz )  .. I only watch people celebrating it and enjoy..  For all those who celebrate it , have a safe and spooktacular Halloween !!

With Halloween mood setting in , there is pumpkins everywhere. Although,  I don't celebrate Halloween ( All Saints day !! ) , it would be unfair to turn blind eyes to those huge , round , orangey luscious pumpkin waiting to be tasted.. Firstly , me and my hubby are not big pumpkin fans.. So if I was gonna use them , it better be tasty ...

You all know what I like the most .. Yes , its coffee.. So trying pumpkin spiced coffee was the best idea !!! Spiced coffee sounded so interesting ..and pumpkin cupcakes for a budding cupcake fan ( my son :P )  I was all set to try it.. I always turn to Sally for recipes.. Like always , she has never failed in giving the best recipes ...  Please find the link below for the coffee ..

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/09/14/homemade-pumpkin-coffee-creamer/

Alright yes, I tweaked the coffee version a little to match my needs.. Firstly pumpkin pureeeeee ... I made my own .. I didn't buy the can. When I put the pumpkin in the oven , that's when I realised why so many people like it .. The smell was gorgeous .. much better than baking chocolate cake or bread.. It is like a crossing a road and smelling freshly ground coffee.. hmmmm .. Heavenly..  And then pumpkin spice .. I didn't get it in my super markets . So, I used all spice powder ( ground ginger, nutmeg & cinnamon ) . I used my milk frother instead of whipped cream.. Pour this creamer into your coffee ... Simple yet so good.. Smells great and is strong with coffee and spice flavours..

Reminds me of the fall season in UK ... Halloween always fall during the Fall ( Autumn season ) .. It matches the spooky mood.. with dried leaves all over, dark & windy evenings.. This coffee would have certainly matched the seasonal tone  and want for something warm and spicy :P .. Its spring here in Oz.. Nevertheless , this coffee is so damn delicious .. Worth it in any season ..  Who wouldn't want the house smell like heaven.. It happened again when I baked these cupcakes ... Cupcakes and coffee .. What a combination !!! 

My palate is definitely becoming gourmet ... If you are like me , willing to try different things .. go for this pumpkin spiced coffee at your café.. You will positively crave for it :-) ..



 

Death before Decaf !!

Decaf is a topic I have been meaning to discuss for some time now . Today I stumbled upon this meme " Death before Decaf " and decided its time ... There is more caffeine in my body than blood ( honest truth !! ) And I especially like to read the many studies affirming the positive impact of coffee  on our health :P. However, it can be addictive because of the caffeine. Why am I ( of all people ) thinking decaf ?

I wanted to keep my caffeine intake low on account of my continuous effort to ward off excess pounds :P ( some of us are always on diet , aren't we ??? )  .. Others, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders, may need to avoid caffeine all together. Whatever your case may be, if you are considering decaf you need to read this.

The first and the foremost to consider is whether decaf contains caffeine. While there may be variances in coffee, decaf certainly does contain caffeine - just in lower amounts. If you are not supposed to have caffeine , decaf is not the option. As few amounts of caffeine might add up to more than the limit end of the day..

After so much thought I decided to try decaf. Tough decision for a coffee lover. They say decaf would still be the same as coffee just without caffeine .. The first day when I drank decaf in the morning , I realised I was still sleeping.. haha jokes apart , it didn't give me the push or the wake up call to my cells .. So technically it didn't satisfy one of the most important reasons of why I drink coffee ( I have many reasons actually !! ) ..

Another main difference I felt was the sweet taste of coffee.. I mean really sweet ..I generally add a small teaspoon of sugar to my coffee.. so the decaf I tried was extra sweet coz the powder I used make the coffee tasted sweet.. Now , that's a complete no no.. But I am not the one who gives up so easily on any idea until it works.. so started investigating ( oh ya ! you can imagine me with googly spectacles and a magnifying glass in hand :P )

Certain Decafs are made using Swiss water process or carbon dioxide extraction, both of which are quite harmless. But most decafs employ chemical solvents such as methylene chloride (forget the name - it is a toxic compound and suspected carcinogen ) or ethyl acetate to strip caffeine molecules from the green coffee bean. This ethyl acetate adds a sweet fruit flavour. Now that explains it..So the next time ( I doubt that .. ) I sure would check the label for the process of decaf ..

Decaf didn't gimme the energy and the pleasure that actual coffee  gives.. I was once a person who could drink anything that was close to the taste of coffee ( be it hot water :P ) . But now I have grown to like its aroma, taste , flavour. So my satiety quotient has changed . And I read that coffee drinkers live longer than non coffee drinkers ( I mean really.. Do you want the link :P ) . Do I need to give you more reasons for my solid cup of java ....

Wish I had done this investigation before I bought that big jar of decaf :-(..I don't really know what you have decided after reading this , I sure have decided DECAF not my cup of tea ( I mean coffee :P :D )


 

I am not a Barista :-)

Do you think coffee is just a cup of milk with instant coffee granules and sugar ? Then think again !!! This post is for all the lovers of coffee who think coffee is much more than just a beverage :-)  To me coffee is a source of energy , beginning of fun , appreciation of long work nigh , ecstasy concoction and many more... That is why I cannot stress how important it is to make a super strong, aromatic , frothy coffee ...

I am no Barista ... Neither am I a coffee brewing expert but I am gonna tell you the way to make the best instant coffee .. I understand instant coffee is not as tasty (yay... tasty, I call it ..) as brewed coffee but you can bring it close if you use the below method..  Many call it coffee flavoured hot water .. Hahahahah .. but when you don't have the time to brew coffee or don't have right selection of beans , instant coffee is a saviour...

Lets get into the process.. Firstly spend some time in finding the right instant coffee granules that match your taste. It is important to do this coz the entire ordeal depends on how you are going to like the taste of coffee powder. Makes a lot of difference you see ...

    

Add a teaspoon of coffee granules in a mug. Add sugar as per taste to it and add a teaspoon of water . Make it a paste and whip it with a spoon till the mixture turns light , creamy and frothy. It took up to 3 minutes of whipping ( isn't that a good arm exercise ? ) to make a creamy mixture as above.. You can mix a little longer if you have the time and strong arms.. Add hot almost boiling milk into it to make a frothy , yummy tasting coffee. I cant drink coffee that doesn't have froth :P doesn't appeal to me ;-) .. This instant coffee looks like a cappuccino without hearts on top of it :P

It takes some trial and error to find the right amount of coffee granules and water and milk you need to make the right mug of elixir of life !!!

Please try and let me know how it tasted .. Share your coffee recipes if you think that is the best way .. I am more than happy to try it ... After all , there can be many ways to happiness ....

Coffee Confusion !!!

Coffee is my favourite thing and talking about my favourite thing ( with my blog named coffee .. ) is such a delight. Have you ever felt you don't know which coffee to drink when there are hundreds of choices in supermarkets / cafes ?

Well, I have. I am a big fan of south Indian filter coffee. Perfect blend of Narasus /Cothas coffee powder and chicory will make the best , well rounded brew. I drink it with hot milk and a small dash of sugar. A lot of my friends drink it black but I cant :P .. hmmm .. I can smell the aroma of hot coffee by just imagining it ..It feels like heaven. Only coffee lovers can understand what I am fetishizing about.

With me moving from country to country , this is one thing I certainly miss. My favourite filter coffee powders. So I decided to switch to instant coffee with a sad face and half heart. Again, with instant coffees, there are various brands and you don't get proper reviews on them before you choose. ( yes, I try reading reviews before I buy coffee :P .. C'mon it is not as easy as you think ) . Hence I decided to write reviews on the ones I have tried. You might ask,  are you an expert on this ? I am no expert but I have tried a few different instant coffee brands and I drink coffee as a fuel for energy sometimes and sometimes as a delicacy, really relishing it . So doesn't that make me a perfect coffee connoisseur :P

Now getting to the point, I am gonna review coffee based on its 4 basic characteristics - aroma , acidity, body and flavour. I actually am not too sure about acidity so I shall limit my comments to only 3 :P

First one is my personal favourite Carte Noire's classic Instant Coffee.
                                   

It is France's best selling premium coffee brand. Made from a blend of arabica coffee and finely-milled beans, Carte Noire’s classic Instant coffee promises a quality and taste “reminiscent” of roast ground coffee. And that's why I chose it. The bottle is a sexy black colour with a golden ribbon ( attractive isn't it :-) ) . The coffee has rich aroma. You can smell coffee from far. The classic has a perfect coffee flavour but doesn't have much body on its own. It needs milk or cream to give a full rounded body. That's exactly how I like it.

If you are looking for a something from mild to little strong coffee in the morning to give you the energy, this is the one you should go for. It wakes you up in its own gentle way.

Next is the Douwe Egbert's Pure Gold Instant coffee.

 

 

What I loved the most about D E is its indulgent varieties and upcycled jars :P . Its true , this coffee brand is pure indulgence. It has a mild coffee aroma, well rounded body and rich coffee flavour. Having said that , while adding milk to it , it becomes more mild and not strong enough to give that badly needed kick in the morning. It is pure indulgence. When you have loads of time , you wanna sit and relax with a big mug of coffee in front of the TV, this is the perfect one.                                      

 

Talking about indulgence, I decided I shall indulge a little more in their different flavours. I like Hazelnut . So I tried the Moccona Hazelnut flavour infused instant coffee.

 

Not all times do we get to visit cafes for the real coffee. This is the closest you could get to the real thing. It has an extremely gorgeous smell of hazelnut and coffee. It is a lovely combination. Makes your heart melt... It has full body , typical of Douwe Egberts. Adding milk just reduces its richness and hence I had to add another teaspoon of coffee powder. It has a sweet taste on its own and so people like me who add sugar to coffee , beware. It has a slight flavour of hazelnut. Overall it is a perfect guilt free treat on a cold winter day. It is definitely not for your caffeine rush.

Arrgh.. I can go on and on about coffee I think. Its never ending topic. Watch this space for more reviews and stuff about coffee :D . Have you guys tried different brands and have your personal favourites , feel free to comment and let me know . I would certainly love to know and try. Coffee anytime anywhere ....

I have tried something new in the past 5 months.. Have decided to keep adding to the reviews :-) This time it is purely Australian owned Robert Timms Premium Rich and Smooth Freeze dried instant coffee ...

I just happened to browse through their website and found the story of their owner Robert Timms' very interesting and inspiring.. The jar did not make a great impression first. Don't ask me , why I still bought it.. Sometimes I listen to my instincts :P .. The jar and the cover is not as fancy as the other expensive coffees.. It lacks the aroma . The smell of coffee doesn't hit you when you open the jar. I still went ahead and made the coffee... You wont regret the buy. The coffee tasted absolutely heavenly. I would rank this next to ( almost equal to ) my personal favourite Carte Noire but it lacks aroma .. It gets a well rounded body with milk. It is slightly strong and leaves a lovely coffee flavour lingering in your mouth for a long time...

More reviews will follow as and when I try new brands of coffee.. Keep watching this space :-)