Make Me a Cup - Tidings Magazine

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Bodum’s Chambord French Press $30

While North Americans love the convenience and speed of an automatic drip-coffee machine, the manually operated French press is one of the most popular coffee makers in Europe. The brewed coffee is steaming hot and the plunger creates a great aroma. Just remember to grind your coffee very coarse: if you grind too finely, you will overextract the beans, resulting in a bitter flavour. Only drawback? Once brewed, there is no way to keep the coffee warm.

Features:

chrome-plated, stainless steel frame and Bakelite handle supporting a glass carafe

traditional dome top with built-in plunger

stainless-steel filter

dishwasher safe

Bialetti-Mukka Express Stove-Top Espresso Maker $99.95

Bialetti must be doing something right: they’ve sold over 200 million coffee makers worldwide. While this item is selling like hotcakes, I still love my Bialetti Moka Express (around $20), which accompanies me wherever I travel. I heat the milk separately, whip it with my handy $15 battery-driven whip, and top my espresso for a tasty latte. I thereby avoid any messy hot-milk residue that needs scrubbing out of the coffee maker.

Features:

two-cup size

cast aluminum

stay-cool handle

the same unit heats milk and makes espresso

Nespresso Romeo automatic espresso machine $1,099

The ultimate in integrated coffee systems, this model creates quality espresso beverages in seconds. Its extraction system, with a CD-like drawer, automatically loads and ejects the signature Nespresso coffee capsules — only exclusive Nespresso “grand-cru” coffees, packaged in hermetically sealed aluminium capsules, can be used in this machine. No muss, no fuss, all pre-measured. The price of one capsule works out to approximately 65 cents. While definitely cheaper than picking up a coffee at Starbucks, the capsules can only be purchased by members of the Nespresso Club and need to be ordered directly from the company. The good news is you can order seven days a week — orders are delivered within 48 hours.

Features:

polished chrome with an aluminum front panel

hot water and steam nozzle with cappuccino/latte controls

programmable in 12 languages

automatic rinsing/cleaning program

Nespresso Essenza D90 automatic espresso machine $295

This sleek, functional espresso maker is my new best friend. It features Nespresso’s state-of-the-art technology and operates with a simple touch of a button. It’s so small, you can store it or move it anywhere (I never put mine away). In one mere minute, you have a perfectly brewed espresso or lungo (five-ounce cup of coffee) topped with thick crema (foam), using the trademark Nespresso capsules.

Features:

available in coral red or metallic silver finish

manual controls

removable 34 oz water container

storage tray for used capsules

Jura Impressa F50 automatic espresso machine $2,195

This made-in-Switzerland machine is definitely on my wish list. And it’s not even the most expensive machine Jura produces. It’s compact, functional and fabulous-looking. The machine weighs 20 pounds, so can be relatively easily moved to the patio, the dining room or your bedside!

Features:

coffee strength pre-programmable

rotary knob and clear-text display guide

holds both beans and pre-ground coffee; containers can be removed for cleaning

solid-steel grinder preserves maximum aroma — 16 grind settings

connector system allows regular and steam jet for milk foam or hot milk

height of coffee dispenser can be adjusted to fill espresso cups or bigger mugs