Monthly Archives: January 2011

Goodness me!...Espresso overload...How about Cappuccino?!

Cappuccino is: 1 part Espresso + 1 part Steamed Milk + 1 part Foam

Not Gallons of scalding milk!

TOP TIP: Always use a Milk Thermometer -  http://www.rosieandjava.com/equipment/barista-tools-accessories/jug-thermometer-with-clip-42mm-diameter

Ascaso i-Mini Grinder - Black

Using the single (small) filter basket and 7g of freshly ground coffee, through a combination of fineness of grind and firmness of tamp you are aiming to extract a 30ml (single espresso) within a window of time of 18 to 23 seconds.

The best and most accurate way to ensure that you have the correct grind setting for brewing the perfect espresso is by brewing a number of test shots using a Barista Shot Glass and a stopwatch. Start the stopwatch when the first drip of espresso hits the glass and time until the liquid of the espresso (i.e. not the crema) reaches the 30ml line.

Using the rule ‘the finer the grind the slower the water will pass though’, adjust your grinder until a comfortable tamp produces the extraction within the 18 to 23 second window of time. For Rosie & Java Continental Roasts, such as Monsoon Malabar or Santos & Java, a 21 second extraction is the 'sweet spot' producing the ultimate flavour and aroma.

So we now know Fresh is Best, you’ve chucked out your old coffee, you now have fresh, ground perfectly for your machine..... BUT you don’t like Espresso, it’s Latte you want. You need to make a perfect Espresso in order to make a great Latte.

Therefore today we will look at Espresso.

One rounded scoop of freshly ground coffee for the single basket (7 grams.)

Two rounded scoops for the double basket (14 grams.)

Tamp it down evenly (Never lose your Tamper while doing this...Lol!)

Lock the brew handle in nice and tight.

Press the brewing button.

A single basket of coffee will give you 30 mls of Espresso. A double basket of coffee will give you 60 mls of Espresso... NO MORE!

TOP TIP: Get yourself a Barista Shot Glass to measure the 30mls that you need for the perfect Espresso. http://www.rosieandjava.com/equipment/barista-tools-accessories/barista-lined-shot-glass

The art to achieve the perfect espresso extraction is in the timing of the shot. It all needs to happen in a window of time 18 to 23 seconds. Too quickly, the Espresso will be weak thin and bitter. Too long and it will be strong and grainy and bitter. Perfection is when all the caramelised sugars in the coffee have been extracted. Full, sweet and lovely.

The timing is controlled by a combination of the fineness of the coffee grinding and the frimness of the tamping, lighter or heavier to speed up or slow down the flow. Don’t bother to try this with old coffee, or coffee that is ground too course......and beware of packets of ready ground coffee that say ‘Suitable for all brewing methods’, it’s not going to work!

Did you get an espresso machine for Christmas?

Have your coffee making skills got worse as the month has gone on?

Are you still using the coffee you bought for Christmas?

Here lies your problem!

Coffee has a life of 2 weeks once ground, but even then all the good cafe bars Grind On Demand....

Chuck out your old coffee, (makes good compost) and buy some fresh. We can grind small amounts 125g.

Let us know what coffee machine you have and we will grind accordingly.

Beans keep a maximum of 4 weeks, but really you need to buy little and often.

And……PLEASE DON’T PUT YOUR COFFEE IN THE FRIDGE!!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll give you more tips on brewing, foaming & steaming.

Fresh is Best!

Wind chill factor today is about -5 and the wind will be pretty chilly down Paved Court; so we will be tasting ‘Hot Apple’ this lunchtime to keep our shoppers warm inside.

If you can’t get to Rosie & Java's shop in Richmond, you can now order Hot Apple from the Rosie & Java website www.rosieandjava.com .

Original ‘Hot Apple’ is like drinking apple pie in a cup, Yum! Less calories than apple pie, and a real winter warmer.   Oh and they’ve said it might snow!!!!!!

In Asia, green tea is quite popular . For many generations, the tea has already been part of family gatherings and even their daily lives. There are many reasons that explain why Asian folks loved to drink green tea. Except for its glorious taste, you may derive some health benefits from drinking green tea. Recently, medical communities and the western nations have recognized the benefits of drinking green tea. There are numerous reasons explaining why people should drink tea and these reasons are found in this post.

The very first reason is that green tea is something different. You're probably used to drinking softdrinks, coffee, fruit juices, and other drinks. Green tea is something new that you need to try out. It's not everyday that you get to encounter something unique re taste and most specifically, only a few drinks have health benefits.

Most westerners drink coffee several times per day and since it contains a bigger amount of caffeine, some individuals are looking into substituting green tea instead. You will surely enjoy the tea's nutty aroma and its sweet grassy flavour. Although some studies suggest that green tea also has caffeine, there are at present decaffeinated green tea sold in the market.

Still, if you would like to go for the traditional green tea, it would help to know that the caffeine content is smaller in comparison to coffee. A few people get jitters and you can avoid this by taking green tea in reasonable amounts. Those who intend to stay late or people who work at night should drink green tea instead of coffee to help them stay awake.

The second reason that explains why folk should drink tea is that it contains healing properties. Because of today's advanced science, many medical practitioners are discovering green tea's curative features. Green tea is typically made of antioxidants which can help in enhancing the overall fitness of an individual. If you lack energy to carry out the day's jobs and chores, don't forget to drink your tea because you will feel a burst of energy especially if you drink it every day.

Healthy cells are also promoted by drinking tea. There are still other health benefits that you can take advantage. You see, if you drink green tea, you can forestall heart diseases, cancer, and other health problems. People who frequently become sick should take tea to boost the immune system's health. Folks with weight problems can also take green tea instead of water and juices to shed pounds since the tea can suppress appetite. You can take it anytime you like, before meals, during, and after meals.

Are there still other reasons you can think of? So far, there's no other beverage that can offer you a large amount of health benefits. If you go to the groceries, you can find different kinds of green tea preparations. It would be best if you can grow a tea plant in order that you can prepare the first serving. But anyway, since folk today live a busy way of life, they mostly prefer the instant - from food to their drinks. There are currently bottled green tea which you can purchase and they are prepared to drink. Hurry and go to the local food shop now to purchse your green tea.

If you'd like, you may take additions of green tea but prior to purchasing any, ask your doctor first. It might also be good if you check product reviews per the supplements. That way, you may know which brands sell more and which are useful. Find the doctor's guidance before taking any health supplement so that your actions can be led, most particularly if you're a pregnant girl or if you have certain allergies and sicknesses.

If the Asian folks benefited from green tea for hundreds of years, then there's likely no reason why you shouldn't try it. Medical communities are promoting the intake of green tea, so don't be left behind. Join other people who are now discovering the health advantages of drinking tea.