Monthly Archives: February 2011

Jasmine Pearl White Tea, is most exquisite, but also very economical.

I use 3 pearls in a warmed cup. Pour water just off the bowl. Leave the pearls to settle in the cup. After about 5 minutes the pearls have opened fully into whole spidery leaves. The aroma is intense Jasmine, as this is a very superior white Tea. Can be topped up again with more hot water.

Jasmine Pearl makes a wonderful gift for someone’s birthday or anniversary...... and remember at Rosie & Java we can gift wrap!

Jasmine Pearl White Tea

Surprise your Valentine this weekend with a stunningly beautiful Flowering Art Tea and a stylish Glass Teapot.

Especially recommended for Valentine’s Weekend is Rosie & Java Lady Rose Devotion, with the beauty and delicate fragrance of freshly cut roses, enhanced by light and refreshing superior green Chinese tea.

Brewing Flowering Art Tea is not only easy but also dramatically magnificent.

Place one tea-blossom into your glass teapot (or a clean glass cafetiere) for the maximum visual effect.

Add water which has boiled but is now just off the boil and infuse the tea-blossom until it is fully open, usually about 5 to 10 minutes. Watch the long leaves unfurl to reveal the hidden flower treasure.

Serve the infused tea, contemplate life and enjoy the Chinese flowering tea experience! To serve more cups of tea, top-up the teapot with hot water and continue to infuse for a few more minutes.

Lady Rose Devotion Flowering Art Tea

Maintenance 3 or 4 Times a Year

Descaling

Descaling (sometimes called decalcification) is an essential part of machine maintenance:-

• The machine should be descaled 3 or 4 times a year, depending upon the hardness of the water used
• It is important that you use a descaling product specifically designed for descaling espresso machines, such as Ascaso Descale Powder, full instructions for how to use the product are shown on the packet

Lack of regular descaling is a major cause of machine breakdown and is usually not covered by the guarantee or extended warranty.

Toxic chemicals are not recommended as a descaling agent.

 (IMPORTANT  Additional or alternative cleaning and maintenance may be recommended by the machine manufacturer, please follow carefully all instructions as detailed in the users manual.)

Weekly Maintenance

• If it is user detachable, the whole steam arm and/or froth enhancer should be separated from the body of the machine and washed in warm soapy water
• The brewing handle and filter basket (removed from the handle) should be washed in warm soapy water

Daily Machine Maintenance

After the last brewing session of the day

Before cleaning the machine, let it cool down and unplug from the mains power supply:-

• Use a damp cloth to wipe down the machine but do not immerse the body of the machine in water
• Do not put the machine or any of its parts or accessories into a dishwasher
• Do not use any sharp objects, abrasive or chemical cleaning products to clean the machine

Daily Machine Maintenance

During the brewing session

• Keep a clean damp cloth handy at all times
• It is essential that the steam arm is wiped with a damp cloth and the froth enhancer is rinsed under the tap, immediately after milk has been foamed or steamed

After every brewing session

Always tidy your kit at the end of each brewing session:-

• Empty the used coffee grouts from the brewing handle
• Rinse the filter basket and brewing handle under the tap
• Ensure that the steam arm has been wiped and the froth enhancer has been rinsed
• Always wipe the brewhead with a damp cloth to remove any coffee residue
• Empty and rinse the drip tray and grate

Daily Machine Maintenance

Before the first brewing session of the day

• Remove the water reservoir from the machine
• Empty any old stale water
• Rinse the reservoir
• Refill with fresh cold tap water

Tips

1. Filtered tap water is highly recommended.
2. Bottled water is not recommended, the high calcium level will cause the boiler of your machine to scale more quickly.
3. The water reservoir can be topped-up during the day, do not use your kettle as a jug for refilling as particles of scale from the kettle may damage your machine.
4. Always prime the boiler with fresh water from the water reservoir (by pumping about half a cup of water through the brewhead) at the start of every brewing session and after the machine has been used to make steam.

Crema is the thick golden layer that sits on the top of perfectly brewed espresso.  It is formed from oil in the coffee that has become whipped in the filter basket when all the brewing conditions are correct.

Crema is the crowning glory of the perfect espresso brew and is ONLY achieved if ALL brewing conditions are ABSOLUTELY correct!

Rosie & Java ‘Energy Infusion’, is a wonderful combination, of Thai Lemongrass, Peppermint, Ginger, Gynostemma and a little bit of Mate.

Whereas Caffeine effects the nervous system, Matteine helps the muscles, and is said to give you long term energy.

The flavour of Energy Infusion is predominantly Thai Lemongrass with large pieces of dried Ginger. The Ginger enhances the fragrance of the Lemongrass and adds a little heat .

The Gynostemma is a sweet herb. The peppermint is subtle. A wonderful balance of energy giving flavour and a fabulous hot drink to accompany Thai Food.

Brew 1 teaspoon to 500mls of boiling water (or ½ a teaspoon in an infuser.) Brew for 5 to 7 minutes.

Rosie & Java Energy Infusion - CLICK THE IMAGE

Many years ago, I didn’t know why my coffee wasn’t good, then I did the Barista course.... When the course started I thought, mmh I know all this BUT THEN the light went on! It put in all the gaps and I now make great coffee!

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It’s important that the milk is fresh, seems simple, but milk goes through different stages. It’s the protein in the milk that sticks and coagulates to make the foam, bacteria eats protein, so your milk may not taste off yet, but there may be not enough protein to foam.

As with coffee.. Fresh is best.. Another protein killer is heat! So you can only foam it once and you mustn’t scald it. I always use the thermometer. There is a red sector to tell you the correct temperature.

Just like cooking……You’ll be baking cakes next!