Coffee talk: 4 amazing iced coffee drinks

With temperatures reaching 80 degrees in New York City in April, it’s officially time to make the switch from hot coffee to iced. I’ve got to be honest, though, in the legendary words of Coffee Talk” host Linda Richman, bidding farewell to my warm morning cup of joe makes me a little verklempt.

(Talk amongst yourselves.)

Thankfully, I’ve found 4 delicious iced coffee recipes will help us make a yummy transition to spring.

Thai Iced Coffee (at top): sound fancy? Please. Our good friend Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen makes it no big whoop to make. Her exotic recipe calls for coffee, cream, sugar, cardamom and almond extract. Combine, drink, repeat.

The masterminds at Food52 selected this Magical Coffee recipe to be included in the first Food52 cookbook. They also say that you take a sip and “die of happiness.” All it takes is great coffee, cinnamon and brown sugar.

Combine coffee, coconut milk and chocolate syrup to make this Coconut Cowboy Coffee from lovely food blog Kumquat. Pour over ice and it’s (put on your best NY accent) to die for!

If you’ve got your own magic iced coffee recipe, by all means, take it away. Just do me one favor: start with cold brewed coffee. It’s less acidic than coffee prepared other ways and stays clear of the bitterness. Learn how with this cold brew coffee tutorial at Simple Bites. Thank me later.

So go ahead and make your own iced coffee goodness because, well, at that big coffee chain you get neither stars nor bucks. Discuss. -Stacie

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Reblog from: Coolmompicks

Bloglink: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2012/04/6_amazing_iced_coffee_drinks.php

Why The Gourmet Coffee Craze

Author Resource: Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster and by his own admission; a semi coffee addict.

Reblog from: FX777 CoffeeWorld | Fernando Lachica   <||> Okay, coffee isn’t what it used to be. Drinking coffee today is almost like sampling wine. Fine taste, smooth texture, good body… gourmet coffee has become the buzz word in coffee circles.

For a confessed caffeine addict like myself, the change in the way I look at coffee these days has been amazing. I put it down to the many varieties of gourmet coffee now available. Just walk into your favorite coffee shop and what used to be a simple procedure of asking for a coffee, two sugars and cream is now a few minutes of deep deliberation as you scan up and down the price board to decide whether you want a flat white, latte, cappuccino… and the list goes on.

Isn’t all coffee created equal? Not if you talk to gourmet coffee experts. Terms like nitrogen flushed to retain freshness; hand picked beans; roasted to perfection and so and so on. Columbian blend, french roasted, Kenya blend… brewing at the right temperature; whether to freeze or not to freeze coffee beans: I swear, you nearly need to have a degree in coffee drinking just to decipher the maze of gourmet coffee and coffee language out there.

Make no mistake, gourmet coffee has become big business. Not just for drinkers but now giving gourmet coffee as a gift has become ritzy. I visited a friend recently who has bought himself a coffee maker. “Would you like a coffee,” he asked. “Sure would,” I replied.

“Great,” he said. “One of the best cappuccinos you’ll ever have coming right up.”

Then I watched him go to work. It was sheer artistry. First he ground the beans; then he warmed the water; and then with pinpoint accuracy he heated the milk to the right temperature. “Here you are. Enjoy that,” he said proudly as he offered me the coffee. Sarcastically I replied…”That’s great. Just as well I wasn’t in a hurry!”

Where did the term gourmet coffee originate? Well, as far as I can ascertain, a gourmet coffee blend probably includes coffee beans from a variety of origins. A gourmet coffee blend may include beans from Columbia and Kenya along with a touch of Costa Rica and Brazil. As opposed to single origin coffee which originate from one source. So a gourmet coffee blend is a little like a mixed marriage…or an even better analogy would be like a Deep Space Nine gathering of a variety of different universal characters. Now I’m getting deep.

Whatever your preference, one thing that is certain, that gourmet coffee is here to stay. An single origin coffee lovers will just have to get used to the idea.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you: A LIFE SO FAR AWAY and my other blog: OFW: THIS IS MY LIFE AND STORY  Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you’ll find what life’s meant to be.

Bloglink:   http://fx777-coffeeworld.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-gourmet-coffee-craze.html#.T3nMgpxCijQ.facebook

Espresso on the road

Thanks to Ramon Alivio of San Jose, CA for this share.  This came early this morning Saturday. One of many do it yourself “Espresso” machines for your car. Yes your car! At least the gentleman got off the road prior to brewing!! la machine expresso pour la voiture – espresso machine for the car – handpresso auto La première machine expresso pour la voiture !  I guess the next thing they will put in is a mini fridge and a microwave. Ha ha! Troopers watch out.

Watch Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vqhDhv2al38

Bloglink: http://thursdayfile.ning.com/video/handpresso-auto-the-espresso-machine-for-the-car?xg_source=facebookshare