So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Coffee: A Single Cup At A Time

By Sara Shepherd


Though single cup brewers have been out for years, they have slowly gravitated into the mainstream market over the years and are on a fast track to replace the customary drip coffee maker in most homes. They will not be the best fit for everybody, but in a world consumed by convenience, many folks will find the single serve coffee system works well with their habits, and in many instances it will allow them to cut back expenses and waste.

Why Brew By The Cup?

The answer to that is pretty straightforward. You consume your coffee one cup at a time. How often have you brewed coffee, and find that there is usually some left in the pot that you end up pouring out later due to it becoming stale, or was more than you intended to drink to begin with. If you are brewing coffee for yourself, and you don't aim to sit around and knock back a whole pot, you will benefit greatly from only brewing what you will drink. No coffee will have to be poured out. Another plus besides reducing wasted coffee, you will have a single fresh cup of coffee so conveniently at your fingertips that you may be more prone to brew at home instead of stopping by a coffee shop. Imagine how much you could cut back on your expenditures and still have your treat of a fresh terrific cup of coffee.

There is a terrific array of brew systems available today. They are called systems because they each have their own unique method of packaging the single portions of coffee grounds. Some use small cups or capsules with paper filters and foil lids, some use discs with foil lids, and others use pods, in which grounds are sealed within a small round filter. The 'system' involves the coffee machine and compatible single serve portion packs, and any accessories available. Except for pods and pod brewers, the other popular systems are closed-loop, meaning the single portion packs will not work with other brew systems. This is an important factor in considering which brewer to purchase, because you will be restricted to the beverages compatible for that brewer.

Keurig - Keurig offers well over 200 different varieties of beverages from coffees, teas, hot cocoas, and iced drinks and other specialty beverages, in their proprietary single portion pack referred to as 'k cups'. You will find k cups by many well-known brand names such as Timothy's, Celestial Seasonings, Wolfgang Puck, Dunkin' Donuts, Gloria Jeans, and by November of 2011 Starbucks will be added to the list. Presently, there are 9 coffee machines available that are compatible with k cups, with Keurig manufacturing 5 of the nine, and the other coffee machines are by Cuisinart, Mr. Coffee, and Breville. Brewers range in price from $79.95 to $249.95.

Dolce Gusto - You will find 14 unique beverage capsules for the Dolce Gusto, including various roasts of coffee, cappuccinos, lattes and even an iced tea. Dolce Gusto aims for quality, not quantity with their beverage line-up, and many happy consumers substantiate that concept in reviews. There are 4 brewers in the Dolce Gusto product line and they range in price from $89 to $170.

Tassimo - There are 21 beverages available in 'T Discs', which are Tassimo's exclusive single portion packs. They offer coffees, teas, espressos, and there is even a milk creamer t-disc which permits for cappuccino and latte drinks in the array of Tassimo beverages. There are three Tassimo brewers on the market, and they are priced between $99 and $169.

Nespresso - Nespresso is a chic addition to the single cup market. There are 16 varieties of beverage capsules for Nespresso brewers, but you won't find tea or hot chocolate here. What you will discover is an array of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees from around the world. The Nespresso is geared toward making espresso and espresso based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Though there are numerous Nespresso brewers on the market, there are three main coffee machines intended for single cup brewing at home, and they range in price from $199 to $280.

Senseo - Senseo has been on the market for years. It is a well-liked pod brew system, with 12 different flavors of coffee pods from house blend to espresso. Senseo pods are effortlessly found in local stores like Kohl's and Target, or online from numerous retailers like Amazon. Four coffee machines are offered by the Senseo system, and they are priced between $19.99 and $139.99. As you can see, this is one system that is very inexpensive to start out with, and beverages are also inexpensive and easy to find.

Flavia - Flavia has a limited availability, as it can be bought only online on the Flavia website or on Amazon.com. Flavia uses foilpacks for its single portion beverage packets. There are more than 25 varieties of drinks including coffees, hot chocolates, cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. There are two brew machines for the home, and they are priced between $125 and $190.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) - Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, or CBTL for short, is the one of the newest to the single serve coffee market. The popular caf chain entered the single serve coffee market in 2011, seeking to give clientele of their cafes the ability to make CBTL coffee drinks at home. They offer 12 different beverages including coffees, espressos, and teas. There are two CBTL brewers on the market priced at $129.95 and $149.99. If you are in the vicinity of a CBTL and like their drinks, you might give this one a try.

Pod Brewers - Pod brewers have been on the market for a while now, and while there is not as much variety as far as the more sophisticated drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, there is a simplicity offered for getting a single cup of fresh coffee will little expense and difficulty. Another plus about pod brewers is that you are not bound to one company's beverages; you can use any brand pods you choose as long as they are the proper size for your brewer. You can get a pod brewer for $19.99, or you can get really fancy and get one for $299, or you can get what you need somewhere in the middle.

Wrapping up, if you have yet to try out single cup brewing, you can see that there are a ton of great options out there. You can start off with a cheaper system, and see if brewing by the cup fits your needs, or you can do some research and find out which system catches your eye and give it a shot. You may come across drinks or brew capabilities that you didn't even know that you wanted! Bottom line, it's a terrific time to get started in single serve coffee brewing because there are so many different quality systems out there that offer different brewing capabilities and drink choices.




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