A good Latte was really the first reason my wife and I wanted to make the leap into espresso in our home. While we love drinking it black it is also a nice change to enjoy a good latte without having to go out. Though to do this you really need a machine that doesn't just pull a great shot, but one that can also steam milk well.
There is a big difference between someone who just wants a morning caffeine fix and a "home barista.". Or in my case a reluctant coffee snob who works from home.
If you are looking for a way to make strong, delicious coffee at home without buying a massive machine, most people end up deciding between these two: the Moka Pot and the French Press.
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If you walked into a kitchen in the 90s or early 2000s, including my own, you almost certainly saw a Bodum French Press sitting on the counter. For decades, it was the default "fancy" way to make coffee at home. It was simple, and it looks nice.
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If you're reading this post it's for a reason. Like me you don't have a lot of space in your kitchen. My family in particular lives in a condo here in Hawaii. This means we are picky when it comes to what takes up that space.
The Americano, or Long Black for my non American readers, is the coffee drink for the purist. It is deceptively simple: just a shot (or two) of espresso topped with hot water. It has a similar strength to drip coffee, but because it is made with espresso, it retains that rich, oily body and the layer of golden crema on top.
When you decide you want to make espresso at home, you aren't just buying a coffee maker; you are picking up a new hobby. It requires patience, practice, and the right tools. And while there are dozens of plastic appliances out there promising "barista quality" with the push of a button, most of them just don't deliver.
For a long time, "filter coffee" (or drip coffee) had a bad reputation. It was the stuff you got at a diner at 2 AM, or the burnt sludge sitting in the breakroom pot. The "serious" coffee people, or reluctant coffee snobs like me, were all drinking espresso or meticulous pour-overs.