Coffee Bean

The most important part of any coffee drink is the coffee used. If a low quality coffee bean is used, the resulting beverage is going to reflect that choice. However, if a high quality coffee bean is selected and ground specifically for espresso use, the coffee beverage will be outstanding.

Columbian coffee beans are considered to be one of the best coffee beans that can be purchased for a decent price. There are other, more expensive coffee beans that can be used.

Milk

Skim milk froths better than other milks and is most often the choice when making cappuccino. If desired, whole milk can be used for the milk portion and a separate cup of skim milk can be frothed for the top layer of the cappuccino.

Water

Many people prefer to use filtered or bottled water for all their coffee making. Some espresso machines even have a built in water filtration system. These filters remove any impurities from the water that could interfere with the flavor of the espresso.

Flavorings

Photo by Nathalie Dulex

Cappuccino doesn’t require the use of flavorings, however, in recent years flavored cappuccinos have become quite popular. Some coffee houses offer flavors to match the season, such as gingerbread cappuccino in the winter. Vanilla and chocolate are also favorite cappuccino flavors.

Keeping Ingredients

Assembling the ingredients for cappuccino is a simple task; however, knowing how much to purchase in order to keep fresh ingredients can be a bit tricky at first. Coffee beans should not be ground until ready to use. This keeps them fresh. Some people say that keeping the coffee beans in the freezer is the best way to keep them fresh.

Regardless of the method of storing the beans, only the amount that would be used in a few days time should be purchased to insure that they do stay fresh. Grind as needed and keep them in an airtight container.

Milk naturally has an expiration date. Make sure to go by this date to prevent using milk that curdles when it is added to the hot liquid or that has a sour taste. There is nothing worse when making a cappuccino than to add the milk only to discover that it has soured.

Freshness should also be a consideration when adding flavorings. Many people keep flavorings on hand for way too long. Because they aren’t used daily, people often forget how long they have actually had them. Using fresh products makes for a much better cappuccino. Fresh peppermint, vanilla extract and chocolates are just some examples.

The ingredient list needed to make cappuccino is not extensive; however, it is easy to see how important using the freshest of ingredients is. Coffee lovers can discern a bad coffee with just one taste and the same is true of cappuccino lovers. Use top quality ingredients to make the best cappuccino possible.

-Sharon Chapman

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Methods of Making Iced Cappuccino

A true iced cappuccino will start off with a double-shot of espresso, made from the finest espresso beans with a rich, golden crema. This is only possible using an espresso machine. However, there are recipes that make wonderful iced cappuccinos using instant coffee granules or strong, brewed coffee that has been chilled.

Commercial Iced Cappuccino

Iced cappuccinos can be purchased at local coffee houses, restaurants, and often even in convenience stores. Of course, the quality is going to be extremely different. Coffee houses and restaurants start with a true espresso and make a fresh iced cappuccino to order. Convenience stores typically have a machine that keeps iced cappuccinos cold constantly so that there is no need to do anything more than pull a lever to fill a cup.

There are also commercially bottled iced cappuccinos available on the market, a true testament to the popularity of iced cappuccino. Frappaccino is a brand that has become immensely popular as wells as Starbucks brand. These come in various flavors and can be bought in convenience stores as well as in local grocery stores.

Home Made Iced Cappuccino

Making these delightful chilled drinks at home can be as easy and inexpensive as needed. If an espresso machine is already part of the kitchen appliances then making this drink is simply a matter of adding ice to a cappuccino or blending a cappuccino with ice for a thicker drink.

Instant coffee crystals can be used if no espresso machine is available. A two to four ounce serving of very strong coffee is made from the crystals and used as the basis for the iced cappuccino. The same can be said of brewed coffee.

Homes with a coffee maker can make a batch of very strong coffee and refrigerate it to use in iced cappuccinos. Depending on whether or not it is poured over ice or blended, frothed milk may or may not be needed. A blended iced cappuccino does not require frothed milk; however, an iced one should have froth on the top.

Cappuccino Mixes

Another popular method of making iced cappuccinos is to buy a powder that makes cappuccino and instead of making a hot drink, add ice to make a cold one. General Foods International is just one of many companies offering instant cappuccino mixes.

These mixes typically come in a variety of flavors and can be found in grocery stores, wholesale clubs and on the Internet.

Cappuccino has evolved from the early days of hot drinks served as after dinner beverages. Today people everywhere can enjoy cappuccino in a variety of ways and flavors, from iced cappuccinos based on espresso to instant cappuccino mixes that take little to no time or effort.

-Sharon Chapman

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Many people choose the Pfaltzgraff Cappuccino collection based on its looks but come to love the elegant simplicity and durability of the dinnerware.

The Package

The dinnerware comes as a 16-piece set with optional accessory pieces. The basic dinnerware set included 4 each of dinner plates, salad/dessert plates, soup/cereal bowls and coffee mugs. The set is extremely heavy.

The pieces are oversized, which is why they are heavy. The dinner plates alone are 11 inches and weigh close to two pounds. The salad/desert plates are 8 inches and weigh close to a pound and a half. The bowls are 20 oz. in capacity the mugs are 13.5 oz. in capacity.

The heavy weight of the pieces makes them difficult to break or damage. Even through dishwasher cycles and constant use the pieces don’t show the same signs of wear other dishes do. However, should any of the pieces be damage or broken, replacement is as easy as going online to the Pfaltzgraff website.

The Design

The design of Pfaltzgraff Cappuccino is a simple, neutral design inspired in part by the shade of the drink. The plates’ inner circles as well as the inside of the mugs and the bowls are a plain white. The outer edges of the plates are a light beige color with a slight contour. The outside of the mugs and bowls are all the same light beige with the same contoured ridges.

The neutral design and basic color make it the perfect dinnerware to mix and match with other pieces in the kitchen and on the dinner table. Adding colorful napkins and table décor are easy with the Cappuccino collection as the basis of the setting.

Caring for the Dishes

Pfaltzgraff dinnerware is made of stoneware, making them chip and crack resistant, dishwasher safe and microwave, oven and freezer safe. These dishes can go wherever they are needed.

There are some basic precautions and tips when using stoneware that owner’s should follow.

Do not subject to extreme or fast temperature changes, for example don’t go from the freezer into a pot of hot water. This can cause breakage or cracking.

Don’t submerge in water. The feet of the dishes (those that have feet) are unglazed and will absorb water which can cause them to crack.

Don’t use harsh chemicals. Pfaltzgraff sells a special cleaner for removing any stubborn stains.

Rinse cups that have had coffee or tea in them to prevent staining.
These are just recommendations and the dinnerware is covered by a five year warranty for defects in workmanship and material.
 
Pfaltzgraff Cappuccino is a simple yet stylish design that is well-suited for any home. It is able to go from the casual dinner to serving family and friends a formal holiday meal. The ability basic color and design make it popular for combining with other patterns to create a theme based on any color desired.

The Pfaltzgraff Company and its ability to offer a warranty and reliable products make it one of the top items requested on bridal registries.

-Sharon Chapman

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Tools and Ingredients Needed

No job can be completed properly without the proper tools and supplies assembled. This is just as true for making cappuccino as it is for building a house. You should have the following available:

Espresso maker
Milk – skim milk works the best
Coffee beans that have been ground for espresso
Flavorings as desired

Making the Espresso Shots

Fill the espresso machines coffee filter with the proper amount of espresso. The machines instruction manual should indicate how much espresso the machine will make and the basic amount of ground beans to start with.

Tamp the espresso down firmly, until the surface of the espresso appears flat. Place the filter basket into the espresso machine and use an espresso cup to catch the resulting espresso.

Place the skim milk in the steamer cup and steam to a temperature of not less than 140°F but as hot as desired. Once the milk is steamed, turn the espresso brewer on to brew the espresso. In order to make one cappuccino, 2 oz. of espresso should be brewed.

Foaming the Milk

Milk foam is what makes a cappuccino a cappuccino.  The milk should contain a generous amount of foam. Foaming is accomplished by tilting the container holding the milk and bringing the steaming wand almost to the top of the milk as it creates the foam. Gently go around the surface of the milk as more foam is created to make more foam.

The foam is essential to the cappuccino so make sure there is nice, thick foam of milk before proceeding. There should be enough foam to fill one-third of the cup. Once this is finished, remove the steam wand from the milk and pour the espresso shots into the cup or cups.

The Cappuccino Finale

Once the milk is steamed and espresso shots are ready, the cappuccino can be put together. With the espresso shot in the coffee mug, pour enough of the steamed milk on top of the espresso to bring the cup up to two-thirds capacity.

Using a long-handled spoon, gently spoon the milk foam onto the top of the espresso-milk mixture. If flavoring is desired, it should be added before the steamed milk is put on top in order to keep the integrity of the foam intact.

Making a great cappuccino is a wonderful addition to kitchen skills. Cappuccino machines can be purchased that are made for home use. Friends and family will be delighted with a hot, fresh cappuccino served up when they visit.

-Sharon Chapman

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