illy University of Coffee

Marco Arrigo, illy Head of Quality

We were invited to the illy University of Coffee at the Business Design Centre in Islington to attend a Coffee Tasting and Training Experience with Marco Arrigo, illy Head of Quality.

Marco started the day by allowing the air to be released from a huge canister of coffee. We were yet to have our first coffee of the day and couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the world of illy.

Priding themselves on high quality coffee derived from a single blend of 100% Arabica beans and by using nine different beans from across the world, the parameters of each bean can be quantified and qualified to ensure the blend is consistent in its quality, very much like a premium champagne. This ensures the user will always enjoy the same coffee experience.

Using a commercial coffee machine, handling the porter filter, learning about tamping coffee and how to make the perfect milk for cappuccino, latte, flat white and macchiato. It's all a bit daunting and manic when you've only experienced the 'other side of the counter' in a coffee shop.

One cappuccino, one latte and two macchiatos demanded Marco, this was a call which we were to hear repeatedly until we were achieving a good result for these types of coffee.

Two single espresso coming up Marco

Our steamed milk

We were taught how to steam milk using full fat milk and how to place the steam wand into the milk correctly to froth and texture.  To get rid of bubbles in the milk you have to bang the jug down onto the counter top and swirl the milk constantly to keep it on the move and make it shiny ready for pouring.

Cappuccino made by Marco

Leaf design for latte and making a flat white

Getting the espresso ready for the macchiato

Macchiato is made using the very last foamed milk from the jug

Coffee cup envy

illy coffee experience

Francis Francis X7.1 Espresso Machine using iperEspresso Capsules

This fabulous coffee machine has been designed by architect Luca Trazzi and comes in red, white or black. I chose this eye catching red machine and with its sleek lines it looks stunning in my kitchen. It is extremely easy to use and all you have to do is insert an iperEspresso capsule, press the cup symbol and you have the perfect espresso with an excellent crema. Milk is easily frothed to make latte and cappuccino for the coffee shop experience. The coffee is outstanding in quality and I'm enjoying working my way through Classic, Dark Roast and Decaf.  This clever coffee machine is a crowd pleaser, doesn't make a mess and delivers consistently great coffee every time.

For a fabulous Christmas Gift there is a promotional code for readers to use MAGGIE20 this will give 20% off Illy coffee and machines at www.espressocrazy.com and expires on 1^st January 2014.

Thank you to illy Coffee and Marco - for a fun and informative day.

Foodie Christmas Gift Ideas 2013 - Part Three

Stylish and easy to clean cafetiere

Oxo Good Grips French Press with GroundsKeeper
A very stylish, clever, easy to clean cafetiere, from the trusted brand Oxo Good Grips - it's just what we have been waiting for. There is a ladle which sits at the base of the glass carafe and catches the ground coffee when it has brewed, after serving the coffee all you need to do is remove the ladle which is full of coffee grounds and dispose in the bin.  Cleaning is easy and I found you don't have to wrestle with the glass carafe to remove it for cleaning. The body of the cafetiere is stainless steel with a silicone non-slip handle, plunger and 'GroundsKeeper'.
Coffee is made in the usual way, add coarsely ground coffee then hot water, using the handy measurement markings.  Stir, leave for four minutes and plunge for a fabulous grounds free cup of coffee. Serves 8 cups (2L).
Price £35. Available from Lakeland

Strawberry Truffle - a very grownup milkshake

Tequila Rose - presented in a beautiful bottle.
Looking for an alternative to your usual festive creme liqueur?  Look no further - Tequila Rose is a unique blend of strawberry-flavoured, cream liqueur and premium Tequila using fresh dairy cream.

                                 Strawberry Split             Mudslide                  Evolution                      

Impress your guests with cocktails, popsicles and desserts, delicious served with fresh strawberries. Fabulous served neat, over ice or in coffee. A great Christmas Gift - Tequila Rose is available from TheDrinkShop.com priced £17.09

Mini Cone

Christmas wouldn't be the same without Ferrero Rocher.
A whole hazelnut is surrounded by crispy wafer, a creamy filling, then coated in smooth milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts. The Mini Cone makes a special present or will look fabulous as a centrepiece on the Christmas table for sharing after the main event!
Exclusive to Asda with a RRP of £5.99.

Ferrero Collection

Ferrero Collection - for giving and sharing.
This delicious assortment includes Raffaello by Ferrero - a blend of almond and coconut.  Classic Ferrero Rocher, as well as Ferrero Rond Noir which has a new hazelnut centre encased in a dark chocolate pearl - giving a rich and rounded flavour.  A Christmas favourite for giving and sharing.
RRP £4.69 from all major retailers

New! Raffaello by Ferrero - presented in a beautiful mini gift box.
Snowballs of light layers of wafer, with a creamy coconut centre and a toasted almond, finished with a sprinkling of coconut. For something special this Christmas, Raffaello by Ferrero will make a stunning and affordable gift. A fabulous stocking filler.
RRP £2.99 - Available Tesco, Debenhams and Asda.
www.ferrero-range.co.uk

Jelly Belly Beans Gift Set - Be a Jelly Belly Foodie this Christmas!
These original Gourmet Jelly Beans are full of flavour, delicious, cool and very cute.  They are a taste sensation and full of true to life flavour.  Developed for the sophisticated palate, the beans are packed with an intensely juicy taste.  Love their bright coloured shells which go right through to the centre.  An interesting fact is a single jelly bean can take up to 21 days to create.  There are 90 authentic flavours mostly using natural ingredients.  Traditional flavours are Green Apple and Very Cherry which have been popular for over 35 years.

Lots of Jelly Bean fun

Christmas Jelly Belly fun - create tastes such as lemon meringue pie by choosing two lemon and two coconut beans. Try a refreshing fruit salad by taking one jelly bean of kiwi, strawberry jam, blueberry and cantaloupe - you'll be amazed!
All Jelly Belly beans are free from fat, wheat, gluten, dairy and gelatine-free. Each bean contains just 4 calories each, they are suitable for vegetarians and certified OU Kosher. Jelly Belly jelly beans can be purchased at Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco’s, Selfridges, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, Fenwicks and all the best independent sweet shops. Also available from www.jellybelly-uk.com  -  40 flavour gift box £16.18

ALL BEER Experience - fantastic beer gift
The ALL BEER Experience is a unique, interactive guide to the top 25 styles of beer and their key flavour features, the perfect gift for the beer-loving people in your life.
This must-have guide has won 4 International Awards and is truly innovative, containing taste samples of different malts and the World's first 'scratch 'n' sniff' Hop aroma card to really experience where all those beer flavours come from - and which ones are for you.
It's simple, straightforward, packed with interactive challenges to entertain from Boxing Day into the New Year and is packed with original images.
www.allbeer.co.uk  Available from Amazon price £9.95

Thank you everyone for the wonderful samples.

Contigo Morgan Take-Out Mug - Review

Available in Lilac, Ocean and Citron

These fabulous take out mugs look far trendier than the usual disposable coffee shop cup.  The mug has double wall insulation and holds 355ml of either hot or cold liquid. There is a band around the middle for one hand easy grip and the mug is both leak proof and spill resistant.

The lid is very clever and has an autoseal button to ensure there aren't any unexpected spillages.  All you have to do is press the lilac button to sip and release to seal. The mechanism on the underside of the lid is extremely well made and easy to clean. All parts are dishwasher proof too.

My local coffee shop are more than happy to fill transportable mugs, or simply fill the mug at home with a hot or cold drink.

The mug doesn't leak or spill and looks 100% more attractive than a disposable take out cup.

The Contigo Morgan Mug is from Premier Housewares and retails for £16.99.

Thank you Pam and Premier Housewares.

De'Longhi and Lindt, Coffee and Chocolate Pairing Experience

Posting courtesy of Kitchen Delights London based reporter.

Last week I was kindly invited to spend an evening with other bloggers at a De'Longhi coffee and Lindt chocolate masterclass in Central London.

Lindt Master Chocolatier Stefan Bruderer listening for the all important snap.
Image courtesy of Lindt.

Lindt’s Master Chocolatier Stefan Bruderer and expert Barista, Robert Henry guided us through an exciting coffee and chocolate tasting and encouraged us to deliberate about different taste profiles and why one particular chocolate might work well with a specific coffee bean or style of coffee.

Chocolatier Stefan demonstrated to us that he could determine the quality of chocolate just by the way it sounded when snapping it. If it is sharp and loud, that’s a good indicator that the chocolate is high quality and made from a high percentage of cocoa.

Fabulous De'Longhi Coffee Machines

Expert Barista Robert Henry
Image courtesy of Lindt

Expert Barista Robert Henry showed us how to correctly taste lattes and espressos which were made using De’Longhi coffee machines. By taking a really good sniff and a big slurp, this was enough to bring out the different flavours, just as you might taste a wine. I found this quite hard at first but the more I did it, the easier it became.

Lindt Excellence Bars - which one will you choose?

I was lucky enough to try quite a few variations of coffee and chocolate from a Brazil Fazenda Passeio long black to a Sidamo blend flat white and match it up with Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy and Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa. I also really enjoyed a Bolivian Coffee such as a ‘Copa Cobanna’ which is full of orangey notes and discovered that it makes the perfect partner to a Lindt orange chocolate. Of course, it is all subjective but it did make me realise that there are a tremendous amount of flavour combinations out there which are fun to discover.

Sea Salt Lindt Excellence Chocolate

To find out more about pairing chocolate with coffee visit http://www.lindt-excellence.co.uk/

A huge thank you to my London Reporter for the Lindt Excellence Chocolate Selection Box goodie bag.

Thank you to both Lindt and De’Longhi for the very informative and delicious evening.

Philips Saeco Intelia Focus Coffee Machine - Review

A bean to cup coffee machine which will grind coffee beans to deliver an espresso giving varying strengths and quantity.

An excellent crema

 A frothed milk is easily achieved manually - the machine isn't supplied with a jug or thermometer.

My coffee was superior to that typically served on the high street

The machine is easy to use and has an illuminated LED display.  Fill the hopper with your chosen beans or with ground coffee in the ground coffee compartment and away you go.  I buy freshly roasted coffee beans online from a well respected supplier for quality results.  Although there is a ground coffee facility on the machine I believe fresh coffee beans are always best. Milk can be steamed and frothed quickly, by removing the pannarello on the steam wand a textured milk can be achieved suitable for latte art.

A bedding in period is needed to get the optimum espresso but it was worth the wait.  The espresso had a good crema.  I tested the machine using both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee beans.

Quite a large coffee machine 26 L x 46 D x 35 H approximately.

Pros

1. Excellent coffee shots from quality beans.
2. It is possible to vary strength and quantity to taste.
3. Very quick to operate from switch on.
4. Quick to steam after brewing.
5. Different size cups and mugs can be used.
6. Easy day to day cleaning.
7. Can use ground coffee or beans.
8. Excellent manual foaming when pannarello is removed.
9. The steam wand can be used for hot water to preheat cups or to make other hot drinks.

Cons

1. Auto foaming of milk using pannarello produces quite coarse bubbles.
2. Machine has large footprint.
3. Do not immerse water tank to clean due to ingress of water.
4. Plug supplied not to UK standard.
5. Waste water tray fills quickly.
6. Weekly/monthly cleaning regime required and descaling when indicated.

Note: After using this machine for sometime now and on a daily basis, I can only describe it as fabulous.  It is exceptionally clean and easy to use and it's a good looking coffee machine too.  The espresso is always superb, texturising the milk only gets easier with practice and providing you use the very best quality coffee beans, your coffee will quite possibly be the best you have ever tasted.

TV's Gadget Queen, Suzi Perry, Demonstrates Her Top Christmas Gizmo Must Haves!

Suzi Perry knows a thing or two about must have gadgets and in this short video demonstrates a wow Philips Saeco Xelsis Digital ID Espresso Machine which uses fingerprint recognition and demonstrates a fabulous personal wireless lighting system.

Coffee, Walnut and Raisin Cake - Recipe

I've always enjoyed coffee and walnut cake, and this recipe by Tana Ramsay from her book I Love to Bake! is perfect.  I particularly liked the addition of raisins and used huge plump raisins. It's best to dust the raisins with flour before stirring into the cake otherwise they may well sink to the bottom, which is exactly what happened to me.  I turned my cake over, and now the raisins are at the top of the cake, and I then happily slathered over the buttercream and sprinkled with chopped walnuts. I wasn't too sure about the coffee, walnut, raisin combo before I made the cake, but it works beautifully.

The cake doesn't need dressing up with a circle of neatly placed walnut halves, a scattering of walnut pieces is the way to go.  After all, the best dressed cake doesn't necessarily mean the cake is a winner.

Fortunately, not an overly sweet cake because the coffee butter cream is only on top, it is best not to be  tempted to cut it in half.  I used half the amount of butter cream suggested in the original recipe and found it was ample, and light brown sugar instead of caster sugar in the recipe, to give the cake more depth of flavour.

I've eaten the good, the bad and the disappointing coffee and walnut cake in coffee shops - this is the perfect coffee shop cake, it is moist, has a tender crumb, not too much topping and keeps well too. I cut mine into slices and popped it into the freezer and then kept going back to the freezer and taking out another slice, it is that good!  Hubby thought this was a great cake too, he isn't very keen on cakes buried beneath a mound of sweet buttercream, and he said the cake/buttercream ratio I used was perfect for him. Phew!

Many of the bakes in I Love to Bake! are cooked at 200ºC or 220ºC which is something to be aware of - the suggested temperature for this cake is 200ºC and the timing is 35 minutes - if I cooked a deep cake at this temperature my cake would burn, peak and the batter would be a horrible volcanic mass.  A few years ago I went on a Patisserie Course at the local college and they cooked everything, including cakes, at almost maximum temperatures. A Victoria Sandwich at college in commercial grade ovens cooked in 10 minutes!

Adapted recipe.

You will need:  a 20cm round cake tin 5cm deep (I used a springform tin), greased , floured and base lined with parchment paper.

For the sponge:

175g softened butter, 175g light brown sugar, 3 large eggs beaten, 3 tbsp room temperature milk, 175g sifted self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water, 80g walnut pieces chopped, 60g plump raisins dusted in flour.

1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and milk gradually whilst continuing to beat. Sift the flour and baking powder over and fold into the mixture. Stir in the dissolved coffee granules.
3. Pour the batter into the baking tin and bake for 30-35 minutes. If it isn't cooked through cover with foil and pop back in the oven for 10 minutes or until cooked. Cool the baked cake for 5 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack.

For the topping you will need:

125g softened unsalted butter, 150g sifted icing sugar, 4 tsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water(cooled a little), 30g chopped walnuts.

1. Place the butter into a bowl and beat until soft, add the sifted icing sugar and the dissolved coffee granules. Beat with a mixer for 5/10 minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Spread the butter cream over the top of the cake and decorate with the chopped walnut pieces.

Raspberry Tiramisu - Recipe

Raspberry Tiramisu is always delicious and very easy to make. A handful of raspberries are sprinkled over the coffee and brandy soaked sponge fingers and then hidden under a blanket of mascarpone cheese.

It's always best to make a Tiramisu the day before because it gives the flavours a chance to blend and get to know each other. The sponge fingers will have a chance to soften up too.

Finely grated dark chocolate is used instead of the usual dusting of cocoa powder.

Serves:  4

4 tablespoons very strong espresso coffee, 2 tablespoons brandy, 10 sponge fingers, 125g raspberries (either fresh or frozen), 175g mascarpone cheese, 2 separated eggs, 50g icing sugar, 25g finely grated plain chocolate

1. Mix together the coffee and brandy.  Dip the sponge fingers into the liquid to coat. Arrange in a small dish.  Pour over any liquid left in the dish.  Sprinkle the raspberries over the soaked sponge fingers.
2. Whisk together the mascarpone, egg yolks and icing sugar until smooth.
3. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and glossy, fold into the mascarpone mixture.
4. Spoon over the sponge fingers. Finely grate the chocolate over the top. Chill to set.

London: Fabulous Coffee Shops

Delicious quirky sandwiches at Allpress Espresso

Allpress Espresso, Shoreditch was first on our whirlwind tour of coffee shops in London - not all in one day, I hasten to add. They serve their local community and tourists, who like us, make a special journey to visit them.  Allpress Espresso originates from both Australia and New Zealand.  The coffee is faultless, and the food on both occasions when we have visited has been freshly prepared. The sandwiches and cakes are some of the best I have ever eaten in a coffee shop, and if you visit be sure to try their legendary fluffy scones served with cream and fresh berries, and whilst there perhaps you would be kind enough to see if you can get them to give you the recipe and pass it on to me!  Would you also ask them for the recipe of the cake in the photograph too...... :)

Almond and Orange Cake with a Custard Filling

Allpress roast their own coffee on site twice a week.

The coffee dispensers for take out fresh coffee beans.

Kaffeine, Great Titchfield Street, London was our next call. This is an independent Australian/New Zealand owned cafe in Fitzrovia, just off Oxford Street. It is a tiny coffee shop and very cool. 'Suppose you could say far too cool for us'. Their website says they use a Synesso Cyncra espresso machine which is known as the holy grail of espresso machines. If you like your coffee and latte art, want to sit somewhere that is 'too cool for school' then be sure to check out this tiny coffee shop. 

Beautifully presented latte art - just how I like my coffee

Delicious moist Strawberry Friand

Terrible photograph but it does show I visited Kaffeine!

St David Coffee House, Forest Hill SE23 is possibly the quirkiest coffee shop we have had the pleasure to visit. This coffee shop is also quite small but very cosy and homely too and we were greeted with a warm friendly smile. The background music is played on vinyl and adds a wonderful ambiance to the room. Full to the rafters with vinyl records, old furniture and collectables you can sit back and imagine you are in a bygone era. Weather permitting there are a few tables and chairs outside where you can sit for a while and simply relax......We thought this was a really friendly coffee shop and on this occasion didn't feel like tourists.  Nearly forgot, the lemon drizzle cake was superb.

Lots of time and care is taken to execute a perfect coffee.

The outside of St David Coffee House hiding the outside seating area.

The kilner jar holds free dog bikkies!

Another great coffee shop, and one that is new to Beckenham is Fee & Brown, we visited this too and the Australian barista made us a superb coffee. I think my favourite coffee shop is Monmouth in Borough Market and even though I have never eaten here, the coffee definitely takes some beating.  I like the ambiance, the queues, the frantic pace of Borough, jostling to get a seat, people watching, and their fabulous coffee topped with amazing latte art.

Back soon.

Review: York Coffee Emporium - Coffee and Tea by Post

York Coffee Emporium have kindly sent me samples of luxury loose tea and gourmet coffee. They are York's only independent artisan micro-coffee roaster and all of their coffee is roasted in the heart of Yorkshire, fresh to order. York Coffee Emporium luxury teas are sourced from The Metropolitan Tea Company. Most of them contain either Fair Trade or Ethical Tea Partnership accredited tea.

Decaf 'Centrals' Blend is processed using the CO2 method and means no harmful chemicals have been used. I couldn't tell the coffee was decaffeinated, there is nothing worse than drinking decaf coffee that has a peculiar taste. The coffee is medium bodied with a good after taste and very enjoyable to drink.  If you drink decaffeinated coffee, or have considered buying decaffeinated coffee, freshly roasted gourmet coffee wins every time. Just imagine bringing that independent coffee shop experience into your own home.

Hubby is the tea drinker, he enjoys a cuppa and tasted the teas for me.  Russian Caravan (great name!) is a light black tea with a hint of Lapsang Souchong. In Russia the traditional way of making tea is to allow a pot to simmer and steep all day; this is why Russian Caravan tea is quite light and flavoursome to withstand a day in the pot.  Hubby described this fine tea as aromatic with a very good flavour and enjoyable to drink.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea - the tea is described as a medium body blend delicately flavoured with Earl Grey and Jasmine.  This is the blend specially selected for garden parties at Buckingham Palace.  Earl Grey is hubbys favourite and he really enjoyed this Jasmine perfumed tea, he is a creature of habit and normally chooses Earl Grey with Bergomot. No Palace Garden Party for us, but he said the tea tasted wonderful.  If you are having a posh afternoon Garden Party of your own, I am assured this tea would be perfect.........weather permitting of course!

Thank you to York Coffee Emporium and Ben for the samples.