Coffee Break

Been a while since I’ve spent a Sunday morning with a fresh cup of coffee and a new batch of coffee how-to’s from eHow. Looking for a good coffee recipe? Wondering how to use an Aeropress coffee maker? Want to know how to use coffee to make soap? Chances are good that you’ll find the answer at eHow, where people like you and me write about how to do the things they know how to do. Here’s a handful of eHow coffee articles for this week.

How to Make a Nutritious Cup of Coffee

by  Heather Inks

I’m not entirely certain that I’d drink my coffee this way regularly, but if you like mocha coffee, this might just be your cup of tea… er, coffee. Try it with Vanilla instant breakfast, or double your coffee flavor with coffee instant breakfast for a change. Definitely worth a try if you want to add a bit of nutrish to your morning coffee

How to Bake Coffee Flan

by   emilioagetro

Mmmm… flan!! For about ten years, I lived in a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood, and I learned to love two things - coffee made with a colador, and flan. Here’s a recipe that combines the two together - oh, yeah, you know I’m lovin’ it.

How to Make Gourmet Coffee Syrup

by  Althea DeBrule

Make your own syrup for coffee milkshakes, coffee topping over ice cream or flavoring your coffee with double the flavor? This recipe from Althea DeBrule is just the ticket for making excellent gourmet coffee syrup that won’t break the bank.

It’s been a while since I’ve had time to browse the coffee-loving how-to’s over at eHow, but I couldn’t let this month finish up without posting at least one more batch of great coffee recipes and hints from my other home. If you’re looking for something different to do with your coffee, here’s a handful of coffee counterfeit recipes from the folks who love coffee over at eHow.com.

How to Make Green Mountain Coffee Drink The Vermonter

by dlkass

Try this fabulous to-die-for coffee recipe, a counterfeit of a coffee drink served at Green Mountain Coffee in Vermont. And thank dlkass for dropping it in my mailbox so I wouldn’t miss it. Coffee and maple… mmmm…

How to Make a Coffee Coolata at Home

by  klnygaard

As a born and bred East Coast girl, I’m passionate about my Dunkins, so I can tell you with certainty that klnygaard’s Coffee Coolata recipe really does taste like the real thing. The only thing missing is the big plastic cup - really, you NEED to drink it through the straw to get the full effect!

How to Make McDonald’s Iced Coffee

by eHow Food and Drink Editor

Another fabulous fake - if you love Mickey D’s iced coffee, this is the recipe for you. Slide on down to the comments section for a bonus Mickey D sugar-free French Vanilla iced coffee recipe by eHow member  TLB117.

How to Make a Delicious Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino Recipe

by  ElectricalNut

What would a post about fabulous coffee counterfeits be without at least one Starbucks recipe? This one is easy to make, and even includes instructions on how to make strong coffee that’s “almost” espresso. Give it a try and save your Star$ for something else!

It’s Sunday morning, and that means that I’m browsing eHow for great new ways to do neat things with coffee while I drink my own mocha java blend. This morning’s coffee is a 75/25 blend of Costa Rican Tarrazu (thanks to Sandycrochet who reminded me how much I like it) and Trader Joe’s Ultra Dark Roast coffee.  It’s amazingly good, smooth, dark and heavy - just the way I like it. It’s the perfect cup of sipping coffee, which is just what I’ll be doing as I dig up the best coffee tips and how-to’s on eHow this week.

How to Get Starbucks Coffee Drink Recipes

by  ladyofthehour

Y’all know that I’m not a fan of Starbucks coffee, but I do like their smoothies and other drinks - Vanilla Chai Latte, anyone? Do you love Starbucks but hate paying their coffee prices? Ladyofthehour has some tips on how and where to get Starbucks coffee drink recipes so you can make them at home for yourself. You can also scout around eHow and look for “coffee drink recipes” - or check back at my other Coffee@eHow posts that feature coffee drink recipes. You can save lots of money and STILL enjoy your Starbucks coffee drinks.

How to Make Homemade Flavored Coffee Drinks

by  Kat Long

Are you a fan of General Foods International Delights Coffee Drinks? My next door neighbor used to love them, and used to make them up as a special treat for herself whenever she’d done something that deserved a treat. They’re sweet and yummy, but not so sweet to your wallet. Kat Long tells you how to make your own coffee drink mixes at home - Viennese, Cafe Mocha Latte, Cafe Vanilla and  Spiced Cappuccino - with none of the artificial ingredients or preservatives that you’ll get with storebought mixes.

How to Drink a Latte - Enjoying Specialty Drinks

by  theraclitus

This one is a must-read if you order lattes and other coffee drinks at coffee shops. Theraclitus really knows the scoop - and I don’t say that just because I agree with his opinion on Starbucks (lousy espresso, great coffee drinks). If you want to know why those coffee drinks don’t always taste so great, check out this how-to about how to make sure that you’re getting a well-made, fresh latte or other coffee specialty drink.

How to Make a Simple Frappachino at Home

by  valarie7979

Continuing with a theme here - yet another easy Starbucks knock-off that you can make at home. Valarie says she’s addicted to Starbuck’s frappuccinos - but now that she’s not living near a local store, she’s had to start making her own. If you’re a fellow frappuccinno-frappachino addict, you’ll love her easy instructions. All you need is a blender, ice cubes and coffee!

How to Make Warm Cocktails for Cool Nights

by  georgelarson

I’ve got a soft spot for Georgelarson - he’s one of those sweeties who are the first ones to cheer for someone else who reaches a milestone or gets some recognition, so I was really happy to find that he had a coffee article that I love. Okay - there’s only one coffee drink in the mix - but it’s totally appropriate for this week - Caffe Amore, the Love Coffee. He also tells you how to make a hot toddy and hot buttered rum, along with a couple of other drinks. This one is for those nights when you want your coffee with a little fortification!

That’s this week’s Coffee@eHow - but do drop back later today when I’ll have another Coffee Luv’n Valentine suggestion! Till then, enjoy your coffee!

Saturday Morning with Coffee@eHow!

Okay, so Saturday morning may be a bit of a misnomer. I got caught up in fooling around with the new blog colors and watching the Top Chef marathon on Bravo TV and gosh, what do you know, it’s already 2 in the afternoon! I’ve got a bunch of coffee eHow’s to share though, including some on how to buy my favorite coffee and how to brew up some mean coffee drinks.

How to Buy Green Mountain Coffee

by  Jami Delgado

Jami’s back in the coffee@eHow spotlight with a short, quick how-to on where and how you can buy Green Mountain coffee. Y’all know by now that I like Green Mountain. They’re a socially responsible coffee roasting company that considers customers, growers, employees and the world right up there alongside their stockholders. And they make great coffee. They’re also building a new plant and adding new jobs in a market where most other coffee companies we know (hint: it starts with Star and ends with Bucks) are trying to slash costs.

How to Make Authentic Cuban Coffee

by  AllysanDrew

It’s not often that I run across a technique for making coffee that I haven’t seen before, and I can’t wait to try this one. eHow writer AllysanDrew gives really really clear step-by-step instructions so that even if you’ve never used a moka pot before, you’ll know exactly how to make her authentic Cuban coffee.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Coffee Just like Green Mountain Coffee

by  dlcass

Yes, I love my Green Mountain Coffee. My flavor of choice is blueberry, but I do enjoy the pumpkin spice Green Mountain coffee when it’s in season. That’s why I was thrilled to find this eHow by dlcass about how to make pumpkin spice coffee just like Green Mountain’s. I admit it - I tried this one. It really IS that good!

How to Make Coffee Flan

by  Flip-n-Out

Mmm.. Flan!! There was a woman in my old neighborhood who used to make flan once or twice a week and send her kids out to sell them door to door. I never met her, but oh, my gosh, did I ever look forward to having $5 on the day that it showed up at my door. That’s why I can’t wait to try this recipe from Flip-n-Out for coffee flan. Sounds like tonight’s dessert to me~!

 How to Make a Gallon of Iced Latte to Enjoy All Day

by  6daughters4me

Okay, bear with me here. This recipe calls for instant coffee, which I don’t generally use. Ever. But the idea behind the recipe, and the great instructions are spot on! I’ll bet I could whip this up using my favorite Cafe Caribe as a homemade base - and seriously, you HAVE to read all the way through to the TIPS on how to keep your kids out of your latte. Totally hilarious.

And that’s it - my Saturday morning coffee@eHow has actually managed to last until almost 5 in the afternoon. I hope you learn something new and decide to try something delicious!

It’s been a while since I’ve spent my morning coffee break browsing coffee how-to’s at eHow.com, so there’s a whole bunch of great new coffee how-to’s to share with y’all.  I’ve been having fun with the DIY-coffee roasting and blending, so I thought I’d look for articles about unusual ways to make, roast, brew and enjoy coffee. Get ready, folks - some of these are pretty way out there!

 How to Make Coffee When Your Coffee Pot is Broken

by  sunshine11219

What does your morning coffee have to do with knee-high hose? Check out Sunshine11219’s article on improvisation when your coffee maker is on the fritz to find out.

How to Make Coffee Dough

by  Rachel Terry

Why throw away your coffee grounds when you can turn them into unique and nifty gifties like this ornament? There are lots of ways to recycle your coffee grounds - and I love this one. Check out Rachel Terry’s article about how to make coffee dough to find out how!

How to Make Coffee Soap

by eHow Coffee, Games and Toys Editor

Yes, coffee soap. I’ve been playing with making my own soap at home, too - and have a few articles up on eHow about how to make silicone soap molds - but I’d never thought about making coffee-scented soap! This is one I’ll have to try myself - and let you know how it works out!

How to Make a Hawaiian Lei with Coffee Filters

by  amberdawn

Looking for a unique way to use up those coffee filters you don’t need any more - because you took my green advice and bought a permanent coffee filter? Coffee filters make very cool oversized leis - and a fun project for a rainy day with your kids. Check out amberdawn’s article to find out more!

How to Make Mocha Coffee Using a Slow Cooker

by  Amy Laine

We’ve roasted coffee in a popcorn popper, ground it in a blender and brewed it in a chocolate pot, so why not? Check out Amy Laine’s article about making mocha coffee for a crowd using a slow cooker. The recipe calls for instant coffee, but I’ll bet you could substitute coffee concentrate and cut back on the amount of milk you use, hm?

That’s it for this week’s Coffee@eHow - hope you had some fun reading and discovering with me. Don’t forget to drop by often - I poke around in lots of places looking for coffee-related -stuff- — and I always, always share!

All righty, kids. It’s Saturday morning and I’ve got a fresh cuppa my own fresh-roasted coffee and I’m all set to point out a fresh batch of coffee eHows. Most of these were pointed out by other members - and I really appreciate everyone who’s sending me and posting up coffee-related eHows. I’ve learned some great tips, and love sharing the link-y goodness with other eHow friends. Here’s today’s batch of fresh-perked coffee@eHows…

  How to Buy Single Cup Coffee Makers

by  Jami Delgado

Jami Delgado apologized for writing “informative” rather than creative coffee articles - but I don’t think that’s anything to apologize for! She’s got some great advice on what to look for if you’re considering a single cup coffee machine like Keurig or Tassimo.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Containers

by  jimdris

Speaking of informational articles, here’s a bit of information that every coffee lover can use. Do you hate those dark coffee stains on your favorite travel mug or thermos? Did you know they make your coffee taste icky too? jimdris tells you how to get rid of those stains in this great eHow article.

How to Grind Coffee Beans in a Blender

by  classicalgeek

I’m a big fan of making kitchen appliances do double-duty, so you can bet I love this how-to from classicalgeek.  Hey, if I can roast coffee in a popcorn popper, you can grind the beans in a blender! Classicalgeek tells you how to do it.

How to Save Money on Coffee

by  LilacGirl

If you don’t read anything else about coffee, read this article by LilacGirl. It’s packed full of information on how to save money on coffee - but her tips will save you more than money. Nearly every one of them is a far greener alternative to our usual coffee choices. Go read her article and give her some love.

How to Make Exotic Flavored Coffee

by  staysik

This one sounded so good that I had to try it - and I can vouch for just how exotically delicious it is. If you’re looking for a flavored coffee that’s beyond the usual vanilla latte or mocha espresso, you really have to try staysik’s Exotic Flavored coffee.

And my coffee is just about gone so it’s time to finish up the coffee break and get back to work. Hope y’all check out the coffee eHow’s and show some love. Meanwhile, if you’ve got a blog about coffee or if you’re an eHow friend with a blog about anything, drop me a comment here or message me at eHow so I can hit you up and add you to my friends/blog list.

What you’re looking at is the fruits of my labor, quite literally. Last night, I decided that I’d waited long enough to try out that nifty popcorn popper that I picked up for 75% off at CVS earlier this week - it cost me all of $5, which is less than I’d pay for a used, old popcorn popper at the Goodwill Thrift store. I know this, because I’ve been keeping my eye out for the right kind of hot air popcorn popper to use to roast coffee, and they go for more than $5 when they actually have the right kind.

So last night, I got out the three types of Dean’s Beans that I ordered earlier this week, plugged in the popcorn popper and got started popping - er.. roasting. My first attempt was with Guatemalan Robusto beans (the only Robusto that Dean’s Beans sells - it’s great for mixing with other beans to make espresso). It was, to put it bluntly, a miserable failure. The beans did get browner, but they never did reach first crack, and after an hour, I gave it up as a lost cause and just figured that the cheap machine didn’t get hot enough to roast the beans properly.

Lucky for me, though, I decided to give it a second try right away - after making one important change. I turned the little hood around so that the vent was 80% blocked and the heat could build up in the popping chamber. This time, I dumped in two small handfuls of Mexican beans - which, the package assured me, are smooth and easy to roast. Based on my last test, I figured it would be at least 15 minutes - which would still have been unacceptable, really - before I noticed anything really happening. But lo - 4 1/2 minutes into the popping, I heard a cr-aack.. and then another… and another.. and within 15 seconds, the beans were merrily sounding like popcorn popping. At about 8 minutes, the beans hit second crack - yes, it really does sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies talking to you. At ten minutes, I turned off the machine, pulled off the hood and dumped the beans into my super-size stainless steel colander and checked the results. Beautiful, chocolate brown medium roast - exactly where I wanted the Mexican beans to be.

I roasted two more batches - one Ethiopian, to dark roast (not quite a full city roast) and another try with the Guatemalan robusta - which roasted up beautifully the second time around in the pre-heated machine with the backwards hood. Once they were cooled, I blended the three batches together - and that’s what I’m drinking right now. It’s a wee bit weak - but I made the same mistake with the Deb’s Dark Dreams the other day - not enough coffee for a full pot. Other than that, it’s absolutely lovely, with the smoothness of the Mexican bean and the rich earthiness of the Ethiopian and just a hint of spice - with the added kick of the high octane robusto. I’ve got a second pot brewing now - with another half as much coffee, and the whole house smells -heavenly-.

I’m going to roast a second batch today - after I get batteries for the camera so I can take pictures - or better yet, video it for a video how-to AND get stills from it for a how to roast coffee in a popcorn popper eHow.

There’s always coffee brewing over at eHow, and I’ve had quite a few folks recommend that I check out their articles or a friend’s - seriously, eHowers, y’all are the best, most helpful folks in the world. Here’s a handful of suggested articles for you to browse with your coffee today.

How to UnderstandDifferent Types of Coffee Drinks

by  klnygaard

klnygaard snuck this one into my mailbox at eHow and I had to put it up. I just keep remembering the Dunkin Donuts ad with the confused folks chanting “Is it French? Is it Italian? Perhaps Fritalian?” (That’s They Might Be Giants singing, btw - they did a whole bunch of ads for DD that are among my favorites). Nicest thing about this article is the pronunciation key for each type!

How to Buy a Gourmet Coffee Basket

by  WriterGig

WriterGig, who runs a very cool WAHM blog, has some very good tips on how to pick out a good looking gourmet coffee basket that’s sure to be appreciated by your favorite coffee addict. FYI - I LOVE gourmet coffee baskets. It’s a great way to build up a nice collection of coffee mugs!

How to Order Premium Coffee Online and Get a Free Coffeemaker

by  KevsGurl08

KevsGurl08 reminded me just how much I like Gevalia coffee. It’s one of the original subscription coffee clubs, and over the years, I’ve picked up lots of lovely free swag from Gevalia. This article gives a quick rundown on how to take advantage of the Gevalia offer for a free stainless steel coffee maker. If you’re ordering, do yourself a favor and try the French roast. It’s dark, decadent and super smooooooth.

How to Make Greek Gourmet Coffee

by  Anthony Delgado

One of eHow’s top earners and most helpful folks, Anthony admits to being a confirmed coffee addict — but apparently, doesn’t write a lot about coffee, go figure! Here’s his article about making Greek gourmet coffee in an ibrik — which just happened to be one of my first specialty coffee equipment purchases almost 30 years ago. If you’ve never had coffee made this way, you’re in for an incredible treat.

How to Make Coffee in a Coffee Pot

by  Bfastattiffanys

Sometimes we forget that there are newbies to everything, and making coffee is no exception. Bfastattiffanys offered up the article she wrote for her brother when he left for college on how to make coffee in an automatic coffee maker. She apologized for it being too basic, but I gotta tell you - my roommate would definitely benefit from reading this one!

How to Save Money with a Coffee Press at Your Desk

by  SueJ

Love fresh, gourmet coffee like they make at the local coffee shop but hate plunking down your hard-earned cash for it? Then read SueJ’s article about how to use a French coffee press at work. It was a featured eHow of the Day last month — so you know it’s fun to read.

That’s it for today - and UPS just delivered my first shipment of coffee from Dean’s Beans - woo!! I’m about to make myself up a pot of my own custom-blended Deb’s Dark Dreams coffee, roasted yesterday! MMmmm…