Make sure the luck of the Irish is with you this March by heeding our seven coffee dos and don'ts!

Don't Let them catch you with your finger in the coffee or littering with Earth-unfriendly disposable stir sticks.
Do Stir in style! Elegant stainless steel stirrers such, as these engraved stirrers from Illy, won't litter the landfills or burn your fingers.

Don't Resort to instant coffee on the road, yuck!
Do Pack a Handpresso. #11 of the "Top 100 Things that are Getting Better," according to Oprah; the Handpresso will keep you brewing on the go. Go with the Handpresso Wild for pods and the Handpresso DomePod for ground coffee.

Don't Swear off coffee because of a sensitive stomach.
Do Treat your tummy to gentle java, like Whole Latte Love Malabar Gold or Maromas Orphea, which have lower acidity levels.

Don't Let your beans go bad.
Do Store them in airtight containers like these Bodum Yohki Glass Jars with Stainless Steel Lids or the Vacu Vin Vacuum Coffee and Tea Saver to keep from losing precious flavor and aroma. Your favorite coffee will stay fresh much longer with a little TLC.

Don't Run out of steam.
Do Check out what's under the hood, when you're buying an espresso machine. Double boilers will allow you go straight from brewing to steaming with no downtime. Make sure your machine has enough oomph, especially if you like your lattes! One of my favorites is the Gaggia Baby Twin Espresso Machine.

Don't Spend all your time in front of an espresso machine.
Do Consider a super automatic model, if you're the type that likes to entertain. One-touch controls, the machine will do all the heavy lifting while you're free to be the life of the party. A bonus for latte and macchiato drinkers...integrated milk solutions, like Gaggia's Milk Island.

Don't Let a good machine go bad.
Do Use pre-filtered water to cut down on scale buildup and remember to stick to a regular cleaning/maintenance schedule; your machine will thank you for it!

Have an espresso no-no that we missed? Share it here!

-Tho
Writing Department

It's an undisputed fact, workplace kitchens are black holes for all things of personal value. If you're trying to prevent a co-worker from helping him or herself to your coffee mug, scratching your name into it with magic marker does not work. This is why a new invention called the "Lock-Cup" has taken mug preservation to the next level. The five-finger-discount-proof cup has a hole that prevents unauthorized drinkers from using it; only the owner--who has a unique key that acts as a plug can use the mug. While the theory behind the "Lock-Cup" is rock solid, do you really want to be known, amongst your co-workers, as that guy that locks up his mug?

In other invention news, Japanese designer Ryohei Yoshiyuki has created the world's first ashtray made of coffee grounds. Spent grounds are known for their ability to mask the smell of cigarette ash. Yoshiyuki's invention gives a whole new meaning to coffee and cigarettes.

Some people think outside of the box, others refuse to even acknowledge said box. So, what do you get when mix a love of espresso with this sort of free-thinking mentality? Well, for starters, some pretty strange brewing machines...   

Our first nominee for the oddest espresso machine reportedly takes its inspiration straight from comic books, turned blockbuster movies. If you've seen "Iron Man," you no doubt remember hero Tony Stark's glowing electronic heart. Look closely, do you see the resemblance in the Nespresso Caffe Inn concept machine? Created with the aid of French designer Charles Teyssier, the Caffe Inn is, quite possibly, the world's first espresso machine fit for a superhero.

The second nominee is a custom Rancilio S27 that looks as though it can go from zero to sixty in record-breaking time. Tricked out by Tal Fishman of Espresso Smith, the machine has been adorned with chopper parts to give it the appearance of a true road warrior, be it one that can make a mean shot of espresso! Brewing and steaming features of this one-of-a-kind espresso machine are fully functional and controlled by the handle bars.
 

Last but, not least, are the sister machines from Saeco. The Etienne Louis and Jules both look as though they would be handy in a post-apocalyptic world. These futuristic espresso machines could probably make great coffee while defending against an alien attack.

Who should take home the grand prize as the strangest espresso machine; which of these inventive designs do you find the most intriguing?

I can't help but notice, it's been a while since my last  tech blog. In fact, I'm pretty sure the last time I wrote something, my shiny new iPhone G3 was only a glimmer of a possibility rather than the shiny distraction I may or may not have with me at all times. Many people attest that their most important brewing tool is their frothing pitcher, or a bottomless portafilter. I'm a little nerdier than that...I have to say it's my iPhone.

I'm crazy, you say? Crazy for technology, I say! Where else can I time my shot, practice grinding and tamping, or even locate a great cafe, all in one place?  I'll say it— for anything coffee, there's an app for that.

It seems, all sorts of companies are getting on the app bandwagon. Lots of these apps are free, and the rest won't cost more than $0.99 to download. The app that started it all for me was the Espresso Drinks app. You may have seen the espresso drinks chart poster before— this version is strictly mobile. All you do is tap on the drink you want (from espresso to caffé mocha, there are 9 basic drinks to choose from). The chart will flip over to reveal a larger, detailed drink icon with approximated ingredient amounts labeled "espresso", "steamed milk", etc. If you're a coffee novice with any version of the iPhone, this is definitely the app to get you started.

Even if you're more of a one-touch coffee maker user, there's an app for you. Fans of  Nespresso single serve espresso machines will appreciate the Nespresso Stock Checker. Keep track of your Nespresso capsules, and always be ready to brew.

What's your favorite iPhone espresso or tea app? Let me know, and maybe I'll review it next time!

Rachel
Web Department

In a world trying to go green, from electric cars to eco-friendly fashion, brothers Dave and Mike Hartkop are making their mark with a kitchen staple. In 2004, the siblings created a solar-powered coffee roaster--made from an old satellite dish, mirrors, and a broccoli steamer. Their vision has since grown into Solar Roast Coffee, the only "commercial solar-thermal coffee roaster in the world"--replacing gas burners normally found in traditional roasters with a large solar reflector, capable of generating 900 degree Fahrenheit temps to bake the beans. The resulting coffee is carbon neutral, 100% USDA Certified Organic, and eco-friendly. Solar Roast Coffee currently has 12 different kinds of coffee--ranging from the ever-popular Sumatra to the exotic Bolivia Organic.

Given that the coffee culture is steeped in tradition...Are the rituals of roasting too sacred to mess with or are you willing to give Solar Roast Coffee a test sip?

Tho
Writing Department