So there is this scary shiny metal machine in our kitchen. It has all these buttons, and steam comes out of it periodically, and looks like a high-tech space craft that will eventually abduct us. It is more commonly known as an espresso machine, and up until yesterday, neither Matt or I attempted to use it. We are simple people in terms of coffee and tea, but we really wanted this because who doesn't like lattes and mochas from Starbucks? We got it at a shower in June, and has been setup, but unused, until NOW!
Matt decided yesterday that he wanted to pour espresso on ice cream a la beautiful dessert from Terroni. So we figured it out. Actually it wasn't that hard. You scoop the espresso, you push it down, you load it, and press the 1 cup button. I'm surprised at home much espresso is used and you only get one teeny cup out of it! I tried to reuse the grinds a second time but it was pretty watery and Matt was disgusted with me...I guess its an espresso faux pas! So we poured the espresso on the ice cream and it was beautiful and when it all melted it tasted like a vanilla latte! Yum! I suppose I was supposed to eat the ice cream as it melted but my yummy drink seemed like a better idea to me.
The espresso itself is quite strong and bitter so my next challenge will learn to use the milk steamer/foamer to make the more yummy drinks. I'll have to get some chocolate and caramel syrup as well to make the yummy Starbucks drinks. Question - when do you add sugar if necessary? Do you add it to the milk and then steam it? Do you add it to the espresso and then add the milk? Espresso gurus - answer me! Any favoured espresso brands? We got a canister of "Illy" from Loblaws, which had a surprisingly low selection of espresso brands...I thought more Toronto people used them? Maybe they just go out to get it all the time. Can you use ground coffee in an espresso machine? So many questions!!!
Ahh yes, and the end of this wonderful coffee adventure ended up with me being WIRED and hardly sleeping. New Rule: No espresso after 8pm. It will save me from bugging Matt and trying to keep him awake with my incessant chatter!
Matt decided yesterday that he wanted to pour espresso on ice cream a la beautiful dessert from Terroni. So we figured it out. Actually it wasn't that hard. You scoop the espresso, you push it down, you load it, and press the 1 cup button. I'm surprised at home much espresso is used and you only get one teeny cup out of it! I tried to reuse the grinds a second time but it was pretty watery and Matt was disgusted with me...I guess its an espresso faux pas! So we poured the espresso on the ice cream and it was beautiful and when it all melted it tasted like a vanilla latte! Yum! I suppose I was supposed to eat the ice cream as it melted but my yummy drink seemed like a better idea to me.
The espresso itself is quite strong and bitter so my next challenge will learn to use the milk steamer/foamer to make the more yummy drinks. I'll have to get some chocolate and caramel syrup as well to make the yummy Starbucks drinks. Question - when do you add sugar if necessary? Do you add it to the milk and then steam it? Do you add it to the espresso and then add the milk? Espresso gurus - answer me! Any favoured espresso brands? We got a canister of "Illy" from Loblaws, which had a surprisingly low selection of espresso brands...I thought more Toronto people used them? Maybe they just go out to get it all the time. Can you use ground coffee in an espresso machine? So many questions!!!
Ahh yes, and the end of this wonderful coffee adventure ended up with me being WIRED and hardly sleeping. New Rule: No espresso after 8pm. It will save me from bugging Matt and trying to keep him awake with my incessant chatter!
Another yummy dessert from our honeymoon!