Bodum

I'm always excited when I get to write about new items, which is why I was really jazzed, this week, when we got some new stuff from Bodum.

Once you've brewed your coffee, you'll need something to put it in. That's where the new Pavina and Bistro glasses take the stage. Both crafted from mouth-blown double walled glass, these glasses are an elegant way to keep your hot drinks hot and your cool drinks cool. The 15 oz Pavina is ideal for showcasing drinks with layering effects, like the latte macchiato. The 5 oz Bistro cups are ideal for serving espresso.

Last on our list is the Bodum Latteo manual milk frother. Just add some fresh milk and work the plunger for delicious frothed milk, perfect for cappuccinos.

Anyone with a college experience similar to mine will be in for a number of late nights and early mornings. Now, whether you’re in a dorm, or in an apartment, getting that first cup of coffee can be essential to keeping you alert and productive for the rest of the day. I know that time and money are kind of a big deal for most college students, and I know you’re going to want to find a fast and affordable source of coffee. Don’t worry; we’re here to help.

When it comes to quick, convenient coffee, single-serve machines work very well. No mess, no hassle, and you never need to worry about brewing too much. If you’re worried about price, don’t be. We have a number of affordable single serve options like the Keurig B31 Mini Plus, and if you do go with a Keurig, you might want to check out the My K-Cup Filter Basket, an innovative accessory that allows you to use your own pre-ground coffee in your machine in addition to K-Cups.

While a single serve machine is likely to become a much worshiped and permanent fixture in your place of residence, necessity will sometimes require that your coffee be mobile and when that’s the case, few things work better than the Bodum French Press Travel Set. Not only is it an actual French press for brewing coffee, it’s a stainless steel mug that you can take anywhere, how’s that for dual functionality?

Now the coffee. It’s true that you could go to any local grocery store and probably find some super cheap drip with remarkably clever names like “Brewer’s Choice” or “Happy Mountain Coffee,” and sure it’s kitschy and character building. But, when you don’t feel like drinking something that tastes like diesel fuel every morning, that’s when you check out our coffee instead. Even without a really expensive machine, good coffee is still good coffee.

You might be thinking though that you’re limited to pre-ground, well think again. The Bodum Bistro Blade Grinder is a compact and affordable option for budget conscious bean lovers and is available in four colors.

No matter where you go, or what your major may be, remember that back to school doesn’t have to mean back to bad coffee!

French press coffee is a long standing tradition. Bodum has done its part in upholding that tradition with the Chambord line of French Presses. Available in a variety of sizes as well as two unbreakable models, there is bound to be a Bodum Chambord French Press that is perfect for you. Take a look at the Bodum line of quality French Presses in this video.

It may be the happiest time of the year, but this is also a busy travel season. Chances are, you or your loved ones will be taking to the roads, rails and skies in advance of the holiday celebrations. As always, good coffee and espresso can be hard to find when you're on the go. But, don't leave it to the roll of the dice this year, pack the following items in your suitcase and you won't have to be at the mercy of others when the need for a good beverage strikes.

Bodum Travel Press
New to Whole Latte Love, the Bodum Travel Press is an ingenious combination of a travel mug and French Press. It will let you prepare coffee or loose-leaf tea and drink without having to switch from press to cup. The Bodum Travel Press comes in black, green, white, orange and red...so you'll be able to match it to your luggage for a stylish ensemble. Choose from 12 or 15-ounce sizes as you see fit.

Handpresso Wild and DomePod
One of Oprah's Favorite Things, the Handpresso Wild and DomePod will let you brew authentic espresso on the go. These hand-held espresso makers do not require electricity to operate, so they are perfect for the frequent traveler. Choose the DomePod if you want to brew using ground coffee otherwise, opt for the Wild which works with ESE pods.

Hot Water Kettles
If your holiday trip involves a hotel stay, consider taking along the Capresso H20 Pro Programmable Cordless Kettle. Great for the entire family, this electric kettle will let you make hot water for coffee, tea or even hot chocolate for the little ones. The Capresso H20 Pro has 11 variable temperature settings and a large 56oz capacity so you'll brew enough for the entire family!

Gourmet Tea
There's nothing like a cup of warm tea to calm down a hectic trip. Travel-friendly Te Teas and Teaposy sachets are the perfect treat for a long trip. Take a time out with one of Te Teas' unique concoctions including Peppermint Chamomile Jazz, Rooibos Mandarin Twist, Black Velvet Chai, South Pacific Green Tea and more. If you're one to indulge in a blooming tea at home, be sure to check out The Teaposy Concert Series. The elegant flavors and aromas of blooming teas have been preserved in nylon sachets that can be easily packed into carry-on luggage. Teaposy Concert Series sachets are available in Concerto, Duet, Sonata and Symphony blends.

It doesn't matter if you packing gloves and sweaters or a bathing suit and sun block for your next trip, be sure to make room for these must-have travel companions. Travel with the comforts of home and delicious espresso, coffee and tea to boot.

Maybe you're strapped for cash but still want to have great coffee and espresso on hand...Or, perhaps you're simply a savvy shopper, it doesn't matter; there are a ton of often-overlooked equipment that come in way under budget. In fact, we've got the best-kept secrets right here; and, they all retail for under $100!

French Press
Celebrated by industry experts for creating the "best regular coffee," French Presses were introduced in the early 1900s. Its operation is simple, a press allows the user to exert control over the steeping time to customize the coffee. It is best to use 1 tbsp of coffee per 4oz of water to achieve optimal results. You should also brew with filtered water between 195° and 205°F, so that the flavors and aromas may be properly extracted.

Our French Presses all have price tags in the $12.99-$99.95 range, making them a great choice for the coffee lover on a budget. At the top of the line is the 12-cup Bodum Columbia Thermal Coffee Press, a meticulously crafted, stainless-steel, double-walled press designed for maximum heat retention. Thanks to advanced insulation methods the contents can be kept warm for up to four hours. The Bonjour Unbreakable Hugo is our most affordable coffee press, available for under $15. It has a polycarbonate body and dual-action filter lid ideal for daily use. If you're considering a French Press, be sure to check out our most popular models, the Bodum Chambord, Unbreakable Chambord and Brazil Presses—all of which have gotten five-star rating from Whole Latte Love customers.

French-Press Tip: If you will only be drinking one cup of coffee at a time, consider a press with a 3-cup capacity. To brew multiple cups at once, go with an 8 to 12-cup press.

Coffee Makers
Drip coffee accounts for the majority of the coffee consumed in the US; it follows that the drip coffee maker has become one of the most popular household appliances in the nation.

According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, 10 grams of coffee should be used for every 6oz of water when brewing with a coffeemaker. In order to keep your brews tasting their best, you should also decalcify the coffeemaker once every 3 months. Our coffeemakers are available with glass and thermal carafes. Go for a thermal carafe if you need to keep a pot of coffee hot for a few hours; the superior insulation means that the carafe does not have to sit on a hot plate to stay warm. You’ll greatly reduce the potential for burnt coffee with a thermal carafe. Glass carafe coffee makers, on the other hand, make it easy to see how much coffee is left. Krups, Cuisinart, Capresso, Bunn and more manufacture coffee makers under $100.

Coffee Maker Tip: Choose a coffee maker with a filtration system to ensure fresh, pure coffee.

Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
Of all the different forms of coffee, espresso is the most prestigious. It's a drink celebrated for its sophisticated flavors and aroma. If you want to dapple in espresso on a budget, take heart, it's not impossible. Delonghi, Capresso and Krups all offer semi-automatic espresso machines under $100.

Brewing coffee in a French press will release the vast complexity of your coffee beans' flavors and aromas. Watch while Eric Black, from the Whole Latte Love Sales Team, describes Bodum's original Chambord line of French presses. These are perhaps some of the most durable and reliable French presses on the market today.

I love the look of glass and how it captures the light when placed on a table. I especially like how the unique curves are defined when I add my favorite beverage yet, I have always hesitated to purchase a lot of glass items due to the breakage and durability concerns. So, I usually end up settling for Tupperware cups. However, this has changed recently, due to the discovery of borosilicate glass products.

Stronger than conventional glass, borosilicate glass is more durable and is capable of handling a wide range of temperatures from -4F to 300 F. It’s also microwave and dishwasher safe, which is great for everyday use. Since this material can handle extreme heat and cold, it is often used to make laboratory glassware and other scientific instruments. Borosilicate glass has a reduced rate of thermal expansion, which produces a very clear glass, making it a perfect fit for creating telescopes and other high- precision lenses.

This high-end glass is used in many of the products that we sell, here at Whole Latte Love. Teaposy uses this glass to produce their entire line of teapots, cups, presses and warmers. They also incorporate 20% recycled materials into the process. Each piece is hand blown, resulting in totally unique pieces-no two are the same.

In addition to Teaposy,Bodum offers a durable line of double-walled glassware created from borosilicate glass. These cups are perfect for both hot and cold drinks. The double walled glass works as an insulator keeping perfect temperature. When enjoying a hot beverage, you can place your hands on the exterior of cup and not risk getting a burn unlike some glass.

Bonjour also offers an assortment of French presses made from borosilicate glass. The collection includes Bonjour Double Wall Glass French Press and the Bonjour Maximus French Press .

The use of borosilicate glass has been credited to a German glassmaker from the 19th century named Otto Schott. It wasn’t until 1915 that borosilicate glass was introduced into kitchenware under the popular label “Pyrex”.

The glass is created in a two phase process.

Raw materials are added together in accordance to instructions. The glass is placed in large tanks and heated at extreme temperatures over 2,912F. The high temperature melts the ingredients and creates molten glass. The heating process can take up to 24 hours to remove excess bubbles.

The molten glass becomes thick, red-orange syrup when completed. The mixture is now ready for forming. The tank, in which the molten glass is processed, is designed so that the finished product will flow slowly toward the working end of the tank, which is connected to continuous feed forming machines. Typical machines blow, press, draw, and roll the molten glass into various shapes. The process has to be done quickly because as the material cools it becomes rigid and unworkable.

Glass blowing is used to create thin-walled products like bottles, cups and teapots. A bubble of the molten glass is put inside a two-piece mold. Air is then forced into the mold, which presses the glass against its sides. The glass cools inside the mold and conforms to the shape. Glass pressing is used to create thicker pieces of glass. The molten glass is put into a mold and a plunger is lowered which forces the glass to spread and fill the mold. Drawing is used to create tubing or rods. In this process, molten glass is drawn down over a hollow cone called a mandrel. Air is blown through it to keep the tube from collapsing until the glass becomes rigid. For glass sheets, like windows, a rolling process is used.

Borosilicate glassware can add a touch of flair to your table. Now that I have tried this glassware, I have transformed my kitchen table. It has been a vast improvement over the Tupperware!

We have talked, in recent blogs, about Ceado grinders in general. I would like take a deeper look at two specific models the E7 and the E10.

The E7 & E10 have many similar features including:

• Three year limited warranty on all parts
• Lifetime warranty on return spring for doser – unique in the industry
• Hygienic bean hopper for easy cleaning – dishwasher safe
• Burrs made with 65 HRC steel –selectively hardened for sharpness and durability
• NSF Approved – the only grinder to have complete sanitation and safety approval in the United States
• 100 % rectified motors- the motor and drive shaft are perfectly perpendicular with burrs. Manufactured to a tolerance of less than 1/100 mm.
• The quickest and easiest system to clean or remove burrs. It has 3 screws and can be accessed in less than one minute. This system also prevents the accumulations of ground coffee in the threads that hold the burrs in place (another feature unique to Ceado).
• The easiest and most ergonomically correct grinder adjustment system in the industry, the “See and Set” system. It is a stepless infinitesimal grinding adjust lever that has proven to be very accurate and easy to use
• Dosing system with Conical ground chute – Engineered to eliminate waste and prevent coffee from being dispensed to the left or right of the portaflilter. Because the coffee is dispensed so accurately this increases the Baristas speed, decreases waste and will provide better extraction
• Exact dosing of 5.5-9 grams per pull.
• Extremely accurate dosing system because of precision molding and tooling. Also the stay bolt ensures that the dosing star is perpendicular and will always produce a consistent dosing weight.
• Engineered to produce extremely consistent ground particle size. Consistency has been verified by an independent laboratory.
• Motors more efficiently designed and engineered to require 20% less power then competing grinders.

The E7 grinder is ideally suited for light-to-medium commercial use or for any home/prosumer applications. It should be considered by anyone wishing to purchase a new grinder or looking to upgrade a current grinder. It is available in silver and is available in two versions, a semi- auto version with a simple on off switch, or a version with an on/off timer switch. This grinder is extremely quiet, is easy and fun to use and will produce excellent shots.

Here are the specifications of the Ceado E7 grinder:

• Watts – 400
• RPMs- 1400
• Burr Size – 64 mm
• Height- 24.02 inches
• Width - 8.67 inches
• Depth – 14.45 inches
• Hopper Capacity – 3.8 lbs

The E10 grinder is meant for high-volume establishments and that wishing to experience a low speed, high-quality grinder .It is fast, powerful and has a cooling fan for heavy use. It produces extremely uniform grinds and operates at a lower speed than any other burr grinder to reduce the heat transfer to coffee grounds and maintaining the quality of the coffee. It is available in silver and is available in two versions, a semi- auto versions with a simple on off switch, or a version with an on/off timer switch.

• Watts – 740
• RPMs – 690
• Burr Size – 83 mm
• Height-25.02
• Width- 8.67
• Depth- 14.85
• Hopper Capacity- 3.8 lbs

These are amazing grinders and please call or let us know any questions you may have.

Mark Jackson, Commercial Sales

It’s that time of year again, when we load up the car with the kids and our weekly supplies to venture out in the great outdoors. One of the challenges is how to produce a good cup of coffee when there is no access to electricity. Some may think that is a challenge that cannot be met; however there are several good solutions on the market today.

Several companies have created products that do not require electricity, to make great coffee. You can choose from a stovetop; French press or the newest item on the market the Handpresso . These solutions only require hot water and coffee to deliver a great cup of Joe. During a camping trip, hot water can be made over the fire. You can use a kettle or even a cooking pot to boil the water. If you bring along a thermos, you can heat the water and take with you for backpacking or simply sitting near the water, which is one of my favorite pastimes. Here is breakdown of the different solutions:

This requires only hot water and ground coffee. A French Press requires a medium to coarse grind, a finely ground coffee will not seep through the plunging screen. The coffee produced is much more robust than drip, due to essential oils not being absorbed in a filter. Remember; don’t allow the coffee to sit in the press for a long period of time, as it may turn bitter. You can choose from several French press make and models: Bonjour offers one that is called the BonJour Unbreakable Hugo Coffee Press ; it features polycarbonate glass liners that protect against breakage, the perfect solution during an outdoor coffee experience.

Another unique solution comes from Handpresso a company that makes handheld espresso machines that does not require electricity to operate. Pump it up to pressure using simple bike-pump technology; once the machine is up to 16 bars, add ground coffee or a coffee pod to brew the perfect shot of espresso! The Handpresso Wild works with ESE pods and the Handpresso Domepod can brew ground coffee. An ESE pod is “easy serve espresso”. Each pod consists of 14 grams of coffee pressed and packed for the perfect, consistent shot each time. You can make a full cup of coffee, by simply adding hot water to the espresso shot, creating a cafe Americano.

The idea of the stove-top espresso maker came from a simple washing machine. During the 1920s Alfonso Bialetti observed the local women of Crusinallo, country washing their clothes in a sealed boiler with a small central pipe. The pipe would draw up the soapy water from the bottom of the boiler and redistribute it over the laundry. Alfonso Bialetti hit upon the idea that he could adapt this washing machine and scale it down to make a simple coffee maker that would allow Italians to enjoy real espresso style coffee in their private homes. Water is placed in the bottom chamber of the stovetop , and ground coffee goes into the filter basket, located in the middle chamber, of the pot. Once the unit is placed over heat source, the water will be heated and pushed through the coffee grounds, and finally, into the top chamber of the pot. Within minutes, you’ll be able to enjoy. Then, you can pour into your favorite espresso cup and enjoy.

Aside from being handy in the wilderness, these solutions can also be perfect for individuals with limited counter space. The Handpresso weighs less than 2lbs and can be stored in a kitchen drawer. The French press and Stove top makers are also very space efficient.

Coffee, freezer. Freezer, coffee. The question of whether or not these two should meet has been a topic of contention for many coffee consumers. Say you stocked up of your favorite coffee, what's the best way to safeguard your stash?

Everybody agrees that storing beans and pre-ground coffee alike in airtight containers, such as the Yohki Glass Jar or the Vacu Vin Vacuum Coffee and Tea Saver, is critical to preserving flavor and aroma. The National Coffee Association of the United States also recommends storing coffee in a dark, cool location. They advocate steering clear of over-oven cabinets or shelves that are exposed to a lot of sunlight. But there are two distinct camps when it comes to the idea of giving your beans the deep freeze.

Freezer detractors, including most of Whole Latte Love's Facebook fans, advocate steering clear of the icebox. The environment is just too harsh for the delicate beans, resulting in flavor and aroma breakdown, according to coffee purists. That's not even the worst-case scenario. Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of tasting an ice cube that has been sitting in the freezer for a while? Disgusting, isn't it. Items left in the freezer tend absorb surrounding smells like a sponge. One mistake and fish flavored coffee could be in your future!

In theory, coffee can be frozen. Almost anything can go into the freezer; but like fresh fruit vs. frozen strawberries, in a perfect world, most of us would go with the former. If push comes to shove and you must venture into the frozen abyss, you can minimize the damage by keeping your coffee in an airtight container and away from the door, where temperature variations are the greatest. Whatever you do, only freeze once! Don't freeze, thaw, and then refreeze; that's just coffee flavor and aroma suicide. And, for Pete's sake, stay away from the fridge! Refrigerator temps are not cold enough for water to freeze; the damp atmosphere is about as bad as it gets for coffee beans.

Have you had a freezer experience gone wrong; or have you been successfully freezing your beans? Post your thoughts; we'd love to hear them!