Espresso Machine Reviews

As a former cafe employee, I have first-hand knowledge that the average teenager has been drinking coffee long enough to know what’s good, and what’s awful.  While most Americans have been introduced to the wide variety of java options and brewing methods slowly, kids going into college now have always had the best stuff at their disposal.  They were raised during our coffee revolution, and a cup of instant isn’t ever going to cross their lips!

This refined palate means young coffee connoisseurs will have a few more things to pack for college.  Late nights and tight budgets can make $4.00 lattes a thing of the past.  That doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste – the right equipment and coffee can make for the best brew you’ve ever had in the comfort of your home (or dorm!).

The Eva Solo CafeSolo Gift Set makes a great present for your favorite college student.  This award-winning coffee maker comes complete with glasses, spoons and a neoprene cover to keep the coffee hot and tasty, without a heat source.  Similar to a French Press, the CafeSolo is non-electric (you add boiling water). Outlets can also be a commodity in dorm rooms, so having the ability to heat water in the common kitchen and take your coffee to go is a definite bonus.  It is also small and attractive, making it perfect for tight spaces, and a decoration when not in use!

If you prefer convenience for one, check out the Bodum Travel Press.  A travel tumbler with a built-in French Press, which is also great for tea, makes for the most sophisticated simple mug on the market.  This also cuts down on dishes!

Do you have any must-haves you’d like to share for students?  Or any opinions about these products?  Let us know here – we’d love to hear from you!

Starbucks, meet Clover. The shiny coffeemaker, at a pricey $11,000 each, wooed Howard Schultz, Starbucks founder. Schultz, dazzled by the beautiful Clover, exclaimed it procured “the best cup of brewed coffee I have ever tasted,” according to Wired.com’s article, “The Coffee Fix: Can the $11,000 Clover Machine Save Starbucks?”.

So, Starbucks bought the company.

Image courtesy of Wired.com, Photo by RJ Shaughnessy

The marriage of Clover and Starbucks will hopefully put a much-needed bounce in the Starbucks step. The Clover brews a fresh cup of coffee in less than a minute, and comes equipped with an Ethernet port so users can store their recipes for specific beans. It’s crafted from coffee and stainless steel and can take several hours to assemble, but the wait is worth it.

All eyes on the Clover, sparking much praise and perhaps a hint of jealousy towards Starbucks. But hey, when you’re Starbucks, you can have what, and whomever, you want.

Are you a coffee lover? Does the smell of freshly roasted coffee in the morning make you go mmm? Then you’ve found a friend at Zaccardis.com! We’re all about the art of making the perfect cup of coffee and embracing that vibrant coffee culture we all know and love. We’ve been in the coffee business for years, and we’ve got quite a bit of stories to tell you about our always interesting excursions just to find that perfect cup of coffee, and of course we want to keep you up on all the coffee news out there. But most of all, our blog is for you – share your own stories, leave us comments, rants, whatever you want!