coffee consumption
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Posted: December 22, 2021Categories: The Tools
Just like how every baker needs bakeware and every artisan needs tools, every home barista needs certain accessories to pull that perfect cup of espresso in a smooth, mess-free and stress-free workflow. Whether you’re a budding barista or a coffee enthusiast learning to brew your own cafe-quality espresso at home, here are eight coffee tools that we recommend getting to help you understand the techniques of coffee-making and perfect your skills.
1. Burr Grinder
[caption id="attachment_20966" align="aligncenter" width="1005"]Opt for a Burr grinder over a blade grinder for your coffee beans if you're ready to upgrade your coffee-making game. Photo by De’Longhi.[/caption] A burr grinder crushes beans between a moving grinder wheel and a stationary plate. The wheel typically has serrated edges while the plate has jagged edges—both work together to give you a consistent and uniform sized ground coffee. In contrast, a blade grinder looks more like a blender. While they’re cheaper, the grind size is typically not consistent. A coffee connoisseur may be able to spot the inconsistent flavour in your espresso from the different tastes produced by finely and coarsely ground coffee. The De’Longhi Burr Grinder lets you enjoy precise control of your brewing process when you get to choose from 16 grind settings. It comes with a user-friendly soft-touch interface, making grinding almost effortless. Shop the De’Longhi Burr Coffee Grinder at SGD 99 or
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Posted: December 08, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
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Posted: October 27, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
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Posted: October 20, 2021Categories: The Bean
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless choices when shopping for coffee beans. To help you navigate the coffee bean market, today we’re taking a step back to discuss the main differences between the two main types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta. But first, some quick facts. Arabica beans make up about 60% of worldwide coffee bean production. They grow at higher altitudes and thrive in cooler temperatures of 15 to 24ºC. Arabica beans are primarily grown in South America and Africa. Robusta beans make up most of the remaining 40% of worldwide coffee bean cultivation. They can grow at lower altitudes and thrive in warmer temperatures of 24 to 30ºC. Robusta is mainly grown in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. So, which should you choose? Here are their top differences to help you decide which will suit your taste and lifestyle better.
Taste
Arabica coffee beans tend to have a smoother, sweeter taste with hints of fruits, berries, chocolate or sugar. They come in a wide range of varieties depending on where they are cultivated. Arabica beans can be sweet and soft but also sharp and tangy. The fun part is trying Arabica beans from different regions to see which you like best. [caption id="attachment_20132" align="alignnone" width="800"] -
Posted: August 11, 2021Categories: The Bean
Do you like your cup of coffee super caffeinated for that extra kick? Is that strong, nutty, earthy flavour important, or do you prefer fruity, slightly more delicate notes? How you answer questions like that will determine which team you’re on: Arabica or Robusta. If you’re in the camp of “less caffeine” and “light and sweet” tasting notes, then consider picking up these five awesome Arabica roasts, available in either (or both) Singapore and Malaysia. Don’t have a coffee machine just yet? Explore our range of De’Longhi coffee machines for top-notch, cafe-quality java, just the way you like it.
Aceh Gayo Arabica
[caption id="attachment_17604" align="alignnone" width="2560"]The Aceh Gayo Arabica is lauded for its aromatic floral taste that delivers a bright and pleasant mouthfeel. Photo from JJ Royal.[/caption] Straight from the Gayo Plateau in Northern Sumatra, Aceh Gayo Arabica is a specialty-grade Indonesian coffee that gives you a balanced, medium-bodied drink.
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Posted: August 04, 2021Categories: The Bean
Let’s face it, online shopping is unbeatable for today’s lifestyles, or what many are calling “the new normal”. Of course, there are plenty of good reasons why many still prefer making in-store purchases; you can see the item, feel the item, and at times, even try the item, thus greatly decreasing your chances of dealing with the dreaded buyer’s remorse. But when it’s not convenient to head out or you’re pressed for time, it’s natural to want to make purchases with a few clicks on the Internet. E-shopping is fast, easy, and you don’t even need to leave home. For hardcore java lovers, you’ll be glad to know buying fresh coffee beans online is 100% possible. You just need to know what to look out for.
Price
[caption id="attachment_17397" align="alignnone" width="2560"]The price of a packet of beans says a lot about its quality/cupping score, so pay attention to that. Photo from Bogdan Carmaciu.[/caption] Price isn’t just a number when shopping for coffee beans. It’s directly related to a coffee’s cupping score. So what is cupping, you ask? It refers to a standardised, globally recognised process in which a cup of coffee is evaluated based on aspects such as flavour, acidity, texture, sweetness – just to name a few. The score ranges between one to 100, and by determining a coffee’s quality this way, a price per kilo can be decided as fairly as possible. A score of around 80 is regarded as pretty decent, but since cupping scores aren’t usually listed on the packaging, you’re better off looking at prices and
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Posted: July 28, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
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Posted: July 21, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
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Posted: July 14, 2021Categories: The Tools
Like everything else out there, from cheese to wine and even furniture, there isn’t just one type of coffee. The beans they’re made from vary greatly, and more often than not, with great variation, comes decision fatigue. With an overwhelming amount of choices out there in the market, we get that a seemingly simple decision like choosing a type of bean to use for your machine might turn out to be rather daunting. Where do you begin with your De’Longhi bean-to-cup coffee maker?
Look at the Colour of the Roast
[caption id="attachment_17235" align="alignnone" width="2560"]The colour of a roast is a good indicator of qualities like oiliness, which matters depending on the coffee machine you’re using. Photo from Jakub Kapusnak.[/caption] Roasting coffee beans at a high temperature is a process (well, some say an art) that helps develop and boost aromas. If you don’t get this step right, the beans may lose their aromas and specificity. Here are some general guidelines: if the roast is very dark, the beans will be too bitter. If the roast is not dark enough, the coffee beans may end up tasting a little too acidic. A light roast is mostly best suited for filter coffee extraction. This is also known as a longer extraction aka slow coffee. With this filter method, what you’ll get is a fruitier coffee that’s more acidic. A medium/dark roast is ideal for espresso machines, and not so much bean-to-cup machines, otherwise, you’ll end up with coffee that’s, again, way too
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Posted: June 30, 2021Categories: The Bean
For many of us, 2021 has meant more working from home and less going out on weekends to stay safe during the pandemic. This has often resulted in fewer trips to our favourite local coffee shops in town or near our workplaces. Thankfully for coffee lovers, more roasteries are offering subscription services that send us freshly roasted coffee beans direct to our homes. Arriving like clockwork, these deliveries enable us to continue indulging in artisanal coffees and fill our homes with the sweet aroma of delicious brews. Here’s our latest compilation of coffee subscriptions available in Singapore and Malaysia. Check out our previous lists in 2019 and 2020 for more providers to choose from. Happy brewing, and don’t forget to explore our range of De’Longhi coffee machines to do justice to the high-quality beans coming your way with barista-quality cups of coffee.
Parchmen & Co, Singapore
[caption id="attachment_17112" align="alignnone" width="1204"]Parchmen & Co offers an impressive range of exotic coffee beans for their subscription process. Photo from Parchmen & Co Instagram.[/caption] If you’ve been missing travelling lately, you can still explore exotic parts o