PODcast Newsletter, Issue 1

Question: Why are espresso machines so expensive?

That certainly is a good question. My first machine, a Briel Chamonix cost me $150. I thought that was insane. How could anyone justify spending that much money for a coffee maker (Boy, how things have changed.)

To understand why these machines are expensive, we have to understand espresso. The beauty of the espresso brewing technique is that it brings out the most flavorful and aromatic components of the coffee bean while leaving behind the objectionable tastes and qualities. That's no easy trick! Espresso brewing uses a lower temperature than most other brewing methods and uses pressure to emulsify flavor components not otherwise soluble at that lower temperature. So in addition to creating heat, the espresso machine must also create pressure. And finally, the more precisely the machine can control temperature and pressure, the better it can emulsify the good stuff and leave behind the bad stuff. And of course there's the need to produce steam for lattes, etc. So, whereas a drip coffee maker gets away with a cheap heating element and temperature switch, the espresso machine generally has a pump, a boiler chamber, a heating element, and two temperature sensors, as well as sundry valves, plumbing, control circuitry, and sometimes gauges.

And that is why espresso machines cost so much more than drip or other coffee brewing systems. And although a $300 machine can do a good job at this, a $900 machine can do a better job, and, a $2000 machine can do an even better job (etc., etc., etc.)
 

This first issue of The PODcast has two tips that can make a big difference in the quality of your espresso.

Tip No. 1:
The brew head and portafilter should be up to proper temperature when you pull a shot of espresso. To accomplish this, you must let the machine heat up with the portafilter in place, and then run the machine for several seconds without a pod, pumping hot water through the brew head, filter basket, and portafilter.

Tip No. 2:
Now that everything is properly heated, it's time to pull a shot of espresso. When you begin the shot, don't catch the first few seconds of coffee coming out of the portafilter. This coffee is diluted with water used to heat the brew head (see Tip No. 1). Just as importantly, the crema does not start being produced until a bit later in the shot. By bypassing the first few seconds, the espresso you do catch in the cup will have more crema. Capisce?
 

We've been busy beavers at PodMerchant. New lines include the exclusive roaster, Hausbrandt of Trieste, with their top-drawer line of single-origin coffees, and Firenze's Jolly Caffe, with their signature blend of 12 Arabicas.
PodMerchant has slowly been expanding into espresso machines. But we only sell machines that are designed specifically with pods in mind -- not as an afterthought. I have personally tested and deemed worthy each model we sell at PodMerchant.com. We started with FrancisFrancis! X1 and X3, and then added the Espressione Cafe Retro machine (our best seller). Recent additions are the cute-as-a-button and easy-on-the-pocketbook Koala, and the office-duty Espressione Nuvola. See below for the PODcast discounts on espresso machines.

Coming Soon! Segafredo Zanetti espresso pods, Ascasco Dream espresso machines, and the FrancisFrancis! X6.
 

Turns out your coffee break may really be a health break. New findings show that coffee is high in anti-oxidants. Furthermore, "Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than any dietary source. Nothing comes close." states chief researcher, Joe Vinson, of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, commenting on the study's results. Drink up!

Plenty of articles on the anti-oxidant properties of coffee are available at Google News.

AND drinking decaf may be bad for you! Switching to decaffeinated coffee could increase the risk of heart disease, according to new research. The drink may lead to a rise in harmful cholesterol by increasing a specific type of blood fat linked to the metabolic syndrome, researchers have found.

Please see articles on heart-risk and decaf at Google News.
 

PodMerchant offers the following discounts only to our PODcast Newsletter readers. The discount is taken by redeeming one of the following coupon codes at checkout:

$35 off FrancisFrancis! X1 and Espressione Nuvola espresso machines -- Enter code: XXXXXXXX (subscribers only)

$25 off all other espresso machines (X3, Cafe Retro, Koala) -- Enter code: XXXXXXXX (subscribers only)

And just for being a good customer, we're going to take...
$4 off your next order over $30. -- Enter code: XXXXXXXX (subscribers only)