Think about it. Every time you waltz into your local chain coffee shop and order up that espresso-based frothy beverage it sets you back, what, five bucks? Even if you only do this on workdays, you’re still talking something like $1,200 a year to support your habit. It’s time to take matters into your own hands.

There’s a reason why you’ll only find Americans in the Starbucks in Italy. Europeans have been making quality brew in their own homes for years, and you can, too. And whether you want to spend $20 or $2,000, there’s a machine out there to suit your needs. There are many types of machines to make espresso with in the home, as The Espresso Guy illustrates. But in the home most people will use either a stovetop or pumpless electronic model.

Stovetop models all work in the same way. Water is placed in the lower chamber, with coffee grounds in a cage in the middle; as the water heats and creates steam, it is forced through the coffee which drips into the top chamber, ready to serve. You’ll get a strong, flavorful brew, still superior to what you’ll get in a certain nameless coffee chain, but lacking that ephemeral crema, the caramel-colored froth that signals a serious Italian-style espresso.

Bialetti is the unqualified champion in the stovetop category. Their octagonal aluminum Moka Express pot is the classic home brew device, and at about $15 pays itself off in just a few uses. Davidliebovitz stands by his: “There are similar looking coffee pots, but only the Bialetti are truly the best.”

...continued: Short shots and smooth brews

How do coffee addicts get their fix when out on a backpacking/camping/hiking excursion through the backcountry? OutdoorHacks.com (“tips & tricks to improve your life outdoors”) suggests the Press-Bot, a French press that fits inside your Nalgene bottle and thus eliminates your need to carry a separate container just for your java.

The blog’s self-proclaimed “outdoor geeks and freaks” find all the coolest outdoor gear and gadgets: Check the proceeding post for info on an outdoor beer dispenser that lets you chug draught beer right on your back deck.

We thought we were comrades in arms with Matt from The Food Ass in the tireless pursuit to, erm, eliminate crap from our lives. Now, we learn that sometimes crap is good. Brotherhood of the Bean settles in for a smooth, mellow cup of Kopi Luwak Coffee:

“The Kopi Luwak, also known as the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxus hermaphroditus) will selectively choose and consume coffee cherries as part of its diet. During its magical journey, the coffee cherry flesh is removed through digestion and the coffee beans are collected for processing.”

 Because this coffee is so understandably low-yield, it’s outrageously expensive — roughly $400 per pound. But according to BotB, the civet’s digestive process leeches out many of the chemicals that make coffee bitter, leaving only sweetness and smoothness. We’re gonna have to try some of this crap.

What, you haven’t been to the Emerald Market yet? It’s a great on-line green market, filled with mindful picks from the familiar to the brand spankin’ new…like this olivewood coffee bean scoop made by a loose collective of woodcarvers in and around Nairobi, Kenya. Beautiful, handmade, eco-friendly products of every kind…right here.

Mirror, mirror, on the … cup? We think these tres cool anamorphic tea cups are pretty darn spiff. The abstracted text on the saucer is rendered legible in the distorted reflection of the polished, stainless-steel cups. Perfect for a little early-morning reflection over a nice cuppa.

Via CafeList Blog. 

Enterprising though they may be, Starbucks has yet to figure out a way to bring their franchise to the backcountry. But coffee-guzzling wilderness lovers need not fret: Kurt Rapanshek at National Parks Traveler has discovered Java Juice, a “a pure coffee extract that turns into a bonafide cup of 100 percent organic, and certified Kosher, Arabica coffee when mixed with either hot or cold water.” Kurt explains:

“…for those who need a punch of caffeine in the morning, one that actually tastes like a rich cup of coffee, Java Juice meets the need. It comes packaged in these little squeeze bags, similar, but larger, than the ketchup packets you get at fast-food joints. Each half-ounce packet contains enough coffee extract for a cup of coffee between 12 and 16 ounces, depending on how strong you like it.”

Maybe ThisNext’s favorite bloggers should collaborate on a cookbook full of coffee drink recipes that put Starbucks’ high-fat, high-sugar decadences to shame. First we discovered a 25-calorie iced mocha from Skinny Daily Post. Now, Iron Benny’s got a Frappuccio alternative that he dubs the “kind of treat that gives you jazz hands.” The secret ingredients: fresh brewed coffee, CytoSport Complete Whey Protein in vanilla bean, vanilla soymilk, and Splenda. Check out the recipe for yourself and see if it leaves you feeling good as Benny - i.e., “giddy with excitement, like when El Guapo got a sweater for his birthday.” (FYI: Three Amigos references = 1,000 bonus points.)

In a magical land that exists only in my brain, each day begins with a venti Iced Caramel Mocha (with whip, please!) from Starbucks. And in the afternoon, a White Chocolate Frappuccino blended crème (and yes, more whip). In reality, those two drinks alone would take me to 1,370 calories - just a little shy of my limit for the day.

So, given our collective affection for sweet and caffeinated frosty beverages, it’s more than fortunate that we’ve got bloggers like Jane at Skinny Daily Post to share recipes that seriously skimp on the fat and calories. Click away for Jane’s iced mocha recipe, just 25 calories per serving.

Every morning, I have two shots of espresso (three on the weekends) from my Francis Francis X5. Time and again I get looks of shock and awe when I tell this to people, as they assume that each shot of espresso is packed with kilograms of caffeine. Well guess what, Starbucks chuggers: Ounce for ounce, espresso contains less caffeine than regular old drip, and each grande you get works out to more than 16 times as much buzz. No wonder the Italians are so mellow.

This courtesy of a handy fact sheet posted by WilloToons, via our very own Aunt Beep.