Brown Cafe - Nespresso Compatible Capsules

Yet another Nespresso knock-off is hitting the market (read up about a few other Nespresso Compatible Contenders), this one in France, with a line of four espresso varieties. The four versions are currently available in France, sold through a series of shops, from a light decaf to an intense variety that is said to be of an Italian style. Rounding out the line is a medium bodied "Prestige" and a balanced variety that mixes Arabica and Robusta for a flavor that's right down the middle.

We'll keep an eye on this to see if they come to the US.

more at Brown Cafe

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Nespresso Makers in Hotel du Vin Rooms

For travelers to the UK's Hotel du Vin line of hotels, starting soon, you'll be able to wake up and smell the Nespresso in your room. The chain of fourteen boutique hotels is adding new Nespresso Citiz Titanium makers to each room, backing them with a few capsules that span the range of varieties, including: Arpeggio, Fortissio Lungo, Livanto (My current fav), and Decaffeinato Intenso.

This has got to be a good deal for Nespresso too, as the boutique hotel lines up well with their brand image, and the clientele must be a good match for Nespresso's target audience. With thousands of hotel visitors a night, that kind of exposure has got to be good, never mind the consumption of capsules.

So, I wonder if the Hotel du Vin is going to see the rate of shampoo and soap theft drop while the Nespresso capsule supply gets hammered after everybody tries them in-room?

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Bodum Brazil French Press - Splash of Color

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L'Or EspressO Capsules Reach $100Mil Sales Mark

For the Nespresso-geeks out there, the Nespresso machine compatible L'Or EspressO capsules have hit a sales mark that is worth mentioning (or at least putting out a press release on....see below), after selling $100 million dollars. The capsules fit the broadly accepted Nespresso line and are for sale in 15,000 outlets across France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands (marketed as L'aRome EspressO in the latter three countries).

I talked with Sara Lee earlier this year about the L'Or EspressO capsules, and while things are going well in Europe, they didn't have any plans to come to the US that they would share with me at the time.

Full press release after the jump.....

Continue reading: "L'Or EspressO Capsules Reach $100Mil Sales Mark"

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Bodum Pavina Porcelain Multi-Colored Glasses

Bodum Pavina Porcelain 13.5 ounce glasses with silicone grips

Have you seen these yet? They are all over the coffee shops and stores from high end to Target. I had to pass them along as they seem like the perfect way to enjoy coffee while welcoming a sunny day.

The ones above are 13.5-ounce glasses, perfect for an iced Americano, while they also have, Porcelain 8-Ounce cups, and Porcelain 2-1/2-Ounce Espresso Cups too.

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Iced Coffee: Methods Compared

A recent article in the local newspaper made me examine my own methods of brewing iced coffee. While many coffee shops use the cold brew method of making a concentrate, I feel like it lacks body and the back end of the flavor profile, overwhelming the experience with caramel and chocolate flavors that just don't make the the bright, sharp velvety experience that I want. I happen to agree with George Howell who says, "Cold brewing ruins the coffee."

I like two methods:

Iced Espresso (Americano) - brew your favorite shot of espresso into a glass of ice cubes, add sugar, a plash of milk and stir. I use a Nespresso Pixie a lot of the time, but also use a standard pump espresso brewer to brew up coffees I find from local roasters. I also tend to use two shots; one just isn't enough.

Drip Coffee Brewed and Cooled - Brew a pot, pour your giant size mug, and shut off the carafe for iced coffee later. The important thing is to shut off the brewer quickly so the coffee doesn't cook on the hot plate. If you've got room, pour your first cup and then plunge the carafe into the refrigerator. I tend to go back to the pot throughout the day for iced coffee refreshment. With the coffee cooled, it won't get as diluted when you add ice. Sip and enjoy.

Arabica and not Robusta - I like a little Robusta in my espresso, more body, and a "Classic flavor" It can be overdone and it's a personal taste that's not for everyone. I DO NOT like iced espresso with Robusta in it as the burnt rubber flavors somehow scream through the iced coffee flavors and ruin an otherwise good cup. I would recommend a medium dark roast with a good amount of acidity and late coffee flavor in the profile. Too light a roast and you'll lose the coffee flavor to the ice and milk, and too little acidity and you'll lose the coffee balance that rounds out the flavors.

See the Bodum Pavina glasses for a great iced coffee experience with no sweating on the glass.

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Nespresso Pixie Ad for the iPhone (iAd)

If you've been surfing around the web on your iPhone, you may have run into the ad below for the Nespresso Pixie, the latest espresso brewer from Nespresso. The small brewer is juxtaposed with a hummingbird in the ad, and that's about right from my point of view. In my Review of the Nespresso Pixie, I noted the small size and the innovation of a light channel to determine wanter level and send you a red light signal on the front of the Pixie to let you know that it is time to refill the machine.

Of course the machine runs on the Nespresso capsule system, which is a pretty diverse set of capsules that are refreshed with seasonal favorites a couple of times a year. So far this year, they've put out the Nespresso Limited Edition Onirio, a light roasted capsule that offers a few layers of flavors even in an espresso format.

Check out the Nespresso Pixie iAd below.

Nespresso - PIXIE iAd from Soleil Noir on Vimeo.

Via Coffee Machine Reviews UK

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