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Community Coffee’s Military Match Program: I LOVE This Even More than Coffee

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Community Coffee K Cups
Add Community Coffee to the list of great names in coffee who now offer K-Cup Pods. I was recently sent the Golden Caramel and Breakfast Blend K-Cup Pods to try and I loved them both. I honestly expected to prefer the Golden Caramel, because I have a bit of a sweet tooth (and when I say “a bit of a..” I actually mean a mouthful). However, I can honestly say that I’m just as wild about the Breakfast Blend.

The Breakfast Blend is very well named, because it goes perfectly with eggs, bacon, and – YUM! – pancakes and syrup. It gives you a delicious, rich wake up call without any bitterness.  It’s just a beautiful cup of coffee.

The Golden Caramel is, as you’d expect, decadent! This is my “go to” when I need a little pick me up around 2:00. For whatever reasons, it’s like clockwork in my home office – 2:00 brings what I call the “draggies.” My computer typing slows down, my brain all but shuts off, and I find myself gazing out the window more and looking at my computer less.   It’s right around this time that my brain begins fantasizing about how great a nap on the couch would feel.

The draggies.

The draggies always bring an ultimatum, too – nap, shower, or coffee. As you’d imagine, the third choice always wins. K-Cups were custom made for the draggies!

Some coffee snobs look down their noses at K-Cups – they reason that if their coffee experience doesn’t begin and end with beans in a grinder, it isn’t a coffee experience at all. God love them, I appreciate their earnestness and passion for coffee but, if they used good quality K-Cup pods, like Community Coffee, they’d soften their stance.

They’d also enjoy the heck out of the cups of coffee these K-Cups provide.

Community Coffee’s Military Match Program

Community Coffee has been giving back to our military troops for over a decade with their Military Match Program. Like you, I respect the brave men and women in our military with all that’s within me and I don’t just applaud companies like Community Coffee that give back, I STAND and applaud loudly!

Community Coffee Company’s Military Match program has helped Americans across the country send more than 4.2 million cups of coffee to active-duty personnel worldwide.

When customers purchase 4 bags or boxes of Community® coffee online, the company doubles each order, donates a Signature Military Mug and sends them to any APO/FPO address provided!

How it Works:

STEP 1:
BUY 4 – Buy your favorite Military Match Set of four 12 oz., 16 oz., or Single-Serve 18 ct. coffees.

STEP 2:
GET 4 FREE – We’ll match your purchase with an additional four items, and send all eight items to the APO/FPO or military base address you provide.

STEP 3:
A FREE MUG! – We’ll even include our Signature Military Mug with your shipment.

Please read more about Community Coffee’ s Military Match Program and jump right in, with coffee cup in hand!

Community Coffee Caramel
 

Community Coffee’s Golden Caramel with a Little Creamer… HEAVENLY! 

5 Fast Facts About Stevia

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Stevia Infographic

 

  1. There are more than 250 species of the stevia plant. Like apple varieties or wine grapes, each type of stevia has a different taste based on its molecular make up and the terroir of where the plant was grown. Most stevia brands harvest a variety of stevia species, blending them together through the production process along with filler ingredients. That’s one reason most stevia brands have a bitter aftertaste. Instead, shop for stevias that only harvest single stevia species and sources its finest leaves.
  2. Stevia is 350 times sweeter than sugar. One grain of stevia does not equal a grain of sugar. In fact, the extract from stevia is up to 350 times sweeter than a grain of sugar. That’s why stevia brands must add filler ingredients to serve as bulking agents that level off the high level of sweetness. Look for ingredients labeled USDA organic and Non-GMO verified to ensure you are getting the highest quality stevia choice for your food and beverages.
  3.  Stevia is ideal for baking, unlike most sugar alternatives. Stevia isn’t just for sweetening your coffee, tea or cereal. Unlike other sugar alternatives, stevia extracts are pH-stable with a very high melting point – similar to sugar. That means there are stevia blends ideal for baking – great news for diabetics seeking more cooking and meal preparation options, and for anyone who loves to bake but is trying to kick the sugar habit.
  4. Stevia is a highly self-sustaining plant. Stevia is a member of the sunflower family – it does not require a lot of water to thrive and is very self-sustaining. It’s a small shrub – typically no more than three feet tall and can grow in climates ranging from arid to humid. It’s a very drought tolerant plant with little need for extra inputs.
  5. While stevia is ideal for diabetics maintaining blood sugar levels, some studies have suggested stevia may also reduce blood pressure. Stevia is already widely known as an ideal sugar substitute for diabetics and others seeking to maintain healthy sugar levels as it does not induce glycemic response when ingested. Studies have also suggested replacing sugar with stevia may be linked to lowering blood pressure.

Being a true Southerner, I love my tea like I love everything else – as sweet as I can get it.  Same goes for coffee.  Unfortunately, sugar comes with unwanted calories and artificial sweeteners are… well.. artificial.

Who wants to put anything artificial into their bodies?

That’s why I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Stevia.  You can actually use less Stevia than sugar in tea (or coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider.. told you, I love things sweet..) and enjoy just as much sweetness.  Personally, I think it’s even better – and that, coming from Madame Sweet Teeth, is quite a statement.

Founded in 2008, Pyure Brands is a privately-held leading innovator of healthy sweeteners and one of the largest and fastest-growing independent stevia companies in America. Under the direction of Founder Benjamin Fleischer, Pyure has successfully established itself as a pioneer of sweetening solutions by introducing the first USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified stevia and erythritol to the market. The company’s commercial stevia extracts and blends provide the reduced-calorie sweetening solution for more than 300 food, beverage, and personal care products. In an effort to help further health awareness, Pyure donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations and foundations that have a focus on diabetes education as well as other social and environmental causes. For more information, please visit www.pyuresweet.com or find the brand on Facebook.

Coffee Review: Caribou Coffee, Mahogany

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Caribou Coffee, Mahogany

When it comes to buying coffee, I buy coffee online… I buy coffee offline.  I buy coffee by the bag… I buy coffee in bulk.  I buy expensive coffee… I buy bargain coffee.

I buy coffee like it’s my job, with the one stipulation being that it’s whole bean.  As I often say when doing coffee reviews, whole beans make ALL the difference.

Like everyone else, I have my favorite coffee brands that I turn to again and again. Caribou Coffee is one of the brands I’m most loyal to. In fact, I always have at least one bag of Caribou Coffee on hand. Caribou Coffee is reasonably-priced and readily available.  Of course, if these were the only things it had going on for it, they wouldn’t be nearly enough to make it a permanent guest in my kitchen.

Fortunately, Caribou Coffee has never let me down. The flavor is so rich, intense and beautiful that it always makes me think I’m actually drinking one of our costlier coffees.

Expensive taste at an inexpensive price – is is any wonder it has its own shelf in our kitchen?

I recently bought a Caribou Coffee blend that I’d never tried before, Mahogany. I’d picked it up a few times before, carefully considering it, but always choosing a lighter roast in the end (Daybreak and Caribou Blend are a few favorites).  I’ve never been an especially big fan of dark roast coffees because they can be so overpowering.  A lot of the darker roasts are also known for leaving behind a not so lovely aftertaste.

My brief experience with dark roasts just wasn’t anything to write home about.  In fact, I’d always wondered how people who prefer dark roasts could live with themselves.

Now I know. If you’re lucky enough to find a dark roast coffee that’s exceptional, there is no overpowering flavor and not even a hint of an unpleasant aftertaste.

Mahogany is everything that’s right about dark roast coffees and it has, you could say, won me over to the dark side.

 Caribou Coffee, Mahogany

From Caribou:

Mahogany is roasted to bring out the body of the El Salvador and Sumatra coffees, yet also preserve the delicate vanilla and floral notes of the Guatemala. Accented by aromatic woods notes and finishing with a raw sugar sweetness, this coffee will become a staple in the cupboard for those who appreciate complexity in a cup.

I, admittedly, have always preferred my coffee sweetened – at least a little. However, with a delicate sweetness and hints of vanilla and molasses, I never sweeten Caribou’s Mahogany. It comes with a sweet enough personality on its own.

Although there are subtle flavors of sweet vanilla and molasses, even the most die-hard coffee purist (you know the ones… “Coffee should just taste like coffee – with no extra flavors!“) will fall under Mahogany’s spell.

If I needed to serve coffee to a guest and wasn’t sure if they preferred light roast, medium roast, dark roast or flavored or unflavored coffee, Caribou Mahogany would be one of the first coffees to come to mind. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to serve this coffee to anyone, anytime.

In addition to making a perfect cup of old-fashioned black coffee, Mahogany is also ideal for espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and iced coffee drinks. The strong, bold flavor makes it a great multi-tasker.

Where can you buy Caribou Coffee?

I, personally, buy Caribou coffee from two places: Target and Amazon. You can also, of course, buy coffee directly from Caribou Coffee’s Website. It doesn’t get much easier than that, does it?

I actually just visited their website and found my next bag: The new Inspiration Blend has “hints of toasted marshmallow.” How is that not something I need in my life?

Buy Caribou Coffee’s Mahogany on Amazon or directly from Caribou Coffee.

 

 

La Colombe Coffee: Why This Has to Be the Next Coffee You Buy (Review)

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La Colombe Coffee

Now that I’ve gotten my raving review of Dangerous Grounds out of my system, I’m free to totally concentrate on my review of La Colombe Coffee.  This coffee is so spectacular and uncommonly perfect that it deserves nothing but my complete attention.

Some of us love coffee so much that we’re as associated with it as much as Garfield is with lasagna. A few of us have a passion for coffee that puts Garfield to shame. He only wishes he could reach our level of devotion.

I’ve been a lifelong coffee fanatic. I actually had my first cup of coffee when I was around 5 or 6. My parents weren’t loco – my mom was actually acting on the advice of my pediatrician. I had chronic asthma and my doctor wanted me on as few medications as possible. A few times he had to hospitalize me – placing me in an oxygen tent that (for whatever reasons) scared the living daylights out of me. He told my mom to give me coffee each morning, as well as when I was having difficulty breathing. She added so much milk,  sugar, and dollops of Cool Whip that I’m convinced she came up with the first frap.

I’m hoping that early in my coffee-drinking career I never feigned or exaggerated breathing difficulty, but I’m not making any promises.

So, you see, many people will claim that they’ve been drinking and loving coffee most of their life but a few of us literally can’t remember a time when we didn’t drink coffee.

As with most things in life that we love and rely upon, sometimes we take them for granted. There are even times when they become “commonplace” and “ordinary.”  I guess I never really thought about the possibility of this happening with coffee until I recently tried La Colombe Coffee.

Every now and then, not only do we need a reminder of what truly FINE coffee tastes like, we need a reminder of what the COFFEE EXPERIENCE should be.

Put simply, we need to fall in love with coffee all over again.

Each time we’d watch an episode of Dangerous Grounds, I’d  think about La Colombe. I’d imagine just how amazing coffee would be when someone as passionate and devoted as Todd Carmichael is involved. Each time my thoughts go my taste buds worked up, I’d hose them off by thinking, “Wow. That coffee probably costs a fortune.”

I’d watch the lengths Todd Carmichael would go through to find the perfect beans, the perfect growing conditions, the perfect aroma, and the perfect taste – and with each step, my perceived notion of “a fortune” grew. At one point I was convinced one would need to take out a loan for a single bag.

I’m delighted to say I couldn’t have been more wrong. La Colombe coffee actually costs the same amount I give for my previous favorite beans.  But here’s the thing – after just one cup of the first La Colombe coffee we tried (MEXICO), I realized I would have given just about any price they’d asked! Coffee isn’t just a beverage, coffee is an experience and La Colombe doesn’t just “get” this fact, they “own this fact.”

My husband has said several times that the Mexico coffee is the best coffee he has ever had in his life. While he has loved each of the La Colombe coffees, the Mexico coffee remains his favorite.  I can certainly understand why – it’s simply outstanding.  As for me, it’s one of the three best coffees I’ve ever had. The other two that tie?

  • La Colombe Ethiopia
  • La Colombe Panama

When it comes to our favorites – La Colombe’s got it on lock.

La Colombe: Mexico – Finca El Retiro

La Colombe Coffee: Mexico

The Mexico – Finca El Retiro coffee is really something special. You taste it in each sip – and, believe me, you’ll finish every drop in your cup. This is a light roast coffee, but seems to have more flavor and personality than a lot of light roast coffees. There’s also a hard-to-describe but near-impossible-to-miss little flavor of cocoa behind this beautiful coffee. Make no mistake, it’s 100 percent coffee and no one will ever mistake it for chocolate – but there’s an amazing little flavor there that’s worth getting out of bed for.

Read more about Mexico – Finca El Retiro by clicking the link. You’ll find ordering information, growing conditions, and a lot of other fascinating facts. A 12 oz bag is just $12.95. I’m not kidding or even exaggerating when I say I’d have paid at least twice that.

La Colombe: Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda

La Colombe Coffee Panama - Hacienda La Esmeralda

La Colombe Coffee Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda is also ridiculously Heavenly.  It costs a bit more than the Mexican coffee but the experience is more than worth it. As I’ve often said when writing my coffee reviews (or any reviews for that matter), I pay close attention to the first words that pop into my mind.  After enjoying a few sips of this coffee, I distinctly remember thinking, “PERFECTLY LOVELY.”  And, yes, my thoughts were in all caps.  Whereas the Mexican coffee had a delicious cocoa flavor in the background, this one has a bit of a “fruity” flavor in the background -it’s out of this world fantastic.

Read more about the Panama – Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee by following the link.

La Colombe: Ehiopia- Gera

La Colombe: Ehiopia- Gera

The La Colombe Ethiopia – Gera coffee knocks my socks off every time I drink it – whether I’m actually wearing socks or not. There’s something “pure” and deliciously traditional about this beautiful coffee. In fact, if I were told to brew a cup of coffee for someone who’d never had coffee before and to try to convey to them why coffee deserves the classification “Eighth Wonder of the World” with a single cup… I’d reach for my  bag of Ethiopia coffee beans.

You simply will not find a better ambassador for coffee than this!

While the first words that sprang to my mind after enjoying the Panama coffee were adverb-licious and downright flowery, the first words out of my mouth after trying the Ethiopia – Gera didn’t tiptoe threw any flowers or adverbs. After just one sip, I announced to my cat, “Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!”

Coffee how God intended coffee to be.

Read more about the Ethiopia – Gera by clicking the link. To experience the “Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!” moment for yourself, order a bag of this coffee today!

Okay, here I am, at the end of the review. Naturally I’m going to celebrate by brewing a cup of La Colombe coffee (Ethiopia – Gera).   I’ve come to a couple of conclusions after attempting to write this review:

  • It’s almost impossible to tell you how delicious these coffees are. You really have to experience them for yourself. Trying to tell someone else how amazing something tastes is kind of like trying to tell someone how beautiful a child’s smile is. Some things simply have to be experienced to be appreciated. Children’s smiles, being in love, rain, coffee….
  • The level of perfection La Colombe coffee achieves, ironically comes down to one word: RESPECT.  I say “ironically” because with each episode of “Dangerous Grounds,” I’m always left speechless by the respect Todd Carmichael, the producer, the director, photographer(s), network (Travel Channel), and everyone involved have for the individuals they meet along their journey. They respect these beautiful people and their customs,  beliefs, food, rules, laws, and their way of life. They never lose sight of the fact that they are guests in these people’s world and they always seem genuinely honored  when the welcome mat is extended. This level of respect for the coffee growers carries over to a respect for the coffee, itself. Finally, the respect extends to all of us who buy La Colombe coffee. They respect us enough to give us what we’re looking for – an opportunity to fall in love with coffee all over again.

Travel Channel’s Dangerous Grounds: What Must See TV Looks Like

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True Story: I tried to begin a coffee review of La Colombe Coffee but I just would not shut up about La Colombe co-founder Todd Carmichael’s Travel Channel show Dangerous Grounds.  Problem is, this coffee is way too special not to have a review’s undivided attention.  Realizing that (once I get going) making me shut up is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster, I decided the only thing to do was to get all of my Dangerous Grounds love out of the way, THEN proceed to the coffee reviews.

It’s like dealing with a child.

One of the most addictive and deliciously entertaining shows on television is Dangerous Grounds on the Travel Channel.   I remember when my husband and I saw the first preview for Dangerous Grounds.   We didn’t have to say anything. We knew we wouldn’t miss a single episode.

And we didn’t.

Heck, we didn’t miss a single adventure-packed, caffeinated second.

After each episode, I’d wonder how in the world Todd Carmichael (host, star) had escaped the other channels’ radars. Their loss is The Travel Channel’s gain. The man is television gold. He could host anything and make it fun and interesting.  I can take it one further – years ago, if my Accounting professor had been like Todd, I’d have actually gone to more than one class.*

Bam.

We watch a lot of television.  We’re huge sports fans, so (depending on the season) college basketball, NFL, baseball, golf, and college football can be heard from at least one room in the house… along with our chorus of claps, boos, hisses, cheers, and/or ump/ref taunting.  We also love to watch shows on The Travel Channel, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network, and The Cooking Channel.  There are tons of informative, entertaining, and great shows on and quite a few fall under the category of “can’t miss.”

However, television kind of needed a shot in the arm before Dangerous Grounds came along.  Viewers needed something that was fresh, innovative, and unexpected. Something that would keep them hooked on every minute and make them count the days till the next episode. Dangerous Grounds? It was that shot.

You remember what “Can’t Miss” TV looked like right?  The documentaries, dramas, or comedies that “defined” the day they were on.  The ones you sat glued to front to back – not even wanting to look away during the commercials because a trailer for the next episode might just show up!  If you’ve forgotten what Can’t Miss tv looks like, Dangerous Grounds is your reminder.

Dangerous Grounds is as addictive and life-sustaining as its subject matter!

The Travel Channel hit one out of the park with this one. Dangerous Grounds helped elevate their channel to the being named in the same conversation as the History Channel and that is no small feat. Because of Dangerous Grounds, I started tuning into the Travel Channel even more regularly and discovered that they have A LOT of great shows.

If you missed Season 1 (I’m dying for it to come out on DVD, I’d be on it faster than I’m on my first cup of coffee in the morning.), I’ll try to forgive you.  Just promise me you’ll go to Travel Channel.com and catch up with episodes and scenes. See Dangerous Grounds Episodes Online.

About Dangerous Grounds from The Travel Channel:

Todd Carmichael travels the globe, hunting for the highest-grade coffee in the world. Why? Because nearly a billion people drink coffee each morning, making it the number 2 commodity in the world, second only to oil. Todd focuses on the very best coffee out there — beans so rare, they are sought after by the world’s top chefs and restaurants. Todd has to go to some of the most exotic, fascinating and dangerous places on earth to find it: from the cities, villages and mountains of Haiti, Bolivia, Madagascar, Borneo, Cuba and Vietnam. Buying the coffee beans direct from the farmers means Todd must encounter treacherous terrain, danger and sometimes, even opposition from entrenched middlemen. There’s an amazing story behind every cup.

One of the funnest things about Dangerous Grounds is the interaction between Todd Carmichael and his cameraman, “Hollywood.” Great stuff. They find their ways into and out of danger on a regular basis – all in the name of the perfect cup of coffee.  I don’t know what more I can say other than it’s a helluva ride and one I wouldn’t miss a second of. And, no, I don’t leave the room even for commercials. I make sure our snacks and drinks are all within reach because this gal isn’t going to budge for 60 minutes.

Whether you, too, are already a die-hard fan or you’re  a brand new one – you’ll want to see the Dangerous Grounds section on Travel Channel’s website. You’ll find Q&As with Todd Carmichael, Coffee Facts, great Pictures, some of Todd’s recipes, and a lot more.

I’ll let you know the minute I find out the premiere date for season 2.  I foresee an all out, day long party in our household – coffee, chocolate cake, more coffee, more chocolate cake… Yes, as a matter of fact, that is how we party.

* Disclaimer: I actually only made 1/2 the  class. When the professor said, “You have a 15 minute break,” I interpreted it as, “Here’s your getaway!”

2013 Coffee Calendar: This One’s A Real Beauty

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2013 Coffee Calendar

 

If you’re anything like me, your love of calendars grows with each passing year.  I’ve always loved calendars and proudly hang one up each year.   I’ve run the gamut from Audrey Hepburn, I Love Lucy, and James Dean (I’m pretty obsessed with the Golden Age of Hollywood and TV), to pigs, cats and polar bears.  Naturally, coffee and chocolate have also been represented.

After all, I can’t think of many things I’d rather look at each day of the year than coffee or chocolate.

I’ve always loved the look of a great looking calendar – they’re always so colorful and bright.  But I find that, as the span between the fib I tell and my actual age grows, they serve a much more useful purpose in my life than just looking pretty – they keep me out of trouble.  Birthdays, anniversaries, and appointments love to sneak up on a person – a calendar nearby makes sure I see them coming!

The Coffee 2013 Wall Calendar pictured above and below is the best looking one I’ve seen.  It’s gorgeous.  Look at the pictures… absolute works of art.  In fact, you could do what I’ve done so many times with my own calendars – frame the pictures for unique (inexpensive) art for the walls in your home.  This particular calendar looks like it could potentially fill an entire room!

Click through the link or either image for a closer look.

Back View:
2013 Coffee Calendar

Speaking of coffee… something, granted, I’m almost always doing, be sure to read my Aerobie AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker Review.  It lives up to it’s billing – the AeroPress honestly makes the best coffee you can possibly enjoy at home. It’s better than most of the coffee you get in coffee shops even.  It’s ridiculously amazing – and the aroma in your kitchen will make your knees weak!

Now Cuisinart is Just Showing Off

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Cuisinart Metallic RedWowza! I’m totally in love with the metallic small appliances from Cuisinart.  The colors in our kitchen are purple and red, so I have my eye on the metallic reds. Besides, red makes me think of my beloved St. Louis Cardinals.

However, the girly girl in me is completely crazy for the metallic pinks. Gorgeous! To the left is the stunningly beautiful Cuisinart DCC-1200MP Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Metallic Red.  (When you click through, you may land on the pink one’s bio page – simply click red’s picture to access the right page.)

Product Features

Color: Black Chrome
  • Features 24-hour programmability and programmable automatic shutoff 0 to 4 hours plus a 1- to 4-Cup feature
  • Brew pause feature lets you enjoy a cup of coffee before brewing has finished
  • 12-Cup glass carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless pour spout and knuckle guard for easy pouring
  • Includes: Charcoal water filter and permanent gold tone filter, measuring scoop and instruction book
  • Measures 14-1/4 by 8 by 10-3/4 inches; 3-Year limited warranty

Product Description

Cuisinart continues to outshine the competition! The lustrous finish and elegant contemporary lines of the Black Chrome Series make this coffeemaker a standout. It’s a unique and elegant way to dress up even the most sophisticated kitchens. Easy to use dials allow you to choose 24-hour advance brew start, cup settings and auto-shutoff. Brew pause feature lets you remove the carafe during the brew cycle and pour a cup without drips and spills. Maximum coffee flavor with maximum effort, the latest technology makes coffee quick and easy.

These beauties are available in metallic red, metallic pink, matte black metal, black chrome, and black/brushed metal. They’re each gorgeous and, with Cuisinart on the front, you know they’re exceptionally well  made.

More Metallic Red from Cuisinart

Milk Frother with Stand and Stainless Steel Milk Frothing Pitcher

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Milk Frother with Stand

Fellow foodies and kitchen gadget junkies, I’ve given you tons of recommendations on this humble little food blog. I’ve recommended great cookbooks, delicious food, and kitchen gadgets, appliances, and cooking tools you have to see to believe.  But today… today I present to you two kitchen essentials you must order today. The sooner you have them in your possession, the brighter your world will be  Why haven’t I told you about these world-altering, life-changing essentials before?  I only just got my hands on them myself!

My wonderful husband recently ordered me the two lovelies you see here:  The Aerolatte Deluxe Edition Milk Frother with Stand, Stainless Steel is shown, in all its glory, above. The cutie below is the New 20 oz Espresso Coffee Milk Frothing Pitcher, Stainless Steel.

Allow me to tell you why you need these babies: You can, in the safety and comfort of your own home recreate the pricey, exotic, fancy pants drinks you love in coffeehouses and restaurants. It’s cheaper, funner, and potentially healthier to make these lattes, milkshakes, fraps, and hot chocolates at home. Heck you can even do it in your pajamas if you want to. Been there, done that.

Milk Frother and Stainless Steel Espresso Pitcher

Thus far, I’ve made:

  • Chai Tea Lattes – By making up a mug of chai tea and frothing a little milk. I’ve also used whipping cream in place of the milk.  Using 2 percent milk is just as delicious – but, admittedly, I add a packet of Truvia. What can I say, I have a mouthful of teeth and they’re all sweet. Sometimes I finish off the top with a dusting of cinnamon.
  • Hot Chocolate to die for – Forget the marshmallows! Topping off hot chocolate with frothed milk and a sprinkling of cocoa (or drizzle of caramel and sprinkling of sea salt) will make your eyes roll all the way into the back of your head.
  • Coffee with Frothed Milk – Seriously delicious and, again, using 2 percent saves calories.
  • Earl Grey Tea and Lady Grey tea with frothed milk is a REAL treat.

The Frother and Stand Product Features:

  • For steam-free espresso and other milk drinks; comes with storage stand
  • Includes 18/8 stainless-steel whisk, powered by 2 installed AA batteries
  • Frother produces foam in 15-20 seconds for hot or cold milk; circular, chrome stand grips frother for easy access and security
  • To clean, operate the frother in hot, soapy water and rinse; do not immerse the frother body in water or use in the dishwasher
  • The frother measures 8-3/4 inches long; Aerolatte offers a 5-year guarantee for defective parts or workmanship

I LOVE that the Frother comes with its own stand. You don’t have to worry about finding a place for it in your gadgets drawer or a spot for it in your utensils holder. You’ll always know exactly where it is – standing near your coffee pot looking fabulous.  Click HERE for more information about the Frother and stand.

Stainless Steel Espresso Coffee Milk Frothing Pitcher

Espresso Coffee Milk Frothing Pitcher Product Details:

  • A must have for any coffee enthusiast
  • Corrosion resistant 18/8 gauge stainless steel
  • Seamless design with pour spout
  • Dishwasher safe

Click HERE for more information about the Espresso Stainless Steel Pitcher.  I absolutely love mine.

Trust me, you just saw the next two kitchen gadgets (make that essentials) you should buy.  As in NOW!

Star Wars Fans on Your Gift List?

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Star Wars Breakfast Beverages Set
Star Wars fans are a fanatical group. They’re like Trekkies in that regard – once you get them talking about the movies, they’ll keep it up for hours. Sometimes days. Think Geek has something all Star Wars fans (and coffee fan for that matter) will LOVE: The Star Wars Breakfast Beverages Set.  These adorable beverages make a fun and delicious gift idea.

From the Website:

We scoured the galaxy far, far away for the beverages that get humans, aliens, and droids alike buzzing with energy. Here’s what we found:

Vader’s Dark Side Roast Coffee is commonly enjoyed by Dark Lords of the Sith while planning new Death Star construction, but is also enjoyed in the break room by your common stormtrooper. This hand roasted coffee is a true taste of the Dark Side. A blend of three diverse coffees and two different roasts creates a full-bodied, sharp, cup with spicy undertones and smoky, dark-roasted complexity. Give into your anger and sample a steaming cup and you will be rewarded with power beyond your imagination.

Dagobah Green Tea is the drink of choice of Jedi Masters. Just because a planet is devoid of civilization doesn’t mean it’s not civilized. Deep in the jungles of Dagobah grow the most delicious green tea leaves in the galaxy. If you need a moment alone to ponder the Force, do it while sipping a hot cup of Yoda’s favorite tea.

Finally, Hoth Cocoa is guaranteed to warm you all the way to your bones. It’s the preferred beverage of the Rebels of Echo Base. All you need are warm hand-knitted socks. When life gives you snow, melt it into water and use it to make a steaming cup of rich, creamy Hoth Cocoa.

Choose your breakfast beverage wisely. The fate of the galaxy depends on you.

Gift Ideas for Star Wars Fans