How to Clean Commercial Coffee Brewers

Commercial coffee makers run from pod brewers, grind and brew, to airpot and shuttle brewers. Each group has to be cleaned a certain way both daily and weekly or bi-weekly depending on its use. All cleaning should be done with the hottest water possible, which brings a word of caution for possible burns and a note this job should be done by professionals.

A prime example of this is the pod brewer. If a pod brewer is used more than twice a day, then it needs to be descaled once every three months. Regular descaling of not only the pod brewer but all commercial brewers will prolong the life of a brewer; it will also guarantee optimal brewing results for a long time.

Step one to clean a pod brewer: Fill one-fourth of the water reservoir with white vinegar, then fill with clean tap water up to the maximum line.

Step 2: Place a 32 ounce container on the cup grate to catch the vinegar/water cleaning solution.

Step 3: Activate the manual prime feature. Press and hold down the Brew button until about 9 ounces have been dispensed from the brewer.

Step 4: Repeat this set two more times, making sure there is enough solution in the reservoir each time.

Step 5: The unit will then heat up normally and the brew button will turn green, indicating that the water has reached brew temperature. One minute later the button will turn yellow. Step 6: Wait ten minutes, this allows the solution to sit in the tank at brew temperature.

Step 7: Refill the water reservoir with cool, clean, tap water to the maximum line.

Step 8: Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 using the water that you add in step 7, to purge the cleaning solution from the system.

Step 9: Refill the water reservoir to the maximum indicator line and the unit will be ready to brew coffee or tea.

Grind and Brew coffee systems require daily cleaning of the cabinet and the warmers. The outside of the machine can be cleaned with a damp cloth, a household dusting spray or a stainless steel cleaner depending on the exterior of your grind and brew system. Do not ever use any abrasive as it will mar the finish. The warmer plate will maintain its appearance if cleaned regularly with a damp cloth for coffee stains. A detergent or sanitizer may be used for heavy deposits. For weekly cleaning, the slide valve under the cabinet hood should be wiped off with a clean dry cloth. Using finger tab open the slide valve with wipe the ground coffee from the inside of the spout, seal and slide valve. Use commercial grade urn cleaner as directed by manufacturer to clean the brew basket, airpots and decanters.

Commercial brewers that brew into a decanter or airpot should wash the brew funnel, decanter or decanters by hand. Never use a dishwasher as it may cause breakage of the decanter or brew funnel. Clean all plastic and stainless steel surfaces whenever necessary with a damp cloth and mild soap. Rinse the items thoroughly and wipe dry. Be sure to avoid any strong cleaners which my adversely affect the plastic parts. Remove stains on stainless steel parts with a Scotchbrite pad. Never use steel wool as it will mar the finish. Remove the sprayhead with a nut or the sprayhead itself once a week to prevent lime build-up and clogging of the holes in the sprayhead. If the sprayhead has extra build-up, use a soft brush like a soft toothbrush to clean if needed.

Shuttle brewers need to be cleaned weekly or bi-weekly depending on their use. To clean, fill the shuttle with a gallon of hot water. Pour the recommended concentration of urn cleaner into the shuttle liners. Do not overload as this will attack the stainless steel. DIP-IT and Oxylite are most recommended. Scrub the liner interior with a plastic bristle brush. Remove the knurled nut at the top of the gauge glass and clean the glass with a small bottle brush. Pour out the contents of the shuttle. Remove the handle assembly of the shuttle faucet by unscrewing the plastic bonnet. Gently wash the faucet shank with a bottle brush. Clean the warmer and bottom of the shuttle surfaces. These surfaces must be clean for proper heat transfer. Polish the exterior of the brewer with a stainless steel cleaner. Use the appropriate cleaner for brass, copper or vinyl if the optional finishes are present on your commercial brewer.

CoffeeMakersShop.com offers a wide variety of quality coffee making products, grinders and espresso machines from Farberware, Hamilton Beach, Mr. Coffee, Nesco, Rancilio, Saeco and Toastess for the home and Grindmaster-Cecilware and Bunn for commercial use. We also offer tea kettles, warmers, airpots and LavAzza coffee. Let us know how we can serve you better.

Steps to Buying Coffee Online

Shopping from the comfort of your own home is something that thousands of consumers prefer to do these days. There are a few reasons why buying coffee online has become so popular. First off, it is really easy to do. There is not rigorous process involved at all. Secondly, buying coffee online is usually less expensive. If you know when and where to look there is an above average chance that you will get the price that you are looking for. Lastly, the coffee will get delivered right to your front door. You never have to worry about going to various different grocery stores in an effort to find the type of coffee that you are after.

The first step to buying coffee online is locating a website that has a good selection and that you can trust. These websites are typically the large websites that are the industry leaders in the world of coffee. In short, the best way to find a website that you can trust is to locate it by executing a simple search online. Once you have located such a site it is time to begin looking at their inventory. You should have a pretty decent idea of what you are looking for before you begin to look at the website. Once you are there start browsing around and checking out the different flavors that they have that you may enjoy.

After locating a few different types of coffee that you want to buy it is a good idea to do a little comparison shopping. What this means is that you will simply look around on other websites to see what they are charging for the coffees that you are interested in. There is a good chance that you will find the same exact product on a different website for less money. If this happens, and you feel comfortable with the website that has the lower price, you can make the purchase for cheaper. However, if you feel that the website with the lower prices is not a reputable company it is always a good idea to pay a little bit more so that you have peace of mind.

The last thing that you need to do when buying coffee online is enter your payment information and your shipping address. Make sure the website takes the type of credit card that you have. In most cases the only way to pay online is with an accepted card.

Find coffee products online to save a lot of money.

Do I Really Need A Grinder?

Most, if not all, individuals who are upgrading their coffee habits from the instant coffee packs, K-cups and other canned coffee products will discover that there are, indeed, plenty of questions related to coffee culture. One of the most common queries pertains to the need for a grinder.

Obviously, a coffee grinder grounds whole beans into smaller particles that can then be used for brewing the cup. The market is full of all types of grinders from manual to automatic and conical, blade and burr kinds. It can be difficult to choose which one is the best but we shall discuss it later on.

The question remains: Do you need a coffee grinder? The short and simple answer is a definite "yes" for many reasons.

For one thing, the manner in which the coffee beans are ground makes a world of difference in the flavour, aroma and robustness of the brew itself. It must be noted that the chemical changes necessary to bring out the full flavours of coffee largely happens during the grinding process.

For another thing, each type of coffee requires different consistencies. Too coarse or too fine ground coffee beans and you can end up with something you don't want in the coffee. Keep in mind that drip coffee makers require medium to coarse particles while espresso machines need very fine ground beans, almost like a powder. If you somehow mix up the two grinding consistencies, not only will you end up with an inferior cup of coffee but your machine can be damaged, too.

So, if you want to experience a whole different world in coffee from the oft-stale pre-ground coffee beans, go for a coffee grinder. It will be a worthy investment with each delicious cup making a sensual dance on your palate and then warming your veins each morning.

However, just because you have a coffee grinder in your home means that you can be trigger-happy with it either. Coffee experts recommend grinding the coffee beans in the required amounts for each fresh brew to enjoy the freshest flavour. Storing the grind coffee beans even in an airtight container will make it lose majority of its desirable flavour, aroma and body. You might as well throw the grind beans away, thus, wasting both good coffee and money.

Now for the matter of choosing the right type of coffee grinder, we suggest looking at the following factors.

Amount and type of coffee brewed in a day - A burr grinder is best for several espresso shots daily while a blade grinder is suitable for automatic drip coffee makers.

Time Spent on Grinding - You may want to consider a grinder when multi-tasking is the order of your mornings. Just keep in mind that you may have to experiment with the consistency of the ground coffee beans.

Ease of Cleaning - Blade grinders usually requires wiping with a damp paper towel to clean while a burr grinder may require more care like compressed air and disassembly.

In the end, the decision to purchase a coffee grinder is yours to make. But if you are a coffee lover who seeks long-term value from a kitchen appliance, then a coffee grinder must be in your near future.

Jason Hart's Mobile Coffee Cart Melbourne is a mobile coffee cart that is available for your next function or event in Melbourne. Contact Coffee Cart Hire Melbourne

The Secret of Green Tea

Green tea is believed to have many healing properties. It is made of the same Camellia Sinensis plant that all other variants of tea are made of. The stems, leaves and twigs are dried out under the sun and when ready, are brought under varying levels of oxidization processes to achieve the desired properties, including aroma and flavors. When it has undergone only a little oxidization, green tea is produced. This type of tea is very popular in many countries because of its alleged magical properties. Tea tree is a common ingredient that is used as a base in many medications to combat skin bacteria and fungi. Acne, dandruff and skin irritations are some of the ailments that it can heal.

You can only imagine how powerful this stuff actually is when you ingest it. They say that this type of tea has the power to transform from within and if you are ready to change your life, then read on. If you are stuck in a rut, feeling depressed, lifeless and overweight, chances are you have been putting too many toxins in your body. It is a simple formula. What we are is what we eat. If you have been overindulging on greasy fatty foods, taking in alcohol like there is no tomorrow and smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, your body may be trying to tell you something.

We are made as part of the beautiful creation of the universe. We are as special and as lovely as the trees, the grass, the flowers and all the animals in it. Do you ever see any of these creatures eat anything that is not natural? Synthetic food with all the coloring, flavoring, and chemicals are bad for you. This is what blocks your arteries and makes your blood vessels narrower. This is what keeps the heart in such bad shape and your cholesterol levels high. Sure they may taste good but that is only because you've been programmed to believe that.

The reality is, nothing can beat the taste of the pure and natural. Try to transform your life today with a cup of green tea. Have one for breakfast in place of your regular hotcakes with syrup and fried runny eggs. Appreciate the beauty around you and the flow of nature. It is trying to tell you something. Treat your body right and you will feel younger and better than ever. The secret is out.

Uncover more secrets about green tea at yestea.co.uk

How the K-Cups and T-Discs Work

Single cup coffee has been the latest revolution within the brewing industry. The ability to make a single cup tailored directly to one's own individual tastes has completely changed how people brew their coffee at home and at the office. They are no longer subject to the whims and tastes of the first person into work each morning. (On a personal note, it was always frustrating for me to arrive to work and find hazelnut on the pot. I have nothing against the flavor, but it is not one of my favorites. Anyhow, I digress...) The speed, efficiency, and taste targeting offered by the single cup brewers - most popular brands being Keurig and Tassimo - are a breath of fresh air to an industry that already has gained acceptance as the world's second most consumed drink after water. But how does the single cup brewer work?

Even if you have never used a single cup brewer, you are probably familiar with the K (Keurig)-Cup, having seen them at a department or grocery store - or at office coffee supply areas. It is little more than a small cylinder cup-like apparatus about the size of a golf ball. The inside of this cup is more conical with a paper filter surrounding the coffee pod. Pressurized hot water is forced through a pin hole in the top and drains out the bottom similar to the process of a standard coffee brewer. Depending on what style of Keurig brewer is purchased, the brewer itself is first filled with the amount of water desired. The K-cup is next placed into a tray with dual needles that puncture the apparatus on the top and bottom to allow for water flow. The user then needs only to close the device, put his or her favorite coffee mug underneath the nozzle, and then press the on button. Within sixty seconds or so, they will have a perfect hot cup of coffee ready for consumption.

The T-disc is the counterpart for the Tassimo system. It operates under a similar concept to the K-cup, but throws in some twenty-first century technology into the process. The t-disc includes a barcode that can be read by the brewer that tells the brewer the portion, brewing time, and best temperature for the beverage being produced. Because of this barcode "intelligent" brewer system, the Tassimo brewer does not used pressurized water. Some users believe that this leads to a higher quality beverage, but that is obviously at the eye of the holder.

While both brewers have each gained a foothold and produce wonderful coffees (and other beverages) in a more efficient and timely manner than anyone could have expected just a few years ago, the one negative to the whole process is a lack of interconnectivity. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a VHS/Betamax battle ongoing in this market, with neither system's coffee pods capable of interacting with the other. This means that users who enjoy both brands would have to buy a brewer from each company. While versions of both brewers are available at relatively reasonable rates, needing to buy both could prove to be a bit expensive.

By Felix Chesterfield III
For a list of Keurig & Tassimo products, such as Tassimo T-Discs, please contact the author. There is also a wide variety of coffee products and accessories available at Amazon.

How To Save Cash On Coffee During Current Economic Times

We all agree that the recession has affected our spending habits, which can be either positive or negative depending on your perspective of the matter. Let's just say that we have scaled down on our needs and often completely forego on the luxuries we would have thought nothing of indulging in before the Great Recession began. Our foremost priority is to build on our savings accounts one dollar at a time because the rainy days are still up ahead.

But there are a few things that we cannot give up. Coffee is on top of the list for the obvious reason that it perks up our bodies and minds to face the joys and challenges of the day ahead. So, if there are indulgences we cannot let go of, then coffee is it!

You don't have to feel guilty about your coffee indulgence, fortunately. There are many ways to enjoy your cup of preferred java on a daily basis and yet avoid overspending on your habit.

Obviously, your first step is to stop buying brewed coffee and other prepared espresso beverages from cafes! Let's do the math here. If you are buying two venti mochas a day for $4.50 each order, this will translate to $63 a week or more than $3,000 a year just for takeout coffee!

The amount does not even include the money spent on petrol to drive to and from the cafe as well as the lost productivity time lining up to get your order. Just imagine your savings if you can stop indulging in these beverages.

So, what do we suggest you do to continue indulging in your favourite cup of coffee sans the dependence on the cafes? Go for a coffee maker coupled with your choice of beans, be it for espresso, Indonesian blend or Cuban variety, among others.

You will then be able to make your own coffee right in the comfort of your own home at any time you desire. No gas expenses, no crowds and certainly no pricey blends! Keep in mind that the coffee and its various permutations you buy from a cafe can be made at home with none of the added dollars necessary to make a profit.

Well, of course, you must experiment with the machine and the blend before you can equal the quality of the cafe-bought beverage. The good news is that you may take just a couple of experimentation when you have a high quality, super-automatic machine. Even a semi-automatic coffee maker is a great tool for making excellent espresso.

We suggest the Gaggia coffee maker because of its excellent features. Just place the coffee beans in the appropriate slot and the coffee machine will do everything necessary to make the perfect espresso. It's as hands-off as you can possibly get and still enjoy your health drink. Yes, coffee has many health benefits including boosting cognitive functioning, lessening the risks for chronic degenerative diseases and even fighting dental caries.

You can also save on the costs of coffee machines by looking for package deals and bargain sales on these kitchen appliances. You will be surprised at the amount of money that will be in your bank by cutting corners on your coffee habit without necessarily giving up on the delicious flavours that the brown liquid can bring.

Jason Hart's Mobile Coffee Melbourne is a mobile coffee cart that is available for your next function or event in Melbourne. Contact Coffee Cart Hire Melbourne

Burr Coffee Grinders - The 1st Step To Perfect Coffee

So why is a Burr coffee grinder so much better at producing the perfect grind of your beans? Well, first it is important to know how a Burr coffee grinder works in comparison to the less superior (and cheaper) blade coffee grinders.

First, blade grinders has a blade that spins around much like a regular blender. The blades slice and chop the beans for however long the grinder is switched on, and it is up to the operator to decide how long to leave it running. This can result in easily over-grinding the coffee beans to the extent that you could even damage your coffee machine.

A Burr coffee grinder works by gripping and crushing the coffee beans between an outer and inner cone. The cone of the Burr coffee grinder rotates, while it's outer cone remains stationary. The cones are made of a hard material and are often ribbed to help grip the coffee beans. By using this method, the Burr coffee machine is able to control very accurately the fineness of the coffee bean grind since it depends on the distance between the cones and not on the time that the coffee grinder is doing the actual grinding.

Overall, this type of machine will provide a much more even grind throughout the beans than that of a blade grinder.

So by being able to control the grind you can easily produce course grinds that are suitable for coffee percolators, medium grinds that are suitable for coffee plungers, fine grinds that are needed for espresso coffee machines and extra fine grinds that are required for the making of Turkish coffee.

So, now onto what people consider to be the biggest drawback to owning one of these grinders - The price.

What draws so many people into buying the cheaper blade grinder option is that it is difficult to spend more than $30 if you want to own a new one.

A Burr grinder on the other hand starts at about $20 for a budget model and goes right up to well over $2000 for a top of the range model made by Mazzer.

However, it is also important to remember that many these more expensive machines include accessories like bean hoppers, grind catchers and some even come with the espresso machine built in!

However as long as you remember the following basic Burr coffee grinding advantages:
A more consistent grade of coffee grind.Far more quiet that a blade grinder when operating.The Burr cones inside the grinder will usually be far longer lasting than the blades in a blade grinder.You can usually dispense your coffee grinds directly into a coffee machine resulting in less waste.

You will know that you will have made the right choice in buying a Burr coffee grinder.

So make sure you do plenty of research before buying your Burr coffee grinder here. Also make sure you are fully aware of the main differences between Burr and blade coffee grinders.