Saturday, November 30, 2013

Coffee Maker under $50

On average a cup of coffee in Starbucks would cost $2.00 and if we do the math of 5 days a week and 22 days in a month, it would cost $110 in a month just for the coffee takeout at Starbucks.

Actually home brew coffee is just as good and to make home brew coffee is pretty easy with the many choices of coffee maker in the market. Most coffee maker is programmable and it can brew up to 12 cups of coffee at any one time. There is a number of coffee maker which can be bought at less than $50. Its great for the budget and it does save a lot of money in the long term for coffee drinkers.

Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Chrome


  • Water filtration remove up to 97% of the chlorine from the water and improves the taste of your coffee
  • Delay Brew sets brewing time in advance
  • Delay Brew sets brewing time in advance
  • Fresh Brew™ Timer tracks coffee freshness from time it's brewed
  • Brew Strength Selector to choose regular or more robust flavor
  • Pause 'N Serve allows you to pour a cup during brewing cycle
  • 2-Hour Auto Shut-Off automatically shuts off Coffeemaker
  • Special cleaning cycle to maintain best coffee flavor
  • Removable Filter Basket lifts out for fast and easy filling and cleaning

Hamilton Beach Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, Red

     

     
       
  • Compact stainless steel design fits your space and your style
  • Choose from regular, bold and 1-4 cup brew options
  • Easy-pour carafe
  • Programmable clock / timer
  • 2 hour auto shutoff
  • Auto pause & serve
  • Nonstick warmer plate
  • Easy to use and clean
  • Large clock display
  • Stainless steel accents

DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, Black




  • Make two espressos simultaneously with the convenient 2-cup adapter.
  • Safe operation with patented steam-pressurized safety cap and heat resistant 8.5-oz glass carafe.
  • Easily prepares latte and cappuccino with the swivel jet frother, for perfect drinks every time.
  • Easy to clean with large removable drip tray 
  • Easy operation with on/off switch and indicator light.

Mr. Coffee ECM160 4-Cup Steam Espresso Machine, Black

  • Steam system brews up to 20 ounces of delicious espresso coffee
  • Powerful milk frother for creamy cappuccinos and lattes
  • Glass decanter with serving measures, stay-cool handle and drip-free spout
  • Removable drip tray

Bodum Chambord Coffee Press



  • 8-cup, 34-ounce French Press serves 2-3 people; Coffee is measured in 4-ounce cups; All parts are dishwasher-safe
  • Carafe is made of durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass; Stainless steel frame and heat resistant handle
  • 3-part stainless steel mesh filter helps extract your coffee's aromatic oils and subtle flavors
  • Pressed coffee extracts the perfect amount of essentials oils and acids from the bean for maximum flavor from your coffee
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging.
STANSPORT French Coffee Press / 278 /


800ML capacity for gormet coffee anywhere. Just add grounds and hot water, steep, press and pour. Extra strong tritan carafe. BPA Free.












Café Valet Black/Silver Single Serve Coffee Brewer Starter Kit/Combo, Includes 18 Count Variety Pack of Exclusive Café Valet Coffee



  • Works exclusively with Café Valet disposable brew basket and coffee filter packets (packets sold separately) which means it is easy to use and no mess, no waste or glass to clean
  • Single serve coffee system affordably brews a great and consistent 10 ounce cup of coffee in minutes
  • Automatic shut off with no hot plate for added safety and UL commercial approved
  • Brews directly into your favorite cup or mug with the magical coffee aroma that you’ve come to expect
  • Small footprint makes the Café Valet "Signature" Single Serve Coffee System perfect anywhere you enjoy coffee whether in the home, office, apartment, dorm room


Making cuppa coffee and tea is never as easy as this!

Picking the right coffee machine for your home is one of the most important decision because you will be enjoying coffee or tea on a daily basis. There is like so much choice in the market that any buyer would feel confused on which they should choose. 


Fully automatic or semi automatic:which should you choose?

This would influence your end result ie the type of coffee that comes out from the machine that meet your long term satisfaction. 

Semi automatic or manual coffee machine gives you the control over the end result but it would take a bit of a practice before the cuppa can become like the one served at your local cafe.If you are a coffee connoisseur who prefer espresso or  fine coffee, you should really choose a manual coffee machine because it will give you a better satisfaction.

Automatic coffee machine assist you with its programmable brewing and saves you the time to supervise the brewing, but you are going to have less control over the end result.

Type of Coffee Machine to choose.


Drip Coffee Maker


Can be found in almost all homes because ease of use and inexpensive. Coffee can be brewed within short span of time and its start brewing with a touch of a button.




Benefits include:
  • Can brew anywhere from one to 12 cups of coffee at once, making them perfect for homes with multiple coffee drinkers.
  • Simple to use, just add a coffee filter along with your favorite ground coffee, and then fill the reservoir with water. Just turn the coffeemaker on, and you'll have a hot pot of your favorite drink in just a few minutes.
  • Many models are fully automatic and programmable. This allows you to set up the machine in advance, inputing exactly when you'd like to have a hot pot of coffee available.


  Espresso Coffee Machine

This is to make the Italian espresso where the bold and concentrated coffee reign supremo. Espresso can be brewed at home too provided with the right kind of machine and with a little bit of practice, it might just have the same taste and aroma as the one in the cafe.



Benefits include:
  • Modern espresso makers are designed to use almost any type of ground coffee to make espresso, including both dark and light roasts.
  • Typically, models can make any number of espresso shots.
  • Many units come with a dual spout, allowing you to make either two separate shots at the same time, or one double shot.
  • Include adjustable shot length, to ensure you get exactly the shot of espresso you want.
  • Many models feature programmable settings, much like other home drip version


French Presses


This is not invented by the French but it was actually a simple coffee brewing device patented by the Italian in 1929. A French press requires coffee of a coarser grind than does a drip brew coffee filter, as finer grounds will seep through the press filter and into the coffee.[3] Coffee is brewed by placing it and hot water together, stirring it and leaving to brew for a few minutes, then pressing the plunger to trap the coffee grounds at the bottom of the beaker.

Benefits include:
  • Consist of a simple design, which includes a tall cylinder, usually made of glass, and then a plunger and a filter.
  • All you need to enjoy delicious coffee with your press pot is boiling water and coarsely grounded coffee.


Single Cup Maker

Single cup machines are a great way to brew a single cup of coffee without much fuss or mess. Using prepackaged coffee pods or cups, one cup units do exactly that - make a single cup of your delicious drink. A coffee pod or prepackaged cup include grounds and a miniature filter, all contained within a single package.


Benefits include:
  • Simply throw them out after using them, and that's it for clean up and maintenance.
  • Since they only make one cup of coffee at a time, they are perfect for small households where there are only one or two casual coffee drinkers.
  • Perfect for any office setting, as the wide variety of pod flavors and styles ensure that everyone in the office can make exactly the type they want.
  • They use a fast and efficient process.

Budget for the coffee machine.

Everyone have a certain amount of budget that they do not wish to exceed. Most people would look at the coffee machine that is within their budget and their spending limit. Having a coffee machine at home saves you money in the long term because coffee brewed at home cost a little as much as 10% of the price of the take out.

Source from :coffeemachineadvisor.com,air-n-water.com and Wikipedia

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Affordable Range Hood under $80 with high CFM

Although the price of Chimney Range Hood can be intimidating, there is an affordable alternative called Under Cabinet Range Hood at less than $120.00. Under cabinet range hood is actually very convenient in reducing grease stain in the kitchen after cooking plus it does not require huge space as it is under the cabinet. 

Models Broan F403004 30-Inch Two-Speed 4-Way Convertible Range Hood, Stainless SteelBroan QT230WW 30-Inch Convertible Range Hood, White on White Air King DS1308 Designer Series Under Cabinet Range Hood, 30 Inch Wide, Stainless Steel
Image
HVI Certified YesYesYes
CFM160 CFM, 6.5 Sone (3-1/4" x 10" discharge) or 190 CFM (7" round discharge) performance220 CFM, 4.5 Sones (vertical discharge)200
Filter TypeAluminiumAluminiumAluminium
Mounting TypeUnder CabinetUnder CabinetUnder Cabinet
Duct Connector Size3-1/4" x 10", 7" Round Non-Ducted3-1/4" x 10", 7" Round Non-DuctedDucting - 3-1/4" X 10" Horz/vert, 7" Round, or Ductless Performance
Product Depth (inches)17-1/2"17-1/2"18-1/2
Product Height (inches)6"6"6"
Product Width (inches)36"30"30"
Rated Amp2.51.71.5
Voltage120120120
Filter IncludedYesYesYes
Damper IncludedYesYesYes
Amazon Star Rating4/53.5/53.8/5
Price($)

Range Hood - The BTU,CFM, width and kitchen size.















After each cooking session, grease stain is one of the unpleasant remains and because cooking generate fumes and heat, a lingering stagnating odor would remain in the kitchen.The range hood function is to filter the smoke, fumes, grease, steam and carbon monoxide from the air while we are cooking. The most important thing to consider before buying the range hood is to determine the suitable size.

Sizing the Range Hood

The airflow capacity of a range hood is measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute.

The first method would be sizing the range hood to BTU.

Question No 1 : What is BTU?

Answer : BTU is actually the abbreviations for British Thermal Units.  One BTU is the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a pound (0.45kg) of water by one degree Fahrenheit(0.56 degree Celcius).

Question No 2 : How many BTU in a stove?

Answer :  Most manufacturer list their stove as BTU per hour. The higher the BTU, the hotter the stove. A home stove has, on average, about 7,000 BTUs per burner. For comparison, a candle flame puts out about 100-300 BTU/hr, backyard barbeque creates 25,000 BTU/hr.

The recommendation by the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) is to divide the BTU rating of your stove by 100 to arrive at a minimum guideline for CFM rating. If the cooking equipment is conventional then the cooktop is less than 60,000 BTU or if the equipment is high performance then the cooktop is over 60,000 BTU.For example

The BTU for each burner on the conventional stove is 7,000 BTU. There is 4 burner on the stove, total BTU would be 

7,000 x 4 = 28,000 BTU

To measure the CFM, 

28,000 BTU / 100 = 280 CFM

So this indicated your Range Hood must be at lease 280 CFM or greater.

The second method would be sizing a range hood based on the width of your range. Basically its 100 CFM per foot of cooktop width. Example: 36" wide wall application indicates a need for 300 CFM.For example if the stove sit against a wall, Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) recommended 100 CFM per linear foot of the range. For example, a 24 inch (60 cm) range would require a hood rated at 200 CFM or greater. 

24 inch (60 cm) range = 200 CFM

30 cm is considered as one(1) foot.

For island installation, more CFM is needed. For conventional cooktops use 150 CFM per foot of cooktop, and for high performance cooktops add 100 CFM to the estimate.So, a 24 inch (60 cm) range on an island needs 300 CFM of airflow.

The third method would be sizing a range hood based on kitchen size.The
HVI also recommends that your range hood should be capable of cycling the air in your kitchen completely 15 times per hour. This equates to a complete cycling of air every 4 minutes.



  • Begin by measuring the floor area of your kitchen. In a rectangular-shaped room, this can be done by multiplying the width and length. For example, a 10 ft x 10 ft kitchen has a floor area of 100 square feet.
  • Calculate the total volume of your kitchen. This is done by multiplying the floor area by the ceiling height. For example, if a kitchen has 100 square feet of floor area and a ceiling height of 8 feet, the total volume is 800 cubic feet.
  • Divide the total volume by 4 to get the required CFM rating. A kitchen with a volume of 800 cubic feet would need a range hood with a rating of (800 / 4) or 200 CFM.

  • Floor area          : 10 ft x 10 ft = 100 square ft

    Kitchen Volume   : 100 square feet x 8 feet ceiling height = 800 cubic feet

    Required CFM      : 800 cubic feet / 4 = 200 CFM

    After all the range hood size calculations based on BTU, width of range and kitchen size, choose a model with the highest CFM, even if it is more than needed. 

    For example : 

    BTU Heat Output requires 280 CFM

    Range Size requires 200 CFM

    Kitchen size requires 200 CFM

    In the above example, choose the highest CFM at 280.

    Tuesday, November 5, 2013

    Versatile food processor under $50

    What does a food processor under $50 offers in term of feature and performance? This is what we are going to check out.

    1.Hamilton Beach 70740 8-Cup Food Processor, Black



    This food processor is able to chop onions, slice salad ingredients, shred cabbage, grate cheese, mix sauces or preparing pesto. It also comes with a stainless steel chopping blade, slicing and shredding disc. This food processor have a powerful 450 Watts motor and 2 speed plus speed control. This food processor beats the manual work of chopping onion which would bring tears to anyone eye.  




    Amazon Star Rating : 4.9/5
    Currently it is retailing at $34.99 in Hamilton Beach website but Amazon is having a discount which the same model can be purchase at $29.

    •    Lid flips over for compact storage
    •    Dishwasher safe bowl, lid & blades
    •    S-Blade for chopping, mixing & pureeing
    •    Reversible slice / shred disc
    •        Large feed chute - fits a whole block of cheese to reduce pre-cutting
    2.Black & Decker FP2500B PowerPro Wide-Mouth 10-Cup Food Processor

    Just how powerful is the Power Pro Wide-Mouth Food Processor? So powerful, that Black and Decker had to design special heavy-duty suction cup feet to keep it in place while it slices, chops, shreds, grates and purees whole apples, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, blocks of cheese or any other whole foods with ease. With a fierce, 500-watt motor and tons of torque working in concert under its sleek and sturdy exterior, this is one heavy-duty piece of machinery that performs as great as it looks. Currently retailing in Black and Decker website for $69.99, however, if you were to purchase it at Amazon, there is a huge discount on the price at $39.92 with free shipping.

    Amazon star rating : 3.50/5.0

    • 10-cup capacity
    • Wide-mouth feed chute
    • Soft-touch Mylar buttons
    • 2 speed settings, plus pulse
    • Safety-interlock system
    • Heavy-duty suction-cup feet
    • Cord storage
    • Dishwasher-safe parts




    3.KRUPS GVA20840 Mini Chopper including Emulsifying Disk for Sauces and Stainless Steel Housing, Silver

    Although this is a mini chopper, it still have the feature and function of a food processor.Chop, puree, blend and emulsify solid and liquid foods with one touch with the Krups GVA20840 Mini Chopper. An emulsifying disk is included to make this a verstitle mini chopper; it can be used with liquids to make whipping cream, mayonnaise, dressings. Compact and powerful, the Krups GVA20840 Mini Chopper has 300 watts of power and a 13 ounce capacity. Twin safety start feature; the bowl has to be locked in placed and the lid completey closed to operate. Heavy non-slip motor base ensures machine stays in one place during use. Machine is easily turned on and off by pressing the lid. “Spill-proof” seal in lid ensures clean preparation

    Amazon star rating : 4.0/5.0

    Currently KRUPS GVA20840 is retailing at $49.99 at KRUPS online store and is discounted at $28.92 in Amazon.


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