Bialetti Mocha Pot

Here is another way to make one cup of coffee at a time. The Moka pot above makes more than one cup, but there are other models in smaller sizes.

Not only is a mocha pot one of the simplest and best ways to make a great cup of coffee, but this Bialetti model is also a thing of rare beauty.

Most coffee makers look plain ugly. Even the original, basic Moka pot design was somewhat drab. But this stainless steel beauty will look good anywhere…in your kitchen or on the dinner table after a meal with friends.

A mocha pot makes a coffee that is unmistakably rich, with a taste somewhere between regular drip brew coffee and espresso.

We use our Bialetti on a regular basis. We don’t use it to make straight shots of espresso. But we do use it to make espresso to which we add hot water or hot and frothy milk.

To use a mocha pot, you simply add the water to the bottom section, pour ground coffee into the metal filter, put everything back together and then heat it up on the stove.

In addition to its beautiful design and the quality of the coffee it brews, this mocha pot has a couple of other advantages that might appeal:

- No plastic parts.

- No moving parts or electronics (i.e. nothing to go wrong.)

Basically, the Bialetti Mocha Pot delivers on the promise of all good design – beauty and functionality combined.

Use it to make a coffee for yourself, or when you are entertaining and want something a little more stylish than a regular glass carafe.

Learn more and buy a Bialetti Mocha Pot here…

Aerolatte Milk Frother

If you have an espresso machine, it probably includes a steam frothing wand. In which case, you don’t need anything extra.

But if you don’t have any existing way of making a nice milk froth, the Aerolatte is a great little device. You simply heat up the milk, in a pan on the stove or in the microwave, and then use the Aerolatte to beat up a nice head of froth.

Why would you want to do this?

Well, you can give a regular coffee a very nice extra touch with hot milk and a nice froth on top.

If you use a stovetop Moka pot, you get something between a coffee and an expresso. Whenever I use my own Moka pot, I always add hot milk and end up with what I describe as a poor man’s latte. A Moka pot doesn’t make a true espresso, but it’s close.

Even if you are making a mug of hot chocolate, it would be great to top it off with a nice head of frothy milk.

This isn’t an expensive device, it’s easy to use, and it gets very good buyer reviews on sites like Amazon.

Get the Aerolatte Stainless-Steel Deluxe Edition Frother with Stand from Amazon.com…

Nespresso Essenza with Milk Frother

Why am I writing about a one cup espresso machine on a website usually focused on one cup coffee machines? Because the lines between the two are becoming seriously blurred.

For instance, the line of Tassimo brewers makes regular coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, as well as cappuccinos and lattes. It is both a coffee maker and an espresso drink maker.

I’m writing about the Nespresso in particular because of its quality. Unlike many one cup beverage makers, it doesn’t feel like it was made by a toy manufacturer. If you find the Nespresso Essenza on display in a store, get your hands on it, move the lever on top, and you’ll immediately feel just how solid the construction is.

Maybe it’s just me, but I really appreciate modern kitchen appliances that feel they will last for years, and not break within the first few weeks of use. Nice and solid.

Back to the Nespresso. As with all Nespresso machines, the Essenza uses sealed, proprietary coffee capsules. You simply lift the lever at the top of the machine, drop in the capsule, lower the lever and then press the brew button. Once you are done, the used capsule is ejected into an empties container as soon as you lift the lever again.

When you buy both the Essenza and the Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother, you’re ready to make some great lattes and cappuccinos.

Consider the Nespresso if you really enjoy good espresso and espresso drinks. And also if you appreciate good design and solid construction.

What do people think about this machine? Have a look at the buyer feedback on sites like Amazon and you’ll see that almost everyone is delighted with their purchase. In fact, I don’t think I have seen quite so much positive feedback for any other brewer or espresso machine.

This won’t be for you if your primary interest is in making regular coffees. But if you like espresso based drinks, then this is a great choice. Clean, simple and mess-free.

Find the Nespresso Essenza Automatic Single-Serve Espresso Machine with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother for a good price at Amazon.com.

Not every one cup coffee maker is either sophisticated or expensive. You can make a fabulous espresso or coffee with the AeroPress.

Here is how I used mine recently. My girlfriend and I took her daughter to Disney World for a week. Before we left, I was suspicious about the quality of coffee we might find at the hotel. I wasn’t even sure if the rooms had coffee makers. (They didn’t.)

In one of our cases I packed my custom coffee-lovers survival kit. It comprised the AeroPress with filters, plus a tin of ground coffee, and a small electric kettle. The sugar and milk I pocketed from the Disney cafeteria. (Sorry about that.)

Each morning I would boil the kettle and add enough ground coffee to the AeroPress for a double espresso. I would then divide the finished espresso between two coffee mugs and then fill to the top of the mug with hot water. When you do that, it’s called an Americano. Then cream and sugar to taste.

After depending on it for a week, I can tell you that the AeroPress does a great job. Really good coffee. And lifesaver when you are traveling.

Watch the video to find out how it works.

You can buy the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker at Amazon

Handpresso 16-Bar Hand-Pump Espresso Machine

It’s a bicycle pump. Close, but not quite. It’s a very small, hand-powered espresso machine.

You can pack it in your saddle bag when you’re out cycling, or when you’re hiking, or kayaking. Or even when you’re traveling on business.

The thing with making espresso is that it requires pressure. Regular coffee is made by dripping water through coffee grinds. Espresso is made my pushing water, under pressure, through a finer grind of coffee.

With most espresso machines the pressure is provided by an electrical pump. Hence the thump-thump sound you hear when the machine is running. There are other hand-powered espresso machines, but none of them are anywhere near as portable as the Handpresso.

Here is what you need to make a great espresso while sitting on the top of a mountain.

First, you need to have packed your Handpresso machine.

Also, you’ll need either a thermos-style insulated bottle filled with hot water, or you can heat your water with your camping stove. (Or use a kettle in a hotel bedroom.)

Finally, you need an ESE espresso coffee pod. These are like single-serve coffee pods, but are specially designed for making espresso.

To make your shot of espresso, add the water, put the ESE pod in place and then pump the handle until the needle settles in the green area. Then hold the Handpresso over your cup and press one button.

Instant espresso.

If this sounds like second best, think again. The quality of the espresso made by this machine is excellent. Once you have your espresso you can enjoy it as it is, or add hot milk, or add hot water to make an Americano.

And yes, it would be pretty cool to be able to make yourself a great espresso when you’re miles away from anywhere.

You can buy the Handpresso 16-Bar Hand-Pump Espresso Machine at Amazon for $98.95.