Vegetarian Means Vegan, Right?

Actually vegetarians tend to differ from what Vegans consider themselves to be. The exact reasons for why, evade me at the moment.

I eat plenty of vegetables but also enjoy eggs so I think this means I may be a vegetarian but I am not a vegan because eggs are not on their menu. I need to watch my calories and weight.

Veganism, if I may, seems to be more like a religion than just a healthy eating regime. I think the term is applied to not only eggs but even to wearing things that may have once been alive, like leather.

I have no feelings on this one way or another and think our life choices are just that, our life choices.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Gourmet Coffee Requires A Gourmet Coffee Maker

By Jason Findleson

The coffee connoisseurs out there know the importance of quality coffee beans. They also know that no matter the quality of your beans, the final result will be largely determined by the quality of your coffee maker. But what makes a gourmet coffee maker better than standard coffee makers. Does a good cup of coffee really have to cost so much? These are the questions many coffee drinkers need answered.

Many Makers To Choose From

Coffee has been made countless ways and in countless places around the world. But for most people, it is the standard drip coffee machine that is most common. This machine has a basket in which you put a coffee filter and ground coffee. The machine then drips hot water over the grounds and fills the coffee pot below.

However, many aficionados claim that the standard coffee maker makes an inferior cup of coffee compared to gourmet coffee makers. Why is this? Two things. The filter itself distorts the taste of the coffee and so does the plastic housing used in most of these coffee makers. Plastic absorbs the flavor of past coffee and taints each new batch you make.

Luckily the French Press offers an affordable solution to these problems. A cleverly designed gourmet coffee maker, the French Press is made of glass and stainless steel. You simply add your ground coffee and hot water to it and wait a little while. When you coffee has had sufficient time to brew then you slowly press down the plunger. The metal strainer traps the coffee grounds on the bottom and leaves coffee at the top. Many people believe the French Press is the ultimate gourmet coffee maker.

Another option is the vacuum coffee pot. These machines use a vacuum process to make the coffee. One advantage this method has over the French Press is that less sediment is left in the coffee. The vacuum coffee pot considerably more expensive but is an excellent choice for those who like well filtered coffee without the use of a filter.

Many believe the espresso machine is the ultimate gourmet coffee maker. These machines work much like a traditional coffee maker except they don't require the use of a filter. This is accomplished by compressing the coffee grounds and then moving hot water through the grounds at high pressure. These machines have different pressure settings, which affect the final taste.

Ultimately it is your taste that determines which maker is right for you. Luckily there are many option to choose from and a gourmet coffee maker can be found for any budget.

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