LaTaza Coffee House

With coffee as the No.2 most popular commodity in the world, there is little wonder why coffee connoisseurs are looking for an espresso shot a little different to the norm. But how different are you prepared to go?

In the Indonesian Archipelago, the three small islands of Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java began production of a bizarre coffee bean known as Kopi Luwak, which has infiltrated the coffee markets as the most exclusive coffee in the world.

What makes this coffee so unique? Its all about where this coffee comes from. Not only is coffee revered by humans, but also by a small marsupial in Indonesia known as the Palm Civet. This cat-sized coffee aficionado dwells in trees and eats coffee cherries as part of its diet. The Palm Civet swallows the fruit whole, without peeling or seeding. When the time is ripe, the cat poops out the non-digested, semi-fermented coffee beans…ready for the coffee companies to collect and process for us humans. Yes, this coffee bean comes from cat poo!

Kopi is the Indonesian word for coffee and luwak is the local name for the coffee consuming Palm Civet. Historically, the Kopi Luwak coffee was a source of free coffee for impoverished locals, who would collect the beans across the Indonesian mountain side. Through the advent of international trade and thriving coffee markets, Kopi Luwak coffee has not turned into the most expensive beverage in the world. This coffee can sell for upwards of $55 for 100 grams. The annual production of Kopi Luwak is estimated to be only 600 pounds, adding to its exclusivity. Many specialty retailers around the world now stock this coffee, but Japan still maintains the highest import of this bean.

So what does it taste like? Consumers describe the flavor as rich and complex, somewhat like a dark espresso. The flavor is attributed to the fermentation process that takes place in the Civet’s digestive tract.

While you won’t find this coffee at your local coffee store, we did find Kopi Luwak coffee online at Amazon: Kopi Luwak 100% Pure Wild & Organic

Both the Keurig and the Tassimo coffee makers have received excellent reviews and are amongst the top rated coffee makers on the market. So now that you have narrowed down your search for an economically priced home coffee machine, which do you go for? Here’s our review of these two brands.

Keurig Coffee Machine

Keurig produces more than eight models of coffee makers. However, the basic of these is sufficient and will do just as good a job as the more expensive coffee machines. The basic model, KG1 brewing system, can be purchased for around $79.

The higher end coffee maker in the Keurig line up offers slightly higher speed of extraction and larger water containers. For home use, this is  not essential unless you are a coffee addict and drink many cups per day. The more expensive Keurig’s also have slightly stronger components, and  are more robust. The higher priced Keurig’s, such as the Cuisinart Brewing System, are priced around $199.

Keurig KG1 Single Serve Powered by Keurig Brewing Technology

Keurig B60 Special Edition Brewing System

Mr. Coffee Single Serve Powered by Keurig Brewing Technology

The Keurig coffee maker uses K-Cups, which give an individual shot of coffee in each cup. Given the pre-set volume of coffee in each K-Cup, this limit’s the intensity of coffee in each cup. If you prefer a strong brew, you may need to use two K-Cups. You can even buy empty K-Cups and fill these with your own coffee or tea if you prefer your own coffee roast.

Tassimo Coffee Machine

The tassimo coffee maker is produced by both Bosch and Braun. These are slightly more expensive compared to the Keurig.

The main difference between the Tassimo and Keurig is the speed. The tassimo produces a cup of coffee in less than a minute, while the Keurig takes several seconds longer (no big deal in the scheme of things). The Tassimo pods are also available with various Starbucks coffee flavors. Whilst both Keurig and Tassimo offer a wide variety of coffee brands, such as Caribou, Gloria Jeans, Van Houtte and even Starbucks…Keurig’s Starbucks range is currently limited to only a couple flavors.

A disadvantage to machines using K-Cups or Pods is the amount of waste that comes with disposing the plastic cups (after each use). Overall, you won’t go wrong with either of these great brands of coffee maker. Their convenience as a home coffee machine has made them a popular consumer choice.

Bosch TAS4513UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Glamour Red

TASSIMO Single Serve Coffeemaker, T45