Cappuccino Machine at Java Junky

Cappuccino Catastrophe? Cutting Back Needn't Mean Cutting Out

In these hard times many of us need to find ways to economise, and the obvious targets are the little luxuries we can really do without – like those regular trips to Costa for a cappuccino treat. Sure it's nice to get out and indulge yourself, but the prices are high, and do you really get value for money?

Even if you are forced to cut back on this kind of luxury, you don't have to miss out completely. For next to nothing, you can treat yourself at home to a refreshing cappuccino-style drink that's actually a lot tastier than you might expect.

Here's the recipe:

- In your kettle, boil enough water to fill amug

- Put a spoonful of good quality instant coffee into a mug

- Add about an inch of milk (c. 1.5cm), and sugar if required

- Microwave for about 40 seconds on full power, until the mixture starts to boil

- Remove from the microwave and whisk until it froths

- Top up with boiling water

Go and try it for yourself, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the authentic, creamy frothiness and the refreshing coffee tang. It's just the thing at the end of a hard days work – or a hard afternoon's shopping. It's also a great way to end a dinner party with friends, especially if you round it of with a couple of after-dinner mints.

And with the money you save, you may soon be able to splash out on a proper cappuccino machine for that freshly ground, straight-from-the-bean taste.

Cleaning espresso/cappuccino machine?
I recently got an espresso/cappuccino maker. The frothing arm has a plastic part (frothing aid) that does over the metal arm. The plastic attachment is easy enough to clean, but it takes a bit of labor to clean off the caramelized milk on the metal arm. Do you usually clean that metal arm after every cup? After every day? Every week? I've been cleaning it after I was done with it every time, but that changes making a cappuccino into a 15 minute ordeal vs. maybe 5 minutes. What do you guys do? :)

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How to use my espresso machine...?
Ok, so here's the deal. I have an espresso machine, it used to be my mom's and she gave it to me just recently. It's several years old and hasn't been used in a while, which I don't think really matters as long as it's clean. I ran some water through it to clean it out... but now I don't honestly know HOW to use it. lol. I would put my coffee in it but I'm worried if I do it wrong I'll just waste coffee. PLUS I see people making a big deal out of the pods, which is actually what I THINK I have. They're espresso roast "individually packaged ground coffee" packets with a little (I'm guessing) pod from Starbucks that my aunt and mom bought me and my roommate as a house warming gift for our apartment. I want to make some espresso with them... but I have no clue what I do with the machine. Which I know makes me sound kiiiinda stupid buuuut I would rather get some advice about how to work it before I go wasting all of our packets of espresso. It's a Swift espresso, coffee, cappuccino machine which I'm sure isn't the most top of the line machine but I'm fairly positive it'll get the job done as long as I know how to do it right!! The only knob it has is on the side and it goes one way to work the foamer and the other way to make the coffee/espresso. I would just like some help, or a walkthrough, of the process it takes to make a good espresso shot. I hope I don't sound TOO ignorant for you coffee connoisseurs. If someone could just tell me exactly what to do to get the best cup of coffee/espresso that would be GREAT!!! There aren't any instructions and I've looked online for a users manual and can't find one. Plus I came upon a comment someone made to someone else saying it's a crappy machine altogether. THAT being said.... I still want to know how to make some espresso so I can at least have some BURNT espresso!! Although thanks Diana, so far you have the best answer!! I think I'll try it. I know it sounds stupid, but I just needed that simple walkthrough to make sure what I was thinking was the right thing to do. Especially the amount of water to use.

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