On 12/21/2010 7:47 PM, notbob wrote:
> On 2010-12-22, pure > wrote:
>>
>> You have to start with good beans......
>
> A simple concept that seems to elude way too many ppl in this group.
> Good beans, the right water temp, and all you need is a simple drip
> mechanism. One can buy a Melitta 1 cup cofffee cone for under $5 in
> any supermarket. Produces coffee as good as any mega-$$$ machine you
> care to waste your money on.
(snip)

It always amazes me how expensive 'coffee' is when a 'cuppa' is
purchased at a 'cafe' and/or restaurant, especially from those 'quick
kiosks' now so conveniently located in many places where there's
frequent pedestrian traffic, even inside buildings! For example, the
price for a cup of mocha in my neck-of-the-woods is around US$3.50++ for
a very small cup. The cost is even more for a truly generous serving,
upwards of US$4.50+!


The cost to make a really great-tasting "mug"* (per day) of mocha at
home has to be considerably less than that paid for counter-prices at
any commercial cafe kiosk?! How the math work outs I'm not sure, but
the price-per-mug-of-mocha has to be greatly less than paying the 'cafe
kiosk' prices! Price mark-ups always astonish me, I suppose :/

OK, the Ghirardelli "Premium Hot Cocoa" (Double Chocolate) is US$5.79
per 16oz/454g container, as purchased the other day ago at a local
grocery store. This container lasts for a good 30-days, give or take
+/- 3-days. 2%-milk is used ($2.29/gal. the other day at Aldi),
half-mug per 'cuppa'. The heavy cream used isn't much either per
serving, but I 'spose a quart (less than US$3/quart at Sam's Club) lasts
a good three weeks, if not longer since cream has other uses, too.

I'll prepare a 3-plus-shot serving of espresso, which usually equals a
little less than a 1/2-mug for the "cuppa' mocha I make -- about 1/8-cup
of coffee grounds to about 3- to 4-espresso shots of water (about a
1/2-mug of water, plus a little more) to the espresso maker (DeLonghi).

On the side, heat a little less than a 1/2-mug-full of 2%-milk with
2-tsps of sugar in a microwave-oven on high for about 55-65 seconds
(depends on the microwave!) until milk is hot and just starts to get
steamy - don't let it boil!!!! Add a generous 1-TBS-plus of Ghirardelli
hot cocoa powder to the hot milk in the mug and stir briskly until
melted & blended.

Then, add the just-made espresso to the hot chocolate until the mug is
nearly full. If desired, leave a little of room in the mug to top it
off with a bit of some heavy cream and then some whipped cream on top
That cherry-on-top is optional, however <G>!

I figure the cost of my home-made mocha is much less than US$0.70/mug if
even that (??), but the math is a bit beyond me ;> It just tastes so
darned good and much better!! Only on a rare occasion will I spend the
money at a cafe' for a mocha Besides, the stuff I make at home is
tastier!!

Sky

* mug is very large coffee cup

P.S. The "DeLonghi" espresso maker used is an inexpensive item and
makes 'strong' coffee.

--

Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!