A couple of years ago I ventured into selling Italian coffee in the UK. Coffee has always been my best friend, let’s face it, my day would be dark and dull without it. I love my coffee and I only want good coffee.
So I went to visit small coffee artisans in Italy and I picked my favourite one: a small family run business an hour away from my home town. The coffee was fantastic, really good quality, freshly roasted…it smelled and tasted divine! I was really excited about it and I set up my own stall, I had fun decorating it and I loved chatting to people over a hot cup of coffee.
They all loved the coffee but let’s face it competition was fierce and unless I was prepared to market it properly (which I didn’t) it was never going to work. I suppose for me it was just a bit of fun rather than a more serious business.
In the last 15 years coffee shops have really taken off in the UK and you can find so many different types of coffee beans to satisfy the most refined of palates.
My selling experience was short lived but it learned lots from it. Mostly I realized how many people have now moved towards more sophisticated coffee makers with pods (like Nespresso and Nescafe’). Not just in Italy then, these machines are everywhere now. I felt behind with the times. Was it just me still stuck with the traditional (but beloved!) moka pot?
I have always refused to move “upmarket” and buy an espresso maker machine until I was given one as a wedding present. I can now compare the two which are both good and have their pros and cons.
If you don’t know what a moka pot is this is often called stove top espresso maker and works by passing hot pressurized water by steam up through the coffee grounds to make a strong, satisfying cup of coffee. More precisely moka pots don’t make espresso as this must actually be brewed under at least 9 bar.
With a moka:
– you have the flexibility to choose any type coffee you like and you can grind your own beans (love this!)
-it is cheap to buy so is the cost of a single cup of coffee
-it makes a clear, good and satisfying cup of coffee
-it is messier: you need to rinse the pot well after using it.
-it takes longer to prepare a coffee
With a coffee machine like Nespresso:
-you must buy their own coffee pods
-the machine and the pods are much more expensive
-it makes a more dense and proper creamy espresso just like you would get at a coffee bar
-you can make your coffee in one single click
-no need to wash up anything
I am a traditionalist and I am still stuck to my old humble moka pot whereas hubby prefers the creaminess of the Nespresso. Where do you stand? How do you make your coffee?
The espresso cups featured in this post (look at the lambs logo on these cups!) have kindly been supplied by Herdy. They are cute, robust and from now on they will replace my old battered cups which I had for ages.
Herdy is offering a set of espresso cups to 1 lucky My Little Italian Kitchen reader. Enter the gleam box below for a chance to win them.
Terms and conditions:
- You can enter with the Gleam widget below via blog comment, twitter or facebook.
- Please comment on this blogpost before proceeding with other entry options (this is mandatory).
- One winner will be randomly selected, announced in the Gleam giveaway box and contacted via their provided e-mail address. Please claim your prize within 4 days of being notified.
- Giveaway open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.
- This giveaway closes on 6th November 2015
I received a set of espresso cups from Herdy to review. No payment was received. All opinions are my own.
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a cup of coffee
Coffee is the drink of the gods
Coffee is my favourite 🙂
I always enjoy your various interesting posts. Thank you very much. When I was in Slovenia I used to drink Turkish coffee as all Slovenians at that time (more than 40 years ago). In 1973 when I moved to Japan, coffee was one of many problems for me. I couldn’t drink instant coffee nor Japanese coffee made with filter? I bought a lot of coffee in Slovenia on each visit and my mother was sending coffee for Turkish coffee. But I have never been satisfied and I suppose it was because of different water and atmosphere itself. I was always drinking coffee alone. Very few people were drinking coffee in Japan at that time and nobody had interest in Turkish coffee. When coffee became more popular in Japan I was able to buy Italian espresso in cans in Japan so I started cooking Turkish coffee with Italian coffee ( cooked in Japan, drunk by Slovene; very international coffee!). That was a little better. Then I bought moka pot but I was still dreaming about that delicious coffee in Slovenia. I bought the first espresso machine later and it was not so bad but not a real espresso. I could use my favourite coffee and could control the amount of the coffee. About six years ago I bought Nespresso machine. It is much much better but the best espresso is in bars in Italy! I like Nespresso machine, but I miss the flavour of the coffee. I drink the strongest one but miss something. As you mentioned, it is expensive so it is good for my heart because long ago I drank many cups of coffee but now I drink only one or two.
Here is one story. It was about 20 years ago when I took a famous conductor Maestro Vladimir Spivakov to a tea room of Sheraton hotel in Osaka. We ordered coffee but when it came, Maestro said: “Oh, no. I am sorry, I didn’t order black tea but coffee.” The waitress said: “I brought you coffee!” The colour of Japanese coffee made with filter is really like tea. Sorry for a long story- a history of my coffee!
Wow, thank you for sharing your coffee-story! That was interesting. My sister is married to a Slovenian and we visit her from time to time. We love the country! The story of your visit to a tea room with the Maestro made me laugh. I can only imagine the look of that coffee!
All the best!
Hot Chocolate is my favourite
Alida,
I can’t join the giveaway because I’m in the US. The cups are adorable.
I don’t use pods at all. I won’t by a machine. I usually use a moka pot and now my Mom gave me my Grandmother’s macchinette Napolitana, so I’m going to have fun with that one. I also have a drip espresso pot that froths the milk but I haven’t used it in a while.
Annamaria
Hi Annamaria, I have never tried a Napoletana machinette. So nice to get something that belonged to your grandmother. I have a colander that belonged to my grandmother and I really treasure it. Ciao!
Hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream 🙂
Hot chocolate
At the moment its a pumpkin spice latte
my favourite is a good quality coffee, i normally drink black coffee with one sugar, but if i want a treat, my very favourite has to be coffee with baileys cream!
very strong coffee for the day, fruit tea for the evening
With a splash of amaretto. Heaven in a coffee cup
Definately coffee!
hot chocolate cream and marshmallows x
de caf tea
a nice cup of coffee for me
Hi Alida,
I liked this post and your comparing the two types of coffee making…but I have to agree with you the Moka Pot is my choice. I agree that it is so much better in taste wise, yes there are some drawbacks, as waiting for the coffee, but sometimes patience is worth the wait. It is more traditional than the other machine. My mom still has the old black coffee pot that my grandmother had years ago.. Interesting post and good luck to all who entered into your contest…Have a great weekend friend..Ciao!
Dottie 🙂
Thanks Dottie, hope you had a good relaxing weekend.
Espresso
A Strong Coffee for me!
espresso x
i love a cup of hot chocolate yummy
For me it’s the beloved moka. I buy coffee from a local firm established here since the 1800’s (from Liguria) who roast a large selection of coffee beans each week. I make a fragrant and delicious espresso each day. I must say though, that a coffee made in a cafeteria is a must if I’m in town – the crema is heavenly!
Mmm.. I can smell your espresso right now! Coffee is such a fantastic drug! Love the crema too!
Espresso stronger the better makes you feel alive first thing in the morning
Coffee canont get through the day without xx
Galaxy hot chocolate 🙂
A nice Latte
peppermint tea
mocha coffee
Nothing beats a cup of tea for me
Hot chocolate
I love Cappuccino!
Hot milk chocolate for the start of the day 😀
Coffee! I used to hate it (shocking, I know) but now I can’t live without it.
I have both a machine and one of those aeropress things.
My pros and cons are very similar to yours but grinding my own coffee just before using it wins for me.
Absolutely, I find that grinding my own beans makes a big difference.
an espresso
What is your favourite hot drink? . . . . .cappuccino closely followed by hot chocolate
A strong cup of tea
Americano with cream
Gotta be a cuppa tea
Tomato soup
My favourite hot drink is tea
An Americano and an extra shot,I do like my coffee strong x
A nice cup of tea!!
Hot Chocolate with squirty cream
Always coffee for me.
This time of year Cinnamon coffee
I do love a lovely steaming hot Latte 🙂
strong black coffee
i love horlicks
a nice cup of tea
Love a good cup of coffee
I like a latte but my husband uses his stove top moka, he did try the aeropress but didn’t last long before he went back..
Adoro il caffè, per me è ormai diventata un’abitudine, mi piace alzarmi la mattina e bere la mia tazzina di caffè. Preferisco anch’io la moka, anche se di macchine per il caffè espresso ne ho due! Un abbraccio!
Cappuccino
has to be a nice cup of Coffee 🙂
Coffee, it’s divine!
decaffinated vanilla tea
It’s a close one between a nice coffee or a green tea for me
Mocha
Love coffee
A latte is my favourite!
Latte
Gosh! Coffee first, last and every time! Trouble is, I’m now very fussy and find it difficult to get a good cup of coffee anywhere except at home or in specialist coffee shops.
Coincidentally coffee, the stronger the better. Really enjoy Espresso
Chai latte
Hot Chocolate with marshmallows and frothy cream!
A cup of tea, coffee occasionally but my husband is a real coffee fanatic.
A good strong coffee with a dash of milk
decaf tea and lots of it from the teapot in a tea cup.
Herdy and perfect coffee – a heavenly match made to make you smile 😉
Cappuccino
A lovely nespresso espresso – maybe the very smooth rosabaya
Pumpkin spice latte ! Yum
Coffee 😀
Nice rich aroma coffee 😛
Love the smell of coffee and love Herdy!
Just good old fashioned tea, too much coffee makes me feel sick
love my Coffee x
I love coffee, I can’t function without it!!
Coffee every time
A latte
black coffee
Hot chocolate
Coffee, it’s my energy source!
I love a coffee in a morning but then I have to say can’t beat a good cup of tea rest of the day
I recently got a Nespresso machine, and I love it!
Hot Chocolate is best
A good cup of coffee made in a proper coffee pot.
Espresso always!
I like hot chocolate, I do want to try hazelnut coffee though.
Has to be a Mocha.
Honestly, it’s got to be a nice cuppa tea every time.
Hot chocolate with whipped cream 🙂
Tea is my favourite, although I do enjoy coffee too.
Absolutely love the blog about coffee. I’m a coffee lover too. I think the coffee I drink reflects the mood I’m in at the time. I love a frothy cappuccino, but sometimes I love the deep intense flavour of an Expresso. I have a cafetière and a machine and depending on my feelings I will make the one most suited at the time. Lovely Ferdy cups are cute and perfect. Cute lamb too! Thanks Daximama +Dog
a latte 🙂
I love a nice coffee to start my day
got to be a coffee i cant stand tea
Hot chocolate
has to be coffee
Love love coffee
tea 🙂
A builders brew
Marmite
I love tea, but my husband has just come back from Italy with a lust for Expresso….
coffee
love coffee
Nothing better than a good cup of coffee
Coffee, black and unsweetend
Has to be coffee x
caramel latte
love my coffee
It depends on the weather – in winter hot chocolate, in summer an iced coffee and tea all year round.
A tall latte, made with Costa Rican beans
My favourite drink is coffee, I always make sure I have no more than 2 cups a day because I’m so obsessed with it! 😀
hot chocolate
My favourite would be a strong cup of tea.
A good strong coffee milky but no sugar
hot chocolate
Tea – but I am the only tea drinker amongst a family of coffee addicts!
A nice milky coffee x
caramel latte
a cup of coffee with cream.
At home a cup of green tea but out I go with a flat white.
hot chocolate x
One shot latte with two sugars
coffee any type
HOT CHOCOLATE
It has to be coffee. I can’t start my day without it.
I love a nice cup of coffee x
A nice milky coffee
Latte machiato
Latte
Espresso coffee
milky coffee
Caramel latte
latte for me!
A latte
white coffee
Coffee
just ordered my first moka pot and excited to start brewing.
Mocha!
Latte for me
hot chocolate
A very large latte 🙂
I like Mochas with extra chocolate
I love a hot chocolate
Latte
the rich aroma of an Americano
Coffee 🙂
Espresso with a dash of sparkling water – don’t knock it until you have tried it!
coffee
tea xx
This is a lovely prize, I can’t do without my Espresso in the morning.
Any type of coffee is the best – the stronger the better! (@PeanutHog)
Espresso
a cappachino
Strong white coffee
Coffee
de caf tea
I love hot chocolate
Latte with an extra shot of expresso and a shot of vanilla
Cappucino (I think thats how you spell it!!)
I use the nespresso machine for lovely lattes- quick and reliable but expensive ! Its that George Clooney whos to blame !
definately aa cappucino x
Love a hot chocolate
Hot chocolate with marsh mallows and chocolate sprinkles!
Mocha
Americano
Coffee
lovely coffee first thing in the morning
a strong cup of coffee with a dash of milk
I love a cappuccino!
Depends on time of the day coffee morning and afternoon hot chocolate evenings
Coffee made with freshly ground beans
hot chocolate
I love Douwe Egbery Caramel coffee!
Latte for me
My favourite hot beverage is a flat white coffee with a shot of vanilla.
Hot chocolate. I would love to win these as I love the Herdy range. I have a collection of thd large mugs which I’ve bought on my trips to the Lake District and a toy sheep from this years visit!
Late 🙂
Cappuccino from my bean to cup coffee machine. Starts my day off on a good note. Love the aroma of the beans being ground in the kitchen.
A caramel Latte
toffee nut latte with whipped cream on top
I love my coffee. I have 3 strong Americanos in a more it sets me up for the day. I couldn’t function without it
Black coffee. x
Expresso
Espresso for me
STRONG COFFEE
Black Coffee
latte
I love a decent cup of Espresso , after a 14 hour nightshift I think I deserve to relax and savour the flavour
Hot chocolate 🙂 though I do like to vary the flavour slightly – on a caramel hot chocolate kick atm!
any type of coffee (except decaf )
My favourite is hot chocolate
Latte
A nice fruit tea 🙂
coffee
Cappuccino
coffee
caramel latte
Milky Coffee
Earl grey Tea for me
Tea, but i do like the occasional Cappuccino. 🙂
I’m a coffeeaholic. Love coffee. 🙂
Americano!
Hot chocolate 🙂
HOT CHOCOLATE