Did I say we love our espresso? We most certainly do which is why we are very sceptical of the wave of enthusiasm that is washing through the Australian coffee scene with previously shunned concepts such as pour-over filter coffee and siphons etc.

This is not to take away anything from what the passionate trailblazers such as Melbourne Coffee Scene’s Market Lane in Melbourne are doing with their filter brews or clover coffee. Or the excitement that the likes of Perth Coffee Scene’s 5 Senses display for innovations such as their new Uber boiler. These guys are creating a renewed interest in coffee which could rival the enthusiasm that people typically save for their love of wine. But, did I mention that I love espresso?

So, while we continue to be amazed by the changes in the industry while remaining true to our roots in our love of espresso, every now and then something comes along that blows our preconceived ideals right out of the window.

This week, it is the Aeropress Coffee Maker that has made us sit up and take note.

The Aeropress is a pretty simply syringe like device from Aerobie, yup, the Frisbee thingy people. It’s a circa $50 coffee maker that is striking in its simplicity, empowering in its ease of use and rewarding in the quality of coffee it produces.

We have been playing around with ours for the last 2 or 3 weeks and since we paired it up with our Brew Ha Fairtrade “Organic” A filter ground coffee we have been delighted by the resulting brew.

It’s a filter brew, yet extracted under some pressure, so has the smoothness of filter coffee, yet with more substantial yet delicate flavours seeping through.

To use you simple

1. Place a filter on the bottom of the Aeropress
2. Place the Aeropress on top of your favorite coffee mug
3. Put a measured scoop of coffee into the brewing chamber
4. Pour hot water into the brewing chamber
5. Using the included stirrer, mix the coffee and water
6. Wait twenty seconds, and place the plunger on top of the brewing chamber
7. Push down gently on the plunger
8. When the plunger reaches the bottom, pop out the puck of coffee grounds into the rubbish

That’s it, a quick rinse and pop it back on the shelf for next time.

Will it replace our espresso machine? Absolutely not, however it’s a great accompaniment, perfect for weekends away, group gatherings, picnics or for use at the office.

Do you use an Aeropress? We’d love to know what you think.

The Aeropress coffee maker and Brew Ha Fairtrade “Organic” A coffee are available from Coffee Shrine.

Saeco Phedra

Described as a semi-automatic table-top or stand mounted vending machine, the stunning Saeco Phedra is available in a number of different configurations including Fresh & Fresh (fresh bean and fresh milk), Fresh and Freeze (fresh bean and freeze dried milk) and Instant (instant coffee and freeze dried milk), and can be programmed to dispense up to 8 different selections.

The Saeco Phedra makes an idea coffee vending machine with it’s LCD graphic display and 8 large and easy to read push button selections which ensures a high level of usability. Another great feature for vending applications is that unlike many other vending machine model the optional payment systems can be inserted right on the front door – no side mounted payment box is required.

An ideal office coffee machine, all service and cleaning operations are simplified due to the seagull wing front door which opens up and over the machine, revealing all user serviceable parts from the front. And with a high and wide, yet elegant dispensing area, the chances of coffee spills and mess around the machine are reduced significantly.

All Saeco Phedra models have a 1kg coffee bean hopper which is sufficient for over 110 coffees between refills and can be mains plumbed or hooked up to an independent water tank.

The Saeco Phedra Fresh Milk and Fresh Bean model includes a cappuccinatore or auto frother and has 3 powder canisters which can be used for any combination of Hot Chocolate, Chai, Instant Tea or Soups.

The Saeco Phedra Fresh Bean and Freeze Dried Milk model has 2 spare canisters which can be used for your choice of Hot Chocolate, Chai, Instant Tea or Soups.

Additional features of the Saeco Phedra include:

• High capacity canisters
• Easy cleaning and maintenance
• Easy user interface with LCD graphic display large surface push button
• Front door mounting for the optional payment system
• Tall dispensing area suitable for 20 oz cups or jugs

The new category killer in the $3000 to $4000 price range, the stunning new Saeco Phedra coffee machine is available now from Coffee Shrine.

Thank you for your support and custom this year. The Team at Coffee Shrine wish you a wonderful Christmas and a safe and fun filled 2010.

Saeco Odea Giro Plus

A great value machine with all you need to make a great cup; ceramic grinder, rapid steam for fast steam and aroma adjustment.

Perfect for home or the holiday house !

Backed with the Saeco Australia 2 yr Australia wide warranty.

Includes FREE set of stylish ceramic cups and FREE 1kg Gourmet Coffee Beans.

Limited Stocks – Show me the Saeco Odea Giro Plus

Saeco Talea Girto Plus

Extra features for greater flexibility, the Talea Giro Plus II offers the ceramic grinder, strong steam, bypass doser for preground coffee, multi facet aroma adjustments for the perfect cup and the ability to attach the automatic milk frother.. the milk island.

Backed with the Saeco Australia 2 yr Australia wide warranty.

Includes FREE set of stylish ceramic cups and FREE 1kg Gourmet Coffee Beans.

Limited Stocks – Show me the Saeco Talea Giro Plus V2

Saeco Talea Touch Plus

Saeco Talea Touch Plus – $1599

This one will definitely win you some brownie points.. it has all the fruit; cup warmers, super intuitive touch screen, multi facet aroma adjustments, bypass doser and the ability to connect the milk island for effortless milk frothing.

Backed with the Saeco Australia 2 yr Australia wide warranty.

Includes FREE set of stylish ceramic cups and FREE 1kg Gourmet Coffee Beans.

Limited Stocks – Show me the Saeco Talea Touch Plus V2

Chai Choc Delight

A feast of the most decadent chais and organic chocolate tastefully gift wrapped.

2 time gold medal winners at the 2008 and 2009 Fine Food Awards, Bondi Chai has secured its place as Australia’s premium chai. It is now even exported to India !

1 x 250gram Bondi Chai Club Cinnamon

1 x 250 gram Bondi Chai Vanilla Honey

1 x 300 gram organic chocolate

Teamed with Arkadia organic chocolate,you have a gift of great taste

Show me the Choc Chai Delight

Gourmet Coffee Sampler

Coffee Sampler – $80.00

The Coffee Sampler is the most enjoyable way to discover your favourite coffee blend. The Coffee Sampler includes our 4 favorite coffee blends and allows you to discover the subtle differences between each blend, the differences in the body, blend and flavour.

The Coffee Sampler includes:

1x 250 Bag Fiore Espresso Coffee Beans

1 x 500gm Bag of Barista Coffee Beans

1 x 1kg Bag of Grand Cru Arabica Coffee Beans

1 x 1kg Bag of Complexity Coffee Beans

Makes a perfect gift idea for the most discerning coffee lover.

Show me the Coffee Sampler

The Saeco Royal Cappuccino. Still the most popular office coffee solution for small offices

First bought out around a decade ago, the Saeco Royal Cappuccino revolutionised the automatic coffee machine market with its automatic frothing device – the cappucinatore.

Taking the guess work out of the perfect cappuccino, the Saeco Royal Cappuccino today continues to make the perfect creamy foam every time.  Continual innovations such as stainless steel boilers and improved digital interface have made the current models even more reliable but the overall functionality and ease is still the same as when they were first released.

A very affordable and reliable machine, the Royal Cappuccino is still the number one choice for small offices and handles the morning rush with ease through its twin boilers and pumps.

An easy purchase to justify to any finance department by cost per use or perhaps based on the return on investment quantifiable by happy team members.

This month we are bringing you some of the finest Australian beverages.. direct to your door with new products from Fiori Coffee, Bondi Chai and Arkadia Organic Drinking Chocolate.

Enjoy!

Fiori Coffee - Delicious!

Winner of the coveted Equal Golden Bean Award, Fiore won a medal in all of the five categories they entered from over 500 submissions. The main award goes was grabbed by Fiore as the roaster with the highest combined point score in the two main categories of “Milk Based” and “Espresso”.
Committed to bringing you a range of ethical and sustainable coffees , Fiore work directly with preferred importers and their Honduran Grower to always source the best ‘Specialty Grade’ lots after tasting many samples.
For true artisan coffee … try some today

Show me the Fiori Coffee

For the chai connoisseurs… we have sourced the purists pinnacle… Bondi Chai

Bondi Chai

2 time gold medal winners at the 2008 and 2009 Fine Food Awards, Bondi Chai has secured its place as Australia’s premium chai. It is now even exported to India !
Seriously delicious, Bondi Chai is a creamy-smooth blend of milk, black tea, honey, vanilla and exotic ‘comfort’ spices which tastes superb and is ‘almost addictive’.

It’s usually served latte-style, but it can be made into everything from smoothies to cheesecake.

• Bondi Chai Vanilla Honey A blend of comfort spices with the added richness of vanilla and the natural warmth and sweetness of honey. Makes 25 serves.

• Bondi Chai Club Cinnamon is a more exotic blend with Star Anise and Cinnamon beautifully complemented by the clean, fresh after-taste of Ginger.

Introductory Special – Buy a 1kg of either flavour and receive a 250 gm bag of the other flavour free.

Show me the Bondi Chai Vanilla Honey Blend or the Bondi Chai Club Cinnamon Blend

Cino Cleano Espresso Machine Cleaning Solution

Coffee tasting a bit stale, a bit bitter? One cause could be the build up of old coffee oils, deposits and impurities in your machine.

Regular use of Cino Cleano Espresso Machine Cleaning Solution will keep your home coffee machine performing at its best and producing the perfect cup of coffee – fresh, clean and impurity-free
Buy 2 Cino Cleano Espresso Machine Cleaner and get a sachet of descaler free.

Arkadia Organic Chocolate

A virtuous chocolate… so you can feel guilt free !

A decadent chocolate made from the finest ingredients, Arkadia organic drinking chocolate is made from cocoa sourced through the Fair Trade Program Hand in Hand.

Perfect for Hot or Iced Chocolates.

It is also gluten free and naturally contains no contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and suitable for vegetarians.

Show me the Arkadia Organic Drinking Chocolate

Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitizing Cleaner

You know how it is, everyone love the Office Coffee Machine and the way it automatically froths your fresh milk, but no-one loves cleaning the milk line – and it’s starting to get really really yucky!

On fresh milk automatic coffee machines the most most critical area of concern when it comes to maintaining good hygiene and prevent buildup of bacteria is the milk frothing system – the milk line and milk frother or steamer.

This is particularly important if the coffee machine is located in a warmer area or if the milk line is not refrigerated.In this case, we recommend that fresh water is flushed through the milk line and frother every time the machine is going to be idle.

To keep things really healthy, and your coffee tasting great, we would further suggest the use of a milk line and frother sanitiser and cleaner such as the Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitizer Cleaner

To use simply follow the manufacturers machine instructions or if none are available carry out the following:

• Run a rinse cycle through your milk line with fresh water (or manually flush your milk line and frother with fresh water)
• Make up a solution of 20ml Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitising Cleaner in 300ml of warm water
• Insert milk frother suction tube into solution and run for 2 cleaning / flush cycles (or until solution is depleted)
• Remove tube from solution and place in a container of fresh water and run for 2 flush cycles ( or until water is depleted)• If required, reconnect tube to milk prime line with milk if required.

Your coffee will always taste great AND you will be preventing excessive bacteria buildup in your milk frothing system.

About the Author:Paul and Cathy Ballardin are the founders of Coffee Shrine , Australia’s premier Coffee Machine, Office Coffee Machine and Coffee Vending Machine specialists.

The Saeco Milk Island is a convenient automatic frother that is specially designed for use with Saeco’s Talea line of super automatic machines. The Saeco Talea Milk Island is easy to connect and remove, making frothing, pouring, and cleaning a snap. To use, just connect the black hose to the steam output on the bottom left side of your Saeco Talea, place the glass carafe filled with the desired amount of milk on the base, and turn the steam knob to the Milk Island icon. In just a few moments, frothed milk will be ready for pouring.

Additionally, it looks like Saeco have actually got the new 800ml version of the milk island right! It features:

• Fast Cleaning Button: Quickly clean the valve of the carafe before each use of the Milk Island with just the press of a button
• Product Selection Lever Choose between frothed milk and steamed milk easily by simply adjusting the lever
• Large Handle and Grip: Expanded plastic handle grip for easy pouring
• Individual Doses of Milk: Fill the exact amount of milk needed to reduce waste
• Convenient Pouring Spout: Pour froth directly into your mug or cup using the plastic spout
• Simple Operation: Just turn the steam knob on the Talea counterclockwise to create perfect froth or steam in

The quality of the foam is just amazing and extremely convenient to use. Without the fuss of frothing traditionally, it provides a more than satisfactory result perfect for the lovers of cappuccino and lattes — like it is foamed traditionally.

A key part of the the traditional Italian breakfast where they are served in a bowl accompanied by your favorite pastry or biscotti, you are unlikely to see caffe lattes severed in Italian cafes except to foreigners.

Caffe latte and it’s variation the flat white are today two of the most popular espresso coffee drinks served from cafe’s and Office Coffee Machines throughout Australia.

Caffe Latte Australian Version
Extract 30mls of espresso into lattee glass
Pour creamy textured milk into glass leaving 1cm of foam
draw crema to the surface of the coffee

Variations
8oz cup – 1 shot of coffee
12oz cup – 2 shots of coffee
16oz cup – 3 shots of coffee

About the Author:

Paul and Cathy Ballardin are the founders of Coffee Shrine , Australia’s premier Coffee Machine, Office Coffee Machine and Coffee Vending Machine specialists.

The new HLF Aroma 3500F Modena Coffee Machine is the latest bean to cup fresh milk offering in the HLF range. This fresh milk version of the popular HLF 3500 is an ideal Office Coffee Machine for work places of up to 45 staff where size, style and features are important.
In addition to fresh beans, the HLF 3500F Modena features 3 instant powder canisters – perfect for Hot Chocolate, Chai, Soup or Decaffeinated or flavoured Coffee – a unique feature that is usually reserved for much larger and more expensive Office Coffee machines. And the in built autonomous water tank with 3 litre capacity means the Modena can be installed anywhere – perfect for smaller kitchens or where a mains water supply is not readily available.
The look is stunningly elegant and modern continuing on the same stunning silver / black themes of the existing HLF Office Coffee Machine range – where , technology and modern Italian design blend together perfectly in the HLF Aroma 3500F Modena.
A simple to use single puch button system the HLF Aroma 3500F Modena features:

• 12 drink selections and 3 pre selections
• 600 grams storage for fresh beans – enough for 75 coffees
• 3 Instant powder canisters
• 3 Litre autonomous water tank
• Optional base cabinet

The HLF Aroma 3500F Modena Office Coffee System is available from August 2008 from Coffee Shrine: Australia’s premier Office Coffee Machine Specialist

But then again, are Office Coffee Machines still a luxury item, or are they becoming an essential in maintaining a competitive and rewarding Office Environment.

“Despite the doom and gloom we are hearing about every day, this June has seen a 30% increase in sales of high end Office Coffee Machine’s over the same period last year,” said Cathy Ballardin, National Sales director for one of Australia’s leading Office Coffee Players, Coffee Shrine. “We are experiencing a record number of leads every day and we have had to boost the number of installation technicians in most states over the last 3 months.

The apparent boom in Office Coffee Machine sales is appearing to be counter cyclical to general spending in the economy. A highly competitive labour market and employers ooking for productivity increases are cited as the top reasons why more and more organisations are considering this sort of capital expenditure as an investment rather than a cost to their business.

Brands such as Saeco, HLF, N&W Necta, Schaerer and Isomac are all reporting strong year on year growth and smaller office coffee companies seem to be feeling the pinch – struggling to meet demand.

About the Author: Paul Ballardin is the founder of Coffee Shrine – Australia’s Premier Office Coffee Machine Specialists.