By Walter Ang
Jan. 4, 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The machines have an innovative, easy-to-use system that allows users to make espresso-based drinks via capsules that have pre-measured ingredients, such as roasted and ground 100-percent Arabica coffee and whole milk.
The capsules, which are sealed airtight for maximum freshness, are popped in the machine; a lever is locked (to the red side for hot water and to the blue side for cold water); and coffee streams out of the machine in seconds.
"There's no mess, no fuss," said Nescafé Dolce Gusto consumer marketing manager Justin "Jiggy" Cruz. (Cruz is the nephew of President Aquino III.)
The capsules come in different flavors.
Caffé Lungo, intense full-bodied coffee with a rich aroma and velvety "crema" layer, can be had using just one capsule.
Other flavors can be made using two-capsule combinations: Cappuccino, a shot of espresso topped with sweet frothy milk; Mocha, coffee with chocolate; and Vanilla Latte Macchiato, coffee with a hint of vanilla.
Chococino is caffeine-free, creamy chocolate that even kids can enjoy. Capsules with flavors for cold drinks will be available next year.
Stylish Winner of the International Forum Design and Red Dot Design awards, the Circolo model has an industrial feel with its circular silhouette and chrome accents. It comes in anthracite and cool gray.
The Piccolo model has soft curved lines and two-tone shell. It comes in red and white designs and features an extendable spout that adjusts for different cup heights.
"It's shaped like a penguin," says Cruz. "It shows the kind of fun we equate with drinking good coffee."
Power In Italian, "espresso" means "pressed out" [of the bean]. Espresso is brewed by forcing a small amount of pressurized hot water through ground coffee.
These machines, despite their compact sizes, deliver 15-bar pressure unlike other single-cup home coffee machines that are capable of only one to three bars of pressure.
Strong pressure is key in extracting the full flavor and aroma of coffee as well as creating the foamy froth and rich crema which add dimensions of flavor to coffee drinks.
Fifteen bars of pressure refers to the barometric pressure that builds up inside the capsules, which are designed to contain this kind of pressure before the coffee is released. Fifteen bars is equivalent to the pressure of being 500 ft underwater?the kind of pressure created by professional coffee-house machines.
The machines are available in SM Supermarkets and Hypermarts (Makati, Mall of Asia, Megamall, Pasig Tiendesitas and The Block in North Edsa) and soon in other leading supermarkets in Metro Manila.
Visit www.dolce-gusto.com.ph and like "Nescafé Dolce Gusto Philippines" on Facebook.
Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/29705/sleek-chic-and-convenient-new-way-to- make-coffee