Gifts for Dad

!±8± Gifts for Dad

Whether the dad in your life is a rough and tumble kind of guy or prefers Armani suits to t-shirts and jeans, there's a gift out there that will show him how much you appreciate all that he does for you. Whether he'd rather spend the afternoon improving his handicap or playing video games, there's something in this Holiday gift guide for your dad, husband or significant other. We're skipping some of the more obvious big-ticket items like TVs and grills. Instead we're giving you some fresh and creative ideas. And if that special guy isn't a dad, he'll love these items too!

Corporate Dad

He's Polished with a capital P. Down to his shiny Italian leather shoes, the guy in your life wouldn't be seen without a crisp buttondown and a pair of pressed dress pants. Or, maybe he needs a little nudge in the right direction. Either way, he'll appreciate the luxury and quality of these snazzy duds.

The Classic White Shirt

Nothing looks more elegant that a crisp herringbone white buttondown with French cuffs like one from Forzieri.

Ties (guys like them, really!)

Ties get a bad rap as the stand-by gift for men but if your guy works in an office, he wears ties! And any savvy businessman knows that all components of his work ensemble send a message. A luxury silk tie is the only way to go. Trust us, he will love it (and wear it).

The timeless watch

Corporate Dad is a busy guy, so he needs a classy watch to keep him on time. Go for something original that will bring a smile to his face every time he checks the time. The Philip Stein Teslar watch with a black Ostrich strap is elegant and modern at the same time.

Cuff links

The well-heeled dad needs a set of sharp cuff links to hold those French cuffs together. Try Tahitian Pearl Cufflinks (that's right, guys can wear pearls too) from PurePearls.

Watch & Cufflink organizer

Okay, so corporate dad is a high-roller kind of guy but he may need a little help keeping all those pieces organized (watch, cuff links, etc.), so give him a watch & cuff link box-just be sure not to call it a jewelry box, he might get a little touchy.

Luxury Briefcase

To complete Corporate Dad's look he needs a briefcase-but not just any briefcase. While he may not admit it, you'll recognize the twinkle in his eye when he opened a package and smells the smooth calf skin leather of his new luxury briefcase, like the one from Pierre Cardin.

On the go Dad

On the go Dad is always going somewhere, so give him the gift of stylish (and comfortable) travel with these ideas.

Travel bags

If your dad or significant other is always on the go, he doesn't need a gigantic suitcase but he also doesn't want to wind up with wrinkled suits. A fold-up garment bag from Glaser Designs is the perfect solution to short trips.

And no businessman will travel anywhere without his laptop in tow. A designer laptop bag protects Dad's laptop and data in style.

Travel Neckpillow

Traveling can take a toll on the neck and shoulders. Dad will appreciate this simple, yet invaluable, travel neckpillow from Magellans.

Audiobooks

Whether the dad in your life flies a lot or drives cross-country, he'll love this collection of heart-warming stories about fatherhood. The NPR Driveway Moments for Dads is a collection of humorous and touching stories from the National Public Radio archives that capture the essence of fatherhood. They're so good, he may never even leave the driveway!

Enthusiast Dad

Season tickets

Whatever your dad's favorite sporting event-or maybe it's the opera!-season's tickets is the gift that keeps on giving.

Golf clubs

Seasoned golfer or novice, all golfers know The Big Bertha. Get him what he's always wanted but never bought for himself. He's a good dad, he deserves it!

Connoisseur Dad

Wine cork set

Take the headache out of opening wine with a gourmet wine cork set. You can find them virtually anywhere, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, liquor stores, department stores and online.

Wine Accessories

Stumped for a gift idea? Give Dad a gift basket filled with wine accessories like wine stoppers, wine totes, wine labels and a wine journal. For a truly one-of-a-kind gift, there's the Wine Enhancer, which uses a special technology to make wine smoother and brighter, and improve the drinkability of young wines.

Gourmet Coffee

Lots of guys gotta have their morning cup of Joe. Go beyond the Folgers or Starbucks and get him gourmet coffee beyond his wildest dreams. Coined as the "most expensive coffee in the world" at 8.00, Arabica Kopi Luwak ground coffee is one of the most sought after by coffee connoisseurs globally. This rare coffee is harvested and roasted in the Indonesian Archipelago. Extremely limited, only 700 pounds are produced annually.

Tea maker

Okay, so tea is not usually the first gift idea to come to mind for a lot of dads, but hear me out. The hassle of tea balls and infusers is too much for many guys. Adagio has a solution: the triniTEA, an electric tea maker that simplifies preparation of loose tea. This all-in-one device prepares tea with a flip of a switch. A warming plate beneath the carafe keeps tea hot so it may be enjoyed for hours. They also stock fragrant loose teas and gourmet teabags.

Smoking Jacket (aka Robe)

Give Dad a luxury robe to wear while he sips his favorite beverage, like the Brioni cashmere herringbone robe. Looking for one less expensive? Try a silk robe from Dillards. And what's a robe without slippers?

Gear Daddy

Wireless Weather Forecaster

Dads dislike getting caught in unforeseen weather like the rest of us. They also like to know when the weather is going to be nice so they can fit in a round of golf. Get him the wireless weather station from Brookstone to keep Dad up to date with real-time reports received via radio signals from AccuWeather. No wiring, computer, or TV required!

Portable entertainment

The Sony Play Station Portable (PSP ) is the ultimate portable entertainment device. For tech loving Dad's the PSP can be customized to any personality. The PSP is the perfect mobile entertainment device for gaming, listening to MP3s, watching movies and sporting events, checking RSS feeds, surfing the Net and much more. A recent partnership with T-mobile enables PSP users to take advantage of six months free WiFi at any T-Mobile hotspot found in airports and Starbuck's coffee locations.

Gifts all dads will love

Personalized gifts

Dads love to show off their family, so why not give him something to remind him of what a great family he has with a personalized gift? These days you can get almost anything personalized, from mouse pads to pens and notepads to picture frames and mugs. Vista Print has everything you need for the perfect Holiday gift.

Dad's Own Cookbook

In addition to divorced fathers, there are 15 million dads in families where both parents work and Dad is expected to take his turn making dinner. Never has there been a time when kitchen skills have been so desirable but also so necessary for fathers. So what's a culinary-challenged Dad to do?

Dad's Own Cookbook (Workman, .95) is the one-stop culinary school for the bewildered. It is for every single dad facing new responsibilities in the kitchen, or married dad who has to step up to the plate...and serve it. Filled to the brim with 150 easy and delicious recipes, the book dispenses indispensable tips and techniques, from the basic, such as preheating an oven, to the elaborate, such as creating the perfect birthday party menu for a child.

Digital Photo Frame

For the modern dad, a digital photo frame is the perfect gift. The Pandigital 7" Digital Photo Frame allows Dad to copy your photos, videos and MP3s directly from your memory card, digital camera or PC. Frame easily stores up to 298 two megapixel photos and has two interchangeable frames.

ManGroomer

Giving this gift may be a delicate matter but believe us when we say Dad will thank you (even if it's silent). The grooming of back hair is not only sensitive for men, it's also hard to do! The MANGROOMER is the essential do-it-yourself electric back hair shaver for men. The unique design enables a man to remove unwanted back hair by himself in the privacy of his own home or while traveling. It's quick, easy and painless.

Shave kit

Every man needs a shave kit. Do it up in style with a calfskin shave kit from Cole Haan. If Dad is a friend of the environment, he'll like this Shaving Soap Gift Set from the Napa Soap Company. The long-lasting shaving soap is packed with French clay, aloe vera and soothing oils for a smooth shave. Comes in a reusable, environmentally-friendly antiqued mug with a badger bristle brush. Available in three fresh blends: Lavender Cedar, Cool Mint Rosemary, or Ocean.

What is your perfect Holiday gift for Dad?

Gifts for Dad

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Espresso 101 - The Basics

!±8± Espresso 101 - The Basics

The name espresso is Italian in origin. It was first coined around 1900 and, loosely translated, means a cup of coffee brewed expressly (just) for you. Today, you will often find that people incorrectly pronounce or spell it "expresso."

So, what makes a true espresso?

It's not the bean. It's not the blend. It's not the roast. It's not that it has to be made by a certain kind of machine.

The fact is, you can use any type of bean, blend and roast, it just depends on your personal tastes.

What makes espresso is the way the coffee is prepared. Espresso coffee is a small (1 to 2 oz.) shot of pressure-brewed coffee, using about 1 Tablespoon of finely ground coffee. Brewing takes about 25 to 30 seconds and when done properly, it will feature a layer of rich, dark golden cream, called crema on the surface. This crema is one indicator of a quality espresso. Making a great espresso is truly an art as well as a science.

The Key Words of Espresso

Like any other field, espresso has its own little language that you should know. Below is a small list of key words that you'll often hear when reading about anything espresso.

BAR: Pressure rating used on most pump driven espresso machines. 9 BAR, the typical accepted pressure for brewing espresso is 8.8 atmospheres of pressure or 130 pounds per square inch. Almost every consumer espresso machine is capable of producing this pressure consistently.

Burr Grinder: is the recommended type of grinder for proper espresso making. A burr grinder features two disks, one stationary, one rotating, which slice away portions of a coffee bean into very fine particles.

Crema: is one of the sure signs of a properly brewed shot of espresso (in non crema-enhancing machines) and is created by the dispersion of gases - air and carbon dioxide - in liquid at a high pressure. The liquid contains oils and forms a dark golden brown layer resembling foam on top of an espresso shot.

Demitasse: the cup that holds a traditional shot of espresso is called a demitasse - the fancy word for the small 3 ounce (or smaller) cup. Demitasses can be made of ceramic, stainless steel, or glass, though porcelain is often the preferred material. The thicker the better, as they must retain heat well in that small 1.5 ounce beverage you craft.

Dosage: refers to the amount of ground coffee used to produce a shot of espresso. Usually 7 grams per 1.5 ounce single espresso shots.

Doser: found on many burr grinders, especially those designed to be used with espresso machines. A doser releases a measure of coffee grounds as you pull on a lever that is built into the side of the doser.

Filter Basket: is a metal, flat bottomed "bowl" shaped insert that fits inside a portafilter. The filter basket holds your bed of ground coffee and has a multitude of tiny holes in the bottom to allow the extracted beverage to seep through and pour into a demitasse cup or other receptacle. Most espresso machines include two filter baskets, a single basket and a double basket, though some machines feature convertible baskets that allow either a single or double shot of espresso to be produced from the same basket.

Frothing Tip: refers to the perforated tip on a steaming wand. These can have between one and four holes, and the holes can be either angled to the side or pointing straight down. They allow the steam from the espresso machine to be forced into tiny jets which agitate and heat milk at a great pace and also facilitate proper frothing when used to introduce air into the milk.

Portafilter: (also known as a groupo) the device that holds a filter and finely ground coffee and facilitates quick attachment to an espresso machine. Portafilters almost always feature a handle for easy handling, and spouts underneath to allow your espresso to pour into cups. On better espresso machines, they are made of copper or brass, and are coated with chrome. The handles are usually wood, bakelite, or plastic. On less expensive machines they can be aluminum, steel, or other metals and plastics.

Pull: a term used to describe brewing a shot of espresso. Comes from the action used to prepare espresso in the 1950s, 1960s, and beyond - pulling on a lever to cock a spring in a piston group on an espresso machine. Also Espresso Pull, Pull a Shot.

Steam Wand: is a visible, external pipe found on most espresso machines that is used to froth and steam milk, to provide hot water (on some machines), and heat espresso cups. Some also use the steam wand to heat water. It is controlled by a steam knob that opens and closes the steam valve inside the machine.

Shot: another term to describe a brewed espresso.

Tamp: (also tamping) the act of pressing and compacting a bed of loose, finely ground coffee, in preparation for brewing espresso. Different machines require different tamping methods. Steam powered espresso requires a leveling tamp, where piston lever, spring lever, and pump espresso requires a more compacting action. Some prefer a heavy tamping action (using 25 or more pounds of pressure), others prefer a light tamping action (less than 15 pounds of pressure exerted).

Tamper: the device used to tamp a bed of loose, finely ground coffee in a portafilter, in preparation for brewing espresso. Most espresso machines include a plastic tamper as an accessory, and after market tampers can be bought. They are measured in millimeter sizes, corresponding with the filter basket internal diameter of your espresso machine. Most commercial, prosumer, and high end consumer espresso machines use a 58mm tamper; other common sizes are 49mm, 53mm, and 57mm.

Thermoblock: in some espresso machines, the heating system is shaped similar to that of a car radiator, a series of heated metal coils or channels which water must pass through and become progressively hotter as it reaches the boiler.

The Espresso Machine

Let's start with the machine itself. What it does is force heated water through finely ground, packed (tamped) grounds. There are different types of machines out there, however. There are super-automatic machines, semi-automatics, manuals, pod machines and stovetops. What are they?

Super-Automatic

With just the push of a button, super-automatic espresso machines do everything necessary to brew the perfect shot of espresso, latte or cappuccino. They grind whole beans and deposit grounds into the filter, they tamp them and then brew them. Super-automatics have very powerful conical burr grinders with gear reduction systems and lots of settings to control the strength of your brew. Steaming and frothing milk is very easy with the frothing adaptor.

These machines are the easiest to use on the market, but they are also the most expensive type of machine. Some people say that super-automatic means less control and lower quality brews, however in actual testing, these machines produce a very consistent and quality espresso. You do lose some control over the brew pressure and tamping pressure, but these things are not necessarily bad and they can be compensated for with other features that allow you to adjust the grind settings, doser settings and serving size.

Semi-Automatic

Semi-automatic machines are the most popular style for home use because they produce excellent coffee and are fairly easy to use. The main difference between a super- and semi-automatic machine is that the semi-automatic machine doesn't grind the beans. Some super-automatics also rinse and clean themselves. Semi-automatics must be rinsed and cleaned by you.

Most semi-automatic machines use a boiler to heat water as it passes from a separate water tank, however, some models use a thermoblock system which heats water instantly and reduces wait time. Some have an "On/Off" switch users must push once to start extraction and then must push again to stop extraction. Other semi-automatics only require one push of the button to begin the extraction and then will automatically stop after a pre-programmed time has passed. Frothing with semi-automatics can be simple with some machines but can require some skill with others. This really depends on whether the machine comes with a frothing adaptor or not. The adaptor makes this process simpler for the user while the traditional steam wands that take a little bit of practice to perfect.

Manual

These old-world style machines look great and reflect the original prototypes invented to create a consistent and flavorful cup of espresso. Also called "Piston-Style" machines, they were the first models to use a hand pump capable of generating the 8 to 9 atmospheres of pressure that is necessary to force the water through the condensed grounds--the way to make a proper cup of espresso.

These machines are recommended for true coffee aficionados and those who enjoy the process and effort involved in making a cup of espresso the traditional way. These machines are tough to use and require a higher skill level than the automatic machines. Also, they have a small water tank, making them impractical for large gatherings. The cleaning and maintenance for manuals is fairly straightforward, however the outer finishes, typically brass, chrome or copper, will require special cleaning to remove tarnishing and fingerprints. The milk frothers are standard and powerful enough for home use.

It's also worth noting is that pulling down the handle to force water through the espresso grounds does require a bit of arm strength and the consistency of the pull is critical to the espresso quality.

Pod Machine

Pod espresso machines can be either semi- or super automatic machines. They are called "pod" machines because they use "pods" of prepared grounds that you simply throw away after use. No grinding or tamping. You buy more pods to make more coffee.

Something to note is that using pods means you will not be able to adjust the taste of your coffee through the dosage or the fineness of the grounds. Another drawback is that some machines require that you buy their brand of pod, so if you can't find a pod you love, you're out of luck. Brands like Nespresso and Tassimo will only function with their own brand of espresso pods.

Stovetop

For those on a budget who would still like to enjoy a home-brewed cup of espresso, stovetop espresso makers are a great option. These are very basic devices that are fairly simple to use and care for and require no electricity (this also makes them great for camping!) They also continue to be the most popular method for making espresso in Italy, which must say something for the authenticity of the results they produce.

The Espresso Grinder

The perfect cup of espresso begins with properly ground coffee beans. If you don't have a super-automatic machine and you plan to brew whole-bean espresso (the most flavorful way to brew), you will need to buy a grinder. Espresso beans need to be ground to a much finer consistency than typical coffee beans, so you can't buy just any grinder.

Well, I hope that gets you started with making great espresso. However, to make outstanding espresso, you should learn a little more! Head on our to our website to get a free eBook titled How to Make Espresso So Good You'll Never Waste Money on Starbucks Again!

http://makingespresso.com/

Espresso 101 - The Basics

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Starbucks Italian Roast Extra Bold Ground Coffee - 6 Pack

!±8± Starbucks Italian Roast Extra Bold Ground Coffee - 6 Pack

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