Funny Coffee Product of the Day - Coffee Scented Car Air Freshener

Who says your car has to smell like pine trees, or new car smell? (One friend just showed me that THAT was the scent of his car's air freshener!)

Why not make it smell like what you REALLY love? Fresh Brewed Cup of Coffee Scent Air Freshener for those of us who just can't get enough Java in our lives. I'm all for this crazy coffee creation!

How to Make Espresso in a Stovetop Espresso Maker

This is certainly the most economical way to make yourself a steaming hot cup of espresso coffee at home! (Stovetop Espresso makers, also often referred to as a Moka Pot, can cost as little as $15.00! Or...even less if you get one for free from a friend who's replacing theirs with a pricey mechanical model!)

Here are a few
Easy Steps to Making Espresso at Home with a Stovetop (Moka) Espresso Maker:

1. Unscrew the two sections of the pot.
2. Fill the bottom of the moka pot with fresh, cold water. Some people prefer to use filtered water for this. Ensure that you don't fill up past the little pressure release opening on the side of the pot.
3. Add the espresso coffee grounds in the filter funnel on the top of the pot. You can also buy espresso coffee pods for this purpose, which are very handy - the pods hold freshly ground coffee, almost like in a teabag format. This ensures that you never get any loose coffee grounds in your finished espresso drink. (A co-worker recently told me about this and I thought it was brilliant, and makes homemade espressos really fast and easy to make!) If using loose coffee grounds, tamp down the coffee a bit with a coffee tamper meant for this purpose.
4. Experiment with the kinds of coffee you use in the pot - anything from a mild roasted coffee to a super strong blend...different times of day you'll also want to have different types, a stronger blend in the morning and a milder cup in the afternoon or evening...
5. Twist the two parts of the coffeepot together.
6. Place the espresso maker on the stove to get that coffee brewing!
7. Remove the moka pot from the stove once the espresso is finished - the pot will now have finished, brewed espresso coffee for you to enjoy!
8. Enjoy your espresso - either as is, or as the basis for all sorts of the delicious drinks in this blog...

Use a low or medium heat setting or flame on your stove when making stovetop espresso...it helps to prevent scorching and burning of your Moka pot. :)

Coffee Recipes - Grand After Dinner Coffee with Vodka and Grand Marnier

Looking for an extraordinary after dinner coffee drink to impress your friends? You've found it...this one has it all - vodka, grand marnier, and even a dollop of whipped cream on top. Because let's face it - EVERYTHING (including coffee) tastes better with whipped cream!

"GRAND" AFTER DINNER COFFEE

4 oz. vodka
4 oz. Grand Marnier
2 tsp. honey
Cinnamon, ground
Fresh brewed hot coffee
Whipped cream, as needed

Fill 4 tall wine glasses with coffee. Add 1 ounce of vodka and 1 ounce of Gran Marnier to each. Top each glass with whipped cream; pour 1/2 teaspoon of honey over each and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve. Serves: 4.