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If there is one espresso machine with significant anticipation of its release, is Faema’s Faemina home espresso machine.  Faema’s 42nd edition had a lengthy hiatus, bursts onto the scene, and joined the new era of espresso at home and possibly in your local cafe.  Being one of the most highly customizable yet automated machines, the Faemina has an onboard water reservoir that allows you to adjust the water temperature and has a built-in water softener to protect the machine from long-term damage and deliver a higher quality of water.   The best part is that you can use the Faemina for more than espresso.  Remember that highly customizable part?  Those customizations also include water flow and amount in addition to water temperature so you can make drip coffee and pour-overs, including the bloom, pause, and continuation of a pour-over you would do manually.  You can also adjust the height for different cup sizes.  This truly may be the best espresso machine that brings you the same caliber of coffee from your local cafe to your home.    The Faemina is expected to be available in the United States in Q2 of 2022.

When there are significant changes, shifts, or approaches to the process or new ways to use a product in an industry, it is considered a wave.  Coffee has had major shifts that disrupted the norm and brought about better and higher quality coffee.  The most significant wave known to date is the 3rd wave, which brought us powerhouses like Blue Bottle, Ritual, and La Columbe.  Where fair trade, the rise of the pour-over, and as some might not want to admit, the iced coffee became dominant.  That brings us to the fourth wave, which is already starting to show its influence in the industry.  This wave will be a significant shift in the industry and have five sections that will grow: Domestic reinvestment, the rise of specialty and single-origin coffee beans, a revival of legacy coffee regions, expansion of flavors, and cocktail and tasting bars.  ​Over the next few weeks, I will share with you what each of these means and how it will enhance your coffee experience.

Typically when you enter a restaurant, the basic espresso options are on the menu: cafe latte, cappuccino, and the winter favorite cafe mocha (Caffe Mocha), dark chocolate preferred, please. Then the menu changes based on the geographic location and the coffee shop’s sophistication, which is where things become interesting. Coffeehouses usually have a specialty drink like a bleu or lavender latte or their take on a popular favorite, like the peppermint mocha. However, almost all reputable coffee houses have a secret or underground menu. You can order these drinks, and the coffee shop should know how to make them if you ask. Let’s explore the current top 3 secret coffee menu items you should ask for. Flat WhiteThere has been an interesting debate about what flat white should be. Should it have one shot or two in it? This can vary from one country to the next, and our vote is for two. That aside, the flat white, popular in Australia and New Zealand, is only 6oz (approximately 160ml) tall, making it shorter than a latte, so you will taste much more of the espresso than a latte. The key here is the layer of foam at the top. A Flat White has a skinny layer or flat layer of foam (approximately 2mm), and there is more of a velvety microfoam texture. If you are looking for an espresso drink and want a little bit less milk than a latte, the Flat White is the drink for you. Cafe Lagrima If you love espresso yet don’t want a full shot of espresso because it’s just too late in the day or doesn’t want the full taste of an espresso shot, the Cafe Lagrima is for you. Usually 6oz in total, the Cafe Lagrima features only 1/2 a shot of espresso, also known as a touch, and the rest is warm milk. You can get a ristretto shot if you are fancy. The Cafe Lagrima is great if you don’t want a nice beverage with a touch of espresso flavor. King CortadoThe cortado is the best go-to travel espresso drink of all time. It’s compact, has tons of flavor, and is well balanced. The King Cortado is for those who need a little bit more for the long haul. A King Cortado is still equal parts of espresso and milk. However, the King Cortado features three shots (3oz) of espresso instead of two (2oz), with a matching amount of milk. If you are looking for a long drive or an action-packed evening, we recommend the King Cortado. 

A menu defines caffe.  Just as much as the people who go there, the beverages and pastries help create its character.  People visit from near and far to visit this place, because of what it has to offer, and to pick up their favorite drink or pastry.  A true caffe, like any business that is customer focused, will listen and occasionally create drinks based on feedback.  This is what my menu is, and will always be about, the customer.  I am not saying we will always make what is requested, and with every new permanent or seasonal beverage, food option or merchandise, we will keep our customers in mind.  With that said, you will probably see something that you have never saw before, or thought could be a beverage, and that in itself, is the character of Sipbie Caffe.  So when you see us, stop by and experience something different, and if you stay a while, that’s ok too.