Dear Diva...

Dear Diva:
Does a water decaf process dilute the taste of the coffee? from Jane, New York

Dear Jane,

The idea that the “water” process washes out the flavor of the decaf coffee is a myth…
Our sponsor's method of decaffeination, called the SWISS WATER® Process, uses water that is pre-saturated with caffeine-free soluble coffee flavor compounds. In the decaffeination process, green beans (before coffee beans are roasted they are called “green”) are soaked in this pre-saturated water, and because caffeine is a soluble solid it migrates from the beans into the water, where it is captured by filters. The flavor and body of the coffee is maintained by closely monitoring the solids and caffeine levels. The resulting green coffee beans are 99.9% caffeine-free, ready to be dried, bagged and shipped to discriminating roasters everywhere. The SWISS WATER® Process uses only water, and is 100% chemical-free, whereas many decaffeination processes use harsh chemicals like methylene chloride or synthetically manufactured ethyl acetate, (even when they say they are water processed). For a further explanation with helpful visuals, check out SwissWater.com…

Dear Diva:
My coffee machine stays on for several hours, and the coffee’s not so good after a while. How long should coffee stay on a hot plate? from Denise, Calabasas, California

Dear Denise…

Several hours? YUK! That means you are drinking “cooked” coffee, girlfriend! Probably black bitter sludge! Now try brewing as little as possible, one cup at a time, if you can… If you want to brew a pot of coffee, please know that it won’t stay really fresh tasting when heated for more than 20 minutes. MAX. You could pour that freshly brewed pot of coffee into a thermos, or better yet, get a coffee machine that brews directly into a thermos…

Dear Diva:
Should I store coffee beans in the freezer, the refrigerator or are they okay on my kitchen counter? How long should I keep my coffee? from Natalie, Los Angeles, California

Dear Natalie,
Whoa girl! Maybe you are buying too much coffee to begin with! Seriously, buy what you can consume within a week to ten days and you can keep those coffee beans on your kitchen counter. (Ideally, that coffee is in an airtight container in a cool dry place, so the volatile oils of the coffee don’t escape and it goes stale.) If you need to store coffee for longer than that, freeze the portion you can’t consume. Then take out what you need on a daily basis. Or if you’ve got time, pre-pack individual amounts of coffee you can use each day and freeze those separate packets, taking one out for each pot. But remember—FRESH IS BEST!

Dear Diva:
I’m remodeling my kitchen and would like to invest in an espresso machine, but I don't know where to start. How much do I have to spend to get a reasonably good one? from Rebecca, Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Rebecca,
First, ask yourself what you’re really looking for in an espresso machine. If your tastes run to the popular “milk” drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, all you really need is a coffee brewing machine that will steam milk. Many of the less expensive machines can steam milk adequately. But they don't have the wherewithal to brew espresso at nine atmospheres of pressure (the level of pressure that more or less defines espresso). However, if your goal is to make and drink really great straight shots of espresso then you'll need an industrial strength machine and those generally run $500 or more. Visit your local culinary emporium or restaurant supply house to check out first-hand the many models available.