Seriously, we’re not sure if it can get much better. We need a moment. While we collect ourselves, check out Gail’s from box-to-cappuccino introduction to the R58.

But wait, did you ever think a bag of potato chips could give you the same amount of energy?

Arma Energy Snx and NRG have done the what many may consider to be the unthinkable: Created a crunchy + salty + caffeinated snack with a dash of taurine (an ingredient often found in energy drinks) to boost our mood.

Given that we often associate potato chips with being a couch potato, a high energy version definitely borders on ironic. But Arma claims that each 2-ounce bag comes with about 70 milligrams of caffeine while NRG says that every 3.5-ounce bag is ‘equivalent to 3 and a half cups of coffee, 350 mg of caffeine.’

However, with each bag also comes 290 calories. Compare that to an energy drink that has 80 mg of caffeine and 110 calories and a shot of espresso with only 5 calories and 75 mg of caffeine.

You can check out the differences between the older heating tech and the new heating tech (if you’re into that kind of thing) in this video. Then watch Gail take us through the BES840XL’s features and demonstrate functionality. The BES840XL will be available in mid-June 2012.

As you can see, we didn’t have great results, but we wont give up. Have you tried this prep method, or something like it? Please share your technique with the class!

Watch Brandi combine all this rightness into a delicious smoothie and then treat herself to a smoothie + Espresso Chocolate Cake Truffle breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup powdered milk
• 1 oz Monin Dark Chocolate sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon Monin Vanilla syrup
• 2 cups coffee ice cubes (we used Velton’s Twlight Blend — claro!)

Directions

1. Coffee ice cubes: Brew a pot of your favorite coffee and pour into an ice cube tray, freeze until frozen solid.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend about 30 seconds, or until 4 peaks appear in the blender. Be careful not to over blend.

Ingredients

• Espresso chocolate cake
• Chocolate frosting
• 1 tablespoon finely ground espresso (I used Caffe Umbria’s Terra Sana Blend)
• Coating chocolate

Directions

• Bake espresso chocolate cake
• Let cake cool for 1 hour, then crumble it into small pieces
• In a separate bowl, combine chocolate frosting with espresso and mix well
• Combine crumbled espresso chocolate cake and espresso chocolate frosting, stirring together until well incorporated
• Using your hands, pick up cake and frosting mixture by the tablespoon and roll into balls
• Place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes or the refrigerator for 1 hour
• When done chilling, melt the coating chocolate in a bowl
• Dip each ball into the chocolate, making sure it is fully coated before placing back on the cookie sheet

You just made cake truffles! While they are quite a bit of work, people thoroughly enjoy them. For example, I was told that this is the best recipe I’ve made so far for Seattle Coffee Gear. Success!

As an added bonus, it is super easy to take shortcuts on this recipe or scale it down. Only want 10 truffles? Then simply make 1/4 of the espresso chocolate cake recipe. Short on time? Buy some chocolate cupcakes at the store and just mix in the ground espresso with the frosting.

Also, don’t skip the freezer/refrigerator step. It’s what keeps them from falling apart as you dip them in the chocolate. Trust me on this one.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go make some awesome cake truffles!

Watch as Gail tests out this grinder, discusses its features, pros and cons and then demonstrates its grind quality.

Gail introduces us to a few different varieties of thermoblocks/thermocoils and shows how they compare to a standard boiler (specifically, the internals of the Breville Dual Boiler).

Special thanks to Breville for providing the sample internals for this video!

For heavy use environments, like cafes, this means that portafilter replacement is a standard cost of doing business, so La Marzocco created a stainless steel model aimed at decreasing that cost.

Watch Gail demonstrate this stainless steel portafilter with breakaway spouts and show us how it holds up over several weeks of use without cleaning. She also compares it to a standard chrome-plated brass version, as well. These do cost a pretty penny, but could definitely be worth it for folks that do need to regularly replace their portafilters.

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Ingredients

• 1 oz Monin White Chocolate sauce
• 1/2 oz Monin Roasted Chestnut syrup
• 2 oz espresso
• 10 oz steamed milk

Directions

1. Combine sauce and syrup together in a large mug.
2. Add the espresso shots and stir well to mix.
3. Top with steamed milk.
4. Dip an Espresso Graham Cracker cookie in it and enjoy!