How to Outfit Your First Kitchen

When we go mini espresso machine off to college, we usually spend the first year or two living in the dorms. You don’t typically have many kitchen supplies in your dorm room; maybe a hot plate and a coffee machine, or a mini-fridge at most. Towards the end of your college career, you probably moved into your college apartment with roommates, but most people don’t have many kitchen utensils here either.

But then you graduate and move away and get settled into your first real home, and you have to start thinking about how to outfit your kitchen, and that’s what I’d like to talk about in this article today.

So What Exactly Do You Need in Your First Kitchen?

Well, first things first, you’re going to need some dishes and, more specifically, some plates, glasses, cups, bowls, and utensils like forks, knives, and spoons.

This is a pretty good starting point because you can usually buy a set of dishes in most department stores that are relatively inexpensive and will give you the basics of what you need.

But apart from these things, you’re also going to need some more heavy-duty bakeware items such as cookie sheets and cake pans and probably a cutting mini espresso machine board and things like that. Sure, you can get by without most of these things, to begin with, but eventually, you’re going to need them.

Next, we move into small appliances such as a mini espresso machine and a blender. You’re also going to need a solid microwave that works better than that tiny little thing you had back in college (as if that thing hasn’t burnt itself out by now!).

Depending on how much you cook and how much time you spend eating at home, you may or may not need a blender, a juicer, or a small countertop convection oven.

Of course, your new house will probably have a refrigerator and an oven and things of this nature, so you probably don’t have to worry about that.

Most people aren’t ready for the huge cash outlay that it costs to fully equip a kitchen, and the things that I’ve talked about in this article today are really just the tip of the iceberg, so be prepared or simply purchase items over time as you need them. That may be the best plan all the way around.

Stocking your first real kitchen can be a lot of fun, but it can also be tedious, so get someone to help you who knows exactly what you will need. You’ll save yourself a lot of aggravation this way, as well as a lot of money.

Thanks to TV and the internet, we hear all of these wonderful things about gourmet espresso cartridges. Specifically, we read rave reviews about its great taste, convenience, and cleanliness. People tend to get so lost in taste and convenience that they miss the important part; the price.

Convenience in an espresso canister

Several companies are taking the bandwagon and offering espresso cartridges. These cartridges are ideal for refilling your travel mug, favorite coffee mug, or for entertaining. The average price is around $ 7.50 for a pack of 10 cartridges. Each package is vacuum-sealed and typically contains two cartridges. The price per cup is around 38 cents.

The expensive part

Be sure to read for the word “expensive” as we’ll break down some prices for you. The end result may surprise you. You may even decide that investing in an espresso machine up front is worth the overall savings.

The average cost of a gourmet espresso is $ 4.50 for a large or large. Based on one espresso a day for 365 days a year, the annual expenditure is almost $ 1,650. It will probably be enough to cover your vehicle insurance for a year and spare the change.

The Lavazza Espresso Point machine is often referred to as “coffee in a can”. It’s packed with options and features to create the perfect gourmet espresso every time. Imagine taking 30 seconds of your day to brew an espresso instead of standing in line for 20 minutes. The Lavazza Espresso Point machine costs almost $ 700. A refurbished unit will cost around $ 300.

The Lavazza Espresso Point EP850 is a smaller version of the 700 machines. This compact machine is perfect for apartments or small office break rooms where space is at a premium. This machine does not contain as much water as the larger machine and requires more frequent refills. For a cup, this is probably the best machine costing around $ 150.

The Gevalia One Cup coffee maker is a more expensive unit and can be customized to fit a large office environment. Employees can easily drop off a few coins and receive exactly what they want, as often as they want. With prices starting around $ 1,800, it’s not the first choice for accommodation.

Employers can’t go wrong with a great espresso machine in the break room. Your coffee-loving employees often spend most of their break waiting for a good cup of coffee. Employee productivity is greatly affected by our lack of caffeine.

Keurig Personal Mini Coffee Maker: This machine costs just under $ 90 and brews one cup at a time. Special capsules or cartridges make this a very convenient way to enjoy just one cup at a time. Cartridges and capsules have a reputation for being more expensive than other brands.

Studies have shown that 5 in 20 employees who earn an average of $ 40,000 per year leave the office for coffee. These cafes last around 15 minutes on average when the company does not offer refreshments at work. In total, 39 days of work are lost as well as $ 6,240 per year.

Employees would see the benefits of spending 50 cents a cup instead of their usual trip to the cafeteria to spend $ 4.50 a cup. Employers recoup lost productivity with minimal investment. The added convenience of having an espresso machine in the break room is seen as a bonus; no pun intended.

What type of machine is needed for the cartridges?

A lot of people feel like they can put them in their normal coffee maker and voila. This is not the case. For best results, you should purchase the cartridge machine.

Why buy a machine that accepts specific cartridges?

For perfect coffee, of course! The cartridges require some pressure to get the perfect cup of coffee. Regular coffee makers simply let the water run through the coffee grounds. Some need a special machine to run the water and pierce the cartridge; others must reach a specific temperature before releasing the contents to achieve the perfect cup.

Does each brand of cartridge require its own manufacturer?

Most are brand specific, so check the labels. Remember when purchasing that brand-specific cartridge are of higher quality, just like any other product.