Better Coffee at Home

Have you been trying to streamline your monthly spending? You can save nearly 350 dollars a year by brewing coffee at home instead of buying it "to go".

Vancouver coffee roaster Vincent Gentile knows what goes into a perfect cup of coffee.

It starts with fresh roasted beans but doesn't end there.

"Do not store your coffee in the fridge or freezer humidity will ruin it. Only grind what you need for that day," said Vincent.

Vincent recommends buying a buy a grinder for a couple of reasons. First your coffee is fresher if you grind just before brewing and with a little trial and error you can adjust the grind to exactly suit your coffeemaker or machine .

"Too coarse what's going to happen is the water's going to go through and you won't get good extraction. If it's too fine the coffee will be over extracted and actually become bitter," he explained.

Every coffeemaker regardless of price promises great coffee but they don't all deliver.

To get a good cup of coffee, brewing temperature should be between 195 and 205 degrees.

Consumer Reports Bob Karpel found that not all coffeemakers get hot enough to extract the best from the beans and avoid a weak or bitter brew.

"We found, during our new brewing tests, that many coffee makers - even some costing more than 100 dollars - didn't perform nearly as well in these brew tests as others costing half that price," said Karpel.

Regardless whether your machine is this fancy or basic --- keeping it clean is vital

"Cleanliness is a huge factor because any old oil become rancid and will change the taste. It won't be as pure and clean," said Vincent

After testing 34 machines consumer reports gave top ratings to the Cuisinart Brew Central, model number DCC-1200. It costs $120. It's very convenient and it's programmable.

"The programmable feature is a really nice feature. It allows the coffeemaker to start up in the morning before you wake up, so that you have coffee when you get up," said Karpel.

For smaller portions, try something like a French press -- which allows you to get the water to the critical near boiling temperature every time -the key to a really great cup.

Whichever coffeemaker you own, consider trading the usual paper filter for a permanent metal one, it'll improve the taste and it'll save you money too.

Crib Recall

A crib is being recalled -- and parents are being urged to check the harness on a baby booster seat.

The "Newport Rubbed Black 4 in 1 Crib" -- manufactured in Indonesia -- is being recalled for excessive lead levels in its paint. The crib also comes with matching furniture. Consumers are being warned to stop using the set immediately. Over 100 pieces were sold across Canada between April 2006 and November 2008.

Up close this product has a distinctive look and that's part of the problem.

Apparently the lead was found in the red paint under the black paint on top which is "rubbed away" in places to reveal the red. It's a look with a drawback in this case.

If you've got one, you can contact the manufacturer Munire Furniture Inc in New Jersey for exchange and credit information.

A booster seat is also being recalled and parents need to take action to make sure their children are secure. The "Frontier Combination Harness-2-Booster Seat" has a potential problem with its shoulder harness. The straps can become detached from a metal yoke in the back -leaving your child at risk of slipping out in an accident.

The condition can be corrected by inspecting the back of the child seat and reattaching the harness straps. The manufacturer is also providing two rubber caps which fit on the back of the seat - as a more permanent solution. You can contact the manufacturer Canada Frontier here.