Nespresso – Ann Street Studio

Give the Gift of Nespresso

December 8, 2016December 12, 2016Posted in LifestyleTagged coffee, drink, gift, holiday, Nespresso, nespresso usa, nespressousa5 Comments

I am all about practicality these days. Kevin and I love our Nespresso VertuoLine machine, the Evoluo, when we are back home in New York. Our schedules move at different paces throughout the day and some days I might want an afternoon pick-me-up, and other days he wants that extra cup in the morning without committing to an entire pot of coffee or french press that goes to waste.

Where it really shines is at parties. Guests may have an after dinner espresso or coffee (with or without caffeine) made to order without taking me away from the gathering or creating another thing to clean up after all the fun.

There are a variety of Holiday Grand Crus to choose from such as gingerbread and pumpkin spice cake which make it especially fun for the holidays! I like to keep mine in a beautiful pearl and silver box which makes each capsule seem like a little treasure plucked from a jewel box. I typically have my coffee black on the day to day basis for I find the rich, generous foam crema Nespresso is known for silky enough for me. If you prefer to have some milk, the Aeroccino milk frother is an amazing hands free way to make creamy foamed milk or preferred mixer for yourself or guests to stir in if they so please.

So when I came back this holiday season to do a little Christmas shopping and attend some friend’s holiday gatherings, I just thought about how practical the Nespresso Evoluo has been in our life and what great host gift it would be for friends not only in their personal lifestyle but in that moment, at the event they are hosting! “Open this one first” might be the most fun and exciting way to enter a loved one’s home and surprising them with a gift perfect for their lifestyle and which they can use right away for guests.

I can speak from personal experience to the peerless quality of Nespresso. Not only in the crema, and the coffees sourced from around the world but also in the sleek and sturdy design of the machine, which is important because it’s something you have to look at on a daily basis. We have enjoyed ours to a great extent and have gifted it to friends and family who have all reported back great pleasure especially in the practicality of meeting each person’s individual desires at the push of a button. Nespresso also has a painless recycling program which is a must for a capsule based coffee machine.

This holiday season let’s pay thanks to the amazing hosts from family members who spend days decorating and cooking, to friends who open their homes and hearts to us, to work colleagues who spend more time with us than almost anyone in our lives. I feel that it is important for people to feel appreciated by saying as sincerely as possible ‘thank you’ and if you are able, giving a gift fit for a great hostess. From a simple bouquet of flowers to wonderfully aromatic candles, or a special bottle of wine are all great starts but if you really want to give them something that will be a great addition to that night and all their days to come, think about Nespresso. It’s quite literally the gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Holidays to all the hosts and may we all give thanks in the coming together.

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Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso

December 4, 2015December 8, 2015Posted in LifestyleTagged cocktail, coffee, drink, food, food and drink, foodanddrink, holiday, molly shuster, mollyshuster, Nespresso, recipe6 Comments

Tis the season, as they say. With all the up coming parties and family get togethers, I thought it would be fun to do a classic twist on the simple pleasure and ease of Nespresso coffee as either a sweet delectable treat or seasonal cocktail to keep the party going. Whether it’s through holiday entertaining in good taste among family and friends or savoring a moment alone on the couch, these are great ways to be a stylish host without too much effort but maintaining the best quality.

The new VertuoLine Evoluo Machine creates both a splendid cup of coffee or shot of espresso with Nespresso’s signature layer of naturally-formed crema. My friend Molly who is a food writer and stylist developed two holiday coffee cocktails based on these functions of our machine. Of course, it would be a great idea to gift an Evoluo for the holidays and break in the machine with a fun treat like these!

Hot Mocha

1 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1 shot Nespresso espresso

handful marshmallows, to serve

dusting of white sparkling sugar & edible silver stars

to spike (optional)- add a shot of whiskey or bourbon

Heat the milk, cocoa and sugar in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat until steaming. Whisk to combine. Make a shot of Nespresso espresso in a large mug. Pour hot chocolate mixture over the espresso and top with marshmallows. Serve immediately. *Makes 1 Continue reading “Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso” →

Coffee Rituals with Nespresso

November 3, 2015November 10, 2015Posted in LifestyleTagged coffee, food and drink, foodandrink, home life, house, kitchen, lifestyle, Nespresso, nespresso vertuoline, vertuoline4 Comments

For the launch of the “Experience a cup above” with a great new campaign with George Clooney, Nespresso asked me to talk about what my daily coffee routine is and try out the lastest VertuoLine machine, Evoluo. So we packed it up and took it to the house upstate this past weekend.

I never really think about how important coffee is in my life even though it’s one of the great constants to my daily routine. In fact, considering I’ve been drinking coffee since I was a teenager (much to the disapproval of my parents I might add) I’d say on the record it is my longest dependent relationship. There was that one week I tried to quit caffeine but considering how well I did NOT handle that let’s just say I won’t be experimenting like that again. As you guys know here, nothing about my day-to-day life is constant, be it waking up in Paris or on a train to Machu Picchu, but without fail, I have to start my day with a cup of black coffee.

In the city, my husband makes me a cup of coffee every morning. It’s one of those small, sweet things that are what life is about. I sit in bed and spend about an hour “checking in with the world”. I listen to NPR, I read The Skimm and Business of Fashion and take a peek at my email before I decide it’s too overwhelming. If for some reason I’m up and about before he wakes up, he’ll always refresh my cup for me when he does emerge. There is nothing like the smell in the early morning light of that earthy, stark, foggy, richness of coffee.

On the weekends when I’m at home I’ll indulge in a second cup while I scroll Instagram or try to sit still to read a book. Trying the Nespresso was a fun experience with all the different blends and roast options and I learned that only the top 1-2% of the worlds coffee is chosen for the Nespresso Grands Crus and that gorgeous silky crema on top is in fact a sign of high quality coffee. I loved how beautiful the machine is, smaller than I was expecting which I like. I chose red, I love red in a kitchen, and according to Kevin it’s psychologically the most appetizing color. Or I just like the way it looks. They have a great recycle program too, something that is important to me. As a busy New Yorker, I do like to make things simple, less cleanup, less hassle, less time but not creating so much waste.

So that’s my coffee story. I’ve done it all from deli cups in New York to silver tray service at the St. Regis to coffee with ginger in Bali and everything else in between. But at home… this is how I like it- simple and lovely.

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