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The official title is quite a mouthful! Therefore, for my writing purposes, I will refer to this as the DREO BaristaMaker for simplicity. It is a catchy term, so I won’t downplay that in the slightest, as it does implicate the ability to be your very own Barista. Technically, it’s a Frother, but that doesn’t really tell the whole story.
The active crowd that I swim, run, ride, or ski with are always looking for ways to make those individual sports into a team atmosphere. Hence, we crush each others spirits with intense competition. Afterwards, we usually make peace, and it’s always accompanied by a good cup of coffee or cappuccino. It’s a simple pleasure, and we appreciate the efforts of the professional Baristas.
All that said, there are two reasons I am going to enjoy my efforts at home to hopefully replicate a perfect cappuccino. First of all, I work out almost every day which does include quite a few solo efforts, and I would likely just go home to make my morning Java. Secondly, I am a frugal Dutchman who is also very budget-conscious, thrifty, value-minded, or as some may say, cheap! And in that sense, there’s something to be said for creating your own caffeinated morning cup o’ Joe.
Out Of The Box
A package on the front porch is always fun and exciting. We are not the family that orders everything on-line, so the novelty is still there. The box does kind of give away what’s inside, but nonetheless, a new coffee tool to add to the kitchen arsenal is a treat. Instructions can be had online or it comes with the step-by-step instructions. They are easy to follow, and after getting used to the touch of the buttons, it’s fairly straightforward on how to operate the Dreo BaristaMaker. And let it be said, that touch can be very minimal. My wife gets frustrated really quick and she started pushing the buttons hard. It’s really not necessary, and a light touch of the Menu and Start/Stop buttons will suffice.
Technical Features of the
- 8-in-1 Versatility for Endless Drinks
- Café-quality Silky Smooth Froth
- Perfect for Dairy and Non-dairy Milks
- Multi-stage Frothing Enhances Flavor & Prevents Scorching
- Simplified Easy to Clean Frothing Experience
The Dreo Baristamaker Frother In Action
The above photo is of my last Coffee shop Cappuccino. It’s a treat, but at $5 a pop or more, I hope to make them at home from now on. I will strive to become a Barista Artist, but I’m not holding out too much hope.
The display is pretty straightforward. The top row is for Dairy, the middle row is for non-Dairy, and the bottom row is more for the mixes (Chai or hot cocoa powder). Initially, I was trying to push the individual buttons to get them to function. Turns out, you have to press the “Menu” button to “scroll” through the various options. It does remember the last function you have selected, so the need to always scroll through is not necessary. Going from left to right, the ‘Flower’ art button is for creating a smooth foamy milk that in theory allows you to make a pretty coffee creation. The middle button is for a thicker creamier concoction; think Macchiato or Crema. That’s more my style, so that’s seeing lots of action.
The far right buttons are for any of the above mentioned options, but just in an ice cold version. I’m not an iced coffee fan, so I have actually not even made one of those yet. If that’s your thing, I’m sure they will taste just as good as the hot coffees I am dabbling with.
As you can see above, the Dreo BaristaMaker comes with two attachments. The taller propeller-looking attachment is for the creamy milky option to create that Latte art. The smaller whisk-like looking piece is for the foamy creations. My daughter enjoys a Chai tea, and she is now able to make that by herself with the lower mix version, and this also uses the propeller attachment. She is a fan, as she used to either microwave her milk which could bubble over real quick, or in a pan on the stove top. That one requires constant supervision and stirring, and can result in the bottom of the pan getting burned. Hence, the Dreo is now a fan favorite in our household.
There are line demarcations inside the metal cylinder to indicate how much milk you should add. It’s a guide, but I usually use less as I like more coffee and less milk.
I think I need to take a Coffee Latte art seminar (or really pay more attention to the Youtube videos), because I have yet been able to represent anything that looks halfway pretty at this point. The espresso with foam on the other hand has been lovely, especially with a dash of cinnamon and/or nutmeg.
Final Coffee Aroma Inspiring Thoughts Of The DREO BaristaMaker
High end coffee for an excellent value is something I can appreciate. And for under $60, you’ve got nothing to loose to also create your own version of a Latte, Macchiato, Cappuccino, Ristretto, Flat White, Au Lait, Con Leche, Crema, Cortado, or whatever else you may fancy. I am having great luck making my Espressos with a nice smooth dollop of creamy milk (almond or dairy). The Dreo Baristamaker is definitely worth the bang for its buck. In less than 10 coffee creations, the frother has paid for itself versus going to your local coffee shop. That’s less than two weeks for many of you. Pick one up! You’ll be glad you did. For more information and purchase, visit dreo.com or amazon.com.