A solid, non-porous filter used in a porta-filter to back wash an espresso machine. Is also referred to as a blanks filter.
Author’s note:
Using a solid porta-filter forces the water back up in to the head, cleaning the espresso machine of any coffee grinds that were left from the previous shot(s).
Blind Filter basket in a portafilter
A blended mocha is similar to an iced mocha but blended with ice to make a slushy type of beverage. While there are numerous variations of a blended mocha that differ as much in name as they do in ingredients, the basis for all drinks is chocolate, espresso, milk and ice combined in a blender and often topped with whipped cream.
Author’s note:
Many chains use a powder base when they blend cold drinks. These are generally thickeners that improve the way the ingredients are combined. They are usually full of multi-syllabic words only a chemist would be able to decipher. Information regarding what is in the base couldn’t be found online by this writer. He wonders if glucose syrup and vegetable fat is not really all that fun to talk about.
If you want a blended mocha without a base you can ask for it and make sure they make it in front of you.
