Those who like to enjoy strong coffee can try double espresso, ristretto or lungo. They have the same preparation method, but the ratio of coffee beans to water is different. Therefore, each type has a different strength and bitterness. To get a new taste, additives are used: chocolate, cream, spices, alcohol.
Double espresso has strength and bitterness.
How did Doppio coffee come about?
The term "doppio" (emphasis on the first "o") is of Italian origin and means a double portion of an invigorating drink. For residents of Italy, this dose is considered the standard. They are sure that a smaller amount of grounds does not allow you to feel the natural coffee taste.
Doppio began to be offered in local establishments after the advent of improved models of coffee machines (1960s). At first, customers could order more espresso, but later other types of coffee appeared in larger quantities. In the 1980s–1990s. Thanks to the Starbucks chain, double volume gained popularity in America.
Mocaccino (Moccacino, mocha cappuccino)
Unlike other coffee varieties, moccacino originates from America, although it has an Italian name. It is also known in the world as chocolate latte. Its characteristic feature is the presence of chocolate, cocoa or chocolate syrup mixed with one part espresso and two parts hot milk.
The presence of a coffee machine undoubtedly makes it easier to prepare coffee, making it richer and more aromatic due to the fact that the beans are crushed immediately before preparing the drink. In addition, a certain pressure and required temperature are maintained. Experiment with flavors; perhaps your recipe from a coffee machine will be as good as traditional Italian espresso.
This is also interesting:
- Carob coffee machine The presence in the kitchen of equipment for preparing high-quality coffee is an indispensable attribute of a true connoisseur of this noble drink. Among the variety of different coffee makers and coffee machines, especially [...]
- Restaurant equipment Any business in the catering industry cannot count on successful operation without high-quality professional equipment. It is the right equipment for [...]
- Equipment for a coffee shop Any catering establishment, be it a small coffee shop or a large restaurant, is unthinkable without professional equipment. Its quantity, specialization and productivity […]
- Coffee machine rental Modern technologies make it possible to fully automate the process of making coffee, allowing you to get a cup of delicious drink literally within a few seconds. If previously the main […]
Composition and components of the drink
The classic drink is made from 100% Arabica beans. Modern recipes often use mixtures containing robusta. The latter provides the necessary strength and stable foam, but its amount should not exceed 15%. The exception is Italian blends, which include up to 20% robusta. Doppio is made from finely ground coffee (coarser than Turkish coffee) and medium or dark roast.
The second ingredient is water. If the grains are heavily fried, its temperature should be +88…+91 °C. For Viennese or Full City roasting, liquid heated to +90…+93 °C is suitable. You can add sugar and various spices to the drink.
Double espresso is made from finely ground Arabica beans.
Useful tips
Knowing the secrets of preparing coffee drinks, you will be able to achieve excellent results. When using a coffee machine, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Do not use overly finely ground grains. The grounds will end up in the finished drink. In addition, such powder clogs filters;
- the temperature should be set within 90-98 degrees;
- Be sure to warm up the cups before pouring the drink into them;
- grind the beans immediately before starting cooking;
- use purified, bottled water.
The coffee machine is an incredibly easy to use machine. The device performs almost all actions automatically. True, to prepare unusual, original drinks, human participation is still required. It takes very little effort to get an incredibly delicious coffee cocktail. You just need to follow the instructions.
Types of doppio
Coffee shops serve double servings of the following drinks:
- Espresso. The ratio of ground grains and water is 1:1.6–2.5, so its strength can reach 15%. It invigorates well and contains few calories (about 2 kcal). Thanks to the presence of essential oils, a foam is formed on the surface, reminiscent of a cream in consistency. Due to the high caffeine content, espresso doppio is not usually drunk in the evening. The optimal time is before 16:00.
- Ristretto. In Italy it may be called "corto". This is a more concentrated drink compared to the previous type, since less water is used for the same amount of crushed grains (1:1.5). The volume of a ristretto corresponds to a standard serving of espresso. With the correct preparation technique, the alkaloid does not have time to be released, so there is no bitterness in the drink. Saturation is provided by essential oils, due to which floral, chocolate, and citrus notes appear in the taste.
- Lungo. It is suitable for those who do not like strong coffee. To make it, use medium-roasted grains and more water (ingredient ratio – 1:2.6). As a result, lungo doppio is more watery and soft than the classic version. Its strength does not exceed 8% and there is no bitterness, but a burnt aftertaste appears.
Serving sizes vary from country to country. In America it is 70–80 ml. In Italy, the standard is 30–45 ml, in other European countries – 60 ml.
Coffee shops serve different types of espresso.
Submission secrets
Cups with thick walls are more suitable for doppio. It is important to drink it hot and not wait for it to cool down. The drink is served with a glass of cool water and sugar. Guests can add their own sweetener to suit their taste. You should drink water before drinking coffee, and also a little after each sip.
In this case, in no case should you leave even a sip of water to “wash down” the doppio. It is especially important to follow this rule in coffee shops, because such an action will be offensive to the barista. This is interpreted as follows: you didn’t like the drink and you need to get rid of the taste in your mouth.
Snacking on doppio is considered normal. Cheese, chocolate, fruit are suitable.
Properties of doppio coffee or double espresso
Depending on the blend and degree of roasting, 1 serving of the drink contains from 100 to 140 mg of the alkaloid. A small amount of this substance activates the synthesis of hormones, supports the intestines, heart, and central nervous system. In case of overdose, disturbances in the functioning of organs occur.
Beneficial features
Thanks to caffeine, doppio stimulates the nervous system and brain, as the production of important hormones is activated. The alkaloid improves mood, increases physical activity, eliminates insomnia and depression. A double dose has the following effects on the body:
- stimulates intestinal motility;
- increases the production of gastric juice;
- reduces inflammation;
- prevents liver cirrhosis;
- helps regulate the absorption of glucose and insulin;
- improves the condition of the lungs and cardiovascular system;
- prevents the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, diabetes mellitus.
Caffeine prevents the development of diabetes.
The drink contains antioxidants that neutralize the effects of free radicals.
Regular consumption of it in moderate quantities reduces the risk of stones in the kidneys and gall bladder. It helps prevent certain types of cancer (breast, colon, bladder).
Harm and contraindications for use
A person must control the amount of coffee he drinks, otherwise his health will worsen due to an excessive dose of the alkaloid. The daily serving of doppio should not exceed 1–2 cups. Its excess leads to overexcitation of the nervous system, which is accompanied by insomnia, irritability, headache, and loss of consciousness. Overdose is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- tachycardia;
- increased blood pressure;
- tremor of the hands and feet;
- convulsions;
- blurred vision;
- frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- hallucinations.
An overdose of coffee is accompanied by tachycardia.
Drinking the drink on an empty stomach will cause heartburn, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
It should not be used by those who have severe diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or bladder. Doppio, like a standard cup, can increase the tone of the uterus, therefore it is contraindicated during pregnancy. It is prohibited for nursing women and small children.
Contraindications for use
Doppio, like any other coffee, can bring not only benefits, but also harm. To avoid trouble, you should follow the recommendations:
- one serving of Doppio contains 80-120 mg of caffeine, this may have a negative effect on hypertensive patients or people with blood pressure problems;
- It is advisable to drink the drink before 16-17 hours, so that its tonic properties do not interfere with night sleep;
- It is preferable to finish a meal with a double espresso rather than start it.
For those who are allergic to caffeine, we recommend trying barley coffee drink or chicory.
For some illnesses you should not drink strong espresso and doppio.
Doppio coffee technology
The drink is prepared in a coffee machine, but at home you can use a Turk. In the first case, ground grains are poured into a holder and compacted with distemper. It is placed in the apparatus and filled with water. Then select the “pre-wetting” mode to pass water through the raw material for 1–2 seconds. You need to specify the required temperature, cooking time and turn on the machine. The heated cup is placed in a special chute with installed nozzles, from which hot liquid will pour out.
Doppio espresso or ristretto is easy to make in a Turk. Crushed grains are poured into a container and filled with water. It is placed on the stove to allow the liquid to boil. When foam appears, the Turk is quickly removed from the heat.
Principle of operation
The coffee beans must first be ground separately - some coffee machines have this function built-in. Next, you need to pour the ground beans into the tamper, pour water into the machine and start brewing coffee.
If you need a drink with milk, then while the coffee is brewing, you need to froth the milk in a cappuccino maker. It is not available in all coffee machines.
We talked about the basic principles and nuances of operation in the article “The design and operating principle of a coffee machine.”
Doppio recipes at home
The taste qualities of double espresso, lungo, ristretto differ due to the ratio of ingredients in the recipe, but the varieties also affect the taste. Therefore, to prepare the drink, it is better to opt for premium products from Illy, Musetti, Pellini, Fresco, Molinari.
Doppio espresso
14 g of finely ground grains are poured into the holder and pressed using a tempera. For those who like a stronger espresso doppio, you can take 16 g. Then pour in 60 ml of water and wait 25-30 seconds.
Doppio espresso is made from coffee beans and water.
Doppio lungo
To prepare double lungo, use the following ingredients:
- 120 ml water;
- 14 g coffee beans.
Lungo is made from medium-roasted, coarsely ground beans. To brew it, you will need a coffee machine. It is impossible to achieve the desired taste and aroma in Turk. The brewing process is no different from espresso, but 2 times more liquid passes through the beans. Waiting time – 30 seconds.
To brew doppio lungo, you will need a coffee machine.
You can reduce bitterness using a paper filter. Essential oils and foam settle on its walls, so the drink loses its bitterness.
Doppio ristretto
For this type of coffee, take the same amount of beans (dark roast) and 30 ml of water. The cooking method is the same as the previous options. The double ristretto will be ready in 10–15 seconds. It is not customary to add sugar to it.
Characteristics
There is plenty of caffeine in doppio, so it is important to remember to use moderation. We present some important parameters of the drink in the tables below.
Characteristics of coffee suitable for doppio
| Bean varieties | The optimal blend is: Arabica of several varieties; it is permissible to add robusta, but no more than 20%, more often – 10-15% |
| Roasting | Medium and dark |
| Grinding | Fine espresso or slightly larger |
| Coffee machine pressure | From 9 bar – for the espresso chamber, 15 bar – pump operating pressure |
How to make a drink even more interesting
Chocolate, whipped cream, and sweet toppings are often added to the classic drink. Vanilla syrup is considered universal, caramel and almond syrup are suitable for espresso, Irish cream is suitable for ristretto. If doppio was prepared using a blend with robusta, you can use citrus syrups. They will remove excess bitterness. In order not to spoil the doppio, it is enough to add 1–2 tsp. sweet concentrate. Spices will give you new taste sensations:
- cinnamon;
- cardamom;
- Cayenne pepper;
- carnation;
- ground ginger;
- nutmeg.
You can add chocolate or vanilla syrup to the drink.
In Latin America and Germany, berries are often placed in a cup. A few drops of alcohol will transform the taste of a double ristretto or espresso. Liqueurs (Amaretto, Baileys, Frangelico, Kahlua, Grand Marnier), cognac, vodka, tequila are suitable for strong coffee.
On the plantations, each worker collects up to 700 kg of grains per day
Coffee beans are collected only by hand.
It is often mistakenly believed that coffee berries grow on bushes. Valuable plant materials used to prepare an invigorating liquid are collected from trees. Plants can grow up to ten meters and develop a gorgeous, huge crown. It is difficult to collect berries from large trees; special equipment is required, so already 3-4 years after planting the seedlings, pruning begins. The optimal plant height is 3-4 meters.
Collection is carried out only by hand. The beans are sent into large wicker baskets that can hold about 100 kg of raw materials. One worker can collect up to 7 such baskets per day. The payment for the work is quite high - 8-10 dollars for one braid.
You can harvest up to 1.5 thousand berries per year from one mature coffee tree.
The age of coffee trees is up to 70 years. The largest number of fruits are harvested in the first ten years after the start of fruiting. Every year the plants produce fewer and fewer grains, so it is not advisable to keep the trees for a long time - 20-25 years after planting they are uprooted, the soil is fertilized and young seedlings are planted.
Expresso Macchiato
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons ground Arabica.
- 200 ml. hot water.
- Fat milk can be 5% fat - 250 ml.
- Sugar to your taste.
Cooking method:
- The list of ingredients that will start the process of making latte macchiato coffee is very modest and without any strange products.
- Now let’s go through the steps of preparation step by step, the instructions for home baristas are as follows
- First of all, you must brew a strong espresso, and it is on its basis that our aromatic drink is prepared.
- Pour all the crushed Arabica beans into a Turk and add hot water.
- Move the resulting “slurry” and place the Turk on the stove, turn on the gas and cook.
- Cook until the “brew” begins to boil.
- We repeat this procedure with “under-boiling” 5 times.
- All manipulations were carried out, the espresso was removed from the stove and set aside.
- You can add sugar.
- Our 5% fat milk should form a nice, fluffy foam in the drink.
- If you took milk with a fat content of 2.5%, then you would not achieve foam.
- Pour the milk into a saucepan and put it on the stove to warm up.
- Heat it up and remove it as soon as the boiling process begins.
- We take a kitchen whisk in our hands and begin to actively whisk the milk in the saucepan.
- Beat until foam forms.
- Foam has formed, pour it into a tall glass.
- Now there will be a scheme for mixing two ingredients, we act carefully and slowly, because this is the only way to get a delicious latte macchiato with beautiful layers that smoothly flow into each other.
- You need to pour the espresso in a thin stream into the tall glass where the milk foam is located.
- Raise the saucepan with coffee higher and then everything will work out.
- The espresso should penetrate straight into the middle of the glass, turning the foam a brownish tint.
Enjoy your coffee!
