Many people cannot imagine a day without a coffee break, but not everyone knows how to brew coffee correctly. In the process of preparing a natural drink, each stage has a special meaning. A little patience and dexterity will allow you to reveal the aromatic blend, feel the fullness of the taste and enjoy the coffee shop product at home.
The classic recipe involves preparing an invigorating drink from coffee beans and water. Sugar, milk, cream, and chocolate are used as flavoring additives. Gourmets add spices, liqueurs and cognacs.
The main conditions for brewing delicious coffee are:
- quality grains;
- clean water;
- suitable utensils;
- compliance with cooking techniques.
Every detail, which in its own way determines the content of the finished drink, deserves attention.
What you will need
To ensure that the result does not disappoint you, you must take something into account.
- Water. It must be clean - ideally artesian, spring or well non-rigid. If there is none, at least bottled or filtered. From the tap it is not suitable, since impurities noticeably distort the taste of the finished drink.
- Coffee beans or ground. The answer to the question of how to choose coffee for home brewing depends on the result you want to get. For espresso, it is better to try a mixture of Arabica and Robusta. Any finely ground Arabica is suitable for Turkish coffee. And the taste options are completely limitless - from light sourness to floral notes. To get the best one, experiment with the roast level.
- Sugar, salt and spices. Personally, I don't like unsweetened coffee, so I add cane sugar. It is less harmful than refined white and does not spoil the taste of the drink. Salt on the tip of a knife will neutralize the bitterness if you find it too pronounced. At the same time, the taste of the salt itself is not felt in the finished drink.
I always make coffee with ground cinnamon and cardamom. They give the drink warm spicy notes and a light citrus aroma. Some people like to season their coffee with black pepper – it turns out to be a spicy, warming option for winter. Fresh or ground ginger is also a very popular addition and enhances the taste well.
- Milk or cream. Many people prefer to soften the taste of strong coffee and drink it with milk. The result is a nutritious drink that also neutralizes the effects of caffeine.
Now that everything you need is prepared, let's look at popular household appliances that will help you brew coffee correctly.
Drip coffee maker
This is one of the simplest and most common household appliances. It will help you prepare medium-strength black filter coffee. This drink will be similar to an Americano. You will not be able to brew cappuccino or Turkish coffee in a drip coffee maker.
For such a device, it is better to use beans that are not very finely ground, medium or strong roasted. Recommended proportions: 3 tsp per 250 ml of water. ground coffee. This portion of the drink will take about 2.5 minutes to prepare.
The undoubted advantages of this device are its simplicity and reliability. The disadvantages include the inevitable loss of the subtle aroma and exquisite taste of elite varieties.
Purover
A method similar to the Chemex brewing method. The difference is that when a filter is inserted into a Chemex, it must fit snugly into the flask, whereas a pour-over has small raised grooves in the funnel into which the filter is inserted. When the filter is inserted, you need to pour water on top and make sure that it fits only along the grooves and that there is oxygen access inside. A pourover is a regular funnel into which a filter is inserted. You can put it in a cup or a teapot at once - wherever is convenient for you. Add 8-9 grams of medium-ground coffee per 100 grams of water. Another difference between a pour-over and a Chemex is that it is smaller and more compact, so you can put it anywhere and take it with you. In 4-5 minutes your coffee is ready. The price of a pourover is up to 2000 rubles.
Geyser coffee maker
This is a simple, small-volume device that does not require connection to an electrical outlet. It consists of a lower water tank, a filter for coffee powder and an upper collector for the finished drink. Steam is generated at the bottom of the device when heated. It gradually forces hot water through the coffee filter to the top.
Water should be poured into the lower reservoir when it has just boiled. This will help avoid a metallic taste in the finished drink and reduce preparation time. A medium grind and a little finer will do. The coffee in a geyser coffee maker is not as strong as in a coffee machine or Turkish coffee maker, but quite rich and dense.
Main types of grinding
It makes no difference how the coffee beans are ground, what matters is the particle size and consistency.
Fine and medium grinding are more suitable for cooking in a Turk. This is an oriental classic when, after emptying the cup, a lot of suspension remains at the bottom, which is used for fortune telling. To obtain such particles, it takes 15-20 seconds of operation of an electric coffee grinder.
To obtain a medium grind it takes 10-13 seconds of work, for a coarse grind it takes 7-10. Brew in coffee machines and coffee makers, since larger particles do not clog filters.
Read more about grinding methods in the article “Types of coffee grinding and what it affects.”
Coffee machine
This is perhaps the most complex of household appliances for brewing coffee at home. Steam pressure forces water through a layer of ground coffee and brews it at a high temperature. The taste of the drink is strong and rich. These coffee machines have an automatic or manual cappuccino maker.
The water container usually has a volume of 1 to 1.8 liters, and the milk tank has a capacity of up to 0.4 liters. You can prepare a couple of cups of aromatic espresso, double latte or cappuccino with thick milk foam.
However, despite the almost complete automation of the process, the coffee machine requires certain skills and dexterity. She is quite critical of the freshness of coffee beans and the degree of grinding. Ideally, no more than a month should pass after roasting.
Not only the taste, but also the character of the strait depends on the freshness of the grains. You will also have to learn how to properly dose, distribute and compact coffee powder in a cone.
If the streams of liquid quickly turn pale, and the taste of the finished drink seems watery and sour, use a finer grind. If streams appear late and the coffee tastes bitter, coarse the grind.
The wide range of models of modern coffee machines excludes the formulation of any universal recipe for making coffee. You will have to adapt to each specific model by trial and error. But, following the manufacturer’s recommendations and relying on your own taste sensations, you will find the best option for the drink.
If you don’t already have such an appliance in your kitchen, read our article about choosing a coffee machine.
How about a cup of instant coffee?
Instant coffee contains no more than 15% coffee itself. The rest is flavoring additives, preservatives, dyes, oxidizing agents, etc. There is absolutely nothing healthy in this coffee, but rather the opposite. Instant coffee is often the cause of stomach ulcers, gastritis and cellulite. Instant coffee contains a very harmful substance – benzopyrene resin. This resin is an oxidizing agent and it has a strong effect on the body.
As for drinking natural coffee, in moderate quantities it does not harm, but benefits a healthy person. The only contraindication is high blood pressure. A harmless amount of coffee for the body is a cup or two a day.
French press
Perhaps this is the simplest and most convenient device that is suitable even for beginners. It can also be used in an office where there is no coffee machine or stove. To prepare the drink you need to take 3.5 tbsp. l. coarsely ground coffee and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over it.
After 3-4 minutes, foam forms on the surface. After this, the coffee needs to be stirred, covered with a plunger and left to brew for 5-6 minutes. Then gently lower the plunger and pour the finished drink into a cup.
Coffee cools quickly in a French press, so make only as much coffee as you can drink at one time. In addition, the brewing process continues after you lower the plunger. Do not overcook the drink in the French press to avoid excessive bitterness.
If you want to make green coffee, a French press is the best option. This variety cannot be boiled, as it loses its main valuable qualities. In addition, green beans are ground coarser due to their greater hardness. The French press creates the optimal temperature for obtaining a healing drink.
An article about French press will appear on the site soon, subscribe to updates.
Making coffee in an AeroPress
Choosing an Aeropress
The AeroPress is one of the newest ways to brew coffee. The device was invented in 2005 by Aerobie and has become so popular that since 2008, annual championships have been held for brewing coffee using the AeroPress.
There are no difficulties with choosing an AeroPress: the device is quite simple, the product configuration may change slightly from year to year, the manufacturer adds additional stirring spoons, replaceable filters, and funnels. The reason coffee brewing competitions are possible is because of the intricacies of using this simple device.
Cooking in an AeroPress
Grind 1.5 tablespoons of coffee and pour into the flask. The grind should be a little coarser than for Turks. You need to prepare 200 ml of hot water - not boiling water, the temperature should be about 90 °C. If you have a kettle with a thermostat, you can select the exact temperature. If not, wait three minutes after the kettle has boiled.
Fill the coffee with water. And from this moment the magic begins. The taste and strength of the drink depends on how long you keep the coffee in the flask and when you start stirring. It is no coincidence that a special application was released for iOS, telling how long coffee should be kept in an AeroPress.
AeroPress Timer
Beloved Robot, LLC
Price: 449.00 rubles
Download
Price: 449.00 rubles
Owners of Android smartphones are a little less fortunate: they will only be able to use a universal application that covers different methods of making coffee. There are also tips for Aeropress owners.
appbox fallback https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hashbang.coffeepro&hl=ru&gl=ru
After the coffee has been standing for one to three minutes, put the filter on the flask, turn the Aeropress over and slowly push the coffee through the filter into the cup. If the piston moves hard, next time use a slightly coarser grind of coffee. The cooking process is shown in detail in this video.
The AeroPress is very easy to use, compact, easy to clean, coffee brews very quickly, and fine adjustments open up a truly limitless field for experimenting with the taste of your favorite drink. The only drawback is that there will be no coffee foam with this brewing method, since the water is heated separately from the beans.
Turka, or cezve
This is my favorite way. It seems to me that coffee prepared in a traditional Turkish coffee pot on the stove turns out to be the most delicious. This is a special ritual, and if you act step by step, taking into account all the subtleties, the result will exceed expectations. Of particular importance for this method are:
- Turk, its shape and material;
- degree of grinding of coffee beans;
- at what heat and for how long is the drink brewed?
I’m ready to share a simple step-by-step recipe that I use myself.
Step 1. Select and prepare Turka
The material of this vessel can be different - stainless steel, ceramics, clay, copper. The latter is preferable. The copper pot heats up evenly and is insensitive to sudden temperature changes. It can be washed immediately after use.
The inner surface must be coated with food-grade tin or silver. Its safety must be carefully monitored to avoid chips and scratches. Copper, when heated, releases harmful compounds that should not enter the body.
The bottom is preferably wide and thick, and the neck is narrow. The optimal volume is 1-2 cups. Before you start cooking, it is recommended to warm up the turk or cezve so that the aroma and taste of the coffee are revealed more fully.
Step 2. Add coffee and spices
Pour finely ground coffee into the Turk at the rate of 2 tsp. with a slide of 150 ml of water. Often large manufacturers give their own dosage recommendations, which are written on the packaging. If you love spices, now is the time to add them, as well as sugar. Now you need to wait a few minutes for the mixture to warm up and release its aroma.
Since the copper Turk cools down quite quickly, bring it periodically to the fire for a few seconds. Be careful not to let the coffee powder and sugar start to burn. Otherwise, instead of a fragrant drink with a caramel tint, you will end up with a bitter liquid with a burnt sugar taste.
Step 3. Pour water
Professional baristas and experienced amateurs insist that the water must be poured cold. The drink should be warmed up gradually so that the taste and aroma are rich and the beneficial substances are better preserved. To be honest, I don't always do this. If there is not enough time for a “ritual according to the rules,” I fill it with hot water. At this stage, the drink can be stirred only once.
Step 3. Cook
Strictly speaking, you cannot brew coffee. It needs to be heated without boiling. It is no coincidence that Turkish coffee is prepared on hot sand. In this way, the optimal temperature is obtained - the drink does not boil, but manages to achieve the desired consistency and readiness.
In principle, this process can be organized at home. You need to take a large frying pan with high sides, preferably cast iron. Pet stores sell purified fine sand for aquariums - it is perfect for a home “oriental coffee shop”.
Pour it into a frying pan and heat it evenly over low heat. We immerse the Turk in it and smoothly move it in a circular motion, observing the formation of foam. As soon as it begins to rise, we remove the Turk from the sand. Let it settle and warm it up again in the sand.
Repeat the “boiling” cycle three times. Then let the finished drink sit for a couple of minutes. During this time, the coffee grounds will settle to the bottom and the coffee can be poured into cups. If you don't want to wait, just add 2 tsp to the Turk. cold water. The result will be the same - a drink without grounds.
Of course, you don’t always have time to make coffee at home this way. In everyday life we use a regular stove. But the principle is the same - let the foam rise three times over low heat and do not boil.
Step 4. Pour and drink
Some coffee lovers recommend pouring boiling water over their coffee cups before pouring the drink into them. This way it will retain heat longer. Others recommend drinking it with cold water to cleanse your taste buds and enjoy the drink to the fullest. And at the same time, wash off the coffee pigment before it has time to be absorbed into the tooth enamel.
You can add milk to the finished drink to soften the effect of caffeine. Or you can add a slice of lemon to enhance the invigorating effect. Just do not forget about a sense of proportion - no more than 4 cups a day, so as not to harm your health.
