How to properly prepare coffee in a coffee machine
The most convenient device that allows you to quickly cope with cooking is a capsule device. There is no need to grind anything or measure the required amount of tea leaves.
Other types of units:
- semi-automatic and automatic - for several types of coffee;
- carob: instead of a reservoir, a horn is built in, complemented by a cappuccino maker - they independently froth the milk using hot steam;
- drip - for preparing filtered drinks.
Regardless of the types of coffee and the method of preparation in the coffee machine, you must first prepare the unit. Be sure to place it on a stable surface and only then press the “Start” button. The machine enters mode within 15 minutes. Not all units operate silently. A slight cracking or noise during installation is normal.
The reservoir is washed. Pour in cold filtered water, run it through and fill it again. Ground tea leaves are poured into a special compartment for coffee. Only then select the desired program and press “Start” again.
Espresso and how to prepare it
Espresso is pure energy and the taste of natural coffee. They drink it more to achieve an invigorating effect than for pleasure. The volume of the drink is no more than 50 ml.
How to brew coffee in a coffee machine is clear: we prepare 10 g. ground coffee and a little water, set the coffee machine to espresso mode and wait.
If you want to make a double espresso, double the amount of coffee. If you prefer a weaker option, add more water.
Espresso is served in a small coffee cup without milk or sugar.
Espresso is the basis for all coffee drinks, so if you learn how to properly make coffee in a coffee maker, maintaining a balance of taste and strength, half the battle will already be done.
Cold coffee drinks
Chilled coffee can only be brewed in a capsule coffee machine. In other units, the function of supplying water at a temperature of 15 °C is not provided. Therefore, the drink is first brewed in the usual way, and then left to cool.
Before further use, it is necessary to filter the grounds. If the foam has settled, it is restored using a French press or a hand whisk.
Glasse (affogato)
There are many ways to make an ice cream drink.
If you use the classic recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- espresso - 3 servings, 120 ml;
- ice cream - coffee creme brulee or coffee ice cream;
- dark chocolate - a few squares.
Step by step recipe:
- Three servings of coffee are brewed in the coffee machine. Cool; you can use ice to speed up the process.
- Strain the drink through a fine sieve.
- Pour into a glass goblet.
- They put out ice cream.
Attention!
Top with dark chocolate shavings.
Frappe
The easiest way to prepare it is to chill the espresso by adding crushed ice. But you can serve the drink in the form of a cocktail.
To do this, fill a French press (or shaker) with 35–40 ml of ready-made coffee, pour in the same amount of cold mineral water and 100 ml of milk. Everyone is whisked. You can add sugar for taste. Add a few ice cubes before serving.
Ice latte
This is also a cold coffee cocktail. You can use a shaker or French press for preparation. It is very difficult to achieve density with a whisk.
Ingredients:
- 1 part cold espresso;
- 2-3 parts milk;
- to taste - syrup;
- 1 part milk foam;
- if necessary, ice cubes.
Step by step recipe:
- The milk is heated to a temperature of 70 °C and poured into a glass for serving.
- Add syrup without stirring.
- Chilled coffee is poured down the wall.
- Decorate with foam.
Attention!
The maximum number of ice cubes per serving is 3 pieces.
Espresso tonic
The base of the drink is ice. Fill a glass with a volume of at least 350 ml with large crumbs. Then a portion of tonic with a refreshing taste is poured into it - of your own choice.
Leave to brew while a double espresso is brewed in the coffee machine. A glass of ice is placed under the tap of the coffee machine - and a refreshing cocktail is immediately served.
Thai coffee (Vietnamese coffee)
There are different options for a cold, refreshing cocktail. But it is impossible to cook it without ice.
Ingredients:
- standard serving of double espresso - 35–40 g;
- condensed milk - 15 g;
- cane sugar - 1 tsp. with a slide;
- cream - 50 ml;
- water - 1 glass, 100 ml, preferably non-carbonated mineral water;
- ice - 2/3 cup.
Recipe step by step:
- Fill the coffee machine with the required amount of brew and turn on “Start”.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add sugar and condensed milk, let stand while whipping cream into foam. You can use a blender or mixer; if you have a cappuccino maker, it’s even more convenient.
- Pour espresso into ice chips.
Attention!
A cap of cream is formed just before serving so that it does not settle.
Delicious espresso coffee recipe
The simplest recipe for making espresso at home is to brew coffee powder from ground beans. To brew a popular coffee drink, follow these steps:
- change the filter or install a disposable element;
- pour water into the desired compartment;
- add the ground coffee ingredient;
- turn on the device.
Depending on the type of device, espresso will be prepared by passing steam through a coffee base and supplying water under pressure.
Interesting! Napoleon Bonaparte was a famous coffee lover. He preferred to drink his favorite strong drink in the morning with the addition of ice cream.
Homemade espresso can also be prepared in a cezve. To do this, pour coffee powder, a pinch of salt and sugar to taste into a heated vessel. Fill everything with cold water and stir several times until foam forms.
What coffee is best for a coffee machine?
Experienced baristas create the desired taste themselves, combining Arabica and Robusta. But the average consumer can buy ready-made coffee.
Best brands:
- Lavazza Caffe Espresso. Hand roasted, ideal combination of taste and aroma, stable foam, long aftertaste.
- Egoiste Noir. Despite the fact that it contains only Arabica, it is not recommended to add Robusta to increase the strength.
- Paulig Espresso Barista. This coffee is 85% Arabica. Suitable for all coffee machines, regardless of operating principle.
To prepare a tasty, aromatic drink, you cannot use old grains and tap water. All of this affects the final taste of the coffee.
For home use, it is better to purchase a semi-automatic coffee machine. It makes it easy to prepare high-quality espresso. In addition, it costs less and is easier to care for.
Grinding beans
To make espresso you need a very fine grind. Thereby:
- the surface area of contact with water increases,
- wetting is accelerated,
- Sufficient resistance is maintained to establish the desired water flow rate.
Make sure there are no lumps in the powder.
This allows you to retain more aromatic oils. And studies have also shown that half of the CO2 was released five minutes after grinding. CO2 is needed for more proper filtration and coffee foam.
Advantages and disadvantages of the device
Drip coffee makers have many advantages, which is why they are so widely used. The main advantages of this technique include the following:
- Affordable price. If we compare this technique with its other types, then in terms of accessibility it is almost the first on the list. Carob and capsule types are much more expensive, but people can afford the drip version, even with low incomes;
- Easy to use and maintain. The whole structure is quite easy to understand its structure. That's why its use is also simple. You just need to pour in water, place the filter with coffee and start the process;
- You can make a lot of coffee. Unlike some coffee machines, which are capable of preparing only 1-2 servings at a time, coffee makers are capable of preparing several servings at once, depending on their volume;
- Possibility of maintaining the temperature of the drink for some time. The auto-warm function will keep the drink fresh and warm for a long time. This function is especially good in offices, where workers can drink coffee throughout the day;
- There is no sediment at the bottom of the finished drink;
- The device can prepare not only coffee, but also aromatic tea.
Drip coffee makers have more advantages than disadvantages
However, as usual, any device has some disadvantages. In a drip coffee maker they are as follows:
- Filters will need to be changed quite often as they become dirty. This is especially true for those models that use paper options.
- The structure will need to be washed frequently after each use;
- The coffee is not always strong and hot. The consumption of coffee product is quite large. Therefore, gourmets who value elite grain varieties do not use such a technique;
- It will not be possible to prepare espresso, since there will not be such a delicate foam, which is characteristic of the drink.
How to clean a coffee maker
Even if the device seems clean to you, it still needs to be cleaned from time to time. Sometimes scale and an unpleasant odor may form in it. To clean the coffee maker, you can use the following method:
- You will need 30 g of citric acid, which must be poured into 4 cups of water;
- Stir the liquid until all crystals are completely dissolved;
- Pour in the same amount of cold water;
- Pour half the portion into the coffee maker into the water container;
- Turn on the coffee maker;
- Wait for half of the portion to flow into the flask;
- Turn off the device and leave for 20-30 minutes;
- Turn on the device again and let all the liquid drain into the flask;
- Repeat the procedure with plain water several times to rinse the coffee maker from citric acid.
A drip coffee maker is an excellent solution for home use, as it is inexpensive and easy to use. We hope that you found this article interesting and useful. See you again on the pages of the site.
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The main mistakes when brewing a drink in a geyser-type coffee maker and how to avoid them
A geyser coffee maker is quite easy to use, so you rarely make mistakes when brewing coffee. Most likely, they may be associated with the wrong choice of coffee, or a breakdown of the device itself.
The device must be thoroughly cleaned after each use.
Be sure to thoroughly wash the device after each cooking and check the integrity of the silicone gasket. If it is damaged, it urgently needs to be replaced, because this may adversely affect the operation of the device.
Make sure that the grind is correct, because if it is too fine, coffee particles may end up in your cup, or the drink will not be able to produce the original flavor.
Coffee prepared using a geyser coffee maker will be no worse than what is served in a cafe
So, if you decide to purchase just such a device for your home or office, you will definitely never regret your choice. Just consider how many cups of drink you need it for. These coffee makers can brew from 1 to 20 servings of coffee at a time. And by buying a small geyser coffee maker, you definitely won’t be able to pamper your guests with good tasty coffee, but you will brew this wonderful drink for yourself every day, and it will take a little time to prepare it.
How to use a drip coffee maker correctly?
It is no coincidence that drip coffee machines are considered the most reliable and simplest among coffee machines. They make coffee incredibly easy. There are only a few steps left to complete:
- Connect your device to the network.
- Pour water into the container.
- Pour ground coffee into the filter at the rate of one teaspoon for every 100 ml of water.
- Press the power button.
- Wait until all the liquid has filtered into the lower container.
- Turn off the unit.
- Pour the finished drink into a cup.
Secrets to getting a delicious drink from a drip coffee maker
The simple operating principle of a drip coffee maker was outlined above. Most often, such models do not require an additional set of functions: maximum heating of the drink, power adjustment, and that’s it.
Through trial and error, coffee lovers reached their zen by figuring out how to make delicious coffee in a drip pot:
- slow fermentation of thick water;
- using the right water;
- good selection of coffee.
As a result, the correctly selected crushed grain and the used ratio of products will result in a tasty drink.
Grinding degree and dosage
For a drip coffee maker, it is better to use medium or coarse grinds. But if you need to make a strong drink, use a fine grind. Also set the minimum water flow (if your device has such an option).
The norm according to which it is customary to prepare a classic drink is 60 g / l. At home, a teaspoon is used as a measuring device. Under these conditions, coffee is prepared at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 100 ml of liquid.
Wetting the filter
If your coffee maker has a paper filter, it is recommended to wet it. This will require hot water. It is poured through a filter and thrown away. This liquid is not used in the further cooking process. This procedure removes paper odor.
The smaller the volume of coffee brewed, the stronger the unpleasant aftertaste will be if it is not moist. When a large amount of liquid passes through, for example when several portions are prepared at the same time, the paper flavor in the coffee is lost, but not for gourmets.
Reusable filters, such as synthetic filters, do not require pre-wetting. But they can also negatively affect the taste of the drink if they are not replaced in time.
In addition, their cleanliness should not be overlooked. Each coffee should be prepared only from pre-washed coffee, such as a clean filter.
Pre-wetting coffee
Pre-wetting of the raw materials is carried out in order to speed up the process of releasing carbon dioxide from the crushed grains. This is not a necessary cooking step, but it helps the water better absorb all the flavor of the product.
Pour a small amount of water over a portion of ground coffee. The liquid must wet all particles. Therefore, you can also mix wet raw materials. This will speed up the release of carbon dioxide. Wait 15-40 seconds, after which they begin further preparation.
Preparation
Coffee preparation in a drip coffee maker is automated. Therefore, the device does not require user presence, such as control, to operate. After pouring water and pouring coffee, all you have to do is press the “start” button and wait for the household unit to turn off automatically.
The drink is prepared taking into account the number of servings. Thus, the water container and the raw material compartment are not filled completely, but taking into account the required volume of the final product.
Cooking time will also depend on the number of servings, as well as on the individual characteristics of the device. The average brewing time for 1 cup in a drip coffee maker is about 2.5 minutes.
Cook only with high quality water
Say an absolute no to unfiltered tap water. The impurities included in the composition will negatively affect the taste of the finished drink.
Try pouring water into the container in a thin stream. This method helps saturate it with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of the drink.
Poor quality water combined with the elements contained in a disposable filter can produce unpredictable results.
Secrets of making latte coffee
The latte is served in a special glass so you can see the separation of the layers.
The popularity of the coffee drink is explained by its amazing softness. An interesting feature of latte is the layered structure of it - for the same reason, in coffee shops it is usually served in transparent containers - so a coffee lover can see the sequence of layers. What else do you need to know about this drink?
- The bottom layer should be coffee; if you pour milk into the glass first, you get a latte macchiato.
- The secret of any delicious coffee is well-chosen coffee beans. It is recommended to use a coffee machine to brew them. At the same time, the coffee base of the drink must be strong - the beans can contain up to 10% robusta.
- The legendary latte foam is made exclusively from milk with a high percentage of fat.
Liqueurs, syrups and chocolate will help add personality to the drink.
Water dosing
Before turning on the water, make sure it has reached the desired temperature - 85–96 °C. Too low a temperature will produce a sour drink, too high a bitter, strong taste. If the temperature indicator on your coffee machine goes out when dispensing water, stop pouring and wait until the light comes on. Some models of home espresso machines have a heat exchanger that is too small for pouring a double portion of coffee.
A pre-wet is a brief wetting of the coffee under low pressure. Thanks to pre-wetting, channels are less likely to form and migration of husks is reduced.
Professional coffee machines can be set to pre-wet. You probably just didn’t pay attention to this before. If you're making coffee at home, turn on the brew for a few seconds, then turn it off for a couple of moments, then prepare the espresso.
What should an espresso stream look like?
- The first five seconds are a dark brown stream (or uniform streams from all holes).
- Ten seconds later - a brown or amber stream. — Further the extract will turn yellow.
The usual time for pouring a shot is 20–30 seconds.
Signs when something is going wrong:
- uneven streams at the beginning,
- rare drops instead of a stream,
- yellow color at the beginning of the strait (both partial and uniform).
Check the grind, water temperature and pressure of your coffee machine.
Drink of the monastic order
It's time to talk about making such a popular type of coffee as cappuccino. It got its name from the name Capuchin, which in turn means the name of the Italian monastic order. The paradox is that the church as a whole has always had a negative attitude towards the invigorating drink. But, nevertheless, it was within the walls of the Capuchin monasteries that they first came up with the idea of frothing milk using steam. There is a legend about Giuseppe, who invented a machine to achieve this effect. The monks began mixing frothed milk with brewed coffee beans, thus creating a new type of coffee, which was named after them. It instantly gained popularity, first in Italy and then throughout the world.
There are various preparation technologies, but we will talk about the classic cappuccino recipe. So let's get started. To prepare it you need to take:
- a shot of espresso;
- steamed milk;
- milk foam.
In a ratio of 1:1:1. To prepare a real cappuccino, you need a coffee machine with a cappuccino maker, or a manual version of this device. It is simply impossible to get this coffee without a coffee machine. Otherwise, you will only get coffee with milk. The volume of the resulting drink should be 150 ml.
First, you need to prepare a serving of espresso from your favorite type of coffee beans in your coffee machine. At this time, you can start the cappuccino maker so as not to waste time. Thanks to it we get frothed milk and milk foam. There are several secrets to ensure that the foam is dense and does not fall off immediately after mixing. One of them is the fact that the milk must be chilled. Next, add the resulting frothed milk to a shot of espresso to get a delicious cappuccino.
Recommendations for preparing the drink
It may seem to some that only a sophisticated person with extensive experience can make delicious coffee on their own. However, we hasten to assure you of the opposite. All of the above cooking options are simple. Consequently, even an amateur who has no experience in using a coffee maker can brew a drink with amazing taste.
The first recipe that will be discussed in the article is a classic version of espresso. To prepare it at home, you will need to perform a few simple manipulations:
Carefully unscrew the top of the coffee machine; Remove the filter intended for ground coffee; Pour water into the container located below. Fill the container with liquid up to the drawn limit line. Please note that exceeding this line is strictly prohibited! Otherwise, you will not be able to brew the coffee as it should; The filter, which looks like a small strainer, is completely filled with coffee.
It is permissible to compact it a little, removing the excess; After this, you can reassemble the device by screwing all the parts into place and connect it to the network or put it on low heat; Throughout the entire cooking time, it is necessary to monitor the structure. If you see that water is gradually flowing out of the cracks, the structure was assembled incorrectly; You can remove the device from the heat (unplug it from the mains) only when steam rises from above. This will mean that the water has boiled; After waiting a few seconds, you can start pouring the drink into cups.
Please note that most electric coffee machines are equipped with a special mechanism that turns off the device automatically after the water boils. If you purchased just such a model, then you do not have to wait at the stove for the moment of boiling.
Sometimes the coffee prepared in a geyser-type coffee maker can turn out to be too strong. In this case, the situation can only be saved by diluting the drink with plain water or milk (depending on your personal preferences). To avoid such trouble in the future, you should experiment with the degree of grinding. Experiments like these will help you achieve the optimal consistency over time.
Cappuccino
The word "cappuccino" comes from the name of the European monastic order of the Capuchins. According to legend, they also invented this method of cooking. A cappuccino consists of coffee, a small amount of milk and milk foam.
Cappuccino making process:
- Prepare espresso in a coffee machine in advance;
- pour it into a 150 ml cup;
- add equal amounts of milk and milk foam until the cup is full;
- You can sprinkle a little cocoa to add flavor.
Cappuccino should be served in a cup that has been preheated.
By the way, many have seen the beautiful drawings with which professional baristas decorate milk froth. This is called latte art, and the coffee itself acts as the “paint” for the drawings. Look at the photos for an example of what the drink could be like.