“The three most delicious smells?
The smell of hot coffee, fresh baked goods and the pages of a new book.” (With). N. Yasminska. It is believed that the poor Ethiopian shepherd Kaldim was the first to learn about the unique properties of coffee in the 9th century - when he noticed that his goats, having eaten the fruits of an unknown tree, began to behave too energetically. Much water has passed under the bridge since then, but this drink continues to amaze us to this day with its invigorating properties and bright, multifaceted taste. One of the main advantages of coffee beans is the fact that they can be brewed in almost any conditions - at home, at work, and even on camping trips. The main thing is to use high-quality coffee, have water on hand and the ability to heat it, as well as cooking utensils. For example, an ordinary cup.
What is instant coffee
Insoluble coffee is ground natural coffee. It contains only grains. The question of how high quality is irrelevant. These can be either elite varieties or waste from unbranded production, which are bought by scammers and counterfeited by well-known brands.
A medium-quality insoluble analogue is better than a soluble one, because its particles contain essential oils and microelements that trees obtain from volcanic soils rich in organic matter. How else does ground coffee differ from instant coffee - the caffeine in the beans is natural - this is another plus.
Chemical additives are a big minus. Only a few brands do not have them, which cost several times more than the usual ones sold in every supermarket. If you want to buy high-quality instant coffee, it cannot always be found in the public domain; you have to order it online.
Useful tips
The taste of even perfectly brewed coffee can be improved using various means. It must be remembered that freshly brewed coffee quickly loses its wonderful properties.
What spices can you add?
- Cinnamon.
Gives a warm rich aroma. It has a healing effect: cleanses the blood, improves tone and creates a good mood.
- Carnation.
Spicy and bright, enriches the drink, neutralizing the negative effects of caffeine. Normalizes blood pressure and helps fight colds.
- Ginger.
Adds a specific fresh aroma, improves metabolism, and lifts spirits.
- Black pepper.
The sharp, invigorating scent stimulates the mind. Pepper is antiseptic, cleansing and warming.
- Vanilla.
Gives a soft and sweet aroma that is soothing and exciting at the same time.
How long can coffee be stored?
You should drink natural coffee immediately after preparation, while it is still hot and aromatic. Within half an hour the smell will disappear, and the taste will change, not for the better. The exception is cold coffee drinks, as well as a camping option in a thermos.
Why is coffee bitter?
For some types of coffee, a slight bitterness is a mandatory component. Its availability depends on the following factors:
- degree of roasting;
- Robusta content in the mixture;
- brewing strength;
- recipe.
If the coffee turns out to be too bitter, you can save it by adding a pinch of salt.
The correct choice of coffee type, processing of beans and preparation of dishes are the main criteria for obtaining a high-quality, tasty drink. The variety of recipes makes it possible to create options for every taste. The beautiful and creative brewing process is easy to master. All that remains is to set the table beautifully, rinse the cups with boiling water, and you can pour the aromatic black liquid. Happy coffee drinking!
Cooking accessories
The difference between instant and natural products lies not only in the composition, but also in the method of preparation. The ground coffee is brewed in a coffee machine or geyser coffee maker. To get delicious natural Turkish coffee, you need to choose the right grind - it should be very fine, then all the aromatic substances get into the water and do not remain inside the particles.
Insoluble coffee can be brewed simply in a mug, but the taste will be very different from what you want. In this case, extraction occurs slowly, and the drink has time to cool down by the time the taste becomes rich. If you don’t have a coffee maker at home, you need to buy a pack of ultra-fine ground instant coffee.
Video: How to brew delicious coffee without a Turk and a coffee maker
Devices such as a French press greatly facilitate the process of brewing at home. The walls of the mug are made of special glass, which maintains the temperature, allowing the drink to gain time and gain flavor.
Be your own barista: how to make delicious coffee without leaving home
Many of us have trouble imagining starting the day without a cup of coffee. The magic of the drink is obvious: the smell of roasted coffee beans not only invigorates, but also envelops you in a pleasant aroma and puts you in a positive mood.
In order to get a portion of a delicious invigorating drink, we often run out of the house early in order to have time to drop into a coffee shop near the office. It seems that you can only make instant coffee at home, and coffee with a real alluring smell is only available to baristas under a top secret code.
Smeg, an Italian appliance manufacturer, will show you that with just a few kitchen gadgets you can prepare a variety of coffee drinks from around the world in just a few minutes. We're willing to bet that traditional tea will have some competition on your kitchen table!
The milkiest coffee drink - Lagrima from Argentina
Argentines can boast of creating a coffee for beginners called Lagrima. This is a smooth milk drink made from frothed milk and 2 teaspoons of espresso! Do you want to understand how delicate a coffee drink tastes?
- Prepare espresso with the Smeg ECF01 compact espresso machine. The brand's coffee machine is set to 98 C°. This temperature provides the richest taste and rich aroma of the coffee drink without bitterness.
- Then whisk the warm milk in a cappuccino maker until foamy and add a couple of teaspoons of espresso to the cup.
The most delicate coffee drink - Americano from Sweden
Americano got its name due to the popularity of a healthy lifestyle in America: this coffee has a reduced amount of caffeine and also contains virtually no calories if consumed without sugar. Despite its origin, the drink has gained special love in Sweden. The Swedish recipe differs from the traditional one in that it lacks notes of bitterness, which few people like.
- Prepare a cup of Americano in a drip coffee maker. The device has an Aroma function, with which you can adjust the strength of your coffee from intense to delicate! And the “Automatic Start” function will allow you to prepare a drink at a set time, which will be especially appreciated by those who like to wake up to the aroma of hot coffee.
- Then pour 60 milliliters of hot water into a cup and begin to gradually add freshly brewed Americano and granulated sugar to it to taste.
The sweetest coffee drink is Glace from Austria.
In a good coffee shop you will definitely find glace on the menu. The drink has long taken its place in the hearts of those with a sweet tooth. It is believed that the glace recipe was born in Austria: one of the capital’s coffee shops ran out of cream, and the visitor was served coffee with ice cream. It’s not at all difficult to prepare glace at home, and it’s also a great option to please your loved ones with a morning dessert!
Professionals say: a coffee grinder is the most important component of success when making espresso. Smeg CGF01 is an excellent solution for those who are looking for a professional shredder. A convenient lever allows you to select the grinding mode: 30 different options! The ideal consistency for the drink is guaranteed!
- Brew a cup of espresso and cool the coffee.
- Pour the drink into a transparent glass.
- Top with a scoop of ice cream and decorate with chocolate chips!
The most aromatic coffee drink - Macchiato from Italy
Macchiato is translated from Italian as “spotted”. The drink is espresso coffee with a little frothed milk. At first glance it looks like a small cappuccino, but with the same ingredients that are used to make a cappuccino, the macchiato is much stronger and more aromatic in taste. What you need for a working mood!
- Whisk 100 ml milk using a frother. The device is equipped with 6 automatic modes, you will find your favorite one!
- Pour the frothed milk into an espresso cup.
- Place a cup under the coffee spout and pour espresso using the Smeg ECF01.
February 23 is approaching and the question of what to give to a loved one, father, brother, friend begins to worry us more and more. We offer a great gift idea for coffee lovers!
During the period from February 10 to March 13, 2022, when ordering a set of equipment consisting of a Smeg ECF01 espresso coffee machine (or a Smeg DCF02 drip coffee maker), a Smeg CGF01 coffee grinder and a Smeg MFF01 milk frother, an additional 20% discount is provided on the coffee grinder, and on the frother milk is provided with an additional 25% discount!
Recipes
When preparing at home, the amount of ingredients is taken in those proportions that best suit the preferences of coffee lovers. Roasting matters as it adds bitterness if it is very dark. Some people love this drink.
In Turk
To brew delicious instant coffee in a Turk, you must follow the following rules and recommendations:
- Use only clean filtered water.
- Bring the ingredients to a boil twice, but do not boil.
- Add sugar immediately with the powder.
It is recommended to take 150 ml of liquid and 2 pieces of sugar for 2 spoons of tea leaves.
In the French press
For a French press, you can use medium-ground ground beans. They are poured into a mug and poured with boiling water at a temperature of 85 to 92 degrees. To correctly determine how hot the water is, you need to leave the kettle to cool for 3 to 4 minutes after boiling. This will be the desired result. After infusing for 5–6 minutes, the press filter is lowered, separating the grounds, and the finished drink is poured into mugs.
Just add water
It seems that you can only make delicious coffee at home using a Turkish coffee pot or a coffee machine. But this is a big misconception, as experienced baristas will confirm. All you need to equip yourself with is ground coffee, water and utensils. Four minutes and your drink is ready. How to do this and what to pay attention to? The founder of the Espresso Season coffee shop in Yekaterinburg, consultant and barista Dmitry Maurin tells.
The whole process is divided into several simple steps. Dmitry himself says that he is a supporter of simplifying processes. But we decided to draw your attention to some details that may help make your first drink as a home barista better.
What do you need to make coffee?
Coffee that you like, water and utensils - decanter and mugs. For convenience, you can also use a kitchen scale.
How to choose dishes?
It is important to choose one that is familiar and convenient to you.
But if you want to get confused, then a decanter of a more suitable volume and shape, for example, cylindrical.
If you want the drink to cool down more slowly, take mugs with high heat capacity, that is, with thick walls, for example, made of ceramic or stone.
Do I need to warm up the pot before pouring the coffee?
Not necessary. This will not affect the taste, but the coffee will cool down more slowly.
Again, if nuances are important to you, coffee has three temperature settings - hot, warm and cool. A hot cup can reveal the potential and taste of coffee by 70-90%, a warm cup by 80-100%, and a cool cup by 100%. “Cooling coffee” is a trend; it shows and reveals the fullness of taste, because the receptors are not able to fully recognize it in a hot drink. Test the temperature that suits you and select the optimal one.
Where to buy coffee?
It is better to come to establishments where professionals work - special stores or coffee shops. For example, to Ekaterinburg coffee shops - “Papa Carlo”, Simple Coffee, Duo, Engels, Espresso Season. Their employees have expertise and will help you make your choice. Suffice it to say that you are choosing coffee for your home and, if possible, talk about your taste preferences.
All establishments have a service option for grinding coffee to suit your brewing method. In this case we are talking about coarse grinding. Ask the staff about this and tell them you need to grind the beans for the open brew method or French press.
How much coffee and water do you need?
The standard serving is 60 grams per liter of water. To get 400 ml of finished coffee, that is, two cups, you need 30 grams of coffee and half a liter of water. If you want a richer and stronger coffee, you can take more grain, for example, 40 grams per half liter of water.
How to prepare water?
Water plays an important role, but we won’t go into this in detail.
It is enough to take ordinary water and make the water drinkable, that is, pass it through softening filters. Soft purified water keeps the taste of coffee longer.
To what temperature should it be heated?
The optimal water temperature is 93 degrees.
If the water is not hot enough, the coffee will not brew. And if there is boiling water, there is a risk of overbrewing the coffee.
It's good if you have a kettle with adjustable temperature at home. If not, boil the kettle and wait 30 seconds. Then you can brew coffee.
Now let's cook!
1. Pour coffee into the carafe.
2. Fill with water, stir with a spoon and let stand for four minutes.
During this time, dense coffee particles will sink to the bottom. There will be a light foam on top that needs to be removed. This is easily done with two tablespoons.
3. Carefully pour the coffee into cups through the “nose” of the carafe; it is important to do this immediately after preparation, otherwise it may overbrew. There is no need to spill the sediment.
If you wish, you can diversify the drink with milk or add sugar to taste. Dmitry usually uses cream with a fat content of 10%.
Your coffee is ready!
Types of ground coffee
Instant coffee is an aqueous solution of natural coffee that has been dried and processed using special technologies. Often various chemical additives may be added to it for better storage.
Despite the fact that the taste and aroma of instant coffee are quite pleasant, they are inferior to natural coffee in these indicators. In addition, the content of useful substances in soluble is much lower. However, it will invigorate and tone up approximately on par with the natural one.
Depending on the characteristics of preparation, there are several types of instant coffee:
- Powder . This is the most inexpensive type of instant coffee, because it contains the least amount of natural beans. During its production, grains are treated with hot water under high pressure. The taste and aroma of such coffee is weak and unexpressed.
- Granular . This variety is made from powder, only the powder is steamed to form granules. Granulated coffee is more expensive than powdered coffee, but its taste, aroma and properties are practically the same. And experts even say that there are fewer useful properties in granular than in powder, since the former undergoes additional heat treatment. In addition, chemical flavors and dyes are sometimes added to it.
- Sublimated . Experts call it the best type of instant coffee, because it almost completely retains the taste, aroma and beneficial properties. And the whole point is in a special method of producing such coffee: the concentrated coffee solution is frozen, then all the ice is evaporated and the resulting coffee crystals are dried in a vacuum. Such a product does not require the addition of flavors and dyes, because it retains them from the natural product.
Related material: How to choose coffee beans?
#1 Coffee beans
Around 3.5 billion cups of coffee are drunk around the world every day. The vast majority is made from coffee beans, which is what cafes and restaurants use, as well as true connoisseurs of the invigorating drink. About 70 countries produce coffee, but the most popular beans come from developing countries such as Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia. Arabica is grown in Latin American countries, and robusta is grown in Africa and Southeast Asia. Arabica is softer in taste, with more shades. Robusta has a higher percentage of caffeine; this variety is distinguished by its strength, but is inferior in price to Arabica. These two varieties have the greatest commercial importance and are included in coffee from brands from all over the world, the only difference being the proportions and degree of roasting.
For example, Qualita Oro coffee from the famous Italian brand Lavazza consists of 100% refined sweet Arabica beans from Brazil and Central America and is suitable for true connoisseurs of the drink. And the Crema e Gusto Classico coffee of the same brand is a combination of Arabica and Robusta, characterized by a rich and balanced taste, and this is the ideal coffee for every day.
The Finnish brand Paulig also uses Arabica and Robusta in the production of its coffee. In 2022, Paulig launched a line of coffee beans inspired by three cities: Paris, Barcelona and New York. The creators of the line wanted to convey the unique mood of each city, so the coffee in the line differs in composition and degree of roasting. Paulig New York , inspired by the city that never sleeps, is a medium roast coffee perfect for breakfast, brunch and those who prefer to drink coffee on the go. Paulig New York can also be used to prepare iced coffee, popular in the USA. Paulig Barcelona is a dark roast coffee designed to convey the vibrant atmosphere of the Catalan capital, suitable for making café au lait in Spanish. Paulig Paris is the strongest coffee in the collection, with the darkest degree of roast, ideal for breakfast in combination with a croissant.
The popular Jardin coffee brand in Russia is produced in two series: Specialty Coffee and Gourmet Coffee. The first line is elite coffee made from 100% Arabica, the second is high-quality blends of Arabica and Robusta.
The Julius Meinl brand is the first coffee producer in Austria. The brand's logo - a boy in a fez - was designed in 1924 and quickly became a recognizable icon of the company. Products from Julius Meinl include both 100% Arabica and blends of 80% Arabica and 20% Robusta.
In 2016, the Italian brand Carraro released a line of organic coffee grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
The most expensive coffee beans in the world are harvested in Indonesia. Coffee called Kopi luwak is unique in that it is treated with the gastric juices of the Musang animal as it passes through its digestive tract. The price of one kilogram of Kopi luwak grains reaches 700 US dollars.
You can prepare coffee beans yourself (at home).
